Excessive Celebration

An excessive celebration penalty in the NFL is given when a player does what the penalty states, excessively celebrates.  It is only a 15-yard penalty but could turn out to be more costly than that.  If you read my article Excessive Celebration at www.3fs2.webs.com you can learn exactly how costly it can be.  Stevie Johnson was one player with such a penalty and it actually lost his team the game.  I completely agree with the penalty that was thrown and highly look down upon players who act in such a selfish manner and put themselves ahead of their team.  Players “back in the day” would never act this way and carried themselves in a way that showed such charisma and respect.  Now it seems that high profiled players want to always stay in the spotlight and act in such a way that gets them the attention they are looking for.  They come up with pre-determined dances and “celebrations” that only seem to enhance my perception of ignorance that I have about them.  So when does this selfish behavior stop?  Maybe it is just a part of the changing times where everyone is wanting to be in the “Hollywood spotlight” and are more worried about what people think of them instead of winning football games.  In conclusion, a celebration shouldn’t be predetermined but a spontaneous and true reaction that shows true feeling and enjoyment.  For instance, a players actions on the football field should not have to be an act at all but something much more real than that.

Still Questions Remain

12 Weeks have passed in the National Football League and some questions are up in the air.  The most common ones would be if the Green Bay Packers would finish their season undefeated.  Will Tim Tebow lead the Denver Broncos to the playoffs, and will the Chicago Bears’ major injuries cost them their season.  While reading about these on http://aol.sportingnews.com I got a chance to put my opinions up against someone elses.  They first thought that the Packers have a solid chance to finish the season undefeated.  I couldn’t agree any more with this statement.  The Packers are approaching the end of the season and are facing either weaker teams in their schedule or teams that have suffered huge injuries.  I see the Packers ending their season in Indianapolis with Super Bowl rings on all of their fingers.  The other topic mentioned was if Tebow was going to lead his team to the playoffs.  They said without a doubt he would be I am going to disagree.  Although the Broncos have three home games left, I don’t see the iffy quarterback Tebow being able to squeak by any more wins.  You can call it what you want but I’m calling Tebow lucky and his luck is about to end.  He soon will be facing the Bears defense that will need to step up huge in their last few games if they have a chance to make the playoffs.  Chicago’s quarterback and running back are injured and don’t have any solid backups to replace them.  I see them winning only one of their last games against the Broncos, which will result in both teams not making any sort of playoff run.

Fantasy Option

Did you miss out on getting into a fantasy football league?  Maybe you just didn’t know how to get one started.  Well there is no need to stress out because you have plenty of time to do some research and find out which site could be the best for you.  ESPN, NFL, and Yahoo are all quality sites that many people tend to use but are they necessarily the best?  The previous sites I listed tend to be very useful for beginners and easy to maneuver around and often times comes with pre-designed customization so the owner doesn’t have to take up much of his time to set up a league.  However there are some set backs in using these and they basically are a one time use and then another league will be needed to set up.  MyFantasyLeague.com however does an exceptional job of keeping track of past years data and makes it available for many years to come.  This site also provides the most customization of many leagues on the Internet by providing individuals to customize their own team logos, players scoring, and playoffs.  Also this site doesn’t limit the number of players that are allowed on a roster.  For those who are up for it can have up to 80 players per roster and up to 64 different teams.  Basically if you are up for a change in your fantasy football experience to be able to have access to the most customization possibilities as possible My Fantasy League could be the right choice for you.

Tim Tebow Franchise QB?

Should Tim Tebow be recognized as the franchise quarterback of the Denver Broncos?  Typically the standard quarterback in the NFL can do a couple of things that teams look for.  The main thing would be to throw a football with accuracy with some velocity behind it.  The standard quarterback should also be able to stay in the pocket while going through their progressions while reading defenses.  Tim Tebow however doesn’t seem to be able to do either of those things.  So far he has led the Broncos to 6 wins with just 1 loss as their starter.  He has relied on his running ability and erratic freelance plays to barely pull out wins from week to week.  He has actually won a couple of his games without completing over 10 passes.  A new word, Tebowing, is actually floating around regarding his style of play.  It is a stab at the fact that he tends to not play very well for the first three quarters of the game but then miraculously makes a comeback in the fourth quarter.  People seem to have mixed reviews of his style of play but there is one thing that people can’t argue is that he has an unrelenting desire to win and that energy seems to have transferred to the rest of his team.  Will this now playoff eligible team make a run in the end of the season and actually compete in the playoffs?  Sure they have won the majority of the time with Tebow as their quarterback, but have they actually played a quality team yet?  I don’t believe they have but only time will tell if they have what it takes to be a contender. 

Detroit Bad Boys

It’s always a tradition for the Detroit Lions to play on Thanksgiving Day and this year they were scheduled to play the Green Bay Packers.  It was nearly a blow out for Green Bay Packers besides the last couple plays toward the end of the game when the Packers sat out their starters while Detroit scored to make the ending score closer than it actually was.  This was beside the point, and was far from the highlight of the game.  What everyone was talking about afterward was the unsportsmanlike conduct call on Ndamukong Suh.  Suh was ejected from the game when he was shoving a Packers player helmet into the ground then when he was being pulled away from the situating he stomped on the player arm while he was on the ground.  A fine and a suspension will follow this incident but what will this mean for the already struggling Detroit Lions.  Suh is the cornerstone and poster boy for their team and their was no excuse for his behavior, or was their?  There seems to be a reoccurring theme with the Lions this season and that is erratic and violent behavior not only by the players but the head coach as well.  It seems that the teams frustration is taken out by acting in immature manners and seems that it doesn’t seem to be slowing down.  If they are going for the vintage Detroit bad boys image it seems to be working, not only by their manners on the football field but by the win column as well.

