A-Town Week 4 Power Rankings

Hello again everyone!  Week 3 has come and gone and we are starting to find out who has a real chance at the playoffs.  For the next seven weeks teams are going to be juggling their lineups due to bye weeks.  Luck is definitely involved when it comes to winning these next seven weeks.  You want to catch a team while their big players are on bye weeks.  For example Anton gets Chris this week without AP.  Whoever can get lucky should be in a good position come week 11 when the byes are finally over.    

After I figured my rankings for this week I decided to compare them to what CBS comes up with for our league.  In the past our rankings were completely different, but this week they were almost the same!  I have seven teams ranked the same as CBS and four within one spot.  I don’t expect this trend to continue, but it is an interesting side note.

1. Dan

Previous (1)

Dan had yet another very solid week.  He is going to be tough to beat if he’s consistently putting up 140 points.  His WR crew is the best in the league as predicted.  I mentioned last week I was worried about Dan’s #2 RB, but that Hightower was filling the role for now.  Well with Beanie Wells back and looking good Hightower only put up 5 points last week.  I wonder what Dan is going to do because we all know he won’t stand for that kind of production from his RB2.

2. Pat

Previous (5)

Pat had a rough week 2, but wow did he bounce back in week 3!  170 points is no fluke, this team is very talented.  Trading for McFadden and drafting Foster were arguably the two top moves for any team this season.  The emergence of Dustin Keller is scary considering Pat already has Tony Gonzalez.  It frightens me to think about what this team can do if Colston and Ochocinco decide to show up!

3. Garret

Previous (3)

Garret did what he was supposed to do in beating up on Clay.  Marshall looks great down in South Florida and Moss has solidified himself as a viable #2 WR option.  With Matthews coming back this week Garrett is without a #2 RB.  Can he keep performing at a top level while he waits for the return of Moreno and Bush?

4. Jeff

Previous (2)

After a hot start this team got a little cocky.  Kristen knocked Jeff down a peg or two, but his team is still elite.  Everyone is going to have bad weeks.  However, if I was Jeff I would be worried about Greg Jennings.  He’s playing like a WR 3 right now. 

5. Kristen

Previous (11)

Kristen takes this week’s Frontier Airlines Flight of the Week.  Michael Vick looks amazing; he’s finally showing the world what he is capable of.  Boldin is on the same page as Flacco and LT is putting up numbers like its 2007.  Kristen is still looking for Rice to show up and when he does this team will become one of the best in the league. 

6. Chris

Previous (6)

Chris got a nice win over Logan last week.  AP and Thomas look great and Chris’s WR’s are actually producing right now.   We all know that the position that gets the most points in our league is QB.  As of right now I have to say Chris has the worst QB situation, and unless that changes, I don’t see him being consistent enough to make a serious run at the title. 

7. Clay

Previous (4)

Clay is my top ranked 1-2 team.  He looked great in week one and has gotten worse each week.  This team really seems to go as Matt Forte goes.  I expect to see Clay make a trade very soon for another RB.  He can’t continue to play two running backs from the same poor rush offense.

8. Pop

Previous (12)

Its official: I was wrong about this team.  Pop’s is 2-1 and on a nice roll.  Austin Collie is looking like a number one option and Pop’s got Beanie Wells back last week.  I know I sound like a broken record, but with Aaron Rodgers leading the way this team can beat just about anybody.

9. Logan

Previous (9)

Although this team has struggled I still believe in them.  MJD is going to turn it around we all know that, but I am now worried about Steve Smith with Clausen chucking bricks at him.  Logan needs to show up this week or he’s going to make a strong case to be in my bottom 3 teams.   

10. Gill

Previous (7)

I am dropping Gill three spots even though he won because frankly his team just isn’t that good right now.  He’s been hit by injuries and his team this week is a joke.  It seems that every one of his players is on the decline; their upside is getting smaller and smaller with every week.

11. Shawn

Previous (8)

What the 49ers are to the NFL Shawn is to fantasy football.  We all know Shawn’s team isn’t 0-3 bad, but yet he’s still 0-3.  He’s putting up decent points, just running into a top team each week.  I do expect this team to start getting some W’s, but if it doesn’t happen soon his season may be a loss.

12. Mike

Previous (13)

Poor Mike.  He would have won if he saw through a glass ball and started Hillis against Baltimore.  Don’t feel bad Mike, no one saw that coming.  Despite the tough loss I think this team picked up some momentum in week 3.  Wallace is a stud.

13. Anton

Previous (10)

I predict that Anton’s team is going to kill it the second half of the season.  Charles and Williams aren’t getting touches so far which means they are going to explode down the stretch.  This may be good for their respective teams, but for Anton it may be too late to make a difference.  Anton needs to find a viable #2 WR.

14. Alex

Previous (14)

Alex played well last week.  However, I just don’t see enough star power on this team to compete with the big boys on a weekly basis.  Louis Murphy was a nice pickup and is playing well.  I would be concerned with Portis and wouldn’t you know it, Jackson is banged up again.  I don’t expect Alex to be in the basement much longer, remember he is going to get Rice and Jackson back at some point this season. 

Week 3 Predictions

Hello everyone!  Week three is less than an hour away.  We have a lot of intriguing matchups today.  Week 3 is when you can start separating the contenders from the pretenders. 

