Saturday, July 4, 2009
AFC North
Buffalo Bills - The Bills had 4 picks in the first 2 rounds. They drafted highly regarded DE Aaron Maybin from Penn State and C Eric Wood.....from......Louisville in the first round who will make immediate impact for this young team, Wood may have been the best Center in the draft and is an awesome finisher. Maybin has a great burst and knows how to get to the QB, though he does struggle against the run the question is can this guy play 4 downs? In the second round they selected CB Jairus Byrd from Oregon who is a ball hawk and great defender and OL Andy Levitre from Oregon State to help in the rebuilding of this offensive line after the departure of Jason Peters,which is the glaring thing that wasn't adressed in the draft. In later rounds, they drafted players to improve the secondary. This teams success depends on the success and health of Trent Edwards since the departing of J.P. Losman.Ryan Fitzpatrick is listed as the #2 and in my opinion is career long back up in this league. Marshawn Lynch will get the bulk of the carries while Fred Jackson will give him a breather when needed. The Bills also picked up Dominic Rhodes who may step in later into the season if injuries occur at the RB position and make some noise in fantasy football, so keep him on your watch list. At WR Buffalo added T.O. in free agency which makes Lee Evans so much more valuable in fantasy leagues. With double coverage on T.O. The #3 spot will be a battle between Roscoe Parrish and 2nd year man from Indiana, James Hardy. Hardy should win this battle with his 6'5" heighth and could be a great suprise for anyone wanting to take a chance on him, as he will be an end zone threat. The TE position is another possible point of interest to fantasy owners, the production that could erupt from this position may be huge with the addition of Owens. They have 5 guys with less than 3 yrs experience but rookie Shawn Nelson from Southern Miss,who somehow slipped to the 4th round in this years draft, will be the front runner going into camp.
Miami Dolphins - Draft day was good for the Dolphins, as they filled many holes on this team. In the first round selected Vontae Davis at CB as they needed a strong corner to be able to cover T.O. and Randy Moss whom they will face twice a year each. The big addition is grabbing the extremely athletic Pat White from WVU in the draft. He will wreak havoc on the league working out of the Wildcat offense with his great speed and should be considered if still sitting on the board in later rounds though Chad Pennington still remains the starter. Sean Smith from Utah will provide needed depth at CB with his 6'4" 213 pound frame, but lacks the "woo" factor as he isn't a good tackler.In the 3rd and 4th rounds Miami selected two WR's who should make impact on this team because Tedd Ginn Jr and Greg Camarillo are the only 2 WR's that you have ever heard of on this team. Rookie's Patrick Turner from USC and Brian Hartline from Ohio State should battle it out for the third WR spot, but i see Turner winning the spot with his 6'5" heighth, he should be a regular red zone target that the Dolphins need, so look for 7 to 8 td's from the slot. Anthony Fasano will have a battle on his hands at camp this year. Rookie John Nalbone is a bit undersize but is a great reciever and blocker which is what Fasano is not. David Martin will also try to fit tinto a starting role at TE but the big points on this team will come from th RB position. Ronnie Brown is fantasy stud when he is healthy and Ricky Williams has been invisible at camp, so look for Patrick Cobbs to step in if and when injuries occur to Ronnie Brown, and remember he was never a full time back and always a back up in college, im not sure if this guy has the durability to make it a full season.
New York Jets - J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS was the chant heard most of the day after the big move to trade up 12 spots and amazingly draft a legitimate worthy first round player, which is rare for this New York franchise. Mark Sanchez is the future of this team with his big arm strength and leadership skills, he is a great replacement for Brett Favre. Sanchez will struggle his first year with not much help at the WR position behind Jerricho Cotchery, who i don't see as a #1 reciever in this league. Bubba Franks will get many looks, as the TE is always the best friend of a rookie QB, so expect Bubba to have an amazing season if he remains healthy and keeps the starting spot.Thomas Jones struggled to find the end zone the past couple of seasons but rushed a solid 90 yrds a game, unfortunately he hasn't got the new deal that he desires.With the Jets not giving Jones a contract it looks like they are looking elsewhere to spend their money in the future. Leon Washington seems like he has earned an oppurtunity to be a starter and will most likely retain the kickoff duties but the drafting of Shonn Greene may say otherwise.Greene was considered by many teams as one of the top 3 RB's in the draft who is a good strong downhill runner and has great vision,Greene is a very solid pick for any keeper league franchise looking for a RB for the future.This offense should have the ball most of the game with the great defense they have assembled.Bart Scott and Lito Sheppard were added in free agency but the biggest pick up on defense was the acquisition of head coach Rex Ryan. Ryan, who is a defensive minded coach will be a huge asset, but will all that be enough to overcome the loss of Laverneus Coles? The Jets are bound to be a team that struggles this year if they can't get their run game established but definitely a team on the rise who are just a couple years and a couple drafts away from being a perrenial wild card threat in the playoffs.
New England Patriots - The biggest question around the Patriots is how healthy is Tom Brady's knee and how will he come back from the botched knee surgery. Randy Moss and Wes Welker are probably the best WR duo in the league and should be considered in the early rounds. The RB position is impossible to predict, as my guess would be that Fred Taylor will be the starter as Bellichek has some sort of beef with Laurence Maroney, but that is a 1 too many headed monster that i will not deal with on draft day personally. The Defense was the main focus in the draft for the Pat's and that should improve this dynamic team for the future as many back up rotational guys were taken to replace this aging starting defensive lineup. This is a smart coaching staff who always has great drafts and knows the type of players they are looking for, with 12 picks in the draft the most notable fantasy player is probably the 3rd round pick out of North Carolina ,Brandon Tate.Tate is coming off ACL surgery but could end up in the slot by the end of the year and should see return duties when fully recovered.
