Monday, August 20, 2012

Fantasy Football: 2012 Kicker Projections

My only recommendation for drafting your fantasy kicker is to wait until the last round of your draft. Predicting the success of a kicker during the preseason is close to impossible. Use your last pick on a kicker and if that guy doesn’t work out, drop him and pick up another one.       

The list below is projections based on standard scoring* fantasy leagues and risk and upside.

Free printable cheat sheets: Position rankings // Top 200 

1) David Akers, San Francisco 49ers Projected fantasy points: 130

Fantasy Football: 2012 D/ST Projections

One of the most difficult things about fantasy football is predicting which defense/special teams are going to produce the most fantasy points during the season. The best approach to drafting a defense/special teams is to use a late-round pick on one. And if that defense/special team doesn’t work out, drop it and pick up a new one.       

The list below is projections based on standard scoring* fantasy leagues and risk and upside.

Free printable cheat sheets: Position rankings // Top 200 

1) San Francisco 49ers Projected fantasy points: 135

Fantasy Football: 2012 Tight End Projections

This year’s tight end fantasy draft class includes two elite players who could easily serve as your team’s top fantasy receiver. The rest of the tight end class is filled with good, but not great talent.    
   
According to ESPN's average draft position (ADP) data, once the top two tight ends are off the board, owners are waiting three rounds before drafting the number three ranked tight end. That type of statistical disparity should tell you to wait on a tight end if you miss out on one of the top two guys.         

The list below is projections based on standard scoring* fantasy leagues and risk and upside.

Free printable cheat sheets: Position rankings // Top 200  

1) Jimmy Graham, New Orleans Saints
There were high hopes from Graham entering 2011. But nobody expected him to explode like he did. His 11 touchdowns and 1,310 receiving yards made him a fantasy superstar this season. When you're Drew Brees' top target, you get a spot in the top 20. Projected fantasy points: 196

Fantasy Football: 2012 Wide Receiver Projections

There is a lot depth this year at wide receiver. While the top tier players are immensely talented, fantasy owners will be able to find a lot of value in the middle rounds. 

According to ESPN's average draft position (ADP) data, most owners are holding off on drafting a wide receiver until they have at least one running back or elite quarterback. This is a smart strategy given the aforementioned glut of talent in the 30-70 pick range. 

The list below is projections based on standard scoring* fantasy leagues and risk and upside.

Free printable cheat sheets: Position rankings // Top 200  

1) Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
He's the best wide receiver in football and he's the only getting better. Johnson solidify his spot a top the receiver list with a monster season in 2011. He finished with 96 catches for 1681 yards and 16 touchdowns. With a healthy Matthew Stafford throwing to him, Johnson is a threat to score on any play. Projected fantasy points: 235

Fantasy Football: 2012 Running Back Projections

Drafting an elite running back is essential in fantasy football, but the problem is there are so few of them anymore. A majority of teams have abandoned the featured back role and have moved to running back-by-committee approach.

While running backs are still first round targets for many fantasy owners, according to ESPN's average draft position (ADP) data, fewer running backs are being taken in the first round of fantasy drafts this year.  

The list below is projections based on standard scoring* fantasy leagues and risk and upside.

Free printable cheat sheets: Position rankings // Top 200  

1) Arian Foster, Houston Texans
Despite missing three games due to injury, Foster still managed to have a great fantasy season. He finished as the fourth highest scoring running back in standard scoring leagues and led all fantasy running backs with 18.3 points per week. Projected fantasy points: 333

Fantasy Football: 2012 Quarterback Projections

The days of waiting on your quarterback in fantasy football are over. In today's pass-first NFL, quarterbacks carry more value than ever before and drafting one in the first or second round of your fantasy draft has become a smart move.

According to ESPN's average draft position (ADP) data, five quarterbacks are being taken in the first 17 picks. These are the elite quarterbacks that will have success, regardless of their match-up. With more teams moving away from featured backs and a more open offensive attack, an elite quarterback is the new must have in fantasy football.