A Look Back

Before the 2011 National Football Season even started I had blogged about who I though would be the best players according to their specific positions.  My top quarterback prospects were in order from first to last; Aaron Rodgers, Michael Vick, Phillip Rivers, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees.  My number one pick with Rodgers turned out to be the right one as he is leading in fantasy points among all players.  Mike Vick and Phillip Rivers however turned out to be huge upsets from what I expected them to be.  Vick has been struggling with injuries and the Chargers along with Rivers have had a very poor season thus far.  Tom Brady and Drew Brees have been playing outstanding football and definitely deserved to be on my first list as they are looking to seal up a playoff seed as the end of the season approaches.  As far as my running back picks at the beginning of the season most of them have not been producing at all of what I had expected.  Adrain Peterson, Arian Foster, and Jamaal Charles have all been hurt for an extended period of time during the regular season and the only one that has been consistent is Ray Rice.  The running back that is leading the league in fantasy points is LeSean McCoy and he wasn’t even on my top five list at the beginning of the year.  The receivers on the other end have been playing decent especially my number three pick overall, Calvin Johnson.  Overall despite the unexpected slur of injuries this season I believe my preseason picks were pretty accurate and I hope they helped you this Fantasy Football season.

Blogger Option

ESPN has always been recognized as the leader in information in worldwide sports and rightfully so.  Not only do they have an extensive network they continue to provide up-to-date information on every sport around the globe.  However, when someone is looking for a specific topic they can’t just turn to the television and expect to get immediate response and information on that topic.  This is when the computers come out and a great way ESPN has provided opinions and ideas on certain topics is by providing links to multiple respected bloggers that work for their company.  These bloggers are often working around the clock and are quick to be the first movers to the web.  Considering they are coving information that is currently relevant their style is one that is in present tense.  Because these bloggers audience is a wide array of viewers their language is one that can be targeted and enjoyed by any level of reader.  Some things that I enjoyed were the amount of opinions that was put into each blog.  Although it was ones person opinion in each blog the balance that came along with it made it enjoyable to read and also allowed the reader to make his or her own assumptions as well.  So if you’re looking for a non-biased blogger, ESPN has done a wonderful job of supplying the public with relevant information pertaining to recent actions in sports.  I will also be trying to supply my bloggers with a well-rounded approach to this controversial topic of sports.

Week 11 Predictions

This upcoming weeks toughest matchup is the New York Giants who are hosting the Philadelphia Eagles.  It was nearly a year ago when these two teams faced off in a play off contention game when the Eagles became victorious after the Giants gave up a twenty-point lead in the fourth quarter.  I see this game being a close one and rather low scoring due to various injuries from each team.  The Eagles will be without their explosive quarterback Michael Vick that will put most of the pressure on running back LeSean McCoy.  The Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw is likely to not play, putting the hard running Brandon Jacobs against the weak Eagles run defense.  The key for the Eagles to win will be on the shoulders of the Eagles defense, considering their offense will be shaky due to injuries.  The key for the Giants to win will be to run the ball!  Any success that Jacobs can have on the ground will only enhance the chance that Eli Manning will connect to his receivers and torch their secondary.  This match-up will be a close one but I see the New York Giants pulling away with the W at home.  Not only will this enhance the Giants playoffs chances and put an end to the struggling Eagles playoff chances but it would also give them a chance of redemption for what the Philadelphia Eagles did to them last season.  Either team is in dire need for this win and I expect this game to be the most exciting game of this upcoming weekend.

Fantasy Football Website

My purpose in my blogs is to provide key information to supply fantasy owners with unsurpassed knowledge to enhance their team.  Not only do I have available knowledge in my blogs but also on my website.  My knowledge about fantasy football is different from most analysts because it comes from a source that has an outside perspective of the National Football League.  When people are caught up in their jobs, they can sometimes overlook the unseen gems and be more prone to make the easy predictions.  Although my experience is limited compared to most professionals, my ability to collectively gather data at game speed and relay it to my viewers is what I can accomplish effectively.  Instead of waiting for sport networks to get their show together to air, you have the option to check in on my Fantasy Football Fanhouse Website for the latest views on players and teams while having direct access to team merchandise, apparel, and links to other websites that might be useful for you to gather information that you are looking for.  It is easy to navigate and could make the difference between winning your fantasy league or being the on going joke at work about how bad your fantasy team is.  The Fantasy Football Fanhouse website is something you should check out and consider revisiting on a regular basis to enhance your knowledge and get a better understanding on what is going on in the sports world around you.  Not to mention access to some neat gift ideas for the future holidays coming up.  You can visit it at the following address www.3fs.webs.com

