This is the last week of the regular season for many leagues. Here are some great picks that should jump you into the playoffs or solidify your team going into championship week.
Quarterbacks
Boom: Tim Tebow. He's back for two straight weeks against a struggling Minnesota team. The passing game is slowly improving as Tebow builds chemistry with his wide receivers. The ground game is where Tebow's value greatly improves. A solid Denver defense also allows for Tebow to play his game.
Bust: Joe Flacco. Cleveland's pass defense is one of the best in the league, but their run defense is one of the worst in the league. Baltimore should shift their game plan and lean on Ray Rice. Flacco will have trouble finding his wideouts who have been inconsistent all season.
Running Backs
Boom: Matt Forte. Kansas City struggles against the run and Caleb Hanie needs all the help he can get. Look for Forte to be involved in a majority of the offensive plays this week. He might even bring the "governor" to town if things go well.
Bust: Steven Jackson. The Rams play the 49ers this week who don't give up points to running backs. Jackson will have trouble running this week so look elsewhere.
Wide Receivers
Boom: Pierre Garcon. He's been quiet as of late but against the Patriots defense, look for him to do well. The Colts will be down in this game and will have to throw the ball. Garcon is available in many leagues, so pick him up if you need him.
Bust: Roddy White. A scary match-up this week against the Texans. He'll be covered tight most of the game leaving Matt Ryan to check down to other options. Tony Gonzalez gets a lot of looks in the red zone and Julio Jones is becoming the big play receiver.
Tight Ends
Boom: Brent Celek. Even though the Eagles are in complete turmoil, he has a favorable match-up this week. Vince Young seems to have some chemistry with him, so don't be afraid to play him Thursday night.
Bust: Jermichael Finley. He only has 11 catches and 1 touchdown in the last 4 games. The Giants have a good defense and Rodgers has a ton of options in the passing game. Look for another quiet game from Finley.
Kickers
Boom: Sebastian Janikowski. It looks like he's back for good after his great game in Chicago. The hamstring injury doesn't seem to be affecting him anymore. Because of the injury he's been available in a lot of leagues. Miami's defense has played tough so getting into the end zone might be tough this week.
Bust: Robbie Gould. Looks like a tough day in Chicago on Sunday. The weather forecast looks like a rain and snow mix with 15 mph winds. Soldier Field always has swirling winds, and the tough conditions will hurt kickers.
Defense
Boom: New England. They're a pretty tough play...except against the Colts. Look for the Pats to shut down the winless Colts.
Bust: Giants. A tough play against the best offense in the NFL. Even if a team can cover Jennings, Nelson, Jones, Starks, Finley...wait you CAN'T cover them all. Look for the Packers to jump all over the Giants this week.
Check back on Friday for the weekend waiver booms!
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Why I hope Jeff George comes back to the NFL
I know what you're thinking. Jeffrey Scott George has not played in the NFL since 2001. It would be crazy for him to come back 10 years later at the age of 40 41 42 43 soon-to-be 44. Right?
Absolutely.
It would be nuts. It would be a circus.
It needs to happen.
We've all seen "Favre watch." Can you imagine the way ESPN and other networks would pick up "Jeff George watch?" That just scratches the surface when it comes to the numerous reasons that the NFL and one team in particular need him.
Let's go through the checklist:
1. He has a two syllable name that requires analysts and reporters to always say his full name: JEFF GEORGE. I can hear Trent Dilfer now: "When you talk about Jeff George, you talk about a quarterback who played in the National Football League and threw professional passes to professional receivers. If you tell me Jeff George has a bad attitude or that Jeff George is too old, I'll tell you that Jeff George is a professional quarterback who can help a professional team in the National Football League." Note: that is in a larger font to signal the fact that Trent Dilfer still does not understand that the little black thing with the wires that they clip to his sports coat is a microphone.
Am I excited to hear that analysis 20 hours a day on ESPN? Oh, I don't know, let me ask my friend Bart Scott:
Absolutely.
It would be nuts. It would be a circus.
It needs to happen.
We've all seen "Favre watch." Can you imagine the way ESPN and other networks would pick up "Jeff George watch?" That just scratches the surface when it comes to the numerous reasons that the NFL and one team in particular need him.
Let's go through the checklist:
1. He has a two syllable name that requires analysts and reporters to always say his full name: JEFF GEORGE. I can hear Trent Dilfer now: "When you talk about Jeff George, you talk about a quarterback who played in the National Football League and threw professional passes to professional receivers. If you tell me Jeff George has a bad attitude or that Jeff George is too old, I'll tell you that Jeff George is a professional quarterback who can help a professional team in the National Football League." Note: that is in a larger font to signal the fact that Trent Dilfer still does not understand that the little black thing with the wires that they clip to his sports coat is a microphone.
Am I excited to hear that analysis 20 hours a day on ESPN? Oh, I don't know, let me ask my friend Bart Scott:
2. There are multiple teams that have "all the other pieces" but now need a quarterback to push them over the hump and into the playoffs because of injuries. The Texans? Well they just signed Jake Delhomme, so they're all set! The Chiefs? Not anymore.
The Bears? You bet.
It's in the stars. Jeff George starred at the University of Illinois. The Bears have already dealt with Jay Cutler, who is this generation's Jeff George. People cannot decide if he is really a great teammate and competitor or just an ass hole. Like Jeff George, who will seamlessly slide into the Bears' locker room. In fact most of the Bears players probably just don't feel the same without an incredibly talented quarterback who always blames somebody else.
Did I just call Jeff George, in 2011, incredibly talented? Sure did. Just check out this video of him shredding the University of Illinois practice field in 2009 in preparation for his glorious return to the NFL:
Which brings me to...