Miami Dolphins - Draft day was good for the Dolphins, as they filled many holes on this team. In the first round selected Vontae Davis at CB as they needed a strong corner to be able to cover T.O. and Randy Moss whom they will face twice a year each. The big addition is grabbing the extremely athletic Pat White from WVU in the draft. He will wreak havoc on the league working out of the Wildcat offense with his great speed and should be considered if still sitting on the board in later rounds though Chad Pennington still remains the starter. Sean Smith from Utah will provide needed depth at CB with his 6'4" 213 pound frame, but lacks the "woo" factor as he isn't a good tackler.In the 3rd and 4th rounds Miami selected two WR's who should make impact on this team because Tedd Ginn Jr and Greg Camarillo are the only 2 WR's that you have ever heard of on this team. Rookie's Patrick Turner from USC and Brian Hartline from Ohio State should battle it out for the third WR spot, but i see Turner winning the spot with his 6'5" heighth, he should be a regular red zone target that the Dolphins need, so look for 7 to 8 td's from the slot. Anthony Fasano will have a battle on his hands at camp this year. Rookie John Nalbone is a bit undersize but is a great reciever and blocker which is what Fasano is not. David Martin will also try to fit tinto a starting role at TE but the big points on this team will come from th RB position. Ronnie Brown is fantasy stud when he is healthy and Ricky Williams has been invisible at camp, so look for Patrick Cobbs to step in if and when injuries occur to Ronnie Brown, and remember he was never a full time back and always a back up in college, im not sure if this guy has the durability to make it a full season.
New York Jets - J-E-T-S, JETS, JETS, JETS was the chant heard most of the day after the big move to trade up 12 spots and amazingly draft a legitimate worthy first round player, which is rare for this New York franchise. Mark Sanchez is the future of this team with his big arm strength and leadership skills, he is a great replacement for Brett Favre. Sanchez will struggle his first year with not much help at the WR position behind Jerricho Cotchery, who i don't see as a #1 reciever in this league. Bubba Franks will get many looks, as the TE is always the best friend of a rookie QB, so expect Bubba to have an amazing season if he remains healthy and keeps the starting spot.Thomas Jones struggled to find the end zone the past couple of seasons but rushed a solid 90 yrds a game, unfortunately he hasn't got the new deal that he desires.With the Jets not giving Jones a contract it looks like they are looking elsewhere to spend their money in the future. Leon Washington seems like he has earned an oppurtunity to be a starter and will most likely retain the kickoff duties but the drafting of Shonn Greene may say otherwise.Greene was considered by many teams as one of the top 3 RB's in the draft who is a good strong downhill runner and has great vision,Greene is a very solid pick for any keeper league franchise looking for a RB for the future.This offense should have the ball most of the game with the great defense they have assembled.Bart Scott and Lito Sheppard were added in free agency but the biggest pick up on defense was the acquisition of head coach Rex Ryan. Ryan, who is a defensive minded coach will be a huge asset, but will all that be enough to overcome the loss of Laverneus Coles? The Jets are bound to be a team that struggles this year if they can't get their run game established but definitely a team on the rise who are just a couple years and a couple drafts away from being a perrenial wild card threat in the playoffs.
New England Patriots - The biggest question around the Patriots is how healthy is Tom Brady's knee and how will he come back from the botched knee surgery. Randy Moss and Wes Welker are probably the best WR duo in the league and should be considered in the early rounds. The RB position is impossible to predict, as my guess would be that Fred Taylor will be the starter as Bellichek has some sort of beef with Laurence Maroney, but that is a 1 too many headed monster that i will not deal with on draft day personally. The Defense was the main focus in the draft for the Pat's and that should improve this dynamic team for the future as many back up rotational guys were taken to replace this aging starting defensive lineup. This is a smart coaching staff who always has great drafts and knows the type of players they are looking for, with 12 picks in the draft the most notable fantasy player is probably the 3rd round pick out of North Carolina ,Brandon Tate.Tate is coming off ACL surgery but could end up in the slot by the end of the year and should see return duties when fully recovered.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
NFC South
New Orleans Saints - The Saint's didn't do anything in the draft on the offensive side of the ball.What they did do is make the defense a lot better for the future by drafting Malcolm Jenkins from Ohio State,this guy is tall, physical, and has all the tools to be a #1 defensive back for any team in the league.He won the Jim Thorpe Award his senior year and could end up replacing the newly signed Darren Sharper in the future with his ball-hawk skills,shut down ability and size he should be a good matchup for any over utilized TE that this defense may line up against.Jenkins in 49 games with the Buckeyes never allowed a TD reception and blocked 3 kicks he is a good tough nose football player that is always around the ball. Chip Vaughn(S)and Stanley Arnoux(ILB),both from Wake Forest, were also added with their next 2 picks, that were in the 4th round. This should be a nice start for this future New Orleans defense and that will always help an offense. Drew Brees is a true leader that will have huge numbers again this year so any recievers on this team are worth having, if so just for a bench spot and a great fill in on bye weeks.Reggie Bush is the starter with deuce McCalister gone but Pierre Thomas you must handcuff since Reggie has never played a full season.Thomas is probably one of the better options in the later rounds once all starting RB's are gone since Bush misses so many games.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tampa has a lot of QB's on their roster with Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown, Brian Griese, 2nd yr man Josh Johnson from San Diego, and newly drafted Josh Freeman from Kansas. Leftwich looks like the early favorite for the starter but if, or should i say when,he faulters i think Griese will be the man to step in. He hasn't got the arm strength but is a smart QB that can run an offense and make the short accurate throws to get the 1st downs. Freeman is a development project that could become a franchise QB, he is 6'5"has a big arm and is very athletic and is smart but will need time to develop into the speed that the NFL has.I don't think he will get many reps, if any, this year as the Bucs want to bring him along slowly, but he will be a rushing threat from the goal line when he does get his chance.The team also added Kellen Winslow to the roster and Dedric Ward in the offseason.Ward should get some carries this season but with Cadillac Williams hopefully healthy and Earnest Graham in the mix and probably getting the goal line carries there isnt much fantasy value for this group but Graham would be the one to consider if a Buc is a must.Someone from the WR position will have a decent year but it is a toss up especially with the lack of talent at QB.
