Mixed Vegetables In The Backfield

Posted On Wednesday, September 30, 2009 by JakeTrain |

2009 fantasy footballOne of the hottest topics this week is located in Buffalo, NY. Marshawn Lynch was drafted as a RB2 who would miss a quarter of the season. Fred Jackson was drafted to be decent RB3 for a few weeks. Three weeks have passed and the situation is murkier. Read More

I almost started looking at the numbers to find something to pin my analysis on before I realized it was a fruitless effort. Well, perhaps "fruitless" is not the best term. Regardless, fantasy owners just have to wait and see how the Bills use both backs in the next couple of weeks. You can try to look at the numbers (The Hazean spells it out nicely) but in the end it won't matter.

All I know is that Dick Jauron is a conservative guy who cares more about defense than offense. His team has two talented wide receivers and two talented running backs. The Bills couldn't spread the ball around enough to give Terrell Owens a single reception last week. So what is going to happen when you add another fantasy option to the equation?

Obviously Fred Jackson is the biggest loser in real life, but it shouldn't really hurt his owners too much. Afterall, you drafted the guy hoping he would be in your lineup for three weeks tops and a nice flex option thereafter. Well, I'd say you cashed in pretty good on him, considering he didn't exactly cost too much on draft day. Jackson was and still is a "lease with option to buy" guy.

Lynch is the biggest fantasy loser of this situation. Jackson has earned consistent touches, especially in passing situations. That alone, significantly reduces the value of Lynch in PPR leagues. Lynch was on suspension though, not out with an injury, so he should be able to hit the ground running with little rust. As I said earlier, Lynch owners will have to see how things play out on the field this week. Keep him benched unless you are thin at running back and expect to use him as a flex option in Week 5 at home facing the Browns.

fantasy football
My best guess is the Bills take the mixed veggie approach, mixing them together in a 50/50 plowshare rather than featuring one or the other on the dinner plate.

As for the rest of the gang in Bufflo, I'm avoiding them. I am having serious doubts about anyone in Buffalo being consistent enough to make them worthy of "starter" classification. Unless the variables in the equation decrease, all of Buffalo's players are matchup only fantasy starts.

On the lighter side of things, take a look at this clip of future Hall of Fame linebacker Junior Seau. How many retirees spend the weekend as a guest PBR rodeo clown?



From Michael David Smith at FanHouse: "The bull ran over him but didn't hurt him, and Seau got up laughing.”

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Fantasy Football Market Watch

Posted On Tuesday, September 29, 2009 by JakeTrain |

fantasy football 2009I’ve been pushing Brent Celek, Vincent Jackson and Rashard Mendenhall since the preseason and my opinions haven’t changed. Who are the new guys on my radar? Which players am I peddling? Find out in today’s edition of Hobo Soup! Read More


Buy

LenDale White, Tennessee Titans – I was baffled at the lack of faith fantasy owners showed in White after two weeks. So much so that I tried alerting you to add him prior to week three’s games. The window to obtain White as your RB3 for a bargain price is closing. He’s the type of RB you want on your team during the bye weeks when pickings are slim.

Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions – Most rookie quarterbacks don’t come out throwing four touchdowns a game. Detroit is still a poor team that will be playing from behind. Chances are Stafford will continue to develop, the Lions will be throwing late and Johnson will finish where you expected him to before the season. The only ingredient missing is finding out if Johnson’s owners still have faith after seeing him total 14 targets in Detroit’s past two contests when he posted 13 in the opener.

 Hauschka Fantasy FootballSteven Hauschka, Baltimore Ravens – Owning the kicker on Baltimore has proved to be a good move more often than not over the years. A new name to fantasy owners, Hauschka will continue to cash in on an offense that has put up more points than every team in the NFL other than the Saints through three weeks.

Delayed Buy: Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions – Plant the seed now (just let the Kevin Smith owner know you have an interest should he be willing to deal) and wait until week six to approach Smith’s owners. He hasn’t scored since week 1 and his next three games are tough. A home game against the Steelers is sandwiched between road contests against divisional foes Chicago and Green Bay. By the time he heads into his week 7 bye, his owners are going to be willing to move him. His schedule lightens up a bit after the bye and those touchdowns will return.


Sell

Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos – The cupcakes are over and he has a brutal schedule ahead. I do not think he will continue to get as many touches as he did last week (Buckhalter shouldered 14 carries in the blowout). Find an owner who is wide-eyed over Moreno’s 21 carry, 90 yards rushing and 1 touchdown performance and sell him high.

Santana Moss fantasy footballSantana Moss, Washington Redskins – It just wouldn’t be fantasy football without receiving trade offers for Santana Moss around week four or five. I’m not sure if you will get anyone to bite, but if you ended up with Moss, now is the time to move the inconsistent receiver.

Tony Romo, Dallas Cowboys – His performance last night was exactly what the Cowboys need him to do every week. Romo is inconsistent and therefore a less than reliable fantasy passer. I’d rather have Eli Manning or Joe Flacco as my quarterback on a weekly basis.

Delayed Sell: Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers – His upcoming schedule should have his value soaring by week 10. However, Green Bay has one of the worst fantasy playoff schedules from week 13 forward. Cash in your chips around week 10 and find a new pony to ride into the playoffs.

Hold

Leon Washington, New York Jets – He is probably not owned in non-PPR formats, but those that drafted him three rounds later than Reggie Bush will still be rewarded. Not too many RB’s entrenched in a RBBC are getting 20 touches a game. Have faith and stay patient.

Fred Jackson fantasy footballFred Jackson, Buffalo Bills – After the start Jackson has had, it will be tough for Dick Jauron to keep him benched when Marshawn Lynch returns from his suspension this week. Lynch will eat into his carries, but Jackson should retain a decent amount of value going forward.

Greg Olsen, Chicago Bears – I flirted with putting Olsen in the “sell” column but I remembered all those things that made me love him going into the season. After catching only 4 of 12 balls thrown his way in weeks one and two he snared 4 of 5 and a TD against the Seahawks.

Don’t Touch

Ladell Betts, Washington Redskins – The backup running back on a team that can’t run the ball isn’t going to do much better than the guy he replaces. I’m not sure I’d even want Betts on my team if I owned Portis. There are plenty of other options at equal or lesser value with more upside. News about Portis being injured will cause a slight uptick in his ownership this week; stay on the sidelines.

Mark Sanchez, New York Jets – Three touchdowns last week and the buzz around the Jets does not translate into promising fantasy quarterback potential. I realize several QBs are under performing and others are injured but Sanchez will not be a quality option most weeks. Take your chances with a Seneca Wallace, Shaun Hill or Kyle Boller before adding a QB that has been fortunate not to have more INTs and one 200+ yard game under his belt.