3. He knows he's still got it. Like #4, he holds workouts with local high school/college players to "stay in shape," complete with backwards cap and otherwise casual clothes (Favre still holds a slight edge since he wears jeans). Every year he announces he stands at the ready to help a team in need. Don't believe me? He said that he could shape up the Colts offense in a matter of days...this past September. That's right, in 2011 he still insisted he can help a team. I really don't think I can express my excitement about that enough (although this blog post is a good start).
4. A bonus reason he should come back. His mustache capability.
5. Another bonus reason he should come back is this incredible video from the archives, courtesy of fellow blogger and avid Bears fan David Schaffner:
Why I love this video:
- Because I seriously enjoy the Backstreet Boys.
- Al Michaels never once mentions the Vikings quarterback without using his full name: JEFF GEORGE. Count for yourself...three times he mentions him, three times he uses his full name.
- Recently I tried to convince Moriah that we should name our first
childdog Jeff George. She shot me down. I can't help but think this video will at least make her reconsider the possibility. Although I cannot complain about the name we decided on: Gordon Bombay (my other suggestions were Rod Beck and Ryan Leaf). But how can you not give a lot of thought to JEFF GEORGE after you see that video? - It contains a highlight of Jeff George successfully executing a flea-flicker.
- It foreshadows what will happen soon - Jeff George saving a team's hopes midseason.
- I remember every player in the intro song. Can you believe this was 12 years ago? I still remember having Mike Alstott on my first fantasy football team. OK now I feel old...maybe this is the only reason I don't love the video.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Fantasy football week 12: Weekend waiver booms
With more and more injuries and key players being put on IR, here are some good picks for this week. Also these players are good dark horses that may help your team through the rest of the season.
Mike Tolbert (RB): Ryan Mathews may be out for Sunday's game. If he plays, he won't get a lot of reps. The Chargers will lean on Tolbert to carry them on Sunday.
CJ Spiller (RB): Fred Jackson is out for the season. The load will be carried by Spiller and newly aquired Tashard Choice. The Bills are giving Spiller the starting roll and his speed is always a weapon if he gets loose. Spiller is a must pick up this late in the season.
Toby Gerhart (RB): Adrian Peterson is ruled out for Sunday's game. With a losing season, the Vikings will want to keep Peterson healthy and make sure that his injury doesn't worsen. Gerhart should see a bigger role this week and possibly the rest of the season.
Vince Young (QB): Michael Vick is most likely ruled out for Sunday's game against New England. The Patriots still have a terrible defense against the pass. The Eagles have a solid receiving core and a good running game. He's no Vick, but this is Young's chance to prove his validity in the league, so look for him to be a passing threat along with his running ability.
Mike Tolbert (RB): Ryan Mathews may be out for Sunday's game. If he plays, he won't get a lot of reps. The Chargers will lean on Tolbert to carry them on Sunday.
CJ Spiller (RB): Fred Jackson is out for the season. The load will be carried by Spiller and newly aquired Tashard Choice. The Bills are giving Spiller the starting roll and his speed is always a weapon if he gets loose. Spiller is a must pick up this late in the season.
Toby Gerhart (RB): Adrian Peterson is ruled out for Sunday's game. With a losing season, the Vikings will want to keep Peterson healthy and make sure that his injury doesn't worsen. Gerhart should see a bigger role this week and possibly the rest of the season.
Vince Young (QB): Michael Vick is most likely ruled out for Sunday's game against New England. The Patriots still have a terrible defense against the pass. The Eagles have a solid receiving core and a good running game. He's no Vick, but this is Young's chance to prove his validity in the league, so look for him to be a passing threat along with his running ability.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Fantasy football week 12: Booms & busts
Are week 11 injuries plaguing your team? With big fantasy players Fred Jackson, Jay Cutler, and other hurt, look for these players to be good options to fill your team.
Quarterbacks
Boom: Tim Tebow. Seriously? YES! Tebow is able to run the ball which becomes even more valuable in the red zone. He hasn't been a great passer but going against the struggling Chargers should help his value. Even Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher likes the offense that the Broncos have put together around Tim Tebow. He's a must play if you need him.
Bust: Alex Smith. He's been promising as of late, but he faces a Baltimore defense that has only given up 7 passing touchdowns all season. The Ravens only surrender 211.3 yards per game, so look elsewhere this week.
Running Backs
Boom: Cedric Benson. He's been an up and down back all year, but going up against a Cleveland defense that allows 139.3 rushing yards a game should make Benson owners happy. Look for Ced to tear it up at home on Sunday.
Bust: Ray Rice. Tough match up against for Rice this week. The 49ers have yet to give up a rushing touchdown. They only allow 73.9 rushing yards a game. Tough week to play him.
Wide Receivers
Boom: Nate Burleson. The Packers give up 305.7 receiving yards a game. With a lot of focus on Megatron, Burleson should have a great match up this week. He's capable of making long catches down field, as well as getting a rush or two on an end around.
Bust: Andre Johnson. It looks like he'll be back in the line up this week. Without quarterback Matt Schaub, Johnson has to hope Matt Leinart can find him. With solid running backs in Arian Foster and Ben Tate, Johnson will struggle to see passes against a Jacksonville defense who allows only 205.5 receiving yards a game.
Tight Ends
Boom: Brent Celek. New England struggles against the pass allowing 314.7 receiving yards a game. Vince Young seemed to have some chemistry with Celek, so look for him to be a viable option in the passing game this week.
Bust: Kellen Winslow. Tough match up this week against the Titans. Tampa's improved running game, along with some boom wide receivers will make it hard for Winslow to get looks this week.
Kickers
Boom: David Akers. The 49ers have the most field goals attempted in the NFL. Look for Akers to have a big role in their game against the Ravens this week.
Bust: Graham Gano. He's been struggling as of late. Seattle will be a tough place to kick especially with predicted wind and rain.