Atlanta Falcons - Atlanta got help with the addition of Tony Gonzales, but for how many years? Gonzo is up there in age but i believe he can still contribute this season, look for him to have a good season with 8 or so TD's. In the draft they went defense because they had to. In the 1st round picked up a starter in DT Jerry Peria from Mississippi.He has nice size but will have to learn on the fly with the departing of Rod Coleman. Matt Ryan is the future QB of this league,if he can stay healthy and keep a good run game around him, I believe he can develop into something special. Michael Turner is a top back this year after last seasons performance and should be drafted in the top 10, if he slips past there pick him up and start talking the talk. Roddy White is a top 8 reciever with his huge speed and size and will give u nice gains in your league. Harry Douglass is a WR that got plenty of looks last year and should be even better this season and a great "swoop" in the latter rounds as a sleeper.
Carolina Panthers - The NFC South defending champs didn't have a 1st round pick. Then they gave up next years first round pick to move into the 11th pick of the 2nd round. Why do that in bad draft class? Because Florida State's Everette Brown was somehow still available. The Junior left the Seminoles a year early to move into this draft class and is an excellent pass rusher that is very crafty but a bit undersized.He is very disruptive behind the line of scrimmage and will most likely be Julius Peppers' replacement after this season. Unless a trade happens before the trade deadline at week 6. He will probably have limited playing time this season, as Tyler Brayton and Charles Johnson are very highly regarded in Carolina ,but they get limited snaps because Peppers is on the field pretty much for every snap. With their 2nd pick in the 2nd round they drafted Safety Sherrod Martin from Troy University who will get plenty of playing time in the teams sub package as Chris Harris along with John Beason are coming off shoulder surgeries. Martin can be moved to DB if he needs to. With the picks of Corey Irvin (DL) from Georgia and Duke Robinson (OT) from Oklahoma in the 3rd and 5th rounds this was a great draft in the middle rounds for Carolina.With two fourth-round picks the Panthers drafted a pair of running backs in Mike Goodson(Texas A&M) and the best FB in the draft Tony Fiametta(Syracuse).In the 7th round they drafted another rookie that will see some playing time, with the shipping off of Ken Lucas, Captain Munnerlyn will make some impact his rookie year. He can help in the return game and will see time in the Dime and Nickel packages but is also a bit undersized.Jake Delhomme is always an option for a team who doesnt have an elite QB, his performance against Arizona in the playoffs last year doesnt sway me in anyway. He led this team to a 12-4 record last season, backed up Kurt Warner in the NFL Europe, won the World Bowl the following season, has been to a Super Bowl-that they should have won, and has a brand new 5-yr contract. Jake is a smart QB and will be just fine. So will the rest of this offense. Steve Smith will have an explosive year if he can keep his hamstrings in order and Deangelo Williams is a top 3 fantasy back with his tackle breaking skill and breakaway speed. Jonathan Stewart is also a future elite back who is just as explosive as Williams. These guys are must have's in keeper leagues as Carolina has a revamped O-Line that is built on size that remind me of the good old "Hogs" from the Redskins championship teams. Look for this team to produce tons of fantasy point's for the next few seasons if John Fox stays around and Mushin Muhammad is a nice WR option as he is a threat in this offense when Steve Smith is double covered especially in the red zone.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tampa has a lot of QB's on their roster with Byron Leftwich, Luke McCown, Brian Griese, 2nd yr man Josh Johnson from San Diego, and newly drafted Josh Freeman from Kansas. Leftwich looks like the early favorite for the starter but if, or should i say when,he faulters i think Griese will be the man to step in. He hasn't got the arm strength but is a smart QB that can run an offense and make the short accurate throws to get the 1st downs. Freeman is a development project that could become a franchise QB, he is 6'5"has a big arm and is very athletic and is smart but will need time to develop into the speed that the NFL has.I don't think he will get many reps, if any, this year as the Bucs want to bring him along slowly, but he will be a rushing threat from the goal line when he does get his chance.The team also added Kellen Winslow to the roster and Dedric Ward in the offseason.Ward should get some carries this season but with Cadillac Williams hopefully healthy and Earnest Graham in the mix and probably getting the goal line carries there isnt much fantasy value for this group but Graham would be the one to consider if a Buc is a must.Someone from the WR position will have a decent year but it is a toss up especially with the lack of talent at QB.
