Well, not so great for our ESPN Gurus. And definitely not great for Hokie fans. I think I'm finally dried out from the soaking I got in Blacksburg, so let's tackle Eric Karabell and Scott Engel's week 8 rankings.
The Grades
Karabell
QB: B (8.29)
RB: C+ (5.74)
WR: C (5.12)
TE: D (3.48)
K: D (3.48)
D/ST: B+ (5.6)
C
Engel
QB: B (8.34)
RB: C+ (5.71)
WR: D+ (4.93)
TE: D+ (3.72)
K: D+ (3.69)
D/ST: C+ (4.99)
C
Scott Engel seems to finally have jumped onto the Derek Anderson bandwagon. Anderson (6/3) has put up at least 13 fantasy points in each game he's started this season (remember he didn't start week 1), and put up 21 this week against the Rams. He's not a "name" QB like Manning, Palmer, or Brady, but he's legit. And his last six starts of the season are against Houston, Arizona, the Jets, Buffalo, Cincy and San Fran. Not exactly murderers row there of defenses, so Anderson should be primed to put up big numbers right as fantasy playoff season is going. He does have 3 tough games next against Seattle, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh, but he does have 380+ yards and 3 TDs against Baltimore and Pitt (limited action) this season.
Tom Brady (1/1) and the Patriots continued their assault on the NFL this week. Both gurus kept Brady ranked ahead of Peyton Manning (2/2), and Brady put up nearly twice the fantasy points as Manning. The real impact on the stats, though, were Brady's two rushing TDs. Always a nice boost, especially in a league where rushing TDs = 6 and passing TDs = 4.
Is Drew Brees (12/10) back, or did he just take advantage of a great matchup against my woeful Niners? At least 14 fantasy points each of the last three weeks. Keep an eye on him. Meanwhile, Eli Manning (4/4) seems to be floating along in mediocrity. Excluding his first-week explosion, he hasn't scored more than 14 fantasy points in any week this season. This week, playing the winless Dolphins, he managed to score the same amount of fantasy points as superhero QBs Quinn Grey, Cleo Lemon, JP Losman (didn't start), and Matt Casell (NE backup QB).
Toting the rock, LaDanian Tomlinson was again the #1 ranked RB by Karabell and Engel. But he couldn't follow up his four TD day with another huge outing, and managed only 9 fantasy points against Houston. Joseph Addai (3/4) was the high scorer among RBs this week, scoring three total TDs.
Former Hokie tailback Kevin Jones (16/12) continued his comeback from a tough ankle injury with 100 yards and a score against the Bears defense. Lendale White (13/15) had 133 yards against a strong Oakland defense in the Titans' win. Lawrence Maroney (19/22) owners are probably hating Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and Wes Welker right about now. Maroney had 100+ total yards, but no scores. Frank Gore (9/7) owners are probably not too happy either, as he managed only 4 fantasy points.
Owners who drafted Marques Colston (19/22) as their #1 WR finally had a week to be happy about - assuming they hadn't benched the NO wideout. Colston scored double-digit fantasy points for only the second time this season, torching the San Fran defense for three scores. As much as I'd love to fault Karabell and Engel for having Colston ranked so low, there's no way I can possibly do it. Keep an eye on him the rest of the season, maybe he'll avoid a sophomore slump.
At the top of their wideout rankings, Engel faired much better than Karabell. For their top 6 wideouts, Engel's averaged 12.75 TrueScore® points, while Karabell's averaged just 11.16. And Engel had Plexiglass Burress ranked #1 (Burress scored only 1 fantasy point ... Karabell had him ranked #3). The explosive Anderson-Braylon Edwards (6/3) connection added two more TDs to its tally. Reggie Wayne (2/4) had 168 yards and found the endzone. And T.J. Houshmanzilly (4/5) had a touchdown. When top players play like top players, it's easy to make gurus look good.
In addition to Colston, the bottom of the gurus' Top 25 WR rankings helped them out. Hines Ward (17/16) had two touchdowns, Lee Evans (24 in Engel's rankings, not in Karabell's top 25) had a huge 85-yard TD to seal the game for the Bills. Chris Chambers (18/21) had 9 points for his new team. And Mr. Monday Night - Greg Jennings - was only ranked by Karabell, who had him #22. 100+ yards and a TD helped out anyone who started Jennings this week.
The other pass catchers - tight ends - didn't do much to help Karabell and Engel this week. Only three tight ends in either guru's top 15 scored double-digit fantasy points. But only one tight end that wasn't in either top 15 scored double-digit points. Antonio Gates (1/1) lived upto the rankings, scoring 2 touchdowns on only 3 receptions. Only Engel had Vernon Davis in his top 15 (#9), but Davis had 71 yards and a score. And fellow first-round NFL pick Greg Olsen (7/8) scored a TD and added almost 60 yards receiving. Dallas Clark (3/2), Jeremy Shockey (4/4) and Heath Miller (6/5) were all highly ranked this week but all three under produced.
This week the Pats didn't only dominate on offense. Their D/ST (1/2) finished second among D/ST units in fantasy scoring this week. The Chargers (5/10) took advantage of 5 turnovers and held the Texans to only 10 points to lead all D/ST units. Engel and Karabell's misses this week? Tampa Bay (3/5) and Minnesota (6/6) - both produced 1 fantasy point. And the poor Redskins ... Engel had their D/ST unit ranked #13 this week. They responded with -7 points against the Pats.
And last but not least (well, maybe least) - the lonely kickers. Top-scoring fantasy kicker this week? Sebastian Janikowski. Didn't appear on either guru's top 15. Second leading scorer? Matt Bryant. Didn't appear on either guru's top 15. Third-leading scorer? Jason Hanson ... ranked at a whopping 11/7. Kickers are crap shoots.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Half Kenyan, half alcoholic
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Mangini's Last Stand
A little site news:I've finally gotten around to updating the charts through Week 6, including Jeremy's rework of his early grades. The time machine worked splendidly and I can tell you with some certainty that the Rockies win the world series. Feel free to put money on it if you like.
And some real news:
In the worst decision since Custard's last charge, the Jets are unfathomably sticking with beleaguered quarterback-non-grata Chad Pennington. They're a one and six team with little to play for. How does this make any sense? Their defense isn't going to hold anybody up and Chad can barely hold up the ball. I'm not president of the Kellen Clemens fan club or anything - personally I could care less since neither is fantasy starter material - but I fail to see the risk in letting the second-year guy get some experience. Chad Pennington and franchise are words that were never meant to be in the same sentence. In fact, Chad was probably hoping for a benching to avoid the lengthy hospital stay he's surely in for if he remains the starter. Come on Jets, get the balls out of Mangini's throat and show us you got a pair.
In other QB news, Garrard is scheduled to miss approximately four weeks with a high ankle sprain. If any of you watched the game on Monday night and saw the play that caused the injury, you know it didn't look pretty. Fat guy rolls up on ankle; ankle loses will to live, gives up and crumples. I've seen it a thousand times. It's one of the reasons I avoid the morbidly obese while walking. Garrard was probably your backup/bye-week filler at this point and in other than the deepest of deep leagues, no one was playing the Jacksonville wide receivers. How the injury affects the rest of the team, we'll have to wait and see. The offensive line looked amazing when run blocking Monday night, which gives me some hope for Maurice and Fred. Quinn Gray, on the other hand, has me worried that opposing defense will be stacking the run in the future. That guy should really go into the waiting tables biz because he is a turnover machine.
Stuff that doesn't qualify as news:
I'm going to go ahead and urge you to take a break from the waiver wire tonight and leave the glow of the computer monitor behind. Because tonight you have the opportunity to witness the beginning of one of the greatest sports performances of all time. Tonight, the Rockies begin their inevitable sweep of the Boston Red Sox, securing the title of world champion and their rightful place in history. Oh yes, it will happen. And I want everyone to witness it from beginning to end, just so when they see me laughing they'll know what it's about and I won't have to explain myself for the thousandth time.
Editor's note: The picture at the top of this post is from the future. I just hope something doesn't go wrong and it starts fading like Marty's family in Back to the Future.
What a weekend
Among the top 10 scorers in fantasy football this weekend:
Tom Brady and Randy Moss - surprise, surprise. On a side note, does it seem that every fantasy owner who has one of these guys also has the other? In my main league, the league leader lucked out and got both of them. What did he do to deserve such fantasy karma? The only downside for these owners, Patriots bye week they'll be in trouble. Lucky for me (#2 team in my league), I play Alex when Brady and Moss are on the bench.
Rod Bironas, kicker, Titans - 8 field goals. Eight. Ocho. Wow.
Kenny Watson, RB, Bengals - Before the season, Rudi Johnson was touted as a "safe" and "consistent" pick. Bummer.
Sage Rosenfels, QB, Texans - Looking at just a linescore, Matt Schaub owners were probably ecstatic. Never expect too much from a Hoo.
Our boys continued their basic mediocrity across the board this week. No A's, no F's. If this were grade school, Little Scotty Engel and little Eric Karabell wouldn't get taken out to Friendly's for an ice cream treat with these grades.
Under center, both gurus nailed their top pick - Tom Brady. Has Brady overtaken Peyton as the clear-cut #1 fantasy QB this year? Or will it depend on matchups? Should be interesting to see where they go. Karabell did a little better than Engel this week, primarily because Engel ranked Garrard and Schaub in his top 10, and both gunslingers got injured. Jay Cutler, hanging out at the bottom of both gurus' rankings (17/20) put up some good numbers against a strong Pittsburgh defense. In the same game, Ben Roethlisberger (10/10) had his highest fantasy point total since week 1. And what about Drew Brees (13/13)? Is he back? Are the Saints back on track? Look for a good game against the Niners this week.
