Fantasy Football
Welcome to NFL Dog's Coverage of Fantasy football. Our Fantasy Football expert Bryan Dietzler will provide year round fantasy football coverage with weekly "start em" and "sit em" articles throughout the year.
Week 17 Start Em and Sit Em
Well it’s the last week of the regular NFL football season and for some of us, including myself, you could be in your league’s championship game hoping that you have chosen the right lineup in order to win your leagues big game and quite possibly some good money. Last week you saw some of the usual suspects play well, guys like Chris Johnson and Phillip Rivers while others didn’t step up as much as we thought (such as Drew Brees). There were even some players that got pulled early and didn’t play a full game thus affecting the outcomes of some fantasy games (see the Indianapolis Colts). Your best bet is to start players from teams that are either looking to get a playoff spot or trying to improve their position after having already clinched a playoff spot. These teams should keep their starters in for the whole game.
So here is a look at the players that you should start and sit in week 17. This is the last edition of start em and sit em for this season. Look forward to more fantasy previews next year starting in late July 2010.
Start Em:
1. Ben Roethlisberger-Pittsburgh at Miami-The Steelers are still in the hunt for a playoff spot so look for Big Ben to be throwing the ball often in this game.
2. Donavan McNabb-Philadelphia vs. Dallas-The Eagles and the Cowboys are looking for some playoff positioning (better positioning) and so McNabb and his counterpart Tony Romo could have a big game this Sunday.
3. DeSean Jackson-Philadelphia vs. Dallas-Jackson is a big time playmaker and will be used often in this game.
4. Ray Rice-Baltimore vs. Oakland-The Ravens have a shot at the playoffs so they will be going all out in this game which means Ray Rice should be seeing a lot of action.
5. Matt Schaub-Houston vs. New England-Houston is another team in the playoff hunt and Schaub, along with wide receiver Andre Johnson, could have a good game against the Patriots.
Sit Em:
1. Peyton Manning-Indianapolis vs. Buffalo-It’s hard to believe that I would suggest sitting Manning but it’s doubtful that the coaching staff will allow him to play for too long in this game.
2. Eli Manning-New York Giants vs. Minnesota-The Vikings will be playing at home and will want to have some momentum going into the playoffs so their defense could make it a hard day for Manning.
3. Reggie Wayne-Indianapolis vs. Buffalo-Wayne will probably be another casualty of the starters being sat for the playoffs.
4. Seattle Defense-Seattle vs. Tennessee-Chris Johnson is trying to put his name in the record books and the Seahawks are probably the ideal team for him to do it against. Sitting them would be a great idea.
5. Drew Brees-New Orleans vs. Carolina-It’s a tough call as we might expect the Saints to sit some of their starters. Start him at your own risk.
Week 16 Start Em and Sit Em
Well hopefully you are in the playoffs still or by this week you are in your league’s championship game poised to win it all. What a feeling it would be to win your league’s championship game. Last week wasn’t a big week for some of the usual top producers in fantasy football especially for guys like Drew Brees, DeAngelo Williams and others. Other guys had good games last week including Eli Manning and his brother Peyton and they could be beneficial starts for you this week.
Let’s take a look at five players that you should start this week and five that you should leave on your bench.
Start Em:
1. Phillip Rivers-San Diego vs. Tennessee-Rivers remains one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the NFL and could have a solid game against the Titans.
2. Cedric Benson-Cincinnati vs. Kansas City-The Bengals need to win this game and they will probably try to run the ball a lot and against the Chiefs Benson could have a big game.
3. Vikings Defense-Minnesota vs. Chicago-The Vikings got the best of the Bears the last time they played and there is no reason to think that they won’t do it again on Monday night.
4. Drew Brees-New Orleans vs. Tampa Bay-The Saints need to win this game so Brees will be passing a lot to make sure that they do. He could have a big game.
5. Maurice Jones Drew-Jacksonville at New England-The Jaguars still have faint playoff hopes and Jones-Drew will be the bell cow in this game for them once again.
Sit Em:
1. Jay Cutler-Chicago vs. Minnesota-The last time these two met Cutler was horrible. There is no reason to think he will do better in this game.
2. Joe Flacco-Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh-Every time these two teams meet they give Flacco problems so it’s best to probably sit him this week.
3. DeAngelo Williams-Carolina vs. New York Giants-It’s possible that Williams may not even play in this game because he is hurt but if he does play he could get pulled early (like he did last week). It’s a gamble starting him this week.
4. Mark Sanchez-New York Jets at Indianapolis-Sanchez is injured and hasn’t been playing that well anyway so sitting him might be a good idea this week.
5. Seattle Offensive Players-Seattle vs. Green Bay-The Seahawks will be facing the NFL’s toughest defense this week so it is probably wise to sit those Seattle offensive players.
Week 15 Start Em and Sit Em
Fantasy football playoffs are in full swing and hopefully you survived the first round and got into the second round (depending on how your league does it) and are ready for another week in what has become the final weeks of the fantasy football season. If you own guys like Drew Brees, Chris Johnson, Brandon Marshall and DeSean Jackson you are probably feeling pretty good right now and moving on in your league’s playoffs. If you had guys like Kurt Warner, Greg Olsen or Larry Fitzgerald you may be in trouble. It promises to be an interesting week this week though as teams are trying to earn playoff spots while others just play for pride.
Here is a look at five players that you should consider starting this week and five you should leave on your bench.
Start Em:
1. Drew Brees-New Orleans vs. Dallas-The Saints are at home and needing a win to earn home field advantage so expect a big night from Brees.
2. Andre Johnson-Houston vs. St. Louis-Johnson had a big game last week and could have another one this week as the Texans try to keep their playoff hopes alive.
3. DeSean Jackson-Philadelphia vs. San Francisco-Jackson has been on fire lately and with a playoff spot on the line quarterback Donavan McNabb will be sure to hook up with Jackson early and often.
4. Phillip Rivers-San Diego vs. Cincinnati-Rivers has been quietly one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the NFL this season and he puts up good numbers on a regular basis.
5. Brandon Marshall-Denver vs. Oakland-With a playoff berth on the line the Broncos will get the ball to Marshall a lot in this game as he is a big time playmaker.
Sit Em:
1. Tony Romo-Dallas vs. New Orleans-You might be a little up in the air on this one but this game could be a shootout with Romo making some mistakes so sitting him might be a good idea.
2. Peyton Manning-Indianapolis vs. Jacksonville-This one is another toss up because Manning may not play a full game (as the team may rest their starters). Start him at your own discretion.
3. Carson Palmer-Cincinnati vs. San Diego-Palmer hasn’t been too spectacular lately and if you are in the hunt for your fantasy championship I would sit him because of his inconsistency.
4. DeAngelo Williams-Carolina vs. Minnesota-Going against a tough Vikings rush defense will probably keep Williams at bay. Don’t expect a lot out of him in this game.
5. Randy Moss-New England vs. Buffalo-With all of the issues that Moss is having it might be best to keep him on the bench this week.
Week 14 Start Em and Sit Em
If they haven’t already, you should be starting playoffs in your fantasy league this coming week so it’s time to set your lineups carefully to ensure that you survive the tough first round. Keep an eye on guys like the Falcon’s quarterback Matt Ryan and Panther’s running back DeAngelo Williams both of whom missed games last week with injuries. They are usually great fantasy producers so if they end up starting in week 14 you should start them. Start all of your big name players as they should produce very well now that the race for the playoffs has started.
So here are five players that you should start and five that you should sit this week.
Start Em:
1. Knowshon Moreno-Denver vs. Indianapolis-Moreno should follow up his good performance last week with another good one against the Colts this week.
2. Aaron Rodgers-Green Bay vs. Chicago-As long as his line can keep him upright, Rodgers could have a big day this Sunday in Chicago.
3. Chris Johnson-Tennessee vs. Washington-Johnson is gunning for the NFL rushing record and will keep on running hard in hopes to break it and help get his team into the playoffs.
4. Baltimore Defense vs. Detroit Offense-The Lions will face one of the toughest defenses in the NFL this Sunday and they could produce a lot of points in a fantasy league.
5. Tony Romo-Dallas vs. San Diego-Romo will have to put the ball in the air a lot in this game and should get a lot of yards in the process.
Sit Em:
1. Matt Cassell-Kansas City vs. Buffalo-Cassell had a bad week last week and probably won’t do too well against Buffalo’s defense this week.