Atlanta Falcons - Atlanta got help with the addition of Tony Gonzales, but for how many years? Gonzo is up there in age but i believe he can still contribute this season, look for him to have a good season with 8 or so TD's. In the draft they went defense because they had to. In the 1st round picked up a starter in DT Jerry Peria from Mississippi.He has nice size but will have to learn on the fly with the departing of Rod Coleman. Matt Ryan is the future QB of this league,if he can stay healthy and keep a good run game around him, I believe he can develop into something special. Michael Turner is a top back this year after last seasons performance and should be drafted in the top 10, if he slips past there pick him up and start talking the talk. Roddy White is a top 8 reciever with his huge speed and size and will give u nice gains in your league. Harry Douglass is a WR that got plenty of looks last year and should be even better this season and a great "swoop" in the latter rounds as a sleeper.
Carolina Panthers - The NFC South defending champs didn't have a 1st round pick. Then they gave up next years first round pick to move into the 11th pick of the 2nd round. Why do that in bad draft class? Because Florida State's Everette Brown was somehow still available. The Junior left the Seminoles a year early to move into this draft class and is an excellent pass rusher that is very crafty but a bit undersized.He is very disruptive behind the line of scrimmage and will most likely be Julius Peppers' replacement after this season. Unless a trade happens before the trade deadline at week 6. He will probably have limited playing time this season, as Tyler Brayton and Charles Johnson are very highly regarded in Carolina ,but they get limited snaps because Peppers is on the field pretty much for every snap. With their 2nd pick in the 2nd round they drafted Safety Sherrod Martin from Troy University who will get plenty of playing time in the teams sub package as Chris Harris along with John Beason are coming off shoulder surgeries. Martin can be moved to DB if he needs to. With the picks of Corey Irvin (DL) from Georgia and Duke Robinson (OT) from Oklahoma in the 3rd and 5th rounds this was a great draft in the middle rounds for Carolina.With two fourth-round picks the Panthers drafted a pair of running backs in Mike Goodson(Texas A&M) and the best FB in the draft Tony Fiametta(Syracuse).In the 7th round they drafted another rookie that will see some playing time, with the shipping off of Ken Lucas, Captain Munnerlyn will make some impact his rookie year. He can help in the return game and will see time in the Dime and Nickel packages but is also a bit undersized.Jake Delhomme is always an option for a team who doesnt have an elite QB, his performance against Arizona in the playoffs last year doesnt sway me in anyway. He led this team to a 12-4 record last season, backed up Kurt Warner in the NFL Europe, won the World Bowl the following season, has been to a Super Bowl-that they should have won, and has a brand new 5-yr contract. Jake is a smart QB and will be just fine. So will the rest of this offense. Steve Smith will have an explosive year if he can keep his hamstrings in order and Deangelo Williams is a top 3 fantasy back with his tackle breaking skill and breakaway speed. Jonathan Stewart is also a future elite back who is just as explosive as Williams. These guys are must have's in keeper leagues as Carolina has a revamped O-Line that is built on size that remind me of the good old "Hogs" from the Redskins championship teams. Look for this team to produce tons of fantasy point's for the next few seasons if John Fox stays around and Mushin Muhammad is a nice WR option as he is a threat in this offense when Steve Smith is double covered especially in the red zone.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals - With the acquisition of more Steelers,Ken Whisenhunt has added more depth to his roster with the addition of Dan Kreider to bolster his power running game and Bryant McFadden to sure up his defensive backfield.This is great news for Arizona fans as they collect two guys with Super Bowl rings that play hard nose football.In the draft the Cardinals felt they had a gift dropped in their lap with Chris "Beanie" Wells falling to the 31st pick.This was a perfect oppurtunity to let aging veteran Edgerin James be released and make more carries for Tim Hightower and the rookie,Beanie Wells, these two should put up some good numbers with Hightower getting the goal line carries of the two.Wells will be good in points per reception leagues as Kurt Warner may have to dump the ball off if they dont resolve Anquan Boldin's contract issues and Larry Fitzgerald starts to get double teamed.The Cardinals also took an undersized DE in the 2nd round who may convert to OLB in the 3-4 and a couple of good, smart football players in the secondary in later rounds.Arizona missed a need in the draft at LB but should find someone in free agency or after roster trim downs before the season starts.If Kurt Warner is healthy for the season this team could put up some spectacular numbers if they retain Boldin.Though they did lose Bryant Johnson, Steve Breaston is a 3rd WR or bench guy that should be considered when combing through vet WR's in the later rounds of draft day.I must note they drafted a beast at 6'7" 364lbs for the offensive line, Herman Johnson, from LSU who should be a fixture on this offensive line for many years.
San Francisco - The 49ers got a gift also when the Raiders opted out of Michael Crabtree,the best WR in the draft, to take the fastest man at the combine Darius Heyward-Bey(4.27 40-time)This will create something to watch over the next years in the bay area to see who is more productive. My money is on Crabtree,hopefully he will be able to showcase his better skill set and hands, but no one is sure who will be throwing him the ball.The 49ers have Damon Huard, Shaun Hill, and the bust Alex Smith.While they drafted a QB in the 5th round in Nate Davis from Ball State he is definitely not ready to start in the NFL and is seen as a project in San Francisco.So, as what kind of numbers to see from him is a question mark he has great work ethic and once was recruited by legendary coach Bobby Knight.Frank Gore's replacement for when he eventually goes down is interesting.They have Michael Robinson and he will probably battle it out with two pretty good rookies in Glenn Coffee from Alabama and former Boilermaker and undrafted Kory Sheets.The WR battle should be a good one in camp but no one worth talking about besides Crabtree is on this roster. 2nd and 3rd WR slot should go to Isaac Bruce and injury plagued Brandon Jones unless Josh Morgan or Arnaz Battle decide to step up and take it.Overall they needed a lot of help on the offensive line and drafted no one to help with that.This should be a not-so great season for players on this franchise and my advice is to stay away from anyone on this roster until the offensive line gets better.....a lot better.