*Clay at Garret*

Garret is coming off a huge week last week while Clay lost a heartbreaker.  Garret is without Moreno and Reggie Bush today but a clutch free agent acquisition is keeping him a float.  Clay’s lack of a second RB and flex player will cost him today.  I expect Schaub and Gore to carry Garret to a second straight victory.  WINNER: GARRET

*Dan at Mike*

I expect this matchup to be much closer than most people would originally think.  Dan has been putting up big numbers while Mike has struggled so far.  I like both teams’ matchups this week.  I am still concerned with Mike’s second RB and second WR.  Because of that I am giving Dan the edge in a close one.  WINNER: DAN

*Pop at Shawn*

Shawn is looking for his first win and Pop’s is looking to start a winning streak.  I project this to be the closest game of the week.  There’s something to like and question for both of these teams this week.  I really like Rodgers on Monday night but I also like Turner at the Saints.  When I can’t decide I always turn to a coin toss.  Heads for Pop tails for Shawn.  WINNER: POP

*Pat at Alex*

This matchup could be a blood bath.  Pat’s team is poised for a hugh week while Alex’s team should struggle.  I don’t like Pitt’s pass game on the road in Tampa today so having a WR and TE for them could really hurt Alex.  I am not saying I guarantee a win for Pat, but it looks like he should breeze by in week 3.  WINNER: PAT

*Logan at Chris*

The battle of the roommates!  Both members of the wolf pack are coming off of victories last week.  What Chris lacks in WR this week he makes up in RB.  Peterson and Thomas should tear it up this week.  I am concerned that Logan’s recent concussion may cause him to make a bad lineup decision this week.  At the end of Monday night I think Chris’s RB’s will be too much and he will have the bragging rights.  WINNER: CHRIS

******Kristen at Jeff******  GAME OF THE WEEK

This matchup should be awesome!  Ray Rice is ready to break out and I cant wait to see what VICK does this week for Kristen.  Jeff’s running backs are deadly and poised to put up big numbers.  The team with the most consistency will win this matchup.  The key to Jeff’s team will be his WR who haven’t showed their potential so far this season.  I think that happens this week and he gets the narrow victory.  WINNER: JEFF

*Gill at Anton*

This is a matchup of two teams in a downward spiral.  Both team’s players aren’t living up to expectations.  Will this be the week the Chiefs decide to turn Charles loose and Williams gets back on track?  Will Gill’s WR be able to make up for his lack of talent at every other position?  It’s too hard to count on two guys to carry you every week so I am picking Anton to get his first W of the season.  WINNER: ANTON

A-Town Week 3 Power Rankings

Hello again everyone!  Week two is officially in the books.  I just want to say how happy I am with the competition in our league this year.  So far things have been almost even.  We have two teams at 2-0 and two teams at 0-2.  The other ten teams are all 1-1.  This means everyone is paying attention and making smart decisions.  If this trend keeps up this year should be a lot of fun and very competitive.

My rankings at the top didn’t shift very much.  I juggled the teams at the bottom and in the middle.  Honestly there hasn’t been enough weeks yet to really see who the bottom feeders are going to be so if you are ranked low, I am sorry but someone had to be.

1. Dan

Previous (1)

Dan had another solid week as he defended off Shawn in a high scoring 11 point victory.  This team is clicking on all cylinders and living up to its preseason hype.  I am still a little worried about Spiller’s role in the Bills' miserable offense, but Hightower likes like a nice filler for now…

2. Jeff

Previous (2)

Jeff came into week 2 wanting to make a statement and that’s exactly what he did by putting up the high week.  We need to start taking this team very serious!  The three headed monster at running back could carry this team all year.  However, Cutler is the key to this team putting up monster weeks and if he can stay hot look out!

3. Garret

Previous (6)

Garret got welcomed to A-Town with a smack in the face.  This week, however, he was able to settle in and show that he belongs not only in this league, but is a serious title contender.  He missed the high week by two points as his team bounced back.  Gore looks great and Schaub almost threw for 500 yards!  The Bush injury is obviously going to hurt this team, but with Moreno stepping into Garret’s #2 RB he should be fine.  I think he can play matchups in his flex until Bush gets back and  stay very competitive.

4. Clay

Previous (4)

Clay stays in the 4 spot this week despite losing a heart breaker to Chris.  Matt Forte is continuing to produce and the Manning-Wayne combo is in sync as usual.  TO is in the top 3 in targets and is filling the number 2 WR spot for Clay.  My only concern with this team is that there all his players are out producing what they were projected to do.  Will they slow down as expected or continue to thrive?

5. Pat

Previous (3)

Anytime you lose to my 14^th ranked team you’re going to drop a few spots.  Foster and Ochocinco came back down to earth in week two.  The Question is which players will they be?  The player we saw in week one or the players we saw in week two?  For Pat’s sake I hope it’s the players in week one.

6. Chris

Previous (12)

Chris gets my Frontier Airlines flight of the week as he moved up 6 spots this week!  Chris has been all over my board; he started out 8^th, then went to 12 and is now at 6.  This team is so hard to figure out.  His WR’s really aren’t that good but have the ability to produce fantasy points.  The main reason I moved Chris up is Minnesota is calling out AP to step up.  I believe AP will take that challenge and be the beast he is and carry the Vikings and Chris to a lot of victories.