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Fantasy Football Hangover - Week 3

Posted On Monday, September 28, 2009 by JakeTrain |

2009 fantasy footballThere are a LOT of things to digest after week three’s NFL action. The most glaring observation of the week in my eyes is the amount of BAD teams lining up each week. I can’t remember when there were this many uncompetitive teams playing in a single season. Read More


Tampa Bay, St. Louis, Washington, Oakland, and Cleveland are not very good football teams. Detroit and Kansas City aren’t far behind either. I am starting to think about how many wins the bottom five teams might have collectively…and I’m struggling to give them more than eleven wins. You might see a team win two games and get the 5th pick in the draft if coaches don’t turn things around. Or are those new coaches the ones responsible for the pathetic outings?

I Wonder

If you ever doubted what the most important position in football is, take a look above. See a few leaky QB situations? I do and I wonder if we might see a little bit of a carousel in the coming weeks. Poor play and injuries should have a few quarterbacks on the market. Derrick Anderson, Byron Leftwich, Tyler Thigpen anybody?

No Huddle

The Jets are for real and they haven’t even hit their stride offensively. My gut says Thomas Jones is in full decline but my brain says it’s way too early to throw in the towel on the guy.

The Bears needed another two missed field goals to win. Yikes! The Bucs can’t tackle and that’s kind of a big part of playing football. I hope you chose the under. People are talking about Brett Favre…and it’s about throwing a touchdown pass? What is this world coming to? Truly a great play, I just can’t believe the 49ers let it happen.

Are the Broncos for real? That win against Cincy is looking better and better. Raise your hand if you played against Drew Brees? You might want to consider PowerBall this week. If you are a commissioner and haven’t collected league fees from the owners of Clinton Portis, Matt Forte or Ladanian Tomlinson you might want to move that up the “to do” list. Ok McNabb owners, now what? You’ve managed solid production from Kevin Kolb but Philly has a bye week so it’s time to turn to plan C. Choose wisely.

Bears Corner

Chicago’s fate always seems to be determined by their opponent and that’s not a good thing. Sure they have played well enough the past two weeks to win, but they have yet to go out and win a football game. Week one they lost the game, weeks two and three their opponents lost the game. Needless to say I’m an unimpressed Bears fan who is hoping we can improve on the fly.


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Why Week 3 Matters And Go Get Lendale!

Posted On Friday, September 25, 2009 by JakeTrain |

fantasy footballTwo weeks into the season there are some surprises. Taking a closer look at some of those surprises reveals whether fantasy owners should buy into the early season numbers or cast them aside as statistical outliers. Increasing your awareness heading into week three just might help position yourself for the rest of the season. Read More

I want to start out this post by directing your attention to a great post by FFToday's T.J. Thomas, that not only provides fantasy owners with "touch" stats but also illustrates the merit of "touches" to a fantasy football owner. I'm going to highlight a couple of things from T.J.'s The All-Out Blitz - Vol. 2 here but I encourage everyone here to give it a read.


Touches equal opportunity in fantasy football. It's that simple. Fill your roster with the most opportunity to produce and you will produce more points more often than not. However, knowing the quality of these touches is even more important. Notice Marques Colston and Vincent Jackson have averaged 7 touches a game thus far. Hardly, the beefy numbers of Carolina's Smith or New England's Moss, but these receivers are posting great numbers and finding the end zone. An uptick in touches would greatly enhance their value. On the other hand, players who are posting nice fantasy totals AND are amongst those receiving more touches are vulnerable to seeing their fantasy production decline if the touches do not remain consistent. As we head into week three keep your list of touch and target leaders handy because having a third game of data becomes the first meaningful statistical reference guide of the 2009 fantasy football season!

For example, I am going to be keying in on Dallas Clark. I had him rated as the #1 TE in PPR leagues heading into the season. Anthony Gonzalez' injury aside, Clark saw his touches increase from 6 to 8 last week. The difference between averaging 6 and 8 touches per game is roughly 30 receptions and 250 yards on the season for a TE. Clark's week three tally is not going to cement his future production, but it will provide a more accurate reflection of his fantasy potential moving forward. If he ends week three with 5 touches I'm far more likely to forget about his performance on Monday night. However, a final line of 8 or more touches for Clark in week 3 and I'm feeling confident he will deliver to the expectations I placed on him. You can apply this same logic and reasoning to most players. That's why week three has a little more meaning than the first couple of weeks. It's evulation week so everyone grab their pen and pencils, there is homework for week 4! Remember what T.J. said to open his article, "Once is an accident, twice is a pattern, three times is a trend."

I thought I'd include some of my buy low targets to finish off this post. I'll be coming out with something more detailed post soon, but for now this will have to do.

Guys I am Buying Low:

#1 LenDale White - Fantasy owners are dropping this guy already! Seriously, you mean to tell me a guy with double digit touchdown potential is being cast aside like stale potato chips? The weather will get colder, sloppier and ultimately more condusive for running. The low carries total can be attributed to playing the Steelers and not being Chris Johnson last week. Did you really expect Jeff Fisher to take Chris Johnson out after he dismantled the Texans? White's carried will increase and Tennessee's red zone trips will increase.

#2 Darren Sproles - How can this guy be a buy low? Because tons of fantasy owners out there still beleive Ladanian Tomlinson is an elite fantasy RB who is only a week away from returning. Sproles is a flex option every week regardless of of LT's injury status. And I'm willing to bet Tomlinson isn't at full health come fantasy playoff time.

#3 Joe Flacco - Matt Ryan got most of the love last season, but Flacco is showing some serious signs of development. This guy is going to put up decent fantasy production in bad weeks and good production against favorable opponents. An inexpensive backup who could end up saving your season is a sound investment in the early weeks of a fantasy football year.


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Start, Sit or Squat and Pray - Week 3

Posted On Thursday, September 24, 2009 by JakeTrain |

fantasy football week 3 start sitMario Manningham goes from waiver wire fodder to your starting lineup in a blink of an eye. The Patriots can’t find the end zone. Neither can the Redskins! What does the NFL’s third week of action have in store for fantasy owners? Read More

Week 2 had its share of duds and studs. I did fairly well but am 0-2 on my RB Start. I’m optimistic I can turn it around this week. But if there is a weakness in my picks, don’t say I didn’t warn ya.

Start Sit or Squat and Pray!

QB

Start: Trent Edwards, Buffalo Bills – The Bills face Drew Brees’ aerial assault at home and that means it’s time to flex the muscles of the passing game in an effort to keep pace.

Sit: Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears – Are there really any horrible plays this week? Seattle is never an easy place to play, the Bears should be able to run the ball and Cutler shouldn’t have to throw the ball too much to win.

Squat and Pray: Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals – If the Bengals watched the Bears last week they will take to the air against their division rivals.

RB

Start: Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins – Portis owners didn’t get the nice fantasy day they were hoping last week, but I have a feeling that package will be FedEx’ed to Detroit this week. Better late than never, right!

Sit: Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders – As I stated in my BOXCAR Blitz post this week, the Raiders have issues and Denver’s defense is playing well.