2. Jay Cutler-Chicago vs. Green Bay-Green Bay has the number one defense in the NFL and Chicago has been struggling on offense lately. It could be a bad day for Cutler.
3. Michael Turner-Atlanta vs. New Orleans-Even if Turner makes the start he isn’t going to be that effective thanks to continued problems with an injury.
4. Cleveland Browns Offensive Players vs. Pittsburgh Defenders-Don’t expect much out of Cleveland’s offense in their game against the Steelers.
5. Josh Freeman-Tampa Bay vs. New York Jets-Freeman, like Cassell, isn’t having a good season and will continue to play poorly against the Jets this Sunday.
Week 13 Start Em and Sit Em
Another week of fantasy football has come and gone and we saw a lot of great individual performances in week 12 and hopefully you had some of those players that performed really well this past week. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has a huge game while Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson continued tearing things up this weekend. We saw some other players have mediocre games (such as Carson Palmer) while other solid fantasy players sat out with injuries (Brian Westbrook and Cedric Benson to name a few). This week promises to be another great week as teams have to start winning in order to make the playoffs so expect some big performances.
1. DeAngelo Williams-Carolina vs. Tampa Bay-Tampa hasn’t fared to well against the run so Williams should have a big day against them.
2. Carson Palmer-Cincinnati vs. Detroit-Palmer is due for a big game and he should be able to do it against the poor Detroit pass rush.
3. Lawrence Maroney-New England vs. Miami-Maroney has been scoring touchdowns on a regular basis for the past few games and should get a lot of carries this weekend.
4. Miles Austin-Dallas vs. New York Giants-This is going to be a big game for the Cowboys and they will surely get Austin involved a lot in this game.
5. Peyton Manning-Indianapolis vs. Tennessee-This is a big game for both teams and Manning is sure to come out firing in this one.
Sit Em:
1. Michael Turner-Atlanta vs. Philadelphia-Even if Turner starts he won’t be that effective against the Eagles rush defense.
2. Mark Sanchez-New York Jets vs. Miami-Sanchez is a little injured and isn’t playing his best football. Sitting him would be a good idea this Thursday night.
3. DeSean Jackson-Philadelphia vs. Atlanta-Jackson suffered a concussion and may not even play but if he does he may be limited.
4. Darren McFadden-Oakland vs. Pittsburgh-Don’t expect McFadden to be much of a factor against the Steeler’s defense.
5. Marshawn Lynch-Buffalo vs. New York Jets-Lynch is going to start to see less carries thanks to good performances by Fred Jackson so it might be time to start sitting him.
Week 11 Start Em and Sit Em
Week ten saw several top NFL players have great games and hopefully you had some of the guys that scored a lot of points for several NFL fantasy leagues. Such players as Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson, Denver Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall and Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart had monster games for their owners and should be started every week.
There were some players that struggled a little bit, including New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and even Peyton Manning but these guys are still guys that you will want to start week in and week out.
Here is a look at five players that you should start in week 11 and five that you should avoid:
Start Em:
1. Chad Henne-Miami vs. Carolina-Without Ronnie Brown, the Dolphins are going to have to throw the ball more to win so Henne could have a decent game.
2. Reggie Wayne-Indianapolis vs. Baltimore-Week in and week out Wayne produces and he will produce again this week.
3. Tony Romo-Dallas vs. Washington-Romo will follow up his poor performance against the Packers with a solid effort against the Redskins this weekend.
4. Pittsburgh Defense-Pittsburgh vs. Kansas City-The Steelers should be able to do a lot against the Chief’s offense in this one.
5. Sidney Rice-Minnesota vs. Seattle-Brett Favre’s favorite target is a must start almost every week.
Sit Em:
1. Brady Quinn-Cleveland vs. Detroit-Quinn and the Browns offense aren’t having a good year at all. It’s best to sit them this week.
2. Matt Hasslebeck-Seattle vs. Minnesota-Going up against the Vikings and their fierce pass rush isn’t going to be good for Hasslebeck. Sitting him this weekend would be wise.
3. JaMarcus Russell-Oakland vs. Cincinnati-If you are even starting Russell it would be a good idea to sit him against a good Bengals defense.
4. Cedric Benson-Cincinnati vs. Oakland-Even if Benson plays, which is doubtful, how effective will he play injured? History shows he plays poorly when he is hurt.
5. Mark Sanchez-New York Jets vs. New England-You can bet that the Patriots defense is going to give Sanchez fits so sitting him this week would be a good idea.
Week 10 Start Em and Sit Em
If you were the owner of running backs DeAngelo Williams or Michael Turner in week nine, you had a good week and hopefully those two running backs helped propel your team to a win. Other players such as Rashard Mendenhall and Larry Fitzgerald were big producers as well and should be started every week from here on out.
Quarterbacks Drew Brees and Peyton Manning didn’t have outstanding games but still put up decent numbers but in the end there were no big time producers at the quarterback position this week. Will we see better performances in week ten?
So here it is, the start and sit em guide for week 10 in the NFL:
Start Em:
1. Frank Gore-San Francisco vs. Chicago-The Bear’s rushing defense is one of the worst in the league and Gore will be the focus of the 49ers offense. It could be a big day for Gore.
2. Adrian Peterson-Minnesota vs. Detroit-This is a matchup that you should exploit as Peterson should have his way with the Detroit defense.
3. DeAngelo Williams-Carolina vs. Tampa Bay-Williams has been on fire recently and should continue piling up the yards against the Buccaneers.
4. Kurt Warner-Arizona vs. Seattle-Look for Warner to continue his hot streak (from the Bears game) against a weakened Seattle defense.
5. Drew Brees-New Orleans vs. St. Louis-The Saints aren’t going to stop the red hot Saints or their quarterback in this game.
Sit Em:
1. Matthew Stafford-Detroit vs. Minnesota-Stafford is going to have a long and difficult day against the Vikings superior pass defense. Keeping him on the bench would be a good idea.
2. Jason Campbell-Washington vs. Denver-Campbell is slowly starting to look like he’s not going to be with the Redskins next season and Todd Collins may see a little more time.
3. Cedric Benson-Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh-The Steelers will concentrate on shutting Benson down in order to win this game and he should see his lowest rushing total of the year (to date).
4. Marc Bulger-St. Louis vs. New Orleans-The Saints will pressure Bulger and force him to make mistakes which they will take full advantage of. Be wary of starting him.
5. Maurice Jones Drew-Jacksonville vs. New York Jets-The Jets will try to shut down the best thing going for the Jaguars offense forcing them to throw. Jones will have a slow day against them.
Start Em and Sit Em for Week Nine
For those of you who have been waiting for Tennessee Titan’s running back Chris Johnson to finally have a breakout game this season Christmas came early this year as he had the best fantasy performance in week eight.
On the flip side, if you have Houston Texans running back Steve Slaton, you were pretty disappointed as he was benched in favor of Ryan Moats (incidentally someone that you might want to pick up this week). The old reliable players did pretty well also.
This week will be a good one for those of you who start a lot of New England Patriots as they will be back off bye this week but the Vikings are on bye week and that might hurt a few of you out there.
So here is a look at five players that you should start in week nine and five you should stay away from:
Start Em:
1. Michael Turner-Atlanta vs. Washington-Turner will get a lot of work against the Redskins defense that is still trying to find its way stopping the run.
2. Peyton Manning-Indianapolis vs. Houston-Manning is sure to be throwing a lot in this matchup of division rivals and could have a big game.
3. Tony Romo-Dallas vs. Philadelphia-This game could be a shootout so starting Romo would be a good idea.
4. Donavan McNabb-Philadelphia vs. Dallas-Once again, this could be a shootout so starting McNabb could pay off bit.
5. Andre Johnson-Houston vs. Indianapolis-The Texans may end up having to throw the ball a lot against the Colts and Johnson would be on the receiving end of many of those passes.
Sit Em:
1. Carson Palmer-Cincinnati vs. Baltimore-You could go either way with Palmer who could get harassed by a decent Baltimore defense.
2. Alex Smith-San Francisco vs. Tennessee-This is another toss up because Smith is coming along but he could have some problems against the Titans.
3. Josh Freeman-Tampa Bay vs. Green Bay-Freeman’s first start will be a painful one especially with Green Bay coming to down.
4. Jason Campbell-Washington vs. Atlanta-Campbell just isn’t having a good season and without Chris Cooley to throw the ball you may not want to start him this week.
5. Greg Olsen-Chicago vs. Arizona-Teams are consistently taking Olsen out of the game so if you have another option at the tight end position go with that one.