7. Gill

Previous (5)

When you spend your first two picks on WR you’re going to lack production at another position.  Unfortunately for this team they lack production at every other position.  Flacco will finally get some home games so we will see if this team can turn things around. 

8. Shawn

Previous (8)

Yes I know what all of you are thinking.  That Shawn is one of the only 0-2 teams, couldn’t even break 80 points in week one and should be the 14^th ranked team.  However, Shawn posted the 4^th highest score last week and only lost because he played Dan.  Shawn has had zero run production despite having two of the league’s premier ball carriers.  Just wait until they get going you will all see why I am still high on this team. 

9. Logan

Previous (9)

Logan won in week two despite putting up only 100 points.  This team needs to make the switch to McNabb at QB and hope that MJD starts producing like a top 3 RB.  This team has a lot of talent and they need to start showing it.

10. Anton

Previous (10)

Anton is the other 0-2 team.  His running back combination of Williams and Charles is off to a terrible start and Moss hasn’t gone off yet.  Rivers should keep this team a float while everyone else figures things out.  I expect this team to rebound nicely this week and the defending champ should get one for the win column. 

11. Kristen

Previous (13)

Is Kristen a fantasy genius!  When she dropped Kolb for Vick it looked like the worst move of the season hands down.  After a good outing in week 2 by Vick, Kolb was named the starter for week three and Kristen seemed SOL.  Then out of nowhere Kolb is benched and Vick is back taking snaps for the Eagles and is considered a Top 10 QB the rest of the season.  That move alone might have saved this team’s season. 

12. Pop

Previous (14)

After beating the #3 team I had no choice but to show Pop’s some love and move him out of the dungeon.  This team showed some life in week 2 and with Aaron Rodgers leading the way Pop’s may get some more W’s under his belt in the next few weeks.

13. Mike

Previous (10)

Mike put up the low score this week.  His team has looked lethargic so far this year.  I think Mike needs to have one of his famous pep talks and get his team going!

14. Alex

Previous (14)

Like I said someone has to be ranked here.  I honestly think Alex wants to be ranked last to make an astonishing comeback so I am giving him his wish.  This team’s back is against the wall.  It will be interesting to see when they decide to make their move.

 

 

A-Town Week 2 Predictions

Last week I went 7 for 7 on my predictions.  Hopefully this week will be the same.

*Garret at Anton*

Both of these teams are coming off losses last week.  This should be a very competitive game.  Both teams have good matchups and I expect this to be the closest game of the week.  At the end of the week I expect Anton to squeak by and Garret to drop to 0-2.  WINNER: ANTON

*Pat at Pop*

This matchup brings us the top two quarterbacks in fantasy this year in Brees and Rodgers.  They both have great matchups and will put up big points.  However, Pat’s supporting cast is much better and will win this matchup.  I just don’t see enough talent on Pop’s team to get the W this week.  WINNER: PAT

*Logan at Mike*

This is a very intriguing matchup as Mike snuck by Chris last week and Logan was defeated by Dan.  Mike has a huge advantage at tight end and the flex position, but Logan has the advantage everywhere else.   The question is will Mike’s TE’s be able carry him?  Maybe, but I would bet against it.  WINNER: LOGAN

*Shawn at Dan*

It’s rare to have such an important divisional matchup this early in the season, but that’s what we have here.  Dan was on top of it last week and Shawn stumbled out of the gate to say the least.  Its so hard to pick against Dan with all that talent at WR.  I think this matchup will be a lot closer than most people might think.  WINNER: DAN

*Alex at Kristen*

I really have no idea which way this matchup is going to go.  I like Kristen’s team but she really has no flex player and that scares me.  Alex has a few players that could be busts this week.  I am just going to flip a coin.  Heads for Alex tails for Kristen.  WINNER: KRISTEN

*Clay at Chris*

Chris has some pretty good matchups this week.  I think AP and Thomas will tear it up.  His WR situation still scares me though.  Clay is coming off of last week’s high score and with Payton Manning facing his brother I expect him to put of a huge week.  WINNER: CLAY

******Gill at Jeff******  GAME OF THE WEEK

This is a huge divisional matchup.  Both teams are coming off of wins last week and are looking to stay atop the division.  This is the only game this week with teams that both won in week 1.  Jeff had production from all positions last week and was lead by number one overall pick Chris Johnson.  Gill barely snuck by as Andre Johnson only caught three passes.  At the end of the day Jeff’s RB’s are just to tough as he will know of Gill and start 2-0.  WINNER: JEFF

A-Town Week 2 Power Rankings

Hello again everyone!  Week one is officially in the books.  There were some huge performances this week.  Clay is always good for one high week and this year he came out swinging and got it already!  Some of my top ranked teams took a dive in week one while a few of my lower ranked teams really made a statement.

This year I will be doing Power Rankings for our league.  It will be similar to how CBS and ESPN do their power rankings for major sports.  I will take into account more than just numbers.  If you didn’t know our league calculates power rankings on pure stats alone.  I will give it more thought than that.  Taking into account how hot or cold your team is, injuries and other things like that. 

