I'm a Fraud!

I'm very embarrassed to admit it, but I recently went against everything this blog stands for. I was picking in my fantasy football league at work, and I was just too weak to pass up Roddy White in the fifth round. Several receivers rated below (worse than) him had already been selected when it was my turn. In all honesty, he was a steal at the place I got him in my draft. Still, I feel sick!

I drafted a Falcon. The Falcons Suck!!! How could I do this? I've beating myself up over this for a few days, and all I can come up with is that I was greedy.

We give a nice trophy to the fantasy football winner every year, and it was right there in front of me...just taunting me as I was up to make my selection. I could have taken a less proven wide-receiver, but I turned my back on all of my principles just for the chance to win a stupid trophy.

I've tried to make myself feel better by saying, "at least I didn't take Michael Turner or Matt Ryan", but I know I'm just letting myself off easy there. I should be ashamed of myself. Maybe I'll trade him. But then I'd still be benefitting from the speculation that a Falcon might actually live up to their potential. How many Falcons can you think of that have actually lived up to their potential in the NFL?

I'll understand if you want to bash me for my cowardice. I deserve it.

I apologize if I've let you down.

"What the hell is Brett Favre Doing Here?"

By now, I'm sure you've heard that Brett Favre has signed a two year deal with the Minnesota Vikings. Personally, I never believed him three weeks ago when he said he wasn't coming back, but still, I guess this is newsworthy. What it means to the NFC South is very little, considering the fact that there's now way that the Vikings will compete for a playoff wildcard spot this year, and they only play one team from the division. Sure, they could make the playoffs, but they'll have to win the North to do that. I'd be willing to bet just about anything that the wildcards will come out of the South or the East again this year.

The one team in the division that will face Favre this year is the Panthers. Great news for Carolina fans...they don't play them until late December. That means that Favre will either be banged up and on the bench by then, or he'll be tired and throwing tons of INTs. Still, the Vikings were able to beat the Panthers last year without a solid quarterback even on the roster.

I'll definitely pick Carolina to win this game, I just hope they pick up a veteran defensive tackle before then.

Carolina looked rough at times in their first preseason game on Monday Night Football this week. It looks like Nick Hayden just won't be the guy to fill the hole at defensive tackle. He was getting pushed around like he was some high school player out there. Granted, the Giants have a strong offensive line, but still...that performance was a little ridiculous. I did however really like what I saw from linebacker J Leman. He could turn out to be a solid special-teamer for Carolina.

On another note from that Panthers/Giants game, I really liked what Coach Gruden was able to bring to the broadcast booth. I'm pretty sure someone told him to talk more during the games, because last week he seemed very nervous, while this week he wouldn't shut up. I especially liked when he called DeAngelo Williams the NFL's best running back.

I enjoy the football knowledge he brings to a broadcast, and he just reminds me of how much I couldn't stand listening to Tony Kornheiser. I do enjoy PTI, I just don't want to hear about American Idol while watching Monday Night Football.

Fantasy Rankings: Quarterbacks

Deciding when to take a quarterback is pretty difficult in most leagues. Most fantasy draft tips suggest that picking a running back is the way to go with your first two picks. I actually disagree.

If you can pick up one of the top four quarterbacks this year, I'd definitely go that route before taking a middle-of-the road running back. The reason is because lots of running backs fit into the middle-of-the road category, and if you miss out on one guy, you'll probably be able to get someone fairly comparable in the next round. With the top-end quarterbacks, the points are just too hard to make up if you pass on them. For instance, last year, only five other quarterbacks scored within 100 points of Drew Brees (in my Yahoo league). Also, the fantasy team with the most successful quarterback has won my league, each of the last four years.

Then again, my league gives six points for a passing touchdown. Still, you should consider at least my top four guys earlier than the "expert" lists might suggest.

This is my QB list for 2009. Picking up a backup is necessary, so I'll list 24 (helpful for leagues of 12). As always, my list was made by looking at projections and last year's fantasy totals.