At running back, Karabell graded out at a C+ and Engel graded out at a B this week. Strong, but not outstanding. Each had at least 15 of their top 25 score 10 or more fantasy points, but only one RB scored more than 20 (Kenny Watson, who Engel had ranked 25 and Karabell didn't have in his top 25). So odds are, no matter how these guys were ranked, scores would have been similar. Consistent, but not superb. LaDanian Tomlinson was on a bye a week after scoring 4 TDs, let's see if he holds the #1 ranking spot when he comes back this weekend.
60 points. 3 wide receivers. 1 team. Unreal. Randy Moss (1/1), Wes Welker (13/15), and Dante Stallworth (NR/22) had huge weeks catching passes from Tom Brady. The Pats offense continues with its "fuck you" attitude. And fantasy owners keep smiling. Think about it. None of these guys were probably picked in the top 3 rounds of your draft, and Welker and Stallworth could have been on your waiver wire up until a few weeks ago. And with games against the Ravens, Steelers, Colts, and Giants still on their schedule, this passing juggernaut has plenty of options to stick it to more teams. Karabell had four big whiffs in his top ten, with Marvin Harrison, Joey Galloway, Plexico Burress, and Roy Williams all scoring less than 5 fantasy points. Engel faired no better, having Burress, Tory Holt, Dwayne Bowe, and Bobby Engram in his top 10.
Two tight ends scoring double-digit fantasy points means a bad week for gurus. Only Dallas Clark (5/2) and Heath Miller (8/7) saved Engel and Karabell from an even worse grade. Speaking of Heath Miller, I lucked out this week. The guy I played in my main fantasy league left Miller on the bench and I won by 7 points. Thanks SNK.
29 points from a kicker. 8 field goals. What is there to say other than "wow". Rod Bironas (5/12) lit up fantasy this week, but the rest of the kickers were average, meaning an average week for our gurus. Kickers are a crapshoot. Good luck.
And finally, we get to the defense. A couple weeks ago, I said the Ravens D was overrated as a fantasy player. I've seen drafts where they went as high as the 4th round. But playing the woeful Buffalo Bills offense, led by rookie Trent Edwards, surely they'd snap out of the funk, right? Wrong. 4 points. Overrated. Limited QB pressure by the Dline = less sacks. A weak and injured secondary = less INTs. Props to Karabell for putting the Seahawks D in his top 10. They were the #1 scoring fantasy D this week, led by Darryl Tapp (former Hokie!)
Thats it for me. See you after week 8. Be sure to bench any Cardinals, Chiefs, Cowboys, Falcons, Ravens or Seahawks players you have. So no Boldin, LJ, Romo, Owens, McGahee or Shawn Alexander. Good luck.
Eric Karabell
QB: C (7.54)
RB: C+ (5.96)
WR: C+ (5.65)
TE: D (3.02)
K: C (4.47)
D/ST: B (5.55)
C
Scott Engel
QB: C (7.35)
RB: B (6)
WR: C+ (5.69)
TE: D (3.33)
K: C (4.06)
D/ST: C (4.55)
C
Tom Brady and Randy Moss - surprise, surprise. On a side note, does it seem that every fantasy owner who has one of these guys also has the other? In my main league, the league leader lucked out and got both of them. What did he do to deserve such fantasy karma? The only downside for these owners, Patriots bye week they'll be in trouble. Lucky for me (#2 team in my league), I play Alex when Brady and Moss are on the bench.
Rod Bironas, kicker, Titans - 8 field goals. Eight. Ocho. Wow.
Kenny Watson, RB, Bengals - Before the season, Rudi Johnson was touted as a "safe" and "consistent" pick. Bummer.
Sage Rosenfels, QB, Texans - Looking at just a linescore, Matt Schaub owners were probably ecstatic. Never expect too much from a Hoo.
Our boys continued their basic mediocrity across the board this week. No A's, no F's. If this were grade school, Little Scotty Engel and little Eric Karabell wouldn't get taken out to Friendly's for an ice cream treat with these grades.
Under center, both gurus nailed their top pick - Tom Brady. Has Brady overtaken Peyton as the clear-cut #1 fantasy QB this year? Or will it depend on matchups? Should be interesting to see where they go. Karabell did a little better than Engel this week, primarily because Engel ranked Garrard and Schaub in his top 10, and both gunslingers got injured. Jay Cutler, hanging out at the bottom of both gurus' rankings (17/20) put up some good numbers against a strong Pittsburgh defense. In the same game, Ben Roethlisberger (10/10) had his highest fantasy point total since week 1. And what about Drew Brees (13/13)? Is he back? Are the Saints back on track? Look for a good game against the Niners this week.
At running back, Karabell graded out at a C+ and Engel graded out at a B this week. Strong, but not outstanding. Each had at least 15 of their top 25 score 10 or more fantasy points, but only one RB scored more than 20 (Kenny Watson, who Engel had ranked 25 and Karabell didn't have in his top 25). So odds are, no matter how these guys were ranked, scores would have been similar. Consistent, but not superb. LaDanian Tomlinson was on a bye a week after scoring 4 TDs, let's see if he holds the #1 ranking spot when he comes back this weekend.
60 points. 3 wide receivers. 1 team. Unreal. Randy Moss (1/1), Wes Welker (13/15), and Dante Stallworth (NR/22) had huge weeks catching passes from Tom Brady. The Pats offense continues with its "fuck you" attitude. And fantasy owners keep smiling. Think about it. None of these guys were probably picked in the top 3 rounds of your draft, and Welker and Stallworth could have been on your waiver wire up until a few weeks ago. And with games against the Ravens, Steelers, Colts, and Giants still on their schedule, this passing juggernaut has plenty of options to stick it to more teams. Karabell had four big whiffs in his top ten, with Marvin Harrison, Joey Galloway, Plexico Burress, and Roy Williams all scoring less than 5 fantasy points. Engel faired no better, having Burress, Tory Holt, Dwayne Bowe, and Bobby Engram in his top 10.
Two tight ends scoring double-digit fantasy points means a bad week for gurus. Only Dallas Clark (5/2) and Heath Miller (8/7) saved Engel and Karabell from an even worse grade. Speaking of Heath Miller, I lucked out this week. The guy I played in my main fantasy league left Miller on the bench and I won by 7 points. Thanks SNK.
29 points from a kicker. 8 field goals. What is there to say other than "wow". Rod Bironas (5/12) lit up fantasy this week, but the rest of the kickers were average, meaning an average week for our gurus. Kickers are a crapshoot. Good luck.
And finally, we get to the defense. A couple weeks ago, I said the Ravens D was overrated as a fantasy player. I've seen drafts where they went as high as the 4th round. But playing the woeful Buffalo Bills offense, led by rookie Trent Edwards, surely they'd snap out of the funk, right? Wrong. 4 points. Overrated. Limited QB pressure by the Dline = less sacks. A weak and injured secondary = less INTs. Props to Karabell for putting the Seahawks D in his top 10. They were the #1 scoring fantasy D this week, led by Darryl Tapp (former Hokie!)
Thats it for me. See you after week 8. Be sure to bench any Cardinals, Chiefs, Cowboys, Falcons, Ravens or Seahawks players you have. So no Boldin, LJ, Romo, Owens, McGahee or Shawn Alexander. Good luck.
Eric Karabell
QB: C (7.54)
RB: C+ (5.96)
WR: C+ (5.65)
TE: D (3.02)
K: C (4.47)
D/ST: B (5.55)
C
Scott Engel
QB: C (7.35)
RB: B (6)
WR: C+ (5.69)
TE: D (3.33)
K: C (4.06)
D/ST: C (4.55)
C
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Review: The Boys - Week 6 - Kind of
This is a total cop-out and I apologize in advance, but I just don't have time to write a proper review this week without sacrificing the marginal amount of sleep I get to begin with. Who knew preparing for a marathon could be so much work?
My guys, of course deserve better, unfortunately I'm unable to provide it. So, in the biggest sphincter wrenching move I've performed on this website so far, here are the Week 6 rankings. And it's really such a shame because the boys did so well this week.
Brad Evans
Overall Grade: B- (2.7)
Good Calls: 8
Bad Calls: 3
Jamey Eisenberg
Overall Grade: B+ (3.3)
Start 'em Picks:
Start of the Week - C+
QBs - B+
Running Backs -A
Wide Receivers - B+
Tight Ends - D+
Sit 'em Picks:
Sit of the Week - B-
QBs - A
Running Backs - A
Wide Receivers - A
Tight Ends - A
Ron Anish
Overall Grade: C+ (2.4)
Quarterbacks: C+ (2.5)
Running Backs: C+ (2.4)
Wide Recievers: C+ (2.4)
Tight Ends: C- (2.1)
And, it seems that Ed Norton's ass did drive me to distraction and I forgot to put up the Week 5 grades for Jamey and Ron. Here are those grades:
Jamey Eisenberg
Overall Grade: C (2.3)
Start 'em Picks:
Start of the Week - D
QBs - F
Running Backs -D+
Wide Receivers - B+
Tight Ends - D+
Sit 'em Picks:
Sit of the Week - B+
QBs - B+
Running Backs - A
Wide Receivers - D+
Tight Ends - A
Ron Anish
Overall Grade: C (2.0)
Quarterbacks: D+ (1.5)
Running Backs: C- (1.8)
Wide Recievers: C (2.0)
Tight Ends: B- (2.8)
My guys, of course deserve better, unfortunately I'm unable to provide it. So, in the biggest sphincter wrenching move I've performed on this website so far, here are the Week 6 rankings. And it's really such a shame because the boys did so well this week.