Squat and Pray: Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams – I’d try to find another option if possible but it’s hard to sit Jackson at home. Plug him in there and hope for the best.

WR

Start: Mario Manningham, New York Giants – The Bucs are without their two starting safeties and are yielding big plays and touchdowns through the air.

Sit: Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos – Kyle Orton and Nnamdi Asomugha. Need I say more?

Squat and Pray: Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City – the guy throwing him the ball might change at halftime, but Bowe should get plenty of looks if you have to start him

TE, DEF, K

Start: Bengals Defense – It’s a thin limb but the conditions seem right. Playing at home against a team with limited offensive weapons and a quarterback who likes to take sacks. Don’t start them over superior units, but the opportunity for fantasy production is present.

Sit: Rian Lindell, Buffalo Bills – The Bills will need touchdowns not FGs to win this game. Additionally, the Saints offense could be up by two touchdowns in the first quarter leaving Dick Jauron little reason to settle for field goals.

Squat and Pray: Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers – Just when you think this guy is going to crack the top five at his position you see a TD go to some guy named Spaeth. Cross your fingers and hope Miller gets the call this week.

----------------------------------

Week 2 Recap:

QB

Start: Kurt Warner – 243 pass yards, 2 TD, 0 INT
Sit: Jason Campbell – 242 pass yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
S&P: Brett Favre – 155 pass yards, 2 TD, 0 INT

Warner was accurate all day, completing 24 of 26 passes in route to nice fantasy numbers. Campbell with a favorable matchup put up below average fantasy totals. If you rolled the dice with Favre you came out okay. Playing for the Vikings, Favre will not be asked to throw the ball around unless needed, but he still managed to put adequate points last week.

RB

Start: Jamal Lewis – 38 rush yards, 1 rec, 8 rec yards
Sit: Julius Jones – 11 rush yards, 3 rec, -2 rec yards
S&P: Matt Forte – 29 rush yards. 5 rec, 33 rec yards

The touches were there for Lewis, but so was the Broncos defense. Not only did Jones bust in Week 2, he left the door open for Justin Forsett to earn more carries. Nobody runs on the Steelers but Forte ran hard and got more involved in the passing game.

WR

Start: Steve Smith 8 rec, 131 rec yards, 0 TD
Sit: Nate Burleson – 4 rec, 46 rec yards, 0 TD
S&P: Bernard Berrian – 6 rec, 46 rec yards, 0 TD

Smith was targeted 15 times but didn’t find the end zone. Nate Burleson turned out to be a bad play, especially with Hasselbeck leaving with a rib injury. Berrian’s six targets are about what he will average this season but I thought he would connect on at least one touchdown pass.

DEF, K, TE

Start: Lawrence Tynes – 4 FGM, 3 XP
Sit: Owen Daniels – 6 rec, 72 rec yards, 1 TD
S&P: Philadelphia Eagles – 48 Points Allowed, 2 Sacks, 1 INT, 1 Safety

Tynes was the best call of the week. Cashing in on NYG’s inability to score in the red zone, Tynes should continue to have plenty of field goal opportunities. Daniels was part of the unforeseen performance through the air from Schaub and the Texans. Meanwhile the Eagles defense did all it could against Mr. Brees.


WEEK 3 – NFL GAMES – All Times Eastern

Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens -- 1 p.m.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals -- 1 p.m.
Washington Redskins at Detroit Lions -- 1 p.m.
San Francisco 49ers at Minnesota Vikings -- 1 p.m.
Kansas City Chiefs at Philadelphia Eagles -- 1 p.m.
New York Giants at Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- 1 p.m.
Green Bay Packers at St. Louis Rams -- 1 p.m.
Atlanta Falcons at New England Patriots -- 1 p.m.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Houston Texans -- 1 p.m.
New Orleans Saints at Buffalo Bills -- 4:05 p.m.
Chicago Bears at Seattle Seahawks -- 4:05 p.m.
Tennessee Titans at New York Jets -- 4:15 p.m.
Denver Broncos at Oakland Raiders -- 4:15 p.m.
Miami Dolphins at San Diego Chargers -- 4:15 p.m.
Indianapolis Colts at Arizona Cardinals – 8:20 p.m.
Monday: Carolina Panthers at Dallas Cowboys -- 8:30 p.m

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Playing Super Mario In Week 3?

Posted On Wednesday, September 23, 2009 by JakeTrain |

fantasy football newsTwo weeks in the books means fantasy owners are now reflecting on their rosters. Waiver wire adds, trade offers and injury reports are becoming more and more important as each fantasy football owner tries to shore up their team in time for the bye weeks. To help you along I thought a nice humnp-day edition of the BOXCAR Blitz would help ease you into the weekend ahead. Read More

If you have never checked out FFToday.com you need to ASAP (preferably after reading the rest of this post). The place is chocked full of useful stat-based information. At this time of year and moving forward, trends start to develop such as how many fantasy points defenses yield to each position. You get the typical waiver wire add and start/sit advice mixed in with great fantasy football analysis. I am a contributor to the site but I feel the content is best single stop source for fantasy football advice on the web.

I’m not a big fan of owning players on rebuilding teams. The culture just isn’t the same. That’s why I cooled on Larry Johnson right before the season started and why I avoided Dwayne Bowe and Matt Cassel in every draft. This video of Todd Haley only reinforces my sentiments. It’s one thing when the coach says ‘we need to improve’ or ‘we need to do a better job.’ But when the head coach talks about the progress his quarterbacks are making it clearly reveals the rebuilding atmosphere. I want my fantasy players performing, not progressing.

With Yahoo’s Brad Evans now talking him up, the buzz around Rashard Mendenhall is erasing any potential discounts. I’m expecting him to be a nice match up RB2/flex type by mid-season and a difference maker in the fantasy playoffs.

I realize Mario Manningham is a popular add this week, FF Librarian likes him too, but is he a good start against Tampa Bay? The Bucs were torched on long plays in the Dallas game and failed to prevent Trent Edwards from throwing a touchdown pass. Bruno Boys ranks Manningham at 21 in their weekly positional rankings. CBS Sports projects 5 receptions for 81 yards. Chances are, if you just picked him up, your team isn’t deep at WR so feel good about putting in your lineup this week. For more insight into the Giants’ receiving core check out this Q and A with WR Steve Smith.

tashard choiceMarion Barber’s quad injury should have had every fantasy football GM heading to the wire to scoop up Tashard Choice. The Cowboys play on Monday night but it’s safe to say they will want to continue to dominate the ground game. Regardless of whether MBIII is able to go, Choice should see increased touches. In case you forgot, Choice was solid during the 2008 fantasy football playoff stretch.

If you are a casual football fan or just want to know a little more about Eagles TE Brent Celek, Chris McPhereson (philadelphiaeagles.com) wrote about him yesterday.

