Gridiron Experts

Fantasy Factor

• Golden Tate – WR, Seattle Seahawks: Rookie Golden Tate didn’t play on offense until the fourth quarter of the Seahawks’ third preseason game Saturday. Fantasy Factor Ever since the Donut incident, Tate really hasn’t been making news. The surprise addition of Mike Williams has stolen the spotlight. Tate could turn it on as the season goes, but right now he shouldn’t be ranked too high on your draft board.

• John Carlson - TE, Seattle Seahawks: Danny O’Neil of the Seattle Times believes it’s “now OK to become officially concerned” that John Carlson won’t be a big part of the Seahawks’ passing game this season. Fantasy Factor Don’t believe everything you read, the pre-season for some coaches (especially new ones) can be for testing out the unknown. Carlson is an excellent target for Hasselbeck on a team that has an only average receiving core.

• Chris Johnson - RB, Tennessee Titans: Does is mean anything? Chris Johnson has just 39 yards on 19 preseason carries.
  

• Knowshon Moreno – RB, Denver Broncos: After watching them in pre-game warmups Sunday, Mike Klis of the Denver Post suggests that Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) and Demaryius Thomas (foot) “don’t look anywhere near close” to playing.

• Matt Schaub – QB, Houston Texans: Matt Schaub wasn’t sacked a single time in Saturday night’s preseason win over the Cowboys. Fantasy Factor A strong stat for the Texans. History of a bad offensive line as plagued this team. A reliable line for Schaub will translate into great fantasy numbers. …Continue reading Gridiron Experts Fantasy Factor

Fantasy Profile: LeSean McCoy

LeSean McCoy came to Philadelphia prepared and hoping to be the eventual replacement to Eagle legend, Brian Westbrook. Since Westbrook’s penchant for injury caught up to him in the worst and (according to recent reports) inevitable way possible, McCoy’s ascent was expedited and he was listed as the starter in only his second week as an NFL running back. For just about any other possession in the league, this isn’t typically a good thing.

But for running backs, well, in the year prior to McCoy’s rookie season, the 2008 rookie class produced Steve Slaton, Chris Johnson, Matt Forte, Tim Hightower, Ray Rice, Jonathan Stewart and Kevin Smith all of whom came into the league and immediately contributed, adding anywhere from league-changing to serviceable fantasy numbers. This doesn’t even factor in highly touted Darren McFadden (who was splitting carries/fighting injury), Felix Jones (ditto) and Rashard Mendehall (missed his entire rookie season with a preseason knee injury) who were all first round picks. With that, the precedent was set, and expectations were high for McCoy in his rookie season. Especially since he was replacing the most consistent running back of the past decade in Westbrook.

To say those expectations have since diminished for 2010 isn’t entirely accurate. I mean, the list of guy’s named above, only Chris Johnson, Rice and Stewart exceeded the standard they set in their rookie seasons, which indicates that fluctuation amongst running backs, much like everything else related to the NFL, is volatile. So no one’s giving up on McCoy per say, but his numbers in his rookie campaign were, shall we say… problematic for a team that’s relied so heavily on consistency coming out of the backfield for the past ten seasons. I’m sure at some point in the league’s history, four touchdowns and four yards a carry translated into a promising rookie year. But after 2008, when so many players drafted into far less ideal situations than McCoy out-performed him in a landslide, it doesn’t bode well for his future in Philadelphia.

In a way, he’s under just as much pressure to replace Westbrook as Kolb is to replace McNabb. Some might say mores so. While Eagle nation …Continue reading Fantasy Profile: LeSean McCoy

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.

7 Ways to Screw Up Your Fantasy Draft

7: Forget about bye weeks
There’s nothing worse than having 2 QB’s on the same bye week. After you draft your players, write down the week that team is off on a bye. When it’s time to draft your back-up players, look at the match-ups.

6: Drink your face off
Everybody loves draft day, but if your head’s not in it, you’ll end up with a handful of bums and kickers.

5: Draft your favorite players
People tend to pick players based on teams they love and avoid players they hate. Unless you like wasting money, try to draft the best team and cheer for your favorite players on the side. The Cowboys and Patriots are great fantasy teams despite all the haters.

4: Underestimate the time of a draft
Some people try to squeeze a fantasy draft in between work or things to do. If you’re rushed you’ll make poor decisions.

3. Obsess over Running Backs
We all know how important a stud RB is, but Quarterbacks and Receivers are just as important. Try to take the best available player; you don’t …Continue reading 7 Ways to Screw Up Your Fantasy Draft

Fantasy Football Depth Charts (updated)

Timing is everything. Gridiron Experts would have liked to get the third week of Pre-Season finished before seeing more team depth chart updates, but the fantasy football drafts just can’t wait any longer. Click on the Link below for a printable download of the latest updated NFL fantasy football depth charts.

Fantasy Football 2010 Depth Charts

Site display of Fantasy Football Depth Charts

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