Week 1 Pickups

Did the team you drafted play like a bunch of sissy girls in Week 1? Here are some possible free agents you might want to target after decent Week 1 showings:

Reche Caldwell WR NE - I know Doug Gabriel was the hot pick-up last week , but it may take him several weeks to adapt to the Pats offense and who knows if he'll develop a connection with QB Tom Brady. With Deion Branch exiting stage left to head over to Seattle, Reche Caldwell's value is on the up and up. He caught a couple passes last week for 33 yards, but should see his numbers increase this week against the Jets.

Drew Carter WR CAR - Jake Delhomme found his go to guy towards the end of the 2005 season when Steve Smith was covered, and it seems that has carried over to '06. Smith might be out another week and the Panthers only true speedster at wideout is this guy. He caught 5 balls for 62 yds in Week 1 against a stingy Atlanta defense, so look for him to better those numbers against the Vikings this week. Even if Smith does return, the former Buckeye is worth a flyer due to his size (6'3" 200lbs), his speed, and big play ability.

Jerricho Cotchery WR NYJ - The Justin McCareins experiment is officially over after he failed to do anything after his breakout season in Tennessee two seasons ago. We know that someone other than Laverneous Coles has to catch some passes in New York, and Mr Cotchery was that guy in Week 1. He had 8 balls thrown his way, caught 6, and hauled one in for a TD. This guy might be the best of the bunch on this list. Go get him.

Reggie Williams WR JAX - Now here was an unexpected surprise. With all the hype surrounding the young WR corps in Jacksonville led by Matt Jones and Ernest Wilford, third year WR Reggie Williams seemed to garner most of QB Byron Leftwich's attention on Sunday. Although I can't argue with his stats, 6 catches for 47yds and a TD, I'm not sure if Reggie is quite the man yet. The former UCLA standout has been a huge disappointment over his first two seasons and until he does this on a consistent basis, proceed with caution.

Vernand Morency RB GB / Samkon Gado RB HOU- Just recently traded for one another, each might see his role expanded, and each has an outside shot at eventually taking on full time RB duties for their new teams. Morency is backing up Ahman Green who's playing on the reconstructed quad muscle, and Gado should get goalline carries at the least for the Texans. Additionally, Wali Lundi is the only guy preventing him from being the full time back. Gado has more short term upside while Morency is a must have for Green owners.

Marques Colston WR/TE NO - Colston is a nice pick up due to the fact that he qualifies as both a WR and a TE in most fantasy formats. He caught 4 balls and a TD week 1 and with Drew Brees getting warmed up and the Packers on the schedule next, Marques could be a great fit if you need TE help.

Najeh Davenport RB PIT - Mr. "I take dumps in people's closets" might have found himself a new role being the short yardage and goaline back to replace Jerome Bettis in Pittsburgh. Although Willi Parker looked good in week 1 vs the Dolphins, most experts don't think he'll keep it up all year if he has to carry the load alone. Dumpenport looks like a good fit in steel city.

Targeting Sleepers and Dodging Busts

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Every fantasy football manager should come prepared on draft day with some sort of sensible strategy. Draft day is not a pick-up game of street ball; it’s the most important day of your fantasy season. You must do your homework ahead of time and arrive with a gameplan. Some owners firmly believe in drafting running backs with their first two picks in order to solidify the scarce position, while others preach the mantra “always go with the best player available.” You must also consider factors like the number of remaining players at a certain position or tier, and the needs of owners drafting right before and after you.

Most fantasy football veterans have learned over the years that they cannot win by being too conservative, nor by being reckless and drafting nothing but sleepers. Shrewd drafting includes building a solid core of fantasy players and taking a reasonable amount of risks throughout your draft that could payoff in a big way. Today I will address the issue of when to draft Sleepers & High Risk/Reward players.

There are a couple types:
A. Players who find themselves with a unique opportunity to excel or exceed expectations. This often includes rookies or other players who now find themselves in a favorable situation (often due to offseason movement). See: Joseph Addai and Ronnie Brown.
B. Players returning from serious injury or who have been injury-prone over the years. See: Carson Palmer / Braylon Edwards and Chris Brown / Kurt Warner. (In baseball, Jim Thome is a good example of someone paying huge dividends for owners willing to take the risk on the Whitesox slugger this year.)

