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NFL Draft: What the Giants, Cowboys and Eagles need
The NFL Draft gets underway in about an hour, and let me just say I can’t wait. Not because I’m such a draftnik, but because the deluge of pre-draft talk that dominates sports talk at this time of year is often nothing more than meaningless blather.
Everyone wants to make predictions about what each team is going to do in the first round, whom they are going to select. The sources behind the predictions provide a level of certainty that makes it seem like what the reporters are hearing is a done deal.
Then something happens on draft night no one expected, reducing the source’s scoop to scrap.
Case in point, recent reports surrounding what the New York Giants will do at No. 10 overall. Yesterday, sources told Ralph Vacchiano of the New York Daily News there is a “strong chance” the Giants will draft a linebacker at that spot. Specifically, Georgia’s Leonard Floyd.
Great. The Giants undoubtedly need a linebacker. Welcome, Leonard!
Then, from a different New York Daily News reporter this morning:
Based on these reports, the Giants will probably choose a defensive back in Round 1.
If reporters from the same news outlet in the team’s backyard can’t get on the same page, why should we put stock into any of the rumors we hear during draft season? Let’s just get on with the show already.
…
Oh. I guess I’ve buried the lede six feet under here, but the real point of this post is to get you to read something I wrote Wednesday for the Redskins team site Breaking Burgundy. The article has very little to do with the Redskins. Rather, it’s my last-minute assumptions of what positions and players the three other teams in the NFC East will be targeting over the next three days. There’s no actual reporting I’m swearing by. Just a lot of educated guesses.
And if you are interested in knowing what the Redskins might do during the draft, click literally any other link on Breaking Burgundy.
Enjoy the NFL Draft, if that’s your thing. If Ezekiel Elliot’s wardrobe is any clue, it should be an interesting show.
https://twitter.com/inluvwitdajojo/status/725807509722656768
Presenting the 857,224th edition of 2016 NFL Wild Card playoff predictions on the Internet
Because why try something original when you can play it safe and copy everyone else, right?
Let’s go through this weekend’s games and see what I think. Even I don’t know.
AFC WILD CARD
Chiefs @ Texans
The Chiefs won this matchup, 27-20, back in Week 1. As if that means something, because it totally does not. Kansas City’s last loss came before the World Series. Both of these squads have strong defenses, but the Texans don’t have the personnel, especially in their backfield, to outscore a Chiefs offense that has been steamrolling opponents without Jamaal Charles; they’ve held a 14-point average margin of victory during their 10-game winning streak. That train doesn’t stop here. Chiefs win, 24-17.
Steelers @ Bengals
I think this is the toughest call of the weekend. The absence of DeAngelo Williams is a bigger deal than perhaps most people realize; who knows what Pittsburgh will get out of Fitz Toussaint or Jordan Todman? And the Bengals have the corners — and the defense overall — to trouble a one-dimensional attack. However, a seemingly indomitable Antonio Brown, a now-motivated Martavis Bryant and a blossoming Markus Wheaton are a very, very tall order for any D. Ben Roethlisberger has shredded the Bengals at their place in recent meetings, and I think he will do it again. He has to if the Steelers have any shot. A.J McCarron, like Andy Dalton, can’t give Cincinnati its first playoff victory since 1990. Steelers win, 26-21.
I’ll probably ditch the Seahawks-Vikings game Sunday to go watch Leo’s latest plea for an Oscar.
NFC WILD CARD
Seahawks @ Vikings
It’s Oscar season, and I am way behind on my cinema. So I’ll most likely sacrifice watching this game to go to the movies. What Seattle’s passing game has done without Jimmy Graham and Marshawn Lynch* (and WITH Doug Baldwin) is captivating. But this one could turn unwatchable quickly. The only entertainment in the second half may come via NBC’s cameras scouring the crowd to give us shots of drunk dudes going shirtless with the wind chill at minus-20. The deep freeze will probably modify the scoring a little bit. Seahawks win, 23-10.
*While typing this up, I found out that Lynch won’t be available for this game. A surprise for sure, but not one that should change anyone’s opinion on this game. Lynch didn’t play when the Seahawks went up to Minnesota just a month ago and demolished the Vikings, 38-7.