Defenses
Boom: Jets. Rex Ryan's team has to be angry following a shocking loss to the Denver Broncos. The Bills will be without Fred Jackson. Look for the Jet's to play a ferocious game and maybe get a few statement penalties such as this:
Bust: San Francisco. I like the Ravens in this game. Ray Rice, Torrey Smith, and a solid defense will keep the 49ers on edge this week. Plus, this game is in Baltimore which is a tough place for any visiting team to win in especially on Thanksgiving evening.
Check back on Friday for my last minute booms!
Quarterbacks
Boom: Tim Tebow. Seriously? YES! Tebow is able to run the ball which becomes even more valuable in the red zone. He hasn't been a great passer but going against the struggling Chargers should help his value. Even Chicago linebacker Brian Urlacher likes the offense that the Broncos have put together around Tim Tebow. He's a must play if you need him.
Bust: Alex Smith. He's been promising as of late, but he faces a Baltimore defense that has only given up 7 passing touchdowns all season. The Ravens only surrender 211.3 yards per game, so look elsewhere this week.
Running Backs
Boom: Cedric Benson. He's been an up and down back all year, but going up against a Cleveland defense that allows 139.3 rushing yards a game should make Benson owners happy. Look for Ced to tear it up at home on Sunday.
Wide Receivers
Boom: Nate Burleson. The Packers give up 305.7 receiving yards a game. With a lot of focus on Megatron, Burleson should have a great match up this week. He's capable of making long catches down field, as well as getting a rush or two on an end around.
Bust: Andre Johnson. It looks like he'll be back in the line up this week. Without quarterback Matt Schaub, Johnson has to hope Matt Leinart can find him. With solid running backs in Arian Foster and Ben Tate, Johnson will struggle to see passes against a Jacksonville defense who allows only 205.5 receiving yards a game.
Tight Ends
Boom: Brent Celek. New England struggles against the pass allowing 314.7 receiving yards a game. Vince Young seemed to have some chemistry with Celek, so look for him to be a viable option in the passing game this week.
Bust: Kellen Winslow. Tough match up this week against the Titans. Tampa's improved running game, along with some boom wide receivers will make it hard for Winslow to get looks this week.
Kickers
Boom: David Akers. The 49ers have the most field goals attempted in the NFL. Look for Akers to have a big role in their game against the Ravens this week.
Bust: Graham Gano. He's been struggling as of late. Seattle will be a tough place to kick especially with predicted wind and rain.
Defenses
Boom: Jets. Rex Ryan's team has to be angry following a shocking loss to the Denver Broncos. The Bills will be without Fred Jackson. Look for the Jet's to play a ferocious game and maybe get a few statement penalties such as this:
Bust: San Francisco. I like the Ravens in this game. Ray Rice, Torrey Smith, and a solid defense will keep the 49ers on edge this week. Plus, this game is in Baltimore which is a tough place for any visiting team to win in especially on Thanksgiving evening.
Check back on Friday for my last minute booms!
Friday, November 18, 2011
Friday tidbits 11/18/11
Action packed today. Let's get started.
A Quote
New York Jets coach Rex Ryan had this to say about Timothy Richard's go-ahead TD following his team's 17-13 loss to the Denver Broncos:
“We thought he was going to carry the ball and he didn’t disappoint us. But he ran for a touchdown. The kid’s a competitor and makes big plays with the game on the line.”
This picture perfectly captures how I felt as Tim Tebow crossed the goal line last night: a weird combination of joy and confusion.
@jimrome: Von Miller is a freaking terror.
A Quote
New York Jets coach Rex Ryan had this to say about Timothy Richard's go-ahead TD following his team's 17-13 loss to the Denver Broncos:
It seems like Ryan was one breath away from saying: "All he does is win."
Tim Tebow makes people emotional. He made Rex Ryan sad (like on the verge of tears sad), he makes writers and reporters get nasty with one another, and that doesn't even mention how fans react to him.
Here's the problem (for fans). More than ever we take pride in being intellectual. Some people value being right about a talking point over having their team do well. For instance, if you're a Broncos fan and you've been SHOUTING (notice the caps!) on your Facebook about how terrible he is, can you really enjoy last night's win? Your team won! On (not really) national TV! Get out of your own way.
Is it actually possible to be indifferent to Tebow? People feel like they have to somehow win the debate with other fans and poke holes in any part of the "argument" that disagrees with their own. And heaven forbid anybody change their mind about a player like Tebow - you would have 15 comments calling you a hypocrite before you could refresh the page.
Nobody can actually explain what is happening, so consider this my call for everybody to just enjoy watching something different - nobody was ever hurt by that, right? Let the big picture play itself out instead of imposing your reactionary "analysis" every single time Tebow plays a game. Because whether you are providing an opinion in favor of or against Timothy Richard, you're just another speck in the mass of blowhard noise.
Do you really think you're offering anything unique or interesting if you tell us all how much you hate Tebow? If you do then you're like the college guy who thinks he's the first one ever to have a funny drunk story. Give me a break. Let's just all chill...
A Video
A few days ago I wondered about the all-time ranking of Blake Griffin and Kevin Love's Jenga commercial as compared to other NBA ads. Speaking of Blake Griffin, this one is also in the conversation (courtesy of Mike Mason):
One of the only good things about the lockout is that Blake Griffin has more time to participate in shennanigans like this. I'll take him over Peyton Manning in a commercial any day, and that is not a claim that I take lightly.
A Photo
 |
| This is my friend Tom. |
A Tweet
Guess what? There's no question about one Bronco player's future with the team. Von Miller is here to stay, friends. And for my money he is the young Bronco worth the most excitement. So there.
A Suggestion
Go check out my Entourage recap podcast with Ryan Douglas Presley. Also be sure to read his ex post facto supplement posted last night.
One more...
Check in on Warning Track Power frequently! I dare say we have hit our stride...
