Gridiron Experts

Naturally, on the same day I have to do billing for work and am hampered with a day-long migraine, Hard Knocks is on. I apologize in advance for my flippancy, but it’s hard to invest in a show about football practices when your brain feels like it’s trying to escape through your temple (too graphic?). Anyways, let us get right to it.

10:02- Coaches sit around and do their best to make completely cliched commentary seem insightful. It doesn’t work.

10:06- The focus comes back around to Revis for the first time since the first episode, Tim Callishaw (Cowlishaw? Can’t remember from the last time I watched Around The Horn) gets name dropped a few times, and it seems like their front office has less access to Revis than an Around The Horn panelist. Maybe Tony Reali can renegotiate his next contract for them.

10:08- Rex Ryan’s concerned about Nick Mangold’s Taco Bell consumption, as we all are. It seems like everyone has more to say about Nick Mangold than Nick Mangold has to say about anything. Seriously, has he uttered a single word in conversation or to the camera?

10:10- Two left guards are battling for the starting possession. A guy from Haiti and a guy named Slauson. The narrator says the guy from Haiti is inexperienced, then they show us a few conversations between players and coaches expressing this sentiment. Hey, and hour’s a long time.

10:12- In fact, it’s so long we’re treated to watching Marc Sanchez stir coffee for a solid ten seconds  before he asks about someone’s binder. Occasionally, this documentary series can make Rubicon seem fast-paced (Though I enjoy the series, I probably give it more leeway than I should because it’s on AMC. I mean, that linked clip is literally a woman opening a box for two and a half minutes). …Continue reading New York Jets Hard Knocks Episode 4

Fantasy Football: Carson Palmer 2010 Profile

On paper, the Cincinnati Bengals should have one of the best fantasy football teams in the NFL. They have a very good running back in Cedric Benson, an excellent group of pass catchers with a great blend of promising rookies ( Jermaine Gresham and Jordan Shipley) and proven veterans (Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco). So why are they not being talked about as one of the elite offenses? The answer, surprisingly, is Carson Palmer.

Once upon a time, Carson Palmer was an annual top 5 pick at quarterback in every fantasy football draft in the country. From 2005-2007, Palmer averaged 4000 passing yards a season, with 29 touchdown passes. He made the Pro Bowl in 2005 and 2006. When Palmer threw his 100^th career touchdown pass, during the 2007 season, he became the 5^th fastest in NFL history to achieve this feat. He was looking like he was going to become a Peyton Manning like elite fantasy figure for the next decade or more.

Since that time, Palmer has struggled to match his elite numbers of 2005 and 2006. His problems really began in 2008, when he started and played in only 4 games. He was placed on IR after being diagnosed with a torn ligament in his throwing elbow. He elected not to undergo Tommy …Continue reading Carson Pamler Fantasy Boom Or Bust

The Gridiron Experts Team were thinking outside the box this year when it came to designing our yearly free fantasy football draft board. We thought to ourselves, what is it that other boards don’t have? What is it that could be helpful while debating on bye week replacement players or when a fantasy owner is on the clock?

The answer: an overview of the entire season.

Gridiron Experts have compiled a top 200 players board with a team by team schedule next to each player. Now you can instantly see what is happening to that player any week of the season. Fantasy playoffs, Bye Weeks, picking a back-up to face a certain terrible defense. We figured you can get stats from anywhere, so why not corner the market with something new. So enjoy and check back each week (or day) for wicked NFL articles and tons of fantasy info!

Click here to look over the top 200 online.

Click here to download a PDF file to print and use for your draft.

5 Bold NFL Predictions for 2010 (Part 1)

Gridiron Experts team of writers is making some bold NFL predictions. Some are long shots that you may love, others are realistic guess’s that you’ll hate.

Chris Hall’s 5 Bold Predictions

5.The Texans make the playoffs.

I know, I know, the Texans have a studly fantasy offense with Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, and crew, but they have never, in their teams history, been to the playoffs. The team is way too good to keep losing close games, and I really think that the Kris Brown/Neil Rackers kicking rivalry will make for a few less blown game enders. There’s no reason that the Texans should’ve lost to the Colts and Titans in weeks 9 and 11.

4. Shonn Greene will go the way of Ronnie Brown.

I absolutely hate foretelling injuries to players, but I don’t think that Shonn Greene’s style of play translates into a full NFL season. He hurt his ribs last offseason and then in the playoffs, and is bound to hurt them again with his bruising style. Rex Ryan is already threatening to load him up with extra padding to prevent rib damage… sounds scary to me.