The list below is projections based on standard scoring* fantasy leagues and risk and upside.

Free printable cheat sheets: Position rankings // Top 200 

1) Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers
After years of debating which running back to select first overall, next year draft a quarterback. Rodgers finished this fantasy season as the top scorer in standard leagues, despite playing in just 15 games. He also was the most consistent fantasy player, averaging more than 25 points per week. His low scoring week was in Week 14 when tallied 17 points. That type of dominance and consistency lands Rodgers a top the QB fantasy rankings. Projected fantasy points: 393

Monday, July 9, 2012

Adrian Peterson Hires High-Powered Attorney

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has hired high-profile attorney Rusty Hardin following his arrest for allegedly resisting police officers this weekend in Houston. Peterson was arrested at a Houston nightclub after police say he pushed an officer.

According to ESPN, Hardin is the attorney who successfully defended pitcher Roger Clemens during two federal trials.

Meanwhile, Peterson said on Sunday that "the truth will surface."

Saturday, June 30, 2012

2012 Fantasy Football Rankings Top 100

1. Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans
Despite missing three games due to injury, Foster still managed to have a great fantasy season. He finished as the fourth highest scoring running back in standard scoring leagues and led all fantasy running backs with 18.3 points per week.

2. Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Rice proved this year that he can score touchdowns, as well as rack up a ton of yards. Rice went from 6 touchdowns in 2010 to 15 TDs in 2011. He also tallied more than 2,000 total yards and never missed a game. Durability and production are why he's a top 5 fantasy pick. Also, the Ravens were 12-0 in 2010 when they ran the ball 20 or more times. That kind of success should mean more Rice in 2012.

3. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
After years of debating which running back to select first overall, next year draft a quarterback. Rodgers finished this fantasy season as the top scorer in standard leagues, despite playing in just 15 games. He also was the most consistent fantasy player, averaging more than 25 points per week. His low scoring week was in Week 14 when tallied 17 points. That type of dominance and consistency lands you a top the fantasy rankings.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

NFL Mock Draft 2012 (Version 2 // Final Version)

1. Indianapolis Colts -- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
The Colts are replacing one franchise QB with another.

2. Washington Redskins -- Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (via trade with St. Louis)
The most exciting player in this year’s draft will be worth the price of admission as a rookie. Has a chance to be Washington’s next great football player.

3. Minnesota Vikings -- Matt Kalil, OT, USC
Talk of Morris Claiborne and Justin Blackmon at #3 is starting to feel like one big smoke screen. New GM Rick Spielman makes the safe pick here. That's Kalil.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

NFL Mock Draft 2012

1. Indianapolis Colts -- Andrew Luck, QB, Stanford
The Colts are replacing one franchise QB with another.

2. Washington Redskins -- Robert Griffin III, QB, Baylor (via trade with St. Louis)
The most exciting player in this year’s draft will be worth the price of admission as a rookie. Has a chance to be Washington’s next great football player.

3. Minnesota Vikings -- Morris Claiborne, CB, LSU
After strongly considering USC OT Matt Kalil, the Vikings choose Claiborne. Six games a year against Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford Jay Cutler will drive their decision.

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Top 5 Fantasy Football Running Backs in 2012 [Podcast]

Who are the top 5 fantasy football runnings back in 2012? How significant a role will Michael Bush play in Chicago? Plus, is Michael Turner's fantasy value dropping? All of these topics are discussed this week on  The Fantasy Football Source Podcast.

Host Matt Lechner breaks down why elite running backs are still the way to go at the top of fantasy drafts. However, Lechner explains why times are changing when it comes to drafting running backs after the first three or four picks in the first round.

Plus, why Matt Forte's fantasy value takes a big hit with arrival of Bush in the Bears backfield.

Click here to listen to The Fantasy Football Source Podcast and download on iTunes here.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Peyton Manning Era Begins in Denver

The Peyton Manning era is officially underway in Denver. According to NFL Network's Michelle Beisner, Manning was the first person to report to Broncos' headquarters this morning for the first day of voluntary workouts.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Did the NFL Lockout Help the 2011 Rookie QB Class?