Brad Evans
Overall Grade: B- (2.7)
Good Calls: 8
Bad Calls: 3
Jamey Eisenberg
Overall Grade: B+ (3.3)
Start 'em Picks:
Start of the Week - C+
QBs - B+
Running Backs -A
Wide Receivers - B+
Tight Ends - D+
Sit 'em Picks:
Sit of the Week - B-
QBs - A
Running Backs - A
Wide Receivers - A
Tight Ends - A
Ron Anish
Overall Grade: C+ (2.4)
Quarterbacks: C+ (2.5)
Running Backs: C+ (2.4)
Wide Recievers: C+ (2.4)
Tight Ends: C- (2.1)
And, it seems that Ed Norton's ass did drive me to distraction and I forgot to put up the Week 5 grades for Jamey and Ron. Here are those grades:
Jamey Eisenberg
Overall Grade: C (2.3)
Start 'em Picks:
Start of the Week - D
QBs - F
Running Backs -D+
Wide Receivers - B+
Tight Ends - D+
Sit 'em Picks:
Sit of the Week - B+
QBs - B+
Running Backs - A
Wide Receivers - D+
Tight Ends - A
Ron Anish
Overall Grade: C (2.0)
Quarterbacks: D+ (1.5)
Running Backs: C- (1.8)
Wide Recievers: C (2.0)
Tight Ends: B- (2.8)
Monday, October 22, 2007
Brown out
Ronnie Brown's done for the season. I lucked out that my Derek Anderson for Ronnie Brown trade was rejected last week. Instead I turned around and moved Derek Anderson and Greg Jennings for Reggie Wayne and Willis McGahee. But that's neither here nor there.
Now the question becomes - are there any Miami Dolphins who are worth owning on a fantasy squad? Cleo Lemon has put up decent numbers, but I don't see him as anything more than a bye-week fill in for a desperate owner.
Now the question becomes - are there any Miami Dolphins who are worth owning on a fantasy squad? Cleo Lemon has put up decent numbers, but I don't see him as anything more than a bye-week fill in for a desperate owner.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Running wild (finally)
LaDanian Tomlinson finally stepped it up. Adrian Peterson had (another) monster day. Maurice Jones-Drew, Brian Westbrook, Willis McGahee, Larry Johnson, Edge James, Reggie Bush, Thomas Jones, Lendale Whilte, and Jason Wright all scored 10+ fantasy points. And all were ranked in our gurus' top 25 RBs. In what has been, so far, a year dominated by question marks around the top RBs in the league and a number of strong-performing QBs, week 6 could be the starting line for a mad rush toward the fantasy playoffs.
As a matter of fact, of Eric Karabell and Scott Engel's top 8 RBs this week, the only dud was Shawn Alexander. Normally money in primetime, Alexander got owners a total of 3 fantasy points (based on ESPN scoring. Scott Engel showed a lot of love to Sammy Morris (#9, Karabell had him 14), and Morris responded by getting 1 point (leaving the game with an injury).
At QB and WR, our prognosticators continued with their mediocrity. Engel was the conductor on the Kurt Warner bandwagon, ranking the old gunslinger #3 this week. Warner thanked him by putting up negative fantasy points. The Cardinals went from splitting time between two quarterbacks a few weeks ago to starting ... Tim Rattay. Ouch Cardinals fans. Two other quarterbacks put up goose eggs this week - Steve McNair (didn't play) and Vince Young (left with injury). Not good for your TrueScore® rankings. And apparently neither guru wants to get on the Derek Anderson train yet. Anderson put up 28 points against a crappy Miami defense, yet was ranked 10 and 11 by Karabell and Engel, respectively.
So here's the grade breakdown for Week 6.
Eric Karabell
QB: C (7.05)
RB: A (7.53)
WR: C+ (5.69)
TE: D+ (3.6)
K: C (4.43)
D/ST: B (5.4)
C+
Scott Engel
QB: C (7.3)
RB: A (7.71)
WR: C+ (5.88)
TE: D+ (3.92)
K: C (4.45)
D/ST: B (5.07)
C+
As a matter of fact, of Eric Karabell and Scott Engel's top 8 RBs this week, the only dud was Shawn Alexander. Normally money in primetime, Alexander got owners a total of 3 fantasy points (based on ESPN scoring. Scott Engel showed a lot of love to Sammy Morris (#9, Karabell had him 14), and Morris responded by getting 1 point (leaving the game with an injury).
At QB and WR, our prognosticators continued with their mediocrity. Engel was the conductor on the Kurt Warner bandwagon, ranking the old gunslinger #3 this week. Warner thanked him by putting up negative fantasy points. The Cardinals went from splitting time between two quarterbacks a few weeks ago to starting ... Tim Rattay. Ouch Cardinals fans. Two other quarterbacks put up goose eggs this week - Steve McNair (didn't play) and Vince Young (left with injury). Not good for your TrueScore® rankings. And apparently neither guru wants to get on the Derek Anderson train yet. Anderson put up 28 points against a crappy Miami defense, yet was ranked 10 and 11 by Karabell and Engel, respectively.
So here's the grade breakdown for Week 6.
Eric Karabell
QB: C (7.05)
RB: A (7.53)
WR: C+ (5.69)
TE: D+ (3.6)
K: C (4.43)
D/ST: B (5.4)
C+
Scott Engel
QB: C (7.3)
RB: A (7.71)
WR: C+ (5.88)
TE: D+ (3.92)
K: C (4.45)
D/ST: B (5.07)
C+
Late-week injury news
Ravens head coach Brian Billick said Todd Heap is likely going to miss the game against Buffalo this weekend. That, and the fact that backup TE Daniel Wilcox is out, means Quinn Sypniewski will start at TE for the Ravens. A 6'6", 270 lb target for a backup QB with a patchwork offensive line? Grab him if you've got Gates or Winslow on a bye this week. Although its up to you if you want a guy who looks like this on your fantasy team.
Also Javon Walker had knee surgery, and is out "indefinitely". Big blow to anyone who has Walker or Jay Cutler.
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
Review: Anish and Eisenberg - Week 5 - Together Again
In a effort to conserve time, something I seem to have less and less of these days, I'm going to review Ron and Jamey together this week. I don't plan on continuing this way, but I need to catch up.As much joy as I glean from highlighting our guru's triumphant accomplishments, I've found the real pleasure comes when shedding light on their phenomenal mistakes. Therefore, in that vain, this review will not step foot into the light, but rather thrive in the dark inner workings of our guru's twisted minds. Minds, which seem to have shared bad ideas, through some kind of mind meld or telepathy, this week. If you thought misery loved company before, consider week 5 your indisputable proof.
In order to exorcise the demons, we must name them, one by one, in order of least to most offensive.
Demon 1: The Starting of Brandon Marshall
If you were counting on Baby T.O. to put up some numbers while Javon Walker rested his 80-year-old man's knee with a cadaver tendon in it, your weren't alone. On the dark and stormy night our guru's made their picks, they too tabbed this ill-fated wide receiver to perform admirably. They crowned him with a starting title and sent him on his way, never realizing what destruction their creation was about to unleash on an unsuspecting fantasy world. Long story short, Brandon turned out to be a killer, not of any of my teams but maybe one of yours? Were you left contorted on the kitchen floor, frozen in a gut-wrenching state of eye-bulging agony?
Demon 2: Bowetergist
So you think you made the right moves, picked up the right people and set the best starting lineup possible based on what you read from our gurus. Then, just as you're getting settled in your favorite comfy couch or chair to watch some football, you find out that your lineup was actually built on top of an ancient Indian burial ground and there's a rookie stuck in your TV who should have been in your starting lineup. As your lineup implodes in a brilliant flash of light, you can't stop staring at the blur on the TV that is Dwayne Bowe on his way to 70 receiving yards and a useful fantasy day. In the end, you're left with nothing but a hole in the earth where your team used to be and slime all over your face.
Demon 3: Resident Donald Leevil
Zombies are really hard to stop. Especially when they're reanimated dead people. That was, until know. I've found the cure or the answer if you will. In order to put anything down - dead, undead or other - just get Ron and Jamey to start them. Like they did this week with Donald Lee. Seriously, Lee had at least four catches in each game, weeks 2-4. Then Ron and Jamey caught wind of him and bam! he can't do shit. It's like these guys are the mark of death or something and are using it to completely fuck the rest of us up. If the Umbrella Corporation had known about these guys, they could have saved themselves a lot of time and money.
Demon 4: Culterie
Sometime, because of the past, we convince ourselves that a guy might go crazy, seemingly with superhuman powers, and slay his opposition, leaving defense destruction and a high fantasy score in their wake. When that guy is a quarterback, it can be doubly sweet, since in standard leagues you only get to start one. Jay had a good matchup vs. San Diego. Hell, San Diego hadn't stopped anyone through the air all year. All the signs pointed to a start and our gurus bit hook, line and sinker. They gave the green light and we may or may not have taken it. But, just as things aren't always as they appear, the promising prospect of Jay's big day turned into dismal demise. Maybe this was a case where the past was blinding and they ignored some subtle but telltale signs. Like the fact that a defense that ranked high last year and retained its primary components might wake up against an inexperienced quarterback without his favorite weapon.
Demon 5: Dawn of the Rivers
In this version, our heroes are actually the zombies and the monster is their benching of Phillip Rivers. In case you didn't know, he was the top QB for week 5, putting up 27 fantasy points, including 3 touchdowns. If you're anything like me, that's as many touchdowns as your entire team had. Because of this pick, the only things dead at dawn Monday morning were about a million fantasy teams. If you benched Rivers here, I feel so so sorry for you. Not that he was a guaranteed lock, stock and barrel start but nothing irks me more than leaving points on the bench. Just thinking about it makes me want to kill a couple of zombies. Now where'd I leave the shovel?
