It’s Time to Start your Fantasy Draft!

Good news fantasy football fans! The NFL lockout is over and teams will slowly start to assemble to prepare for the upcoming 2011 NFL season. This is good news for everyone who is interested in the game. It is also good news that no regular season games will be missed, there will be some kind of free agency period and the league got back to work just in time to make things interesting for the upcoming season.

Some fantasy football players may have already gone ahead and had their fantasy drafts. That may cause some problems for a few of these owners further on down the road. Depending on where players that were eligible for free agency end up as well as where players are traded to, things could be a lot different than when a person had their fantasy draft prior to the end of the lockout.

So what should a person do in this situation? Don’t give up on your team. You should be able to make some adjustments including picking up free agents and making some trades to help make your team ready for the coming season. Since the others in your league drafted at the same time you can bet that they would be willing trade partners because they need to fix their teams as well.

For those of you that have yet to draft your teams you have an opportunity to make this season a great one. If you wait until later to do your fantasy draft you will be in a lot better shape than you would be if you had your draft immediately. The longer you can wait the better off you will be and that is a rule to live by.

Free agency is going to be fast and furious so keep an eye on what’s going on with your favorite players (those that might be free agents) to see where they end up when the smoke clears. There promises to be a lot change and you want to be sure that you are on top of that change before you draft.

Is the 2011 Fantasy Football Season Coming?

If you have been watching the news or reading your favorite football news sites on the internet, you may have heard that both the players and the owners have been meeting on a regular basis to discuss a deal that would end the lockout and get football started once again.

But there is also some talk that the negotiations, while frequent are still not going as well as everyone had hoped and that both parties could be a long ways away from coming to an agreement. Time is clearly ticking for the start of the season and some important milestones for playing games are coming up quickly so a deal has to be reached soon.

As I mentioned in a previous posting, you may want to wait until after a deal has been reached to attempt to draft your fantasy football team. With there being a lot of uncertainty as to free agency and how it will be conducted as well as what is happening to certain players during the offseason is waiting to draft your fantasy team good advice?

But of course, the biggest question right now is whether or not the NFL is going to get a deal done by the time they are supposed to start playing games and by the time you have your fantasy football draft.

Consider these triggers and milestones for the upcoming season.

The Chicago Bears and the St. Louis Rams were to start training camp a week earlier than the other teams in league to kick off the start of the NFL preseason. Their start date is supposed to be the 22nd of July. They are scheduled to play in the Hall of Fame game on the 7th of August and it doesn’t look that game is going to happen.

So what happens now? Does the NFL push the preseason out and keep those preseason games while starting the season a little later? Do they nix some or all of the preseason games and jump right into the season? Do they take a few games off the regular season in order to get properly ready for the regular season?

Anything is possible as the two sides continue to negotiate a deal. Fantasy football fans will be keeping a close eye on the negotiations as the sides get ever closer to a deal and the offseason can officially begin. Once that agreement is signed we will all know much more about how things are going to turn out with free agency and the regular season.

So what does this have to do with fantasy football? Free agency is still going to have to take place before the preseason so there are some changes that will be made by some of the players that will be eligible for free agency. If you have already had your fantasy draft you may want to take a look at what you have done and make some changes. If you haven’t had your fantasy draft then you should be in very good shape.

So never fear fantasy football fans. A deal is almost here and there will be a full season of football (and fantasy football to enjoy). It’s about time that the owners and the players realized that they cannot continue to stay stuck in neutral like they have been for the past few months. They have almost ruined a good thing and hopefully they will be able to bring the league back stronger and better than it was before.

Are you Signing up for Fantasy Football?

It appears as if the NFL lockout is starting to come to an end as both sides are coming together often to try to work out an agreement. As the agreement is being worked out the major fantasy football sites, such as NFL.com and Yahoo! are asking fans to start signing up for the 2011 fantasy football season.

I have to admit, I was a little bit skeptical to sign up for fantasy teams when I first got those messages that said that you could start signing up. I wasn’t sure when the NFL would start it’s season due to the NFL Lockout but shortly after receiving initiations to sign up for a fantasy team, I saw that the NFL and the players were working hard to get to an agreement. So, I decided to sign up for one on NFL.com.

The experience of signing up on NFL.com was as easy as it always was but it was very hard to pick a date to draft. Not knowing when the lockout would be over has put a damper on knowing when exactly when a person should draft. We must keep in mind that after the lockout is over, there will most likely be a free agent period that will cause players to move from one team to another.

So does it make sense to draft until the lockout is over?

If you draft prior to the lockout ending and then one or more of the players that you drafted moves from one team to another you might be caught in a quandary. That player, a player that you thought would end up being a good prospect on his old team, could end up having a tough go of it on his new team.

So is it better to wait to sign up for a fantasy football team on these major fantasy football sites?

I did some looking around and didn’t see anything that stated that if the lockout would continue and the draft days would be missed that those draft days would be adjusted. I went into the NFL.com website and there was nothing there that talked about what would happen if the lockout went on past the draft date. Yahoo! didn’t say a word about the lockout either.

So if you are wary of having a draft before the lockout is over it’s best to wait until you have some certainty of when the season is going to start before scheduling your fantasy football draft. In the past I have written that you must use discretion when drafting during this lockout period because of the change that players are going to move around after the lockout is over. If you are wary of this then it’s best to draft as late as possible.

Personally, I set all my draft dates for late August, as I do every year, not only because of the lockout but because of the potential for injury to some players or the fact that players may end up getting cut or traded to another team. This helps to cut down on regrets that I might have later on in the season for drafting a player that may not even be playing football or might wind up in a bad situation. Perhaps this is good advice?

So what is the best scenario? If you can wait then it’s best to wait. If not then draft players at your own risk but expect some changes when football finally comes back around.

It’s so tempting to go out and sign up for a fantasy team right now and get all set up for the season. For most of us, we are football starved and anxious to get going with our fantasy leagues (believe me I am one who is always ready to draft as soon as I get that notice that sites are opening up to start signing up for teams) but you may want to exercise caution this offseason. This whole offseason as well the 2011 season could be one of the most difficult in fantasy football history.

So draft with caution but don’t be scared to have a fantasy football team this season. No matter what happens this offseason things are certain to get better.

Are you Ready when the Lockout Ends?

As I had mentioned in my last posting, publishers are starting to roll their fantasy football magazines out already this despite the fact that the NFL lockout goes on. The lockout is a big roadblock in the path to the start of the 2011 NFL season but if the players and the owners keep talking like they have been it’s possible that this lockout could be over in time for the season to start.

That would be a great thing.

There are some well known fantasy football sites, NFL.com being one of them, that are already signing people up for the new fantasy football season. Sure it’s exciting to start seeing that happen but there are a lot of people out there doubting that the season is actually going to start on time. So why sign up for fantasy football now? Why not wait until we know that the league is actually going to have a season this year?

If you are a serious fantasy football fan you may have seen the lockout as just a minor annoyance on the path towards one of your favorite things in the world. Perhaps you are already preparing for the upcoming fantasy football season without being sure that there will actually be a season.

Well there will be an NFL season and your time to prepare for your upcoming fantasy football season is now. You should start taking looks at players that you know aren’t going to be going anywhere and thinking about whether or not you want to draft them. You might also start looking at the teams that have new head coaches and try to figure out if and where you want to draft any of those players.

Remember, players from teams with new head coaches haven’t had a chance to learn the new system that they will be in so that will stunt their progress at least to start the season. You may want to be wary of those players and if you draft one of those guys you should realize that you may have to be ready to leave them on the bench until things straighten themselves out.