Fantasy Football Start Em and Sit Em
Week seven is in the books and if you were lucky enough to have started Miles Austin on your team you got yet another strong performance from this up and coming wide receiver. His counterpart, Tony Romo, didn’t have too bad of a game either.
QB Phillip Rivers had a great weekend while Drew Brees wasn’t bad but wasn’t as good as he normally is. Teams did score a lot of points in week seven and it looks like it could happen again this week.
So let’s take a look at our weekly group of five players that you should consider starting this week and five that you shouldn’t.
Start Em:
1. Miles Austin-Dallas vs. Seattle-It may seem redundant to say this but keeping Austin in your starting lineup week in and week out would be a great idea. He is in tune with Tony Romo and one of the up and coming talents at wide receiver this season.
2. DeAngelo Williams-Carolina vs. Arizona-With the Panther’s passing game not going anywhere, they will try to run the ball early and often which means that Williams could have a big day.
3. Phillip Rivers-San Diego vs. Oakland-Granted, Oakland traditionally plays the Chargers tough but Rivers seems to be in some kind of rhythm so look for him to have a big day against the Raiders.
4. Maurice Jones-Drew-Jacksonville vs. Tennessee-Tennessee isn’t playing the run quite that well and Jones-Drew is due for a big day so starting him against the Titans would be a good idea.
5. Matt Schaub-Houston vs. Buffalo-Schaub is on a hot streak right now but keep an eye out to see if wide receiver Andre Johnson is going to play after suffering an injury last week. That would have an effect on his performance.
Sit Em:
1. Kyle Orton-Denver vs. Baltimore-Sure, the Broncos are hot but Baltimore’s defense will play them tough and force Orton into making mistakes. The Broncos may get their first loss of the season this weekend.
2. Aaron Rodgers-Green Bay vs. Minnesota-We all know what happened the last time these two teams met so keeping Rodgers on the bench may be a good idea this week.
3. Derek Anderson-Cleveland vs. Chicago-Anderson is struggling and the Bears defense will be much better than they were last week. Expect him to struggle in Chicago.
4. Frank Gore-San Francisco vs. Indianapolis-It’s a tough call here but the 49ers offense will probably get shut down in this one and Gore could have a bad day.
5. Joe Flacco-Baltimore vs. Denver-Flacco will probably have a tough game against a good Denver defense and the Ravens may find themselves running the ball a lot in this one.
Week Seven Start Em and Sit Em
I can imagine that many of us fantasy football fans were excited to see the breakout games that New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady had this past weekend. Several other players had breakout games as well, including Carolina Panther’s running back DeAngelo Williams and now those players are poised to have great seasons the rest of the way. It looks like the fantasy season is really heating up now.
The following is a look at five players that you should start this week and five that you should sit.
Start Em:
1. Tom Brady-New England vs. Tampa Bay-The Patriots offense is on fire now and Brady and the rest of the offense should have a big day against the Buccaneers.
2. Peyton Manning-Indianapolis vs. St. Louis-The Colts should get some great yardage through the air so look for Manning to have a big game.
3. Aaron Rodgers-Green Bay vs. Cleveland-Rodgers has been on fire lately and the Browns are susceptible to the passing game. Look for Rodgers to have a good day against Cleveland.
4. Drew Brees-New Orleans vs. Miami-Brees should be able to get some good numbers against the Dolphins as they keep up their winning ways.
5. Randy Moss-New England vs. Tampa Bay-Moss should be on the receiving end of a lot of Brady passes this coming Sunday.
Sit Em:
1. Trent Edwards-Buffalo vs. Carolina-There is a chance that Edwards might not even start because of a concussion and he hasn’t been that effective anyway. Sitting him might be your best bet.
2. Adrian Peterson-Minnesota vs. Pittsburgh-Peterson has a nagging injury and is also going to face the Steelers which could mean little production for this usually productive running back.
3. Mark Sanchez-New York Jets vs. Oakland-If the Raiders were able shake up Donavan McNabb, imagine what they can do to Sanchez.
4. Terrell Owens-Buffalo vs. Carolina-If Edwards isn’t going to go play then Owens may not be as effective and won’t see a lot of passes thrown his way.
5. Cedric Benson-Cincinnati vs. Chicago-Chicago will be keying in stopping Benson and they have been good at stopping the run so sitting Benson might be wise.
Week 6 Start Em and Sit Em:
It’s Week six and things were pretty shook up in week five as we saw some players who have either been keeping quiet this season suddenly step or other players who came out of nowhere have big games. It’s too bad that the Cowboys have a bye this week because a lot of people would surely start wide receiver Miles Austin who had a career game last week.
The good thing about week six is that the Saints, one of the best teams with a lot of productive fantasy players are back after a bye as are the Chargers so it should be a good week for many fantasy owners.
Here is a look at five players that you should start this week and five players you should consider sitting.
Start Em:
1. Jay Cutler-Chicago vs. Atlanta-It’s about time that Cutler had a big game and he could have it against the Falcons this week especially if he can connect with his receivers.
2. Drew Brees-New Orleans vs. New York Giants-This game could turn into an old fashioned shoot out and Brees is very capable of getting big numbers in this one.
3. Aaron Rodgers-Green Bay vs. Detroit-After a week of rest, you can bet that Rodgers and his receivers will be ready to go against the weak Lions passing defense.
4. Cedric Benson-Cincinnati vs. Houston-Benson is on a hot streak and can be sat down especially against the Texans this week.
5. Tom Brady-New England vs. Tennessee-You can bet that Brady will enjoy lighting it up against this surprisingly weak Titans defense.
Sit Em:
1. Matt Schaub-Houston vs. Cincinnati-Cincinnati has a tough defense and will get a lot of pressure on Schaub who probably won’t have one of his best days.
2. Any Oakland Raider-Oakland vs. Philadelphia-Oakland is in a downward spiral and so it would be best to sit any players from Oakland you have this week.
3. Derek Anderson-Cleveland vs. Pittsburgh-It can be assured that the Steelers are going to make life tough for Anderson and the rest of the Cleveland offense.
4. Kevin Smith-Detroit vs. Green Bay-Even if Smith plays (he is injured), he probably won’t do well against Green Bay’s defense.
5. Trent Edwards-Buffalo vs. New York Jets-The Bills offense has been bad at times this season as had Edwards. Don’t start him against the Jets solid defense.
Week Five Start Em and Sit Em
It’s Week five in the NFL and time to look at how you should start
and who you should sit this week. Looking back at week four, we saw players like Drew Brees and Adrian Peterson turn into fantasy duds and saw as they failed to put up the kinds of numbers that we generally get out of them.
There were some guys that played very well including Eli Manning and Rashard Mendenhall and these are guys that you will want to continue to start with every opportunity.
So let’s take a look at five guys that you should start in week five and five guys that you should sit.
Start Em:
1. Rashard Mendenhall-Pittsburgh vs. Detroit-Mendenhall had a big game against the Chargers and will be facing a weak Detroit defense. It sounds like a match made in heaven.
2. Adrian Peterson-Minnesota vs. St. Louis-Peterson is sure to have a big day going up against the Rams who don’t have a solid run defense.
3. DeSean Jackson-Philadelphia vs. Tampa Bay-With Jackson now healthy, he should be able to post some strong numbers against the Buccaneers.
4. Wes Welker-New England vs. Denver-Welker is finally healthy and as was seen last week, he is an important part of New England’s offense. Look for him to get involved in a lot of plays in this game.
5. Eli Manning-New York Giants vs. Oakland-If Manning is able to play in this game he should post some big numbers especially now since the Giant’s passing game is going strong.
Sit Em:
1. Carson Palmer-Cincinnati vs. Baltimore-This is a tough call but the Ravens have a tough defense that will pose some problems for Palmer and the Bengals passing game. It might be best to sit him this week.
2. Kevin Smith-RB-Detroit vs. Pittsburgh-Smith, still injured, is going to have a tough go of it against the Steelers. Sitting him would be a wise idea.
3. Jake Delhomme-Carolina vs. Washington-It’s hard to imagine Delhomme getting much better than he has been so sitting him this week would be a good idea.
4. Kerry Collins-Tennessee vs. Indianapolis-The Titans have seen some inconsistencies out of Collins and going up against the Colts won’t help matters out any.
5. JaMarcus Russell-Oakland vs. New York Giants-Once again, Russell just isn’t the ideal fantasy quarterback so sitting him here would be fine this week.