St. Louis Rams - The Rams had the 2nd pick in the draft and needed many positions to be filled after letting Tori Holt, Orlando Pace, Corey Chavous, and Trent Green leave St. Louis.They did grab a couple centers and Kyle Boller in the offseason. The team really needed to help the offensive line to keep Marc Bulger off of his back and make holes for Steven Jackson , they did just that with their pick by selecting a very strong(33 reps/225lbs at combine) Jason Smith from Baylor University.They needed more help on the o-line but got a gem in Smith,who has great feet, and in the 2nd round got help at MLB James Laurinaitis from the Buckeyes who should be a starter from day 1. In the 5th round a fantasy sleeper was picked in Brooks Foster who should definitely get his opputunities on the field as a very young recieving class competes for positions led by Donnie Avery.If Bulger gets back to form, any of the WR could emerge as fantasy threats but this is now a run first team and is a different dynamic than the "The Greatest Show on Turf" Rams we all gazed in amazement over.Expect Bulger and Jackson to pick up their fantasy numbers this season but nothing too extaordinary to talk about besides these two.With the releasing of Brian Leonard pay attention to who the number 2 is at RB because you may want to handcuff them with Steven Jackson.
Seattle Seahawks - A new regime has started in Seattle as Jim Mora Jr replaces Mike Holmgren at the helm.They lost some long term fixtures on this team led by Rocky Bernard and Julian Peterson but in the offseason acquired Cory Redding to plug up the middle and fantasy football legend T.J. Houshmandzadeh also referred to as "who's your mama".T.J. complements Nate Burleson greatly. This WR crew with former Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch could have nice numbers this year if Matt Hasselback can stay healthy.If not they have Seneca Wallace and drafted Mike Teel in the 6th round from Rutgers along with Jeff Rowe.Mora did a smart thing in drafting Adam Curry with his #4 pick. With it being his 1st as the coach he could have really goofed up taking a bust.Curry will start immediately and is a shut down OLB , he is a Lofa Tatupu type player that is great in coverage along with run stopping ability on the outside.Another smart pick in the 2nd round for Mora is Max Unger an offensive tackle that can play anywhere on the line.He will improve the offensive line and if he plays his cards right could end up starting day 1, also.In the 3rd round they got a very speedy reciever in Deon Butler from Penn State but will take him a couple seasons to crack through the lineup to be of any fantasy value.With Mauice Morris gone from Seattle it looks like Julius Jones will be the inherit the starting position and if he falters T.J. Duckett(a Mora product) will quickly grab the reigns of the spot at the RB position and could put up some big numbers.
San Francisco - The 49ers got a gift also when the Raiders opted out of Michael Crabtree,the best WR in the draft, to take the fastest man at the combine Darius Heyward-Bey(4.27 40-time)This will create something to watch over the next years in the bay area to see who is more productive. My money is on Crabtree,hopefully he will be able to showcase his better skill set and hands, but no one is sure who will be throwing him the ball.The 49ers have Damon Huard, Shaun Hill, and the bust Alex Smith.While they drafted a QB in the 5th round in Nate Davis from Ball State he is definitely not ready to start in the NFL and is seen as a project in San Francisco.So, as what kind of numbers to see from him is a question mark he has great work ethic and once was recruited by legendary coach Bobby Knight.Frank Gore's replacement for when he eventually goes down is interesting.They have Michael Robinson and he will probably battle it out with two pretty good rookies in Glenn Coffee from Alabama and former Boilermaker and undrafted Kory Sheets.The WR battle should be a good one in camp but no one worth talking about besides Crabtree is on this roster. 2nd and 3rd WR slot should go to Isaac Bruce and injury plagued Brandon Jones unless Josh Morgan or Arnaz Battle decide to step up and take it.Overall they needed a lot of help on the offensive line and drafted no one to help with that.This should be a not-so great season for players on this franchise and my advice is to stay away from anyone on this roster until the offensive line gets better.....a lot better.
St. Louis Rams - The Rams had the 2nd pick in the draft and needed many positions to be filled after letting Tori Holt, Orlando Pace, Corey Chavous, and Trent Green leave St. Louis.They did grab a couple centers and Kyle Boller in the offseason. The team really needed to help the offensive line to keep Marc Bulger off of his back and make holes for Steven Jackson , they did just that with their pick by selecting a very strong(33 reps/225lbs at combine) Jason Smith from Baylor University.They needed more help on the o-line but got a gem in Smith,who has great feet, and in the 2nd round got help at MLB James Laurinaitis from the Buckeyes who should be a starter from day 1. In the 5th round a fantasy sleeper was picked in Brooks Foster who should definitely get his opputunities on the field as a very young recieving class competes for positions led by Donnie Avery.If Bulger gets back to form, any of the WR could emerge as fantasy threats but this is now a run first team and is a different dynamic than the "The Greatest Show on Turf" Rams we all gazed in amazement over.Expect Bulger and Jackson to pick up their fantasy numbers this season but nothing too extaordinary to talk about besides these two.With the releasing of Brian Leonard pay attention to who the number 2 is at RB because you may want to handcuff them with Steven Jackson.