If you've ever tried writing something while simultaneously watching Ed Norton take it in the ass from a big musclebound white guy, you know how distracting it can be. Hopefully this review doesn't reflect that. I'm going to curl up in a corner now. Thanks a lot American History X.
Re-grades week 1-5
Week 1
Karabell
QB: B (8.24)
RB: C (5.16)
WR: B (6.09)
TE: F (2.71)
K: D+ (3.68)
D/ST: A (6.05)
C
Engel
QB: C+ (7.84)
RB: C (5.15)
WR: B (6.17)
TE: F (2.54)
K: C (4.04)
D/ST: A (6.22)
C
Week 2
Karabell
QB: B+ (8.67)
RB: B (6.27)
WR: A (7.55)
TE: C (4.26)
K: C+ (4.86)
D/ST: B (5.07)
B
Engel
QB: B+ (8.67)
RB: B (6.21)
WR: A (7.24)
TE: C+ (4.57)
K: C+ (4.83)
D/ST: B (5.33)
B
Week 3
Karabell
QB: C (7.35)
RB: B+ (6.73)
WR: C (5.26)
TE: C (4.4)
K: C (4.06)
D/ST: C (4.18)
C
Engel
QB: D+ (6.98)
RB: B+ (6.64)
WR: C (5.53)
TE: A (6.9)
K: D+ (3.85)
D/ST: D (3.49)
C
Week 4
Karabell
QB: C+ (7.7)
RB: C (5.21)
WR: F (3.36)
TE: C (4.4)
K: D+ (3.66)
D/ST: D (3.14)
D+
Engel
QB: C (7.41)
RB: C (5.4)
WR: F (3.8)
TE: D (3.53)
K: D+ (3.64)
D/ST: D (3.29)
D
Week 5
Karabell
QB: F (5.33)
RB: D (4.01)
WR: F (3.6)
TE: B+ (5.68)
K: C (4.44)
D/ST: B (5.25)
D+
Engel
QB: F (5.44)
RB: D (4.12)
WR: F (3.69)
TE: B+ (5.93)
K: C+ (4.71)
D/ST: B (5.08)
D+
Karabell
QB: B (8.24)
RB: C (5.16)
WR: B (6.09)
TE: F (2.71)
K: D+ (3.68)
D/ST: A (6.05)
C
Engel
QB: C+ (7.84)
RB: C (5.15)
WR: B (6.17)
TE: F (2.54)
K: C (4.04)
D/ST: A (6.22)
C
Week 2
Karabell
QB: B+ (8.67)
RB: B (6.27)
WR: A (7.55)
TE: C (4.26)
K: C+ (4.86)
D/ST: B (5.07)
B
Engel
QB: B+ (8.67)
RB: B (6.21)
WR: A (7.24)
TE: C+ (4.57)
K: C+ (4.83)
D/ST: B (5.33)
B
Week 3
Karabell
QB: C (7.35)
RB: B+ (6.73)
WR: C (5.26)
TE: C (4.4)
K: C (4.06)
D/ST: C (4.18)
C
Engel
QB: D+ (6.98)
RB: B+ (6.64)
WR: C (5.53)
TE: A (6.9)
K: D+ (3.85)
D/ST: D (3.49)
C
Week 4
Karabell
QB: C+ (7.7)
RB: C (5.21)
WR: F (3.36)
TE: C (4.4)
K: D+ (3.66)
D/ST: D (3.14)
D+
Engel
QB: C (7.41)
RB: C (5.4)
WR: F (3.8)
TE: D (3.53)
K: D+ (3.64)
D/ST: D (3.29)
D
Week 5
Karabell
QB: F (5.33)
RB: D (4.01)
WR: F (3.6)
TE: B+ (5.68)
K: C (4.44)
D/ST: B (5.25)
D+
Engel
QB: F (5.44)
RB: D (4.12)
WR: F (3.69)
TE: B+ (5.93)
K: C+ (4.71)
D/ST: B (5.08)
D+
Drumroll please ...
OK as you all know, I've been working on a new grading system. The first one was more of a "gut" grade, which proved to be too subjective and dependent on my mood. The second one was too lenient, and only looked at the top of the rankings each week, which was usually the cream of the crop.
So now we're onto Karabell/Engel Grading System 1.3. This will be a more comprehensive look at the rankings and factors in where each player is ranked.
Here's the breakdown:
Each week, we'll take the top 20 QBs, top 25 RBs and WRs, and top 15 TEs, Ks, and D/STs, as ranked by Eric Karabell and Scott Engel. Then we'll take the number of fantasy points each of those players scored, based on ESPN's fantasy site, and multiply that point total by a multiplier (calculated based on ranking). This will give us a TrueScore® value for that player.
Let's look at Karabell's week 6 rankings, as an example.
Player Points Multiplier TrueScore®
Tom Brady 33 points x 1 33
Carson Palmer 14 points x 0.95 13.3
Tony Romo 13 points x 0.9 11.7
Once we have the TrueScore® value for that player, we'll take the average TrueScore® for that position, for each guru and assign it a grade level.
The grading scale will be:
For QBs
A = 9+
B+ = 8.6 - 8.9
B = 8 - 8.5
C+ = 7.6 - 7.9
C = 7 - 7.5
D+ = 6.6 - 6.9
D = 6 - 6.5
F = < 6
For RBs and WRs
A = 7+
B+ = 6.6 - 6.9
B = 6 - 6.5
C+ = 5.6 - 5.9
C = 5 - 5.5
D+ = 4.6 - 4.9
D = 4 - 4.5
F = < 4
For TEs, Ks and D/STs
A = 6+
B+ = 5.6 - 5.9
B = 5 - 5.5
C+ = 4.6 - 4.9
C = 4 - 4.5
D+ = 3.6 - 3.9
D = 3 - 3.5
F = <3
Ray will use his time machine to go back and update the charts, using grades with the new system.
So now we're onto Karabell/Engel Grading System 1.3. This will be a more comprehensive look at the rankings and factors in where each player is ranked.
Here's the breakdown:
Each week, we'll take the top 20 QBs, top 25 RBs and WRs, and top 15 TEs, Ks, and D/STs, as ranked by Eric Karabell and Scott Engel. Then we'll take the number of fantasy points each of those players scored, based on ESPN's fantasy site, and multiply that point total by a multiplier (calculated based on ranking). This will give us a TrueScore® value for that player.
Let's look at Karabell's week 6 rankings, as an example.
Player Points Multiplier TrueScore®
Tom Brady 33 points x 1 33
Carson Palmer 14 points x 0.95 13.3
Tony Romo 13 points x 0.9 11.7
Once we have the TrueScore® value for that player, we'll take the average TrueScore® for that position, for each guru and assign it a grade level.
The grading scale will be:
For QBs
A = 9+
B+ = 8.6 - 8.9
B = 8 - 8.5
C+ = 7.6 - 7.9
C = 7 - 7.5
D+ = 6.6 - 6.9
D = 6 - 6.5
F = < 6
For RBs and WRs
A = 7+
B+ = 6.6 - 6.9
B = 6 - 6.5
C+ = 5.6 - 5.9
C = 5 - 5.5
D+ = 4.6 - 4.9
D = 4 - 4.5
F = < 4
For TEs, Ks and D/STs
A = 6+
B+ = 5.6 - 5.9
B = 5 - 5.5
C+ = 4.6 - 4.9
C = 4 - 4.5
D+ = 3.6 - 3.9
D = 3 - 3.5
F = <3
Ray will use his time machine to go back and update the charts, using grades with the new system.
Down Time
I understand the website is somewhat behind. Unfortunately, I can't do my remaining reviews from last week till I get home tonight and it wouldn't be prudent to start my week 6 reviews before week 5's were done. Also, the graph and charts are slacking and if Jeremy ever decides on a grading scale, I'll update them. The expected date is spring, 2012. Hope you can stick around for that.
Alright, I'm going to get my notes together for week 6. If anyone has any other questions for us to answer, I'll put them up and pass them on to Jeremy as I've filled my quota (1) and have nothing left to give.
Alright, I'm going to get my notes together for week 6. If anyone has any other questions for us to answer, I'll put them up and pass them on to Jeremy as I've filled my quota (1) and have nothing left to give.
Monday, October 15, 2007
Paradise Lost
Have you ever gone to the store, itching to purchase something you thought you'd get a great deal on, only to find out the sale ended the day before? Or gotten to the register, only to be told that the coupon you planned to use has expired? The feeling of disappointment, sometimes pin-prick small and sometimes overwhelmingly large, is always associated with the realization of a missed opportunity.After Sunday's performance, Brett Favre has left me with this same feeling. Not because his poor performance left two of my teams crippled and floundering but because I had an opportunity, only recognized in hindsight, to use him as my coupon for a discounted rate on something, or someone as the case may be, truly great. He was the perfect sell high candidate, though I was blind to the knowledge, and now am left to lament my lack of foresight.
History should have told me - possibly tried to tell me - but I wouldn't listen. I was too transfixed by the notion that Brett could actually be my No. 1 quarterback for the fantasy season. I pulled the wool over my own eyes by obsessively craving as many top QB as I could get my hands on so as to not end up in the same situation I was in last year - constantly searching the waiver wire for a solid quarterback that never materialized. Sure, Favre wasn't high on many draft lists and I picked him up in the middle to late rounds as a bye week filler. But when he took off, I put my misgivings aside and allowed myself to be lulled into the idea that maybe this was his year. That he was going through some kind of resurgence and that I could ride that resurrection all the way to a fantasy championship.