3. Steven Jackson will leave fantasy owners out of the playoffs.

Last time S-Jax topped 300 rushing attempts (’06-’07), he sputtered out the next season and ran for 1,002 yards and 5 TD’s. Last season he had 324 yards and had to have been demoralized by having 19 linebackers on him every play. I really don’t see the offense getting that much better this year with Sam Bradford, so once again he will be on everyones radar. Expect him to be tired… real tired. …Continue reading 5 Bold NFL Predictions for 2010 (Part 1)

The Miami Dolphins have a great one, two punch in the backfield with running backs Ricky Williams and Ronnie Brown.  The question however is not which running back will be the starter, but which running back should be drafted first in fantasy football.  Both backs have proven to be reliable fantasy options when healthy and given a fair share of opportunities.  I have participated in some mock drafts and have seen Brown going anywhere from the 4^th round down to the 6^th round.   This is followed by Williams generally being selected about two rounds later than his backfield counterpart.  Both players bring great attributes to the table, but both have negatives associated with their games.  Brown is generally regarded by many fantasy owners to be an injury risk and Williams desire to play could be a question mark. 

After all Brown missed seven games last season due to injury and Williams had been stated as saying that this could be his final season.  However, whenever either player has been given the majority of the carries that player has performed well above the running back norm.  To get a better understanding about each player’s abilities I have provided a chart of their statistics below.  The category of total touches is a combination of the player’s total rushing carries along with their total receptions.  Also, the player’s total yards from receptions and carries are combined, along with all touchdowns scored.

As you can see each player has put up great numbers when staying healthy throughout the season.  However, if either back were to get injured the value of the other player would skyrocket as is evidenced by Ricky Williams’s breakout last season after Ronnie Brown went down.  A big question mark that most owners may have with Williams is his age.  He is well past the 30 year mark where most running backs will be labeled as being bust worthy.

However, don’t forget that Ricky did take some “time off” a few years back so the extra wear and tear on his over 30 year old body is not where it likely should be.  My suggestion to any owner would be to take a shot on either one of these players if the opportunity presents itself, especially in the later rounds.  I personally would not want to spend any more than a 6^th rounder on Brown and possibly a 10^th rounder on Williams.  Just don’t forget to take a closer look at the numbers before draft day.  It is clear that the Dolphins like to run and if you were to combine both players total touches and total yards for either 2008 or 2009 it is clear that close to 2000 total yards and close to 20 touchdowns will clearly be produced by this backfield.  It is just a matter of which back will last the season and get the most opportunities.

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

Some technical issues precluded us from posting a running diary last week (traffic overload), but no such dilemmas today. Let’s do this thang.

10:02- Spirits are down after the preseason loss to the Giants, as it starts to set in that nothing much has changed with the NFL in jersey for the past 30 years.

10:04- Everyone keeps talking about how great the starters were in the preseason game, and just sort of ignore the Sanchez pick six, which, as displayed in the most recent Superbowl, can be pretty devastating in an NFL game. But people tell me he’s a STAR! So who am I to argue?

10:06- The montage music is great, but it could be a little more intense. I feel like I don’t quite grasp how serious this all is with such a mellow score.

10:08- It has finally dawned on everyone in the Jets organization that David Clowney, who the Jets have been relying on since the Pennington days, isn’t the next Jerry Rice. This is why they’re the Jets.

10:09- The special teams coach/cancer survivor likes to curse more than Rex Ryan and is quite inspirational. I don’t know, his diction tells me he’s a man but his chest is telling me otherwise.

10:11- Ryan tells his team, in so many words, that there practice was ineffectual, I’m assuming this is the backup practice that was promised after the Giants loss because the coaching staff has opted to make examples of all their players with no expectations. …Continue reading New York Jets Hard Knocks Episode 3

Gridiron Experts Fantasy Factor

• Demaryius Thomas – WR, Denver Broncos
  According to the Denver Post, there’s concern that Demaryius Thomas’ tests could show a stress fracture that would keep him out 3-4 months. Fantasy Factor- The Broncos are going to be looking at the team veterans to pull their weight the first half of the season. Some fantasy owners are “hands off” Bronco players, but the “Patriot” mentality will be enforced. There might be a sleeper to step up and earn some nice yardage, stay tuned.

• Antonio Bryant – WR, Cincinnati Bengals
  Antonio Bryant (knee) still hasn’t resumed practicing since the first day of training camp. Fantasy Factor- It seems that Bryant’s injury is worse than reports have indicated, apparently now the Bengals are on the verge of eating the signing bonus and cutting him loose. Link to article at PFT

• Sidney Rice - WR, Minnesota Vikings
  Judd Zulgad of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune is “hearing” that Sidney Rice will be on crutches for eight weeks following hip surgery. Fantasy Factor- Rice is not a fan favorite these days, why not get the surgery done earlier? This is bad news for the passing game, but great news for AP.

• Donovan McNabb – QB, Washington Redskins
  Though he’s likely done for the preseason, Donovan McNabb insists his ankle “absolutely” has improved since injuring it in last Saturday’s game. Fantasy Factor- McNabb is smart, he says the right things, but secretly he wants some other chump QB in for the next two nothing games while the offensive line works out the kinks. …Continue reading Gridiron Experts Fantasy Factor