Friday morning on ESPN’s Mike and Mike, NFL analyst and former quarterbacks Ron Jaworski made an intriguing comment as to why he believes the rookie quarterback class of 2011 had so much success.

He credited the lockout.

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Top 5 Fantasy Football Quarterbacks in 2012 [Podcast]


Who would you draft first in fantasy football? Miles Austin or Dez Bryant. Does Robert Griffin III have value in fantasy football? Is DeMarco Murray a top 10 running back? It's never too soon to talk fantasy football and this week we answer all of those questions on The Fantasy Football Source Podcast.

In the first episode of the season, host Matt Lechner breaks down the top 5 fantasy football quarterbacks heading into the 2012 season.

Plus, David Watkins from the NBC-affiliate in Dallas, Texas also joins the show to talk about Cowboys receiver situation. Also, why he believes Murray is poised to have a solid sophomore season for the Cowboys.

Also, Griffin III's pro prospects as the Washington Redskins prepare to make him the number two overall pick in the NFL Draft on April 26, 2012.

Click here to listen to The Fantasy Football Source Podcast and download on iTunes here.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Fantasy Football Rankings 2012: Top 100

1. Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans
Despite missing three games due to injury, Foster still managed to have a great fantasy season. He finished as the fourth highest scoring running back in standard scoring leagues and led all fantasy running backs with 18.3 points per week.

2. Ray Rice, RB, Baltimore Ravens
Rice proved this year that he can score touchdowns, as well as rack up a ton of yards. Rice went from 6 touchdowns in 2010 to 15 TDs in 2011. He also tallied more than 2,000 total yards and never missed a game. Durability and production are why he's a top 5 fantasy pick. Also, the Ravens were 12-0 in 2010 when they ran the ball 20 or more times. That kind of success should mean more Rice in 2012.

3. Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Despite playing behind a rookie quarterback in 2011, Jones-Drew still managed to have a solid fantasy season. He finished with nearly 2,000 total yards and 11 touchdowns. The arrival of the offensive-minded Mike Mularkey as head coach will only improve Jones-Drew's stock in 2012.

4. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
After years of debating which running back to select first overall, next year draft a quarterback. Rodgers finished this fantasy season as the top scorer in standard leagues, despite playing in just 15 games. He also was the most consistent fantasy player, averaging more than 25 points per week. His low scoring week was in Week 14 when tallied 17 points. That type of dominance and consistency lands you a top the fantasy rankings.

5. LeSean McCoy, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
All of those rushing touchdowns that Michael Vick was supposed to get this year went to McCoy. His 20 touchdowns led all running backs and solidified his spot in the top 5. McCoy is also someone who plays hurt, which fantasy owners always like to see from their players.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

2012 NFL Draft: Pay attention to pre-draft workouts and visits

The 2012 NFL Draft is just over a month away and teams are beginning to schedule pre-draft visits and workouts with potential prospects.

While this is nothing new, the private meetings and workouts usually give us a good indication of which players teams will target come draft day, especially teams drafting in the top 15.

John Elway wins again with Peyton Manning signing

John Elway just pulled off what may be his greatest football accomplishment yet. And that's saying a lot.

Elway, a two-time Super Bowl champion and Hall of Famer, managed to rid theBroncos of Tim Tebow without turning a legion of rabid Tebow fans against him and the franchise. He did it by signing former Colts quarterback Peyton Manning to a five-year, $96 million contract.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Seattle Seahawks Sign Matt Flynn

Just like they did 11 years ago, the Seattle Seahawks looked to the Green Bay Packers for their next franchise quarterback. On Sunday, Seattle signed ex-Packer Matt Flynn to a 3-year, $26 million deal, which includes $10 million guaranteed, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

New England Patriots sign Brandon Lloyd

The New England Patriots added another offensive weapon by signing wide receiver Brandon Lloyd to a three-year, $12 million contract, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Lloyd started the season on the Denver Broncos, but was traded to the St. Louis Rams after Week 4. Lloyd finished the season with 70 receptions, 966 yards and five touchdowns.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Vikings Will Stay in Minnesota for the 2012 NFL Season

The Minnesota Vikings will play next season in Minneapolis, according to a report in the Star Tribune.