Brett Favre is going to be Brett Favre. And Brett Favre is not the rational thinking, game managing, conservative passer we were introduced to the first weeks of the season. Brett Favre is the shoot from the hip, toss it up, all or nothing ball slinger who, like a wolf in sheep's clothing, has revealed himself over past two weeks. A zebra can't change his strips and it seems neither can Brett. I apparently simply can't distinguish the sheep from the wolves.
What I should have seen was a guy who, with the help of a couple favorable matchups, came sprinting out of the fantasy box at a pace he couldn't sustain. And now that were in Week 6, and the mile runners are flying past him without so much as a glance in his direction, I'm left feeling more than a bit silly. The beginning of the season is fraught with uncertainty, especially this year with top quarterback performing poorly or getting injured, I should have taken advantage.
Favre wasn't my top quarterback, so why rely on him when he has value as a trade commodity? My fear of being rendered quarterbackless, through injury or other occurrences, left me handcuffed to him, unable to move the one piece in my collection that should have sold quick and fetched a good price.
Now, as his value depreciates with each passing weekend, I find myself wondering why - Why didn't I trade him when I had the chance? - and disparaging an opportunity lost.
Tweaking the system ... again
After crunching the numbers, I'm realizing that the "new" scoring system I came up with wasn't a fair assessment. It's only looking at the top players, and it's not really a good look at the full guru rankings. So I'm expanding it a bit (20 QB, 25 WR, 25 RB, 15 TE, 15 K, 15 DEF), changing the grading scales. Will debut this week, and I'll update all previous weeks so we have a consistent system.
Work in progress, people. Ray's working a time machine to go back in the past to change grades. Maybe while he's back there, I'll have him put $50 on Stanford+39.5 vs. USC for me.
Work in progress, people. Ray's working a time machine to go back in the past to change grades. Maybe while he's back there, I'll have him put $50 on Stanford+39.5 vs. USC for me.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Holy Crap on a Stick
No fucking way! Tell me this guy wasn't paid to write such oblivious shit. I need a new job. And no, I didn't actually read the article. How could I with a title that stupid? This guy has single-handedly lost every shred of creditability ESPN worked two decades to build. Way to go.
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Strong tight ends and Ray's other pet names
I think Victor Conte has created an undetectable steroid that helps you pick fantasy footballers. And he sold some to Scott Engel this week.
Here are the Week 5 grades ...
Karabell
QB: A (61.5)
RB: C+ (48.3)
WR: C (42.6)
TE: A (51.6)
K: B (29.2)
D/ST: A (47.7)
Overall: B (3.23 "gpa")
Engel:
QB: A (61.1)
RB: B (54.7)
WR: C+ (46.8)
TE: A (60.9)
K: A (39.5)
D/ST: A (44.3)
Overall: A (3.6 "gpa")
Seriously, where did this come from? I'm going to go back through Weeks 1-3 and use the new grading system on those weeks, maybe my subjective rankings were too tough. Or maybe my new grading system is too lenient. Please comment and let me know what you think, tweaks are possible.
So how did these guys score off the charts? Let's take a look.
Quarterback
Brady, Manning, Romo are the top 3 on each list. 46 points total between the three. Karabell had half his top 10 QBs score 10 or more points, Engel had 6 (snuck Garrard in at #10). Neither gave much love to Phillip Rivers (20/17), who led all QBs in scoring this week. Jason Campbell (11/12) was just on the outside of the top 10, and had a big day against Detroit.
Two big injuries (Leinart and Green) could shake up rankings for the rest of the season. We'll see where Cleo Lemon ranks in week 6.
Running Back
Joseph Addai's scratch from the lineup hurt Karabell, who had him at #2. But anyone who handcuffed him with Kenton Keith (who?) got a nice surprise. Ronnie Brown, LaDanian Tomlinson, and Fast Willie Parker all justified their top draft pick status with 10+ point days. Stephen Jackson continued on his pace to not get 2,500 yards, sitting with an injury (again).
Wide Receiver
A nickname of "Plexiglass" coupled with Eli Manning throwing the ball shouldn't lead to a huge fantasy season for a WR (#2 scoring WR). But it has. Bold move by Karabell ranking Marques Colston #9 this week, even though last year's breakout WR hasn't done squat this season (much like the rest of the New Orleans offense). If you play in a PPR league (I don't), Derek Mason had another huge week for you. 11 catches, 85 yards. And as Ravens fans will tell you, most of those catches were 3 yards short of the first down marker.
Marvin Harrison missed another game, apparently Engel had some knowledge Karabel didn't have. Scotty ranked Harrison #23 this week, while Engel had him at 10. Not sure why Patrick Crayton isn't getting love yet (33/34), dude has had some big games the last few weeks. And props to Hokie Andre Davis (41/33) who's taking advantage of Andre Johnson's injury and gotten some good yards the last few weeks. He could be on your waiver wire, and Johnson is questionable this week.
Tight End
Compiling the stats, all I could think was "Holy shit, they hit this out of the park." Both had 4 of their top 5 ranked TEs score 10 or more points. And the fifth scored 9. It was a good week for fantasy tight ends, as 11 scored 10+ points.
I will get one bash in though. Alex Smith (TB) wasn't even ranked in Engel's top 25 and was the 4th highest scoring TE this week. Karabell ranked him 18.
Kicker
What if both of Nick F'n Folk's 50+ yarders counted? (disgruntled Bills fan here) Grades are a bit deceiving here. Of the top 6 kickers this week (Brown, Folk, Feely, Kasay, Wilkens, Kaeding), only one made either guru's Top 5. Kris Brown had a monster week, with 3 50+ yard kicks! But the gurus did enough to score well, and Engel had 3 of his top 5 score 10 points or more, which is a good week for a kicker.
Defense/Special Teams
I'm going to say it. Ravens defense is overrated. I hope you didn't waste a high pick on them, because they are not bringing it this year. 9 sacks on the year (3 against the woeful Niners offense), 4 INT. They aren't getting pressure on the QB, which lets signal callers pick apart their secondary, which can be suspect even with McAllister and Reed. And the offense isn't going to be bailing them out. Karabell and Engel both ranked BMore #1 this week, and they tied for 12th most fantasy points. Keep starting them (especially against the Rams this week), but don't expect 5th round production out of Rex Ryan's boys for the rest of the season)
Luckily the Pats and Steelers bailed out our gurus this week. The Pats scored a late TD on a fumble recovery against the Browns, the Steelers pitched a shutout against Seattle. Karabell had Tennessee in his top 5, and they scored the sixth most fantasy points this week.
Here are the Week 5 grades ...
Karabell
QB: A (61.5)
RB: C+ (48.3)
WR: C (42.6)
TE: A (51.6)
K: B (29.2)
D/ST: A (47.7)
Overall: B (3.23 "gpa")
Engel:
QB: A (61.1)
RB: B (54.7)
WR: C+ (46.8)
TE: A (60.9)
K: A (39.5)
D/ST: A (44.3)
Overall: A (3.6 "gpa")
Seriously, where did this come from? I'm going to go back through Weeks 1-3 and use the new grading system on those weeks, maybe my subjective rankings were too tough. Or maybe my new grading system is too lenient. Please comment and let me know what you think, tweaks are possible.
So how did these guys score off the charts? Let's take a look.
Quarterback
Brady, Manning, Romo are the top 3 on each list. 46 points total between the three. Karabell had half his top 10 QBs score 10 or more points, Engel had 6 (snuck Garrard in at #10). Neither gave much love to Phillip Rivers (20/17), who led all QBs in scoring this week. Jason Campbell (11/12) was just on the outside of the top 10, and had a big day against Detroit.
Two big injuries (Leinart and Green) could shake up rankings for the rest of the season. We'll see where Cleo Lemon ranks in week 6.
Running Back
Joseph Addai's scratch from the lineup hurt Karabell, who had him at #2. But anyone who handcuffed him with Kenton Keith (who?) got a nice surprise. Ronnie Brown, LaDanian Tomlinson, and Fast Willie Parker all justified their top draft pick status with 10+ point days. Stephen Jackson continued on his pace to not get 2,500 yards, sitting with an injury (again).
Wide Receiver
A nickname of "Plexiglass" coupled with Eli Manning throwing the ball shouldn't lead to a huge fantasy season for a WR (#2 scoring WR). But it has. Bold move by Karabell ranking Marques Colston #9 this week, even though last year's breakout WR hasn't done squat this season (much like the rest of the New Orleans offense). If you play in a PPR league (I don't), Derek Mason had another huge week for you. 11 catches, 85 yards. And as Ravens fans will tell you, most of those catches were 3 yards short of the first down marker.
Marvin Harrison missed another game, apparently Engel had some knowledge Karabel didn't have. Scotty ranked Harrison #23 this week, while Engel had him at 10. Not sure why Patrick Crayton isn't getting love yet (33/34), dude has had some big games the last few weeks. And props to Hokie Andre Davis (41/33) who's taking advantage of Andre Johnson's injury and gotten some good yards the last few weeks. He could be on your waiver wire, and Johnson is questionable this week.
Tight End
Compiling the stats, all I could think was "Holy shit, they hit this out of the park." Both had 4 of their top 5 ranked TEs score 10 or more points. And the fifth scored 9. It was a good week for fantasy tight ends, as 11 scored 10+ points.
I will get one bash in though. Alex Smith (TB) wasn't even ranked in Engel's top 25 and was the 4th highest scoring TE this week. Karabell ranked him 18.
Kicker
What if both of Nick F'n Folk's 50+ yarders counted? (disgruntled Bills fan here) Grades are a bit deceiving here. Of the top 6 kickers this week (Brown, Folk, Feely, Kasay, Wilkens, Kaeding), only one made either guru's Top 5. Kris Brown had a monster week, with 3 50+ yard kicks! But the gurus did enough to score well, and Engel had 3 of his top 5 score 10 points or more, which is a good week for a kicker.
Defense/Special Teams
I'm going to say it. Ravens defense is overrated. I hope you didn't waste a high pick on them, because they are not bringing it this year. 9 sacks on the year (3 against the woeful Niners offense), 4 INT. They aren't getting pressure on the QB, which lets signal callers pick apart their secondary, which can be suspect even with McAllister and Reed. And the offense isn't going to be bailing them out. Karabell and Engel both ranked BMore #1 this week, and they tied for 12th most fantasy points. Keep starting them (especially against the Rams this week), but don't expect 5th round production out of Rex Ryan's boys for the rest of the season)
Luckily the Pats and Steelers bailed out our gurus this week. The Pats scored a late TD on a fumble recovery against the Browns, the Steelers pitched a shutout against Seattle. Karabell had Tennessee in his top 5, and they scored the sixth most fantasy points this week.
Week 4 rankings
Using the new grading system, here's a drive-by of the week 4 rankings. Week 5 rankings will be out soon with a little more meat to them. I'll also put up a link for a spreadsheet with the rankings, the scoring, etc. so you can double check.
Karabell
QB: A (98.7)
RB: B+ (58.9)
WR: D (35.3)
TE: B (27.2)
K: C (21.8)
D/ST: C (20.9)
Overall: C+ (2.6 "gpa")
Engel
QB: A (95.1)
RB: A (63.7)
WR: C (41.9)
TE: C+ (24.4)
K: C (19.5)
D/ST: B (26.2)
Overall: C+ (2.9 "gpa")
Karabell
QB: A (98.7)
RB: B+ (58.9)
WR: D (35.3)
TE: B (27.2)
K: C (21.8)
D/ST: C (20.9)
Overall: C+ (2.6 "gpa")
Engel
QB: A (95.1)
RB: A (63.7)
WR: C (41.9)
TE: C+ (24.4)
K: C (19.5)
D/ST: B (26.2)
Overall: C+ (2.9 "gpa")
New scoring method for Karabell, Engel
New grading system in place. Here's how it works. I'm going to take the top 10 QBs, RBs, and WRs, and top 5 TE, K, D/ST for each "guru". Each player's points will be multiplied by a ranking value (#1 guy's points x 1, #2 points x 0.9, #3 points x 0.8 and so on).
For QB/RB/WR:
60 + points gets an A
57-59 B+
50-56 B
47-49 C+
40-46 C
37-39 D+
30-36 D
29 and below F
For TE/K/D&ST:
35+ A
32-34 B+
26-31 B
23-25 C+
17-22 C
14-16 D+
8-13 D
8 and below F
From there, we'll go with your standard GPA calculator to get an overall grade each week.
Comment and let me know what you think of the new method. This will give some consistency and subjectivity to these Grand Guru's each week. After the first 2 or 3 weeks we can look back and see how it stacks up, and modify the grades (including changing previous grades) if necessary.
For QB/RB/WR:
60 + points gets an A
57-59 B+
50-56 B
47-49 C+
40-46 C
37-39 D+
30-36 D
29 and below F
For TE/K/D&ST:
35+ A
32-34 B+
26-31 B
23-25 C+
17-22 C
14-16 D+
8-13 D
8 and below F
From there, we'll go with your standard GPA calculator to get an overall grade each week.
Comment and let me know what you think of the new method. This will give some consistency and subjectivity to these Grand Guru's each week. After the first 2 or 3 weeks we can look back and see how it stacks up, and modify the grades (including changing previous grades) if necessary.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Review: Brad Evans - Week 5 - Ramble on off a Cliff
Holy shit! Let the bells ring from the mountain tops! Strike up the band and let's give Brad a true fantasy football world welcome. What's the cause for such celebration you ask? Brad has amazing went two weeks in a row over .500. It is possibly the greatest accomplishment in the history of mankind. Seriously, I thought it impossible.
Overall Grade: C+ (2.3)
He's on Fire
As you may have guessed from the intro, Brad did well in week 5. Although, I have a feeling some of his suggestion were nothing more than flat out guesses. But success is success, whether luck is involved or not. Really, fantasy football is half luck anyway so I wont penalize him.
I handed out a couple A's this week. Most notably for a start of Brandon Jacobs. I was totally against his pick when I first saw, mainly because I had Derrick Ward on a couple teams and I wanted him to do well instead of Jacobs. Luckily, they both had productive days, with Brandon getting the better and looking impressive in doing it. Brad also sat Chad Pennington even though, on paper, Chad had a good matchup against the porous Giants defense. Of course, the Giants can get pressure on any quarterback, which may have turned you off and why Brad only got a A- and not a solid A. Still, if the diminutive weak-armed lob tosser could have got the ball out of his hand, he should have done well. Seems that wasn't in the cards.
The Definition of Lame
Even on a good week, you should have come to expect some truly dimwitted calls on the part of Brad. This week was no different, though he did manage to avoid the omnipresent F which in and of itself is an accomplishment.
Brad's shocker special of the week, starting Donald Lee of the Packers, ended up as nothing more than a brief spark. I don't think those two fantasy points helped anybody - unless you were down by one and Donald got you the win.
Main gurus, including Brad, have suggested sitting Dwayne Bowe. To them, I have one thing to say, Get on the train before it leaves your ass behind. Seriously, this guy puts up numbers no matter who or how bad the quarterback is. The Chiefs have to throw the ball every once in a while and when they do, there are only two targets on the field, Tony and Dwayne. That's a 50% chance of getting the ball. Not too shabby for the rook. Even with last week's 7 point performance, at least he's dependable and there's always the chance of a touchdown. What it all boils down to is, he should be considered a weekly start in any league and you could do a lot worse. If, by some strange occurrence, he's on the waiver wire, for the love of God pick him up. But enough with gay Dwayne Bowe man love.
The Breakdown
Good Calls: 7
Bad Calls: 4
I wonder if Brad is still getting all the hatemail? I forgot to check this week.
Overall Grade: C+ (2.3)
He's on Fire
As you may have guessed from the intro, Brad did well in week 5. Although, I have a feeling some of his suggestion were nothing more than flat out guesses. But success is success, whether luck is involved or not. Really, fantasy football is half luck anyway so I wont penalize him.
I handed out a couple A's this week. Most notably for a start of Brandon Jacobs. I was totally against his pick when I first saw, mainly because I had Derrick Ward on a couple teams and I wanted him to do well instead of Jacobs. Luckily, they both had productive days, with Brandon getting the better and looking impressive in doing it. Brad also sat Chad Pennington even though, on paper, Chad had a good matchup against the porous Giants defense. Of course, the Giants can get pressure on any quarterback, which may have turned you off and why Brad only got a A- and not a solid A. Still, if the diminutive weak-armed lob tosser could have got the ball out of his hand, he should have done well. Seems that wasn't in the cards.
The Definition of Lame
Even on a good week, you should have come to expect some truly dimwitted calls on the part of Brad. This week was no different, though he did manage to avoid the omnipresent F which in and of itself is an accomplishment.
Brad's shocker special of the week, starting Donald Lee of the Packers, ended up as nothing more than a brief spark. I don't think those two fantasy points helped anybody - unless you were down by one and Donald got you the win.
Main gurus, including Brad, have suggested sitting Dwayne Bowe. To them, I have one thing to say, Get on the train before it leaves your ass behind. Seriously, this guy puts up numbers no matter who or how bad the quarterback is. The Chiefs have to throw the ball every once in a while and when they do, there are only two targets on the field, Tony and Dwayne. That's a 50% chance of getting the ball. Not too shabby for the rook. Even with last week's 7 point performance, at least he's dependable and there's always the chance of a touchdown. What it all boils down to is, he should be considered a weekly start in any league and you could do a lot worse. If, by some strange occurrence, he's on the waiver wire, for the love of God pick him up. But enough with gay Dwayne Bowe man love.
The Breakdown
Good Calls: 7
Bad Calls: 4
I wonder if Brad is still getting all the hatemail? I forgot to check this week.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Review: Ron Anish - Week 4 - Dud List
Let me just put this out there before I start. This review is not going to be good, mostly because after running 11 miles I can barely hold my head up. If your not one of the privileged few and are asking yourself, "What in the hell did he run 11 miles for?" Well, I'll tell you. I am in the unenviable position of being slotted to run a marathon at the end of the month. Really, 11 miles should be a walk in the park at this point but my training hit a snag when I went down with a knee injury and had to sit out a month and a half waiting for it to heal. I just started running again three weeks ago and tonight was my first foray into the double digits in two months. Needless to say, I'm a tiny bit tired right now. I'll try to muster something up for Mr. Anish but I make no promises.
Overall Grade: C (2.2)
The Good
Starting Brett Favre in week 4 was a good call, though I'm not sure why Ron doesn't have him on the stud list. He's only been one of the best, highest scoring, most consistent QB's in the league this year. What more does a guy have to do?
Sticking with the QB's but flipping to the pine riding side of things, Philip Rivers performed just as our guru expected racking up a gaudy 4 fantasy points. I pray to God no one out there is starting this loser. Wait, I'm being unduly harsh. Rivers does shoulder some of the burden but can you really point a finger any where but Norv's direction? I can't think of another situation where a new coach inherits a great team, one with the best record in the NFL, and systematically runs - or doesn't run, if you know what I mean - them into the ground to start the season. I thought firing that guy with the long name I don't feel like looking up or typing was a bad decision when the San Diego higher-ups decided to do it in the offseason and I think you can see that as usual, I was right. Of course they did perform much better in week 5 but I can't bring myself to trust them yet. Put together a streak of a couple games, then come talk to me.
Benching Warrick Dunn and Tatum Bell, you already knew that right? Atlanta's running game is in shambles right now and Martz has never had any use for a running back who can't catch a ball out of the backfield. Fearless prediction: neither of these guys goes shit all year.
Ron was hitting on sits, but missing on the starts in every category. Maybe that was just indicative of the week, but at least he was good for something with sit picks like Joey Galloway and Ronald Curry - two players you might have used with decent matchups but shouldn't have.
The Bad and The Ugly
I harped on it in my last review and by the grace of God Ron listened, though I doubt it was because of my prompting, and updated his Stud lists. Maybe not exactly the way I would have went but it's the thought that counts, right?
Well, it seems those updates didn't quite work for our boy this week. In the long run, I think they were the right moves, there was simply a lot of under-performing in week 4, which I know screwed a good many of us. Ron earned no better than a C+ on any stud list, and I think I'm pretty generous in the grading of those.
Sidenote: The fact that I haven't given anyone an A or B all year for their overall grade is a bit concerning. I thought the gurus would do better. I was wrong. I've got a system and I'm sticking to it. I may have to come up with some kind of curve if these guys keep sucking but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I'm confident someone can pull out a good week. The sun shines on a dog's ass every once in a while, right?
Speaking of bad, I'm watching the Monday night game as I write. Owens owners, how ya feeling right now? One pass for fourteen yards against a bruised and beaten secondary halfway through the 3rd quarter just isn't going to cut it. I guess Romo throwing four interceptions isn't helping anything. Ugh, that's 8 points down the drain. There may be a changing of the guard at the top of the QB rankings after this week. Buy low candidate? I wish.
The Breakdown
Quarterbacks: C+ (2.3)
Running Backs: C (2.0)
Wide Recievers: C (2.0)
Tight Ends: C+ (2.5)
Overall Grade: C (2.2)
The Good
Starting Brett Favre in week 4 was a good call, though I'm not sure why Ron doesn't have him on the stud list. He's only been one of the best, highest scoring, most consistent QB's in the league this year. What more does a guy have to do?
Sticking with the QB's but flipping to the pine riding side of things, Philip Rivers performed just as our guru expected racking up a gaudy 4 fantasy points. I pray to God no one out there is starting this loser. Wait, I'm being unduly harsh. Rivers does shoulder some of the burden but can you really point a finger any where but Norv's direction? I can't think of another situation where a new coach inherits a great team, one with the best record in the NFL, and systematically runs - or doesn't run, if you know what I mean - them into the ground to start the season. I thought firing that guy with the long name I don't feel like looking up or typing was a bad decision when the San Diego higher-ups decided to do it in the offseason and I think you can see that as usual, I was right. Of course they did perform much better in week 5 but I can't bring myself to trust them yet. Put together a streak of a couple games, then come talk to me.
Benching Warrick Dunn and Tatum Bell, you already knew that right? Atlanta's running game is in shambles right now and Martz has never had any use for a running back who can't catch a ball out of the backfield. Fearless prediction: neither of these guys goes shit all year.
Ron was hitting on sits, but missing on the starts in every category. Maybe that was just indicative of the week, but at least he was good for something with sit picks like Joey Galloway and Ronald Curry - two players you might have used with decent matchups but shouldn't have.
The Bad and The Ugly
I harped on it in my last review and by the grace of God Ron listened, though I doubt it was because of my prompting, and updated his Stud lists. Maybe not exactly the way I would have went but it's the thought that counts, right?
Well, it seems those updates didn't quite work for our boy this week. In the long run, I think they were the right moves, there was simply a lot of under-performing in week 4, which I know screwed a good many of us. Ron earned no better than a C+ on any stud list, and I think I'm pretty generous in the grading of those.
Sidenote: The fact that I haven't given anyone an A or B all year for their overall grade is a bit concerning. I thought the gurus would do better. I was wrong. I've got a system and I'm sticking to it. I may have to come up with some kind of curve if these guys keep sucking but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it. I'm confident someone can pull out a good week. The sun shines on a dog's ass every once in a while, right?
Speaking of bad, I'm watching the Monday night game as I write. Owens owners, how ya feeling right now? One pass for fourteen yards against a bruised and beaten secondary halfway through the 3rd quarter just isn't going to cut it. I guess Romo throwing four interceptions isn't helping anything. Ugh, that's 8 points down the drain. There may be a changing of the guard at the top of the QB rankings after this week. Buy low candidate? I wish.
The Breakdown
Quarterbacks: C+ (2.3)
Running Backs: C (2.0)
Wide Recievers: C (2.0)
Tight Ends: C+ (2.5)
Sunday, October 7, 2007
Keep Waiting
In a note unrelated to anything football, my apologies go out to the fans of the Cubs and Phillies. I'm sure Karabell is inconsolable right now. Your joy was so short lived. I can't say that I'm not happy with the outcome, but it would have been nice for you to at least get one win. If you go to the prom but don't dance with one girl, does it really count that you were there? If you went to the moon but didn't set foot on it, did you really go to the moon or were you just in space a little longer than most? Did you just get a little closer look than everyone else?As for my final review of week 4, I know I've been deliquent. I'll have it out tomorrow. Today, I'm going to do was I do best - get drunk, maybe a little high and watch some football. Hell yeah!
That's Just Sick
STD have long been thorn in the side of our collective existence. AIDS could be considered a pandemic, herpes is gross and disgusting and gonorrhea just plain burns. But there is an even more insidious form of infection making its way through the fantasy football world, working over team after team affecting millions. What is this infection you ask? It is what we thought it was, GTD or Game Time Decisions.
Those of you who have been infected by this debilitating disease know the frustration and sense of helplessness that are its primary symptoms. In rare cases where the infection attacks all fassets of a team, a losing week is almost a certainty. And in the most extreme cases can even lead to the death of a season. Unfortunately, although rarely permanent, there is no fast cure and many times the illness must be left to run its course.
So what can we do?
The best way to fight is to never get it in the first place. And that happens by getting vaccinated in the form of depth during the draft process. Depth is so important. The chances of a manager making through the entire season without a significant injury are slim to none. If you fancy yourself lucky enough to not need depth on your team then maybe you should go play on the WPT and win some real money. For the rest of us pedestrians, I say get some decent backups.
But all that's hindsight at this point, right? The draft's over and were in the fifth week of the season, the second week since the byes started dropping. So what now? Waiver wire work is mandatory, finding and securing the backups of players who have went down or soon may is essential and a lot of prayer to a nameless, faceless God, who if he really cared would have never given you this affliction in the first place, couldn't hurt.
This entire diatribe has but one point. Check your lineups on Sunday to make sure the assholes you hate with a passion from the day you drafted them are actually going to step on the field of play. Don't get laid up with a GTD.
Those of you who have been infected by this debilitating disease know the frustration and sense of helplessness that are its primary symptoms. In rare cases where the infection attacks all fassets of a team, a losing week is almost a certainty. And in the most extreme cases can even lead to the death of a season. Unfortunately, although rarely permanent, there is no fast cure and many times the illness must be left to run its course.
So what can we do?
The best way to fight is to never get it in the first place. And that happens by getting vaccinated in the form of depth during the draft process. Depth is so important. The chances of a manager making through the entire season without a significant injury are slim to none. If you fancy yourself lucky enough to not need depth on your team then maybe you should go play on the WPT and win some real money. For the rest of us pedestrians, I say get some decent backups.
But all that's hindsight at this point, right? The draft's over and were in the fifth week of the season, the second week since the byes started dropping. So what now? Waiver wire work is mandatory, finding and securing the backups of players who have went down or soon may is essential and a lot of prayer to a nameless, faceless God, who if he really cared would have never given you this affliction in the first place, couldn't hurt.
This entire diatribe has but one point. Check your lineups on Sunday to make sure the assholes you hate with a passion from the day you drafted them are actually going to step on the field of play. Don't get laid up with a GTD.
Friday, October 5, 2007
Review: Brad Evans - Week 4 - Rule of Wheee!
Finally, someone other than Ron goes over .500 on his picks for a week. Now I know what Tuesday's fireworks were for, Brad had a good week. And it couldn't have come at a better time. With his performance slipping weekly (or weakly?), it looked like he was surely headed to the gutter. I was close to recommending you don't look at his picks until further notice. But it seems he may be of use to us yet. Don't get too excited, I'm going to need some consistency first, before I blow this load.
Either way, I'm giving Brad back the nickname Yahoo! never took from him, Mr. Exclusive. And now, an exclusive look into Mr. Exclusive's week that was.
Overall Grade: C+ (2.4)
He's on Fire
Brad went 7 and 4 over the weekend, much better than any previous week. He's still hovering just below 50% on the year but another couple of weeks like this one and he'll get to greener pastures.
In fact, I'm extremely impressed with his flames for the week. He didn't puss out, take the easy path and choose the monsters of fantasy. He traveled the road less taken, walked the line and held up his part of the deal. Thank God someone did. I can feel my faith being restored as I write this. Although, looking at next weeks picks, I think I'll be back to singing REM's Losing My Religion. But I digress.
Chad Pennington, Shaun McDonald, Greg Jennings, Brian Greise, Brian Leonard and Ron Dayne made up his flaming fantasy force. Both wide receivers and quarterbacks performed like good little soldiers, provided their fantasy generals with usable amounts of ammo. The running backs, not so much. But to win a war you've got to lose a few good men right?
Sticking with the military theme (thanks Kellen Winslow), I don't know if Brad has any sniper training but I'm starting to think he might. Calling for a sit of Marvin "The Man" Harrison in any format is a bold play indeed. It makes me think he may have had something to do with Marvin's injury. Was Brad possibly the shooter on the grassy knoll? Could Marvin's knee problems have been cause by a bullet? We may need to get the FBI involved or at least Mystery Inc.