A Note about the Rockies
I really want Roy Oswalt. I want Martin Prado. I'm nervous about Grady Sizemore. They probably won't get any of them. The end.
Links
Bill Simmons writes about the NBA lockout http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/7250994/business-vs-personal
Joe Posnanski writes about his decision to "go underground" http://joeposnanski.blogspot.com/2011/11/as-you-might-imagine-last-couple-of.html
Jason Whitlock writes about people's reaction to Mike McQueary's actions at Penn State http://msn.foxsports.com/collegefootball/story/mike-mcqueary-what-angers-most-is-they-see-themselves-when-they-consider-his-actions-in-penn-state-sex-abuse-scandal-111711
The new NBA
The NBA lockout has caused some massive jonesing for some basketball. I came across this video:
I'm not sure if this is a good thing for Southwest, but it's definitely a good thing for basketball.
I'm not sure if this is a good thing for Southwest, but it's definitely a good thing for basketball.
Fantasy football week 11: Weekend waiver booms
Do you have some injured stars? Did Tebow (Genie) light you up on Thursday night? Here are some great pick-ups for the weekend if you find yourself down or struggling to put together a winning team.
Andre Caldwell (WR): With AJ Green sidelined during practices this week with an injury, Caldwell might pick up the slack. He's a risky add as Green is still a game time decision, but even so, Caldwell should see more playing time.
Maurice Morris (RB): He's still available in a lot of leagues out there and the Lions will definitely lean on him against a Carolina defense who struggles against the run. Stafford threw way too many times last week against Chicago, so look for the Lions to dial up more ways to get Morris the run.
Montario Hardesty (RB): He should be back in the line up on Sunday. If you need him he's a viable option. Peyton Hillis might be seeing playing time again if he can recover from his injury, but he remains fragile. If Hardesty can stay healthy himself, look for him to see a lot of action down the stretch.
David Nelson (WR): With go-to receiver Stevie Johnson possibly out for Sunday's game, Nelson should see more looks. Plus, he's a must start with his devotion to his girlfriend (see below). If Nelson's girlfriend is in a Dolphins outfit this Sunday, look out Miami.
Andre Caldwell (WR): With AJ Green sidelined during practices this week with an injury, Caldwell might pick up the slack. He's a risky add as Green is still a game time decision, but even so, Caldwell should see more playing time.
Maurice Morris (RB): He's still available in a lot of leagues out there and the Lions will definitely lean on him against a Carolina defense who struggles against the run. Stafford threw way too many times last week against Chicago, so look for the Lions to dial up more ways to get Morris the run.
Montario Hardesty (RB): He should be back in the line up on Sunday. If you need him he's a viable option. Peyton Hillis might be seeing playing time again if he can recover from his injury, but he remains fragile. If Hardesty can stay healthy himself, look for him to see a lot of action down the stretch.
David Nelson (WR): With go-to receiver Stevie Johnson possibly out for Sunday's game, Nelson should see more looks. Plus, he's a must start with his devotion to his girlfriend (see below). If Nelson's girlfriend is in a Dolphins outfit this Sunday, look out Miami.
Thursday, November 17, 2011
A short addition to the Entourage Recap
Although Hayden and I talked about Entourage far more than anyone was interested in hearing, I still have a couple of things I would like to add:
-DANA GORDON was a huge miss by me as a great recurring character.
-An unmentioned element of why "The Sundance Kids" was so great was the James Cameron cameo. He's as big a fish as you can catch in Hollywood. He really drove the Vince as a superstar point home and he had a couple great moments later in season 2.
-The (revised) Top Ten Episodes are as follows: 1. Sundance Kids 2. One Day in the Valley 3. Vegas Baby Vegas 4. Tree Trippers 5. The Cannes Kids 6. Busey and The Beach 7. Exodus 8. The Day F**kers 9. Into The Jungle 10. ReDOMption
-I feel compelled to say that I was very invested in Turtle's growth throughout the show as someone who was born into great, successful families [(the entourage counts as a family)and also (much like Hayden and I)] but who also wanted to make great things of themselves.
-Hayden said he didn't watch the show to identify with the characters and like 4 minutes later I said I did love identifying with the characters. Oops.
-Ari speaking about his daughter graduating High School and getting choked up in the finale was one of my favorite moments.
-Ari going through the office with the paint ball gun was one of my favorite moments
-Ari finding out about James Cameron directing aquaman and going completely ballistic was one of my favorite moments
-The return of Dom in season 5 was one of my favorites. Also after watching The Wire twice through, the actor was a great guest star in retrospect
-We never mentioned the music of the show. I have picked up so many songs from that show that I love. The top two are "Taper Jean Girl" by Kings of Leon and "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" by Neil Young. Also, having "Going to California" by Led Zepplin was the perfect song to send off a series at the end of an imperfect finale
Character Best Moments:
Drama - VICTORY! on the cliff and him explaining why he has to sing for his supper
Turtle - Talking to Jamie-Lynn Sigler in the limo about his friend Sal
Ari - His explosion over James Cameron and his speeches about his daughter graduating HS and his plea to convince Mrs. Ari to take him back
Lloyd - Comforting Ari in Exodus after losing his job and Ari responding with "we're going to be ok Lloyd"
Vince - Helping E get sloan back
E - "Vince has been my best friend since were 6 years old" and then threatening the 15 people he spoke that quote to
Best Alternate Ending to the storylines they chose:
Vince stages the whole wedding storyline just to get E back with Sloan
Alright, that's enough about that.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
The greatest NBA advertisement ever?
Well of course not, because that honor is reserved for a certain McDonald's commercial. With material gathered for Thursday tidbits tomorrow, I could have held off with this video until then. Instead I decided that I had to share it now...it simply could not wait.