The Raiders lost OT Robert Gallery last week and face a Bronco’s defense this week that has been surprisingly good thus far. Combined with the poor efforts of JaMarcus Russell, and injuries to Chaz Chilens and Johnny Lee Higgins, I’d park RB Darren McFadden on the bench for Week 3.


Lastly, I encourage everyone to show some BOXCAR love and take a look at Art of the Fan. Looking for a perfect gift for the fantasy football geek in your life or an alternative to a league trophy? Pick up a few fantasy sports inspired T-Shirts and help support a BOXCAR Football sponsor!

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Fantasy Football Hangover – Week 2

Posted On Monday, September 21, 2009 by JakeTrain |

fantasy football week 2Week two has left many a fantasy owner hung over this morning. Big day’s from Gore and Chris Johnson, lousy production from the Pats and unexpected returns from quarterbacks Schaub, Rivers, Palmer and Kolb have everyone scurrying to see how their fantasy squads fared this week. Read More

The Giants and Bears capped the two biggest wins of the week. No disrespect to the Jets or Texans, who posted quality wins themselves, but the Bears took out the defending champs and the Giants played spoiler in a hostile environment. However, it was the fantasy production that I found most interesting.

Take a look back at my Jacobs vs. Barber article and compare it to what we saw last night. Dallas is a running football team and if they want to win games they will favor the run more as the season progresses. Romo is an average fantasy quarterback, best used in a platoon with another average option. Brandon Jacobs’ ability to run the ball inside the 10 and score touchdowns is what made him so great a year ago. But their not getting it down close and I’m not sure they will. With modest yardage, Jacobs is on the verge of becoming a RB2. The Giants don’t want to count on Eli’s arm every week, but fantasy owners in PPR leagues should feel good about Steve Smith and Mario Manningham as flex options in 12+ team leagues. In PPR leagues, Smith is the better choice, while Manningham is likely the better red zone target in other formats.

Heading to Chicago it seems apparent that the Bears will air it out against stout run defenses. With average receivers, Cutler is not likely to post huge fantasy totals this year and I’d recommend shopping him. Forte will be fine, chalk this game up to a tough matchup and don’t ever take him out of your lineup. The rain helped, but Pittsburgh is not a great source of fantasy production. Holmes remains a nice WR2 but the RBBC will make Pittsburgh’s running backs below average plays moving forward. I still like Mendenhall as a buy low option and believe he will eventually earn 15 touches a game this season.

In other action…

Count me in as someone who is hopping on the Joe Flacco bandwagon. McGahee is flourishing in a new limited role that keeps him fresh and the passing game is moving the chains resulting in more red zone appearances. I want their kicker and Flacco is a nice QB2. Fantasy managers hoping Ray Rice would breakout are left with some bad bait.

McFadden owners were saved by a late TD. Chilens is at least another week away but it won’t matter if Russell is wallowing away under center.

The Eagles will get plenty of headlines this week but my conclusions following week two are: Westy isn’t an elite back anymore, DeSean Jackson is a quality WR2 and Brent Celek is a top 10 TE capable of finishing ahead of Tony Gonzalez this year.

Carson Palmer and Cedric Benson are becoming reliable fantasy options.

Kyle Orton throws for over 250 yards and Brandon Marshall nets only 34 receiving yards. Orton needed to toss up 37 passes, completing only 51 percent of them, to achieve these totals. Not good for Marshall owners.

Along with Steve Smith and Vincent Jackson, I recommended Greg Camarillo in my pre-season Targeting Sleeper WRs post. The Dolphins are playing in front of a national audience tonight and everyone will see Camarillo. He’s not the next Jerry Rice but a serviceable WR3 in 12+ team leagues. If you didn’t get Laurent Robinson or Mario Manningham, Camarillo isn’t a bad option.

Tonight’s game is big for Joseph Addai owners. Already losing some playing time to Donald Brown, his value could take a huge hit with a lackluster performance in MNF.

Bears Corner

This game was a measuring test to see if the Bears were a good club still able to contend or one staring 8-8 in the face. They played well enough to win and needed some help from Jeff Reed, but in the end Cutler made enough plays. Although Forte ran tough, Pittsburgh was tough against the run. The receivers are hardly elite. However, they showed progress this week.

The Bears don’t win this game without Cutler. It’s as simple as that. I was hoping for 1-1 after these tough opening games and that’s where they are. Continued improvement is a priority, but with a weaker schedule than most NFL teams, the Bears have a realistic shot at the playoffs.


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Start, Sit or Squat and Pray - Week 2

Posted On Thursday, September 17, 2009 by JakeTrain |

fantasy football week 2 start sitThe second weekend on the pro gridiron has a slew of interesting games. Fantasy owners now have a week of meaningful production to analyze before setting their lineups. Are Matt Forte owners actually considering benching their top pick against the Steelers? Read More

There are plenty of good games on the docket this week as we prepare for week two in the NFL. Let’s take a look at some of fantasy’s tougher lineup options in this week’s Start Sit or Squat and Pray!

Quarterbacks

Start: Kurt Warner, Arizona Cardinals – This guy needs to be in your lineup as long as he is healthy. Another week should allow receivers Boldin and Breaston to recover from nagging injuries. With RB Tim Hightower emerging as a legit pass-catching threat out of the backfield Warner is surrounded by quality options.

Sit: Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins – There are not many tough calls at the QB positions this week. However, if you are thinking about trotting Jason Campbell out there as a replacement for Donovan McNabb…let’s just say I’m not optimistic. The match up is there, but keep in mind Rams HC Tony Sparano knows the NFC East pretty well having previously been the Giants’ defensive coordinator. The ‘skins should have enough success on the ground to limit the need for Campbell to throw the ball in this game.

Squat and Pray: Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings – I expect the Lions to sell out against the run and try to make Favre beat them. Favre should be able to make the quick reads and should have WR Bernard Berrian fully healthy.

Running Backs

Start: Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns – Playing on the road in Denver isn’t an easy task but if you are looking for a flex guy this week give Lewis some love. The Browns should give him plenty of touches and there is a good chance he’ll get some carries inside the five this week.

Sit: Julius Jones, Seattle Seahawks – Please don’t let last week go to your head. Although it is certainly encouraging to see Jones produce, the 49ers just finished bottling up Arizona’s rushing attack.

Squat and Pray: Matt Forte, Chicago Bears – A consensus top-five fantasy pick this pre-season, Forte faces arguably the toughest rush defense on the planet. Unless you built your fantasy football team around running backs and have two other quality starters, you have little choice but to plug Forte in and hope for the best.

Wide Receivers

Start: Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers – The Panthers believe in their quarterback and the Falcons secondary is hardly stellar. I fully expect the Panthers to rally behind Delhomme and expect him to get into a rhythm early with Smith.

Sit: Nate Burleson, Seattle Seahawks – My distaste for the Seattle offense may be leading to a biased point of view but I’m not buying Burleson. In an offense that is going to produce a limited amount of passing production, he is fighting Houshmandzedah and TE Carlson for targets.

Squat and Pray: Bernard Berrian, Minnesota Vikings – As I noted above, I like Favre’s chances of posting some good numbers this week. Berrian has been practicing fully in practice and should be a nice WR3 or flex option this week.

TE, DEF, K

Start: Lawrence Tynes, New York Giants – It’s Sunday night primetime, it’s a divisional game and I doubt Tom Coughlin will be as confident in his club’s chances to go for it on fourth down.

Sit: Owen Daniels, Houston Texans – In six career games against Tennessee Daniels has only two touchdowns. Don’t fret, there should be several appealing tight tends to choose from on your league’s waiver wire.

Squat and Pray: Philadelphia Eagles DEF – The spotlight has been on Delhomme’s struggles but few people are shedding light on how good this unit looked last week. You can’t like your chances going up against Drew Brees and company, but you also have to like the potential for interceptions if he makes a bad read under pressure.

WEEK 2 – NFL GAMES – All Times Eastern

Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons -- 1 p.m.
Minnesota Vikings at Detroit Lions -- 1 p.m.
Cincinnati Bengals at Green Bay Packers -- 1 p.m.
Oakland Raiders at Kansas City Chiefs -- 1 p.m.
New Orleans Saints at Philadelphia Eagles -- 1 p.m.
St. Louis Rams at Washington Redskins -- 1 p.m.
Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans -- 1 p.m.
New England Patriots at New York Jets -- 1 p.m.
Arizona Cardinals at Jacksonville Jaguars -- 1 p.m.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Buffalo Bills -- 4:05 p.m.
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers -- 4:05 p.m.
Pittsburgh Steelers at Chicago Bears -- 4:15 p.m.
Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos -- 4:15 p.m.
Baltimore Ravens at San Diego Chargers-- 4:15 p.m.
New York Giants at Dallas Cowboys -- 8:20 p.m.

Monday: Indianapolis Colts at Miami Dolphins -- 8:30 p.m.

Week 1 Recap

I made two bad calls in White and Cooley. I knew White was a gamble heading in but sometimes you have to take a chance. The Bengals weak showing was also a surprise to me.

QB

Start: Carson Palmer – 247 yards, 0 TD, 2 INT
Sit: Matt Schaub – 166 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
SandP: Tony Romo – 353 yards, 3 TD, 0 INT

Palmer completed over 63% of his passes despite Coles’ four drops. A couple of costly interceptions prevented him from having a quality fantasy start. Schaub was under fire all day long and was fortunate to come away healthy. All three of Romo’s touchdown passes came on plays over 40 yards and he failed to complete 60% of his passes.

RB

Start: LenDale White – 28 yards rushing, 1 rec for 5 yards rec. 0 TD
Sit: Larry Johnson – 20 yards rushing, 1 rec for 6 yards rec., 0 TD
SandP: Darren McFadden – 93 total yards, 0 TD

The boldness of the White call came back to haunt me as he failed to deliver a touchdown plunge. LJ owners should be worried, but he’ll improve on his 1.8 ypc and 12 touches going forward. McFadden was named the starter with Fargas nicked up and his 19 touches against the Chargers made him a decent RB2 choice despite the vultured touchdown by Bush.

WR

Start: Vincent Jackson – 5 rec, 56 yards, 1 TD
Sit: Gaints WRs – Smith 6 rec, 80 yds, Manningham 3 rec, 58 yards, 1 TD
SandP: Greg Jennings – 6 rec, 106 yards, 1 TD

Jackson is one of the better touchdown threats at wideout. I was expecting more but this performance was nice WR2 output. Smith should lead this team in targets and receptions but Eli will spread the ball around-especially inside the red zone. The Bears held Jennings in check most of the night before the 50-yard touchdown gaffe.

DEF, K, TE

Start: Minnesota – 20 points allowed, 5 sacks, 1 INT
Sit: Cooley – 7 rec, 68 yards, 1 TD
SandP: Graham – 0 FG, 1 XP

Minnesota did not dominate the Browns but did post respectable numbers. Cooley proved me wrong and hauled in a nice touchdown. A botched snap and a couple of interceptions cost the Bengals some scoring chances.

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Football Spikes: Waiver Wire Gold Rush

Posted On Tuesday, September 15, 2009 by JakeTrain |

fantasy football waiver wireFantasy owners far across the nation are panning for fantasy gold on the waiver wire today. Before you stake a claim in Justin Gage, I have a few thoughts to consider in the first ever Football Spikes. Read More

Football Spikes are like slant routes-quick-hitters to keep the chains moving as we plug away at the 2009 fantasy football campaign.

Finding waiver wire gold is much about luck and timing than anything. Having a need to fill forces owners to scan the pool of players. The hard part is dealing with a roster you believe is pretty solid moving into week 2. You like what you have but you also don't want to miss out on the next great fantasy football claim. Worse, you don't want someone else dramatically improving their fantasy squad by adding a guy for nothing. Here are a few of my opinions on the flavors of the week.

WR Justin Gage - Add only if you are in a 12+ league and need depth. By the time your WRs are on a bye week, someone else will be just as good on the wire to plug in.

RB Julius Jones Ok so he is probably only on the wire in 10-team leagues but I just need to make a public service announcement here: SELL SELL SELL! Got it? good.

WR Mario Manningham Deep leagues leave fantasy owners with limited options on the wire so guys like Manningham get some love. Like Gage above, if you need depth to cover an early bye week he is an option. Manningham has the size Manning likes and would have had a TD if Manning wasn't hurried on the play.

TE Ben Watson The TE position is deep. Brady will spread the ball around. He will score, but there are so many TEs on that team fantasy owners are kidding themselves if you think you can get consistent production from Watson this year. I'd rather have the next guy...

TE John Carlson The kid is good but the offense played the Rams folks. If you want to make a change at your TE spot, Carlson is a good option but I'm betting the guy you are dropping isn't too bad either.

WR Patrick Crayton Tempting isn't it? Every year it seems Crayton makes a big play for a score and fantasy owners circling the waiver wire can't turn away. I'd rather take my chances with a Devery Henderson making a long TD grab each week than Crayton.

QBs Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick I'd stay away unless your QB position is in bad shape. Kolb, not Vick, is the guy to add if you choose to go down this road. Kolb isn't great, but he has Trent Edwards-like fantasy upside. There is enough around him to salvage a few starts should you have to lean on him over the next week or two. Keep Vick in the kennel.

One last thing. If RB Rashard Mendenhall has been dropped in your league, scoop him up. It might not happen overnight, but I still think Mendenhall will be in fantasy lineups by the second half of the season.

If you liked this post and are looking for more insight into the waiver wire pickups of the week I suggest taking a look at The Hazean's Fast Starting Fantasy Players To Monitor as well.