The Vikings were facing a Wednesday deadline to alert the NFL that they were moving to another city for the 2012 season. However, Vikings Vice President Lester Bagley told the paper on Tuesday that the team will not file relocation papers.

Predicting the 5 Biggest 2012 NFL Free-Agent Contracts


When free agency opens on March 13, some of the NFL's most prominent players, including a record-setting quarterback and a former No. 1 overall pick, will be courted by various teams.

It'll be up to those players' agents to create a market for their clients and get the most money possible. Some players will get the offers they want right away, others may have to wait a little longer.

Here are the five players who will land the biggest free-agent contracts this offseason.

Sunday, February 12, 2012

5 Teams That Will Be Looking for Quarterbacks This Offseason

One of the major details of last year's NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) was the advent of a rookie wage scale. What a wage scale did is give teams the ability to take more risks with their first-round picks.

Prior to a rookie wage scale, rookies were cashing in at a rate that was unsustainable for franchises. Teams were making a significant financial investment in one player, only to watch that player fail. With that much money tied up in one underachieving player, franchises were being set back. And it was much worse for teams that had that money tied up in a quarterback.

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

2012 NFL Free Agency: Which Agents Will Be Most Active?

As the NFL season comes to a close, the season for NFL agents is just beginning.

This is their time to earn their money and land their client lucrative contracts.

Now that the offseason has arrived, here are the agents that will be busiest in the days and weeks leading up to the opening of free agency on March 13, 2012.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

5 NFL Teams Sure to Crash and Burn Next Season

When you look back on the 2011 season, it's hard to believe the New York Giants are in the Super Bowl.

After a 23-10 Week 14 loss to the Washington Redskins, nobody mentioned the Giants in the playoff discussion. In fact, the loss fueled speculation that Tom Coughlin may be fired.

But as it stands six weeks later, New York is preparing to face the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI.

While the Giants didn't fail like many expected them to, here are five teams that are sure to crash and burn next season.

Denver Broncos
The Broncos were one of the most intriguing stories of 2011. Led by Tim Tebow and a fierce defense, Denver won the AFC West and a playoff game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Despite a successful season, the Broncos have the look of a team that could take a big step backwards in 2012.

The first order of business for the Broncos is to decide if Tebow is their long-term answer at quarterback. Tebow's success was well documented this season, but questions remain about his passing skills. If his consistency and accuracy don't improve, Tebow may find himself on the bench.

The other big issue facing the Broncos is how are they going to replace their aging stars. Brian Dawkins and Champ Bailey have been great for many years, but both missed time this year with injuries. When those guys are out of the lineup, the Broncos defense was much worse.

Also, the Broncos don't have a backup plan if leading rusher Willis McGahee gets hurt. McGahee was their backup plan, but after a brilliant season in 2011, where he rushed for 1,199 yards, McGahee is Denver's best running back.

However, McGahee will turn 31 in October and has a lot of mileage on his wheels. Denver needs to have a backup plan for its backup plan.

Lastly, the Broncos 2012 schedule is brutal. Road games at New England, Baltimore, Atlanta, Cincinnati and home games against New Orleans and Houston are all tough match-ups for Denver. Plus, look for the AFC West to be better in 2012 than it was in 2011, especially the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Broncos aren't going to sneak up on anyone in 2012 and the playbook on how to stop Tebow has been written. Could be a long season in the Mile High City next year.

New York Jets
With a locker room in disarray and faith in their quarterback wavering, the Jets are headed for a long offseason.

After back-to-back AFC Championship Game appears, the Jets finished 8-8 in 2011 and missed the playoffs. As the season slipped away, the questions mounted about the direction of the team.