1. Dan

Pre Season (1)

Dan had a very solid week one and showed the league that he is a force to be reckoned with.  He got performance from all positions.  Dan is going to be tough to take out.

2. Jeff

Pre Season (4) 

Jeff thinks he has his best team ever and he went out week one and proved it.  Chris Johnson is a beast and could carry this team deep into the playoffs.  If Cutler produces like he did week one on a regular basis expect Jeff to stay atop my power rankings. 

3. Pat Sell

Pre Season (9)

I have no idea why I rank Pat so low.  He again proved me wrong and showed the league he is determined to get back to the championship.  Foster was unbelievable and McFadden looks like he is going to have that breakout season.  This team but up over 150 points and its top 3 draft picks did virtually nothing.  That’s SCARY!

4. Clay

Pre Season (10)

WoW! Clay’s team looked great on Sunday!  Matt Forte is looking like an absolute steal right now.  If Payton Manning continues to throw over 40 times a game this team could be staring right into the eye of the playoffs.  

5. Gill

Pre Season (3)

This team took a slide as they barely escaped with a W.  Miles Austin looked great, but I am a little worried about Andre Johnson.  If he has more weeks like he did in week one this team will fall short of expectations and miss the playoffs.

6.  Garret

Pre Season (2)

I talk Garret’s team up in my pre-season preview and then he goes out and gets beat by 67!  Luckily it was just one week and one week doesn’t make a season.  I still believe in this team and there is plenty of time for this team to rebound and prove it is playoff worthy.

7. Anton

Pre Season (6)

Anton had an ok week one.  He wasn’t able to find the end zone with consistency and that really hurt him.  I wouldn’t worry about this team I expect them to have a nice rebound game in week 2. 

8. Shawn

Pre Season (5)

Anytime you put up the low week there is cause for concern.  Sims-Walker failed to make a catch and the Miami running backs didn’t look great.  This team has a ton of talent, but can they overcome a miserable week 1?

9. Logan

Pre Season (7)

Logan was the hard luck owner of week 1.  The Ryan Grant injury was a huge blow to this team.  Luckily Logan was able to pick up Brandon Jackson on the waiver wire.  That may turn out to be a season saving move.

10.  Mike

Pre Season (12)

I wonder if Mike has any hair left after his 1.32 point victory over Chris.  Mike’s team fought through adversity in week one.  I have a feeling this team will be in close games all year.  So if Mike does have any hair left expect it to be gone by the end of the season. 

11. Alex

Pre Season (13)

I have to admit Alex’s team looked good in week one.  They had a solid week and didn’t even show their full potential.  I am starting to wonder if I underrated this team? 

12. Chris

Pre Season (8)

Week one showed what I feared about this team coming into the season.  Chris has no wide receivers.  They let him down in week one and I expect that trend to continue throughout the year. 

13. Kristen

Pre Season (11)

Anytime your 4^th round pick puts up less than a point and then you drop him you know things are bad.  This team has a few issues to work out.  On a bright spot Hakeem Nicks played out of his mind in week one and Boldin looked great. 

14. Pop (14)

At this point in the season it’s impossible to tell who has the worst team.  Nonetheless, I have to put someone in the 14 spot and for this week its Pops.  Pop’s team didn’t look to bad in week one even without a Hugh performance from Aaron Rodgers. 

A-Town Week One Predictions

Each week I will break down every matchup and give my predictions. It will be very similar to what Dan has done in the past. Also make sure you check out the A-Town Fantasy Football Preview on my last post.



*Jeff at Anton*

Two of my top ranked teams will meet head to head week one. Chris Johnson is out to prove last year was no fluke and gets a dream matchup in Oakland. This game will be close but I don’t think Anton’s receivers will produce enough in week one to pull out the victory. WINNER: JEFF

*Shawn at Alex*

This game is going to be much tighter than you would first think. Alex has some good matchups and Shawn has some tough ones. Shawn’s team is superior, but I am not totally convinced they will produce in week 1. I am picking my first long shot here and banking that Brady and Jackson will carry Alex to an upset over Shawn. WINNER: ALEX

*Dan at Logan*

Dan vs. Logan need I say more? These two always have classic matchups. Dan’s team is better on paper with all of those great PPR receivers. Logan’s team is full of home run hitters who can put up big numbers. At the end of the day Dan’s team has more talent this year and better matchups. I think he takes it in a close one. WINNER: DAN

*Clay at Pops*

Both these teams are looking to start out with a win in 2010. Manning and Wayne get Houston and should put up big numbers. Most of Pop’s team is playing on the road which leads to lower fantasy points. Ultimately that will be the difference as I expect Clay to run away with this matchup. WINNER: CLAY.