There are not many bright spots with the ugly NBA lockout, but certain individual players benefit by keeping their sense of humor. When the NBA does return in2011 2012 2013, Blake Griffin and Kevin Love will have huge followings in a sport that is increasingly about cheering for individual players instead of teams:
There are not many bright spots with the ugly NBA lockout, but certain individual players benefit by keeping their sense of humor. When the NBA does return in
Fantasy football week 11: Booms & busts
Here are some solid options and surprising busts for this week. If you're looking to stay ahead in your rankings, or trying to get back into your playoff hunt consider these players. As we get into the winter season, remember weather can affect the value of players.
Quarterbacks
Boom: Carson Palmer. The Vikings are giving up 272.8 yards a game against the pass and have allowed 18 passing touchdowns. Look for Palmer to light it up in the dome on his epic comeback tour.
Bust: Josh Freeman. This looks like a great match up on paper against a poor Packers passing defense, but don't get overly excited. The Packers played great football against Minnesota and Charles Woodson looks like he did when he was in his 20's. Green Bay is also at home with temperatures in the low 30's. The Packers D will come to play on Sunday.
Running Backs
Boom: Marshawn Lynch. The Seahawks veteran back should run all over St Louis who has the worst run defense in the NFL. Giving up a whopping 150.6 yards per game, look for Lynch to carry your team this week. Like this:
Bust: Ray Rice. Cincinnati's defense is 2nd against the run allowing only 86.8 yards a game. The Ravens will opt to try to expose the Bengals battered up secondary with Leon Hall on IR.
Wide Receivers
Boom: Denarius Moore. Last week he put up 123 yards on 5 catches and 2 TD's against the Chargers. The Vikings passing defense is the 3rd worst in the league (see above entry for quarterback boom). Carson Palmer seems to have a growing chemistry with Moore. With Jacoby Ford looking doubtful, Moore should see even more targets.
Bust: Steve Smith (Carolina). We're starting to see the rookie mistakes of Cam Newton. Detroit's defense ranks 4th best against the pass allowing only 184.0 yards per game. Detroit is also on the verge of falling into a dangerous place in the wild card chase if they can't win this game at home. Look for the Lions to come out angry in an effort to establish themselves as an elite team in the NFC.
Tight Ends
Boom: Antonio Gates. Chances are if you have him, you've been starting him, but a falling team and sloppy play by Rivers has hurt his value. Chicago will have trouble covering Gates down the field as he's a tough match up against the line backers or safeties. You'll be rewarded this week for grinding it out with Gates this season.
Bust: Brent Celek. Tough match up against the Giants this week. Michael Vick's injury could hurt the passing game. The Giants have only allowed 3 scores by a tight end all year.
Kickers
Boom: Jason Hanson. Back at home in the dome, the calm familiar climate should be a great venue for Hanson to make some kicks.
Bust: Nick Novak. The swirling winds in Chicago this time of the year are always tough for kickers to navigate. Look for a tough game and not as many long FG opportunities for Novak because of the conditions.
Defenses
Boom: Seattle. If you play defenses week to week, pick up Seattle. The Rams score the fewest points in the league so this should be a great match up.
Bust: Tennessee. After a devastating loss and a controversial 4th and inches call, look for the Falcons to rebound with veteran running back Michael Turner and their highly talented receiving core will be hard to cover.
Check back on Friday for my last minute booms!
Quarterbacks
Boom: Carson Palmer. The Vikings are giving up 272.8 yards a game against the pass and have allowed 18 passing touchdowns. Look for Palmer to light it up in the dome on his epic comeback tour.
Bust: Josh Freeman. This looks like a great match up on paper against a poor Packers passing defense, but don't get overly excited. The Packers played great football against Minnesota and Charles Woodson looks like he did when he was in his 20's. Green Bay is also at home with temperatures in the low 30's. The Packers D will come to play on Sunday.
Running Backs
Boom: Marshawn Lynch. The Seahawks veteran back should run all over St Louis who has the worst run defense in the NFL. Giving up a whopping 150.6 yards per game, look for Lynch to carry your team this week. Like this:
Bust: Ray Rice. Cincinnati's defense is 2nd against the run allowing only 86.8 yards a game. The Ravens will opt to try to expose the Bengals battered up secondary with Leon Hall on IR.
Wide Receivers
Boom: Denarius Moore. Last week he put up 123 yards on 5 catches and 2 TD's against the Chargers. The Vikings passing defense is the 3rd worst in the league (see above entry for quarterback boom). Carson Palmer seems to have a growing chemistry with Moore. With Jacoby Ford looking doubtful, Moore should see even more targets.
Bust: Steve Smith (Carolina). We're starting to see the rookie mistakes of Cam Newton. Detroit's defense ranks 4th best against the pass allowing only 184.0 yards per game. Detroit is also on the verge of falling into a dangerous place in the wild card chase if they can't win this game at home. Look for the Lions to come out angry in an effort to establish themselves as an elite team in the NFC.
Tight Ends
Boom: Antonio Gates. Chances are if you have him, you've been starting him, but a falling team and sloppy play by Rivers has hurt his value. Chicago will have trouble covering Gates down the field as he's a tough match up against the line backers or safeties. You'll be rewarded this week for grinding it out with Gates this season.
Bust: Brent Celek. Tough match up against the Giants this week. Michael Vick's injury could hurt the passing game. The Giants have only allowed 3 scores by a tight end all year.
Kickers
Boom: Jason Hanson. Back at home in the dome, the calm familiar climate should be a great venue for Hanson to make some kicks.
Bust: Nick Novak. The swirling winds in Chicago this time of the year are always tough for kickers to navigate. Look for a tough game and not as many long FG opportunities for Novak because of the conditions.
Defenses
Boom: Seattle. If you play defenses week to week, pick up Seattle. The Rams score the fewest points in the league so this should be a great match up.