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Fantasy Football Hangover - Week 1

Posted On Monday, September 14, 2009 by JakeTrain |

fantasy footballA couple of things really stood out from the first Sunday of the 2009 NFL season. Drew Brees’ touchdown passes should not be a big shocker, nor should AP’s dominance. Schaub took a few hits and actually stayed on the field, but that’s not what really caught my eye. Read More

I have to start in Carolina. The Panthers are in trouble. Williams is a running back you can count on this season and Stewart seems healthy enough to be a positive factor in your fantasy lineup. However, the lack of a passing attack could seriously deflate the fantasy ceiling not only of Steve Smith, but the running backs as well.

Speaking of that Philly game, McNabb is an injury liability so you should have an adequate backup. I was surprised Westbrook had as many touches in the second half as he did. Getting a few extra yards might be good for a few more points but not if he is on the sidelines when your fantasy playoffs come to town. Regardless if you own Westy, McCoy s a nice guy to own moving forward.

The Bengals shocked me. I almost took Cincy in several knockout pools and thought better of it. Maybe I am drinking too much Palmer Kool-Aid, but this was a lackluster effort by the Bengals. Denver had no right even being in this game let alone keeping the Bengals out of the end zone. Bad snaps on field goals, interceptions instead of touchdowns…Cincinnati should be a better provider of fantasy production than they were last night.

Ray Rice had 22 touches but failed to score. Get used to more of this as McGahee settles into more of a short yardage role with the team.

How many people got burned by the Cards this week? First Boldin might not play and fantasy owners everywhere forgot that Breaston himself wasn’t 100% coming into the opener. Then word comes late that Breaston is inactive. Fantasy madness everywhere, or maybe not in your neck of the woods but I’m sure it burned a few people.

The injury with the most fantasy impact may just be Anthony Gonzalez. A lot of owners invested highly in the young receiver and now have a hole in their starting lineup. On the flip side, how about Bucs’ rebuilt Caddy? I’m not sure what his value is amongst your fantasy peers but that kind of production can only help his cause to get more carries.

In one of my leagues I waited too long on a defense and found myself knee deep in playing match ups out of the gate. As a result, my last picks in that draft were Seattle and Washington. If you are streaming defenses and looking for a team to pick on I suggest looking up Rams’ opponents.


Bear’s Corner (As a Bears fan I need a small outlet to voice my opinions)

Two main things come to mind after that game last night. 1) The Bears have the talent to win. 2) Talent doesn’t mean squat.

All you had to do is look at Jay Cutler moments before the Bears would receive the kickoff after squandering their lead late in the fourth quarter. Cutler, his team having just driven down the field to take the lead on their last possession, was standing with his arms folded and a blank stare on his face. Where is the leadership? Why wasn’t he talking to his receivers, backs, coordinators, anyone about how to get the ball down the field without any timeouts? Cutler failed to rally the troops when they needed him to lead. The end result was yet another miscue and the end of the game. The Bears have talent-enough to overcome mistakes. They lacked leadership last night. Cutler and the Bears coaching staff lost Urlacher for the season and cost themselves a divisional win. Bears fans can only hope it didn’t cost us a division title.

As for tonight's games, I haven't heard anything concrete, but I think Welker will play

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Let's Get This Fantasy Football Season Started!

Posted On Sunday, September 13, 2009 by JakeTrain |

We were given a football appetizer on Thursday and Santonio Holmes gave fantasy football owners a lot of points on a lot of benches. Furthermore, Justin Gage became the first unofficial hot add of the week while top pick RB Chris Johnson failed to deliver. Yep, it's here and it's Sunday. Hold on tight and let's get this thing started. With the season underway a few content changes will be made here on BOXCAR Football. Read More

BOXCAR Football has grown a good amount since starting back on August 1st. As the word gets out, readership continues to grow. I appreciate those who have stopped by and look forward to the next phase of the fantasy football season. As such, the evolution of BOXCAR Football continues...

I am planning on writing up a Monday post labeled 'Fantasy Football Hangover.' This post is a holdover from my previous fantasy football blogging and will highlight some of my observations from the past weekend. Varying fantasy topics and strategy will be touched and I will also pass a few Monday Night Football notes along whenever possible. If my schedule does not allow me to get the post done on Monday, you should look for it on Tuesday.

The rest of the week is not as concrete. At this point, Hobo Soup, BOXCAR Blitz, and Fantasy Football & A Movie, will continue at my discretion. I cannot provide a specific weekly outline, but readers can expect at least one of these posts to be made each week. I have other ideas for posts should anyone become interested in contributing to BOXCAR Football.

Between the longer, meatier posts of the week will be shorter posts. Football Spikes, will reveal basic information and strategy on a fantasy football relevant topics, including my opinions and insights. The main focus of these types of posts are to keep my readers informed during the week when I cannot devtte the time to a longer, researched article.

Feedback is welcomed and encouraged. BOXCAR Football aims to be a fun informed source of fantasy football advice, strategy and analysis. I look forward to being in the trenches with you throughout the 2009 fantasy football season!

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Start, Sit or Squat and Pray - Week 1

Posted On Wednesday, September 09, 2009 by JakeTrain |

Week 1 lineup choices can be tricky. Pre-season games tell us very little, resulting in very little concrete direction towards player’s values. Furthermore, fantasy owners cannot simply assume the same porous run and pass defenses of 2008 will be susceptible to more damage this season. Read More

Tennessee and Pittsburgh kick things off on Thursday night and with that comes the fantasy football season’s first lineup submissions. I’m hoping to feature a Start, Sit or Squat and Pray post every Thursday or Friday throughout the season. Time constraints may prevent me from doing this, but the plan of attack is to highlight a few guys at each position who may pose tougher decisions to their fantasy owners. There are plenty of other places to get weekly rankings and projections so I’m only going to focus on a few guys each week.

The best thing you can do in week 1 is look back at your pre-season rankings. Don’t try to get cute playing match ups and don’t automatically assume the Chiefs will yield 200 yards on the ground. When in doubt, dance with the lady you brought to the dance in week 1!

Quarterbacks

START: Carson Palmer – If you selected Palmer to be your starter, don’t be afraid trotting him out there against the Broncos. Denver’s defensive unit has not played too many games together and more importantly; Palmer’s elbow is healthy.

SIT: Matt Schaub – Do you really want to take a chance at playing an injury prone quarterback who isn’t fully healed from his previous injury? I sure wouldn’t feel good about it and neither should you.

SQUAT and PRAY: Tony Romo – I’m a little worried Romo may try to do too much in the opening weekend of the season. Forcing the ball to Witten and Roy Williams could spell disaster against the sound Bucs defensive unit.

Running Backs

START: LenDale White – Pittsburgh is the type of opponent you typically avoid starting your RBs against but in this case I’m feeling good about White. There should be plenty of short yardage situations and White is the best bet to tally a TD.