Week Four Start Em/Sit Em
It’s week four already and the time is flying by to start the 2009 season. While many of us are enjoying some success in our fantasy leagues there are others of us who have struggled out of the gate thanks to injury or ineffective play. Bye weeks are also starting and that will throw almost any fantasy football player into a bind as your most productive players will miss a week and sometimes at critical times. This is where smart planning during your drafts comes in so hopefully those late round guys will pay off for you during these bye weeks.
So let’s take a look at five players that you should start this weekend and five players you shouldn’t.
Start Em:
1. Matt Forte-RB-Chicago vs. Detroit-The Lions are giving up a lot of yards on the ground and Chicago will be looking to establish the run so look for Forte to finally have a breakout game.
2. Matt Schaub-QB-Houston vs. Oakland-Although Oakland has one of the better cornerbacks in the league, the connection that Schaub wide receiver Andre Johnson have could be too much for the Raiders.
3. Peyton Manning-QB-Indianapolis vs. Seattle-The Seahawks defense is hurting and it’s been giving up some big plays through the air so Manning should have a big day.
4. Carson Palmer-QB-Cincinnati vs. Cleveland-Cleveland’s pass defense is weak and Palmer is getting much more comfortable with his receivers so look for a big game out of him this week.
5. Ryan Grant-RB-Green Bay vs. Minnesota-Grant always seems to do well against the Vikings vaunted rush defense so starting him might be a good idea.
Sit Em:
1. Matthew Stafford-QB-Detroit vs. Chicago-The opportunistic Chicago defense will cause all kinds of problems for this rookie quarterback.
2. JaMarcus Russell-QB-Oakland vs. Houston-Russell is struggling and won’t be too much of a factor in this game.
4. Derek Anderson-QB-Cleveland vs. Cincinnati-Anderson will make his first start meaning he will be quite rusty for their game against the Bengals. I would wait a week or two to start him.
5. Seattle Defense-Seattle vs. Indianapolis-The Seahawks defense isn’t doing so well and Manning could come in and carve them up.
Week 3 Fantasy Football Preview
Week two has come and gone and it’s time to start setting your lineups for the third week of the NFL season. Last week saw some of the top week one performers continue their solid productive play (Drew Brees and Adrian Peterson) while there were a few former hot fantasy stars such as Carson Palmer finally earning some monster points for owners. This week has some intriguing matchups that should yield some points for fantasy owners. Let’s take a look at the top five players that you should start and five that you shouldn’t.
Start Em:
1. Matt Forte-Chicago vs. Seattle-You heard it here first, Forte will have a big game against the Seahawks who have allowed a lot of yards on the ground as of late.
2. Aaron Rodgers-Green Bay vs. St. Louis-The Packers should be able to put up some big numbers through the air against the Rams which means Rodgers should have a big game.
3. Brandon Jacobs-New York Giants vs. Tampa Bay-Tampa’s rushing defense isn’t that great and Jacobs is poised to have a big day so starting him would be a good idea this week.
4. DeSean Jackson-Philadelphia vs. Kansas City-Jackson was a hot target last week and should see a lot of passes thrown his way this week.
5. Michael Turner-Atlanta vs. New England-The Falcons will want to run the ball a lot against the Patriots and should be able to do that with Turner who is due for a big game.
Sit Em:
1. Kerry Collins-Tennessee vs. New York Jets-The Jets defense has been hot and quarterbacks don’t fare well against it. Don’t start Collins, their next victim.
2. Frank Gore-San Francisco vs. Minnesota-Although their run defense hasn’t been as good as it was last season they will still key on shutting down Gore who has been the most productive player on offense for the 49ers.
3. Jake Delhomme-Carolina vs. Dallas-Delhomme hasn’t been nearly as good as he has been in the past and might be seeing the bench soon.
4. Willie Parker-Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati-Sure it’s the Bengals but Parker just hasn’t gotten much going this season and could disappoint if you start him.
5. Brady Quinn-Cleveland vs. Baltimore-Baltimore’s defense is sure to give Quinn fits so it’s best to leave him on the bench this week.
Fantasy Football: Week 2 Start Em and Sit Em
It’s week two in the NFL now and those who are playing fantasy football are starting to see how their teams may perform for the next few weeks. With any luck, you had players the likes of Drew Brees, Adrian Peterson and John Carlson on your roster as these guys exploded for a ton of points. There were also some key injuries in week one and it’s important that you check the injury report to make sure you don’t start someone who is sitting on the bench.
This week could bring a few more big time producers as well as some surprises so let’s take a look at five players that you should consider starting and five you should consider leaving on the bench.
Start Em:
1. Adrian Peterson-Minnesota vs. Detroit-Peterson ran wild in week one against the Browns and should have a similar game against a still weak Detroit defense.
2. Aaron Rodgers-Green Bay vs. Cincinnati-Rodgers should be able to get into a rhythm against the Cincinnati Bengals, a team that won’t give him too much of a pass rush.
3. Kurt Warner-Arizona vs. Jacksonville-Kurt Warner wasn’t too hot in their first game but against an ailing Jacksonville defense, he could be big. Give him a start and watch him put up some big numbers.
4. Matt Hasslebeck-Seattle vs. San Francisco-Hasslebeck appears to be back and in top form and should have a solid game against this tough division rival.
5. Peyton Manning-Indianapolis vs. Miami-Manning is due to have a big game and he could have one against the Dolphins this weekend.
Sit Em:
1. Matt Schaub-Houston vs. Tennessee-The Titans are playing tough defense right now and Schaub isn’t playing as well as many thought that he would be.
2. Jay Cutler-Chicago vs. Pittsburgh-Blitzburgh is going to really put it to Cutler who is prone to making mistakes when under pressure.
3. Tony Romo-Dallas vs. New York Giants-The Giants always play Romo tough and this is going to be a slugfest. It might be best to keep him on the bench in this game.
4. LaDanlian Tomlinson-San Diego vs. Baltimore-Baltimore is going to focus on stopping Tomlinson so don’t look for him to be very productive in this game.
5. Matthew Stafford-Detroit vs. Minnesota-This is going to be a tough game for the rookie passer. Keeping him on the bench this week would be wise.
2009 Fantasy Football Preview: The Defenses
You can’t underestimate the value of a good defense and this year, there are at least five good ones that you will want to take fairly early (from the eighth to tenth round on) in your fantasy draft. Lets take a look at the top five defenses available in the 2009 NFL fantasy draft as well as five more that might be good to take towards the end of your draft.
1. Pittsburgh Steelers-Not much has changed on defense with the Steelers and they should continue to dominate the NFL in 2009. Look for them to be taken as the first defense overall in your fantasy draft, quite possibly as early as the eighth round.
2. New York Giants-The Giants are returning all their starters this season and look to be one of the strongest defenses available. They could go fast so pick them up while you can.
3. Philadelphia Eagles-Despite the fact they lost their defensive coordinator this offseason, the Eagles are sure to have a tough defense and they should be the third defense off the board in many fantasy drafts.
4. Tennessee Titans-Even though they lost Albert Haynesworth the Titans figure to have a strong defense in 2009 and one that will go fast in many fantasy drafts.
5. Baltimore Ravens-Perhaps the Ravens should be ranked a little higher but without coordinator Rex Ryan available this season, they might take a bit of a tumble. They are still well worth taking sometime in the late rounds of your fantasy draft especially if you are sitting in round nine or ten and haven’t taken a defense yet.
Here are five other defenses
1. Minnesota Vikings-The Vikings have a vaunted run defense but may not be as good as they usually are if their big tackles, the Williams brothers get suspended for four games. Taking the Vikings as a second defense would be wise if possible.
2. New England Patriots-The Patriots had some problems rushing the passer but knowing their head coach, they should be able regain their strength and get back to form. Making them a good second option could be very beneficial.
3. San Diego Chargers-The Chargers are getting Shawne Merriman back and that will help them improve greatly over what they did last year. If the top defenses are gone and you need one, it would be wise to grab the Chargers as they could have a big season this year.
4. New York Jets-The Jets promise to have a good defense thanks to the arrival of Rex Ryan as head coach. Adding Bart Scott will help and these guys could make you happy in your fantasy league this season.
5. Chicago Bears-Though the Bears were in dire straits on defense on 2008 but look to rebound a bit in 2009 and could come back close to their 2006 form. If you don’t want to use them as starters find them on your primary defense’s bye week and see how they do.