Bust: Tennessee. After a devastating loss and a controversial 4th and inches call, look for the Falcons to rebound with veteran running back Michael Turner and their highly talented receiving core will be hard to cover.
Check back on Friday for my last minute booms!
Monday, November 14, 2011
Matthew Stafford ejected? I guess not...
Check out this video. DJ Moore and Matthew Stafford started a brawl in yesterdays game, but the only player ejected was Moore. So it's okay for a player to grab onto someone's head and pull them down to the ground in the middle of a play? DJ Moore's actions were definitely inappropriate and dangerous, but he was just reacting to Stafford's actions which were also inappropriate and dangerous.
I hope the league goes back and looks at this play and ruling. I don't think any player should be given a free pass on their actions on the field regardless of their position on the team roster. If David Akers were to take a cheap shot, it should be treated the same way as if Ray Lewis took one. There isn't a place for these antics in football so please don't punish certain players and not others.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Fantasy football week 10: Weekend waiver booms
Do you find yourself trailing after Thursday nights game? Are you uneasy about your weekend line up? Here are some weekend players that you might want to consider playing.
Ben Tate (RB): Even behind Arian Foster, Ben Tate has produced starting running back numbers. He goes up against Tampa who is 5th worst against the run game. With an ailing Andre Johnson, the Texans will be happy to pound the running game.
Michael Jenkins (WR): Jenkins should have a great game against a Green Bay defense that struggles to make plays. The Vikings will be behind this game and Christian Ponder is going to throw 30-40 times. The Vikings also have nothing to lose against a rival that they probably have little to no chance of beating. Look for the Vikings to stay aggressive on 4th down possibly allowing Jenkins to stay in some extra downs.
Michael Crabtree (WR): Crabtree has been a solid option as of late. Even though the 49er's pound the run with Frank Gore, he's been battling an injury that might shift the game plan. Giants have played tough and the 49ers might have to throw more than usual.
Earl Bennett (WR): What happened to the Bears offensive line? Surprisingly I mean it in a good way. If Jay Cutler has enough time to throw against Suh and the high powered Detroit defense, Bennett will have fantasy value. Remember, Bennett and Cutler were teammates at Vandy and have always had good chemistry. The Bears also showed last week that Bennett is the most consistent option with Hester, Sanzenbacher, Williams, and Davis dropping big passes at big moments.
Ben Tate (RB): Even behind Arian Foster, Ben Tate has produced starting running back numbers. He goes up against Tampa who is 5th worst against the run game. With an ailing Andre Johnson, the Texans will be happy to pound the running game.
Michael Jenkins (WR): Jenkins should have a great game against a Green Bay defense that struggles to make plays. The Vikings will be behind this game and Christian Ponder is going to throw 30-40 times. The Vikings also have nothing to lose against a rival that they probably have little to no chance of beating. Look for the Vikings to stay aggressive on 4th down possibly allowing Jenkins to stay in some extra downs.
Michael Crabtree (WR): Crabtree has been a solid option as of late. Even though the 49er's pound the run with Frank Gore, he's been battling an injury that might shift the game plan. Giants have played tough and the 49ers might have to throw more than usual.
Earl Bennett (WR): What happened to the Bears offensive line? Surprisingly I mean it in a good way. If Jay Cutler has enough time to throw against Suh and the high powered Detroit defense, Bennett will have fantasy value. Remember, Bennett and Cutler were teammates at Vandy and have always had good chemistry. The Bears also showed last week that Bennett is the most consistent option with Hester, Sanzenbacher, Williams, and Davis dropping big passes at big moments.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The Penn State situation and sports talk radio
I listened to Dan Patrick and Jim Rome this morning, and both of their takes helped me process a truly upsetting situation. It makes me angry and frankly I don't know how to talk about it yet. Two hosts with chops like Patrick and Rome can focus that collective anger into the larger arc of the story as they give their own opinions. This gives us different ways to think about the issue.
It's not that they tell us how to feel, but they help us make sense of the different strands of the story so that we can decide how we feel.
Image: audreyjm529
Want to be an NFL owner?
Whenever the Green Bay Packers allow for fans to buy shares of their team later this month, I'll be one of the first fans to do it. As an avid NFL fan I view this as a really cool once in a lifetime fan experience. Even though my loyalties still run blue and orange, I'll suck up my pride and shine in some green and gold. As a shareholder, I'll be able to join in on special tours of Lambeau Field, the Packer's locker room, and have the ability to vote on team decisions.
Even though I'll probably never get to have a drink with other NFL owners, or fly on Mark Cuban's jet, I'll be able to say I'm a part owner of and NFL team.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Fantasy football week 10: Booms & busts
Here is a look at some solid dark horse picks for week 10 and also some high profile players that might not have the best game. If you're struggling to find viable options week to week you might find some booms hidden among the stars.
Quarterbacks
Boom: Mark Sanchez. Going up against the worst defense in the league will open up the playbook for the passing game. With a healthy Plaxico Burress, Sanchez has another weapon down field if he keeps his gun locked up.
Bust: Matt Shaub. It looks as though the Houston Texans will be satisfied running against Tampa Bay. Arian Foster and Ben Tate should see most of the action and yards.
Running Backs
Boom: Reggie Bush. Without the weight of the Heisman or Kim Kardashian, look for Reggie Bush to run wild on Washington. The Dolphins will use Bush in the rushing and passing game as they look to relieve Matt Moore of defensive pressure.
Bust: Fred Jackson. Was last week a sign of things to come? It is in week 10 against the 11th best rushing defense of Dallas.
Wide Receivers
Boom: Jacoby Ford. Who's that? Does he work on cars? The Raiders explosive receiver is capable of breaking a big play at anytime. Compare him to a smaller Julio Jones. Carson Palmer will learn from his mistakes in practice and look for him to come out throwing against division rival San Diego. If you need a 3rd WR or a flex player he's a great pick up. (Reminder: Raiders and Chargers play Thursday night!)