Thursday Night

This week is the start of the first set of Thursday night games since the first week of this season.  The matchup is between the Oakland Raiders verse the home team the San Diego Chargers tomorrow night.  These two teams have a very similar background coming into this game.  For starters they absolutely despise each other being that they come from the same area of California.  They also have both suffered difficult losses prior to this upcoming loss and are hungry to break their losing streaks.  Both teams’ losses could be because of critical injuries to both teams.  The Oakland Raiders had the biggest loss when their star running back Darren McFadden was injured due to a foot injury and is questionable for this Thursday game.  The Chargers on the other hand have been struggling keeping their running backs healthy as well.  It started with an injury to Tolbert and just two weeks ago Ryan Mathews suffered an injury as well.  Although it hasn’t kept him sidelined, his performance has definitely suffered from it.  I believe the winner of this matchup will be the team that prevents the least amount of turnovers.  Both quarterbacks will greatly influence this statistic.  Phillip Rivers has been struggling all season with turnovers causing most of the Chargers losses.  On the other hand, Carson Palmer not being experienced with his new offense could also be susceptible to turnovers.   The team that is able to overcome their disadvantages and limit their mistakes will be the obvious winner in this early week matchup.

Week 10 Predictions

            With the New England Patriots coming off of two straight tough losses I don’t see their opponent the New York Jets having a chance.  Tom Brady is one of the best quarterbacks in the league and the Patriots are known to put points on the board in must win situations considering they are tied for first place in their conference.  The Jets on the other end are on a hot streak right now and have arguably some of the greatest secondary in the league.  Either way I think Brady will be able to pick apart their defense with his plethora of offensive weapons.  The next close matchup I had was the New Orleans Saints verse the Atlanta Falcons.  These two teams are the best teams in the NFC south and are looking to take the division lead with this win.  Although the Saints have had some tough losses I think they will barely pull out a win over Atlanta.  Look for Drew Brees to take the MVP for this game especially at home in the Super Dome.  The last matchup prediction for week ten is the Houston Texans over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  With Andre Johnson expected to come back, I don’t see the Bucks defense able to guard the best wide receiver in the league.   Not being able to play for five weeks because of a lingering hamstring injury could provide some questions on his return.  If he is a go for Sundays game Tampa Bay doesn’t stand a chance especially with some injuries on the defensive side of the ball. 

Biggest Bust

            The biggest bust of this NFL season seems to go to the struggling Chris Johnson for the Tennessee Titans.  Fantasy owners if they haven’t worried yet should be worrying now after ever week that he plays has been a let down.  He has only broke 100 yards rushing in just one of his games and is averaging not even fifty yards a game.  This was not what anyone thought before the season started but the question that remains is what to do with him?  Do you play him and hope he eventually has a decent week?  Do you just let him sit on your fantasy teams bench?  Do you trade him away at a low value?  The one thing I wouldn’t do is trade him away.  Even if you were to trade him, the value of the corresponding player that you would get wouldn’t be worth giving him up.  Regardless of his numbers thus far, he is a fantasy player who has been known to put up huge numbers in previous seasons.  I wouldn’t start him either, just simply because I can think of multiple players that are averaging way more points than him.  If I were to recommend a plan of action, it would be to let him ride the bench on your team just because he is capable of running the football.  Do this until he has his big week that way his trading value will increase or starts to turn his season around and actually start playing like the player many fantasy owners expected him to be.  

Nightmare

Well I think it is pretty evident that no one was expecting Peyton Hillis to have a season like he is having now after doing what he did last year.  Last year he was a top fantasy football running back for the Cleveland Browns.  He was even put on the cover of the new Madden football game, but could that possibly be the reason for his current nightmare that he is in?  I’m not one for believing in curses but the Madden curse is one that leaves me skeptical.  Either way it doesn’t take away from the fact that even when he was healthy in the season that he didn’t really produce the big numbers that were projected for him.  Not only was he not producing the injury that he sustained hasn’t help him or the Cleveland Browns at all.  Cleveland has been struggling and can’t seem to get a win against anyone of importance at all.  Their only three wins of the season have come to arguably the three worst teams in the NFL.  These teams include the Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, and the Seattle Seahawks.  Now with Peyton Hillis’s injury having the rest of his season in question it has seemed to take his team down with him.  Is this the result of the Madden curse or just an unfortunate occurrence?  Despite what some may believe, many fantasy owners are struggling because of this.  At the beginning of the season many fantasy mock drafts had him ranked highly but is now the biggest bust of the year. 

Week 9 Predictions

Probably the most exciting matchup of this upcoming week nine is the Pittsburgh Steelers who are hosting the Baltimore Ravens.  Both teams were already matched up early in the season and the Ravens took it to them at their own stadium beating them easily.  Not only is this a huge conference game but also needless to say, both teams absolutely despise each other and want nothing more that to pummel the other team into the ground.  The Steelers and Ravens are both primarily defensively backed teams but have the ability to score as well.  Look for this one to be an absolute dogfight with the Ravens defense again being the main factor for their win.  It also doesn’t hurt that the Ravens also have Ray Rice who has been an explosive offensive factor for them.  The other matchup for week 9 that I thought needed extra attention was the Green Bay Packers verse the San Diego Chargers.  With the Chargers coming off of two tough losses because of the quarterback Phillip River’s lack of play, expect them to come out hungry for a win.  Although the game will be hosted in San Diego, expect there to be some Green Bay fans there to because their quarterback Aaron Rodgers played college football there.  I could see this being a very close game, with the Chargers having a nothing to lose attitude against the undefeated Packers.  On the other hand, I believe the advantage will have to go to the cheese heads of Green Bay on this one.