The 2009 NFLDraftdog Fantasy Football Rankings Special
l
It’s early August and if you haven’t already done so, you should be just about ready to draft your fantasy football team for 2009. While its best to wait as long as you can to draft your team (because preseason injuries can sometimes devastate a roster before you even begin the season) there are a lot of people drafting during the month of July which may end up coming up to bite you in the end. My best advice always is to make sure that you draft as late as possible so that you can get players that are healthy and ready for the season.
So now, without further adieu, here is my listing of the top ten players at each position for your 2009 NFL Fantasy Football Draft (including five players you should also take a look at).
Quarterbacks
1. Drew Brees-New Orleans-You can’t deny that Brees has been very consistent since coming to New Orleans and there is no reason to think that he won’t have a good season in 2009.
2. Peyton Manning-Indianapolis Colts-Manning is the “old reliable” of this group and should always get first round consideration when looking at a top flight fantasy quarterback. He should have a strong 2009 campaign.
3. Kurt Warner-Arizona Cardinals-With receivers like Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin at his disposal, Warner should have another solid season running the Cardinals high powered passing offense.
4. Phillip Rivers-San Diego Chargers-Rivers had a quiet but productive season and is poised to have another solid season on a team that has to make the playoffs in order to save the job of their head coach. Expect big things out of Rivers this season.
5. Tom Brady-New England Patriots-Brady is back and should be hot in 2009 after having missed almost all of 2008 due to injury. With a few new weapons at his disposal, he could have a very good year.
Five others quarterbacks to look at:
Tony Romo-Dallas Cowboys-It’s finally time to get things right for Romo and it looks like it might just be the season in which he does put it all together. If he does, it could be a big year for him and his receivers.
Jay Cutler-Chicago Bears-Even though he has gone to a team that is devoid of good wide receiver talent, Cutler could end up making the current crop of receivers much better than some predict.
Matt Schaub-Houston Texans-Believe it or not, if he can stay healthy, he could be one of the top fantasy quarterbacks in the NFL in 2009. With Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels, plus a strong pass catching running back in Steve Slayton, he could be one of the top quarterbacks in fantasy football this season.
Donavan McNabb-No list would be complete without having McNabb on it and he should have a good season thanks to some of the weapons that the Eagles added during the offseason. He could end up being one of the top quarterbacks in 2009.
Carson Palmer-Cincinnati Bengals-Palmer is back and ready to go but he is minus one of his better wide receivers and has to deal with the unpredictable Chad Ochocinco. He could still have some good value thanks to his ability and the offense the Bengals run.
Running Backs
1. Adrian Peterson-Many fantasy football fans will feel that they can’t go wrong by drafting Peterson, a player who has been one of the most consistent in the NFL. However, his injury history could leave some to question making him the first pick in their fantasy drafts.
2. Michael Turner-Atlanta Falcons-The “Burner” surprised a lot people last season and did much better than anyone had thought that he would do especially in Atlanta. The biggest question is, will he be able to repeat what he did in 2008?
3. DeAngelo Williams-Carolina Panthers-The Panthers, as well as the rest of the NFL, were taken by surprise a bit in 2008 when Williams had the strong season that he had. He should be able to have another solid season and be very valuable to many fantasy football owners.
4. Matt Forte-Chicago Bears-You can’t deny the production that Forte gives game in and game out and with the kind of promise that he displays he won’t last long in any fantasy draft. Get him early.
5. Brian Westbrook-Philadelphia Eagles-Westbrook’s offseason ankle problems will make some fantasy owners shy away from taking him but if he gets back healthy enough, he could have a big season. Perhaps he’s not ready for first round consideration but he is definitely worth a second or third round choice.
Wide Receivers
1. Larry Fitzgerald-Arizona Cardinals-Fitzgerald ended up being the best wide receiver in the NFL last season and has all of the tools necessary to do it again in 2009. He should be the first wide receiver taken in many fantasy drafts this summer.
2. Reggie Wayne-Indianapolis Colts-With Marvin Harrison gone, Wayne now becomes the primary wide receiver in the Colts offense and quarterback Peyton Manning will look his way often this season. A possible late first to early second round pick.
3. Steve Smith-Carolina Panthers-If quarterback Jake Delhomme can get things together and keep the passing game going, Smith could have a great season. Grab him late in the first or second round and start him every week.
4. Marques Colston-New Orleans Saints-The Saints have one of the most potent passing offenses in the NFL and as long as he can stay healthy. He’s worthy of a second or third round pick in any fantasy league draft.
5. Anquan Boldin-Arizona Cardinals-Boldin should continue to keep pace with his numbers from last year as the Cardinals should keep on throwing the ball in 2009. He’s definitely a good second wide receiver and should go fairly early in many fantasy drafts.
Tight Ends
1. Tony Gonzalez-Atlanta Falcons-Imagine what kind of season quarterback Matt Ryan could have had last season if he would have had a tight end like Gonzalez. Gonzalez should have a great season and should be the most productive tight end in the NFL this season.
2. Greg Olsen-Chicago Bears-With a solid relationship between being built between Olsen and quarterback Jay Cutler, it’s possible that he could end up having one of the biggest seasons or a Bears tight end in a long time. A good pick in the middle of your fantasy draft.
3. Jason Witten-Dallas Cowboys-With quarterback Tony Romo and the rest of the Dallas offense under a lot of pressure this season, Witten is sure to see a lot of passes and should warrant early consideration in your fantasy draft.
4. Antonio Gates-San Diego Chargers-Gates had a rough go of it in 2008 but is healthy now and ready to contribute. Don’t overlook him as a number one tight end on your fantasy team this season.
5. Owen Daniels-Houston Texans-A lot of fans don’t realize just how potent the Texans passing game is and Daniels is poised to have a big season catching the ball. As long as the quarterback situation stays stable, Daniels should be pretty productive player and one who should warrant mid round consideration.
Kickers
1. Rob Bironas-Tennessee Titans-Bironas has been one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL for the past few seasons as well as one who kicks a lot of field goals. He is most likely going to be the first kicker taken in many fantasy drafts this summer.
2. Josh Brown-St. Louis Rams-If the Rams offense gets going again Brown could be kicking a lot of extra points and field goals. With impeccable accuracy, it will be hard to pass Brown up in the late rounds of your fantasy football draft.
3. Stephen Gotskowski-New England Patriots-If the Patriots get back to scoring like they did two seasons ago, Gotskowski could be a busy guy meaning that your fantasy football team could be scoring a lot of points if you can manage to get him.
4. Robbie Gould-Chicago Bears-Gould is almost always right on the money when it comes to his kicks and should be back at it again in 2009. Give some credit to an improved offense which should give him many more opportunities to score so he could be big on any fantasy team this coming season.
5. Adam Vinatieri-Indianapolis Colts-Never to be forgotten, the Colt’s Vinatieri has been the benefactor of a potent offense and this season shouldn’t be too different. Vinatieri should be high on your list of kickers going into your fantasy draft.
Defenses
1. Pittsburgh Steelers-There hasn’t been much change on defense in Pittsburgh and with the schedule that they have, they should still easily be the top defense in football. Look to pick them up somewhere in the 8th round or shortly after and watch them score a lot of points for you this season.
2. New York Giants-With all of the offseason improvements, the Giants should be solid on defense this season and are well worth taking somewhere in the later rounds of your fantasy football draft.
3. Philadelphia Eagles-Don’t think that the loss of defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is going to affect this unit that much. They will still be one of the most feared defenses in the NFL and well worth taking as the third defense in your fantasy draft.
4. Tennessee Titans-Sure, the Titans will be without Albert Haynesworth this season but you can bet that the rest of the defense, remaining the same, will be just as good as they were last season. Don’t overlook the Titans if they fall to you in this year’s fantasy draft.
5. Baltimore Ravens-The Ravens may end up being the number one defense overall but they drop to five due to the uncertainty ahead thanks to the departure of their coordinator Rex Ryan. This is such a tight group and the Ravens could easily be taken first to fifth but watch out for a little bit of a letdown this season.
2009 Fantasy Football Draft Preview: The Tight Ends
Some fantasy owners feel that spending time on tight ends is somewhat unproductive but if history tells us anything, you can find good productive tight ends who will help make the difference between a win and a loss week in and week out. Tight ends are definitely a position that you shouldn’t overlook when drafting players in your fantasy draft.
The following is a look at the top five tight ends in this year’s fantasy draft along with five more players that you should consider drafting in your fantasy draft this summer.