Bust: Mike Wallace. Hard to go against Leon Hall if he draws that match up. Pittsburgh has Antonio Brown all the way down to Jerricho Cotchery for Roethlisberger to throw to if Hall blankets Wallace.
Tight Ends
Boom: Brandon Pettigrew. Chicago's D against TE's is pretty terrible partially because of the cover 2 and Pettigrew's big body over the linebackers. Stafford will target Pettigrew down the field as his second big target next to Calvin Johnson.
Bust: Owen Daniels. With an Andre Johnson return looming and a run first offensive transformation, Daniels won't get as many looks this week.
Kickers
Boom: Matt Bryant. Look for a shootout between these two teams in an important game for both clubs. Indoor kickers always look better this time of the year.
Bust: David Akers. He's been on fire but a rainy forecast for the rest of the week and temperatures in the 50's might make for a sloppy field come Sunday.
Defenses
Boom: Jacksonville. Going up against the Colts, Jacksonville should be the recipient of many sacks, turnovers, and maybe a pick 6. Look for them to paint Curtis all over the turf.
Bust: Cincinnati. Pittsburgh has been putting up some good offensive numbers. With a pass happy offense featuring Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, and Emmanuel Sanders, Cincy will have a hard time covering the field. Don't forget about Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman who make a good duo out of the backfield.
Check back on Friday for my last minute booms!
Quarterbacks
Boom: Mark Sanchez. Going up against the worst defense in the league will open up the playbook for the passing game. With a healthy Plaxico Burress, Sanchez has another weapon down field if he keeps his gun locked up.
Bust: Matt Shaub. It looks as though the Houston Texans will be satisfied running against Tampa Bay. Arian Foster and Ben Tate should see most of the action and yards.
Running Backs
Boom: Reggie Bush. Without the weight of the Heisman or Kim Kardashian, look for Reggie Bush to run wild on Washington. The Dolphins will use Bush in the rushing and passing game as they look to relieve Matt Moore of defensive pressure.
Bust: Fred Jackson. Was last week a sign of things to come? It is in week 10 against the 11th best rushing defense of Dallas.
Wide Receivers
Boom: Jacoby Ford. Who's that? Does he work on cars? The Raiders explosive receiver is capable of breaking a big play at anytime. Compare him to a smaller Julio Jones. Carson Palmer will learn from his mistakes in practice and look for him to come out throwing against division rival San Diego. If you need a 3rd WR or a flex player he's a great pick up. (Reminder: Raiders and Chargers play Thursday night!)
Bust: Mike Wallace. Hard to go against Leon Hall if he draws that match up. Pittsburgh has Antonio Brown all the way down to Jerricho Cotchery for Roethlisberger to throw to if Hall blankets Wallace.
Tight Ends
Boom: Brandon Pettigrew. Chicago's D against TE's is pretty terrible partially because of the cover 2 and Pettigrew's big body over the linebackers. Stafford will target Pettigrew down the field as his second big target next to Calvin Johnson.
Bust: Owen Daniels. With an Andre Johnson return looming and a run first offensive transformation, Daniels won't get as many looks this week.
Kickers
Boom: Matt Bryant. Look for a shootout between these two teams in an important game for both clubs. Indoor kickers always look better this time of the year.
Bust: David Akers. He's been on fire but a rainy forecast for the rest of the week and temperatures in the 50's might make for a sloppy field come Sunday.
Defenses
Boom: Jacksonville. Going up against the Colts, Jacksonville should be the recipient of many sacks, turnovers, and maybe a pick 6. Look for them to paint Curtis all over the turf.
Bust: Cincinnati. Pittsburgh has been putting up some good offensive numbers. With a pass happy offense featuring Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Antonio Brown, and Emmanuel Sanders, Cincy will have a hard time covering the field. Don't forget about Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman who make a good duo out of the backfield.
Check back on Friday for my last minute booms!
Monday, November 7, 2011
The Chicago Bears' Extra Motiviation
People say that when a tragic event happens it brings people together as a whole. The Chicago Bears at 4-3 are fighting to remain a contender in the NFC playoffs. With the recent passing of Pro Bowl linebacker Brian Urlacher's mother, the event created a team unity that has brought the whole team closer. In a recent interview Urlacher reflected with ESPN's Rachel Nichols about how much his mother meant to his career. It's good to see teammates do what teammates should do and this show of companionship echoes the unity of the Bears defense.
The Bears are on a two game winning streak and look to continue their new found purpose on Monday night at Philly against the 3-4 Eagles.
Photo credit: (Nam Y. Huh / AP)
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Friday tidbits 11/4/11
A Quote
A Lions player had this to say about playing against Timothy Richard last Sunday:
“Can you believe ’15’? Come on – that’s embarrassing. I mean, it’s a joke. We knew all week that if we brought any kind of defensive pressure, he couldn’t do anything. In the second half it got boring out there. We were like, ‘Come on – that’s your quarterback? Seriously?’ ”
It is hard to blame any Lion for taking pleasure in temporarily derailing Tebowmania. They heard about it all week and some commentators even called this a "must-see" game just because of Tebow's inexplicable run at the end of the Dolphins game. In that situation, who wouldn't want to destroy him to make a point?
As for them saying they were bored...For now let's hope they were just twisting the knife a little bit after the fact. But if the Raiders are winning by so much this Sunday that they can belittle the Broncos franchise this way afterwards, then management's hand might be forced again. But, you know, this time it would be for actual football reasons...
