Fantasy Football

5 Comments Posted on August 24, 2015August 26, 2015 Fantasy Football, sports

Fantasy Cheat Sheet 2015: Running Backs

Typically, the first handful of spots in your draft go to the running back position. This year is no exception…

As you prepare to make your picks, here are my Top 40 running backs and where I recommend you take them in your upcoming draft.

1. Marshawn Lynch, SEA

2014: 1,306 rush yards, 367 receiving, 37 receptions, 17 TDs

Marshawn is why the Seahawks offense works. He also just got paid some more, so he’s motivated to ball out.

Pick 1st Overall

2. Jamaal Charles, KC

2014: 1,033 rush yards, 291 receiving, 40 catches, 14 TDs

Probably the best when healthy, but that hasn’t been a consistent quality of his as of late. Worth the gamble if he’s available. Always finds the end zone.

Pick Early 1^st round

3. Le’Veon Bell, PIT

2014: 1,361 rush yards, 854 receiving, 83 catches, 11 TDs

Best running back in the league but out for the first 2 games due to suspension. Worth picking if you can because he’ll be huge for down the stretch, both rushing and receiving.

Pick Early 1st Round

4. Matt Forte, CHI

2014: 1,038 rush yards, 808 receiving, 102 catches, 10 TDs

Won’t catch nearly as many passes, but the Bears are going to run the ball a lot this season and he is still one of the best. Cutler will use him in play-action and he’ll set up wide at times too.

Pick: Has Early 1st Round value but seems to be falling to late 1st, early 2nd

5. Adrian Peterson, MIN

2014: Spent most of it suspended

Another year older, AP’s still one of the best in the game and will be the focal point to the Vikings offense. Also fresh after not playing, but you don’t know if another legal issue will come up. Not likely, but the red flag is there now.

Pick Middle 1st Round

6. Eddie Lacy, GB

2014: 1,139 rush yards, 427 receiving, 42 catches, 13 TDs

Lacy is solid, but started slow with the Packers offense last season. Packers also depend way more on passing which keeps the ball out of his hands more than you’d like. Might be relied upon more with Nelson.

Pick Middle-Late 1st Round

7. DeMarco Murray, PHI

2014: 1,845 rush yards, 416 receiving, 57 catches, 13 TDs

Murray was the league’s leading rusher last year and should get a lot of touches with the Eagles because their quarterbacks are so bad.

Pick: Late 1^st, early 2^nd

8. Jeremy Hill, CIN

2014: 1,124 rush yards, 215 receiving, 27 catches, 9 TDs

Hill will have a big increase in workload this season and has Giovani Bernard to complement him. Expecting more handoffs to him as the Bengals try to get Andy Dalton right again.

Pick: 2^nd Round

9. LeSean McCoy, BUF

2014: 1,319 rush yards, 155 receiving, 28 catches, 5 TDs

McCoy is expected to be ready for Week 1. He’ll get a lot of carries but is in a crowded backfield with Fred Jackson and Boobie Dixon. Health is also going to be an issue for him with so many carries in his career already.

Pick: 2^nd round

10. Arian Foster, HOU

2014: 1,246 rush yards, 327 receiving, 38 catches, 13 touchdowns

As of now, there is no timetable for Foster’s return from groin injury. He is someone who should be available on waivers, but will definitely help you late in the season…best case scenario.

Pick up on waivers and stash him on IR if need be.

11. CJ Anderson, DEN

2014: 849 rush yards, 324 receiving, 34 catches, 10 TD (all second half of season)

Anderson is the lead candidate for Denver’s #1 running back spot and Manning loves him. New head coach Gary Kubiak’s zone-run scheme is why Foster and Forsett produced so well the last few seasons.

Pick Late 2^nd Round

12. Justin Forsett, BAL

2014: 1,266 rush yards, 263 receiving, 44 catches, 8 TDs

Forsett is the #1 guy in Baltimore and should benefit from a lack in WR depth for Flacco. His receiving numbers will get a boost too with Marc Trestman running the offense

Pick: 3^rd Round

13. Frank Gore, IND

2014: 1,105 rush yards, 111 receiving, 11 catches, 5 TDs

Gore could be huge in the Colts high power offense. With defenses worrying more about Luck throwing deep on them, less attention will be paid to Gore and that means serious gashing.

Pick: 3^rd Round

14. Alfred Morris, WAS

2014: 1,074 rush yards, 155 receiving, 17 catches, 8 TD

Morris hardly ever catches the ball but he is important to the Washington offense as nobody has any faith in RG3. Solid health-wise as well.

Pick 3rd or 4th Round

15. Mark Ingram, NO

2014: 964 rush yards, 145 receiving, 29 catches, 9 TD

Ingram is very good but he is usually getting injured. Should get a lot of red zone opportunities but also will split passing situations with CJ Spiller.

Pick: 4^th Round

16. Melvin Gordon, SD

2014: Hesiman Trophy Candidate

I don’t normally like drafting rookies high in Fantasy, but Gordon is the clear starter for the Chargers ahead of Branden Oliver and Danny Woodhead. Starting RBs tend to do well in Mike McCoy’s offense.

Pick: 4^th – 5^th Round

17. Latavius Murray, OAK

2014: 424 rush yards, 143 receiving, 2 TD, 429 returning

Latavius showed he is fast and can score from anywhere on the field, but also hasn’t proven he can stay healthy yet.

Pick: 4^th, 5^th round

18. Andre Ellington, AZ

2014: 660 rush yards, 395 receiving, 46 catches, 5 TDs

Ellington can score a lot of points but he can’t stay on the field. He has already had some hamstring troubles in camp.

Pick 5^th Round

19. Lamar Miller, MIA

2014: 1,099 rush yards, 275 receiving, 38 catches, 9 TDs

Lamar goes into the season as the #1 guy in Miami and proved how solid he can be with Tannehill running a read option offense. Stays healthy too.

Pick: 5^th round

20. Jonathan Stewart, CAR

2014: 809 rush yards, 181 receiving, 25 catches, 4 TDs

Stewart is a strong option when healthy. This the first time he won’t be splitting carries with DeAngelo Williams and doesn’t have anyone else to challenge him on the depth chart. Expect the workload to be heavier too with Benjamin out.

Pick: 5^th round

21. LeGarrette Blount, NE

2014: 547 rush yards, 54 receiving, 10 catches, 5 TDs

It’s really tough to trust New England RBs because Belichick will just go with whoever he likes most that day. Blount turned out to be the hot hand after Patriots picked him up late last season but will miss Week 1 due to suspension. Could be solid 3^rd RB.

Pick: 6^th Round

22. Todd Gurley, STL

Rookie

Gurley can be the best athlete in all of football but he was injured last season for Georgia and he’s likely going to miss all of the preseason because of an ACL injury. Hard to feel confident about drafting him, but the potential is too high to pass up.

Pick: 6^th Round

23. TJ Yeldon, JAX

Rookie

Doesn’t have as high an upside as Gurley, but Yeldon has the best shot at being the feature back in Jacksonville. If converted QB/WR Denard Robinson could break out like he did last season, Yeldon should do well as a full-time back.

Pick 7th Round

24. Joseph Randle, DAL

2014: 343 rush yards, 23 receiving, 4 catches, 3 TDs

Randle is first in line for feature back duties behind the best OL in football. He leads Darren McFadden and Lance Dunbar who are also fighting for carries. Randle also has a shoplifting problem, but can be helpful as a backup on your roster with high upside.

Pick 7^th Round

25. Carlos Hyde, SF

2014: 333 rush yards, 68 receiving, 12 catches, 268 return yards, 4 TDs

San Francisco is an absolute mess and is probably the worst team in the NFL. They also don’t have a set depth chart yet and Hyde is splitting carries with Reggie Bush. He didn’t really do much last season to get anyone excited about this year but he’s one of the last possible #1 RBs left, while expected to get most of the workload.

Pick 7^th Round or later

26. CJ Spiller, NO

2014: 300 rush yards, 125 receiving, 19 catches, 306, 2 TDs

Spiller is in a better place than Buffalo. He will be used on 3^rd down and will be a better version of Pierre Thomas if Ingram gets hurt. Also gets return points but has his own health issues. He’s currently coming back from arthroscopic knee surgery.

Pick 8^th Round

27. Rashad Jennings, NYG

2014: 639 rush yards, 226 receiving, 30 catches, 4 TDs

Jennings and Shane Vereen are both playing with the first team. If healthy, Jennings is a solid RB2 or Flex player.

Pick 8^th Round

28. Isaiah Cowell, CLE

2014: 607 rush yards, 87 receiving, 9 catches, 8 TDs

Cowell is Cleveland’s best option at RB with Terrence West not far behind and Duke Johnson coming off a hamstring injury. With a choice between Johnny Manziel and Josh McCown at quarterback, Cleveland will want to run the ball a lot.