******Garret at Pat****** GAME OF THE WEEK

Lat years champ vs. one of my favorite teams this year. This should be a classic matchup. Both teams are expected to put up big numbers in week 1. For Pat, Drew Brees will be pumped up Thursday night on prime time TV and put up a huge game. McFadden is going to get the Start with Bush’s broken thumb. Garret is playing Jacoby Jones over Moreno because of Moreno’s hamstring injury. Any other week I would take Garret, but all signs point to Pat pulling off a week one upset. WINNER: PAT



*Mike at Chris*

This matchup is going to be a dog fight. It should come down to the second game Monday Night when the Chargers faceoff with the Chiefs in KC. Both teams should produce quality weeks. This is one of the toughest calls of the week. I am going to flip a coin. Heads for Mike Tails for Chris. WINNER: MIKE

*Gill at Kristen*

Kristen is loaded with Ravens and Eagles. Both teams have tough matchups this week with the Jets and Packers. All of Gill’s RB’s have great matchups. I think this will be the difference and Gill should win by 15. WINNER: GILL

A-Town Preview

Hello everyone from the A-Town fantasy football league. This year I will be writing matchup predictions every week. To start the season I have decided to give my pre-season predictions with division winners and my pick to take the crown in 2010! As you all know the top two teams from each division move on to the playoffs as well as the top two teams overall from the 10 remaining teams.

AFC

The AFC is the weaker conference this year overall. I only have one of their teams ranked in my top 4. However, the conference should still be very competitive. I only see the top two teams from this conference making the playoffs.

1. Undeniable Advantage (Dan)

Dan had a B+ draft this year and then made a trade with Chris that vaulted him into the next level. He has a team built for a PPR league and I expect him to take the AFC.

Strength: Tony Romo is poised for a break out year. I could see him finishing in the top 4 QB’s. Dan will have an advantage at quarterback almost every week. The heart of this team is its wide receivers with White, Welker and Steve Smith form the Giants. The all have the potential to accumulate over 100 catches.

Weakness: The running backs on this team are an issue. It was just leaked that Mendenhall will be lousing some of his goal line carries this year which isn’t good for Dan’s first round pick. I am still not sold on Spiller although he did win the starting job. He should get around 15 touches a game, but is that enough to be the number 2 back for this team? After Mendenhall and Spiller Dan is very thin at RB. He will have to be active on the waiver wire to find more potent backups.

Overall this is one of the stronger teams in the league. Dan has the best core of pass catchers and in a PPR league that will defiantly get you to the playoffs. The only thing that could bring this team down is an injury to one of its top RB’s.

2. Catch Me IF You Can (Shawn)

Shawn had a B+ draft this year and has a very well rounded team. He should challenge Dan for the top spot in the AFC.

Strength: Shawn may have the most complete starting lineup in the league. All his starters are proven in the NFL. I love Gates at TE and Matt Ryan and Matthew Stafford combined should play as a top QB if Shawn plays matchups every week. I want to go on the record and say that Matt Stafford will be great this year and crack the top 12 QB’s.

Weakness: Shawn addressed his entire starting lineup before thinking about backups. As a result he has a very thin bench. He will have a rough time on bye-weeks where he has more than one player out. He will need to player the waiver wire and pick up this year’s sleepers if he wants to compete for the top spot.

Baring any significant injuries I don’t see how this stacked team won’t make the playoffs and challenge Dan for the top spot in the AFC. However, Shawn’s only one injury away from having major problems.

3. KO’d (Logan)

Logan had a B draft this year taking safe running backs and high ceiling wide outs. This team has a lot of potential and should be very competitive all year. Plus Logan has a pattern of winning one year and sucking the next and he sucked last year so we will see if that pattern continues.

Strength: This team has two workhouse running backs in MJD and Grant. They will get all the carries for their respective teams and put up solid numbers every week. I love that Logan with went High Ceiling wide receivers. They have the potential to light up the fantasy score board. They are defiantly the fastest trio in the league.

Weakness: Logan’s tight end situation scares me. Daniels is coming off of his 3rd ACL surgery and will be limited to start the year. I do like that Logs picked up Sheffler who is a sleeper to backup Daniels. The combined age of this team’s QB’s is 73! I fear that this may be the year both Favre and McNabb breakdown and if that happens this team may breakdown as well.

This team has a lot of potential and should challenge for a playoff spot. However, there are a lot of questions to still be answered about this team and I am just not sure it can outlast the tough teams in the NFC.

4. Gropp’s Crew (Chris)

Chris is a new comer to our league this year. He did well in his first live draft earning a c+ grade. Chris was already Dan’s first trade victim this year. His team is still solid though and should give the top teams a run for their money week in and week out.

Strength: Chris used the old school philosophy and got sure fired running backs to lead his team. AP is a monster, Thomas is always solid and Harrison is in a great situation. I am also buying into the Jermichael Finley hype and think he will be a top 3 TE this year.

Weakness: To put it simple this teams wide receivers are weak. Chris has essentially 5 number three fantasy receivers. There is some potential in this core of pass catchers, but I see it being an issue all year long. I also worry that Carson Palmer will fail to be a top 14 quarterback and Chris will be giving up points at that position all year long.

Overall this team’s pass catchers will determine how far Chris goes. If he can play the right match ups and two of them can break out then along with AP this team can make a strong push for the playoffs.

5. Off In The Woods (Clay)

The question this year is can anyone beat off in the woods? I say the answer is yes; about ¾ of the league can beat off in the woods. However, Clay did have his best draft in years with a B grade.

Strength: Any team with Payton Manning has a chance. I like the combination with Reggie Wayne as well. This team will go as far as the Col’s to superstars will take it.

Weakness: After Forte this team has no running backs. Right now it is starting Leon Washington, need I say more. After Wayne, Clay’s WR’s are shaky. Although, I do like what I saw out of Owens in the pre-season and Housh will be revitalized in Baltimore.