A Photo
A Lions player had this to say about playing against Timothy Richard last Sunday:
“Can you believe ’15’? Come on – that’s embarrassing. I mean, it’s a joke. We knew all week that if we brought any kind of defensive pressure, he couldn’t do anything. In the second half it got boring out there. We were like, ‘Come on – that’s your quarterback? Seriously?’ ”
It is hard to blame any Lion for taking pleasure in temporarily derailing Tebowmania. They heard about it all week and some commentators even called this a "must-see" game just because of Tebow's inexplicable run at the end of the Dolphins game. In that situation, who wouldn't want to destroy him to make a point?
As for them saying they were bored...For now let's hope they were just twisting the knife a little bit after the fact. But if the Raiders are winning by so much this Sunday that they can belittle the Broncos franchise this way afterwards, then management's hand might be forced again. But, you know, this time it would be for actual football reasons...
A Photo
Click this link to check out a photograph of Terrell Owens and J.J. Stokes on a tandem bicycle. Go ahead and read that sentence again. I'll wait...OK, that joke tells itself right? Let's move on.
A Video
Bryant Gumbel concluded his show Real Sports recently with these thoughts on the NBA lockout:
Bryant Gumbel concluded his show Real Sports recently with these thoughts on the NBA lockout:
Remember that time Hank Williams, Jr. compared President Obama to Hitler? I do. There's a reason that bothered people and cost him his spot as the opener for Monday Night Football. You just can't say that. The holocaust is a singularly horrific event and there will (hopefully) never be anything that can be compared to it intelligently. It was an insensitive, unintelligent and ineffective use of hyperbole. Some horrible historical events or concepts need to be left alone and not employed for the sake of argument. Ever.
This is the same thing. He very well might have a valid point when he says David Stern is contributing to the problem. He could have made that point quite effectively without making a comparison to slavery. You know why people have little patience with lockouts? Because each side will come out on the other side making millions of dollars. And Gumbel actually compared that to slavery?
Bryant Gumbel might be a "serious journalist" but that does not afford this type of moronic comparison any more substance or validity, and he should be embarrassed that he made it.
A Bonus Video!
Here's that Hank Williams, Jr clip. He might have said something stupid, but boy does he look goooood....
He makes a great point. With the country this shape is in we all have to pick sides.
A Tweet
@AndrewSiciliano: CU coach Jon Embree after Matt Barkley's 6 TD's: "That's why he needs to leave next year. That's why he needs to go."
Does anybody else think that certain members of Broncos nation think he needs to go because he'll look great in the orange and blue? I bet some of them do.
An Announcement
I have started another site: it's a solo act (and named accordingly). It is not replacing Warning Track Power by any means; it will be just have slighty different content. Please do check it out, tell your friends, share with the world!: http://www.haydenwilliam.com/
As for Warning Track Power, it is still alive and kicking, even if it didn't seem that way for a while. We are going to ever-so-slighty expand our scope to include some discussions of pop culture (mainly certain television shows and video games). In the coming weeks, you can look forward to an extensive Entourage series review by Ryan Douglas Presley, a look at the NFC North by David Schaffner, and a fresh and interesting take on just what the heck is happening with the Oakland Raiders by Michael Mason. Stay tuned!
A Prediction...
...or two. 1. LSU over Alabama because for all the talk about 'Bama's defense being historically great, I agree with what Scott Van Pelt said about LSU's defense at the beginning of the season: they move so fast that they look like extra-terrestrials. 2. Steelers over Ravens BIG, because Big Ben is hot and Joe Flacco is bad.
A Bonus Prediction!
Tim Tebow will complete fewer than 14 passes Sunday...and he'll be the best quarterback in the game (Carson Palmer, ladies and gentlemen!). The Broncos will trip over themselves and win a tight, ugly game, which means we all get another week of Tebowmania. Enjoy!
Links
David Schoenfield argues for two of this year's baseball Hall of Fame candidates. http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/18243/santo-minoso-deserve-hall-of-fame
Peter King picks all of the week 9 NFL action http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/11/03/week.9/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_wr_a2
Andy Staples on the importance of the Alabama v. LSU game http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/andy_staples/11/04/lsu-alabama-game-of-century/index.html?sct=cf_t13_a2
Does anybody else think that certain members of Broncos nation think he needs to go because he'll look great in the orange and blue? I bet some of them do.
An Announcement
I have started another site: it's a solo act (and named accordingly). It is not replacing Warning Track Power by any means; it will be just have slighty different content. Please do check it out, tell your friends, share with the world!: http://www.haydenwilliam.com/
As for Warning Track Power, it is still alive and kicking, even if it didn't seem that way for a while. We are going to ever-so-slighty expand our scope to include some discussions of pop culture (mainly certain television shows and video games). In the coming weeks, you can look forward to an extensive Entourage series review by Ryan Douglas Presley, a look at the NFC North by David Schaffner, and a fresh and interesting take on just what the heck is happening with the Oakland Raiders by Michael Mason. Stay tuned!
A Prediction...
...or two. 1. LSU over Alabama because for all the talk about 'Bama's defense being historically great, I agree with what Scott Van Pelt said about LSU's defense at the beginning of the season: they move so fast that they look like extra-terrestrials. 2. Steelers over Ravens BIG, because Big Ben is hot and Joe Flacco is bad.
A Bonus Prediction!
Tim Tebow will complete fewer than 14 passes Sunday...and he'll be the best quarterback in the game (Carson Palmer, ladies and gentlemen!). The Broncos will trip over themselves and win a tight, ugly game, which means we all get another week of Tebowmania. Enjoy!
Links
David Schoenfield argues for two of this year's baseball Hall of Fame candidates. http://espn.go.com/blog/sweetspot/post/_/id/18243/santo-minoso-deserve-hall-of-fame
Peter King picks all of the week 9 NFL action http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/peter_king/11/03/week.9/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_wr_a2
Andy Staples on the importance of the Alabama v. LSU game http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2011/writers/andy_staples/11/04/lsu-alabama-game-of-century/index.html?sct=cf_t13_a2
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