So where do you draft these guys?
First of all, I would advise against drafting a player in the first 2-3 rounds who poses any significant risk or “bust potential.” Those first few picks need to be the foundation that will carry your team through a long and grinding season. It would be unwise to count on a monster season from an unproven rookie… no matter how ideal his situation appears to be. (See: Cedrick Benson ’05)
Secondly, you need to have a good idea where these players are being picked on average, before you enter the draft room. ESPN’s Live Draft Results is a valuable tool that can help you decide when to pull the trigger on the players you have targeted.

Our sleepers & busts are listed based on the player’s average draft position on ESPN.com. Here's who you need to target and dodge on draft day:

Target:
1. Jamal Lewis (37th overall on ESPN’s Live Draft Results) - Lewis rushed for 2,000 yards just three years ago and will turn only 27 years old later this month. He stayed out of prison this offseason, so expect a big rebound this year.
2. Frank Gore (80) - Not officially the starter in San Fran yet, but he might as well be. Kevan Barlow was given every opportunity to claim the job but he's fallen flat on his face the last couple of seasons. An injury may be the only thing that could get in Gore's way. Landing a starting RB in the 6th round would be a steal in any fantasy draft.
3. Nate Burleson (90) - Nate walks into a perfect situation in Seattle. The former Viking will be a great complement to veteran wideout Darrell Jackson. Jurevicius was shipped out of town, paving the way for a true breakout season from Burleson.
4. Koren Robinson (105) - The speedster was given a second chance last season with the Vikes and has been rewarded with a starting spot at WR going into 2006. Ko-Ro is still only 26 years old and just a few years removed from a 1240-yard season. Great pick if he can stay out of trouble.
5. L.J. Smith (109) - The Eagles' tight end could very well be D-Nabb's favorite target this season, considering there won't really be any other options. WR Reggie Brown showed some potential last season but will struggle facing the league's top corners and double coverage. And on the other side they got Todd Pinkston... enough said. Look for Smith to eclipse 900 yards and 8 TDs this season. He'll be a top three TE in 2007.
6. Greg Jones (140) - Brittle Fred Taylor is the only thing keeping Jones (6-1, 250lbs) from becoming an every-down bruiser in the NFL. He already gets the looks at the goal-line, so he deserves to be drafted before the man slated to start ahead of him.
7. Ernest Wilford (169) - There's lots of talk about freakish former Arkansas QB Matt Jones breaking out in Jacksonville this season, but Wilford may end up being Leftwich's #1 target, especially in the red zone. His size (6-4, 223lbs) and endzone prowess (7 TDs in '05) make him a sneaky pick.
8. Kevin Curtis (171) - Forget Isaac Bruce, the younger and speedy Curtis will take over the reigns as Torry Holt's accomplice stretching the field in St. Louis. He should garner plenty of QB Marc Bulger's attention and top 1,100 yards and 8 TDs.

Dodge:
1. Corey Dillon (34th overall on ESPN's Live Draft Results) - Dillon was old when he was drafted out of Washington in 1997. He'll be 32 in October (with plenty of mileage) and the Pats now have rookie Laurence Maroney ready and waiting to take over whenever necessary. Don't get fooled by name recognition.
2. Willie Parker (36) - Sure he's a quality RB starting for the defending Super Bowl Champs, but Willie is not guaranteed the goal line carries and that's what matters in fantasy folks.
3. Bears Defense (59) – Let’s put it this way. If you’re drafting any team defense in the fifth round of your draft you’re a buffoon who has an open invitation to join my league. I think I’d rather go with a top TE (Heap) or solid QB (Bulger) in the 5th and take the Falcons or Seahawks ten rounds later.
4. Fred Taylor (68) - Older, more fragile version of Willie Parker. Almost worthless in 2006.
5. Curtis Martin (81) - Just two seasons removed from leading the NFL in rushing, C-Mart is now on the verge of retirement with a bum knee. Say hello to the 3-headed monster rush attack of Blaylock/Houston/Suggs. One of them will probably end up with some value, but it's basically a crapshoot. I'd suggest avoiding that mess of a backfield.

Who are your sleepers/busts going into 2006?

Forgetten stars?

I have seen WRs Randy Moss and Marvin Harrison drafted as late as the 8th and 10th WR in several online drafts. I know both players' numbers were down last year, but Moss was suffering through various injuries and had uncertainty at the QB position, while Harrison had more yards in '05 (1146) than he did in '04 (1113) and only caught 3 less TD's (12 in '05 vs 15 in '04). Are these 2006 draft positions justified? I don't understand the logic behind picking players like Plaxico Burress, Joey Galloway, and Chris Chambers ahead of these two. Am I wrong?