Week 8 Predictions

My first prediction for week 8 in the NFL schedule is the Carolina Panthers over the Minnesota Vikings.  Carolina just came off of a big win over the Washington Redskins last week and Cam Newton and the Panthers are looking to keep this win streak alive.  Cam Newton has been the best rookie quarterback that the NFL has ever seen and when you throw in the sure handed Steve Smith, it can become a deadly combo.  Look for the rookie Christian Ponder to lose this matchup, as the Vikings defense will try to make up for his mistakes. Putting Newton under pressure will be the only thing to stop their offense, but containing Cam is no easy task.  The other matchup that I think you could throw all of your eggs in one basket would be the following; Buffalo, New Orleans, and San Francisco.  Buffalo is facing the slacking Redskins and should easily be able to outscore them.   New Orleans on the other hand, is facing an even worse team, the St. Louis Rams.  The Rams have been struggling all season but do have a little hope with Brandon Lloyd getting traded their and Sam Bradford finally being able to play.  The last for sure game would be the Niner’s over the Cleveland Browns.  This matchup I don’t see being a close game either with the Niner’s having their stud tight end, Fred Davis, and wide receiver, Michael Crabtree, finally healthy.  I see these previous games all being blowouts just because the track record of the teams thus far this season. 

Kansas City Rolling

            Finally the Kansas City Chiefs are starting to look like conference contenders after winning three straight.  They started off the season with three consecutive losses.  These losses on the other hand were against high-powered offensives including Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, and the San Diego Chargers.  Even though the Chiefs got their first wins over the winless Minnesota Vikings and the Indianapolis Colts, their third win was against the decent Oakland Raiders team.  Their success could be credited to the great play of Matt Cassell and their number one wide out Dwayne Bowe who had a total of three touchdowns in those three games.  Cassell’s early slip-ups could be directly related to a rib injury he had suffered early in the season but ever since he over came that he has been red hot.  If everyone can stay healthy they might make a run to make the playoffs this year.  The chiefs are facing the San Diego Chargers who they previously lost to in the third game of the season but only by three points.  Expect Kansas City to be looking for revenge at their place this upcoming week.  Many teams who play at Kansas City in Arrow Head stadium tend to struggle because it is arguably the loudest stadium in the National Football League.  It also doesn’t help that Phillip Rivers has been struggling and with the noise being an issue, it can’t help his situation.  Be prepared for this to be a scrappy game with the Chiefs winning despite what the analysts are predicting.  

Three Qbies

It’s a new beginning for a few teams who are bringing in different looks at the quarterback position.  Christian Ponder, Tim Tebow, and Carson Palmer are all getting their first starts in this football season.  Ponder is a rookie quarterback who was drafted from Florida State and is looking forward to his first career start for the Minnesota Vikings.  He is a solid athlete with keen awareness on the field and could potentially turn the struggling Vikings season around.  The only downside is that his first start will be against the undefeated Green Bay Packers.  Another quarterback itching to shine is the fan favorite Tim Tebow of the Denver Broncos.  He is expected to get his first start this season despite having played in a couple games already this year.  Tebow will be a great fantasy quarterback because of his ability to run the football.  Despite Denver loosing their most valuable receiver, Brandon Lloyd, look for this team to get their first win over the winless Dolphins.  The last quarterback that is expected to get his first start is veteran Carson Palmer.  Coming out of retirement, Palmer could potentially start this upcoming week.  The head coach of the Oakland Raiders has not revealed if he was going to start but Carson should be getting some playing time.  Being an experienced player, I would imagine him to pick up the offense quickly and fit right into the system.  All of these players could potentially be a great fantasy pick up so grab them early before someone else does.

Week 7 Predictions

For this week’s match-ups I expect the Kansas City Chiefs and company to keep the win streak alive.  The way that Matt Cassel and Dwayne Bowe have been starting to connect if the Raiders secondary can’t keep up, expect the Chiefs to be very pass happy due to the injuries in the running back position.  Another match-up that is almost a given every week is taking the Green Bay Packers and their high-powered offense.  No one has yet to be able to stop the multiple receivers and the accurate arm of Aaron Rodgers.  The only light at the end of the tunnel is the Minnesota Vikings new quarterback Christian Ponder.  He could possibly be able to bring something to the Vikings that could bring the whole team together and get their first win.  The other team that I expect their player to put up huge numbers would be the New Orleans Saints.  Since they are playing the Indianapolis Colts who are arguably the worst team in the NFL I don’t see them having a chance.  Drew Brees should be able to pass all over the Colts secondary and expect multiple Saints receivers to benefit from it.  Especially look for the double threat play of their tight-end Jimmy Graham who has been one of the most reliable tight ends thus far this season.  The last match-up I would pick the Detroit Lions to fall against the Atlanta Falcons.  Due to the fact that it is very rare for a team to go undefeated, I see Matt Ryan and the Falcons the ones to give them their first loss. 

Watch List

With Felix Jones out due to a high ankle sprain and Tashard Choice also sidelined, Demarco Murray is next inline to carry the football.  This explosive rookie could potentially put up decent fantasy numbers considering he will be carrying most of the Cowboys workload.  If he shines this week against the weak defensive St. Louis Rams, he could lock in that starting position.  Another young player who has been on the verge of greatness is Darrius Heyward-Bey.  DHB, as he goes by, has been targeted the most out of any receiver on the Raiders roster.  Oakland picking up quarterback Carson Palmer will only increase the production of this wide receiver.  If he has flown under the radar in your fantasy league, it would be wise to pick this one up or even take a risk and make a trade for him.  I wouldn’t give up a top receiver on your team but if you can work a deal in your favorite I would make it happen.  The last on my watch list for this week is Antonio Brown for the Pittsburg Steelers.  This wide receiver has been steadily been seeing the ball and as the season has continued expect Big Ben to respect this young player more and more.  Brown could also be a great pick up especially because of the strength of the Steelers team.  Another positive for this player is the weakness of the Steelers schedule come playoff time.  They are hosting two of the three playoff games, depending on your leagues schedule, against the Cleveland Browns and the struggling St. Louis Rams.  

Week 6 Predictions

Sticking with the trend of the “Dream Team” Philadelphia Eagles, I’m expecting a huge win from this team.  They are playing the Washington Redskins who do have a deadly one two combo of Rex Grossman to Santana Moss which doesn’t match up against the multiple combos the Eagles have.  If there is one thing I’m sure about, it that the Eagles players are coming out in week 6 with vengeance and to shut the mouths of the critics.  The next prediction I have is that Cam Newton will continue to produce and upset the Atlanta Falcons.  Both of these teams have proved they can play, but I guarantee that the Panthers are watching the tape of when the Packers just exposed the Falcons’ weaknesses just in last week’s game.  One other prediction is that the Buffalo Bills will also continue their hot steak they have going.  Facing a vulnerable New York Giants defense expect the Bills to take advantage.  Also with one of the Bills receivers out, look for Fred Jackson to have a huge game on the ground.  My last prediction for week 6 is that the New England Patriots will host a blow out, as Tom Brady will scorch the Dallas defense on their home field.  The Patriots still cringing over that loss against the Buffalo Bills and they are going to leave everything out on the field despite how good or bad their opponents are.  Also with so many offensive weapons for Brady to choose from, I don’t see Dallas even coming close in this one.

Dream Team?

The Philadelphia Eagles definitely are not the team that we were expecting at the beginning of the 2011 season.  They were projected to be amongst the best teams in the NFL with weapons like, Michael Vick, LeSean McCoy, DeSean Jackson, and Jeremy Maclin.  These players along with their solid defense were said to be the “Dream Team.”  Obviously not playing up to their nickname, are they as bad as what their record states?  When watching the electric Vick play, he seems to show glimpses of greatness then is struck with a string of unfortunate events.  His four interceptions last week were not all that bad on his part but more of the receiver tipping the ball into the hands of the defense.  Also LeSean McCoy has been producing from week to week despite whom he is playing.  Sure, the Eagles only win was against the St. Louis Rams who are arguable the worst team in the NFL; I expect them to gel together sometime soon.  When you have that many good players on one team together, who have a track record of winning games together, its only a matter of time before they start winning games.  Remember this is an even better team than the one last year that made it to the playoffs because Michael Vick came in and did what he did best, and that was make plays.  They eventually lost in the first round to the future Super Bowl champions and are hungry to make it back again.  

Trading for the Future

Many team owners trade while looking for the immediate improvement of their team but most of the time it is not always the best option.  Besides making sure you have the upper hand in any trade or at least you are making an even trade there are some important things to know.  One, just because a player hasn’t been performing the way that you expected, never short suite yourself and count him out early.  If you trade a star player too early you are likely to be hurting in the long run because often times the player or players that you will get for them will be far less what your player was actually worth.  Players often go through slumps or down weeks, which can depend on their matchups, but will often times come out of it and produce when you need them most.  My second point is offering what seems to be a lopsided in your opponents favor.  Most of your opponents will be too greedy to take advantage of what certain players might produce during your leagues playoffs.  If you can offer a trade to an opponent where you give up a player that has been playing unexpectedly good for one that has been underplaying their potential and has an easy road during the playoffs I highly recommend doing it.  The sooner that you can do this the better off you will be.  Sure you may lose a game or two more during the regular season, but if you can make it to the playoffs you will reap the benefits.

By Weeks Coming Up

This upcoming week is the first week that teams have an off week.  This means it is crucial to check your team from week to week to make sure you get your team set up correctly.  The mid-season by weeks can throw many people off guard and in a panic when deciding whom to play.  The best way to prepare for when your players have an off week, is do put in the research in advance.  Some things to look at include what by weeks each player has and make sure you have a backup for every starter on your team.  Make sure your backup players don’t also have the same off week as your starters.  Another thing to make sure is if any possible trades or acquisitions from other teams in your league didn’t require them to drop a potentially good player.  This happens more often than you think because most people when drafting their teams don’t necessarily pay attention to these key details.  Not properly setting up your team can also upset some people in your league depending on how competitive your fantasy league is.  For instance, if your fantasy team has a lot of players on by weeks and you forget to set your team, you basically give your opponent a free win.  This could be huge if he needs that one extra win later on in the season just to make the play-off, which prevents another team from entering it.  Long story short, make sure to set your team properly because it not only benefits you but the entire competitiveness of the league.  