The rumor right now is that the league and it’s players are close to an agreement and that something could get done by the start of July. So if you are preparing for your 2011 fantasy draft then keep it up because eventually football will come and you just might be better off than your fantasy partners are.

So buy those fantasy football guides, read as much as you can about the upcoming fantasy football season and be prepared. The fantasy football season will happen and if you aren’t ready you won’t be winning much next season.

How the NFL Lockout affects Fantasy Football

I was surprised to see a copy of a popular Fantasy Football magazine in my mailbox the other day. I had to double check to make sure that it was a 2011 edition and sure enough it was. I wondered how anyone could put something like that out with the NFL lockout in place. After all, there has been no free agency and if there is how would they know where players went?

Then I thought about good of a marketing idea this was. With nothing going on in football right now putting out a magazine like that will certainly attract fan’s attention by giving them something to read and think about while the lockout goes on. I believe that people will buy this left and right even if there might be several changes that render the publication basically inefficient when it’s time for fantasy football to begin.
Anyone who is a die hard fantasy football fan and loves to watch every move that’s made by NFL teams in the offseason must be upset at what has been happening between the NFL and its players. Ever since the matter went to court it’s appeared as if nothing is going to get resolved quickly it may go on much longer.

If you usually start preparing for your fantasy draft at this time of the year there is nothing holding you back from doing your research on the players that are already in position on their teams. To be safe, take a look at guys that don’t have any risk of being a free agent because it’s still possible that the league could have some kind of free agency period when things are settled.

If that does happen you have no idea where those free agents are going to go so don’t spend a lot of time researching them. We don’t know where they are going to go right now or if there will even be free agency.

Another thing to keep in mind is those players that have new head coaches coming into the season. The lockout has prevented those coaches and players from getting together to discuss the new systems that they plan to implement. This spells trouble for those teams. If you have your eye on a player that is on a team undergoing a coaching change you should be wary of that player because things aren’t going to be the same for them this year.

And their development in the new system will be seriously hampered thanks to the lockout.

Finally, the other thing to consider is how rusty players are going to be when things finally get solved and they get back to work. You should keep a close eye on which groups of players are working out together because even though the workouts are informal and perhaps not that well put together those players will be better off when the season starts.

Don’t get frustrated that there isn’t anything going on with football right now and that the season or at least a part of it may be in jeopardy. Both sides will realize the mistakes that they have made and get back to football soon.

It’s inevitable.

Fantasy Football Insider: Who could the Top Kickers be in 2011?

Kickers really don’t matter right? In fantasy football that’s not entirely the case. Just like in the actual game on the field game, kickers can mean the difference between winning and losing. And sometimes teams that can’t generate much offense may only have their kicker to score points for them and that means a lot of points for that one single player.

You can’t be without a kicker on your roster and it’s not only important that you have one but that you should try to have a good one. No one kicker is the same and some are better at some things while others are better at other things.

So what should you look for in a good fantasy kicker? First, you need to find someone who is consistent. There are 32 starting kickers in the NFL and each one has different consistency when compared to the others. Some are virtually automatic while others struggle to kick field goals in any situation.

You must also be wary of the health of the kickers that are available in your fantasy draft. Kickers get hurt just as often as some of the regular players out there (running backs, quarterbacks etc.) and you have to investigate their injury history to make sure that they won’t leave you in a bind during the season.

Finally, when you are looking at kickers you have to look at the kind of offense that kicker’s team has. If they have an offense similar to that of the Indianapolis Colts, the kicker may not have a lot of opportunities to kick field goals and thus bring you a lot of points. But, if the kicker is part of a team with an offense like the Kansas City Chiefs there may be plenty of opportunities to kick field goals.

So which of the 32 NFL kickers may end up being the top five kickers heading into the 2011 season? Let’s find out as we take a look at five of the best kickers in the NFL and see if they might be someone that you will want on your fantasy team.

1. Nate Kaeding-San Diego Chargers-You can count on the Chargers to put up a lot of points during any NFL season and Kaeding has been there to help them add to their point’s totals for a while now. There are times when Kaeding’s accuracy has been questioned (most of that came in his earlier years) but being a part of a high scoring offense has helped cement him as one of the top fantasy kickers in all of fantasy football.

2. Mason Crosby-Green Bay Packers- The Packers have a high scoring offense so their kicker stays pretty busy game in and game out. Crosby has been as accurate as they come and he gets a lot of opportunities to score points. Keep an eye on him as you work through the later rounds of your fantasy draft.

3. Garrett Hartley-New Orleans Saints-The Saints are another one of those teams that tend to score a lot of points and their kicker has helped keep them scoring on a regular basis. Hartley has struggled with his field goals at times last season but gets many more opportunities to kick than some other kickers in the league making him a valuable commodity in any fantasy format.

4. Stephen Gostkowski-New England Patriots-We all know just how well the Patriots score points and with that, Gostkowski has come on to be one of the best fantasy kickers in the NFL. He’s been one of the top kickers selected in fantasy football drafts (according to last year’s statistics) and will surely be one of the top ones selected again this season.

5. Rob Bironas-Tennessee Titans-Fantasy owners who have had the opportunity of owning Bironas in their leagues have found out that he is one of the most productive kickers in the history of fantasy football. Bironas should get several opportunities to kick field goals next season with a change coming at the quarterback position so the Titans are going to want to score whenever they can. This could mean that Bironas is going to get used a lot making him one of the most valuable fantasy kickers of the 2011 season.

Fantasy Football Insider: Which Defenses could be the Top Fantasy Defenses of 2011?

With the NFL lockout still looming large over everything there hasn’t been much aside from the draft to give teams a shot at trying to improve themselves for next season. Along with that, it will be difficult for teams to restock and reload making it much more difficult to predict which teams might be better next season.

NFL defenses, like kickers, are kind of a forgotten part of a good fantasy football team. A good defense can score just as much or more than a quarterback or running back can at times and pretty soon defenses will become one of the most sought after positions in fantasy drafts. Some people have even drafted defenses as high as number one in a few fantasy drafts.

But are defenses worthy of such a high pick? Probably not but they do have some value and could deserve some middle round consideration.

So what teams are going have the best defenses next season? Is it even possible to tell with the lockout going on?

Let’s make an attempt to try to figure out which defenses could be at the top of the fantasy football rankings for 2011.

In no particular order, here are five NFL defenses that you should look at drafting in your fantasy draft later on this summer.

Pittsburgh Steelers-The Steelers always seem to have very good defenses and you can expect them to have another good one next year as well. With the same group of guys returning, including such stars as safety Troy Polamalu and linebacker James Harrison this unit will be one the most sought after in fantasy football this year.

Chicago Bears-The Bears will be bringing back many of the same guys from last season and have even made an upgrade on their defensive line (by drafting Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea) so things are looking up for the Bears. They will definitely be one of the top defenses selected late this summer.

San Diego Chargers-The Chargers may not have had the best record in the NFL last year and they even failed to make the playoffs but what a lot of people don’t know is that they had the best defense statistically last season. The Chargers shouldn’t take a step back in that category this season as there shouldn’t be too many changes (in fact they made some upgrades during the draft to help make some improvements) and their defense will be one of the hottest defenses in fantasy football drafts this summer.

Green Bay Packers-The Packers had one of the best defenses in the NFL last season and with some of their top players coming back from injury this year their defense should be even better in 2011. This unit is filled with talent at each position and has the capability of putting up a lot of points in every game.

There will be a lot fantasy owners trying to pick up Green Bay’s defense early on in fantasy drafts.