1. Tony Gonzalez-Atlanta Falcons-If ever there was a tight end in this year’s fantasy football drafts that will have a “renaissance” of sorts, it will come with Gonzalez’s arrival in Atlanta. Gonzalez and quarterback Matt Ryan will be one of the hottest passing tandems in the NFL this season and it would be wise to grab Gonzalez sometime from the fourth round on in your fantasy draft.
2. Greg Olsen-Chicago Bears-It looks like new quarterback Jay Cutler and Olsen have formed quite a bond and this could pay dividends on the field for the Bears and for fantasy owners. Olsen should easily be the second tight end taken in your fantasy draft.
3. Jason Witten-Dallas Cowboys-In what many consider to be a make or break season for the Cowboys and their head coach, the Cowboys are surely going to pass more and Witten should be on the receiving end of many passes this season.
4. Antonio Gates-San Diego Chargers-Last season was a bit injured last season and wasn’t as effective as he had been in the past but he is ready to go this season and worth a third or fourth round pick if you can spare one on this top performing tight end.
5. Owen Daniels-Houston Texans-The Texan’s passing game is getting better each and every year and Daniels has been a bit of a surprise in Houston. He will only get better and this could mean a big season for him in 2009.
Here are five other players that you should consider drafting at the tight end position.
1. Jeremy Shockey-New Orleans Saints-As long as Shockey can stay healthy and the Saints offense continues on the same pace that it has since Sean Payton arrived, Shockey could have a huge season in 2009.
2. Dallas Clark-Indianapolis Colts-Clark would be higher on my list if he wasn’t so injury prone but when he is healthy, he is one of the best tight ends in the NFL. Don’t draft him too high because of the injury factor but try to get him somewhere in the middle of your draft for sure production.
3. Chris Cooley-Washington Redskins-Cooley is perhaps the most reliable pass catcher on the Redskins and should be someone that is picked up and started often in many fantasy leagues.
4. Kellen Winslow-Tampa Bay Buccaneers-It’s a new start for Winslow and he could easily become a favorite target of Buccaneers quarterbacks this season. Getting him in the middle to later rounds might be a good idea.
5. Heath Miller-Pittsburgh Steelers-Miller has become one of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s favorite targets and warrants some serious consideration in the middle of your fantasy draft.
The 2009 NFL Fantasy Football Preview: The Running Backs
Fantasy football drafts are taking place all over and people are taking a lot of time trying to figure out who they should draft as the choices are hard to make. The choice at running back may be one of the hardest decisions to make because one year a running back can be hot and the next they can be as cold as ice. There are a few sure bets at the running back position but those guys may go at the top of your fantasy drafts. You have to be careful when you select a running back and who you select.
Let’s take a look at the top five running backs for the 2009 NFL fantasy football season. We will also take a quick look at five other running backs that you should strongly consider.
1. Adrian Peterson-Minnesota Vikings-Peterson comes in as the number one running back in fantasy football and could almost easily be the first player selected in many fantasy football drafts. He is a sure bet almost every time but could be an injury risk.
2. Michael Turner-Atlanta Falcons-Can Turner follow up a spectacular 2008 season with another similar season in 2009? Many fantasy owners will hope so as it’s likely he will be taken in the first round by many fantasy owners.
3. Matt Forte-Chicago Bears-Forte slipped in under the radar last year as a rookie but fantasy owners won’t be gun-shy in taking him now. He should have another productive season as long as he can stay injury free.
4. DeAngelo Williams-Carolina Panthers-The Panthers surprising one two punch started off with Williams running for a lot of touchdowns and a lot of yards last season. Picking him up early would be a good idea as it is assured he will post some big numbers in 2009.
5. Brian Westbrook-Philadelphia Eagles-Despite the fact he will miss almost the entire preseason due to ankle surgery, Westbrook still has a lot to offer any fantasy owner and if he can stay healthy, he should be able to be his usual productive self this season.
Here are five more running backs that you should consider drafting a little later on (2nd round or later) in your fantasy football draft:
Thomas Jones-New York Jets-Jones comes into the season a little less “needed” thanks to the drafting of Shonn Greene but he should be able to get a lot of yards with some rest in a two back system and could become an important part of any fantasy team.
Clinton Portis-Washington Redskins-Portis still has a lot in the tank and should be good to go in 2009. The thing that worries most fantasy owners about Portis is his injury history. He does play hurt but sometimes isn’t as productive when he is making him unattractive to some fantasy owners but still a good value in the upper rounds.
Maurice Jones Drew-Jacksonville Jaguars-Jones Drew will end up getting most of the carries in the Jaguars offensive system now that Fred Taylor is gone and he could have a very productive season. While he may warrant higher consideration, Jones Drew’s size may not allow him to hold up to long and withstand the kind of pounding he is sure to take this season.
Steven Jackson-St. Louis Rams-Health is the biggest factor for Jackson and this might keep a few fantasy football guys from drafting him early. If he’s healthy, he’s one of the best running backs in the NFL but that’s a big if. Look for him to be taken somewhere in the middle to early middle rounds (late second to fourth) in many fantasy drafts.
Chris Johnson-Tennessee Titans-The biggest question surrounding Johnson is can he do the same thing that he did last season? All signs point to the fact that he will be able to have a repeat performance and because he is that good many fantasy owners may look at taking him in the late first to early second rounds of their fantasy drafts.
Sleeper alert: Felix Jones-Cowboys- Before his injury last year Felix was looking spectacular. The 2008 NFL Draft 1st rounder Jones is the highest draft pick the Cowboys have had at running back since Emmitt Smith and did I mention he has 4.40 speed and will be used all over the field this year, returning kicks, punts and in the passing game. If he stays healthy he will get you some serious fantasy points.
The 2009 Fantasy Football Outlook: Wide Receivers
With football teams relying much more on the spread offense wide receivers are becoming much more productive in fantasy football and becoming much more sought after than even some running backs have been.
But having a good wide receiver doesn’t mean much without a great quarterback throwing them the ball and some of these wide receivers may have some instability at the quarterback position as the season goes on. Still, there are some real gems out there and some of these guys will win you many fantasy games in 2009.
Here is a list of the top five fantasy wide receivers you should consider in your 2009 NFL Fantasy Football drafts along with five more that shouldn’t go unnoticed on draft day.
1. Larry Fitzgerald-Arizona Cardinals-With a great quarterback throwing him the ball in an offense that won’t ever forget about him, Fitzgerald stands to be the top wide receiver taken in fantasy drafts all across America and should produce very well in 2009.
2. Reggie Wayne-Indianapolis Colts-With Marvin Harrison gone, Wayne figures to benefit and become Peyton Manning’s number one wide receiver. Look for him to get a lot of catches and put out a lot of points next season.
3. Steve Smith-Carolina Panthers-Smith had a decent season in 2008 and should be the Panther’s go to guy again in 2009. As long as he stays out of trouble, he’s definitely worth a high draft pick in your fantasy draft.
4. Marques Colston-New Orleans Saints-The Saints will field one of the best passing offenses in the NFL once again in 2009 and Colston should be on the receiving end of many of those passes. He is well worth a high pick.
5. Anquan Boldin-Arizona Cardinals-Boldin should stick with the Cardinals this season and will be the other prong in the Cardinal’s two pronged attack at wide receiver. A wise choice as a second wide receiver and he is better than some primary wide receivers.
Here are five other players that you should consider drafting in your fantasy football draft:
1. Torry Holt-Jacksonville Jaguars-On a team that is pretty much devoid of talent at the wide receiver position, Holt should get a lot catches in that offense.
2. Anthony Gonzalez-Indianapolis Colts-Gonzalez could take the number two spot that Wayne will give up (thanks to the departure of Marvin Harrison) and should see a lot of catches in that high powered offense.
3. Randy Moss-New England Patriots-Moss could be in the top five but things are still somewhat unclear in Tom Brady coming back from his knee injury.
4. Wes Welker-New England Patriots-Welker is an ever reliable pass catcher who always catches a lot of passes in New England’s offense. He isn’t one that I would forget adding to my team in the middle of a fantasy draft.
5. Greg Jennings-Green Bay Packers-With Donald Driver getting older, Jennings is going to see a lot more action and could put up some big time numbers in their offense.
Late round sleeper: Joey Galloway- He not be washed up yet, the old man still has skills and he will now have the best quarterback he has ever had thowing him the ball in Tom Brady.