At the end of the day I don’t think the Manning-Wayne duo can make up for this team’s lack of talent. If Clay picks up this year’s breakout players on the waiver wire he may have a chance to sneak into the playoffs. I also think Forte was a great pick and will have a season similar to that of two years ago.

6. StiffD (Mike)

If you want in-depth analyses on Mike’s team check out my lat post. Mike had a C- draft. It seemed like every time it was his turn to pick he was in a bad situation. The players that made since for his team came off the board right before he picked.

Strength: The unquestioned strength if this team is TE. Clark and Witten are both beasts as the position. Mike should have an overwhelming strength at the position. Witten will be a nice flex option. Mike also has a solid top 2 wide out sin Fitz and Wallace.

Weakness: RB is going to be a problem for this team. Benson took on a huge work load last year and will tire this year and louse carries to Bernard Scott. Stewart is still the 1B option in the RB by committee situation in Carolina. After those two question marks Mike has no backups which could be the death of this team. Eli Manning has the potential to be a solid started, but he has the same odds of busting.

Mike has half the puzzle in place and needs to find out how to get the other pieces to fit. I highly recommend he trade Witten to build running back depth and acquire wide receiver talent. Mike’s teams have a tendency to feed of my criticism so I do expect this team to compete week in and week out and defiantly beat my team.

7. Z’s (Pop)

First of all I would like to thank Pop’s for letting us host the draft party at his house. Pop’s had a so so draft with a D+ grade. I fear that there is just no talent to make the playoffs on his team.

Strength: Aaron Rodgers has become an elite QB in the NFL and the best fantasy QB. He has all the tools in the world and lethal weapons around him. He should have the Packers offense soaring this year.

Weakness: this team pretty much has a weakness everywhere else but K. Addai is bound to slow down and Beanie Wells is already hurt. Buckhalter is penciled in as Pop’s number 2 RB for week 1. At WR Driver and Mason are on the wrong side of 30. However, I like Garcon to breakout and compete for Pop’s top WR.

I think this team will win some games behind the arm of Rodgers, but at the end of the season I expect Pop’s to be at the bottom half of the AFC.

NFC

The NFC is absolutely stacked this year. I have four playoff teams coming from the conference. Six of the teams are in my top 8. The NFC race is going to be exciting as any one of the teams can take the division.

1. Stuntin Like John Elway (Garret)

Garret is new to A-Town this year, but he certainly knows his fantasy football. He had a great draft earning an A- grade. He has a great team this is built for our league rules (PPR and bonus points for high yardage).

Strength: Frank Gore has the easiest schedule in the league and will get Garret some easy wins this year. If he can stay healthy he will be a top 4 RB. Reggie Bush is a PPR machine and Moreno is the Broncos go to guy. LJ is also a nice sleeper. Schuab led the league last year in passing yards and should do so again this year. Schaub looked like a reach on draft day for this team, but he should be invaluable to Garret.

Weakness: The biggest weakness for this team is at WR with the exception of Brandon Marshall. Garret was forced into taking Santana Moss as his #2. His WR core is made up of home run hitters with Moss, Henderson and Cotchery. These guys have the capability to put up huge numbers sometimes, but are very inconsistent. As a result Mike Williams might end up being this teams #2 wide out.

Overall this team has a ton of talent and I expect it to go deep into the playoffs. Pretty good bragging rights for a guy who is new to the league.

2. Team PGill (Gill (me))

This being a PPR draft Gill went with the high powered pass catchers earning him a B+ draft grade. Gil missed the playoffs for the first time last year, but I expect him to compete for a spot this year.

Strength: This team is loaded with WR talent. Andrea Johnson and Miles Austin are both top 8 WR’s and should carry this team. Michael Crabtree is an excellent number 3 and likely the flex option. This team has good depth at both RB and WR and can stay afloat if injuries occur. Flacco should have his best year yet at QB.

Weakness: Unfortunately when you draft for depth you lose out at a position and for this team it is TE. John Carlson is a good NFL player, but a below average fantasy TE. Gill will be looking for TE help all year long. I also worry that his top RB Matthews may be over hyped and is unproven.

On paper this is one of the top teams in the league and should be right in it at the end of the year. However, that’s why they play the games and anything can happen during the course of an NFL season.

3. Nor Cal Flyin Fish (Anton)

Anton is last year’s champion. Needless to say everyone will be gunning for him. Anton is an exception drafter as he has proven in the past and did a good job this year as well earning a B+ grade. Anton doesn’t have the same caliber players as last year, but he should still make the playoffs and compete for the title once again.

Strengths: I hate Rivers as a person, but love him as a fantasy QB. He is under rated year in and year out. He should have a great season. I also love Vernon Davis to repeat last year’s breakout performance. Maybe not 13 TD’s again, but I see an 80 catch 1,100 yard season. Anton also has the Jests D, fantasy’s unquestioned #1 defense.

Weakness: I was a little skeptical about Randy Moss coming into the season, but he looked great I the pre-season should Anton should be good there. After that he has a lot of issues at WR. Edwards is not a #2 fantasy wide out. Anton better hope one of his other WR emerges as a solid #2 if he wants to win the NFC. I also don’t like that both this team’s starting RB’s are sharing carries. They are both incredibly talented, but Williams and Charles will be hurt by sharing the rock.

This is defiantly a playoff team and will compete for the division title. With a string of good fortune Anton could be A-Town’s first re-peat champion earning the ultimate bragging rights.

4. Koz Effect (Jeff)

To be honest Jeff has had some horrendous drafts in the pass, but not this year! He absolutely killed it this year and earned a B+ grade. This is the best team Jeff has ever had and he is looking to sneak up on a lot of owners. His team is armed and ready to make a deep run into the playoffs.

Strengths: This team has the best running back core in the league led by the top pick of the draft Chris Johnson. McCoy is an exceptional PPR back and Javid Best is looking great so far. Jeff will have a great advantage over his opponent each week at the RB position. Bowe and Jennings are a solid one two punch at WR. I like Cutler a lot and if he falters than Young should fill in nicely.

Weakness: Historically Mike Martz has not used his TE very much so taking Olsen was a gamble. Jeff added Scaife as a backup, but I think he will have issues with this position on a weekly basis. This team is very thin on its bench. A major injury could jeopardize Jeff’s season.

I can’t believe I am saying this, but I am starting the Koz Effect band wagon! Jeff’s team is loaded with talent and good PPR players. He is going to make a deep run and has a real shot at fantasy glory. The only reason I have him 4th in the division and getting the last playoff spot is because he has hard luck in fantasy and something always seems to go wrong for him.

5. The Fightin Donkeys (Pat Sell)

Pat was last year’s runner up in his first year in the A-Town league. He did a good job in this year’s draft earning a B draft grade. I feel like he reached a little at times, but ended up with a solid team.

Strengths: Drew Brees is a machine and the leader of this fantasy team. Teaming him with Colston should make for some huge weeks, but it could also make for some low weeks as well. If Brees can have a record setting year than Pat should be headed back o the playoffs. It’s always good to have the best player on the league’s best offensive team.

Weakness: I wouldn’t say RB and WR are a weakness for this team as much as they are question marks. Jacobs and Barber are on the decline and Mc Fadden is always injured. Pat could offset his issues at RB with Arian Foster, who he took in the 11th round and in my opinion was the best pick of the draft! Foster should be a top 15 back and that’s exactly what Pat will need from him. After Colston and Ochocinco Pat has no WR depth. If one of them fail to meet expectations, than Pat is in a lot of trouble.

This is one of those teams that you don’t hate, but you don’t really love either. There’s not a lot of excitement here you basically know what you’re getting. Pat will be competitive every week, but I don’t see this team making the playoffs. But hey, Pat Sell has a enact for fantasy sports and I could be completely wrong and his team could take the division (Just like last year haha).

6. DidULose2aGirl (Kristen)

Kristen did a solid job on draft day despite being hung over earning a C+ grade. Her teams are always competitive and this year shouldn’t be any different.

Strength: Kristen has two top flight RB’s. Rice had a monster year last year and Green dominated in last year’s playoffs. They will both ride the momentum from last season and finish in the top 10 RB’s. The Kolb-Celek combo should prove its worth as well.

Weakness: This team’s WR’s are weak and in a PPR league that spells trouble. Boldin is an exceptional talent, but in a new system and cold weather I just don’t see him finishing in the top 15. Nicks is a nice player to, but Steve Smith will steal most of the targets. Kristen’s best bet is that Royal can have the season he did two years ago.

Kristen has a very solid team and if she were in the AFC I think she would be competing for a playoff spot, but in the talent rich NFC she has a slim chance at the playoffs. She should finish right around 7-6.

7. Team Shit Show (Alex)

This was one of my favorite teams on draft day as I gave Alex a B grade. As time has passed I have grown into a doubter of this team and fear that Team Shit Show might actually be a shit show all season. Alex was this year’s unlucky owner who drafted the stud who got hurt the next week. The loss of Sidney Rice will really hurt this team.

Strength: Brady has looked great this season and should be a top 5 QB. Steven Jackson is a threat in the air and on the ground, but make no mistake about it he will get hurt. I like Forsett because he isn’t in a committee and Portis might actually hang on to the job in Washington and post a solid season.

Weakness: With Sidney Rice and Vincient Jackson not playing anytime soon Alex is in a lot of trouble at WR. Ward is just plain old, but he should still be a solid #3. Maclin has been getting a lot of targets, but he’s still only a #2 at best and Doucet is a sleeper not a starting WR. Without a clear number one WR this team will struggle. I also don’t like Heath Miller at TE.

Alex got it with some hard luck early on this season and I just don’t see him rebounding to make the playoffs. He will stay competitive, but I don’t think it will be Alex’s year in 2010.

Post Season Predictions

Round 1: Bye: Dan and Garret

Jeff over Gill

Anton over Shawn

Round 2: Jeff over Garret

Dan over Anton

Championship: Dan over Jeff

Final Thoughts

Thank you for taking the time to read this I hope you enjoyed my analysis. Feel free to leave comments and please become a follower in the top right corner. It’s easy; you just have to sign up for a simple Google account. Best of luck to everyone this year it should be a great season.

Mike's Fantasy Football Team

My Buddy Mike asked me to write about his fantasy football team. Mike and I are in the A-Town Fantasy Football League. The League has 14 teams and is a PPR Flex league. We use standard scoring with 6 points for every touchdown. I will break Mike’s team down position by position and then give his season outlook. Mike drafted out of the 13th spot.


