5 Underrated Free Agents Worthy Of Respect

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Posted by DC | Posted on 03-03-2010

Category : Baltimore Ravens, Fantasy Football Strategies, Green Bay Packers, New England Patriots, San Diego Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

5 Underrated Free Agents Worthy Of Respect

The free agent market hits us like a tidal wave of possibilities. Fans are eagerly waiting and wondering how their team is going to make an upgrade quickly, while others want to know the affects it will have on fantasy football. The following is a quick list of players I think are flying under the radar who could have a huge year with a change of scenery.

#5 WR Antonio Bryant

Bryant had an amazing season in 2008, racking up 1,248  receiving yards and 7 touchdowns, but was franchise tagged last year to play on a team he wanted out of. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers were desperate to keep this unhappy wide receiver around for another year, but now they are letting him loose. Before playing two seasons in Tampa, Bryant bounced around the league, playing in Cleveland and in San Fransisco after the three seasons in Dallas in which he was drafted from.

At 28, this receiver is a lot more in tune with what he wants and where he thinks could be the best possible destination for his skills. Bryant still has a few more good years left in him, and a team looking to add an instant starter could land themselves a great wide receiver weapon.

4) DE Aaron Kampman

I am not Kampman’s doctor, but if the light is green, teams would be stupid not to gamble on this sack monster. Aaron suffered a knee injury earlier in the year, forcing him to miss time and play somewhat average football for the Packers. If you look at the three previous years in

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Fantasy Football: Keeper League Strategies

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Posted by DC | Posted on 14-02-2010

Category : Arizona Cardinals, Fantasy Football Strategies, Indianapolis Colts, New York Jets

How many of you were guilty of keeping once fantasy studs Brian Westbrook, Clinton Portis or Willie Parker last season in you keeper league.

Embarrassed ? don’t be, it’s not your fault. Sure injuries took their toll on these guys, but they were once game breakers that won you fantasy weeks on a regular basis, now they’re just dead weight in many keeper leagues. Of course age was always in the back of your mind on whether you should let these guys go, but the risk was worth the reward….at least that’s what you thought.

Willie Parker lost carries to R.Mendenhall and Portis was hurt almost all year. Guys like Brian Westbrook were a coin flip too many people, as his hands are top notch and could at least be used in ways to still rack up points through the air. Unfortunately Westbrook did neither and was even beat out in the rushing yards category by a white quarterback; Aaron Rodgers (true stat).

So was there a lesson that was learned here? Did you tell yourself never again? If you did, we applaud you, as passing on big name players in keeping leagues is a difficult and risky task.

Not all veteran running backs were terrible in 2009, leaving the odd gambling fantasy owner kicking himself. Thomas Jones is 31, and is definitely one of those guys you looked at and told yourself “that has got to be all he’s got left”. But Jones finds ways to make a near empty tank of gas last an entire season.

Thomas Jones had 1402 rushing yards and 14 TD’s in the 2009 season. I can bet you there were more than a few fantasy football owners that threw this prize fish back into the waters.

He was not the only running back that was suppose to move out of the way for a rookie; Joseph Addai may be thought as an older guy but at 26 the Colts drafted Donald Brown to take some the slack off Addai’s shoulders. People assumed that the torch was about to be passed by mid-season after Addai’s performance in the 08 season. But nothing could be further from the truth, Joseph Addai was a touchdown machine with 10 on the ground and 3 threw the air. It’s safe to say he didn’t like the addition of a 1st round running back looking

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Mike Martz Wrestles Bears Offense

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Posted by LFI | Posted on 11-02-2010

Category : Chicago Bears, Fantasy Football Strategies

Mike Martz Wrestles Bears Offense

There are some pros and cons associated with Mike Martz taking over the Offensive Coordinator position in Chicago.  Most notably are the pros that Martz himself will benefit from by turning around an offense that did not live up to its high expectations last year.  Martz may be in a similar position as another Mike, Mike Nolan, who was in Denver last year.  Turn around an underperforming unit and then move on to another organization that may be a better fit for you.  Or in Martz’s case, take over the Head Coaching position for the Chicago Bears if and when Lovie Smith is let go.

Martz is a great coach and has done some wonderful things statistically for different organization.  He even made Jon Kitna look like a Hall of Famer in the time he spent as the offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions.   Martz will no doubt implement a high flying offense that will greatly improve the statistics of most of the offensive skill players.  However, there will be a large learning curve for this new complex offense and most notably the Bears will have to greatly improve their offensive line play if they intend to keep Cutler upright for the majority of the season.

The concern for most Bears fans will be how will this new hire translate to more points on the board and overall contribute to more wins for the team in 2010.  However, to the majority of NFL fans, the big question is how will the hiring of Mike Martz as the Bears new  Offensive Coordinator  affect the value individuals from a fantasy football viewpoint.

Lets start the fantasy analysis be starting with the position that will greatly benefit from the Martz hiring, the quarterback position.  Last year Jay Cutler had a terrible year.  He threw too many interceptions (26) and was unable to keep his team in a position to win.  Most importantly has fantasy numbers were not where owners expected them to be.  With Martz calling the plays I expect Cutler to rebound nicely in 2010 and become an every week starter for a fantasy team.  I would expect someone to take a shot on Cutler somewhere in the 7th to 8th round

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Fantasy Football: Keeper Targets and Trash

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Posted by Daniel Phillips | Posted on 12-12-2009

Category : Fantasy Football Strategies, Sleepers & Player Rankings

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Keeper Targets and TrashKnowshon Moreno

There’s a certain science to winning a keeper pool, not only do you have to be able to recognize fresh talent early on, you also have to be able to tell when your players are over the hill and just wasting a roster spot in your line-up. The 09-10 campaign has almost come to a conclusion and by now you pretty much know the production rate of each player in the fantasy realm. Here’s a look at some young players that you might want to take a look at entering your next year’s keeper draft, and some older guys you may want to get rid of.

While most Keeper pools have an average of 2-3 players, some are reaching the 8-9’s these days. Value is always seen on the offensive teams, but age and potential need to remembered when making your decisions.

I’m going to avoid some of the obvious picks, so remember if you have the opportunity to keep any of these guys or get them in the draft be well warned: Beanie Wells, Knowsean Moreno, Shonn Greene, Michael Crabtree, Percy Harvin, Jeremy Maclin, Brian Orakpo, Clay Matthews, Jarius Byrd, Aaron Curry, Brian Cushing, Kenny Britt, Lesean McCoy, Donald Brown, Brandon Pettigrew, Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez indefinitely.  Here I’ve built a team for you of the players that you may be interested in keeping or targeting next draft:

  • QB Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins: it will be interesting to see what he can do in a full 16 games.
  • QB Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos: alright he’s not so young but he couldn’t be held out of this.

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Fantasy Football Coin Flip

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Posted by Kevin Roberts | Posted on 11-12-2009

Category : Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Fantasy Football Strategies, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles

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Fantasy_coin_flip

Fantasy playoffs are starting up in leagues all over the globe, and even if they aren’t, you still have a game or two with serious repercussions attached to them. You can either hit up the waiver wire, cross your fingers that your injured stars are healthy and ready to go, or go to your last resort: pick the right guy on your roster to stick into your starting line-up.

We’ve been doing it all season, showing you solid match-ups between two quality players, and giving you the best option to use each week.

The only difference this week is this article has a “Lesser of Two Evils” theme. Struggling to pick between two guys that have weak match-ups or haven’t been playing up to par? Allow us to shed some light on who might emerge from Week 14 with some solid production, even if it’s against all odds:

kevin_smithKevin Smith, RB, Detroit Lions (@ BAL) VS. Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears (vs. GB)

There’s a good chance you haven’t heard Smith and Forte’s names being promoted too much in the past few weeks. Aside from a nice match-up last week against the Rams for Forte, both backs have been relatively quiet, and have endured turnovers from their franchise quarterbacks.

It won’t get any easier this week. Both the Ravens and Packers stop the run very well, and are almost guaranteed to hold both backs below 100 yards rushing. This means your only real chance at fantasy success this week is picking the guy that will either sneak his way to a touchdown, gain some yards on screen passes, or if you’re lucky, both.

Both backs have been doing some solid damage on screens over the past few weeks, but it’s an easy call as to who has the edge in the red-zone.

Verdict: Smith is a touchdown hawk if his offense can get him close enough, and considering we like Stafford’s chances a bit better to move the ball against a weak Baltimore secondary, rather than

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Waiver Wire Sleepers Week 14

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Posted by Kevin Roberts | Posted on 09-12-2009

Category : Denver Broncos, Fantasy Football Strategies, Miami Dolphins, Tennessee Titans

Tags:

Hot-sexy-girl-playing-american-football

We’re getting down to the nitty-gritty. Most leagues have two or less regular season games left, while many leagues start their playoffs this week. That means you need to scour the Waiver Wire for a gem or two if your current roster isn’t boosting your confidence heading into Week 14.

Stay updated with NFL Soups’ Breaking News, and then hit our other top fantasy pieces to get all the information you need this week to be successful and keep your fantasy team alive.

The following are the top guys available in at least 50% of leagues:

Vince Young, QB, Tennessee Titans (Available in 63% of leagues)

Young and Alex Smith (below) continue to be available in over 60% of leagues a piece, yet churn out respectable fantasy days on a regular basis. Young’s Titans didn’t hand the Colts their first loss this week, but Young was able to throw for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Needless to say, if you’re depending on Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan, or a rookie passer, Young would be a solid upgrade for your playoff run.

Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco 49ers (66%)

Smith continues to perform at a high level, responding with a career high 310 yards, while also throwing two scores and no picks, a week after throwing three touchdowns in a game for the second time this season. Smith has the 49ers’ offense running smoothly, and even though it hasn’t added up to wins, he’s still a decent fantasy starter, and could help a team in need.

Chad Henne, QB, Miami Dolphins (90%)

Henne is growing up right before our eyes, as he dropped in two touchdowns and 335 yards passing against the New England Patriots. He’s still a bit risky to use due to his inexperience, but with his solid progression and the help of his strong running game, he’s at least a safe bet to carry over this success into Week 14.

Correll Buckhalter, RB, Denver Broncos (67%)

Buckhalter is clearly still a big part of the Broncos’ rushing offense, and even though he normally will get less total touches than Knowhon Moreno, his ability to make things happen with the ball sustains his moderate fantasy value. He cracked 100+ rushing yards last week in Denver’s second straight win, and should continue to run the ball as Denver goes up against an Indy pass defense that is still performing well.

Rock Cartwright, RB, Washington Redskins (68%)

With Clinton Portis likely out once again in Week 14, Cartwright should get the majority of the carries, and could be a quality RB2 with a nice match-up against a soft Oakland Raiders defense. His total yardage so far has been weak, but the touches are high enough to warrant taking a chance on him.

Kenny Britt, WR, Tennessee Titans (75%)

As Vince Young goes, so goes Kenny Britt. The rookie has burst onto the scene since start Justin Gage went down with a back injury, and has really never looked back. He continue his solid success with 46 yards and a touchdown in a loss against the Colts, and has a fantastic match-up in Week 14. He should make for a quality WR3 start the rest of the way.

Next up: St. Louis Rams

Match-up Rating: 5/5

Jermichael Finley, TE, Green Bay Packers (82%)

If there was any question about Finley’s role in the Packers offense, it was answered on Monday night. Finley caught seven balls for 70+ yards

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Waiver Wire Sleepers

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Posted by Kevin Roberts | Posted on 04-12-2009

Category : Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Fantasy Football Strategies, Sleepers & Player Rankings

Tags:

Hot-sexy-girl-playing-american-football

Last Minute Waiver Wire Sleepers

Believe it or not, whether you’re 11-0 or 5-6 at this point in the season, searching for and finding gems on the waiver wire never gets old. At least it shouldn’t, not if you’re as dedicated to fantasy football success as we are.

The names won’t blow you away, but there are at least a couple of guys at each position that can help you out in some manner, and all should be available in over 50% of fantasy leagues.

Read on to find out what darkhorses could help you in Week 13, and possibly even in your league’s playoffs:

Matt Leinart, QB, Arizona Cardinals (95%)

Leinart didn’t throw a touchdown in his 2009 starting debut, but he did play well, and ended the game against the Titants be going 13-16 in the second half. Kurt Warner is still having post-concussion issues, so there’s a decent chance Leinart could start on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings can rush the passer, but they also have issues stopping elite pass offenses, so Leinart could easily find some solid numbers. Even if Leinart doesn’t play this week, or if you don’t like him against the Vikings, hold onto him for the stretch run, as concussion symptoms tend to linger.

Chris Redman, QB, Atlanta Falcons (97%)

Redman stepped in for the injured Matt Ryan last week, and completed 23 passes for 240+ yards and two scores, including the game-winner. Redman picked up right where he had left off after a solid 2007 season, and will go into Week 13’s match-up against the Philadelphia Eagles as Atlanta’s starter, as Ryan nurses a turf toe injury.

The Eagles pass defense isn’t weak, but with no Michael Turner to help him, Redman could be in for a busy day.

Jerious Norwood, RB, Atlanta Falcons (80%)

It was Jason Snelling two weeks ago, and now that Micharl Turner is back on the shelf and Norwood is healthy again, the tiny back from Mississippi State gets a crack at extra playing time.

He was decent in his return last week, rushing for 22 yards and catching two passes for another 28 yards and a touchdown, but should see a much larger role this week against the Philadelphia Eagles.

The match-up isn’t great, but the touches should be there, making him a solid Flex play for Week 13, and until Turner returns.

Chris Brown, RB, Houston Texans (94%)

Brown has rushed the ball 11 times in the past two games, despite coming off the bench, and has even had a role in the passing game. Brown is the best blocking back on the team, doesn’t put the ball on the ground, and is solid in every facet of the game.

Steve Slaton will continue to start for the Texans and will play a role in the offense, but Brown’s role appears to be a bit more dependable. He has a solid match-up against a weak Jacksonville defense this week, so use him with confidence if you need running back help.

Robert Meachem, WR, New Orleans Saints (54%)

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NFL Injuries & Headlines

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Posted by Diesel | Posted on 04-12-2009

Category : Around the League, Fantasy Football Strategies

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NFL Injuries & Headlinesbrooklyn-decker

  • Shawne Merriman - LB, Chargers
    The Chargers are expected to be without defensive starters OLB Shawne Merriman (foot), DE Luis Castillo (ankle), and S Eric Weddle (knee) this week.
  • Kevin Smith – RB, Detroit Lions
    Beat writer Tom Kowalski believes Kevin Smith is “running like a beaten man” this season.= I have no idea what to make of this, but thought fantasy owners might want to hear it.
  • Aaron Ross – CB, New York Giants
    Giants CB Aaron Ross is getting “more comfortable” at safety after seeing increased practice reps at the position. = The Safety spot was a weak link during the Giants losing skid.
  • Roddy White – WR, Atlanta Falcons
    Roddy White (knee) was limited again in Thursday’s practice and is facing one of either the Eagles top two corners. = Average numbers are expected this week, might want to bench him in your fantasy league if you have a better options.
  • Michael Turner – RB Atlanta Falcons
    Turner (ankle) did not practice Thursday, which is the second day of practice he has missed this week. He is considered questionable for Sunday’s game against the Eagles. = Even if he can go the Eagles defense has been playing fairly tough against the run.
  • Steven Jackson – RB St. Louis
    Rams RB Steven Jackson didn’t practice again Thursday, but he expects to go Sunday at Chicago. “I feel better than yesterday,” He has been making small improvements everyday and is a tough player, he should suit up.
  • Mark Sanchez – QB New York Jets
    Sanchez was wearing a brace Thursday night after sustaining what coach Rex Ryan described as a mild sprain. It happened on a headfirst dive at the end of an 8-yard run early in the third quarter

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Fantasy Football Coin Flip

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Posted by Kevin Roberts | Posted on 02-12-2009

Category : Baltimore Ravens, Buffalo Bills, Fantasy Coin Flip, Fantasy Football Strategies, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Sleepers & Player Rankings

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Fantasy Football Coin Flip

Last weeks “Coin Flip” article was destroyed before it even started. We pitted Matt Ryan against Donovan McNabb, vouching for Ryan against a hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense, only to see the second-year star hit the sidelines with a turf toe injury before he could do any damage. It didn’t stop there. We also had a match-up between two injured running backs (Cedric Benson and Michael Turner) who had the possibility of returning last week, and you didn’t stand a chance going with either of them. Benson didn’t even suit up, while Turner’s triumphant return ended with 12 carries and under 40 yards, as well as a return to the sidelines after he re-injured his ankle.

We’re sticking with guys who aren’t riding gimpy legs into Week 13, and encourage you to rely on our advice this week:


Ray RiceRay Rice, RB, BAL (@GB) VS. Thomas Jones, RB, NYJ (@ BUF)

This is an interesting match-up because both of these backs have been fantasy stalwarts for most of 2009, and really, in any given week, have the role and ability to save your team. Rice is in a brutal division that does a great job against the run (save for Cleveland), yet he’s still put up elite numbers on a consistent basis. The week-to-week match-up is the complete opposite for Jones, however, yet the backs’ numbers are very comparable.

Rice is going up against a very solid Green Bay Packers defense on Monday night this week, one that has done a great job containing running backs in the past three weeks, yet still has a bit of trouble on screens (as most teams do). In a match-up of two beastly running backs, their respective match-ups have to be the deciding factor.

Verdict: Rice is very hard to leave on your bench, but if you have the choice between the two, you can’t pass up Jones’ beautiful match-up with a very leaky Bills run defense. Jones broke-out for 200+ yards on them last time, and that was with Mark Sanchez throwing five picks. How do you like his chances this week? Needless to say, TJ is our guy.

Jeremy Maclin, WR, PHI (@ATL) VS. Terrell Owens, WR, BUF (vs. NYJ)

Maclin has been a solid model for consistency since taking over Kevin Curtis’ job as the Eagle starter opposite of DeSean Jackson, while T.O. has finally developed some chemistry with a quarterback not named Romo, McNabb, or Garcia. Trent Edwards wasn’t giving him any love, but who

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