1. Drew Brees

2. Tom Brady

3. Peyton Manning

4. Aaron Rodgers

5. Phillip Rivers

6. Kurt Warner

7. Donovan McNabb

8. Tony Romo

9. Jay Cutler

10. Eli Manning

11. Carson Palmer

12. Matt Cassel

13. Matt Shaub

14. Matt Ryan

15. Jake Delhomme

16. Chad Pennington

17. David Garrard

18. Trent Edwards

19. Ben Roethlisberger

20. Kyle Orton

21. Jason Campbell

22. Matt Hasselbeck

23. Kerry Collins

24. Joe Flacco

Other backups to watch: Brady Quinn, Sage Rosenfels, Matt Stafford)

Fantasy Rankings: Running Backs

This is the big one. RB is the most important position for almost all fantasy leagues. Who is going to be this year's LT? Who is going to be this year's DeAngelo Williams. One of those guys was taken as a first pick in most leagues, while the other was picked as a bench player. LT was sort of a let-down, while Williams had more fantasy points than any other RB last year.

It's tough, but fun!

Here's my list of RBs for 2009. As always, I made my list by looking at "expert" opinions, last year's point totals, and a little intuition. I'll list 36 since I'm sure I'll pick up at least 3 in my fantasy draft. Enjoy.

1. Adrian Peterson

2. Matt Forte

3. DeAngelo Williams

4. Michael Turner

5. Clinton Portis

6. Brian Westbrook

7. Maurice Jones-Drew

8. LaDainian Tomlinson
9. Brandon Jacobs

10. Steve Slaton

11. Steven Jackson

12. Chris Johnson

13. Marion Barber

14. Thomas Jones

15. Frank Gore

16. Ronnie Brown

17. Ryan Grant

18. Marshawn Lynch

19. Larry Johnson

20. Jonathan Stewart

21. LenDale White

22. Willie Parker

23. Kevin Smith

24. Le'Ron McClain

25. Tim Hightower

26. Reggie Bush

27. Joseph Addai

28. Derrick Ward

29. Sammy Morris

30. Felix Jones

31. Jerious Norwood

32. Knowshon Moreno

33. Jamal Lewis

34. Julius Jones

35. LeSean McCoy

36. Leon Washington

Fantasy Rankings: Wide Receivers

Now we are getting into the good stuff. Quarterbacks, running backs, and wide receivers are always the most exciting and anticipated picks in a fantasy draft. This year, to form my list for WRs, I printed out an "expert's" list, and compared it to the how many fantasy points each receiver scored last year. Throw in a little intuition, and that's how you form a solid rankings list.

Since my league requires a team to start 3 receivers, and there are 12 people in my league, I've got 36 WRs on the list. Enjoy.

1. Larry Fitzgerald

2. Andre Johnson

3. Randy Moss

4. Calvin Johnson

5. Steve Smith

6. Reggie Wayne

7. Roddy White

8. Terrell Owens

9. Greg Jennings

10. Anquan Boldin

11. Antonio Bryant

12. Roy Williams

13. Wes Welker

14. Vincent Jackson

15. Brandon Marshall

16. Lee Evans

17. Hines Ward

18. Braylon Edwards

19. Bernard Berrian

20. Dwayne Bowe

21. Santana Moss

22. DeSean Jackson

23. Devin Hester

24. Kevin Walker

25. Marques Colston

26. T.J. Houshmandzadeh

27. Santonio Holmes

28. Donald Driver

29. Lance Moore

30. Jerricho Cotchery

31. Chad Ochocinco

32. Anthony Gonzalez

33. Torry Holt

34. Laveranues Coles

35. Muhsin Muhammad

36. Patrick Crayton

37. Justin Gage

38. Domenik Hixon

39. Percy Harvin

40. Steve Breaston

41. Chris Chambers

42. Ted Ginn Jr.

43. Derrick Mason

44. Eddie Royal

45. Isaac Bruce

46. Steve Smith (NYG)

47. Nate Washington

48. Michael Jenkins

Okay, so I got a little carried away. As I was finishing my list of 36, I realized that I'll definitely need at least one backup WR. I'll do rankings for RBs and QBs in the next couple of days.

Fantasy Rankings: Tight Ends

I'm usually one of the last people to draft a tight end. If the absolute best tight ends are already gone, I'd much rather go ahead and take a solid backup at running back or wide receiver.

Below is my list of the top 12 tight ends for 2009. My list was made by comparing each player's fantasy points from 2008 to lists made thus far by the "experts."