Week 5 Predictions

With only four weeks of football behind us, it still may be unclear of what some of the teams are made of.  My week 5 predictions will start of with the surprisingly good Buffalo Bills.  They are hosting a home game against the Philadelphia Eagles next.  Lately the Eagles have been struggling the past three weeks and just can’t seem to pull it together.  On the other hand the Bills seem to be playing with nothing to lose and in fact have only lost one game thus far.  Look for a possibly struggling Vick and company, while the Bills run over the Eagles with their veteran running back Fred Jackson.  Kansas City verse the Indianapolis Colts is pretty even match-up between the two struggling teams in the NFL.  They are not doing so well mainly because each of them lost their key pivotal player earlier this season.  With a shaky rookie quarterback, look for the Colts to struggle against Matt Cassel and their deep threat Dwayne Bowe.  The last question is will both NFC division teams remain undefeated against their tough opponents this week.  Green Bay is facing the young and talented Atlanta Falcons in the peach state but I don’t see any team stopping the high-powered offense of the Packers.  Look for another possible big week from Aaron Rodgers and his multiple weapons.  Detroit on the other hand is playing a Chicago Bears team that is hungry for a win and has a record that hasn’t shown what this team is capable of.  Expect this game to come down to home field advantage, and if the Bears have what it takes to cover the Megatron, Calvin Johnson.

Never Give Up

Are you having a slow start this year in your fantasy league?  If so, don’t get down on your self and quit.  Various reasons why some people may be struggling with their team are mainly because of injuries, lack of performance, and unlucky match-ups during the week.  Most players that become injured will often return and when they do, they can produce just has you had expected.  The most common injury this season would have to be a strained hamstring.  My reasoning for this is that it is related to the possible lockout situation in the off-season.  Many players didn’t do the optional practices and offseason workouts, which could be the reason why these injuries seem to be so common.  Luckily it is not that serious of an injury to happen and you should be able to bounce back when you get your key player back in your lineup.  Another key factor is not necessarily your win-loss ratio but the points you are putting up each week.  If you are somewhere in the middle of the pack but your record isn’t showing it, don’t panic just yet.  You may have been subject to harder matchups earlier in the season.  Your chance will come to play the weaker teams in your league to help level out your standings.  What ever you do just don’t give up because it could cause an unfair advantage for everyone else in your league.  It’s not fair to them and plus, everyone looks bad when they quit something.

Packers Repeat?

The Green Bay Packers came into this season off of a huge Super Bowl win.  Coming into the playoffs many questioned their ability to even have a chance to make the playoffs.  Not only did they beat a very good New York Giants team, but they also beat the hyped up defense of the Chicago Bears just to have a chance at the title.  So coming into the 2011 season many were still skeptical about the validity of their Super Bowl win, but after these first four weeks I think everyone has been watching just what kind of team the Packers thought they were.  It’s not the case at all that the Packers are undefeated due to a lack of competition in the first four weeks.  In fact, they have had one of the toughest schedules thus far this season.  Which is what makes what the quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, is doing that more impressive.  In his last game, he put his name at the top of NFL fantasy football performances of all time.  He recorded over 400 passing yards, 4 passing touchdowns, 2 rushing touchdowns, and recorded almost 50 fantasy points regardless of what league you are in.  Part of his success is due to the fact that he has so many weapons to throw to and a very good offensive line.  If Aaron Rodgers can continue his success throughout this season look for this very talented Green Bay Packers team to possibly repeat and bring back the Lombardi Trophy back to Green Bay, again.

Overrated?

As the Detroit Lions remain one of the only two undefeated teams in the NFL are they as good as their record shows?  After being down at half in their last two games for a combined total of 40-3, they have over come the deficit and came back to get the victory.  Is this a result of the competition slipping or the Detroit Lions over coming great odds because of their skill set?  Without question they have one of the best wide receivers in the game, Calvin Johnson, who has scored a NFL record 8 touchdowns in the first four weeks of the season.  It seems it doesn’t matter if he is double covered or even triple covered, Johnson finds a way to make the catch.  Some may consider it luck, but either way he is making Mathew Stafford seem like a pro-bowl quarterback. Detroit has also stepped up on the defense end of things and has the third best defense thus far, as fantasy points are concerned.  Overall they are looking like a top contender and one of the best all around teams in the league.  Despite the Lions having an awful track record in the past, they seem to be sending a message to the skeptics who doubted their talents.  With seven more home games left in the regular season, this leaves plenty of time for the Detroit Lions to prove to their home team why they are all of a sudden in the top echelon of the teams in the National Football League.

Bad Can Turn Out to be Good

One of the biggest factors in someone’s fantasy team success is based upon the new rising stars and acquisitions made throughout the season.  Having available room on your bench is the way to take advantage of these point-producing players.  Rising starts are most commonly given their chance when a player that has been over shadowing them unfortunately gets injured.  A big injury this season would have to be Kenny Britt’s knee injury.  He has been placed on the injured reserve which has allowed the young Nate Washington accept the roll of the number one receiver for the Tennessee Titans.  Look for him to start putting up big numbers and if no one has noticed him be sure to snatch him up right away.  Another player that took advantage of their opportunity would be wide receiver Eric Decker of the Denver Broncos.  With Brandon Lloyd with a minor injury to start the season Decker was able to show his skills and possibly be in the running for the number one spot for the Broncos.  Also being an underdog when the season started he still might be a steal in your fantasy league and could benefit you greatly in the long run.  Sure it sounds easy enough to acquire these players, but if you started off slowly in you league it very well could be.  Usually you can put in a waiver to receiver a player and it goes in chronological order starting from the worst team to the best.  So starting off to a bad could actually help you out in the long run.