2009 Fantasy Football Outlook: The Top Five Quarterbacks
It’s that time of the year again! The time that we have all (as fantasy football fans) have been waiting for and that’s the time when fantasy football drafts are held. I have already been through one fantasy draft already and only one quarterback was selected in the first round in my draft as running backs seemed to be what everyone wanted first. Why are people not selecting some of the big name quarterbacks in the first round?
Some of it has to do with injury issues which hampered many of the big named guys in 2008 while another reason is that some quarterbacks were hot and cold last year hurting fantasy owners one week and making them kings the next. You could get a lot more production out of a running back in 2009 than you could a quarterback at times in 2009.
All that aside, it’s time to take a look at the top five fantasy quarterbacks as we head into the 2009 NFL preseason. These are five guys that you should consider drafting early in your fantasy drafts.
1. Peyton Manning-No list of the top quarterbacks in fantasy football would be complete without Peyton Manning. Manning has been one of the most consistent quarterback prospects in fantasy football over the past few seasons but owners may want to take a step back and think about a couple of things before they select him early in their fantasy football drafts. One is that he doesn’t have his ever reliable target Marvin Harrison around any longer and this may affect him slightly. The Colts will also have a new head coach so even though they promise that things won’t change, there could be a shift in offensive philosophy that changes things for Manning.
2. Tom Brady-He’s back and hopefully better than ever as he returns this season following a knee injury that kept him out of almost all of the 2008 season. He looks good now and comes back with some additional weapons in the passing game that should allow him to throw the ball with ease this coming season. He might even leapfrog Manning and be the first quarterback selected in many fantasy drafts and with the kind of talent that he will have to work with it would be wise to take him early.
3. Donavan McNabb-Believe it or not, McNabb is not a bad quarterback and may have an even better season this year (compared to the last two years) thanks to some of the new weapons that the Eagles have brought in on offense. With these new weapons and the possibility of a Super Bowl, look for McNabb to put up some decent and steady numbers over the course of 2009 and deserve at least a look as a lower first round pick or a second rounder.
4. Phillip Rivers-Rivers is someone that can’t forget when it comes to some of the top fantasy quarterbacks. No matter what, Rivers kept on putting up huge numbers in 2008 and should have a pretty good season in 2009. As long as his wide outs stay healthy and Antonio Gates steps it up a little bit, Rivers should be just fine.
5. Kurt Warner-Warner is another quarterback that should be considered an upper echelon pick in your 2009 NFL fantasy football draft. He comes in with some of the best talent at the wide receiver position in the NFL and the way that their offense works guarantees he is going to put up some big time fantasy numbers. Getting him early would be wise.
Here are three other quarterbacks that you should take a look at in the middle rounds of your fantasy draft:
1. Matt Schaub-Houston Texans-With a wide receiver like Andre Johnson and a tight end like Owen Daniels, Schaub could put up some big numbers with those guys around.
2. Jay Cutler-Chicago Bears-Even though Cutler doesn’t have a lot in the cupboard in terms of receivers, he could still make this group better than they appear to be and have a pretty decent season.
3. Aaron Rodgers-Green Bay Packers-Rodgers should be able to come up with similar numbers like he had last season because not much is changing with Green Bay’s offense.
2009 NFL Fantasy Football Draft Preview:
Who’s the Best First Round Talent?
It’s that time of year again! One of the most exciting times of the year is upon us as we all prepare for our league fantasy drafts. While training camp hasn’t started yet and we don’t know exactly who some of the starters will be there are some players out there who are sure fire starters and will be very productive, as usual, once again this season. Names like Adrian Peterson, Brian Westbrook, Tom Brady and Donavan McNabb could be players that you see go very early in your fantasy drafts this summer.
The following is a look at seven players that you should consider taking with your first round pick in your 2009 NFL Fantasy Football Draft. (They are in no particular order).
1. Tom Brady-QB-New England-Yes, he’s back and ready to go so fantasy football fans will be clamoring to add him to their roster. With some additional weapons in the passing game as well as the old reliable duo of Randy Moss and Wes Welker, Brady could have a big season. He is definitely worth a first round (even a first pick) selection.
2. Adrian Peterson-RB-Minnesota Vikings-You can’t deny the production that Peterson puts out and he is one of the best fantasy players available in this year’s draft. He is almost guaranteed to run for at least a 100 yards and a touchdown in each game that he plays in and does have some good consistency. The only thing that you have to worry about is injury but he should remain healthy and consistent in 2009. He is a solid first rounder.
3. Brian Westbrook-RB-Philadelphia-It’s hard not to include Westbrook despite the fact that he is hurt and will miss almost all of training camp. Even with rookie LeSean McCoy there, Westbrook should still be the focal point for the Eagles offense and should rack up a lot of yards and score a lot of touchdowns. It might be wise to pick him in the latter part of the first round if he is still available but he is still a very good choice and one that should be made in the first round.
4. Matt Forte-RB-Chicago-Many fantasy owners are still kicking themselves for not choosing Forte earlier than he went (on average in the 5th to 9th rounds of many fantasy drafts) but that was last year and this is 2009. The Bears may back off a bit in using Forte but he is still going to get a lot of carries, a lot of yards and a lot touchdowns so getting him in the first round is a plus.
5. Donavan McNabb-QB-Philadelphia-Yes, believe it or not, McNabb is poised to have a great season and with some new weapons in the passing and running game, he is sure to make fantasy owners happy. While his 2008 season did have some inconsistencies, McNabb and the Eagles have positioned themselves for a big 2009 so taking him in the first round might be a good idea.
6. Peyton Manning-QB-Indianapolis-You can’t leave this accomplished quarterback off of this list as many fantasy football fans will take him with their first pick in their fantasy draft’s this season. There is some mystery surrounding Manning and the Colts this season as no one quite expects what will happen now that former head coach Tony Dungy is going but Manning is sure to be productive and a number one quarterback on any fantasy team.
7. Larry Fitzgerald-WR-Arizona-Fitzgerald is a no brainer for a first round pick as it would be hard to pass up what many consider to be the NFL’s best receiver. The situation in Arizona shouldn’t change too much so Fitzgerald should get top billing in many fantasy football drafts this summer and continue to be one of the most productive players available.
2009 NFL Fantasy Outlook: New Faces in New Places
Each offseason in the NFL, players move from one team to another in hopes of big money, a chance to win a championship or for a chance to play in a different scheme or with a favorite head coach. This off season was no different than any other offseason as players moved around from team to team. This definitely has an impact not only on the player, the team that he left and the team that he came to but also fantasy owners who are either owners of these players (through a keeper league) or taking a long look at these guys before their drafts.
The following is a look at some of the key players who have changed teams during the offseason and how these changes will affect their old team, their new team and possibly your fantasy team.
Quarterbacks:
Don’t look now but it’s possible that Brett Favre could be a member of the Minnesota Vikings before too much longer meaning that fantasy owners will want to take a long look at drafting him in their fantasy drafts. He might be a good pickup in later rounds. Jeff Garcia went to the Raiders (from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers) and if Jamarcus Russell falters, he could end up starting. If he does, pick him up as a good option for your second quarterback. Byron Leftwich (from the Steelers to the Buccaneers) may end up starting in Tampa Bay and would be worth a middle round pick as a good second option.
Running Backs:
It looks like Cedric Benson is going to be the starting running back in Cincinnati and if he can hold up, he could be worthy of a high pick (3rd or 4th rounder) as your primary fantasy running back. With Correll Buckhalter going to Denver, look for him to play a role similar to what he did in Philadelphia and backup the primary running back (which should be Knowshon Moreno) so taking him later on in your fantasy draft may be worth while. Another player who will be in a similar situation on the same team is Lamont Jordan. If he makes the final cut, picking him up with a late draft pick or as a free agent may give you a few points here and there.
With Matt Forte running wild in Chicago, there is no doubt that the Bears will want to get him some relief and that’s where Kevin Jones comes in. Chicago has stated that Forte won’t be running the ball as much as he did in 2008 so look for Kevin Jones to get some carries. Adding him as a late round pick may pay dividends sometime in the future. And you can’t forget about Fred Taylor.
Taylor went to the Patriots and could experience a career renaissance so to speak and depending on how it goes for him in training camp, you might want to use a higher pick on him because he is sure to get a lot of carries. Finally, with Derrick Ward going to the Buccaneers, he will most likely beat out former starter Cadillac Williams and you should think that he would get a lot of carries in2009. A high draft pick should be used on him.