The not-so-common fantasy football chatter

I've decided that I need to start participating a little more on this blog. I must say that I haven't exactly been much of a sports "trooper" the last few months. Now that fantasy football is upon us, I'd like to open up by posing a few burning questions that I need answered before my draft. Instead of the usual discussion revolving everyone's top 10 list (which hardly ever differs), let's debate the less obvious questions.

***Are the Bears going to give the ball to Cedric Benson this year and allow him to be the fantasy stud we've been hoping for?***

It doesn't appear so. A week into camp, Benson was anointed the starter, then tweaked his knee and sat a day. Uh, nevermind Cedric, we we're just playing. Open competition again. The Denver Broncos recently offered to trade Ashley Lelie straight up for Thomas Jones, to which Chicago passed on. This trade would have made sense being that the Bears desperately needed a second wideout to help an aging Mushin Muhammed on the other side. So all this tells me is that the Bears are still not certain who, if anyone, will be their featured back and have no intention of making that decision until one of the two backs emerges. Both players feel it is their job to lose, so I don't think either is backing down or willing to accept the backup job. Unless the injury bug hits, I see another RB by committee in the windy city for '06. Blah.

***Will Chester Taylor emerge as the starting running back in Minnesota, and if he does, will he last?***

Yes and yes. Chester is a poor man's Lamont Jordan. A few years ago Lamont looked like he could be the featured back with the Jets, but was stuck running behind Curtis Martin for the first few years of his career. Similarly, Taylor has been stuck behind Jamal Lewis in Baltimore. Lamont got his chance last season with the Raiders and proved he belonged as the featured back. Now it's Chester's turn. He's a little less known, and a little less gifted than Jordan is, but the Vikings have shipped away Michael Bennett (now with Kansas City) and more recently Moe Williams (now with the Rams) to make room in the backfield. Now all Taylor has to compete with are the likes of Mewelde "orgy boat" Moore and Cia-trick "s are for kids" Faison. Game over. Chester's in. 3rd round draft pick.

***Being that nobody's role is certain, and your draft is tomorrow, who do you draft first: Ron Dayne, Willie Parker, Reuben Droughns, or DeShaun Foster?***

Open mic...

A Dozen WRs I would draft ahead of RB Willis McGahee

Conventional fantasy football wisdom stresses drafting running backs early and often as a formula for success. 2006 may be the year to buck that trend. Yes, Peyton Manning is clearly the top fantasy QB in the league and worthy of a first round pick, but it’s the top-tier wide receivers that should be going earlier than usual this season. While in the past, the first round of a 12-team draft may have included as many as 10 RBs selected; this season I urge you to consider one of the many cream-of-the-crop wideouts instead.
Bills running back McGahee is being drafted in the early second round (13th overall on ESPN's Mock Draft) and is typically the 10th RB off the board in most mock drafts right now. Tell me if I’m wrong, but I think that you should feel very confident that your top couple picks will be posting consistent numbers for you every week. McGahee, a running back who reached the endzone only 5 times last season on a team with no pass attack to challenge defenses, just does not fit the bill for me. The problem is there are so many NFL teams with question marks in their backfields this year. At least eight teams are looking at running by committee (San Francisco, New Orleans, Denver, Dallas, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Carolina, Chicago) and many RBs are injury/durability risks (D. McAllister, C. Dillon, C. Brown, C. Williams, J. Jones, D. Foster, and C. Martin). This leaves only about a dozen running backs worthy of 1st or 2nd round consideration. So don’t hesitate to pull the trigger on a top notch wideout rather than reaching for a RB with question marks in the early rounds.

Here’s my list of 12 WR’s that I have ranked higher overall than Willis McGahee:

1. Steve Smith – Superman was unstoppable in most of the Panthers’ games last year. Carolina’s running game has plenty of question marks and Smith will again be the focal point of their offense. A peculiarly dominant wideout.
2. Chad Johnson – Presuming Carson Palmer is fully recovered from off-season surgery, Johnson should be the top receiver in the game this season. His touchdown celebrations alone are enough to warrant a spot on my fantasy team. Lemme see yo’ grill C.J.!
3. Torry Holt – Torry Holt is an exceptional receiver in his prime. His sidekick, Isaac Bruce has faded almost to the point of obscurity. Holt is unquestionably Marc Bulger’s #1 target and should be in for another monster campaign.
4. Marvin Harrison – The model of consistency at the elite level. Marvin the Martian may be 34 years old, but he should still haul in 12+ TDs from Colts' QB Peyton Manning.
5. Terrell Owens – Dallas was the perfect place for T.O. to land this offseason. Cowboy fans are already used to troublemakers and no-nonsense coach Bill Parcells should keep him in line anyway. QB Drew Bledsoe had a career year last season and is ready to do it again with T.O at his side in 2006. Owens has a lot to prove this season and he should deliver the goods.
6. Larry Fitzgerald – Fitzgerald’s transition from stud college wideout to stud NFL receiver didn’t take long at all. With Boldin lining up on the other side, defenses will have trouble containing either WR.
7. Hines Ward – Ward may be slightly overrated going into the season, but he still has room to improve on his fantasy numbers. With the departure of Randle El and Bettis retiring, the Steelers may be forced to lean more heavily on their Super Bowl MVP.
8. Reggie Wayne – If Harrison’s numbers slip at all this season, Wayne will be there to pick up the slack. With all the emphasis on defense and the running game last year, the Colts may revert back to the pass happy days of 2004. Edge’s move to the desert leaves Indy’s ground attack resting on the shoulders of a rookie and an unimpressive Dominic Rhodes. Look for Wayne to bounce back in ‘06.
9. Randy Moss – Once the top WR in the game, Moss has burned owners in recent years, struggling with injuries and inconsistent play. He’s a risky pick who could payoff if he clicks with new QB Aaron Brooks in Oakland.
10. Santana Moss – The diminutive receiver turned in a breakout season last year as the Redskins’ only legitimate option at WR. His overall stats will probably take a hit with the arrival of Randle El and Brandon Lloyd, but Moss is still the go-to-guy in the Nation’s Capital.
11. Plaxico Burress – The former Steeler proved what a difference a big-time receiver can make in the development of a young QB like Eli Manning. Over the first half of last season, Plaxico was a top 5 wideout while Eli was outgunning his older brother. Tiki Barber and Amani Toomer aren’t getting any younger, so expect Burress to be even more involved this season.
12. Anquan Boldin – The other half of the league’s best WR tandem, Anquan simply commands the ball. Boldin should see plenty of opportunities this season with Arizona’s improved and well-balanced offensive attack.

And one more to make it a baker's dozen...

13. Chris Chambers – The speedster broke out (1100 yds, 11 TDs) last year with Gus Frerotte and Sage Rosenfels lining up under center. The Dolphins acquired Daunte Culpepper to be their new starting QB, who, despite his horrid 2005 season, is a huge upgrade at the position. You’ll be hearing, “Culpepper looks deep to Chambers…” plenty this season.

Le Coupe du Monde

World Cup 2006 Finals: ITALY vs. FRANCE - Recap

Roman Coliseum vs. Eiffel Tower

Winner: Italy
Pizza vs. Baguettes

Winner: Italy
Ferrari vs. Peugeot

Winner: Italy
Benito Mussolini vs. Napoleon Bonaparte

(bare-knuckle boxing)

Winner: Italy

Fellini's 8 1/2 vs. Godard's Breathless

Winner: Italy

ITALY WINS!!!

See... now wasn't that easier than actually watching soccer?

Now we can get on with our lives and prepare for a season of

"le Football americain"

Memorial Day Festivities

Hope everyone had a fun and relaxing memorial day break. The swimming pool at my apartment complex opened over the weekend, so I went out there to get some sun yesterday. I was delighted to see a four-year-old boy wearing floaties, splashing around in the shallow end of the pool and celebrating the unofficial start of summer by incessantly singing "I'm in love with a stripper, I'm in love with a stripper!!!" The pre-schooler would've made Larry Hughes and Ron Artest proud. Check out the NBA ballers at Nelly's Miami beach house party over the weekend...
















While those guys were making the best of their vacation, Wizards' MVP Gilbert Arenas was across town hangin' out with "least valuable" teammate Awvee Storey (1.7 points per game) getting arrested for standing in the middle of a busy street and failing to obey the orders of a bicycle cop. Not quite as fun as Nelly's get-together. Arenas was quoted as saying "You can't arrest me. I'm a basketball player. I play for the Washington Wizards." Wow, he really is underrated.















Oh, and also... the Cav's Donyell marshall has to be some kin to rapper Tone Loc: