Gridiron Experts

Preseason posturing

One week into the 2010 NFL preseason is in the history books. So what have we learned? Well history has taught us that it’s too early to get overly excited about a good, or poor performance.  We are, however, far enough along into the season that it is appropriate to start looking at players who value may be up, or down. Keeping your fantasy football draft list updated and accurate is the best way to stay ahead of the competition.

Value Up:

• Pierre Thomas/Reggie Bush RB New Orleans- Lynell Hamilton’s unfortunate season ending injury stand to benefit Thomas and Bush. If no other third runner emerges, Thomas and Bush stand to split the  remaining carries from a 3^rd and 4^th tailback spot that managed over 700 yards and 7 touchdowns last year. Don’t expect those kind of numbers, but as of now, Pierre and Reggie should both see their ADP rise.

• Arian Foster RB Houston- What looked to be a potentially crowded backfield cleared up in a hurry. 2^nd round pick Ben Tate is out for the year with a broken right ankle, and Steve Slaton surprised no one by fumbling on the goal line on lone short yardage attempt. Foster is now the featured runner on one of the NFL’s most potent offenses.

• C.J. Spiller RB Buffalo- The rookie is another runner who will benefit from injuries. Both Marshawn Lynch and Fred Jackson are expected to miss several weeks with injuries, opening the door for Spiller to get all first team reps in practice and in the remainder of the preseason. Buffalo’s inability to provide any threat of a passing game will assure plenty of opportunities.

• Jamal Charles RB Kansas City- While Thomas Jones is listed as the starter, he did nothing in the Chiefs game before leaving with a minor …Continue reading NFL Pre-season Posturing

Fred Jackson Hurt

What do you do with 3 running backs in the NFL? the answer: wait for one to get hurt.

Buffalo Bills running back Fred Jackson suffered a hand injury in the first half of the Skins/Bills first pre-season game and will now miss up to a month.“Fred hurt his hand and we hope to be able to get him back for the first game,” said Chan Gailey. “We’re not sure.”

Ty Warren Done in 2010

New England Patroits Ty Warren is out for the 2010 season with a hip injury. Ty Warren knew that if played in 2010 with a labral tear in his hip, he wasn’t just risking performance, he was risking long-term mobility. Read More

Haynesworth is starting to like 3-4 defense

The big man wasn’t very popluar a couple weeks back, but on Friday night he lead the Skins on to the field and looked very much apart of the team. Of course, he is easing back into the depth chart and played with the second team defense against the Bills Friday night.

Haynesworth says he likes the defense now because he realizes the Redskins will allow him to rush the passer, “which is really important to me.” -Read more

WTF? Glen Coffee Retires

Second-year backup running back Glen Coffee was nowhere to be seen at Thursday afternoon’s practice, and was missing again on Friday morning.  Usually, that means an injury, but it turns out Coffee is bitter. ProFootballTalk.com leans in on reasons why (Link)

Gridiron Experts Power Rankings AUG. 2nd

32. Buffalo Bills
CJ Spiller has all the tools to be a playmaker in this league, well except for an offensive line in front of him, a quarterback to take the pressure off, and well you see where I’m going with this. The Bills are going to need a franchise quarterback before they move on this list.
31.St. Louis Rams
The Rams, in theory, should be a better team this year, but it’s still up in the air and truly depends on how NFL ready Sam Bradford is by the start of the season. Steven Jackson has always been the Rams workhorse, and that won’t change this year, expect another grand out of him in 2010.
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Buccaneers are still rebuilding. This process can sometimes be long a frustrating, yet in the forseeable future they’ll find themselves on day on the outside looking in on any power rankings list. Every team must rebuild sooner or later but for this season ahead, the Buc’s will be leaning on too many young players and the inexperience will show.
29. Cleveland Browns
The Browns biggest flaw is their division, it’s just too hard to be competitive against perennial powerhouses like the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. They did have a great draft and made some key off-season additions, with a revamped secondary expect them to move up this list in a year.
28. Detroit Lions
The Lions were the movers and shakers of the off-season, making some key additions. If only for the next few years, adding Jahvid Best to a backfield commandeered by Matt Stafford could be just what the Lions needed. Best will make plays and take some of the focus off of Calvin Johnson.
27. Oakland Raiders
For the first time in years, the Raiders impressed us all during the draft, adding a top-tier middle linebacker and shipping Kirk Morrison to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Not to mention ditching JaMarcus Russell in favor of Jason Campbell, an automatic upgrade. Although for now, they’re still on the outside looking in.
26.Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have revamped their coaching staff and drafted (and paid) a play making safety in Eric Berry. Dexter McCluster will give add that x-factor to the offense and give Jamaal Charles some relief at the running back spot. Matt Cassell will get one more chance to show that he’s worth the money they’re paying him.
25. Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jaguars are a team that can never seem to get it together when it truly counts, their first rounder is considered a huge reach by the entire NFL community and if he doesn’t pan out, Jags fans can happily say goodbye to Jack Del Rio. Maurice Jones-Drew will set the pace for the offense once more. …Continue reading NFL Power Rankings

After reports broke that Trent Edwards would enter the Buffalo Bills preseason as the starting quarterback, Gridiron Experts felt it was time to weigh-in on the passing situation in Buffalo.

With the T.O. show now officially out of Buffalo (and in Cincinnati), and Trent Edwards fully healthy, it’s time to look forward to another season of uncertainty in Buffalo’s still lethargic passing offense.

The latest news of Edwards entering camps as the starter begs two warranted questions: Does he have what it takes to hold down the job heading into the 2010 season, and if he accomplishes this, what can we expect from him on a fantasy level?

Considering his top competition for the rights to drive the Bills’ “mini-van” offense is Ryan Fiztpatrick, Brian Brohm, and rookie Levi Brown, we’re not the least bit concerned that the former Stanford alum can win and keep the job.

Of all the quarterbacks on the roster, he has the most positive experience, is likely the most reliable, and still has a decent amount of potential.

Ryan Fitpatrick is athletic and intelligent, but his arm strength is less than ideal and his pocket presence is, well, non-existent. …Continue reading Fantasy Report: Trent Edwards Open’s Camp As Starter

Every year we head into training camp with our eye on key positions and rookies who could add that extra push. Nobody cares who steps up, as long as the job gets done and the weak links are filled. Focusing on fantasy football, we are going to overlook some of the less important roster spots, and instead fire off questions and predictions for each team in the eyes of the fantasy football fan.

Arizona Cardinals
Spotlight Is On: Matt Leinart- A former first round pick who lost his job and found a comfortable spot on the bench is all of a sudden getting his second chance. The NFL usually chews you up and spits you out, so for Leinart a do-over is a real gift. Frankly, we see more attention spent on the running game this season to relieve some of the pressure. Regardless, this second chance could be the last chance for number 7. Can the shoes be filled? Or is Matt about to trip?
Camp Sleeper: Steve Breaston
Star-Brewing: Chris Wells

Atlanta Falcons
What’s the Deal with Michael Turner? A power running back who was a yard shy of 1700 yards two seasons ago just fell off the map in 2009. A high ankle sprain left fantasy owners angry and kicking furniture over, with his vanilla type numbers. Is he back? Can we move him up the fantasy boards? What’s the deal?
Camp Sleeper: Harry Douglas

Baltimore Ravens
Is there Bonding Going on Here? The Anquan Boldin and Joe Flacco combo is one we’re all not sure of. Flacco has needed a player who can stretch the field for some time, as Mason is more of tough possession wide receiver. The running game is counting on some sort of passing attack, and so are keeper league owners of the recently traded Cardinal.
Camp Sleeper:  TE Ed Dickson
Take a Seat: Todd Heap

Buffalo Bills
So You Have 3 Running Backs…Really? Marshawn Lynch, Fred Jackson, and C.J. Spiller are apparently going to be used in a very creative offense that we can already predict to be a failure. There are a million questions with this team, but for now let’s just try to figure out who’s going to be the guy at RB. All the other fantasy options shouldn’t be a concern to you right now, or at all this season.
Camp Sleeper: Brain Brohm- our vote to win the $10 beauty contest.

Carolina Panthers
Moore or Clausen to lead? After booting Delhomme to the curb, Matt Moore stepped in and looked very much the part…or at least that’s what he thought. The Panthers found a fallen gem in the draft and couldn’t help themselves with one of this years highest ranked QB rookies. Jimmy Clausen should do his best to overthrow Moore’s spot.
Gimme the Ball- DeAngelo Williams is in a contract year and will be pressing.
WR Numero dos- Our early guess is Brandon LaFell from LSU.