New York Jets-The Jets have gone out and changed some things on defense for the 2011 season and it promises to be another good year for the Jets. Head coach Rex Ryan is going to make sure that his defense remains one of the top defenses in the NFL so if you need a solid defense for your fantasy football team you might want to take a look at the Jets “D”.

Fantasy Football Insider: Who could be the Top Fantasy Tight Ends in 2011?

The tight end position can be a productive one and a frustrating one when it comes to fantasy football. One weekend your top tight end can have a great game and in another he can all but disappear. There are some NFL teams that utilize their tights ends in the passing game often (and have specialize pass catching tight ends as well as blocking tight ends) while other teams don’t use the tight end much for passing but more for blocking.

Before you go ahead and select a tight end in your fantasy drafts the tight end much for passing but more for blocking.

Before you go ahead and select a tight end in your fantasy drafts you must be sure that the tight end will be used often on offense because you don’t want to waste that spot on someone that won’t produce.

Remember that tight ends can be big assets to your team if you can find the right one.

Let’s take a look at five tight ends (in no particular order) that fantasy owners should be looking at in their fantasy drafts late this summer.

1. Jason Witten-Dallas Cowboys-The Cowboys have had a lot of success throwing the ball to Witten and he has been very productive in his career with the Cowboys. He has been injured from time to time and has missed some time but he will be a very valuable and sought after tight end in fantasy football.

2. Antonio Gates-San Diego Chargers-Gates has been one of the most productive tight ends in the NFL since coming into the league and has another good season or two in him before he either starts to decline. Fantasy football owners will also hope that he can stay healthy and give them a full season.

3. Dallas Clark-Indianapolis Colts-Speaking of staying healthy, the perpetually injured Clark does remain one of the top tight ends in the NFL. Fantasy football owners will take a chance on him this year and assume that he will be able to stay healthy and if he can he will go back to being a prime target for quarterback Peyton Manning.

4. Tony Gonzalez-Atlanta Falcons-Gonzalez may be in his the twilight of his career but he’s still very useful as pass catcher and may have a good season as the Falcons try to get to and win the Super Bowl. He’s going to be a primary option at tight end in most fantasy football drafts and will have another good season.

5. Chris Cooley-Washington Redskins-Depending on Washington’s quarterback situation next season, Cooley may be a hot commodity to some fantasy owners and could easily be one of the first tight ends taken. Like some of the other guys on this list, Cooley has had his fair share of injuries in the past but could have a productive season next year.

Are there any rookie tight ends that could be looked at as fantasy draft prospects? This 2011 NFL Draft’s tight end class was viewed by many experts as being pretty weak and the first tight end selected, Notre Dame’s Kyle Rudolph, wasn’t even drafted until the second round (by the Minnesota Vikings) and he may be the only rookie tight end that get’s a look in fantasy drafts this summer?

Fantasy Football Insider: Who could be the Top Fantasy Wide Receivers in 2011?

The NFL is starting to become much more of a passing league which means that both quarterbacks and wide receivers are starting to become somewhat of a commodity. You were sure to have had good success in your league last year if you had guys like Brandon Lloyd and Dwayne Bowe on your team. You might have also benefited from the productive seasons that Roddy White and Greg Jennings had.

You can expect those four receivers, along with a host of others, to have good seasons in the NFL this year. Sprinkle in some of the rookie wide receiver talent coming into the league this year and it could be a great year for wide receivers.

Of course there are some things to take into consideration when you are drafting a wide receiver. First, you have to know how the quarterback situation is with the team. You can bet that fantasy football owners will take receivers from the Indianapolis Colts first before they look at grabbing receivers from the Minnesota Vikings.

Another thing you have to look at is how much the team passes the ball. It’s true, the NFL is becoming much more of a passing league but there are some teams that struggle when it comes to passing the ball. The Bears are a good example of that. They have great talent at the quarterback position but they have problems going down the field and connecting with receivers thus considerable reducing their numbers.

Finally, you have to look at the injury history of the player. There are some receivers that are very tempting to take but eventually miss time at some point in the season because of an injury. Some receivers are pretty “consistent” when it comes to injuries suffered and those are guys that you will want to stay away from.

So, in eager anticipation of the 2011 season the following is a look at five wide receiver prospects that can be considered some of the top guys heading into the 2011 season. There are also three rookie profiled here and these guys might be able to make an impact on their teams next season and might draw some interest in fantasy drafts.

1. Reggie Wayne-Indianapolis Colts-Wayne has been quarterback Peyton Manning’s favorite target and despite the fact he’s getting older he’s been very effective for the Colts. Fantasy football owners will be looking for Wayne early in the draft and he should be productive next season.

2. Calvin Johnson-Detroit Lions-As long as quarterback Matthew Stafford can stay healthy long enough to help Johnson succeed he could be one of the premier recivers in the NFL. This guy is hard to cover, able to get up and catch high passes and has the potential to be very productive.

3. DeSean Jackson-Philadelphia Eagles-If this guy can stay healthy all season then he could have his best year yet and with Michael Vick now a full time starter (with the possibility of no worries about Kevin Kolb breathing down his neck) he could end up relying on Jackson’s big play ability. This could make Jackson one of the most productive wide receivers next season.

4. Andre Johnson-Houston Texans-There are some people out there that feel that Johnson could be the best player in the NFL and he has meant a lot to the Texans since he arrived in Houston a few seasons ago. If he can throw together a consistent season (and his quarterback can stay healthy and consistent) he could be a top fantasy producer in 2011.

5. Greg Jennings-Green Bay Packers-The Packers have one of the best passing offenses in the NFL and it’s likely that he will have another great fantasy football season. His quarterback, Aaron Rodger, is one of the best in the NFL and Jennings has become one of his favorite targets. He will be one of top targets in fantasy drafts this season.

Here are three rookies that might get some looks in the 2011 fantasy drafts:

1. Julio Jones-Atlanta Falcons-The Falcons gave away the house in order to get Jones, a player that they feel is the final piece in the puzzle to get them to the Super Bowl. Jones will start right away in Atlanta and should have a great season in his first year with the team.

2. Jonathan Baldwin-Kansas City Chiefs-There were few people that thought that taking Baldwin in the first round was a huge mistake but the Chiefs needed someone else to catch the ball aside from Dwayne Bowe so they did what they had to do. It’s possible that Baldwin could come into NFL with a chip on his shoulder and prove his doubters wrong in a big way. Fantasy owners will certainly hope so.

3. Titus Young-Detroit Lions-Yes, he’s on the same team as Calvin Johnson is but Young could be the beneficiary of double coverage on Johnson so therefore he might see a lot of passes thrown his way. As long as Stafford stays healthy then Titus (and Johnson) should have success in the 2011 season.

Fantasy Football Insider: Who could be the Top Fantasy Running Backs in 2011?

The NFL lockout continues as the 2011 NFL Draft comes to a close and we are all now stuck in a state of “football limbo”. There won’t be much movement at all now in the NFL as we wait for things to get settled so teams are going to remain pretty much the same way that the did last year until all of this is settled.

With NFL teams taking to the air much more now than they have in the past it’s safe to say that the role of the running back on an NFL team has diminished. We have seen this happen over the past few years but fantasy football fans should not let themselves worry about the production from running backs.

Running backs are an important part of any fantasy roster and can have huge games which allow fantasy owners to win games and win their leagues.

Some of the top fantasy football running backs during the 2010 season include Houston’s Arian Foster, Cleveland’s Peyton Hills and Tennessee’s Chris Johnson and these players promise to have good seasons in 2011.

