Gridiron Experts

Top 10 Fantasy Running Back Rankings

The best things come to those who wait. Gridiron Experts has posted our free fantasy draft board this week, but this article was one readers have been waiting for, as it shows exactly who likes what.

Some web sites and magazines like to slap together their ranking lists in the beginning of August, while we tend to watch most practices and or pre-season games before naming our top tens. I can tell you there were definitely different views on players a couple of weeks ago, some of which are nowhere to be seen now, or low on the board.

Mike Rodriguez: Frank Gore- The Fantasy RB Strength of Schedule is just one reason why I have Gore at the top of the food chain. The 49er’s beefed up their offensive line and have an underrated quarterback who can manage the game. The run first play calling will make Gore a safe reliable fantasy start all season. The X-factor for me is the 49er’s receiving core in 2010. Vernon Davis is a defensive focal point, but the wide-outs are arguably the fastest talent San Fran has seen in years. This will keep defenses honest, respecting all areas of attack.

Although I’m not a fan of offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye, I do believe another year with the same offensive system will improve all areas of the game. Gore is a beast and is ready to roll over the league.

DC: Ray Rice- The Ravens roster is loaded for a playoff push that will not rely on just their defensive unit. In fact, I think the offense may carry this team at times throughout the season. Ray Rice is an all-purpose player who could be involved in every scenario in 2010. This mini-tank can run over players. He has excellent hands with great smarts and vision. Rice …Continue reading Top 10 Fantasy Running Back Rankings

Fantasy Training Camp News

• T.J. Houshmandzadeh – WR, Seattle Seahawks
  According to ESPN’s Mike Sando, T.J. Houshmandzadeh’s body language in camp has “occasionally suggest(ed) a disconnect.”

• Steven Jackson – RB, St. Louis Rams
  Steven Jackson confirmed that “everything is going right on schedule” in his recovery from offseason back surgery.

• Legedu Naanee – WR, San Diego Chargers
  The Chargers’ initial preseason depth chart confirms that Legedu Naanee is the team’s projected starting flanker.

• Mike Thomas – WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
  According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Maurice Jones-Drew predicts that second-year WR Mike Thomas will be the Jaguars’ breakout player in 2010.

• Rashad Jennings – RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
  According to Jaguars.com’s Vic Ketchman, second-year RB Rashad Jennings “may have the best hands on the whole team.”

• Jamaal Charles – RB, Kansas City Chiefs
  Coach Todd Haley reiterated Wednesday that he’ll use whichever tailback gives the Chiefs their “best chance to win” moving forward.

• Jeff Saturday – C, Indianapolis Colts
  Colts owner Jim Irsay revealed Wednesday that C Jeff Saturday’s recent knee scope could sideline him “up to six weeks.”

• Brandon Jacobs – RB, New York Giants
  NFL Network’s Brian Baldinger recently attended Giants camp, and came away saying Brandon Jacobs “looks like …Continue reading NFL Fantasy Training Camp News

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

The 2010 NFL Coaching Hot Seat

Jerry Glanville once told an NFL official that if he kept making calls against his Atlanta Falcons squad, that he’d be out of coaching and “selling groceries”. He never did have to apply at his local supermarket, but Glanville did lose his job. Every year numerous NFL coaches do.

The coaching “hot seat” is the term used for the Head Coaches that are perceived to be in a perilous situation entering the upcoming NFL season. Some will rally the troops and save their jobs, for the time being. Others will suffer the fate of another disappointing season, and the inevitable pink slip. Let’s take a look at some coaches on the hot seat in 2010…

Eric Mangini- Cleveland- Mangini made some terrible decisions in his first year in Cleveland: refusing to name a starting quarterback before the season, sticking with Derek Anderson for 7 starts despite a 44% completion percentage and a TD to INT ratio of 3 to 10, and under-using Jerome Harrison until the last month of the season. The only 2 reasons that Mangini is back is because of the season ending 4 game winning streak (powered by Harrison), and the hiring of former NFL coach Mike Holmgren, who seemingly sympathized with Mangini and kept him on board. The Browns actually seem to be worse heading into 2010…and when you analyze the current 4 game winning streak you see the final 3 wins were against Kansas City, Oakland, and Jacksonville…all bad teams. It will take one surprising turnaround this year to keep the “Man genius” in the Dawg Pound in 2011. …Continue reading The 2010 NFL Coaching Hot Seat

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)

Is Jacksonville, Florida fantasy football hell? Most likely. The 2010 Jacksonville Jaguars, past Maurice Jones Drew, have almost nothing worth batting an eye at. Many wouldn’t touch most of the team with a 10 1/2 ft. pole.

As hard as it is to believe, this squad could be even worse than the 2009 edition. After Torry Holt left for the Patriots, the closest thing to a name on the receiving staff is Mike Sims-Walker, who isn’t exactly striking fear into the hearts of the league’s defensive backs these days. He is fairly big at 6’2, 214 lbs, and he is coming into that mythical third season in the NFL, but if he starts blowing up early, he’ll be doubled up as soon as humanly possible. It’ll take a surprise year from the #2 WR, currently Mike Thomas, to open the offense up. Thomas is only 5’8, but does have good hands, so maybe he’s the answer… wouldn’t bank on it.

The other receiving option is Mercedes Lewis, who went for 518 yards and one TD last year. He’s not a bad player… just not too great on your fantasy roster.

The short game in Jacksonville starts and ends with MJD, and that’s set in stone.

The real problem with the Jags, in my opinion, is the relatively conservative play calling in the offense, probably due to the lack of pass protection and an obviously weak receiving core. Oddly enough, the Jags O-Coordinator Dirk Koetter was so obsessed with having Andrew Walter air the ball out when he was the coach at Arizona State University that when Dennis Erickson took over, all he could talk about was returning to the schools running roots. In 2007 the presumably head coach mandated conservative play calling worked out and Dave Garrard only threw three picks the …Continue reading Jaguars: Is There Any Other Fantasy Option Besides MJD?

It has become common to revel in the downfall of Terrell Owens, and with good understanding. He’s aging, insufferable on a personal and professional level, has a history of disrupting otherwise peaceful locker rooms, suffers from an alarming lack of self-awareness, and is seemingly just an all-round dickhead. As far as stereotypes are concerned, no one has ever fit one better than Terrell Owens does that of a wide receiver. Hell, the stereotype was basically modeled after him.

Yet since he’s one of the better receivers of his generation, teams have been willing to gamble large sums of money on his ability to stretch and maximize an ineffective passing game. For his many flaws, Terrell Owens has always been a reliable and productive receiver on the field (particularly in Philadelphia and San Francisco). Funny thing happened last season that just decimated his stock: He was cut by Dallas and they subsequently improved, while his age and reputation eventually caught up to him, leaving Terrell Owens without his usual bevy of suitors. As a result, he landed in Buffalo where his numbers dropped considerably, and his 2010 free agency stock has plummeted. In short, the same thing happened to Terrell Owens that happens to every receiver in Buffalo these days (Is anyone still waiting on Lee Evans to finally produce those big fantasy numbers?). …Continue reading The Terrell Owens Market

Editors Picks

Luke McCown Is Totally Fine With His Trusty Clipboard, Headset and Listless Competitive Spirit

When you’re a 28-year-old backup quarterback sitting behind a 32-year-old shaky at best starter with Crohn’s disease and a 12-20 record over the past two seasons, your goal in life is to unseat this schlub and become an object of adoration for thousands….With Leather.com

Golden Tate, You Are Just WAY TOO ZANY

Golden Tate, you’ve barely been in the league for two months now, and yet you’ve already produced a Hall of Zane resume of zaniness. You showed up on YouTube a minute ago singing the chorus to a…Kissing Suzy Kolber.com

A Couple Of Fantasy Football Questions

Where do I draft San Diego Chargers WR Vincent Jackson?
It seems Jackson won’t hesitate to sit out part of the season. Remember, he may miss a couple of games because of his second DUI, so sitting out two games for him may not….Del Pilar’s Diatribe at KFFL.com

Anatomy Of An Injury – Running Backs

Steven Jackson has supposedly had back pain for a few years now. He exacerbated the injury last year and it caused him to miss a few games with some lingering pain. He decided to address the problem in the off-season and underwent ….Bob Thompson at FF Today.com

With harsh USC penalties, NCAA sends warning to all elite programs

The NCAA has a problem. For years, sports agents, runners and various other third-party sleazeballs have infiltrated their enterprise, buddying up to 14-year-old phenoms at shoe camps, cozying…SI.com