Pick 8^th round

29. Ameer Abdullah, DET

Rookie

Abdullah is getting a lot of praise in camp, but is also in the mix with Joique Bell and Theo Riddick. He’s probably the most talented of the 3, but Stafford just called the Lions backfield a “running back by committee” situation. We’ll see who the hot hand is come Week 1.

Pick: 8^th round

30. Chris Ivory, NYJ

2014: 821 rush yards, 123 receiving, 18 catches, 7 TDs

Ivory is a poor man’s Marshawn Lynch with his downhill running style and will be depended on for the bulk of the workload with Steven Ridley still rehabbing an ACL injury.

Pick 8^th Round

31. Tevin Coleman, ATL

Rookie

Coleman has been neck-and-neck with Devonta Freeman for feature back touches for the Falcons. Coleman is the more complete back though with pass catching and return capabilities. With the two sidelined and set to return from injury this week, I like Coleman’s chances better with them on even ground.

Pick 9th Round

32. DeVonta Freeman, ATL

2014: 248 rush yards, 225 receiving, 30 catches, 2 TDs

Freeman had the best shot at starting for the Falcons until he joined Tevin Coleman on the sidelines with a hamstring injury. Has a year of experience under his belt, but Coleman is expected to be a full-package back when he catches up.

Pick 9th or 10th

33. Joique Bell, DET

2014: 860 rush yards, 322 receiving, 34 catches, 8 TDs

Bell is coming off an injury in camp but is still the most accomplished in the Lions backfield.

Pick 9th Round

34. Giovani Bernard, CIN

2014: 680 rush yards, 349 receiving, 7 TDs

Gio is expected to be part of a 1-2 punch with Hill. He’ll get 3^rd down and passing play reps for sure. Depending on Hill’s durability as a full-time starter, Gio can get some of his workload back.

Pick 10^th Round

35. Tre Mason, STL

2014: 765 rush yards, 148 receiving, 16 catches, 5 TDs

Depending on Gurley’s health, Mason could be a boom or bust with a late pick. He’s as talented as anyone when given a shot and good insurance if Gurley misses time.

Pick 10^th round

36. Doug Martin, TB

2014: 494 rush yards, 64 receiving, 13 catches, 2 TD

I don’t trust Tampa RBs. They don’t stay healthy, they turn the ball over, and they always seem like regular waiver wire pickups (and drops). Martin is only ranked here because he’s slated as their lead back, but he’s only disappointed people since his rookie year.

Pick 11th Round

37. Shane Vereen, NYG

2014: 391 rush yards, 447 receiving, 52 catches, 5 TD

The Giants still aren’t very good on defense which forces their offense to pass more. Vereen is one of the better pass catching RBs and that’s exactly why they brought him in.

Pick 11^th Round or higher

38. Darren McFadden, DAL

2014: 534 rush yards, 212 receiving, 36 catches, 2 TD

If he can get on the field and fully healthy, he could be a late sleeper behind the Dallas OL. McFadden’s getting toward the end of his career so you shouldn’t bank on that.

Pick 12th or higher

39. Fred Jackson, BUF

2014: 524 rush yards, 501 receiving, 65 catches, 3 TD

F-Jax has been the Bills version of Dirty Harry for the last few seasons. At this current time, he is the only healthy back out of McCoy, Dixon, Bryce Brown, and Karlos Williams. Although McCoy is expected to be ready Week 1, Jackson would make a strong start in a run-heavy system.

Pick 12th Round or later

40. Reggie Bush, SF

2014: 297 rush yards, 253 receiving, 40 catches, 2 TD

As I mentioned before, SF is an absolute mess. On top of that, Reggie is now playing in one of the best defensive divisions in football. If they’re forced to play catch-up with that horrible defense, Reggie should get the ball more than Hyde.

Pick 12^th Round or higher

Do your rankings look different? Let me know on Facebook and Twitter! Stay Tuned for Wide Receiver rankings tomorrow.

Also…

Quarterbacks Cheat Sheet

Wide Receivers Cheat Sheet

Tight Ends Cheat Sheet

Defenses & Kickers Cheat Sheet

5 Comments Posted on August 24, 2015August 26, 2015 Fantasy Football, sports

Fantasy Cheat Sheet 2015: Quarterbacks

If you haven’t already, now would be a good time to start preparing for your upcoming Fantasy Football Draft.

Whether you’re playing in Yahoo!, ESPN, CBS, or some other website, you don’t necessarily want to base your picks off of their pre-draft rankings. That’s why I write up a CHEAT SHEET with players I prefer, based on their production last season, their team’s recent acquisitions, schemes/sytems, and injuries.

Here are my Top-20 quarterbacks and where I would prioritize drafting them round-by-round.

1. Andrew Luck, IND

2014: 40 TD/ 16 INT, 4,761 yards

Throws the ball A LOT. Just added Andre Johnson and a legit running back in Frank Gore to keep defensive backs honest. 5 Good WRs, 2 decent TEs…Yeah. The Beard’s ceiling has been raised.

Pick: Late 1^st, Early 2^nd round

2. Aaron Rodgers, GB

2014: 38 TD / 5 INT, 4,381 yards

Doesn’t turn it over often and plays better down the stretch. Rodgers is missing his #1 receiver, but could make someone else into a star very quickly. Also scary in the red zone on the ground.

Pick: Late 1^st, Early 2^nd

3. Drew Brees, NO

2014: 33 TD / 17 INT, 4,952 yards

Brees can be great or he can kill you. If Brandin Cooks stays healthy, he’ll bounce back and tear it up. May not throw as many TDs but he’ll pick up plenty of yardage and completions. Led the league in both last year.

Pick: 3^{rd or}4^th round

4. Tony Romo, DAL

2014: 34 TD / 9 INT, 3,705 yards

Expect Romo to throw it more with DeMarco Murray gone. Cowboys have the best offensive line in the league and give him plenty of time to find an open man, and has sure hands in Dez Bryant and Jason Witten.

Pick 4^th Round

5. Peyton Manning, DEN

2014: 39 TD / 15, 4,761 yards

I don’t believe Manning would have come back if he wasn’t healthy. He will still throw a ton. Plus Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders are great after the catch.

Pick: 4^th Round

6. Russell Wilson, SEA

2014: 20 TD/7 INT, 3,475 yards

Doesn’t get a ton of passing points but makes up for it with rushing yards and TDs on the ground. Also just added Jimmy Graham, so passing points should go up.

Pick 4^th Round

7. Ben Roethlisberger, PIT

2014: 32 TD / 9 INT, 4,952 yards

Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell definitely help Ben get his points. He’ll throw 5 TDs one day, but none another.

Pick 5^th Round

8. Matt Ryan, ATL

2014: 28 TD / 14 INT, 4,694 yards

New coach and OC, super young RBs, and healthy Julio Jones and Roddy White…Matty Ice is going to let it fly.

Pick: 5^th Round

9. Eli Manning, NYG

2014: 30 TD / 14 INT, 4,410 yards

Eli doesn’t have an excuse not to produce big time in year two of Odell Beckham Jr and having a healthy Victror Cruz back. Rashad Jennings provides solid relief in the run game when he isn’t sidelined, and Tom Brady could tell Manning how good Shane Vereen is on passing downs.

Pick 6^th Round

10. Tom Brady, NE

2014: 33 TD / 9 INT, 4,109 yards

This obviously can change if his suspension goes away, but Brady can be your first pick after most of the Top 10 go. Next couple QBs can bridge you to after he returns and he’ll be a boss when he does.

Pick 6^th Round or a few after you pick your first QB

11. Phillip Rivers, SD

2014: 31 TD / 18 INT, 4,286 yards

First half of last year, was Top 3 among QBS. Rivers just got paid too, which should motivate him to earn his keep. He also gets Danny Woodhead back to throw to and Keenan Allen should be better as well.

Pick 7^th Round and beyond

12. Matthew Stafford, DET

2014: 22 TD / 12 INT, 4,247 yards

This really depends on how healthy Calvin Johnson is. Megatron at his best is devastating and would make Stafford an awesome backup or even starter. Golden Tate proved to help him out too in Johnson’s absence. Theo Riddick and Joique Bell are proven to be solid pass catchers out of the backfield too.

Pick 7^th Round

13. Jay Cutler, CHI

2014: 28 TD / 18 INT, 3,812 yards

Jay is poised for a bounce back year and not just because #CuttyDoesIt. Former Peyton Manning OC Adam Gase has emphasized utilizing Cutler’s strengths throwing on the run and play-action. He’ll be missing Kevin White for at least the first half of the season, but finally has a true slot receiver in Eddie Royal. Also expect Martellus Bennett to be big when spread out, like Julius Thomas in past years.

Pick 8^th Round and beyond

14. Ryan Tannehill, MIA

2014: 27 TD / 12 INT, 4,045 yards

Gets better every year. Added proven veteran receivers, Kenny Stills and Greg Jennings, who can also play in uptempo offenses. Jarvis Landry will be Tannehill’s best weapon to stretch the field though.

Pick 8^th Round and beyond

15. Cam Newton, CAR

2014: 18 TD / 12 INT, 3,127 yards

Newton is sliding in most drafts after losing Kelvin Benjamin for the season to injury. Rookie Devin Funchess isn’t as depended on as advertised with veterans like Jericho Cotchery and Ted Gin Jr. in the mix, but can put up Benjamin-like production. Ability to run for TDs makes up for lack of passing points too.

Pick 8^th Round

16. Joe Flacco, BAL

2014: 27 TD / 12 INT, 3,986 yards

Lost Torrey Smith and his replacement, Breshad Perriman, is questionable. Flacco will be throwing a lot though with Marc Trestman as OC. Could be either really good or really meh.

Pick 9^th round and beyond

17. Teddy Bridgewater, MIN

2014: 14 TD / 12 INT 2,919 yards

The Vikings are a run heavy team, without question. Teddy has looked excellent in preseason though, and he has Mike Wallace and Charles Johnson to throw to. The training wheels are off in year two and you can expect Kyle Rudolph to provide a nice security blanket in the Norv Turner system

Pick 10^th Round and beyond

18. Andy Dalton, CIN

2014: 19 TD / 17 INT, 3,398 yards

Dalton’s last season was thrown off with AJ Green getting injured. The Bengals added Denarius Moore to go with Marvin Jones and Sanu. Don’t bank on him but he’s a nice backup with nice options.

Pick 11th Round and beyond

Colin Kaepernick, SF

2014: 19 TD / 10 INT, 2,369 yards

The 49ers could potentially be the worst team in the NFL, but Kaepernick can still take over a game in desperate times. He still has Anquan Boldin, plus Torrey Smith and Reggie Bush who are both helpful in the passing. Kaepernick does run better than anyone on the team too. The defense will be awful so he’ll have to score plenty to stay in games.

Pick 11^th Round and beyond

20. Derek Carr, OAK

2014: 21 TD / 12 INT, 3,270 yards

Carr showed flashes of the quarterback the Raiders need him to be last season. Drafting Amari Cooper helps along with a receiving group that also includes Michael Crabtree, Kenbrell Thompkins and Andre Holmes

Pick 12^th Round and beyond

Do your rankings look different? Let me know on Facebook and Twitter!

Also…

Running Backs Cheat Sheet

Wide Receivers Cheat Sheet

Tight Ends Cheat Sheet

Defenses & Kickers Cheat Sheet

Leave a comment Posted on February 6, 2015February 6, 2015 Fantasy Football, sports

Fantasy Evaluations From Super Bowl XLIX: Patriots & Seahawks

By now, you know THE PLAY very well.

And the reactions that followed.

Patriots fans, Seahawks fans, and the rest of the world helped make Super Bowl 49 the highest rated television program in U.S. History. 114.5 million viewers watched the whole game and 118.5 million were tuned in for Katy Perry and her giant robot lion.

That thing was impressive and terrifying all at once.

In a blink of an eye though, football was over. The 2014-15 season was wrapped up with a championship game that represented it perfectly…INSANE. And one of the best Super Bowls in league history was made so by some of this past Fantasy season’s best.

If you’re like me, you already can’t wait to draft your next Fantasy team. So why not start looking ahead and beginning your draft board? Let’s take a look at the key contributors from last weekend’s game and others with Fantasy value.

Beginning with…

The New England Patriots

Tom Brady

In terms of Fantasy Football, Tom Brady had a bounce back year. While his yardage and record were consistent with last season, Brady threw more touchdowns (33) and less interceptions (9). He threw multiple touchdowns in 10 of his 16 starts in 2014, and at least one in every game other than Week 17 when he left early to rest for Jimmy Garoppolo. (But you shouldn’t be worried about Week 17, if you know what’s good for you.) After a difficult first 4 weeks, Brady tore it up by leading Fantasy owners to the playoffs with 24 touchdowns and just 4 interceptions over 8 weeks.

Where to draft him next season?

At the age of 37, Brady ranked 5th in touchdown passes, 5th in passer rating, and 10th in yardage. He slipped pretty far in drafts last season, but he should be available for you to grab in rounds 4-6 this year. Grab your key position players first and Brady will compliment them greatly.

Julian Edelman

If Tom Brady didn’t win the Super Bowl XLIX MVP, Julian Edelman could have. Was there a gutsier player in the game? Edelman made catch after catch, and was blown up doing so…

Edelman’s performance was a thing of football folklore, much like his career so far. The former Kent State quarterback has filled in nicely as Tom Brady’s favorite wide receiver target after the departure of Wes Welker. In the past two seasons, Edelman has caught 197 passes in 30 games played. PPR league players have to like the 6.5 catches a game, 2,028 yards receiving in that span, and Edelman’s return ability.

Where to draft him…

There are two concerns with Edelman. #1 is targets in the red zone. In between the 20’s, Edelman is a great possession option for Brady, and his catch totals are evident of that. In the end zone though, Brady likes to spread the wealth (or throw to Gronk). The 2nd concern is the wear and tear Edelman has compiled early in his career. The hit you see above wasn’t his first rodeo (over the middle with a hard hitting safety)…Edelman makes a solid WR2 option, target him in your 5th-7th rounds. He’d be a steal past that. Moves like this on top end defensive backs like the Seahawks have make you optimistic.

Rob Gronkowski

The AP “Comeback Player of The Year” was more than deserving of the honor. Like Tom Brady, Gronk’s production skyrocketed after Week 4. Correlation?…While Gronkowski had caught touchdowns in 3 of the first 4 games of the season, his usage increased from 6.5 targets per game to 9.5 (Weeks 5-16) and he finished with a Top 5 total of 12 touchdowns.

Where to draft him…

Gronkowski was a steal for me in two leagues, falling to the 4th round in both. No way he’ll be available there in your next draft. With the uncertainty of what’s next for Julius Thomas and the dip in Jimmy Graham’s production, Gronk becomes the #1 tight end on your draft board. I wouldn’t expect him to escape the 2nd round in anybody’s respectable draft.

Shane Vereen

Bill Belichick’s running backs should always come with a warning label: MAY CAUSE INCREASE IN BLOOD PRESSURE. I couldn’t help but appreciate Shane Vereen’s game during the Super Bowl though. He only had 4 rushes for 13 yards but he led the team in receptions with 11 for 64 yards on 12 targets. The rule with Patriots running backs is when they are trailing, Shane Vereen is their guy. He led all the RBs with 838 yards from scrimmage while Stevan Ridley, LeGarrette Blount, Jonas Gray and Brandon Bolden all combined for 1,175 yards.

Where to draft him…

You’ll likely see Vereen overrated on many draft boards and going way too early in mock drafts. Why? He only scored 5 touchdowns total last season, and that’s not production you want out of a depended RB. Draft Vereen late to have as a fill-in flex option. When the Patriots are leading, Tom Brady is throwing less and handing the ball off to anyone not named Vereen…Keep in mind that Vereen is a free agent this off-season. This advice may change depending if he signs somewhere other than New England.

The Others

Stevan Ridley – Late Round/FA pickup

LeGarrette Blount – FA Pickup

Brandon LaFell – Late Round

Danny Amendola – FA Pickup

Seattle Seahawks

Russell Wilson

Despite his final throw of the Super Bowl, Russell Wilson is a winner. Just 3 seasons in the NFL with a 36-12 record, one Super Bowl ring, and 2 trips are more than enough evidence of that. Fantasy wise the season total numbers weren’t eye-popping, but there were individual games that were.

Week 5 @ Washington – 201 pass yards, 2 TDs / 122 rush yards, 1 TD

Week 7 @ St. Louis – 313 pass yards, 2 TDs / 106 rush yards, 1 TD

Week 16 @ Arizona – 339 pass yards, 2 TD / 88 rush yards, 1 TD

Those were games you should have won if you had him. Something Wilson was missing, however, was a true #1 receiver to throw to…preferably a big body receiver who could win jump balls in the end zone. If the Seahawks are able to add one this offseason, “DangerRuss” would be more than deserving of the nickname.

Where to draft him…

Russell Wilson could have been found on the waiver wire for you last season, and rightfully so. The point production wasn’t altogether consistent enough for a dependable Fantasy starter but the floor with Wilson is that of a very good backup. If he gets a big receiver, as noted earlier, he becomes a mid round pick for you. Lowest he should go is in the 10th round. No way should Wilson go undrafted.

Marshawn Lynch

Marshawn Lynch was the best Fantasy football player featured in Super Bowl 49. Say what you want about his relationship with the media (this should help change your mind), the man can ball. Lynch led the league in total touchdowns (rush/receiving) with 17, led in rush TDs (13), ranked 4th in rush yards (1,306), and was Top 5 in touches, yards from scrimmage, and rushing yards per game. He turns 29 in April this year and has considerable pay bump awaiting him which suggests he’s capable of producing like that again.

Where to draft him…

The verdict is still out on whether or not Lynch wants to play next season but if he does, you take him in the first round. DeMarco Murray and Le’Veon Bell rank ahead of him, but Lynch is first round material without a doubt.

Chris Matthews

Had the Seahawks won the game, we’d be using the “folklore” verbiage with Chris Matthews a lot more than we have with Edelman. Matthews was a former junior college and Kentucky player, played in the CFL, worked at Foot Locker at one point, recovered the onside kick that beat the Packers…Then he caught 4 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

Where to draft him…

You don’t. Matthews is a cool story. A 6’5 receiver who can make plays, obviously, but hasn’t really done anything to warrant you rolling the dice on him in your Fantasy draft. He doesn’t have much of a Pro Football Reference page to reference to. The Seahawks offense will be one to watch after this past weekend though, Matthews included.

The Others

Doug Baldwin – FA

Jermaine Kearse – Late Rounds

Luke Wilson – FA…and because his name is Luke Wilson?

Got thoughts or questions? Let me know on Twitter @Mike_PiFF03.

1 Comment Posted on January 6, 2015 Fantasy Football, NFL, sports

Fantasy Football Awards 2014

The dust has settled. Champions have been crowned. Now we can hand off the hardware to the players that helped you win (or lose) your Fantasy Football season.

Weeks prior to the regular season’s finale, I nominated 4 players in each of the 5 different categories you’ll see below. I then let YOU, the readers, add a 5th nominee to be considered for each award. There weren’t any repeats, in terms of a player being nominated for multiple categories. I think that’s a testament to how crazy this season really us.

Then I put it to YOU via Facebook and Twitter to help choose the winners. I’ve included your picks, as well as mine.

And without further ado, drum roll please…

Comeback Player of the Year

Nominees:

– Rob Gronkowski

– Arian Foster

– Jeremy Maclin

– Randall Cobb

– Julio Jones

YOUR CHOICE – Arian Foster

While the leader of the Texans defense, JJ Watt, got most of the publicity (as he rightfully deserved), Arian Foster was back to being the player who you wanted with one of your league’s coveted top draft picks. Foster ranked 6th in rush yards total (1,246), 2nd in rush yards per game (95.8), 3rd among running backs for total yards per game (121.3) and 5th in total touchdowns (13). Not too shabby for a running back returning from back surgery. Oh, AND HE CAN PASS!

MY CHOICE: Rob Gronkowski

I love Arian Foster. He’s a big reason I hope the Texans are chosen for Hard Knocks this summer. But 2014 was A Gronking To Remember (read that last link at your own risk). Rob Gronkowski was a big reason the script changed on the Patriots’ season. It went from a “Trade Tom Brady” 2-2 to “AFC Powerhouse” East Division Champion 12-4 because Bill Belichick upped Gronk’s usage. After two consecutive seasons shortened due to forearm and knee injuries, Gronkowski was named 2014’s unanimous All-Pro tight end leading the position in yards (1,124) and tied for touchdowns with Julius Thomas and Antonio Gates (12). He’s also receiving NFL MVP consideration…and unlike Foster, played all 16 games. And that’s the kind of effort you need in a Fantasy season.

Biggest Draft Bust

Nominees

– Adrian Peterson

– Jimmy Graham

– Montee Ball

– Toby Gerhart

– Zac Stacy

YOUR CHOICE: Adrian Peterson

The truth is, there isn’t anyone more deserving. You likely spent a Top 5 pick on AP and he gave you 1 game and 75 rush yards to show for it. The reasons for that are well documented. And you can raise your hand from wherever you’re at if you were “that guy” trying to claim Peterson off waivers hoping he’ll get on the field some way, some how…

MY CHOICE: Adrian Peterson

There was some clamoring for Ray Rice. I didn’t feel bad for anyone who drafted him. And there were mentions for Doug Martin. The Tampa Bay situation was bad from the start with the worst offensive line in football, a questionable offensive coordinator hire, and Martin’s injury history should have given you enough caution to stay away from him in the draft.

Breakout Player of the Year

Nominees:

– Justin Forsett

– CJ Anderson

– Ryan Tannehill

– Mike Evans

– Odell Beckham Jr.

YOUR CHOICE: Odell Beckham Jr.

I’ve written at length how impressive the 2014 rookie wide receiver class was. None of them caught 100 passes, but 3 recorded over 1,000 yards, and those same 3 caught 9+ touchdowns: Kelvin Benjamin (9), Mike Evans (12) and Odell Beckham Jr. (12)…and Beckham led them all playing just 12 games. Missing 4 games and still posting a line that also included 91 catches and 1,305 yards certainly has you considering ODB on top of your WR draft board next season.

MY CHOICE: Justin Forsett

I won’t argue with the choice of Beckham. He was a miraculous game changer, especially down the stretch. But in a game where consistency from running backs is SO crucial, Justin Forsett was fantastic story. In his 7th season in the league, 4th different team, Forsett doubled his career highs in attempts (235), yards (1,266) and touchdowns (8). Forsett also led the league in yards per carry with 5.7, running away with the starters role left vacant by Ray Rice. At 5’8 and 197 pounds, it was hard to not root for a guy like Forsett…who was also giving you winning outputs week-to-week.

Steal of the Draft

Nominees:

– Antonio Gates

– Lamar Miller

– Tom Brady

– Kelvin Benjamin

– Ben Roethlisberger

YOUR CHOICE: Antonio Gates

I think there are strong arguments for all of the players nominated, but nobody was getting drafted later than Antonio Gates among them. For some reason, Ladarius Green was being selected ahead of him, yet Philip Rivers was making Gates his most reliable receiver in the red zone. In his 12th season, Gates surpassed the 10,000 yard milestone and caught posted his second most total for touchdowns with 12. I took him with my very last pick.

MY CHOICE: Antonio Gates

There was a strong push for Kelvin Benjamin and he was a close choice for me as well. A middle-to-late round choice in most leagues but so consistent as a scoring option through the first 14 weeks of the season. I also would like to take credit for Lamar Miller as an “I Told You So” Guy. While I only had time to preview the East divisions in the AFC and NFC before the start of the season, I had Miller as player you should snag late while you should be weary of Knowshon Moreno.

Most Valuable Fantasy Player

Nominees:

– Andrew Luck

– Aaron Rodgers

– DeMarco Murray

– Le’Veon Bell

– Peyton Manning

YOUR CHOICE: DeMarco Murray

Durability questions? Answered. Contract year? Cha-ching…DeMarco Murray was HISTORICALLY good this year. He broke Emmitt Smith’s single-season Cowboys rushing record. Yes, Emmitt Smith who is the league’s all-time leading rusher. Murray’s league leading 1,845 yards were 484 more than Le’Veon Bell’s, a beast in his own right, and a margin bigger than anyone’s since Chris Johnson ran for 2,000 yards in 2009. Johnson beat out Steven Jackson that year by 590 yards. Murray had 15 rushes of 20+ yards and 13 touchdowns while no other running back had 10 of either statistic.

MY CHOICE: DeMarco Murray

I think Andrew Luck and Aaron Rodgers would make excellent choices. However DeMarco Murray proved to be the best at his position for the entire season. Le’Veon Bell is a close second though with 2,215 yards from scrimmage, 83 receptions, and 11 total touchdowns.

Thank you everyone for following along this season! Wish we were already drafting for next season. Keep coming back to MichaelPiff.com in the meantime for more than football. It’s going to be a good bit of fun.

Leave a comment Posted on December 18, 2014December 18, 2014 awards, Fantasy Football, NFL, sports, TV

NFL Week 16 Fantasy Mailbag: CHAMPIONSHIP WEEK

In football, many say “defense wins championships”.

In Fantasy Football, scoring more points than your opponent wins championships. I actually find that accurate in all sports, both fantasy and real. That has been your goal on a week-to-week basis, and the overall goal was to be competitive for THIS WEEK.

(As I have noted for weeks now) If your league is waiting to hold its championship for Week 17, this is all I have to say to your league’s commissioner…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5d5jxJ5vbM

Do you really want to leave THE CHAMPIONSHIP up to suspicion that key fantasy players will be sat in the final week of the season for rest until the playoffs? Look at the standings, the AFC Specifically…

If you have contributors from the Broncos (Manning, Anderson, Sanders, and both D. & J. Thomas), the Patriots (Brady, Gronk, Edelman) or the Colts (Luck and Hilton), there is good chance they will get minimal reps or not even play to be preserved for the post season.

But back to this week…

How did we get here? I don’t know each every one of your seasons week-by-week, but I can chronicle mine to relate.

It started with a The Draft.

Yes, I know some of these picks are cringe worthy in hindsight…

8 of my 14 picks are no longer on my team. That is evident by my 0-6 start to the season.

And then came the moves. Up until today, I’ve made 39 adds/drops but here are the ones that mattered. (Along with a rotating defense week to week because Cincinnati’s DEF/ST couldn’t be consistent)

I included Denard Robinson as a part of the key moves, because my wide receiver situation has been awful and it was nice to have his consistency in my WR2 slots. With the recent news of Julian Edelman’s concussion, I’m left making this last move hoping for points from at least one of my WR slots.

So thanks to the waiver wire, I went 6-1 to clinch a playoff spot…

Yes, revenge was sweet…but a 6 game win streak to reach the championship was even sweeter. And it was further proof of how right Kevin Garnett was (as much as it pains me to)

The point is that you shouldn’t get discouraged after a bad start. Even a month and a half into your Fantasy season, there’s a lot of football left. Now you’re left clenching on to everything and anything for the most suspenseful 5 days of your season…

Quick Hits

Whether you call him ODJ or ODB (that’s my choice), Odell Beckham Jr. is balling out. In his past 2 weeks, Beckham has caught 23 passes for 273 yards and 4 touchdowns on 30 targets…more than anyone in the league. The 2014 rookie wide receiver class is one that is drawing comparisons to the 1983 quarterback class, and it seemed as though Mike Evans was leading the pack with his NFL leading 11 touchdowns…but now Beckham has launched himself into the conversation for “who’s better?” He’ll have an opportunity to improve his side of the debate against a Rams defense that hasn’t faced an elite receiver since Demaryius Thomas in Week 11, who caught 7 passes for 103 yards.

I mentioned two quarterbacks last week that I expected to rebound after tough Week 14 games. Peyton Manning and the Broncos offense appear to be in December mode: Being smart with the football, keeping Manning upright, and riding the success of their running back, CJ Anderson…Drew Brees on the other hand, looked like Drew Brees again on Monday Night Football. I actually got to watch him throw dirt on the grave of the Chicago Bears’ 2014 campaign, in person. It was awkward…What else is worth noting, Brees is leading the league in completion percentage at 70% and red zone touchdown passes with 24. And this is a down year for him. This week, Brees faces a Falcons defense that has allowed 290+ yards to their last 7 opponents. Brees also has multiple touchdown passes in 13 of 16 meetings with Atlanta as Saints quarterback.

Keep in mind, this week’s NFL schedule is weird. There are two Saturday games being played, Philadelphia vs Washington at 3:30 CT and San Diego vs. San Francisco 7:30 CT. So set your roster accordingly…And then there’s tonight’s edition of Thursday Night Football: Titans vs. Jaguars. Sounds awful, right? I’m still making a play from this game with an un-good wide receiver situation…Nate Washington. There’s gotta be some offense from somewhere tonight, and I see it going to Washington who caught 6 passes on 10 targets for 102 yards last week. Even if Kendall Wright returns tonight, Washington is expected to be the focal point against the league’s 28th ranked defense.

Fantasy Awards Update

Last week I announced the nominees for our first Fantasy Awards (First Annual is incorrect and sounds weird). I chose 4 players per category and let you, THE READERS, choose the 5th. So without further ado, here are the nominees with THE READERS CHOICE included.

Comeback Player of the Year

– Rob Gronkowski

– Arian Foster

– Jeremy Maclin

– Randall Cobb

– Julio Jones (Readers Choice)

Biggest Draft Bust

– Adrian Peterson

– Jimmy Graham

– Montee Ball

– Toby Gerhart

– Zac Stacy (Readers Choice)

Breakout Player of the Year

– Justin Forsett

– CJ Anderson

– Ryan Tannehill

– Mike Evans

– Odell Beckham Jr. (Readers Choice)

Steal of the Draft

– Antonio Gates

– Lamar Miller

– Tom Brady

– Kelvin Benjamin

– Ben Roethlisberger (Readers Choice)

Most Valuable Fantasy Player

– Andrew Luck

– Aaron Rodgers

– DeMarco Murray

– LeVeon Bell

– Peyton Manning (Readers Choice)

Next week you’ll have the opportunity to vote for the winners of each award via Facebook and Twitter. I’ll announce the results after the holidays! Good luck on your matchup this weekend don’t hesitate to ask questions!

Leave a comment Posted on December 11, 2014December 11, 2014 Fantasy Football, sports

NFL Week 15 Fantasy Mailbag: Awards Nominees

The title made me pause for a second. Week 15? Already?

At this point, you’re either:

A) One wins away from your league’s championship.

B) Two wins away from the championship because your commissioner is a monster for scheduling it for Week 17.

C) Playing for things that aren’t the championship…and we’re all still happy for you.

With it being the start of awards season and all, I decided we should nominate our own Fantasy Football Awards which YOU can vote on. I’ll nominate 4 per category and YOU can pick a 5th. The player mentioned the most in the comments section, and on Twitter & Facebook combined will be added to the category. We’ll announce the winners after Week 16. So without further ado…*drum roll*

Comeback Player of the Year

– Rob Gronkowski

– Arian Foster

– Jeremy Maclin

– Randall Cobb

Biggest Draft Bust

– Adrian Peterson

– Jimmy Graham

– Montee Ball

– Toby Gerhart

Breakout Player of the Year

– Justin Forsett

– CJ Anderson

– Ryan Tannehill

– Mike Evans

Steal of the Draft

– Antonio Gates

– Lamar Miller

– Tom Brady

– Kelvin Benjamin

Most Valuable Fantasy Player

– Andrew Luck

– Aaron Rodgers

– DeMarco Murray

– LeVeon Bell

Again, don’t forget to nominate your own player for each category in the comments section, on Twitter or on Facebook! We’ll open voting for the winners in Week 16.

Quick Hits

The last time the Broncos played the Chargers, CJ Anderson had just one carrie while Ronnie Hillman was rushing for 109 yards and catching 3 passes for 29 yards. For the last 5 weeks, Anderson has recorded either 100 yards rushing or a touchdown. He’s averaging 131 yards on the ground his past 3 games and has accumulated 5 touchdowns in that span. The Broncos have proven they can scheme a run game against the Chargers but expect more of Anderson’s production to come through the air this weekend. You’ll likely be fist bumping your buddy like these two refs did when Anderson scored last week.

Though neither receiver’s team won over the weekend, AJ Green and Julio Jones certainly helped their fantasy owners with big victories when it mattered most. Green caught 11 passes on 15 targets for 224 yard and 1 TD while Jones caught the same number of passes for 259 yards and a touchdown against Green Bay. It is worth noting that with his last performance, Jones is now the all-time leader in receiving yards per game with 88.6, surpassing Calvin Johnson’s 88. With a league leading 1,428 receiving yards this season, Jones would need to average 179 yards in his final 3 games to take Megatron’s single-season record.

Did you survive Peyton Manning’s 173 yards and 2 interceptions performance? There were casualties, but be glad if you weren’t one of them. Manning should bounce back nicely against a Chargers defense that is allowing 272 yards and 2.6 touchdowns per game to competent quarterbacks. Drew Brees owners should feel better this weekend as well. The Bears are giving up 301 yards and 2.9 touchdowns to quarterbacks not named Teddy Bridgewater. So get PUMPED!!!

Feel free to ask questions on Facebook or Twitter through out the weekend! Good luck.

1 Comment Posted on December 3, 2014December 3, 2014 Fantasy Football, NFL, sports

NFL Week 14 Fantasy Mailbag

It’s here. It’s finally here.

Feels like just yesterday we were drafting our teams. Some of you probably thought you were sneaky, taking Maurice Jones Drew in the late rounds. Others probably couldn’t believe they got Rob Gronkowski in the 4th round. And everybody who drafted Andrew Luck is likely bragging about where they picked him, right?

Then you had 13 weeks to tinker and toy with your lineup. Early on, it was adding Steve Smith Sr. for Eric Decker, Dwayne Allen for Jordan Reed, and Justin Forsett for Knowshon Moreno.

In October you saw Branden Oliver added for CJ Spiller, Odell Beckham Jr. for Victor Cruz, and Denard Robinson for Adrian Peterson.

And when it mattered most down the stretch, CJ Anderson for Ronnie Hillman, Jarvis Landry for Larry Percy Harvin, and Kenny Stills for Larry Fitzgerald.

So what do you do to have the edge in the playoffs?

You have your players that have been reliable all year and got you where you are, but you can always add help every week.

Colts RB – Daniel “Boom” Herron: Even after fumbling twice the last two weeks, the Colts are committed to running with Boom Herron. Herron has picked up where Ahmad Bradshaw left off by making Trent Richardson look sillier and averaging 7.65 yards per carry since Ahmad Bradshaw went on IR.

Washington TE – Jordan Reed: I mentioned it a week ago, and I was right. Jordan Reed is a better player when RGIII isn’t throwing to him. Colt McCoy gets the start last Sunday and Reed catches 9 passes on 11 targets for 123 yards. If you’re in need of a tight end or Julius Thomas’s status is making you pull your hair out, pickup Reed.

Panthers RB – Jonathan Stewart: DeAngello Williams has a broken hand. Broken hand or not, Jonathan Stewart was running better than Williams anyway. Stewart gained 110 yards total (85 rushing, 25 receiving) against the Vikings defense on Sunday. Even with a 3-8-1 record, the Panthers are in the playoff hunt and establishing some kind of illusion of a run game will be key if they want to steal the horrible NFC South.

Colts WR – Donte Moncrief: The word out of Indianapolis is that Donte Moncrief has surpassed Hakeem Nicks for the #3 receiver role. He’s a boom or bust type of player much like Terrance Williams was for Dallas in the first half of the season, but Reggie Wayne’s production is sloping the wrong way. 134 yards and 2 touchdowns on 3 catches last week makes Moncrief very attractive for more Andrew Luck targets and for you to grab him if he’s available.

Quick Hits

Ryan Fitzpatrick…WHA-HAPPENED? One minute, the “bearded one” was being benched for Ryan Mallett. The next he’s throwing 6 touchdown passes. This is the same Fitz-Beard that averaged an INT per game, and couldn’t find Andre Johnson in the end zone (he did on Sunday). It seems head coach Bill O’Brien has taken off the training wheels finally and airing it out. DeAndre Hopkins had 9 catches for 239 yards and 2 TDs while JJ Watt caught his 3rd off the season. They won’t be playing stats padding Titans again, but they will see the Jaguars this weekend for more air-time.

Can we talk about the Rams? They only have 5 wins this year, and really that could have them first in the abysmal NFC South. 3 of those 5 wins have come against playoff contenders (Broncos, Seahawks, 49ers) and they just beat the Raiders 52-0. For a team decimated by injuries, they sure don’t act like it. Stedman Bailey (another guy to pick up for your playoff run) has emerged as Shaun Hill’s go-to receiver with 12 catches, 189 yards and a TD on 15 targets the past two weeks. Bailey had 100 yards in the first quarter alone against the Raiders. And Tre Mason just scored 3 touchdowns (2 rush, 1 rec.). He may have just scored again on the Raiders, I’m not sure.

And bouncing back from having his winning streak snapped, Tom Brady catapults himself to MVP frontrunner…of commercials. That mullet is…beautiful.

And now for YOU time.

DB Moenning on Facebook: “Got two burning Flex spot questions for you. Pick 1: Keenan Allen or Giovani Bernard. Fred Jackson or Denard Robinson.”

Normally I lean toward running backs in this situation for guaranteed touches. Before his injury, Gio Bernard would have been a no-brainer. But since returning, the Bengals have given the starter reigns to Jeremy Hill, as well as the red zone carries. I could see them riding whoever the hot hand is against the Steelers…The Phillip Rivers target machine Keenan Allen is finally making the most of his opportunities. 3 touchdowns in his last 2 games (3x his total before then) and coming off an 11 catch 121 performance against Baltimore. The Packers 3rd WR just put up similar numbers against the Patriots and that’s why I like Allen better than Gio this week.

For your second conundrum, I like Denard Robinson better and here’s why. While Fred Jackson dispelled the running-back-by-committee approach for the Bills last weekend, he’s running into a buzz saw that is the Broncos run defense. The D-line has found their groove, and allowed Jamaal Charles just 59 yards total (35 rush, 24 rec.). The Bills have a defense that could prevent the Broncos from getting out to a crazy early lead that has forced most teams to give up on the run, but I’m not necessarily counting on it…Shoelace has had a tough go the last two weeks, and it’s mostly been because of game-flow circumstances. The Jaguars had to come back from a 20 point deficit in the first half last week and that helped Marqise Lee out more than Robinson. They should have better luck with time of possession early on against the Texans defense and that bodes well for Robinson, who even got some effective Wildcat plays against the Giants.

Ryan Ricci on Facebook: “Larry Donnell or Jordan Reed?”

As I mentioned earlier, Colt McCoy throwing to Jordan Reed only means good things. Tight ends are what makes McCoy tick. If he’s healthy, go with Reed…I really don’t get Larry Donnell. I think some the occasional drop in his numbers is because the Giants OL can’t handle pass rushers without him blocking. He has a solid matchup against the Titans this week though. If Reed can’t go, Donnell will be a decent play in his place.

Craig Bucy on Facebook: “Romo or Tannehill?”

Tony Romo had a tough one last week. He’s dealing with a bad back but seemed to have a weekly routine to rest it. Romo throws 4 touchdowns in Week 12, goes just 3 days without taking a hit, and he has his worst game of the season. A full week with his regular routine against the Bears secondary may be the bounce back Romo needs. He threw 3 touchdowns against Chicago the last time he traveled to Soldier Field and the Bears are allowing 326.4 yards per game to competent quarterbacks (Stafford, Rodgers x2, Brady, Ryan)…Tannehill has good matchup against Baltimore, but Romo will be your guy.

Sam Kalmar on Facebook: “Terrance Williams or Malcom Floyd? Any potential waiver pickups suggestions welcome also.”

Terrance Williams has really fallen off in the last month. He started off hot and then Dez Bryant, Jason Witten, and DeMarco Murray stopped sharing the targets from Romo. Bryant and Witten will benefit the most against the Bears soft press defense this weekend. Malcom Floyd would have been a nice play if he wasn’t going to draw Darrelle Revis or Brandon Browner….I would recommend either Donte Moncrief or Stedman Bailey who I mentioned either, as well as Robert Woods who has emerged as a startable WR thanks to #OrtonMagic and a beat up Sammy Watkins.

I’ll be on a work trip in Phoenix till Sunday, but feel free to keep asking questions on either Facebook or Twitter.

Leave a comment Posted on November 27, 2014 Fantasy Football, NFL, sports

NFL Week 13 Fantasy Mailbag

I’m thankful for a lot of things this year.

I’m thankful for #DancingManning and any opportunity I have to use him.

I’m thankful for JJ Watt…for being fun to watch, and for being a good dude.

And my sick running back combo of Eddie Lacy, CJ Anderson and Justin Forsett in Week 12.

I’m also thankful for Homeland being REALLY GOOD again…Jennifer Lawrence Chris Farley impressions…anything with former WWE ringside announcer Jim Ross dubbed in…more Game of Thrones Beer…pizza…Jay Cutler post game fashion…and YOU GUYS for making this fun for me to blog again.

Let us know what you’re thankful for by tweeting by tweeting at @Mike_Piff03 with #PiffsGiving.

And now we’re just ONE WEEK away from the playoffs…that is, if you’re in a normal league. Because nobody in their right mind should leave their Fantasy Championship up to Week 17 when players get rested.

Quick Hits

Ever since he made his debut in Week 5, Odell Beckham Jr. has been a human highlight reel. You’ve seen the catch and all the memes that followed (Kelvin Benjamin was not that impressed). He’s also a target machine. In the last 4 weeks, Eli Manning has looked ODB‘s way for 11 targets per game and he’s catching nearly 8 of those passes per outing. Shouldn’t be any different when the Giants see Jacksonville this weekend.

There are some performances from this season that make you think “These guys are playing Madden on Easy Mode.” Latavius Murray was that guy last week – 112 yards, 2 touchdowns…4 carries. Murray suffered the first concussion of his football playing career but looks to be on track to play against St. Louis this weekend. If he’s available in your league, change that.

Your Thanksgiving Football Schedule is a triple header of conference rivalry games. The Bears head to Detroit to keep their playoff dreams alive. Jay Cutler is 7-4 against the Lions for his career, throwing 15 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, and 2,389 yards for a 91.7 Quarterback Rating…The Cowboys host the Eagles with Tony Romo coming off 7 touchdowns in 2 games. Philadelphia’s defense, while they are fantasy scoring maniacs, are allowing 300 yards to opposing quarterbacks in 4 of their last 5 games…And the night cap will be a fun one as the Seahawks travels to San Francisco. Russell Wilson is averaging 70 rush yards per game since Week 5 and throws the ball a little too. Check out this Kansas City Shuffle move he put on Patrick Peterson and the Cardinals defense. “Everybody looks left, and you…”

And now for something completely different.