Chicago Bears
Who’s Cutler Going to Ask to the Big Dance? With a slew of average at best wide receivers, and a master-mind commander calling the plays from the sidelines, Jay Cutler is going to pick and choose his targets carefully. Who will best suit this new offense in Chicago? We will have eyes in training camp all summer.
So Who Does What? -After a breakout rookie season, Matt Forte now has an on the field roommate to share his carries. Chester Taylor wasn’t brought in to get coffee, so the percentage of carries will be watched carefully as well.
Sleeper Brewing In Martz’s System- Johnny Knox …Continue reading NFL Training Camp Fantasy Questions (All 32 Teams)

No Love for T.O.

Terrell Owens was once a fantasy monster, a highlight reel for every network, and a top-selling jersey, but in 2010 the guy seems to be blacklisted from the NFL. With training camp very close to starting up and coaches mapping out their game plans, someone somewhere must be thinking to themselves “we’re a little light at wide receiver”.

In April, new Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said on ESPN’s schedule-release show that “we will not go in that direction right now”, referring to being in the T.O. market. On Thursday, Shanahan said that “right now” continues to apply.

Many are pegging the disaster in Buffalo last year as Owens fault, but I for one believe you can’t point the finger at just one player when the team was clearly lost from the beginning. Little things like trading away LT Jason Peters to the Eagles for a 1st round draft pick, and then filling the position with a lawn chair or pylon didn’t make a lot of sense. The Bills passing game was a joke from the beginning, and hints were there as early as week 1. In case you don’t remember that far back, the Bills implemented a hurry-up offense of quick passes and draws, a coaches answer to a lack of pass protection. …Continue reading Is Terrell Owens The Smelly Kid?

For just about any other team in the league, calling a pending quarterback battle that has yet to start a controversy would be patently absurd. But for the Bills, it’s simply practical. At the same time it’s also patently absurd to call something involving Trent Edwards, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Brian Brohm a “controversy” as opposed to what it actually is: a colossally inept front office. Bills fans can’t be expecting much from under-center this season, and as ridiculous as it may sound, it has less to do with their options and much more to do with their leadership.

Of course, they did trade up to draft JP Losman, which was obviously brilliant. Everyone knows what a can’t-miss proposition those Tulane quarterbacks are. Shaun King, anyone? Let me put it this way: when the Browns quarterback options seem desirable, you know you took a wrong turn somewhere. Perhaps it was using three first round picks in the past eight seasons (and two of the past three) on running backs, or maybe it was over-drafting Donte Whitner by roughly twenty spots in 2006 (solid player, potentially great even, but they could have traded down, got something for the 8th overall pick and still drafted Whitner)?

Considering the relative importance of the draft to NFL teams the Bills are seem awfully flippant about it. It’s probably because when you operate out of a city like Buffalo, free agents naturally flock to your organization. Still, even with the glitz and glamor of upstate New York, you’d think they’d take it as seriously as everyone else and they’d learn from past mistakes. I’d assume Fred Jackson would teach them they didn’t need to …Continue reading The Buffalo “Bush-League” Bills

3rd Year Wide Receiver Break Out

A wide receiver that is coming into his third season has in the past been considered a breakout candidate for fantasy teams.   This year there are a number of wide receivers entering this three year mark.  I have created a list of third year receivers to keep your eye on entering your fantasy league draft.  Some of these players have yet to live up to expectations, others stepped up their games last season, while others unfortunately had let downs last season.  Overall, all of these players are expected to make solid contributions to their teams in 2010.

Early Doucet – Arizona – Doucet moves up the depth chart in 2010 after the departure of Anquan Boldin.  Doucet was the team’s fourth receiver last season, but will move into the third receiver role at the start of training camp and will have the opportunity to compete for the #2 receiver spot.

James Hardy – Buffalo – Hardy has yet to live up to the expectations Buffalo had for him when they drafted him in the 2nd round.  However, this could be the make or break year for Hardy.  With the departure of Terrell Owens, Hardy will be given the chance to earn a starting spot opposite Lee Evans.

Earl Bennett – Chicago – Bennett is in a crowded group of receivers.  The Bears have many young receivers and …Continue reading 3rd Year Wide Receiver Break Out