Seattle Seahawks - A new regime has started in Seattle as Jim Mora Jr replaces Mike Holmgren at the helm.They lost some long term fixtures on this team led by Rocky Bernard and Julian Peterson but in the offseason acquired Cory Redding to plug up the middle and fantasy football legend T.J. Houshmandzadeh also referred to as "who's your mama".T.J. complements Nate Burleson greatly. This WR crew with former Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch could have nice numbers this year if Matt Hasselback can stay healthy.If not they have Seneca Wallace and drafted Mike Teel in the 6th round from Rutgers along with Jeff Rowe.Mora did a smart thing in drafting Adam Curry with his #4 pick. With it being his 1st as the coach he could have really goofed up taking a bust.Curry will start immediately and is a shut down OLB , he is a Lofa Tatupu type player that is great in coverage along with run stopping ability on the outside.Another smart pick in the 2nd round for Mora is Max Unger an offensive tackle that can play anywhere on the line.He will improve the offensive line and if he plays his cards right could end up starting day 1, also.In the 3rd round they got a very speedy reciever in Deon Butler from Penn State but will take him a couple seasons to crack through the lineup to be of any fantasy value.With Mauice Morris gone from Seattle it looks like Julius Jones will be the inherit the starting position and if he falters T.J. Duckett(a Mora product) will quickly grab the reigns of the spot at the RB position and could put up some big numbers.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
NFC East
New York Giants-The Giants had probably one of the best drafts/offseasons of any team this year.They added DE Michael Boley,who was a dominating force for Atlanta last season and DT Rocky Bernard to bolster the defensive line.Then they draft Hakim Nicks in the 1st round and Ramses Barden to replace the hole that Plaxico Burress left.Nicks, is a extremely quick reciever with great hands that competes for the ball ,he should eventually be Eli Manning's #1 target.Barden is a huge specimen at WR, he is 6'6", and 229 lbs will give Eli that huge target in the red zone.The Giants added great depth at the OLB and OT positions and with their 6th pick,in the 4th round, they added RB Andre Brown(a steal in the 4th round)an excellent replacement for the recently departed Derrick Ward. He has great hands and turned a lot of heads in the senior bowl.These WR's should make some noise this year in the NFL, but besides that Eli would be the only one i would want on my fantasy team since the backfield carries should be split 3 ways this year again.
Washington Redskins-The 'Skins drafted a very talented player in Brian Orakpo,the Big 12 player of the year,he is a physical specimen and is freakishly long.He ran a 4.66 at the combine at 263 lbs.He is very explosive off the edge and with Albert Haynesworth takin double teams Orakpo may be the defensive rookie of the year if he gets all of the sacks he is expected to get.Washington missed out on their biggest need by taking talent with Orakpo,their offensive tackle department was in much need of help but at pick 13 and Orakpo on the board it was a no brainer. In their defense this was my favorite defensive player in the draft he is very explosive and gives them, i believe, the best front in football.But not picking again until pick number 80 the Redskins were left with no pick for the tackle spot since 8 were already taken by then.This team could be in big trouble with any offensive line injuries and without Clinton Portis in the lineup this offense isnt that good.Campbell is a good back up on most fantasy rosters while Santana Moss isn't consistent enough to keep as a starter I just assume stay away from any player on this roster with the exception of Portis.
Philadelphia Eagles-Now, the Eagles had a great draft and finally helped Donovan Mcnabb.While they acquired offensive tackles Jason Peters and Stacey Andrews to keep him upright and healthy they also moved up in the draft to get Larry Maclin.This guy is amazing after the catch and looks to be a new mold of the Desean Jackson and Kevin Curtis type recievers that Andy Reid loves.Maclin should be the return specialist to start the season so look for return yards if you have them in your league.Look for a lot of routes thrown underneath for big gains from this group this season which means nothing but good things for the QB.They also got their RB of the future it seems in Lesean McCoy from Pittsburgh. He looks like he can be everything that Westbrook is for the Eagle organization once he is gone.He has great hands,quick,elusive,and vision is great.This guy ,if he stays healthy, could be a star in this league in the future if he stays in this system,make note if you're in keeper leagues.The Eagles also lost LJ Smith to Baltimore but picked up Florida's Cornelius Ingram who is coming off an ACL injury but could be a huge impact for the vertical passing attack.If the rookie can avoid the penalties this team could be in the NFC Championship game this year.Westbrook lost some value this year with the addition of McCoy,he will get his share of carries since Buckhalter is gone.Donovan Mcnabb stayed healthy last year so this improves his value.Any WR that I mentioned should be welcomed to your roster,Curtis is always a good bench warmer but should finally be healthy and ready to produce again this season.
Dallas Cowboys-The Cowboys didnt do anything glaring in the draft but they added some depth to LB and both the sides of their line with their early picks but that didnt start until pick 69(round 3).They did draft a homegrown QB out of Texas A&M named Stephen Mcgee who could emerge from an average draft class of QB's but is seen as a project who has the body to be an NFL quarterback.Former Brett Favre coach Mike Sherman now at Texas A&M gives him the thumbs up and says he has the potential to play in the league.In the later rounds Dallas took a lot of guys for their secondary who can help their special teams one may emerge as the nickel starter if they play with enough intensity and with 10 picks from rounds 4 through 7 there should be some good battles at "Hard Knox" this year....i might actually watch an episode or two.....or not!