Mark Sanchez has been the focal point of much criticism, and rightfully so. Sanchez struggled in the final three games of the season, turning the ball over nine times in that span.

While Sanchez did have his share of struggles, the entire Jets offense was a mess. The Jets ranked 25th in the league and too often played like a team trying not to lose rather than trying to win. Ousted offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer deserves much of the blame for that, with his offense that Rex Ryan called too complex.

Next year, The Jets will turn the offense over to former Miami Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano. Sparano will likely bring a run-heavy offense to New York, which all but validates the team's lack of faith in Sanchez.

It also could signal the end of Santonio Holmes in a Jets uniform. Holmes finished 2011 with just 51 catches, not exactly worth the $9 million he made this season. The Jets will have to decide whether Holmes is worth the big money, the risk and the headache.

The Jets defense will continue keep them in games, but their offense is a liability. If the Jets carry last season's slide into 2012, look for a big shake-up in the Big Apple.

San Diego Chargers
Most in the NFL were stunned by San Diego's decision to keep Norv Turner for another season after he failed to make the playoffs.

The Chargers were expected to not only compete for the AFC West, but a Super Bowl as well.

Instead, they finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs.

Talent has never been an issue with the Chargers, it's been their inability to win meaningful games. Under Turner, San Diego is 49-31, but it hasn't won a playoff game since 2008.

The Chargers will be forced to address some important personnel discussions, including whether to re-sign Vincent Jackson and if Antonio Gates is healthy enough to still be Philip Rivers' go-to guy.

Gates has battled a foot injury that past two seasons and Jackson is a free agent.

The Chargers could look a lot different without those two guys in their lineup.

A slow start to the 2012 season could signal the end for Turner and the Chargers' hopes for a return to the playoffs.

Chicago Bears
It's hard to believe the Bears were one game from the Super Bowl a year ago. They of course lost to the Green Bay Packers in that game and failed to make the playoffs this season.

Several of the Bears' key players are getting older, especially on defense. Brian Urlacher, Julius Peppers and Lance Briggs are all getting up their in age and their play is starting to tail off.

While those players are still very good, they aren't the dynamic forces they once were.

Further complicating things for the Bears this offseason is the departure of two important positions within the franchise. Chicago is currently without a general manager after the franchise fired Jerry Angelo. They also lost offensive coordinator Mike Martz to retirement.

A change in offensive philosophy will take time getting used to, especially for Jay Cutler. Cutler will be forced to learn a new offense, now led by Mike Tice. You can bet Tice's offense won't resemble Martz's system.

Bringing in new front office management isn't easy either, especially when you have the Matt Forte situation staring you in the face. Forte's contract is up this offseason and the Bears must decide what to do. There's a chance they could mess this up and Forte may start the season as a holdout.

The Bears' window of opportunity is closing; it may have already happened.

Buffalo Bills
At one point during this season, the Bills were in first place in the AFC East. It was Week 3, they had just beaten New England and looked like a legitimate playoff contender.

They then proceeded to lose 10 of their last 13 games.

The main concerns for the Bills are their defense and quarterback. Both played inconsistently this season and it led to 10 losses.

Ryan Fitzpatrick played well enough early in the season that Buffalo gave him a $59 million contract. However, a late-season slide by the Bills had many in Buffalo questioning the team's pricey investment.

Fitzpatrick is 15-23 as the Bills starter during his career and makes too many mistakes in crucial situations. He's not reliable enough for the Bills to win consistently.

Still, as bad as the Bills offense was during a seven-game losing streak last year, the defense was worse.

During that seven-game streak, the Bills were outscored 224-100 by their opponents.

They have since fired their defense coordinator and moved former Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins head coach Dave Wannstedt into that position. Wannstedt will be in charge of rebuilding a defense that is still several years away from finished product.

Buffalo had the look of a team headed in the right direction, but don't bet on it next year.

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Dumbest Quotes in NFL History

It's no secret, most NFL players aren't Rhodes Scholars.