Quarterbacks: Eli Manning NYG. Mike selected Eli Manning in the 6th round with the 72nd overall pick. Eli was the 10th quarterback selected. Eli is coming off the best statistical season of his career with 27 Td’s and 4,000 Yds. The Giants struggled with their run game last year and were forced to throw more often than they would have liked. Manning has always fallen into a trend of having a good year then an off year. I would have liked to see Mike take a backup QB and play the better matchup some weeks. Overall Eli is a quality pick and hopefully he can break his inconsistencies and have a good year.

Running backs: Cedric Benson CIN, Jonathan Stewart CAR, Sammy Morris NE, Ryan Torian WAS. Mike took Benson in the second round with the 16th overall pick and Stewart in the 3rd with the 41st overall pick. I think Mike reached a little on Benson as ESPN has him ranked 76th overall in their current PPR rankings. Benson had an enormous season last year, but he also took a beating. He only played in 13 games and had a ton of carries. There is definitely a durability concern with Benson. Stewart had his best season as a pro last year partially due to the injury of DeAngelo Williams. Stewart comes into the season as the Panthers 1B running back behind Williams. He is a tough runner and could vault into the top 10 if Williams goes down again. Athlon Sports has Stewart 22nd overall which makes him a great value pick for Mike. However, neither Benson nor Stewart will catch a lot of passes which lowers their value in our point per reception league. After Benson and Stewart Mike is very thin at running back. They both have week 6 byes and with Mike’s backup running backs he is sure to lose that week. He needs to be very active on the waiver wire and trade front to boost his running back core.

Wide Receivers: Larry Fitzgerald ARIZ, Mike Wallace PIT, Chris Chambers KC, Arrelious Benn TAM, Mohamed Massaquoi CLE, Devin Thomas WAS. With this being a PPR league Mike decided to address the WR position in the first round. He took Arizona Cardinal stud Larry Fitzgerald with the 13th overall pick. I love Fitzgerald’s ability and accomplishments, but I think Mike made a mistake here. I am scared Fitz could be a bust this year and fall out of the top 10 WR’s. The Cardinals QB situation has gone from terrible to unimaginable. Hall of Famer Kurt Warner retired at the end of last season leaving the job to Matt Leinart and Derek Anderson. Leinart was the clear cut favorite until he couldn’t get the ball down the field and is now on the trade block. That leaves the job to journey man Anderson. Anderson has done nothing special and lacks the ability to get Fitz the ball consistently. I have a feeling this is a pick Mike will want back and wish he would have taken Randy Moss. Mike didn’t address his WR2 until the 7th round with Mike Wallace. This year will be Wallace’s coming out party and he should get into the top 25. Mike picked four more WR’s throughout the draft none of which should be more than bye week replacements. Mike’s WR production depends solely on Fitzgerald and dare do I say Derek Anderson!

Tight End: Dallas Clark IND, Jason Witten DAL. Mike took a rare approach here and took two top 5 TE’s. I can’t blame him though he got exceptional value on both of them. He took Clark in the 4th round 44 overall where ESPN has him 17th overall and Witten in the 5th round 69th overall where ESPN has him 58th overall. Instead of going with a less than stellar wide out in the 5th round Mike choose a stud TE in Witten to be his flex player. I fully expect both TE’s to play outstanding this year and rack up over 80 catches and close in on 1,000 yards receiving. Mike will have an undeniable advantage every week at tight end. Not many teams can say that about any position. This strategy could make Mike look like a genious or it could be the death of his team if one of them falls short of expectations. I would also like to note that Mike should explore trade opportunities for a WR using one of his TE’s as trade bate.

Kicker: Rob Bironas TEN. I have Bironas as my 6th rated kicker. He has a strong leg and should be Mike’s starter all year long.

Defense/ Special Teams: Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens are a little banged up on defense right now. However, they have a history of being a tough nosed defense and always making a few big plays. They should serve Mike adequately as his Defense and Special teams.



Overall I really like Mike’s starting lineup. Where I have major concern is his depth. He virtually has none and that will eventually cost him a spot in the playoffs. He is too vulnerable on his bye weeks. Also it’s hard to get excited on a team with so many question marks. Manning, Benson, Fitzgerald and even Witten scare me too much. Mike is going to be a nervous wreck each week as his team should compete in games, but if one guy goes down he is in deep trouble. With Mike’s current roster I think he will finish with anywhere from 5 to 8 wins most likely finishing at 6-7 and missing the playoffs. If his team stays 100% healthy which is very unlikely he has a respectable chance at making the playoffs.



Possible trade scenarios to help Mike would be:

Mike: Witten to Gill for Crabtree and Bernard Scott

Mike: Witten to Alex for Vincient Jackson and Justin Forsett

Mike: Clark to Garrett for Reggie Bush and Santana Moss

Mike: Clark and Chambers to Pat for Arian Foster and Chad OchoCinco

Mike,
Thanks for giving me a topic to write about.  Sorry about the negative vibes towards your team.  Hopefully you take my criticism and use it as fuel and kick my but when we play and prove me wrong.  I wish you the best of luck this season!