Sam Kalmar on Facebook: “Larry Fitzgerald or Kelvin Benjamin?…And in need of a TE (assuming Julius Thomas is out) Ertz, Reed, Paul, anyone?”

Nobody sounds very confident that Larry Fitzgerald is going to go this week, but I would still go with Kelvin Benjamin regardless. We’re already seeing some early seedlings of a wide receiver rivalry between Benjamin and Odell Beckham, and really we’re all better for it. Benjamin ranks 5th in target percentage in the league and he is clear and away Cam Newton’s favorite target around the end zone. Panthers receivers have caught 10 touchdowns this season and Benjamin has accounted for 8 of them. He also faces a Vikings defense that is susceptible to big receivers in red zone situations. Case in point: Brandon Marshall.

Now regarding your TE situation…the word on Julius Thomas is encouraging that he may go this weekend. But obviously you want to have your bases covered. I think out of the 3 you brought up, I like Jordan Reed paired up with Colt McCoy. McCoy’s game is very tight end friendly, but Reed is dealing with some injury issues himself. However if he goes, Reed will be a go-to option when Washington is playing catchup against Andrew Luck…If they are available though, go get either Mychal Rivera from Oakland or Kyle Rudolph from Minnesota. Both have rookie quarterbacks who rely heavily on them in the red zone. I like both better than Jordan Reed.

Craig Bucy on Facebook: “McKinnon, Simms, Stewart, or Ivory at RB2?”

First off…I don’t want to take anymore questions on Charles Simms while the Bucs have 2 other running backs healthy. They are also bad at using them…Second, Bucy. Your options. Woof! With that said, Jerick McKinnon is your best option. Sure he hasn’t seen the end zone yet, but he’s due. And the Panthers are just the team who can let that happen as their defense has given up 13 rushing TDs, 2nd worst in the league.

Sam Latham on Facebook: “Kelvin Benjamin or Mike Evans in Flex?”

I’ve already laid out my affection for Kelvin Benjamin this weekend, but this does seem to be a tough if you have to choose between the two. Mike Evans has 8 touchdowns in his last 7 games. The Bengals defense, though, has only allowed just 6 scores to wide receivers all season. Based on the matchup, I like Kelvin more this week.

Emmet Fairfield on Facebook: “Pick 2: Rashad Jennings, Fred Jackson, and Josh Gordon.”

I think Josh Gordon proved in his return to action last week that he IS the Browns offense. First week back and he gets 16 targets? I think they like him, despite how “alienated” he felt during his suspension…Both Rashad Jennings and Fred Jackson looked good last week getting their fair share of action coming off injuries. I like Jennings more though, based on the matchup with Jacksonville. So Rashad Jennings and Josh Gordon are your two.

Brennan Casey on Twitter: “Calvin Johnson, Sammy Watkins, Kelvin Benjamin and Alshon Jeffery. Which 1 should I sit?”

The answer is Sammy Watkins and I’ll tell you why…First, he doesn’t seem entirely healthy. Watkins should have lit up the Jets pass defense on Monday Night Football. He wasn’t necessarily limited, but just 3 catches and 5 targets? Against the Jets?…Reason #2 is Joe Haden. Yes, Julio Jones got by him for one but Haden had his revenge. Oh did he ever.

Everyone have a very Happy Thanksgiving. You’re welcome to keep the questions rolling, but if you awaken me from my post meal slumber, it will quickly turn into Slapsgiving…in which I would gladly deliver.

Leave a comment Posted on November 20, 2014 Fantasy Football, NFL, sports

NFL Week 12 Fantasy Mailbag

Playoffs?!

Yes, Jim…playoffs.

A few of you aren’t stressing too bad about the idea because you’ve either clinched your playoff spot already, or your record indicates that your season is already over.

Many of you, though, are fighting tooth and nail for the last available spots in your league. The difference between keeping your season alive or playing in the superbly underwhelming consolation bracket could be an Andrew Luck pass to his left tackle…

(Good for you, Anthony.)

…or a Joe Haden interception.

So who will be the difference maker for your squad when EVERY…POINT…COUNTS? You’re looking for who’s hot, who’s consistent, and who has the best matchup:

Who’s hot?

Aaron Rodgers, that’s who. Rodgers has led his team to back-to-back 50 point games. He averaged 328 yards and 4.5 touchdowns without having to play in the 4th quarter of either of those games. His top 2 wide receivers, Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson, are on pace to break the league’s record for combined touchdown catches in a season, set by Wes Welker and Randy Moss in 2007. Now Rodgers faces a Vikings defense that has allowed a 75% completion percentage in their last 4 meetings and 3 or more touchdowns in 5 of the last 8 games against him.

Who’s consistent?

Despite the team’s turmoil in the offseason, and having to deal with a pair of touchdown vultures in Bernard Pierce and Lorenzo Taliaferro, Justin Forsett has been one of the league’s most consistent backs not named “DeMarco Murray”. Forsett has totaled at least 85 yards in each of his last 8 games and leads the league with 5.4 yards per carry. The Ravens are coming off a bye week to face the Saints on Monday Night Football and that should bode well for Forsett. The Saints have allowed a total of 430 yards to Jeremy Hill, Frank Gore, and Eddie Lacy in 3 of the last 4 weeks.

Who has the best matchup?

Aside from the guys who Rodgers throws to, it’s Dez Bryant against the Giants. Bryant leads the league in targets from within the 5 yard line with 7, which is more than the carries that most of the top running backs are getting from that distance. Bryant’s been on a scoring tear since his catching 9 passes for 151 yards in Week 7 against the Giants. He’s averaging 6 catches and 94 yards in his last 5 games against New York who will be without Prince Amukamara this weekend.

Quick Hits

Don’t know if you’ve heard, but it’s cold outside (everywhere but Miami). I’m not sure if anybody has had it as bad as upstate New York, but I’m becoming a bigger Bills fan each for it. From Scuzzy Kicker Dan Carpenter shoveling 4 feet of snow out of his elderly neighbors’ driveways or Mario Williams helping out Hall of Famer Jim Kelly, they’re just so damn likable. If you want to feel better about your current climate, I recommend checking out this compilation of snowy photos by the Bills players. Buffalo is expecting 7 feet of snow this Sunday so wherever they play, anticipate some #OrtonMagic against the Jets (he threw 4 TDs against them in Week 8)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lctROES1K1Q

(I don’t apologize for embedding this at all.)

Why isn’t JJ Watt available as a tight end yet in most league? He officially kicked off the Ryan Mallett era in Houston last weekend catching his 2nd touchdown pass of the season…and I’m sure Mallett would love having Watt line up for him in the red zone for the rest of the season. Note: Watt has 4 touchdowns total this season. If the Texans actually made a run at the playoffs, he could be your MVP this season.

Speaking of MVP candidates, is Gronk in the conversation? He should be. A big reason for New England’s turnaround since Week 4 is Rob Gronkowski returning to form. He has 5 touchdowns in his last 3 games, and 9 total on the season. Gronk is also doing it after the catch, which makes life easier for Tom Brady.

And on that note…mail time? Mail time.

DB Moenning on Facebook: “Who to start – Denard Robinson v. Colts, Trent Richardson v. Jags, Jonas Gray v. Lions?”

If you hadn’t asked about him, Denard Robinson would likely have gotten a shoutout much earlier in this post for his consistency. Since taking over #1 running back duties in Week 7, he’s averaging 97 rush yards per game and scored 4 touchdowns in the 4 weeks before the bye. He faces a Colts defense this week that has allowed 140+ total yards to backs in 3 of their last 5 games. And they also let *gasp* Jonas Gray happen…By now, you know the story. His 200 yards and 4 touchdowns last week against Indy are probably why Jonas Gray is a part of this question right now. It was a classic Bill Belichick game plan. If his opponent is weak against the run, he will stomp them with whoever lines up in the backfield. That won’t be the case this week against the league’s best run defense. Expect more work for Shane Vereen through the air…While Trent Richardson isn’t a bad play against the Jaguars and no Ahmad Bradshaw, Robinson is your guy this week.

Pat Bauers on Facebook: “Owen Daniels or Vernon Davis?”

Does Vernon Davis still play for the Niners? You really couldn’t tell by the way he’s been used this season. He had a plum matchup against the Giants last week and caught just one pass. Based on the way this entire season has gone for Davis, I really don’t expect anything special from him this weekend…even against Washington. Go with Owen Daniels. Saints haven’t allowed much to tight ends, but Jermaine Gresham did score twice last week against them. Daniels is also another week healthier coming off the Ravens bye week and was picking up more and more targets going into it.

Craig Bucy on Facebook: “Charles Sims, Chris Ivory, or Jerick McKinnon?”