I really hated to put Tony Gonzalez so high, but I really believe he'll be Ryan's #2 option in Atlanta this year. Along that same line, with the departure of T.O. in Dallas, I believe Jason Witten will prove to be Tony Romo's #1 go-to guy in the passing game. Here's how the rest of my list shakes out...

1. Jason Witten (Dal)

2. Tony Gonzales (Atl)

3. Antonio Gates (SD)

4. Dallas Clark (Ind)

5. Visanthe Shiancoe (Min)

6. Owen Daniels (Hou)

7. John Carlson (Sea)

8. Kellen Winslow Jr. (TB)

9. Greg Olsen (Chi)

10. Dustin Keller (NYJ)

11. Tony Scheffler (Den)

12. Chris Cooley (Was)

A few others were close to making the list. If you need a backup tight end, you should consider Kevin Boss, Anthony Fasano, or Heath Miller.

Boo-Birds in Charlotte

It has been very difficult for some Carolina Panthers fans to deal with their ugly playoff loss from last season. It's no secret that Jake Delhomme had the worst game of his career in that matchup against the Cardinals. His six turnovers sure made Arizona's job a little easier that night.

The Panthers fans that were in attendance either left the game early, or sat in their chairs suffering from complete shock as they watched their NFC South winning team completely implode.

Now, the fans have had the majority of an offseason to stew over the loss, and decide how to deal with it. Some have decided to move on and look forward to a promising 2009, while others have chosen to go with the bratty teenager method. These are the fans that showed up for the Panthers "Fan Fest" in Bank of America Stadium last Saturday.

Fan Fest is usually a great opportunity for fans to see the team in action, while also getting to have some fun with "Sir Purr" and the new "Topcats."

This year, the event turned a little...well, we'll say it turned a little "Denver". By now, I'm sure you've heard that the Broncos' new QB, Kyle Orton, was heavily booed by fans in Denver. Well, Charlotte saw a little bit of that on Saturday, when the usually tame Panthers fans decided to let Jake Delhomme know exactly how they felt. After getting picked off (because of a poor WR route), the boo-birds showed themselves.

While I support a fan's right to have an opinion and boo, I don't have to like the actions of stupid people. Jake Delhomme is not a "marquee player" (to quote Jerry Maguire). He doesn't marry supermodels, or go on SNL, or even endorse Axe Hair Spray so he can go flirt with Carson Daly. He's a middle-of-the road QB, who has the heart of a champion. His skills don't match those of the league's elite, but his determination and leadership abilities never cease to impress me.

I am struggling to understand how Panthers fans forgot so quickly that Delhomme led his one (good) receiver team into the second round of the playoffs last season. It frustrates me that his successes can be overshadowed in the blink of an eye by one defeat. Albeit, it was an awful defeat, but still, he's earned a better support group.

So, the boos have flown and the sounds were heard by Delhomme. What now?

First of all, I truly hope the fans have gotten it out of their system. I've watched Jake Delhomme play many many games, and I really enjoy what he brings to a team. There are only about six or seven QBs I'd rather have leading my team than Jake Delhomme. He's going to pick himself up and make up for that miserable playoff perfomance very soon. Fans should not be worried.

Secondly, I don't think the boos will get to him like they might with a player like Kyle Orton. Delhomme has dealt with adversity in the past. He knows how to clean up a mess and prove everyone wrong. Orton hasn't really proven that he can do that.

Want to know my prediction for when exactly Delhomme will prove all of his booing friends to be idiots??? How about September 20th? That is when the Panthers will be heading to Atlanta to dismantle their spotty defense. The Panthers may win their first game against the Eagles. I just really can't wait to see what they do the Dirty Birds.

The Falcons Suck. Delhomme will prove this very soon.

Fantasy Rankings: Defense/Special Teams

Having a solid defense/special teams on your side for fantasy football is crucial. As always, it's very important to find out how your league distributes points for this category. My league gives points for just about any positive thing your defense might accomplish. Also, there is often a certain number of points award for defenses who give up a smaller amount of points. So, for instance, you might not want to start the defense/special teams unit that is going up against a red-hot Tom Brady and Randy Moss. You would want to start the defense/special teams fortunate enough to line up with, let's say, the 49ers. Shutouts are worth a lot of points. You might even want to pick up Arizona's defense for the week that they face Carolina this year. Then again, they might just opt to hand the ball off every down this time...ouch!!!

This is my list for the top Defense/Special Teams this year. I realize that it's a little different from the popular lists floating around online, but I'm okay with that. I compared those lists to the actual number of points scored last year on Yahoo. I mixed all that up with my incredible ability to predict the future. Here it is...

1. Baltimore

2. Pittsburgh

3. Philadelphia

4. Chicago

5. NYGiants

6. Minnesota

7. New England

8. Dallas

9. Tennessee

10. Carolina

11. Miami

12. Arizona

32. Atlanta (The Falcons defense REALLY Sucks!!!)

The Falcons Suck: Harry Douglas Goes Down

Falcons receiver Harry Douglas, who was taking first-team snaps in Roddy White's absence, went down with a leg injury at practice Wednesday. By the way, in case you didn't know, White was absent due to contract negotiations.

It's always difficult to tell if a camp injury is serious right away, but the signs here aren't great. Douglas had to be helped by two people to get off the field and onto a cart. An earlier version of the story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution said that Matt Ryan shouted a "loud expletive" after seeing Douglas hit the deck. In case you are wondering, it is believed that Ryan just screamed, "you bitch" to the defensive back closest to Douglas at the time of the injury.

"You can't speculate," coach Mike Smith said. "Anytime you lose any player it's not the best situation. Harry is an integral part of our team. "Douglas is coming off a quietly impressive rookie year and was expected to challenge Michael Jenkins for a starting job. If Douglas is out for a significant amount of time, the Falcons are down to Jenkins, Brian Finneran, and a slew of receivers without NFL production. (They signed Dickie Lyons Tuesday . . . and released him Wednesday.)

This injury leaves three inevitable truths.

1. Roddy White is about to get the contract he wants.

2. Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzalez are about to have a Tony Romo/Jason Witten kind of relationship.

3. The Falcons will still suck!!!

Fantasy Rankings: Kickers

I like to pick my kicker with one of my absolute last picks in the draft. Sometimes people find it necessary to get all of their starters before picking up any backups. That's ridiculous!

Make sure you've got a backup RB, WR, and QB (at least) before even thinking about a kicker.

Here's my top 12 list:

1. Rob Bironas - TN

2. Mason Crosby - GB

3. Stephen Goskowski - NE

4. Robbie Gould - Chi

5. David Akers - Phi

6. Nate Kaeding - SD

7. John Kasay - Car

8. Jason Elam (The Falcons Suck) - Atl

9. Neil Rackers - Ari

10. Ryan Longwell - Min

11. Adam Vinatieri - Ind

12. Kris Brown - Hou

More fantasy rankings coming soon!

Very Early Training-Camp Injuries

Good news and bad news!!!
Good: All NFL teams are officially back at training camp.
Bad: All NFL teams are officially back at training camp.
Sure, it's exciting, but I'm already going blue in the face from holding my breath.
The NFC South has already had a couple first-week injuries to star players. Training-camp reports have already confirmed these injuries:

Panthers:
Jon Beason - Tweaked hamstring. Beason has already said that he'll be okay. He said he wished he could even get back out and play agiain tonight.
Maake Kemoeatu - Injuried an ankle while running. Kemo's injury seems to be a little more serious. The team has already sent him back to Charlotte for further medical attention. If he's not going to be okay, this could prove to be a big problem for the Panthers.

Bucs:
Antonio Bryant - Slightly injured foot. Supposedly just sore now. It appears that he'll be alright.
Kellen Winslow - Sore ankle. I thought he was a "soldier". Maybe he'll be able to walk this one off. BTW, the above image is from 2006...so chill out Bucs fans. He's not in a cast.

Saints:
On Sunday, Chris Mortensen bragged about Reggie Bush's "stunning explosiveness". On Monday, Bush was held out of practice due to swelling in his knee.

WRs Lance Moore and Adrian Arrington are still not fully healed from shoulder and hamstring injuries.
Jonathan Vilma is still recovering from abdomen surgery.

Falcons:
Curtis Lofton was held out of practice with a hamstring injury.
Tony Tiller injured his left ankle at camp on Saturday.
I'm sure Falcons fans (both of them) will be frantically checking injury reports every day to make sure Peria Jerry and Trey Lewis are okay. If they lost one of those guys, they'd be about as screwed as Carolina would be if they lost Kemoeatu or Lewis...wait...crap!