Washington Redskins-The 'Skins drafted a very talented player in Brian Orakpo,the Big 12 player of the year,he is a physical specimen and is freakishly long.He ran a 4.66 at the combine at 263 lbs.He is very explosive off the edge and with Albert Haynesworth takin double teams Orakpo may be the defensive rookie of the year if he gets all of the sacks he is expected to get.Washington missed out on their biggest need by taking talent with Orakpo,their offensive tackle department was in much need of help but at pick 13 and Orakpo on the board it was a no brainer. In their defense this was my favorite defensive player in the draft he is very explosive and gives them, i believe, the best front in football.But not picking again until pick number 80 the Redskins were left with no pick for the tackle spot since 8 were already taken by then.This team could be in big trouble with any offensive line injuries and without Clinton Portis in the lineup this offense isnt that good.Campbell is a good back up on most fantasy rosters while Santana Moss isn't consistent enough to keep as a starter I just assume stay away from any player on this roster with the exception of Portis.
Philadelphia Eagles-Now, the Eagles had a great draft and finally helped Donovan Mcnabb.While they acquired offensive tackles Jason Peters and Stacey Andrews to keep him upright and healthy they also moved up in the draft to get Larry Maclin.This guy is amazing after the catch and looks to be a new mold of the Desean Jackson and Kevin Curtis type recievers that Andy Reid loves.Maclin should be the return specialist to start the season so look for return yards if you have them in your league.Look for a lot of routes thrown underneath for big gains from this group this season which means nothing but good things for the QB.They also got their RB of the future it seems in Lesean McCoy from Pittsburgh. He looks like he can be everything that Westbrook is for the Eagle organization once he is gone.He has great hands,quick,elusive,and vision is great.This guy ,if he stays healthy, could be a star in this league in the future if he stays in this system,make note if you're in keeper leagues.The Eagles also lost LJ Smith to Baltimore but picked up Florida's Cornelius Ingram who is coming off an ACL injury but could be a huge impact for the vertical passing attack.If the rookie can avoid the penalties this team could be in the NFC Championship game this year.Westbrook lost some value this year with the addition of McCoy,he will get his share of carries since Buckhalter is gone.Donovan Mcnabb stayed healthy last year so this improves his value.Any WR that I mentioned should be welcomed to your roster,Curtis is always a good bench warmer but should finally be healthy and ready to produce again this season.
Dallas Cowboys-The Cowboys didnt do anything glaring in the draft but they added some depth to LB and both the sides of their line with their early picks but that didnt start until pick 69(round 3).They did draft a homegrown QB out of Texas A&M named Stephen Mcgee who could emerge from an average draft class of QB's but is seen as a project who has the body to be an NFL quarterback.Former Brett Favre coach Mike Sherman now at Texas A&M gives him the thumbs up and says he has the potential to play in the league.In the later rounds Dallas took a lot of guys for their secondary who can help their special teams one may emerge as the nickel starter if they play with enough intensity and with 10 picks from rounds 4 through 7 there should be some good battles at "Hard Knox" this year....i might actually watch an episode or two.....or not!
NFC North
Detroit Lions-The Lions hope to have their franchise QB now which does a blow to past co-mvp award winner Daunte Culpepper's fantasy value.Detroit filled a big hole with this pick, since they lost Jon Kitna and Dan Orlovsky.Stafford has great arm strength, which is exactly what they needed for Calvin Johnson's big speed and he has all the tools to be a sound QB in this league, with a few games under his belt he should start to help this struggling franchise.The Lions also added Bryant Johnson to their roster who was always a fantasy TD threat in Arizona he and Ronald Curry will battle for the #2 spot at WR but rookie kick returner Derrick Williams from Penn State will get his shot at #4 especially if he does well in the return game.Now Brandon Pettigrew from Oklahoma State is a interesting pick,this is the 1st round draft pick that Detoit recieved from Dallas for Roy Williams,a lot of people think they should have picked up an offensive lineman for the starter Kevin Smith in the backfield, but they opted for a tight end.I think this was a pretty good pick myself, TE's are always a huge help for rookie QB's when they are in trouble in the passing game and this guy has really soft hands along with great blocking skills,this guy is a special player and should be viewed as a Jason Witten-ish type player.This guy should be a future top 3 fantasy TE on down the road...that is if the Lions have enough protection to pass the ball. Expect Calvin Johnson to have a big year along with Pettigrew.
Minnesota Vikings-This is a team that didnt have many holes to fill besides the QB position and with Stafford and Sanchez gone at pick #22 the Vikings went playmaker.Percy Harvin is immensely talented and is another big play threat to pair with Adrian Peterson.Durability and character issues were a question with this guy so hopefully no "love boat 2" plans are in the future in Minnesota cause with his 4.42 speed and natural hands he really adds value to Bernard Berrian.This guy should play the #2 spot if he can get past injury prone Sidney Rice, and Bobby Wade and Glenn Holt should battle for the 4 and 5 spot.Minnesota also added a HUGE offensive tackle in the 2nd round with Phil Loadholt from Oklahoma this guy is 6'8" and 332 lbs and expected to make some big holes for Peterson and Chester Taylor. He struggles with quick defensive ends but will excel in the run block game and should bolster on of the best running teams in the nfl. Tavaris Jackson has some added pressure from Sage Rosenfels but should remain the starter, but dont expect great numbers from this QB crew cause this is a run first team. Expect huge numbers from Peterson this year and you better hand-cuff Chester Taylor cause if Peterson goes down there are lots of yards to be picked up behind this offensive line.Visanthe Shiancoe should be considered a nice option at TE in later rounds of drafts.Percy Hawkins could be rookie of the year but Bernard Berrian is my pick of the WR crew who is poised to have a better year than his 7 td and 964 yard performance last season, with the presence of Hawkins on the other side or in the slot and Peterson always a threat.
