Fantasy Football Rant Week 1

Poolside Rant
August 31st, 2007

Another NFL season is imminent and the places are the same but the faces have changed and the landscape of the NFL is a cleaner gentler league. New Commissioner Roger Goodell has begun to weed out, no pun intended, the bad a$$e$ and give the league a more professional feel. Pacman Jones was first with a year suspension and Tank Johnson and Chris Henry followed with 8 game suspensions and the Michael Vick saga, well, that’s not over yet. None of these guys matter to me because I only care about football and who IS playing so all the clean-up and league suspensions really only affect the teams and their ability to compete.

In my mind the NFL has always been a pretty clean league and I don’t want my NFL news to be inundated with the few bad apples that spoil the bunch. My thought, if they get less coverage then they spoil the image of the league less in my eyes so the media should stop highlight-reeling the players of ill repute and focus on the game…that’s what the true fan wants.

This just in….more of what the true NFL fan wants: my scathing and remarkably accurate opinion on the players and plays that make this game great. A no nonsense and no holds barred opinion on what’s hot in the NFL. There are so many topics to consider this early in the season but I will address who will make the biggest impact after a hectic off season with the draft and free agency taking the forefront.

This has a huge fantasy impact and everyone involved in fantasy football will want to pay close attention to my Nostradamus-like abilities in fore-telling the future of greatness in the NFL. It would be unfair for me to gamble and make money with my talent but kicking my buddies proverbial butts in fantasy leagues gives me all that pleasure and more. So help yourself out of the basement in your fantasy league and pay attention to my articles posted on www.wageronfootball.com this year.

Rookies are hot after the draft and there are some poised to make an impact immediately this season. Calvin Johnson and Adrian Peterson should be on your draft radar and higher than normal for even exceptional rookies. Calvin Johnson is a monster and will get plenty of looks playing opposite to Roy Williams in Martz’s offense so don’t expect him be around in your draft long. Adrian Peterson is a stud and it won’t be long before he is the go to guy in Minnesota and that offense badly needs a go-to guy.

Marshawn Lynch will be given the opportunity rushing and catching the ball but I am unsure of how effective Buffalo’s offensive line will be, so don’t throw down on Lynch too early in the draft. Brandon Jackson is looking good and maybe a younger version of Ahman Green so if he can stay healthy he should see a lot of action and easily win the starting role with only Morency and Herron to beat out. Anthony Gonzalez in Indy is a safe bet to see some action with uber-stud Manning slinging the ball, so don’t be afraid to pick him up late in the draft.

Garrett Wolfe for Chicago should be a sleeper pick but look for the Bears to use him to spell Benson and he will have opportunities in the return game if Hester is out very long. Another guy I am looking to perform as a rookie is Dwayne Bowe in KC with no WR talent surrounding him but Huard is shaky as a starter so take care not to overrate his value. Brady Quinn is worth taking in a dynasty/keeper league and could have value this year because by game 4 he will be the starter. Some guys to leave to the waiver wire but keep tabs on James Jones (WR GB), Sidney Rice (WR Min), Chris Henry (RB Ten), Tony Hunt (RB Phi), Craig Davis (WR SD), Robert Meachem (WR NO) and John Beck (QB Mia).

New faces in old places is a given at the start of any year with the free agent acquisitions by many teams but here is a list of guys who should perform better in their new environments. Travis Henry should be the biggest player in the offseason pickups heading to the run-friendly Denver offense and should put up #1 RB numbers if he can shake the injury bug.

Randy Moss and Thomas Jones are near the top of the list and both should be expected to at least repeat last years totals and Moss should exceed his sub-par performances as a Raider. Moss can be a bit of a prima donna but going to NE with Brady and Belichek to keep him straight I think will help him regain his form and playmaker status. Donte Stallworth won’t be the first option in NE but could be a valuable asset combined with Moss and a reliable QB like Brady. Jones’ success as a Jet depends on the play of the line but Jones is versatile enough to make a difference and help Pennington lead the Jets offense. Trent Green may add value to Chambers but he hasn’t looked in sync with the receivers so leave him alone until he gets acclimated to Cameron’s offense.

Ex-Dolphin TE Randy McMichael should have improved value in STL where Bulger can use a reliable TE option to stretch the middle of the field. Peerless Price has looked good in Buffalo and even though he is the second option in the passing game he could have enough value to work as a 3rd or 4th wideout if Lynch has trouble adjusting to the speed of the NFL and Losman has to throw more. Daunte Culpepper could be the QB to watch this year as he will win the job with the Raiders and should prove to everyone not in Miami he can be an effective NFL starter. His confidence is back and he proved it by negotiating a one year deal for himself in hopes of a big payday next season so expect him to play well and regain some of his fantasy status.

I have a few breakout candidates this year that will elevate their status in the NFL and become bonafide superstars. Not everyone shares my views on the first but Matt Leinhart will prove to everyone he should have been the first QB taken in last years draft by throwing for close to 4000 yards and being a strong Pro Bowl candidate. You can take that to the fantasy bank! Tony Romo will not let down Cowboys fans and erase some of the mistakes he made as a first year starter last year and elevate his game throwing to reliable options TO and Glenn.

Joeseph Addai will make the Colts a better team and be one of the top RB options in this years draft so if you have a chance to grab him…do it! He is a multi-talented threat and will catch more passes and get most of the rushing attempts this year so he should post monster numbers. I think 2000 total yards from scrimmage type numbers and 10+ TD’s. Laurence Maroney takes over as the main man in NE and he should have a stellar campaign not splitting carries with Dillon, so he should be a late first or early second round pick. Vincent Jackson has looked solid in SD and lets be honest…your TE cannot be your best passing option and expect to be a feared offense so expect decent numbers from him this year as a number 2 fantasy WR.

There you have the quick and dirty draft prep along with some guy to keep higher on your lists. I am churning out another article as you read this so keep your eye on www.wageronfootball.com fantasy football for more fantasy brilliance coming soon. That’s all and I look forward to helping you get to the next level in your league this year…back to the pool and I am outta here.

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