Gridiron Experts

VERSUS: STEVE SMITH VS STEVE SMITH

As many fantasy players know there are two Steve Smith’s in the NFL.  One plays for the New York Giants and the other plays for the Carolina Panthers.  Both are quick on their feet and display great hands.  However, over the past couple of seasons whenever a fantasy team owner would announce Steve Smith as their next selection it was generally assumed that the owner meant Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers.  Later in the draft when someone was ready to draft Steve Smith of the Giants that owner might have said something along the lines of “I will take the other Steve Smith”.  This does not seem to be the case for this upcoming season as it is now going to be harder to distinguish which player is actually the “other” Steve Smith.  I expect both players to be selected prior to the end of the fourth round in any upcoming fantasy drafts.  However, which Steve Smith will be selected ahead of the other is now up for debate.  Steve Smith of the Giants is a much younger player and is coming off of a one hundred plus reception season.  On the other hand, Steve Smith of the Panthers is a seasoned veteran with a strong commitment to being highly productive.  To better understand the comparison between the two players I have provided a tale of the tape below.

As you can see from the stats above both players have the potential to have a significant fantasy impact in the coming season.  A closer look reveals that Smith of the Giants has not missed a game the past two seasons while Smith of the Panthers missed two games in 2008 due to suspension and then the final game of 2009 due to a broken arm.  This is the same arm he broke while playing flag football this past offseason, so bear in mind the possible injury risk when making a decision.  Judging from the overall numbers it is safe to say that both players will deliver around the same number of touchdowns this coming season along with a relatively close total yardage accumulation.  However, I do believe that Steve Smith of the Giants has the …Continue reading Fantasy Versus: Steve Smith Vs. Steve Smith

Time share conundrum

Felix Jones, Jonathan Stewart, and Matt Forte are arguably 3 of the most talented young runners in the NFL, yet they are all in a dreaded RBBC (running back by committee) situation. Stewart and Forte have shown superstar capabilities throughout a whole season. Jones has flashed an intriguing skill set that has made him look like an elite talent, albeit in short bursts. The question on fantasy football owners minds is, when is the right time to take a chance on one of these potential studs?

Matt Forte was nothing short of brilliant in 2008. The rookie out of Tulane took the NFL by storm with 1715 yards from scrimmage including 63 receptions and 12 total touchdowns. Everyone took notice last year, as he was a top 5 pick in nearly every fantasy football draft. His ’09 season was labeled a huge bust, as his touchdown numbers dipped to 4, and his fumbles increased from 1 to 6. He also really struggled in short yardage situations, converting only 12 of 23 opportunities. Many seem to think that Forte’s real problems were from the Bears offensive line, which was often over-matched.

The Bears were concerned enough to sign veteran runner Chester Taylor to a free agent deal. Taylor, like Forte, is an excellent receiver, a huge asset in the new Mike Martz offense. His only season as a featured back was in 2006 for the Vikings. Since that time he has played a 3rd down, change of pace role for Minnesota.

The key question, is how will these carries and catches be split among the two backs? Look for Forte to be more of a 1st and 2nd down back, and Taylor to spell him on 3rd downs, or even have both in the backfield at once. Taylor is probably better suited for a more limited role, allowing Forte to be an excellent fantasy football bargain this year in the 4th round or later.

Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams form the best running back duo in the NFL. They became the first tandem in league history to each eclipse 1,100 yards rushing last year. When Williams got hurt and missed three games in 2009, …Continue reading Fantasy Football: Time Share Conundrum

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

NFL Training Camp Notes & One-liners

Brian Brohm – QB, Buffalo Bills
In one 7-on-7 drill on the Bills’ first day of training camp, Brian Brohm took fewer reps than seventh-round pick Levi Brown.

Rey Maualuga – LB, Cincinnati Bengals
SI.com’s Peter King suggests “this will be the year” that Ray Maualuga supplants Dhani Jones as the Bengals’ starting middle linebacker.

Jordan Shipley – WR, Cincinnati Bengals
Coach Marvin Lewis has his mind set on getting rookie Jordan Shipley playing time even with three veterans ahead of him on the depth chart.

Brandon LaFell – WR, Carolina Panthers
Rookie Brandon LaFell looks “like a kid who could put some serious heat on Dwayne Jarrett,” according to beat writer Darin Gantt.

David Buehler – K, Dallas Cowboys
SI.com’s Peter King believes the Cowboys seem “worried, very worried” about the kicker position this season.

Armanti Edwards - WR, Carolina Panthers
Rookie Armanti Edwards reportedly looked “lost” at receiver on the first day of training camp Thursday.

Joe McKnight - RB, New York Jets …Continue reading NFL Training Camp Notes & One-Liners

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)

Daily Fantasy Football News

• Jonathan Stewart – RB, Carolina Panthers NFL.com’s Mike Lombardi reports that Jonathan Stewart (Achilles surgery) is back to 100 percent.
• Matt Cassel - QB, Kansas City Chiefs The Kansas City Star confirms that the Chiefs’ starting quarterback job is Matt Cassel’s “unequivocally.”
• Donovan McNabb – QB, Washington Redskins New Redskins’ QB Donovan McNabb will be joined by teammates for voluntary workouts at McNabb’s Phoenix home starting Monday.
• Jamaal Charles – RB, Kansas City Chiefs Jamaal Charles is expected to be the centerpiece of the Chiefs’ offense, according to beat writer Kent Babb.
• Reggie Wayne – WR, Indianapolis Colts Reggie Wayne doesn’t sound serious about a holdout even though he is angling for a new contract.
• Terrell Owens – WR, Buffalo Bills GM A.J. Smith virtually ruled out the possibility of the Chargers signing free agent Terrell Owens.
• Vince Young – QB, Tennessee Titans Vince Young had a “really, really good offseason” and is “primed for a big year,” according to Dan Pompei of the National Football Post.
• Cedric Benson – RB, Cincinnati Bengals Beat writer Joe Reedy reiterated that Cedric Benson appears unlikely to face punishment from the league for his recent assault charge. …Continue reading NFL Fantasy News: Impatiently Waiting!

NFL News & Updates

• Steve Smith – WR, Carolina Panthers
  Panthers WR Steve Smith fractured his left arm playing flag football over the weekend and is in danger missing all of training camp. He had surgery on Sunday night and was expected to be ready in time for the Panthers’ regular-season opener. Panthers beat writer Darin Gantt expects Kenneth Moore to take Steve Smith’s (broken arm) place with the first-team offense in training camp.

• Vincent Jackson – WR, San Diego Chargers
  NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora speculates that the Seahawks could be interested if the Chargers put unsigned restricted free agent Vincent Jackson on the trade block.

• Wes Welker – WR, New England Patriots
  Beat writer Mike Reiss thinks that Wes Welker (ACL, shoulder surgeries) will open training camp on the PUP lists and stay there for at least the first six weeks of the regular season.

• Joshua Cribbs – WR, Cleveland Browns
  Josh Cribbs revealed on Twitter Monday that he intends to lose 13 pounds before the start of training camp.
• Steve Slaton – RB, Houston Texans …Continue reading NFL News & Updates