SIT: Larry Johnson – I’m not sure the Ravens defense will be quite as effective as they have been in recent years, but I’d like to see how the Chiefs offense performs in the wake of Chan Gailey’s departure-especially Johnson’s touches.

SQUAT and PRAY: Darren McFadden – I’m not optimistic about playing him in one of my leagues, but the touches should be there in the end. As I said earlier, sometimes you have to just review your rankings and realize you drafted McFadden to be in your starting lineup, not on the bench.

Wide Receivers

START: Vincent Jackson – Oaktown’s franchise cornerback, Nnamdi Asomugha, will be playing this game with a soft cast on his hand. This should make it even easier for Jackson to get down the field and win jump balls.

SIT: Giants WRs – Until someone emerges in the passing game, there is no reason to start a Giants wide receiver. An improved Washington defense only makes this decision easier.

SQUAT and PRAY: Greg Jennings – The Bears are healthier in the secondary and although some switches at the safety position might cause a couple of hiccups, Jennings doesn’t have the elite size or speed to take full advantage. Add in an improved pass rush and I’m seeing a very mediocre outing.

TE/DEF/Kickers

START: Minnesota – The Vikings will have their big guys in the middle and that means, little room for Jamal Lewis. Plenty of three and outs and a few turnovers are on the menu for Eric Mangini’s new club.

SIT: Chris Cooley – The Giants’ pass rush is among the best in the league and Cooley will be needed to help with pass protection. Additionally, Jason Campbell has a 78.8 passer rating in four career starts against New York.

SQUAT and PRAY: Shayne Graham – Cincy’s improved offense should be able to score plenty of points at home against Denver this week. Graham has been sitting out with a sore groin but has been given the nod to start the season opener.


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Jacobs Versus Barber

Posted On Tuesday, September 08, 2009 by JakeTrain |

brandon jacobs
As we approach the final days of draft season I'm moving a few guys up my board. The biggest factor in my late bump is touchdowns. Sure there are performance leagues and PPR leagues but in the end, touchdowns are fantasy gold. Taking a look at the '09 fantasy football landscape I see fewer and fewer TD machines. Read More

Much of today's decrease in individual TD numbers can be attributed towards the RBBC. We haven't seen this much evolution in the individual running game since Mike Alstott was carrying defenders into the end zone. The game has changed and fantasy owners need to adapt.

Steve Slaton and Chris Johnson have huge potential, but I've been pushing them down in almost every draft over the past two weeks. I'm scared. Yep, that's right. I am absolutely scared of investing a top 15 pick in either of these two guys because as much as I love their chances of churning out quality yards, I can't get excited about their chances of finding pay dirt consistently. Maybe I'm just looking for reasons to justify the fact I haven't been able to land one on any team thus far. Or maybe it's because waking up on Monday morning to find 150 total yards and 0 TDs makes my coffee taste a little bitter.

Have you ever eaten fish and had a small bone stab the roof of your mouth or tongue? It puts a damper on your whole meal and makes you scan your plate and remaining fish for more tiny harpoons. You might get the same feeling if you select a player with limited TD potential.

And so I'm torn walking the fine line between smart yardage plays and maulers almost certain to be injured as they are to score double digit TDs. I'm not talking about the choice between AP, MJD and Forte at the top of the draft. I'm talking about the second through fourth round guys that fill out the core of your fantasy squad.

I'm talking Brandon Jacobs and Marion Barber.

(Now before I go on I should tell you that I am surrounded by Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants fans. I have no stake in the rivalry but I've heard enough about each team's prospects of winning the Super Bowl over the past month it got me thinking...)

I liked Marion Barber going into 2008. Notice I said liked not loved. I didn't get him in any league and watched injuries derail his season. In the process I saw talent from other Cowboy running backs, Felix Jones and Tashard Choice. And now, sitting here only days away from NFL 09 I'm seeing more 2008 Giants in the 2009 Cowboys. I'm also seeing more 2008 Cowboys in the 2009 Giants. Yeah, I had to scratch my head too! Here me out here.

The Giants of 08 mauled opponents using a three-headed running attack coined "Earth, Wind and Fire." It allowed Eli Manning to better manage the game and took some of the pressure of having guys like Plaxico Burress absent from the huddles on Sunday. Fast forward to Dallas today and I see a dynamic set of tailbacks ready to explode this season. If you loved Brandon Jacobs in 2008, trade him in for a Marion Barber in 2009.

marion barberA month ago I was hesitant about the work share allowing any one player to be a consistent talent in my fantasy backfield. I just don't see how the Cowboys will be able to resist pounding the rock when they see what taking the pressure off Tony Romo can do in the passing game. A month later, I'm thinking there will be enough carries to go around. I'm pushing Romo, Roy Williams and Jason Witten down too.

Over in New York, I see a team without a true #1 WR and a quarterback trying to be the face of the franchise. Big-time pressure without big-time talent. Derrick Ward is gone, lopping one of the head's off the monster that was a year ago. Now Jacobs, is always going to be labeled an injury risk. But they lost over 1000 yards rushing in Ward and have unproven talent in the passing game. The offense isn't going to move the ball as easily this year and that alone should translate into fewer TD opportunities.

Will similar injuries derail Jacobs and Bradshaw in 2009 the way they did Dallas' backfield after such a promising start in 2008? I don't know for sure but the odds are high enough to scare me away. I'm not buying Jacobs at his current value and would be looking to trade him while he still has value. The first hint of news suggesting he will miss action will send his fantasy stock down for the rest of the season even if he only misses a single game.

Wade Phillips might not transform into Tom Coughlin anytime soon but don't be shocked if these two offenses trade places in fantasy football production.

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Fantasy Football & A Movie: Fantasy Inspiration 101

Posted On Friday, September 04, 2009 by JakeTrain |

2009 fantasy footballWith Boise State on their way to an undefeated season the football season has officially started. That means the kids are back in school and the journey that is the fantasy football season is upon us. Some people may have their own ritualistic habits for opening day. Some may even have fantasy football rituals. Me? I just like getting into the “season” that is football. Read More


I’m offering up a fantasy football dish of inspiration and a couple things to ponder. As you get ready for those week 1 lineup decisions, you have to first make a commitment to your leaguemates. The black eye of fantasy sports in general is the abandoned team. Don’t be that person. Just don’t. If you don’t think you can handle playing fantasy football for the entire season, get a friend to share the team with or don’t play.

Now on with the show…

Steele: Rudy,are you ready for this, champ?
Rudy: I've been ready for this my whole life!
Steele: Then you take us out on the field.


Locked, stocked and loaded, have some pride when you set that week one lineup! I can almost feel it now. The first “Game Break” of the season. Keeping one eye on the game and the other on the words scrolling across the screen. Good food, great drinks. All the research and planning that went into building your 2009 fantasy football roster is now on display.

Preparing for a fantasy football season isn’t nearly the same as Rudy leading the Golden Domers out onto the field but you should get some joy seeing what your team can do nonetheless. It’s a long season but in week one everyone is in it, everyone has a chance to win it all, including your favorite NFL team.