Not very high on any of your options, but Jerick McKinnon is your best bet. He and Matt Asiata combined for 118 yards against the Packers in their previous meeting, and it will be in the Vikings best interest to play the “time of possession” game this weekend. The Packers are also allowing the 8th most rush yards this season, and McKinnon is clearly the best run option up until the Vikings get to the 5 yard line…Next best will be Chris Ivory who has slipped as of late, but did score 2 TDs against the Bills in their previous meeting.

Billy Quesse on Facebook: “Flex: Mohamed Sanu, Cecil Shorts, Cordarrelle Patterson or Fred Jackson”

With Sanu losing targets dramatically because of AJ Green’s return, Fred Jackson having to face the stout Jets run defense and not 100%, and Cordarrelle Patterson just being bad…go with Cecil Shorts. He’s picking up all the targets that Allen Robinson left by going on IR. Allen Hurns is more boom or bust on the opposite side of the field while Shorts is the possession option.

Feel free to ask more questions through the weekend on Facebook and Twitter.

1 Comment Posted on November 13, 2014November 13, 2014 Fantasy Football, NFL, sports

NFL Week 11 Fantasy Mailbag

Before the season started, my advice to Fantasy Football enthusiasts was to NOT draft based on potential. This was in regards to rookies who were soaring in mock drafts, as they normally do. How is that Bishop Sankey pick in the early rounds working out for you? (You probably loved seeing that Leon Washington touchdown last week against Baltimore)

Standing out, however, are the wide receivers from the 2014 Draft Class. Sammy Watkins (4th overall), Mike Evans (7th), Odell Beckham Jr. (12th), Brandin Cooks (20th), Kelvin Benjamin (28th), and Martavis Bryant (118th) have all put themselves have all put themselves in the “must start” conversation…Jordan Matthews (42nd) and John Brown (91st) have their arrows pointing up as well.

During the Super Bowl Era (since 1967), only 12 rookie wide receivers have gained over 1,000 yards in a season. Just 5 have recorded 10+ touchdowns. With 7 weeks left in the regular season, 4 of the aforementioned rookies have a shot at 1,000: Benjamin (659), Watkins (617), Evans (585), and Cooks (500). Touchdowns can be unpredictable but the 2 wide receivers who will likely eclipse the 10+ mark, Benjamin (7) and Bryant (6). There are 5 rookies tied with 5 touchdown catches: Watkins, Evans, Matthews, Brown, and Allen Hurns.

The boost in rookie receiver production can be attributed to the way the game has evolved with quarterback friendly rules and the murky interpretations of pass interference in coverage, but fantasy owners aren’t complaining. When you look at the Top 25 fantasy receivers right now, you’ll find 4 rookies: Benjamin (10), Watkins (15), Evans (17), and Cooks (23).

While Benjamin is top 15 in yards and touchdowns, and Bryant is making history with the most touchdowns in his first 4 games played, these guys are still susceptible to the dread rookie mistakes.

Quick Hits

Speaking of receivers doing unprecedented things, how about the Packers wide receivers? After the Sunday Night massacre last week, Randall Cobb leads all wide receivers with 10 touchdowns and Jordy Nelson is tied for 4th with 8. The duo combined for 10, 224 yards, and 3 touchdowns against the Bears (no)defense…almost all of it in the first half. Nelson and Cobb are on pace to finish the season with 32 touchdowns combined. The record is 31, set by Randy Moss and Wes Welker with the Patriots in 2007.

Marshawn Lynch catapulted himself to the league lead in rushing touchdowns after piling 4 on the Giants last week. It was a new chapter to the Beast Mode saga that began in 2011, but really statement for the Seahawks offensive identity. Not only are they getting off the bus running, they are running to get back on it as they lead the league averaging 170.9 yards per game (nearly 20 more than the 2nd ranked Cowboys). While that might not be great news for owners of the Seahawks receivers, it’s a dance party for Lynch owners.

I don’t talk about D/ST very much on here, but what..the hell…Eagles? I went into Monday night with a 40+ point lead over my opponent and SQUEAKED away with a .04 point victory. 9 sacks, 3 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles, 3 touchdown returns (1 KR, 1 PR, 1 Pick-6)…that’s just silly. The Eagles D/ST is a real weapon though as they have returned 9 touchdowns on the season. With Monday Night Football being so out of hand, unfortunately I was forced to ask this question:

What's worse: Gruden and Tirico blending shakes on #MNF or Kathie Lee and Hoda hosting #Raw? pic.twitter.com/936ZNT9gJe

— Mike Piff (@Mike_PiFF03) November 11, 2014

I was a little bummed out when the Patriots went on their bye week. Maybe it was having to start Larry Donnell instead of Rob Gronkowski, but deep down I was missing Tom Brady’s, now infamous, Facebook rally posting…Seriously, the guy is a Facebook fiend and it’s fun. Tom Brady owners are going to be very happy to have him back against the Colts. Before the bye week, the Colts allowed a combined 881 yards and 8 touchdowns to Ben Roethlisberger and Eli Manning. Since the bad Week 4 loss to the Chiefs, Brady has averaged 320 yards and 3.6 touchdowns. He’s also thrown multiple touchdowns in 5 straight games against Indy.

And now…MAIL TIME!

Joey McNamara on Facebook: “C.J. Anderson or Montee Ball?…other options are Joique Bell or Branden Oliver.”

Remember when Montee Ball first went down? It became a game of “who gets the ball now?” between Ronnie Hillman and C.J. Anderson. Obviously Hillman ran away and never looked back…until this week. Yes, Montee Ball is probable to play and should get some carries, but I think it is Anderson’s backfield until he’s knocked out of it. While the Rams are giving up just 2.85 yards per carry in the last 5 weeks, Peyton Manning’s running backs have benefitted in the passing game even more so than the run. And if the Broncos get out to a quick lead against the now Shaun Hill led Rams, I expect Anderson to benefit plenty…Joique Bell is a tough start against the Cardinals defense who is 3rd against the run. With Reggie Bush out again, passing downs have been going to Theo Riddick as well…While the Chargers get Ryan Matthews back this week, that actually may help Branden Oliver as he is delegated to the “Danny Woodhead” role. It was against Oakland in Week 6 when Oliver rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown, adding 4 catches for 23 yards. Again, I say go with Anderson this week.

Emmet Fairfield on Facebook: W/R/T: Deandre Hopkins, Freddy Jackson, or Dwayne Allen…Thinking about starting Jackson over Rashad Jennings.”

First, I would leave Rashad Jennings right where he is. He is facing a 49ers defense that surrendered 120 yards to a similar style runner in Mark Ingram, and I think the Giants CAN’T WAIT to hand the keys to Jennings again…I actually thought Fred Jackson could have been a decent start when he returned last week, but the Bills had other plans by giving him just 3 carries while the combo of Bryce Brown and Boobie Dixon got 75% of the action. Jackson did get 4 catches, but Brown got 6. On a short week, I don’t really like Jackson’s chances in a crowded backfield against Miami…Hopkins is an interesting play with Ryan Mallett getting his first start. My real concern is whether or not Hopkins will draw coverage from Joe Haden. Haden and the Browns secondary gave Andy Dalton a passer rating of 2 a week ago. Seriously. 2. Hopkins is drawing 33% of targets over the last 4 weeks though…The most consistent player from your group has been Dwayne Allen. Allen has 7 touchdowns this season and has hit paydirt in each of the last 3 games. He is not a world burner in yardage and he splits targets with Coby Fleener. But touchdowns are touchdowns…I lean toward Allen only because I don’t know what you’re going to get with Ryan Mallett starting.

Greg Kulaga on Facebook: “What’s the outlook for Jerick McKinnon with Adrian Peterson set to return?

Jerick McKinnon owners must REALLY hate Matt Asiata. He vultured not 1, not 2, but 3 touchdowns from McKinnon and I don’t think Adrian Peterson’s return is going to help him either. Asiata will resume 3rd down and short yardage duties and Peterson is going to have legs fresh for miles. McKinnon’s total yardage was trending downward the past 3 weeks anyway, so I don’t like his value long term after AP returns.

Brandon Watson on Facebook: “Trade: Give Odell Beckham Jr and Ahmad Bradshaw. Receive Jeremy Maclin and Heath Miller. PPR league.”

I don’t know if you’re trying to get a Tight End, but Heath Miller is not that guy. Especially for Bradshaw. Ahmad Bradshaw has the most red zone targets for running backs this season with 10. If you’re looking short term, that bodes well against a Patriots defense that has given up the most receiving touchdowns to running backs…I like Jeremy Maclin a lot and Mark Sanchez at quarterback won’t hurt him, but you’ve also got the best offensive threat in the Giants arsenal in Odell Beckham Jr. You’re better off with what you have in this trade scenario, unless womens jersey sales count in your league…No, seriously. Heath Miller has the most popular NFL jersey for women in North Dakota and Arkansas.

Feel free to keep asking questions on Twitter.