But will they be ready for the 2011 season thanks to the lockout? Will the 2011 season even be ready for them?

Let’s assume that the season is going to go on as normal? Which players will be the top running backs in 2011?

We will find out as we look at the top five fantasy running backs heading into the 2011 season.

(Note: This is in no particular order).

1. Chris Johnson-Tennessee Titans-Tennessee’s quarterback situation is going to a little tenuous in 2011 so they will probably try to rely on Johnson much more this coming season. This means big dividends for fantasy football owners that pick Johnson. If you can get him early take him.

2. Peyton Hillis-Cleveland Browns-The Browns will have quarterback Colt McCoy starting to open the season and as they try to ease him into his starting role it’s possible that they could use the running game to help take some of the pressure off of McCoy. Hillis is now a proven running back and will help the Browns have success on the ground next year.

3. Matt Forte-Chicago Bears-The Bears ended up having a lot of success on offense, especially in the second half of the season and he’s a valuable dual threat both running the ball and catching it. The Bears will continue to use him often as a key part of their offense and he should see some strong numbers again in 2011.

4. Adrian Peterson-Minnesota Vikings-Peterson is always an ideal pickup in any fantasy football season and he might be called upon early and often if the Vikings have rookie Christian Ponder as their starting quarterback. Look for him to have a big season in 2011 as long as he can stay healthy and hold onto the ball.

5. Darren McFadden-Oakland Raiders-After a long wait Raiders fans and those fantasy football owners that selected him got what they wanted out of McFadden and being that they have the head coach that was last year’s offensive coordinator coming back he may get even more touches this season and could do even better than he did last season.

There could be a couple rookie running backs that might be worth a mid round look. Guys like New Orleans Saints Mark Ingram and Detroit’s Mikel Leshoure could have good seasons. Keep an eye on these guys as the season progresses as they might be worth a longer look.

Fantasy Football Insider: Who Could be the Top Fantasy Quarterback in 2011?

It’s true, we haven’t seen anything happening in terms of preparations for the 2011 season thanks to the lockout. We can only assume that so far, things are going to be similar to what they were in 2010 and that there isn’t going to be a whole lot of movement in the league this offseason.

If that is indeed the case then it will be much easier figuring out who the top quarterbacks will be in fantasy football next season. Just take a look at those players that finished at the top of the league in fantasy passing last year. They include Philadelphia’s Michael Vick, Indianapolis’ Peyton Manning and New England Patriot Tom Brady.

We know that these teams may not see that much change depending on what happens with this on again off lockout. If there isn’t any free agency which is always possible then the top quarterbacks from last year should remain pretty much the same this year. If there is some kind of free agency then yes things will change.

So ultimately, who will be the top quarterbacks next season? Let’s take a look at those players that should be the top five fantasy quarterbacks in 2011 (in no particular order).

Peyton Manning-Indianapolis Colts-Granted, Manning did end up having a down season last year and that was a direct result of some injuries to his key receivers and the fact that fourth and fifth string players were playing as starters on a regular basis. With good health at the receiver position he should excel this season.

Drew Brees-New Orleans Saints-Brees continues to be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL despite some of the handicaps that he has had at the receiver position. If their defense can keep things at bay on their end then Brees should have a good season and could be either the second or third quarterback taken in most fantasy drafts next year.

Tom Brady-New England Patriots-The Patriots have one of the best offenses in the NFL year in and year out and Brady will be one of the most sought after quarterbacks in fantasy football again next season. He remains a solid option and has the weapons to have yet another good season with New England.

Matt Ryan-Atlanta Falcons-The addition of Julio Jones is going to make the Falcons passing game much better in 2011 and with that Ryan should see an increase in production. The Falcons will be aiming for the Super Bowl this season as they are close to reaching their goal so look for a lot of good numbers out of Ryan.

Michael Vick-Philadelphia Eagles-Vick won’t have to worry about someone trying to take his job (i.e. Kevin Kolb) as he has that starting job locked up and ready to go. Look for him to have another productive season in 2011 and if the team has their weapons put into place and healthy he could be hard to stop next season.

So keep your eye on these quarterbacks as they should be the top players that you should have interest in heading into the 2011 Fantasy Football season.

Fantasy Football Insider: What if there isn’t Free Agency

Those who like to play fantasy football and are into it heavily enjoy taking time out to watch what happens in free agency. Players move from team to team and can either move into a good situation or into a bad one. What happens when your favorite fantasy player moves from one team to another? There are a lot of things to consider.

You have to consider the situation that the player is going into. If it’s a wide receiver, does the player’s new team pass the ball a lot? Do they have a good quarterback? Imagine taking Reggie Wayne out of Indianapolis and putting him somewhere like Oakland. His fantasy value could easily go down because of the quarterback situation in Oakland.

But right now, we are dealing with the fact that there is no free agency thanks to the lack of an agreement between the NFL’s owners and its players. Will there be free agency this year or is it not going to happen? Let’s see what not having free agency would do to your fantasy team in 2011 and what effect it might have on the quality of play both in the NFL and in fantasy football.

Free agency is such an important part of a team’s rebuilding that it has become a pretty important event for teams. Just look at what the Bear’s did last season. They managed to get one of the top pass rushers in Julius Peppers and it made a big difference for them on defense. They were able to get some pressure on the passer and their defense stepped up and helped lead them to the NFC Championship.

Sometimes one player can make all the difference or even just a few guys in a few of the right places can make things better. Free agency works very well for some teams and can help them get to the next level and that’s either out the basement or into the playoffs while for others it can be detrimental.

Fantasy owners keep track of which players are going where and how it is felt that the player will affect the team’s performance and how it’s going to affect the player’s performance. Guys who were previously very productive could win up in unproductive situations and their value could plummet causing them to fall far in fantasy drafts.

If there is no free agency then there will be extremely limited player movement meaning that your favorite fantasy prospects (and those that would have been free agents this season) are going to stay right where they were last year (depending on how the new contract comes out). This could be good or bad depending on who your player is and what team they are on.

No free agency may make it much easier for fantasy football players to do their research much better and in a much shorter time because there are fewer moves to track. But, if there are those out there that were crossing their fingers in hopes that their favorite fantasy player may end up going to a better team and a better situation, you may have to wait a while.

So fantasy football fans should be wary of what happens if there is no free agency this off season. You may want to move away from some of your favorite fantasy prospects (those guys that are stuck on the same team as they were last year and failed to produce adequate numbers) and look for other guys that you feel may have productive seasons. It may be a little more difficult but in the end it will pay off.

2011 NFL Draft Top Fantasy Prospects: The Tight Ends

Ask anyone who is familiar this year’s 2011 NFL Draft and they will tell you that the tight end group coming out isn’t as strong as it’s been in recent seasons. There is clearly little depth all the way through the group so it’s going to be slim pickings for NFL teams in the draft this year.

Right now, it doesn’t look like this draft is going to have many, if any, tight ends that you may want to pay attention to when your fantasy football draft comes up in a few months. The tight end position may not be one of the most productive fantasy positions in fantasy football but a good tight can help you win games and can sometimes help lead you to a big victory.

Rookie tight ends are overlooked considerably in a fantasy draft because they end up being the biggest “unknowns” when it comes to a fantasy draft. It’s hard to know what the team that drafts them is going to do with them when they come into the NFL. Are they going to use them as a pass catcher or a blocker? Will they start right away? Will they even make the team?

All of this makes it difficult for any fantasy owner to validate a pick for a rookie tight end. And in this year’s draft, with no clear cut and “solid” talent at the tight end position at the top fantasy owners might decide to forgo drafting one and wait to see what they do.

As mentioned, there are some factors that go into trying to figure out if there is a rookie tight end worth taking. The whole blocker versus pass catcher debate is one thing that you would have to consider when looking at a rookie tight end as you would the situation that they are going into. A team that utilizes its tight ends a lot in the passing game, such as the New England Patriots is the ideal spot for a rookie to land whereas looking at a tight end that may end up with the Chicago Bears could be a waste of valuable research time.

You must also look at the team that the player is going to and what their quarterback situation is and how often they pass the ball. As we discussed with the wide receivers, it’s important to now just what the tight end is walking into in terms of who the starting quarterback is, how well that quarterback has played and just how often he throws the ball to his tight ends. Obviously if it’s a tight friendly offense then it wouldn’t be a bad idea to look at situation and consider a late round flier on the prospect.

As mentioned, this draft isn’t going to feature a lot of depth and talent at the tight end position. The following is a list of the top six tight ends in the 2011 NFL Draft with the first one thought to go somewhere in the middle to late second round:

1. Kyle Rudolph-Notre Dame
2. Luke Stocker-Tennessee
3. Lance Kendricks-Wisconsin
4. Jordan Cameron-USC
5. D.J. Williams-Arkansas

Rudolph will easily be the first tight end selected and could be someone that you would want to keep an eye on in your fantasy draft depending on where he lands. But remember, he spent all of last season injured so he might be a risky prospect in your fantasy draft.

What is the best advice for drafting a rookie tight end this fantasy football season? Wait. With no clear cut standout appears to be coming out at the position in this draft so keep an eye on these guys as the season goes on and see if there is someone that you might want to pick up on waivers. It’s a great idea to let these guys play a couple games before putting one of them on your roster.

2011 NFL Draft Top Fantasy Prospects: Wide Receivers

With rookie running backs being the easiest position to draft a rookie in for your fantasy draft wide receivers, aside from quarterbacks, may be the most difficult. There have been some rookie wide receivers that had great years right out of the gate (remember Anquan Boldin’s first season in the NFL) while others, such as Oakland’s Darius Heyward Bey struggled in their first NFL season and anyone who took them in their fantasy draft are probably still upset at the decision.

If you are thinking about taking a rookie wide receiver in your fantasy draft this summer you may want to consider several of the factors presented in this article before making any decision on who you would want to draft.

Some of the things that you would want to look at before drafting a rookie wide receiver include the most obvious and that’s what team he is going to. A team that passes the ball a lot would be idea situation for any wide receiver so if a wide receiver that you are interested is playing for a team like the Indianapolis Colts or the New Orleans Saints then you may want to consider drafting a wide receiver in your fantasy draft.

If the receiver goes to a team that struggles throwing the ball (But wants to throw it more because they are drafting a top of the line wide receiver) then you may want to think about drafting the player for a while before actually doing so.

For example, the Washington Redskins are showing some interest in both Georgia’s A.J. Green and Alabama’s Julio Jones. Think about their quarterback situation. No one knows if Donavan McNabb is going to be there next year and if they don’t bring in another quarterback that leaves Rex Grossman to throw the ball to any new wide receiver that they bring in.

That is not a good scenario for any rookie wide receiver.

With that, you need to check the quarterback situation for the team that your target rookie is going to. This naturally is a strong consideration when making a decision. You can have a team that has a quarterback that likes to throw the ball but doesn’t complete many of those passes. You can also have a quarterback that’s a great passer but doesn’t stay healthy enough to make a difference during the season.

Knowing the situation that your target receiver is going into will only help to make sure that you don’t make a mistake by wasting a valuable fantasy draft pick.

One final thing to look at is what role the receiver will play in the new offense. Most receivers taken in the first to third rounds are intended to be starters or at least solid contributors during their first season with their team. If your guy is poised to be a starter then it would be much easier to draft him as opposed to someone who isn’t going to be a clear cut starter.

The 2011 NFL Draft is not that deep in wide receiver talent so you may want to keep your concerns of drafting a rookie wide receiver to one of the six following players who are rated as the top six wide receivers in the upcoming draft:

1. A.J. Green-Georgia
2. Julio Jones-Alabama
3. Jonathan Baldwin-Pittsburgh
4. Torrey Smith-Maryland
5. Leonard Hankerson-Miami (Fl)
6. Randall Cobb-Kentucky

Green and Jones are assured of going in the first round while it’s possible that Baldwin and Smith could get drafted in the bottom half of the first round. Green and Jones could be solid fantasy draft picks while you may want to wait on some of the other guys and see how they start before picking them up off of waivers as the season goes on.

So keep an eye on these younger wide receivers to see how they do and then take into consideration some of the factors laid out here so that can you see if you want to draft a rookie wide receiver or wait for them to do something before picking them up on waivers.

Remember that you have to do your research on these rookies if you want to have success on your fantasy team.

2011 NFL Draft Top Fantasy Prospects: Running Backs

You may not be looking at what’s going on prior to the 2011 NFL Draft that much right now but aside from all of the problems with the players and the owners there is some real work going on. NFL teams are evaluating those players that could be drafted and are trying to get an idea of which players appeal to them and what they might be interested in.

Running backs have generally been difficult to scout when it comes to the NFL Draft because you really don’t know what will happen with them until they land with the team that drafts them. If they go to a team that uses a two back system, their value and ability can be watered down and could make them less desirable to fantasy owners that are looking for a running back to be a big time producer on their fantasy team.

Rookie running backs can start out faster than other rookie players such as quarterbacks and running backs because they don’t have as much to learn and they can be plugged in right away. Rookie running backs could be attractive on teams that run the ball a lot and so it’s easier to take a rookie runner than a rookie at another position.

This draft isn’t that deep in terms of talent at the running back position but there might be some guys at the top that could have successful seasons in their first NFL year.

Listed below are the top six guys at the running back position in the 2011 NFL Draft.

1. Mark Ingram-Alabama
2. Mikel Leshoure-Illinois
3. Ryan Williams-Virginia Tech
4. DeMarco Murray-Oklahoma
5. Jordan Todman-Connecticut
6. Kendall Hunter-Oklahoma State

Ingram appears to be a lock to go in the first round and if that’s the case then he will be a starter right away barring any kind of injury. Depending on what kind of system he ends up in it’s possible that he could have a pretty good year in 2011 and would be worth a look in your fantasy draft.

Some of the other guys, especially Leshoure could end up some time during their rookie seasons and could be pretty productive.

There are a few things to look for when you look at drafting a rookie running back in your fantasy league. The first thing to look for is what team they are on. Are they on a team that likes to run the ball a lot? Is he on a passing team that likes to throw the ball to its running backs often? Those factors have to be considered.

You also need to look at whether or not the rookie running back is going to split carriers with another running back. This will have a huge impact on any decision that you make about drafting him because he won’t have as many carries (or points) as running backs in a one back system. If that rookie lands in two back system similar to what the Carolina Panthers had with both Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams then they may have some luck in their first season and would be a possibility in any fantasy draft.

Finally, you need to look at the injury history of the player. If they have been injured often in college it’s probably best to stay away from them in their first year just in case. You don’t want to spend a pick on a guy that’s going to get injured right out of the gate.

So rookie running backs in fantasy football do remain somewhat of an unknown but they are definitely worth a look but remember to look for those things discussed above so that you don’t make a mistake when drafting rookie running backs, if you choose to do so, in your fantasy draft.

2011 NFL Draft Top Fantasy Prospects: Quarterbacks

Despite all of the problems with the NFL’s collective bargaining agreement, there is still going to be a draft this year and if there is no agreement signed by the time the draft takes place then it could be a very interesting draft.

All of this has a direct affect on what happens on your fantasy team in 2011. The draft will give you additional options to stock your team with and there could end up being a breakout star or two in these groups.

The first position that we will look at is the quarterback position. While many may think that first year quarterbacks aren’t ideal to draft after watching what Sam Bradford did last year, it might be a good idea to either draft a quarterback late in your fantasy draft or keep an eye on one in case you need to pick up a second starter later on in the season.

Listed here are the top six quarterbacks in the 2011 NFL Draft (not in any particular order):

1. Blaine Gabbert
2. Cameron Newton
3. Ryan Mallett
4. Jake Locker
5. Ricky Stanzi
6. Colin Kapernick

It’s a safe bet that all of these players will be drafted and the higher they go the better chance they will have to play.

The most NFL ready quarterbacks coming into the draft are Blaine Gabbert and Jake Locker. Both have the skill to make an instant impact on the NFL team that they end up with especially if there is an opportunity for them to start or come into the lineup later on in the year to play.

Of course drafting or adding one of these quarterbacks without knowing their situation going into the NFL (especially without knowing what team they are going to) is always a risk but it never hurts to keep an eye on some of these guys as they may end up being a good second option on your fantasy team next season.

Watch those quarterbacks that are taken in the first round because they will have the best chance to start. They will most likely land with a team that is either trying to find and groom a new quarterback (such as the Seattle Seahawks or the Washington Redskins) or they could come to a team that needs a quarterback right away (like the Minnesota Vikings).

Watch training camps to see which rookie quarterbacks have the best chance to start and then make your picks carefully in your fantasy draft (if you decide to take a rookie quarterback). Remember that rookies struggle (with some exceptions) during their first year so drafting them may not always be a good option.

Still, keep an eye on these quarterbacks next year because if there is an injury or if they are handed the reigns and could possibly land as a good second option on your fantasy team.

Fantasy Football Outlook: How the 2011 NFL Draft Affects Next Year

If you are as avid a football fan as I am then you have probably been paying very close attention to what’s happening during these final few weeks leading up to the 2011 NFL Draft. The NFL’s Scouting Combine just wrapped up and we now have a little bit better idea of which players might go where and at what position.

If you tuned into the combine, you may have also seen the future of your fantasy football team. You may have seen some of the skill position players out there trying to make a name for themselves in front of NFL scouts, coaches and general managers and it’s a good bet that most of the guys that you saw will somehow affect the way that you draft your fantasy team from next year forward.

You can bet that some of those players at the quarterback, running back, wide receiver and tight end positions will be of some value this coming season but just where does a person select a rookie (in their fantasy draft). There are many of us who sit and wonder if we should even take a rookie in our fantasy drafts.

There have been some rookies in recent history that have impressed right out of the gate. Some more recent productive fantasy players include the St. Louis Rams Sam Bradford, Dallas’ Dez Bryant and just a few years ago Baltimore (then Arizona) wide receiver Anquan Boldin.

Selecting a rookie early in your draft is almost always a huge gamble unless that rookie is guaranteed to start on a team that has a great offense and can help that rookie start out with success right away. Running backs and wide receivers that walk into good situations can excel and could be worthy of a high draft pick. Quarterbacks, even if they are stars coming out of college and are heading into good situations in the NFL (as starters) shouldn’t be considered until later on in your fantasy drafts.

So if you are already planning for your fantasy draft next season (despite the fact that the NFL and the Players Association still haven’t come to an agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement) you might want to consider keeping an eye on some of the talent that will be coming out in the draft this year and think about it more as your fantasy draft gets closer.

In the coming days and weeks we will take a deeper look at some of the prospects that will be coming into the NFL through the NFL Draft and which players you should be interested in and which ones you should stay away from.

Big Johnson Fantasy Football Draft

This is my first draft of the season. I was asked to fill in at the last minute. Quarterbacks score a bit better than usual in this league and there are a ton of yardage bonuses but other wise it is a typical Non-PPR league.

Round: 1

(1) Pool Boys - Chris Johnson RB
(2) Splash Cash - Adrian Peterson RB
(3) Cabana Boys - Drew Brees QB
(4) Food Pimps - Aaron Rodgers QB
(5) Rock Stars - Maurice Jones-Drew RB
(6) PV Bonedaddys - Peyton Manning QB
** (7) Golden Gaters - Ray Rice RB
(8) Polka Kings - Andre Johnson WR
(9) Brews Bros. - Michael Turner RB
(10) Deep Sixers - Rashard Mendenhall RB

Round: 2

(11) Deep Sixers - Matt Schaub QB
(12) Brews Bros. - Tom Brady QB
(13) Polka Kings - Randy Moss WR
** (14) Golden Gaters - Frank Gore RB
(15) PV Bonedaddys - Ryan Mathews RB
(16) Rock Stars - Ryan Grant RB
(17) Food Pimps - Steven Jackson RB
(18) Cabana Boys - DeAngelo Williams RB
(19) Splash Cash - Roddy White WR
(20) Pool Boys - Reggie Wayne WR

Round: 3
(21) Pool Boys - Shonn Greene RB
(22) Splash Cash - Miles Austin WR
(23) Cabana Boys - Larry Fitzgerald WR
(24) Food Pimps - Beanie Wells RB
(25) Rock Stars - Cedric Benson RB
(26) PV Bonedaddys - Arian Foster RB
** (27) Golden Gaters - DeSean Jackson WR
(28) Polka Kings - Pierre Thomas RB
(29) Brews Bros. - Calvin Johnson WR
(30) Deep Sixers - Brandon Marshall WR

Round: 4
(31) Deep Sixers - Greg Jennings WR
(32) Brews Bros. - Tony Romo QB
(33) Polka Kings - Philip Rivers QB
** (34) Golden Gaters - Jamaal Charles RB
(35) PV Bonedaddys - Hakeem Nicks WR
(36) Rock Stars - Brett Favre QB
(37) Food Pimps - LeSean McCoy RB
(38) Cabana Boys - Knowshon Moreno RB
(39) Splash Cash - Marques Colston WR
(40) Pool Boys - Matt Ryan QB

Round: 5

(41) Pool Boys - Ronnie Brown RB
(42) Splash Cash - Antonio Gates TE
(43) Cabana Boys - Joseph Addai RB
(44) Food Pimps - Anquan Boldin WR
(45) Rock Stars - Steve Smith WR
(46) PV Bonedaddys - Jermichael Finley TE
** (47) Golden Gaters - Joe Flacco QB
(48) Polka Kings - Jahvid Best RB
(49) Brews Bros. - Matt Forte RB
(50) Deep Sixers - Jonathan Stewart RB

Round: 6

(51) Deep Sixers - Michael Crabtree WR
(52) Brews Bros. - Dallas Clark TE
(53) Polka Kings - Bernard Berrian WR
** (54) Golden Gaters - Chad Ochocinco WR
(55) PV Bonedaddys - Clinton Portis RB
(56) Rock Stars - Jason Witten TE
(57) Food Pimps - Vernon Davis TE
(58) Cabana Boys - Steve Smith WR
(59) Splash Cash - Felix Jones RB
(60) Pool Boys - C.J. Spiller RB

Round: 7

(61) Pool Boys - Tony Gonzalez TE
(62) Splash Cash - Dwayne Bowe WR
(63) Cabana Boys - Hines Ward WR
(64) Food Pimps - Justin Forsett RB
(65) Rock Stars - Jay Cutler QB
(66) PV Bonedaddys - Mike Wallace WR
** (67) Golden Gaters - Malcom Floyd WR
(68) Polka Kings - Ahmad Bradshaw RB
(69) Brews Bros. - Donald Driver WR
(70) Deep Sixers - Thomas Jones RB

Round: 8

(71) Deep Sixers - Eli Manning QB
(72) Brews Bros. - Jerome Harrison RB
(73) Polka Kings - Jets D/ST D/ST
** (74) Golden Gaters - LaDainian Tomlinson RB
(75) PV Bonedaddys - Pierre Garcon WR
(76) Rock Stars - Terrell Owens WR
(77) Food Pimps - Mike Sims-Walker WR
(78) Cabana Boys - Kevin Kolb QB
(79) Splash Cash - Michael Bush RB
(80) Pool Boys - Carson Palmer QB

Round: 9

(81) Pool Boys - Braylon Edwards WR
(82) Splash Cash - Wes Welker WR
(83) Cabana Boys - Ricky Williams RB
(84) Food Pimps - Matthew Stafford QB
(85) Rock Stars - Marion Barber RB
(86) PV Bonedaddys - Donovan McNabb QB
** (87) Golden Gaters - Brandon Jacobs RB
(88) Polka Kings - Ben Roethlisberger QB
(89) Brews Bros. - Jeremy Maclin WR
(90) Deep Sixers - Montario Hardesty RB

Round: 10

(91) Deep Sixers - Brent Celek TE
(92) Brews Bros. - Cadillac Williams RB
(93) Polka Kings - Reggie Bush RB
** (94) Golden Gaters - Devin Aromashodu WR
(95) PV Bonedaddys - Vikings D/ST D/ST
(96) Rock Stars - Santana Moss WR
(97) Food Pimps - Visanthe Shiancoe TE
(98) Cabana Boys - Kellen Winslow TE
(99) Splash Cash - Chad Henne QB
(100) Pool Boys - 49ers D/ST D/ST

Round: 11

(101) Pool Boys - Dez Bryant WR
(102) Splash Cash - Alex Smith QB
(103) Cabana Boys - Vincent Jackson WR
(104) Food Pimps - T.J. Houshmandzadeh WR
(105) Rock Stars - Eagles D/ST D/ST
(106) PV Bonedaddys - Fred Taylor RB
** (107) Golden Gaters - Chris Cooley TE
(108) Polka Kings - Laurent Robinson WR
(109) Brews Bros. - Percy Harvin WR
(110) Deep Sixers - Chester Taylor RB

Round: 12

(111) Deep Sixers - Santonio Holmes WR
(112) Brews Bros. - Fred Jackson RB
(113) Polka Kings - Jermaine Gresham TE
** (114) Golden Gaters - Ryan Torain RB
(115) PV Bonedaddys - Jabar Gaffney WR
(116) Rock Stars - Lee Evans WR
(117) Food Pimps - Steelers D/ST D/ST
(118) Cabana Boys - Nate Kaeding K
(119) Splash Cash - Donald Brown RB
(120) Pool Boys - Legedu Naanee WR

Round: 13

(121) Pool Boys - Stephen Gostkowski K
(122) Splash Cash - Derrick Mason WR
(123) Cabana Boys - Packers D/ST D/ST
(124) Food Pimps - Ryan Longwell K
(125) Rock Stars - Tim Hightower RB
(126) PV Bonedaddys - Willis McGahee RB
** (127) Golden Gaters - Robert Meachem WR
(128) Polka Kings - Devery Henderson WR
(129) Brews Bros. - Steve Breaston WR
(130) Deep Sixers - Johnny Knox WR

Round: 14

(131) Deep Sixers - Garrett Hartley K
(132) Brews Bros. - Steve Slaton RB
(133) Polka Kings - Tashard Choice RB
** (134) Golden Gaters - Jason Campbell QB
(135) PV Bonedaddys - Chris Chambers WR
(136) Rock Stars - Rob Bironas K
(137) Food Pimps - Josh Morgan WR
(138) Cabana Boys - Laurence Maroney RB
(139) Splash Cash - Darren Sproles RB
(140) Pool Boys - Heath Miller TE

Round: 15

(141) Pool Boys - Early Doucet WR
(142) Splash Cash - Owen Daniels TE
(143) Cabana Boys - Nate Burleson WR
(144) Food Pimps - Austin Collie WR
(145) Rock Stars - Greg Olsen TE
(146) PV Bonedaddys - Bernard Scott RB
** (147) Golden Gaters - Cowboys D/ST D/ST
(148) Polka Kings - Mason Crosby K
(149) Brews Bros. - Darren McFadden RB
(150) Deep Sixers - Saints D/ST D/ST

Round: 16

(151) Deep Sixers - Mark Sanchez QB
(152) Brews Bros. - Ravens D/ST D/ST
(153) Polka Kings - Leon Washington RB
** (154) Golden Gaters - Dexter McCluster WR
(155) PV Bonedaddys - David Akers K
(156) Rock Stars - Matt Prater K
(157) Food Pimps - Kenny Britt WR
(158) Cabana Boys - Marshawn Lynch RB
(159) Splash Cash - Giants D/ST D/ST
(160) Pool Boys - Joe Nedney K

Round: 17

(161) Pool Boys - Patriots D/ST D/ST
(162) Splash Cash - Lawrence Tynes K
(163) Cabana Boys - Zach Miller TE
(164) Food Pimps - Julius Jones RB
(165) Rock Stars - Jerricho Cotchery WR
(166) PV Bonedaddys - Kevin Walter WR
** (167) Golden Gaters - Rob Gronkowski TE
(168) Polka Kings - Dustin Keller TE
(169) Brews Bros. - John Carlson TE
(170) Deep Sixers - Sidney Rice WR

Round: 18

(171) Deep Sixers - Julian Edelman WR
(172) Brews Bros. - Bengals D/ST D/ST
(173) Polka Kings - Mohamed Massaquoi WR
** (174) Golden Gaters - Neil Rackers K
(175) PV Bonedaddys - Correll Buckhalter RB
(176) Rock Stars - Roy E. Williams WR
(177) Food Pimps - Mike Bell RB
(178) Cabana Boys - Vince Young QB
(179) Splash Cash - Toby Gerhart RB
(180) Pool Boys - Jacoby Jones WR

Round: 19

(181) Pool Boys - Kevin Smith RB
(182) Splash Cash - Jason Snelling RB
(183) Cabana Boys - Joey Galloway WR
(184) Food Pimps - Adam Vinatieri K
(185) Rock Stars - Matt Cassel QB
(186) PV Bonedaddys - Devin Hester WR
** (187) Golden Gaters - Colts D/ST D/ST
(188) Polka Kings - Dan Carpenter K
(189) Brews Bros. - Jeff Reed K
(190) Deep Sixers - Jason Hanson K

Round: 20

(191) Deep Sixers - Larry Johnson RB
(192) Brews Bros. - David Buehler K
(193) Polka Kings - Sammy Morris RB
** (194) Golden Gaters - Robbie Gould K
(195) PV Bonedaddys - Chargers D/ST D/ST
(196) Rock Stars - Mario Manningham WR
(197) Food Pimps - Redskins D/ST D/ST
(198) Cabana Boys - Jay Feely K
(199) Splash Cash - Kyle Orton QB
(200) Pool Boys - Jordan Shipley WR

Are the New England Patriots in Trouble?

The Patriots have a roster loaded with veterans. They also have some significant problems. They have no running game. They have players working to overcome significant injuries at important positions. Their most important player needs to be re-signed soon or they may offend him straight out of town.
Lawrence Maroney and assorted over-the-hill complements have gotten the job done on the ground. Most of that thanks to the passing game doing most of the offensive work. Maroney is promising, now, after four disappointing seasons, to be a rougher and tougher runner. He had his best season in 2009, but the other backs on the team received more combined carries.

Even as Maroney is vowing to do less "Dancing with the Stars" and hit the line faster and harder, other backs are gaining favor with the coaching staff. Head Coach Bill Belichick praised the work of third-year running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

"I think he's improved over the last two years significantly," Belichick said. "...Benny works hard and he's tough. He's very professional and he really takes his job seriously. When you tell him to improve in something, he'll work very diligently to do it."

Belichick said that if Green-Ellis continues to work hard and impress the coaching staff, he could receive a greater portion of the carries. Green-Ellis has a career 3.9 yards-per-carry average which suggests that he could be effective as the primary running back, if not particularly special. Last season, the Patriots ranked 12th in the NFL with 1,921 rushing yards and sixth with 19 rushing touchdowns.

Meanwhile the offensive line is a mess. Left Guard Logan Mankins is unsigned and sitting out a contract dispute with the Patriots. This situation is made worse because Makins projected replacement, Nick Kaczur is out with a serious back injury. Sebastian Vollmer is supposed to fill the right tackle position that Kaczur vacated. This is not good for the running game or the passing game.

Quarterback Tom Brady is already annoyed because the Patriots have refused to pay him like the top quarterback he is. A season of increased pressure, contact and sacks is not likely to make him feel better about sticking around. In addition he has a receiving core getting older and coming off major injuries. Just because he reported to camp does not mean he's happy.

This is a team in transition and that makes it a dangerous team for fantasy owners.

CONTRACT NEGOTIATION STYLE FANTASY FOOTBALL

SIDELINE OWNER PIONEERS CONTRACT NEGOTIATION STYLE FANTASY FOOTBALL
Ability to Offer Multi-Tiered Contract Structures Simulates Owner Experience

On Thursday of last week, Sideline Owner, a subsidiary of Gruyo Sports, LLC, introduced the first Fantasy Football game that allows fantasy players to take charge of all aspects of running a sports franchise. Until now, the more sophisticated fantasy player who follows not just what the players do on the field but also what the management does in the front office was left with an unsatisfying fantasy experience. Sideline Owner Fantasy Football changes that with ingenious features that simulate the experience of owning a sports franchise.

The Sideline Owner model is based on a contract negotiations format in which league owners woo players by offering competing contracts in a free-form negotiation process. Salary terms may span up to five years and are broken down into guaranteed and non-guaranteed money. Contract values are determined by a Standardized Contract Value (SCV) Calculator powered by SO’s proprietary algorithms.

The benefit of contract negotiations as a means of acquiring players is clear to most fantasy sports veterans. Whereas basic fantasy games are based on an unrealistic draft or a simplistic auction, contract negotiations are fair and skill-based; allow fantasy players to play the front office and the field; and accurately reflect how real-life owners and GMs build teams.

The nature of Sideline Owner’s game requires novel interfaces for ‘agent’ capabilities, financial information, and live negotiations which are presented in a streamlined and easily navigable manner.

Aaron Rogers Profile by Bob Lung

AARON RODGERS – CONSISTENCY PROFILE

Aaron Rodgers has made folks in Green Bay quickly forget about Brett Favre. He's also made fantasy owners quickly remember something Brett didn't have....consistency!

3 YEAR HISTORY

Without question, Rodgers has easily proven himself worthy to be included in the top tier of fantasy quarterbacks in both overall points and most importantly, in his consistency. He has ranked first and second in his first two FULL seasons as a starter and third and first in consistency rankings.

		Total FP	FPPG	RANK	QG	GP	QSR	RANK
Aaron Rodgers	2007	17.25	8.63	-	1	2	50%	-
	2008	342.60	21.41	2	13	16	81%	3
	2009	391.10	24.44	1	14	16	88%	1

CONSISTENCY VERSUS DEFENSES

Wow, talk about consistent consistency! Check out Rodger's Home and Away Quality Success Rate (QSR)! Both are exactly 82%! If there's a slight issue in his consistency, it's his Home vs Average defenses where he's only earning a 50% QSR. His fantasy points per game of 17.03 is right at the Quality Game Factor, but he does show inconsistency there. Keep an eye on those games this season.

	Good Defenses (Top 10)				Average Defenses				Bad Defenses (Bottom 10)				Total
	FPG	QG	GP	QSR	FPG	QG	GP	QSR	FPG	QG	GP	QSR	FPG	QG	GP	QSR
Home	23.98	6	6	100%	17.03	3	6	50%	23.61	5	5	100%	21.42	14	17	82%
Away	20.54	4	6	67%	16.96	3	4	75%	28.03	7	7	100%	22.78	14	17	82%
												Total	22.10	28	34	82%

2010 HISTORICAL FORECAST

Aaron's historical forecast is not very bright for the 2010 season. His forecast of 317.74 points is way below his 391.10 points in 2009. A tougher schedule in 2010 certainly plays a huge part of this as Rodger's schedule has only two games versus a Bad defense (Lions) all season. He has nine games versus Average defenses (his worst scoring average) and five games versus a Good defense. While I still love Aaron Rodgers as a top tier quarterback, this supports my reason for choosing a better value in rounds five or six in your drafts this season.

				ACTUAL				LOCATION/DEFENSE				TOTAL				17.030
WEEK		H/A	DEF	FPG	QG	GP	QSR	FPG	QG	GP	QSR	FPG	QG	GP	QSR	QGE
1	@Phi	A	AVG	-	-	-	0%	16.96	3	4	75%	16.96	3	4	75%	0
2	Buf	H	AVG	-	-	-	0%	17.03	3	6	50%	17.03	3	6	50%	1
3	@Chi	A	AVG	13.40	1	2	50%	16.96	3	4	75%	15.77	4	6	67%	0
4	Det	H	BAD	26.05	2	2	100%	23.61	5	5	100%	24.31	7	7	100%	1
5	@Was	A	GOOD				0%	20.54	4	6	67%	20.54	4	6	67%	1
6	Mia	H	AVG				0%	17.03	3	6	50%	17.03	3	6	50%	1
7	Min	H	GOOD	27.00	2	2	100%	23.98	6	6	100%	24.74	8	8	100%	1
8	@NYJ	A	GOOD	-	-	-	0%	20.54	4	6	67%	20.54	4	6	67%	1
9	Dal	H	GOOD	27.22	2	2	100%	23.98	6	6	100%	24.79	8	8	100%	1
10	BYE
11	@Min	A	GOOD	17.00	1	2	50%	20.54	4	6	67%	19.66	5	8	63%	1
12	@Atl	A	AVG	27.05	1	1	100%	16.96	3	4	75%	18.98	4	5	80%	1
13	SF	H	AVG	26.50	1	1	100%	17.03	3	6	50%	18.38	4	7	57%	1
14	@Det	A	BAD	29.40	2	2	100%	28.03	7	7	100%	28.33	9	9	100%	1
15	@NE	A	AVG	-	-	-	0%	16.96	3	4	75%	16.96	3	4	75%	0
16	NYG	H	AVG	-	-	-	0%	17.03	3	6	50%	17.03	3	6	50%	1
17	Chi	H	AVG	16.17	1	2	50%	16.96	3	4	75%	16.70	4	6	67%	0
											Total	317.74	76	102	75%	12

Questions or comments? Feel free to visit www.bigguyfantasysports.com or email me at bob@bigguyfantasysports.com and I’ll be more than happy to answer your questions.