The Definition of Lame
I'm hesitant to say anything disparaging about Brad because I'm worried he might dome pop me from 300 yards as I walk across the office parking lot to my car. It would be a cool way to go, so I'll take my chances.
Brad, how in the hell could you suggest using Brian "I'm Worthless" Leonard last week. Good God man, get some sense. If Steve Jackson can't run behind that line, it's amazing Brian didn't die 2 minutes in. There's no way the Rams, as team, do anything this year, fantasy or real. Just please don't suggest we use Gus this coming weekend. I don't think I could take that.
Some of the greatest men in history have rose to prominence by fighting the social normal to enact real change for the betterment of everyone. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Ron Howard. So I can't fault you for going against the norm on this one. Oh wait, yes I can. Picking Matt Hasselbeck to flop last week was ludicrous and I'm not talking about rap even white people can enjoy. Everyone, and I mean everyone, else predicted Matt to have a good week against San Fran, and guess what, they were right. It's called majority rules and I'm glad I went with the majority and not with you in leagues that I have Hasselbeck. By the way, Hasselbeck is one of the most consistent QB's in fantasy so I would suggest never putting him in the lame category again. Even against a tough Pittsburgh defense. He's simply too good not to play.
The Breakdown
Good Calls: 7
Bad Calls: 4
And just in case you missed it, here's what Brad's most supportive fan has to say:
Either way, I'm giving Brad back the nickname Yahoo! never took from him, Mr. Exclusive. And now, an exclusive look into Mr. Exclusive's week that was.
Overall Grade: C+ (2.4)
He's on Fire
Brad went 7 and 4 over the weekend, much better than any previous week. He's still hovering just below 50% on the year but another couple of weeks like this one and he'll get to greener pastures.
In fact, I'm extremely impressed with his flames for the week. He didn't puss out, take the easy path and choose the monsters of fantasy. He traveled the road less taken, walked the line and held up his part of the deal. Thank God someone did. I can feel my faith being restored as I write this. Although, looking at next weeks picks, I think I'll be back to singing REM's Losing My Religion. But I digress.
Chad Pennington, Shaun McDonald, Greg Jennings, Brian Greise, Brian Leonard and Ron Dayne made up his flaming fantasy force. Both wide receivers and quarterbacks performed like good little soldiers, provided their fantasy generals with usable amounts of ammo. The running backs, not so much. But to win a war you've got to lose a few good men right?
Sticking with the military theme (thanks Kellen Winslow), I don't know if Brad has any sniper training but I'm starting to think he might. Calling for a sit of Marvin "The Man" Harrison in any format is a bold play indeed. It makes me think he may have had something to do with Marvin's injury. Was Brad possibly the shooter on the grassy knoll? Could Marvin's knee problems have been cause by a bullet? We may need to get the FBI involved or at least Mystery Inc.
The Definition of Lame
I'm hesitant to say anything disparaging about Brad because I'm worried he might dome pop me from 300 yards as I walk across the office parking lot to my car. It would be a cool way to go, so I'll take my chances.
Brad, how in the hell could you suggest using Brian "I'm Worthless" Leonard last week. Good God man, get some sense. If Steve Jackson can't run behind that line, it's amazing Brian didn't die 2 minutes in. There's no way the Rams, as team, do anything this year, fantasy or real. Just please don't suggest we use Gus this coming weekend. I don't think I could take that.
Some of the greatest men in history have rose to prominence by fighting the social normal to enact real change for the betterment of everyone. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Ron Howard. So I can't fault you for going against the norm on this one. Oh wait, yes I can. Picking Matt Hasselbeck to flop last week was ludicrous and I'm not talking about rap even white people can enjoy. Everyone, and I mean everyone, else predicted Matt to have a good week against San Fran, and guess what, they were right. It's called majority rules and I'm glad I went with the majority and not with you in leagues that I have Hasselbeck. By the way, Hasselbeck is one of the most consistent QB's in fantasy so I would suggest never putting him in the lame category again. Even against a tough Pittsburgh defense. He's simply too good not to play.
The Breakdown
Good Calls: 7
Bad Calls: 4
And just in case you missed it, here's what Brad's most supportive fan has to say:
Are you really that dumb? I mean, you're not smart, you act like a five-year old, and your predictions aren't anything special. They are closer to special-ed. The only sports you ever probably played are golf and pocket pool. Every week I end up watching the pre-game fantasy thing on Yahoo! and I don't go by anything you say and that's why I win. I have friends just like you and I beat them every year in everything. Tell your boss that if he wants someone who actually knows sports and can predict better than you to e-mail me. Do me a favor and I will do you one by not busting on you anymore. That is all.
– Jim, Lansford, PA
If you were Brad, why would you possibly post this? Let me know in the comments or try to top this guy. Whatever you want.Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Review: Jamey Eisenberg - Week 4 - Training Wheels
As you may remember, last week we took the training wheels and sent Jamey out into the world. Unfortunately, it seems he's returned more bloodied and beaten than before. Perhaps we were a little hasty in our hopes he could function on his own.
So, in light of recent events, I'm putting the training wheels back on and sending him out to do a few laps in the court before we hit the big bad streets again. In fact, Jamey may have regressed so far that a tricycle may be better suited or we could just teach him how to walk. Have a lollipop Jamey, we'll have you walking in no time (maybe).
Overall Grade: D+ (1.7)
Start 'Em Up
Ah, back to the familiar format. Thank the lord Jesus Christ in heaven. Nothing feels quite as comfy as familiarity, except maybe making the right picks in fantasy football. Jamey's never had the feeling but the following, though few, were twinges in the right direction.
I'm not sure if it was a product of the week or an act of God, but Jamey actually picked the QB's to sit at a competent level. Weird, I know. I'm sure it has nothing to do with the injures to the QB position before and during the course of the games last weekend. That couldn't have anything to do with why Marc Bulger didn't have a great game, right?
Come on, give me a break. When a guy gets a D+ score it's tough to find something positive. Moving on.
Sit 'Em Down
Where to begin? Well, at least the rule we established a couple of weeks ago still holds true. Anyone Jamey says to start, don't! Plain and simple.
Only one of his suggested six wide receivers topped seven points. And that was with a whopping 9 points. Awesome, right? Particularly heinous was the idea that Patrick Crayton should have been sat in week 4. Not that anyone had really thought to use him at that point, but to pull that name out of the hat, a seemingly innocent and fairly as of yet irrelevant name, and then be this incredibly wrong with it, now that takes talent. Jamey must have stuck his thumb up God's ass or something. I don't even want to know.
Four of his six starting running back suggestions flopped. He went 50% on the wide out sit' em and the tight end start 'em. His start of the week was Thomas Jones. His sit of the week was Jamal Lewis. Did you really need to be told that? The Raven's D isn't the D of old but they're still top 10 in rush defense. I'm stopping now and claiming the mercy rule.
The Breakdown
Start 'em Picks:
Start of the Week - D
QBs - D
Running Backs - F
Wide Receivers - F
Tight Ends - D
Sit 'em Picks:
Sit of the Week - B- (I'm being generous on this one)
QBs - B
Running Backs - B
Wide Receivers - D
Tight Ends - A (poor little guy's all alone)
Turns out I do ...
So playing off yesterday's post. I have a guy in my main $$ league who agreed to trade Laurence Maroney and Maurice Jones-Drew (his #1 and #2 draft picks) for Julius Jones and Randy McMichael. Now I think it's a horrendous trade, but that's not the point of this entry.
What's the Commissioner Veto (or league vote-agaisnt) there for? Is it to prevent collusion, or to prevent stupidity? The thought that these two teams were trying to stack one team never crossed my mind, until one of the managers swore twice that they weren't doing that (though never accused of it). But the guy giving up Maroney and MJD is in last place, and I guess got desperate to make a move.
I haven't voted against the trade yet. Eric Karabell said in a chat today that stupid trades happen in the NFL and MLB, so why not in fantasy? What do you think?
What's the Commissioner Veto (or league vote-agaisnt) there for? Is it to prevent collusion, or to prevent stupidity? The thought that these two teams were trying to stack one team never crossed my mind, until one of the managers swore twice that they weren't doing that (though never accused of it). But the guy giving up Maroney and MJD is in last place, and I guess got desperate to make a move.
I haven't voted against the trade yet. Eric Karabell said in a chat today that stupid trades happen in the NFL and MLB, so why not in fantasy? What do you think?
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
Overreacting much?
Why don't I ever get people like this in my fantasy leagues? A guy I know made the following fantasy moves this week:
Dropped - Marc Bulger
Added - Derek Anderson
Dropped - Marques Colston
Added - Patrick Crayton
Dropped - New England D/ST
Added - Detroit D/ST
So in his league, there are two top-5 round picks (Bulger, Colston) and a top 5 defense just sitting on the waiver wire. I can understand not starting Bulger and Colston every week, but there's no way they aren't deserving of a bench spot. You DON'T drop stud players because they have a slow start, or hit a slump. Obviously this is tougher in football than it is in fantasy baseball (07 league champion here) since we're 1/4 of the way through the season now. But Bulger (once Mr. 2,500 Steven Jackson gets healthy) will have some great weapons, and could easily have a break out game any week.
Fantasy moves are based as much on expectation as they are on performance. Detroit D gave up 56 points in a game. New England D is getting two of its top players back in the next couple weeks. I don't care if Detriot has outscored the Pats at this point; at the end of the year, that won't be the case.
Some top players this year are struggling. Don't be the moron that cuts someone loose because they had a bad start to a season. Or else that player could bite you in the ass when your opponent grabs him and then kicks your butt in the fantasy playoffs.
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