Green Bay Packers-Packers had 2 big needs on their defense and filled them both with 1st round picks. With the 9th pick in the draft the pack selected B.J. Raji he is a perfect fit for their 3-4 scheme at the nose tackle position and will be the starter from day one. He is 6'2" and 337 lbs and probably the best DT in the draft, while he anchored Boston College's 7th best rushing yrds per game in the NCAA last year with 91 yrds a game.Green Bay also added OLB Clay Matthews by trading up with the Patriots by giving up their second and 2-third round picks in return for the 1st and a fifth rnd pick.This was a good move because in a 3-4 defense you can never have enough linebackers.The packers also selected 2 offensive lineman with their later round picks ,TJ Lang from E. Michigan(Mid-American) and Jamon Meredith from S. Carolina,a couple of 300 pounders will beef up the teams biggest need at OT.Overall, no one really lost on this offense. They just got a little better because the defense got better .So that means more time on the field this season for Packers offense which means more fantasy points for this group.
Chicago Bears-The Bears didnt have a pick before the 3rd round...which usually isn't a good thing,but it is! This is part of the price paid for the acquisition of Jay Cutler which is huge for the city of Chicago.He has the big strong arm to throw in the "Windy City"brutal wind and play in the outdoor weather as proven in Denver."Da Bears" added a WR to help Cutler over the next few years in Juaquin Iglesias from Oklahoma. He is the type of guy who goes after the bad balls and is a fearless type of reciever who has no problem going over the middle. At 6'1" he will probably make it to the #2 spot by the end of the season and will also grab fantasy points with his mad kick returning skills.The acquisition of Rod Marinelli to the defensive line coach spot was a huge help for Chicago and they knew it.They gave him 2 defensive ends in the draft to help him get the job done up front and this will help the offense.This offense got a lot more fantasy value with the addition of Cutler,look for Rashied Davis to have a productive year if he stays healthy and whoever else makes this WR group will have a lot of chances to put up numbers. Sophomore, Matt Forte will have a better year than last just because they wont be able to cram the box with Cutler lined up under center.
Minnesota Vikings-This is a team that didnt have many holes to fill besides the QB position and with Stafford and Sanchez gone at pick #22 the Vikings went playmaker.Percy Harvin is immensely talented and is another big play threat to pair with Adrian Peterson.Durability and character issues were a question with this guy so hopefully no "love boat 2" plans are in the future in Minnesota cause with his 4.42 speed and natural hands he really adds value to Bernard Berrian.This guy should play the #2 spot if he can get past injury prone Sidney Rice, and Bobby Wade and Glenn Holt should battle for the 4 and 5 spot.Minnesota also added a HUGE offensive tackle in the 2nd round with Phil Loadholt from Oklahoma this guy is 6'8" and 332 lbs and expected to make some big holes for Peterson and Chester Taylor. He struggles with quick defensive ends but will excel in the run block game and should bolster on of the best running teams in the nfl. Tavaris Jackson has some added pressure from Sage Rosenfels but should remain the starter, but dont expect great numbers from this QB crew cause this is a run first team. Expect huge numbers from Peterson this year and you better hand-cuff Chester Taylor cause if Peterson goes down there are lots of yards to be picked up behind this offensive line.Visanthe Shiancoe should be considered a nice option at TE in later rounds of drafts.Percy Hawkins could be rookie of the year but Bernard Berrian is my pick of the WR crew who is poised to have a better year than his 7 td and 964 yard performance last season, with the presence of Hawkins on the other side or in the slot and Peterson always a threat.
Green Bay Packers-Packers had 2 big needs on their defense and filled them both with 1st round picks. With the 9th pick in the draft the pack selected B.J. Raji he is a perfect fit for their 3-4 scheme at the nose tackle position and will be the starter from day one. He is 6'2" and 337 lbs and probably the best DT in the draft, while he anchored Boston College's 7th best rushing yrds per game in the NCAA last year with 91 yrds a game.Green Bay also added OLB Clay Matthews by trading up with the Patriots by giving up their second and 2-third round picks in return for the 1st and a fifth rnd pick.This was a good move because in a 3-4 defense you can never have enough linebackers.The packers also selected 2 offensive lineman with their later round picks ,TJ Lang from E. Michigan(Mid-American) and Jamon Meredith from S. Carolina,a couple of 300 pounders will beef up the teams biggest need at OT.Overall, no one really lost on this offense. They just got a little better because the defense got better .So that means more time on the field this season for Packers offense which means more fantasy points for this group.
Chicago Bears-The Bears didnt have a pick before the 3rd round...which usually isn't a good thing,but it is! This is part of the price paid for the acquisition of Jay Cutler which is huge for the city of Chicago.He has the big strong arm to throw in the "Windy City"brutal wind and play in the outdoor weather as proven in Denver."Da Bears" added a WR to help Cutler over the next few years in Juaquin Iglesias from Oklahoma. He is the type of guy who goes after the bad balls and is a fearless type of reciever who has no problem going over the middle. At 6'1" he will probably make it to the #2 spot by the end of the season and will also grab fantasy points with his mad kick returning skills.The acquisition of Rod Marinelli to the defensive line coach spot was a huge help for Chicago and they knew it.They gave him 2 defensive ends in the draft to help him get the job done up front and this will help the offense.This offense got a lot more fantasy value with the addition of Cutler,look for Rashied Davis to have a productive year if he stays healthy and whoever else makes this WR group will have a lot of chances to put up numbers. Sophomore, Matt Forte will have a better year than last just because they wont be able to cram the box with Cutler lined up under center.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Draft Approaching!
Check back after this weekends NFL draft to see what fantasy players increase and decrease in value!
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