For most of them, college was a means to their professional football ends. So it's not surprising when you hear dumb things come out of their mouths.

While most sports quotes are boring and cliche, every once in a while there is a gem that stands the test of time. And not in a good way.

Here are some of the dumbest quotes in NFL history.

"It's modern-day slavery." ~Adrian Peterson

In March 2011, Minnesota Vikings running back compared the NFL to slavery when discussing the NFL lockout.

Peterson was referring to the amount of money the owners made and how much players were getting paid.

Peterson eventually apologized for his comment saying, “I regret using those words because obviously there is nothing, absolutely nothing that you can compare to slavery.”

He also claimed the quote was taken out of context.

“It was [taken] out of context and it was on me for putting it out there to make it available to be taken out of context,” Peterson said.

In September, Peterson signed a seven-year, $100 million contract extension with the Vikings.

"It's a humbling thing being humble." ~Maurice Clarett

In February 2005, Clarett turned out a disappointing performance at the NFL Combine and dropped this memorable line on the media during his post-workout news conference.

The former Ohio State running back was eventually drafted by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the NFL draft.

Clarett would be humbled again just months after the draft when the Broncos released him.

Then in 2006, Clarett was humbled again when he was thrown in jail for robbery. He was released from prison in April 2010.

"I wanna kiss you. I couldn’t care less about the team struggling. What we know is we can improve. Chad Pennington, our quarterback, missed the first part of the season, and we struggled. We’re looking to next season. We’re looking to make a noise now, and I wanna kiss you!” ~Joe Namath

For many years, Namath was best known for making good on his guarantee that the New York Jets would upset the heavily favored Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl 3. That was until he met Suzy Kolber.

In December 2003, Namath was being interviewed by Kolber during the New York Jets-New England Patriots game when he made a pass at the sideline reporter.

The pro football Hall of Famer admitted that he had been drinking before the interview and apologized to Kolber for the comment.

For a younger generation that never saw Namath play, this is now what he's known for.

"I Play When I Want to Play." ~Randy Moss

Randy Moss has provided football fans with plenty of memorable performances during his career. But as good as Moss was, he earned a reputation for being lazy and disinterested.

In November 2001, Moss made the comment that made him one of professional sports' easiest players to hate. While it may have been taken out of context, he never defended his comment and the quote lived on.

Here was a pro football player, who was just months removed from signing an eight-year, $75 million contract, saying all the wrong things.

That quote stuck with Moss his entire career and still to this day reminds many of how selfish pro athletes can be.

"He treats us like men. He lets us wear earrings." ~Torrin Polk

Okay, this isn't an NFL quote, but it deserves a spot on this list.

In October 1991, the University of Houston wide receiver was discussing his new head coach, John Jenkins, when he dropped this line.

While the back story of this quote is difficult to track down, it's clear what he was trying to say.

Fortunately for us, while he was trying to explain the level of mutual respect between players and coach, he gave us one of the funniest sports quotes in history.

Other Quotable Notables:

-“I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first.” ~George Rogers, running back, New Orleans Saints

-“People say I’ll be drafted in the first round, maybe even higher.” ~Craig “Ironhead” Heyward, running back, New Orleans Saints

-“Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.” ~Joe Theismann, quarterback, Washington Redskins

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Adrian Peterson's Post-Surgery Twitter Pictures

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson underwent successful surgery Friday to repair the torn anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his left knee.

The Vikings said the surgery was a success and Peterson was "resting comfortably."

Well, we now have the pictures to prove it.

On his Twitter account Sunday night, Peterson posted a series of pictures from his hospital bed.

The first post read:

My time bringing in the New Year was great! Thanks to family & a lil Blue Bell country ice cream

The second post read:

HAPPY NEW YEAR FANS & FAMIlY!!!

If a picture is worth a thousand words, I'd say Peterson is in good spirits.

Peterson underwent surgery six days after taking a hit to his knee in Week 16 against the Washington Redskins.

The injury is expected to require 8-9 months of recovery time.