Wide Receivers:
The guy that most fantasy owners will want to take a look at will be Terrell Owens. He could easily become the favorite target in Buffalo so spending a first round pick on him is not out of the question. The question is however, can he get the ball? Laveranues Coles (to Cincinnati), Ronald Curry (to Detroit) and Bobby Engram (to Kansas City) might be worth a look in the middle rounds of your fantasy draft and could give you some decent production. The same could be said for Mike Furrey (to Cleveland), Jabar Gaffney (to Denver) and the aged one Joey Galloway (to New England). These guys should warrant some consideration in your fantasy draft.
Torry Holt and T.J. Houshmandzadeh are going to be the “saviors” so to speak of their new teams (the Jaguars and the Seahawks respectively) so getting these guys somewhere in the late second to middle third round is a must. Some other guys you might want to consider drafting in the later rounds include Brandon Lloyd (to Denver) Shaun McDonald (to Detroit), David Patten (to Cleveland), Kelly Washington (to Baltimore) and Nate Washington (to the Titans).
Tight ends:
We can’t forget the tight ends and there were a few that moved around this off season. Anthony Becht (to Arizona) should catch a lot passes in the Arizona offense while Dan Campbell (to New Orleans) could come in for Jeremy Shockey sometimes and would be worth a late round pick. Robert Royal goes from Buffalo to Cleveland and has a chance to wind up replacing the departed Kellen Winslow Jr. and if he does spend a later round pick on him. Finally, L.J. Smith moves from Philadelphia to Baltimore and if the Ravens starting tight end Todd Heap continues his slide, Smith could see a lot of passes thrown his way. Make him a late round pick.
Kickers:
There was only one notable kicker switching teams in 2009 and that’s former New York Jet Mike Nugent. Nugent is making his new home in Tampa Bay so taking him somewhere in the later rounds of your fantasy draft may be a great idea.
Fantasy Football Special: Second Year Second Chances
One of the most unfortunate things about the NFL is that injuries happen and they not only wipe out promising seasons for some players but also hurt the people that draft them in their fantasy football drafts. Some of the players that came into the league in 2008 and went down with injury are almost fully healed and ready to go and could still make a nice addition to any fantasy football roster.
The following is a look at some of those 2008 rookies who are now second year players and who will be getting a second chance so to speak in 2009. There is also a quick look at some second year players who might have breakout seasons in 2009. Let’s see if you want any of these guys on your fantasy football team.
Rashard Mendenhall-RB-Pittsburgh-Mendenhall was having somewhat of a mediocre season before being sideline with a broken shoulder. Now, with Willie Parker seemingly on the downside of his career, Mendenhall will get a closer look during the offseason and if he performs well enough and proves that he is over last seasons injury (and last year’s fumbling problems) he could be used a lot more and may even take over for Parker sometime during the season.
Felix Jones-RB-Dallas-Jones was having a great season with the Cowboys before getting injured but is fully recovered and ready to come back and make an impact in 2009. With a dual threat (using Jones in addition to Marion Barber) the Cowboys running game should flourish and Jones with it. Not only will Jones be used in the running game quite often, but he will also be used on special teams and he had some good success returning kicks so Jones could be even more valuable in a league that counts special teams scores. He could be worthy of a second or third round pick in your fantasy draft.
James Hardy-WR-Buffalo Bills-Hardy managed to get some games in last season but suffered some injuries and therefore wasn’t quite healthy enough to make an impact with the team in 2008. Even with the addition of Terrell Owens, along with already established receivers Lee Evans and Roscoe Parrish, Hardy could make himself stand out in training camp he could see more time and become a valuable target in the red zone for the Bills. He might just be worth a later round selection in your fantasy draft this summer.
Harry Douglas-WR-Atlanta Falcons-Douglas is a pretty solid player who got some opportunity last season but could very well be poised for a breakout year. Like Jones, Douglas is a dual threat both at the wide receiver position and in returning punts and kickoffs. With an ever improving offense, it’s possible that Douglas could see more changes this season and be someone that you might want to consider adding to your fantasy team sometime this summer.
Devin Thomas-WR-Washington Redskins-An injury filled preseason set Thomas back a bit but he started to pick things up as the season went along although his numbers weren’t that great. Look for Thomas to get a longer look this season and become a bigger part of the offense. While he isn’t going to get drafted high in your fantasy draft he may be someone you want to look at taking with a later round pick or pick up as a free agent a little bit later on in the season.
Dustin Keller-TE-New York Jets-Keller became an on again off again favorite of former New York Jets quarterback Brett Favre last season and could see some decent production this year depending on the quarterback situation there in New York. Keller could be a viable second or third tight end option on your team and if things get going well in New York, he could be well worth the pick.
John Carlson-TE-Seattle Seahawks-Carlson may have had a better year last year had the Seahawks quarterback play been more consistent. If their quarterback, Matt Hasselbeck can stay healthy, Carlson could benefit and could be one of the better tight ends in the NFL next season. Using a mid round selection on Carlson might be a good idea as he may be putting up some big numbers this coming season.
Fantasy Football Preview: The Top Ten Rookies to Look For in 2009
With the 2009 NFL Draft coming to a close, teams now have the rookies that they wanted in place and are preparing them for the upcoming season. Right now, there appears to be a few rookies out there who could make instant impacts in the NFL right off in 2009 while there are a few that are not so obvious to most of us that could be a surprise next season.
The following is a quick look at ten rookies you might want to look at taking when your fantasy draft takes place in a couple of months.
1. Knowshon Moreno-RB-Denver-Even though the Broncos have three other running backs signed and on the team for the next season, Moreno should come out on top and be the starter. Denver will want to use the running game a lot to help take pressure off of their quarterback and Moreno will get a ton of carries.
2. Hakeem Nicks-WR-New York Giants-Even though rookie wide receivers traditionally don’t do too well their first year out, the Giants will put Nicks into the lineup and throw a lot of balls his way. Nicks has been seen as the guy who will replace Plaxico Burress and will be a vital part of the Giants offense.
3. Chris Wells-RB-Arizona-With Edgerrin James out of the picture, Wells should get plenty of carries this season in an offense that will surely feature more of a rushing game than last year. If he stays healthy, Wells could be a good mid-round pick in your fantasy league.
4. Kenny Britt-WR-Tennessee-Tennessee was a little short on good wide receivers last season but with Britt in the lineup this year, the Titans will have a better passing offense and should work him in early and often. He’s not a first round pick (in your fantasy draft) but a good guy to use as a second or third receiver or as a bye week fill in until he starts to produce more.
5. Darius Heyward-Bey-WR-Oakland-Even though the Raiders were criticized a lot for picking Heyward-Bey where they did in the first round of the draft, he will become their primary receiver and is going to get a lot of catches his first year out. The only problem is consistency at their quarterback position and JaMarcus Russell isn’t the most accurate quarterback so taking Heyward-Bey too early may be somewhat of a risk but he should still be with a middle round selection because it’s possible he could be the biggest star on the team.
6. Percy Harvin-WR-Minnesota-If the Vikings can get their quarterback position settled or at least get good production out of Tavaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels, Harvin could quite possibly have a big rookie season. Being a dual threat (both running and receiving) he should be able to put up some good numbers. The only question is, will the Vikings be able to get him the ball?
7. Jeremy Maclin-WR-Philadelphia Eagles-The Eagles had a great draft and Maclin was their best pickup. He gives them the receiving option that they haven’t had in quite some time and will also help them out on special teams. Look for him to catch a lot of passes in his rookie season and be worthy of a fourth or fifth round selection in your fantasy draft.
8. LeSean McCoy-RB-Philadelphia Eagles-Sure, Brian Westbrook is still the number one guy there in Philadelphia but the Eagles got McCoy to help spell Westbrook which means he is going to get some touches in 2009. While McCoy may not be worth a high pick in your fantasy draft, he does warrant some attention in the later rounds and could be a good sleeper pick.
9. Brandon Pettigrew-TE-Detroit Lions-While many fantasy football fans may think that the Lions aren’t going to do much in 2009, new quarterback Matthew Stafford should be able to build a rapport with fellow rookie tight end Brandon Pettigrew. This means that Pettigrew could turn into one of his favorite receivers allowing for this future superstar to get a lot of yards and some touchdowns. He could be a solid second or third tight end on your fantasy team.
10. Shonn Greene-RB-New York Jets-The Jets may still have Leon Washington and Thomas Jones at the running back position but with contract issues and age bearing down on the two, the Jets got a powerful runner who could quite possibly take over as the starting running back at some point during this season. Keep him in mind when you are looking for a fourth or fifth starting running back on your team.