Defensive Strategy

Why is using one defense all year a bad idea?  The way that most fantasy leagues are set up the defense position starts off with ten points then they are deducted points or rewarded more points depending on certain circumstances.  As the teams opposing offense continues to score points, the fantasy points continue to negate in an opposite trend and can even give you negative points for that position.  Your team's defense on the other hand can gain points by scoring touchdowns, getting interceptions, fumble recoveries, or sacks.  Although you may have drafted a top notch defensive team, it may not be in your best interest to play them every week.  We all know that teams can have bad and good weeks and predicting them can be somewhat difficult, especially against the better teams in the league.  So instead of riding your one defensive team, save an extra spot in your lineup for your flex defense. This flex defense should switch from week to week according to the match-ups of teams.  For instance, just this last week the Detroit Lions matched up against the Kansas City Chief's, who struggled offensively these first two weeks.  The Lions took advantage and ended up producing big numbers defensively at the fault of the struggling Chiefs offense. Especially since Jamaal Charles had a season ending knee injury during the game, look for the Kansas City Chiefs to struggle all year and their opposing defense to reap the benefits.  Keep a look out for struggling offenses like the Chiefs and pick up their weekly defensive match-ups to see large point gains in your fantasy team.

Bear's "D" Questionable for Week 2

Chicago Bear’s captain and veteran leader of their team, Brian Urlacher, is questionable for week two of the NFL season.  This probability is not due to any injury, but related to a family death.  Just earlier this week on Monday, Brian’s mother passed away unexpectedly and he left the team to go be with his family.  Head coach, Lovie Smith, said he would give Urlacher as much time as he needed to get over her death.  What could this mean to the Bears?  Chicago is matched up to play New Orleans, who just came off a tough loss to Green Bay, and are hungry for their first win.  If Brian Urlacher doesn’t show, this could be detrimental to the Bear’s defense especially against the Saints high-powered offense.   On the other hand, there have been many great sports players that play after a recent loss in the family.  For instance, a day after Brett Favre’s father died he decided to play in the Monday Night football game that turned out to be one of his best performances of his career.  Favre nearly had a perfect quarterback passer rating and it was clear that he played that game in honor of his father’s death.  On that note, if Brian Urlacher does decide to return to his team, you should expect big things as the Bears embrace each other over this tragedy.  If he doesn’t show, I would invest fully on Drew Brees and his New Orleans Saints.  Be prepared to make last minute lineup changes according to Urlacher’s appearance.

More than a Game

The Oakland Raiders played the Denver Broncos late in to today, according to central time, but football didn’t seem to be the main focus while both teams were playing.  Countless times the referees had to break up fights and throw multiple penalty flags that could have been avoided.  Both teams displayed a lack of self-discipline and respect for the game, every time they let their emotions get the best of them.  I understand this is a physical game that takes dedication and determination to play, but the outlandish acts on the field involving the opposing team were uncalled for. The repeated uncontrollable fighting should have been a sign to the referees that they should have stepped in early to drawl the line.  A fifteen-yard penalty obviously wasn’t a harsh enough punishment to get the players or coaches’ attention.  I’m aware that certain sports may need additional conflict or fighting to raise the sports fan base, such as hockey, but football is better than that.  Yes, football already involves highly physical interactions, but there is a certain skill set and knowledge that comes with it.  Players shouldn’t be making a mockery of the sport by running around on the field as if they were playing “backyard football.”  Someone needs to step in and fix this problem before it gets out of hand.  I haven’t heard if some of the players have been fined for their actions yet, but I wouldn’t be disappointed if that was the case.  Football should be played with a certain amount of respect for the game and other people involved with the sport.

Week 1 Standouts

They are for real!  After week one, the Baltimore Ravens seemed to look like the best all around team.  Even though I’m currently watching tonight’s Monday night game, Oakland Raiders verse the Denver Broncos, it seems like the Ravens have what it takes to easily make the playoffs this year.  Consider yourself lucky if you picked up Ray Rice or the Ravens defense, which were both at the top of their category in points the first week.  Especially since Ray Rice rushed over 100 yards with a touchdown against the Pittsburg Steelers, who were thought to be one of the top defenses in the league this year.  As I mentioned in one of my earlier blogs, with the top fullback in the league now on Ray Rice’s team, week one was no fluke.  Another player who saw the end zone more than Rice was Green Bay Packers’ Jordy Nelson.  Look for Nelson to have another big week against the slacking defense of the Carolina Panthers.  With other big name players on the Packers, it leaves the unexpected Jordy Nelson to be covered by less skilled defensive backs.  He is a must start for week 2, and from my guess you won’t be disappointed.  My last week 1 standout team is the Buffalo Bills.  Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick surprised everyone with the highest quarterback rating of week one, which was actually higher than Tom Brady who threw for a record breaking 500 plus yards.  Fitzpatrick’s success could be partially credited to his big red-zone target, Scott Chandler.  This tight end could be a fantasy gold mine, so be sure to pick up both of these Buffalo players if no one has yet to do so.