Pete: Well, you know what my dad always said, Having dreams is what makes life tolerable.


This might just be essence as to why fantasy football was ever created. I mean way back when, someone decided it would be fun to create fictional teams made up of real life players. Something to do for fun, pass the time and perhaps make life just a little more tolerable. Fantasy football has evolved from pocket protectors because people kept dreaming of something even better.

Make sure you have fun this year and be mindful of those people that really don’t care about your fantasy football team. It’s not everyone’s fantasy. Don’t let your dreams of fantasy fame make someone else’ life intolerable.

Fortune: You're 5 foot nothin', 100 and nothin', and you have barely a speck of athletic ability. And you hung in there with the best college football players in the land for 2 years. And you're gonna walk outta here with a degree from the University of Notre Dame. In this life, you don't have to prove nothin' to nobody but yourself. And after what you've gone through, if you haven't done that by now, it ain't gonna never happen. Now go on back.


Perspective. It’s funny how we seem to lose our way or ever decided to take the path we are on in the first place. Fantasy football is perspective. No matter what is going on with your real life, no matter how old or young you are. No matter how bad your team was last year. You will always be able to assemble a fantasy football roster and set your lineups throughout the NFL.

Some people consider fantasy football more than a hobby. In the day of Twitter and Facebook, fantasy football is its own little social networking site. Use it as a way to keep in touch with your friends and family members. Or perhaps you need something to talk about with your co-workers at the water cooler. Fantasy football is a great way to connect with people you have known for years but haven’t talked to in months!

Rudy: [laughs] Yea, I have this wish to let my father watch one of his sons play football for the Irish and I was wondering if I could possibly dress for one game next season?
Ara Parseghian: Rudy the NCAA is really strict with this 60-player rule, and in some positions we only have one backup and you know that every year we are competing for the national championship. Is this wish just for your father?
Rudy: No its for everyone who told me that being a Notre Dame Football player would be impossible. My brothers, the guys I work with at the mill they can't come to practice and see that I am a part of this team.
2009 fantasy football


Not only does this shed light on just how far Notre Dame football has fallen, but it should also remind you that every roster spot counts. Don’t narrow your focus solely on your starters. Not managing your entire roster throughout the season can cost you a championship. Trim the fat and load up on the carbs that could energize your roster.

Do you really need to keep Todd Heap as your second TE? At best you might need him during your other TE’s bye week. In most leagues you can find an adequate replacement on the waiver wire that week. Instead of carrying Heap for the first few weeks why not consider a guy like RB James Davis? The Browns are going to lose a lot of football games and may want to get a look at their young back by midseason. Even if that doesn’t happen, Jamal Lewis isn’t getting younger? Always, always, always be sure to maximize your roster’s full fantasy potential for the rest of the season!

Rudy (1993)
Starring: Sean Astin, Jon Favreau, Ned Beatty, Scott Benjaminson, Charles S. Dutton, Christopher Reed, Lili Taylor
Directed by: David Anspaugh

Movie Review, Story and Interview With Rudy | Rudy International



The movie is great but the story is even greater. Sit back and think about the magic that happens each year on a football field. From the NFL down through Pop Warner, you can see inspiration everywhere. To a lot of people, football is a game full of overweight men hitting each other, offering little entertainment value or meriting significant interest. Everyone is entitled to his or her own opinion I suppose. However, when a Rudy Ruettiger comes along, you find out football is much more.

Fantasy football is a dream every fan can live out. As owner, general manager and coach all rolled into one simplified game people like you and I can live out our dreams of running an NFL team. The best part is there are no NCAA eligibility rules to prevent you from playing more than four years!

Other FFM Posts:
Getting An Edge On Draft Day
Will AFC Running Back Redeem Themselves
Gambling On NFC North QBs

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Dealing Fantasy Football Cards

Posted On Wednesday, September 02, 2009 by JakeTrain |

fantasy football
The buzz around the NFL and fantasy football is peaking and my mind is overflowing with information. NFL headlines are racing through my head and the proverbial snowball has morphed into an avalanche. I’m scrambling to evaluate my new fantasy football rosters, tracking the latest fantasy news and reviewing final roster cuts and winners of position battles. Then along comes that first trade offer. Read More

When you start talking about fantasy football trades prior to the season you get mixed opinions. Some believe you have to wait and see how everyone performs before making any meaningful trades while those who love tinkering with rosters are sending out trade offers ten minutes following the draft. Regardless of which side of the fence you reside on, trading is a part of the game.

Whatever strategy you choose, keep an open mind. One of the hardest and most difficult things for a fantasy football manager to do is let go of the draft or auction. Once you are done, it’s done. Like the deal in a card game, it’s simply a way to distribute the cards so you can play a game. An ace of spades isn’t worth more because it was the first card you were dealt!

Yet, people tend to think that a player chosen in round 6 is more valuable than a player chosen in round 8. Stop! Your roster is your roster. Too often people look back to how the player was obtained to determine present value. Would you trade a 1st round pick for a 6th round pick? No. But things change and those “picks” are now players who, like stocks, see their prices rise and fall daily.

By week 9, you are far enough removed from the draft that this issue isn’t much of a factor. Do yourself a favor and base early trade decisions on the current and potential value of players on your roster, not on how those players came to be on the roster. The fantasy football draft is a fun way to deal the cards. Don’t make it anything more.

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Fantasy Football Draft Nuggets

Posted On Tuesday, September 01, 2009 by JakeTrain |

Had the draft for my long standing redraft league. A 14-team with .5 PPR, 4 pt pass TDs and -2 INTs. Went fairly well, but three things stood out. Read More



I'm not a big fan of "roster posts" since you really have to be in the draft to get a feel for how things went down. Also, every league is different so the results are not cookie-cutter. After digesting the draft, however, there are a few fantasy nuggets I feel are worth sharing.

Holes

When you enter a 14+ team league you are going to have a hole unless your rosters are extremely thin. Get it in your head right off the bat so you are depressed by round 8. that is about the time you realize you are weak at one position or another. The best thing you can do at that point is continue to make the strength of your team better. this will create a roster more suitable for trade opportunities. Just as every tam should have a hole, most teams will have an area of surplus. get active and keep the lines of communication open following the draft. Then follow up those emails with trade talk.

Runs

I drafted 9 of 14 and was relieved to know only 10 and 15 picks would span my draft choices. I wasn't burned by a run, but the guys drafting at the top saw seven QBs taken before their second pick. Nothing they, or you, will be able to do about it. just be prepared if it happens.

Injuries
The Texans game was going on in the background. Matt Schaub injured? Of course he will be hurt this season...wait...you mean he was just injured? Like right now? This kind of thing can happen so if games are being played while you are drafting I strongly suggest trying to monitor the game while you draft.

Happy Drafting!


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