Tough Times

The St. Louis Rams, who were once the greatest show on turf, haven’t been able to catch a break lately.  With what was supposed to be a turn around year for the Rams, suddenly turned out to be the opposite.  After just the first week, three of their top players are already questionable for week two.  Possibly the star of the team, Steven Jackson, strained his right quad on his first carry of the 2011 NFL season that happened to be a touchdown.  The severity of the injury has not yet been released but should be known in a couple days.  Danny Amendola is a wide receiver for the Rams, whose injury was the most visually gruesome.  He dislocated his elbow in Sunday’s game against the Eagles.  There was no break or tear in his elbow and is likely to avoid being on the injured reserve and possibly return in a few weeks.  The least serious of the Rams injuries would have to be quarterback Sam Bradford’s’.  He injured his index finger towards the end of the game but it does not seem to be serious.  With no fracture in the finger, the only question that remains is, will it affect his performance in his next game?  There are a few factors that will play into this.  Swelling, tenderness, and mobility are things that may restrict a quarterback like Bradford from competing to his full potential.  Overall this is not the start that St. Louis Rams were looking for, but if they can get through this tough time expect good things from this team in the near future.  

Top WR Prospects

1.     Andre Johnson - Johnson being one of if not the most physically gifted wide receiver in the league looks to have a replica year of last.  After another year with quarterback Matt Schuab under his belt, Johnson should have no problem producing another 1,000+ 10 TD season.

2.     Larry Fitzgerald – Last year statistically Fitzgerald disappointed most fantasy owners by not having what we call a “Fitzgerald” year.  This could be due to the subpar performance by then quarterback Derrick Anderson.   With new Quarterback Kevin Kolb under center, look for Fitzgerald to get a lot better looks this season.  This change could be exactly what Fitzgerald needs.    

3.     Calvin Johnson – Calvin Johnson is a player who is known for making a ordinary quarterback look respectable.  As long as Mathew Stafford can stay healthy, Johnson should have a huge year and maybe help pull the Detroit Lions out of their long slump.

4.     Greg Jennings – As a super bowl champion last year, Greg Jennings was the Packers’ best receiver.  With arguably one of the best quarterbacks in the league throwing to him, be expecting Jennings to see a lot of the end zone this year in his search for a repeat.

5.     Brandon Llyod – Rated as the number one receiver by ESPN fantasy analyst, it is hard to pass up Brandon Lloyd.  Although he had a career year last season and came out of nowhere, I don’t believe he will repeat but be prepared to be one of the top wide receivers in the league.

Top RB Prospects

1.     Adrian Peterson – Probably the number one draft pick in most fantasy leagues across the country, Adrian Peterson or AP, is expected to have a huge season.  Now with a quarterback set in place, the Vikings can concentrate on moving the ball and they will be looking for Peterson to do so.

2.     Ray Rice – There was a reason why Arian Foster had the most fantasy points for a running back last year, and the answer was his full back who is now with the Ravens.  Expect Rice to have the best season of his career because of the best blocking full back in the league who is now with Ray Rice.

3.     Chris Johnson – Finally getting the contract he wanted, Chris Johnson is now ready to prove why he deserved the high paying contract.  As the Tennessee Titans main man, be prepared for the electric Chris Johnson to receive a plethora of touches this season.

4.     Arian Foster – Even though Arian Foster led in fantasy points last year, there are a few factors that may restrict him this season.  Now with out his full back, Foster may not be the impact player he was just a year ago.  He also is expected to sit out week one from a hamstring injury but this shouldn’t be career threatening by any means.

5.     Jamaal Charles – Leading all running back last year in yards per carry at just under 7 yards, Jamaal Charles will be a huge force to be reckoned with this season.

Top QB Prospects

1.     Aaron Rodgers – With some key players injured last year, Aaron Rodgers led his Green Bay Packers to be the Super Bowl Champions.  The question on if he could fill Brett Favre’s shoes was answered.  Now with more weapons on his team, look for Rodgers to have another championship caliber year.

2.     Michael Vick –Michael Vick raised some eyebrows when coming back to the NFL last year.  His first few games back he electrified his viewers, but then struggled with injuries mid-season.  If Vick can stay healthy, expect him to have a record-breaking season.

3.     Phillip Rivers – Although based in California, Phillip Rivers is no Hollywood type of player.  He seems to let his “gun slinging” skills do most of the talking for him.  As a top fantasy point leader last year, you better believe he is going to make even more noise this season.  Especially with his go-to tight end Antonio Gates and receiver Vincent Jackson back for a full season.

4.     Tom Brady – Arguably the leagues most reliable quarterback, Tom Brady is no stranger to MVP titles.  With a proven record to put points on the board, there is no reason to leave his performance into question.  He is a fantasy player that can carry your team and his, deep into the playoffs.

5.     Drew Brees – Along with the previous players, Drew Brees is among the top quarterbacks in the league.  Even with a couple injured players, finding other targets will not be a problem for this ex-super bowl champion.