Packers @ Redskins
I’m sure that I am setting myself up for failure here because it’s unlikely that visiting teams will go 4-0 this weekend. But I just can’t. I mean … Kirk Cousins over Aaron Rodgers?? I just … no, I can’t. I’ve seen the play of both men and their teams of late, but it feels wrong. It sends a cold shiver down my spine. For all of the problems that Green Bay has along its offensive line, with its running backs and receivers, in its defensive secondary without Sam Shields, I just can’t. For no reason other than Aaron freaking Rodgers. My least confident pick of this round. Packers win, 16-14.
Quick Hits About Week 2 In Fantasy Football
(Robert Sabo/New York Daily News)
— But let’s start with some Week 3 stuff.
Big news out of New York today: Hakeem Nicks will NOT play tomorrow versus the Carolina Panthers (self-promotion). It’s totally unexpected after Nicks and Tom Coughlin said Tuesday that he would play in this game. Nicks had his surgically repaired foot stepped on during this victory and came up limping after a couple of plays. Ramses Barden will probably start in his place. He’s a huge target and someone to look at if you’re really desperate. Victor Cruz might see about 40 targets in the game, for serious. Tight end Martellus Bennett is a solid play as well.
— My preseason crush, David Wilson, just keeps getting pushed to the back of the line. You’d think he would get some work with Ahmad Bradshaw sidelined, but instead, Andre Brown, who spent time with four teams in 2010 alone, gets 13 carries for 71 yards and scores a touchdown. How many carries did Wilson get after Bradshaw left early in the second quarter?
One. One freakin’ carry.
Maybe that changes tomorrow, but I have to believe that Brown, even though he’s not a long-term option, is at least a flex play against a defense that has allowed the fourth-most points to running backs through two weeks.
— Also, this whole Schiano-Coughlin disagreement about how to approach a kneel-down situation shouldn’t really be a big story, but since it is, let me say that I totally agree with Schiano. And I’m a Giants fan.
It’s a one-possession game, time is running out, so you should do anything within the rules to try to get the ball back. If that means bull-rushing the offensive line, so be it. You play until the game is over. Since the game isn’t over at that point, the Giants’ front and Eli Manning should be expecting the Buccaneers to do something to force a turnover.
A bunch of people are shouting about how you can get someone hurt, and that’s not how it’s done in the pros. Well, why not? Why concede with time on the clock when all you need is one touchdown? Yes, Schiano’s defense was dreadful in that fourth quarter. But that doesn’t mean it should just pack up and head home with five seconds on the clock.
I don’t want to bring up Joe Pisarcik here because that was almost 35 years ago, but you can’t tell me there is absolutely, positively, no chance whatsoever that Manning fumbles that final snap. It’s heavily unlikely, but I am totally cool with the Buccaneers going after him in that situation. If the rest of the league doesn’t like it, return the favor, and then be ready to guard yourself on that last snap as if it was the first from now on.
Quick Hits About Week 1 In Fantasy Football
Say hello to the 2012 edition of Tebowing
What was the most important event this weekend in fantasy football?
Well, it’s obviously the fact that I scored the most points in my one and only league, winning my matchup and becoming 1-0 for the first time since the Reagan Administration. I am sure I will now go 16-0.
It’s that kind of overreaction that I’ll try to stay away from in these recap posts, but it’s probably not possible. Through these eyes, blurred by liters of sweat and Malibu, here’s what I saw in Week 1.
— Damn, Ahmad Bradshaw looks old and slow. I’m not expecting him to make it through a full season, but he resembled something close to the 2009 and 2010 version of Clinton Portis out there. Not panicking yet.
— Cheer up, David Wilson. It was one bad game, but I still have faith in you over the long haul.
— If you haven’t done so already, you need to pick up Kevin Ogletree. You can’t just let a two-touchdown receiver lie on your waiver wire. But let’s not get carried away. Olgetree played on just 33 of Dallas’ 68 offensive snaps. He might get more playing time following this performance, but everyone who thinks this is 2012’s Laurent Robinson needs to take a step back and breathe. I don’t think he will get enough targets consistently, and he won’t be facing the Giants’ injury-riddled secondary every week.
— I have loved Reggie Wayne all throughout the preseason, and this game showcased why. The Colts’ defense is abysmal. Andrew Luck is going to have to throw it A LOT, and he has shown that he already trusts Wayne. For a rookie QB to have that kind of trust in a veteran wideout is a huge boon for the rook, and I expect a lot more games with 10+ targets for Wayne. And, oh yeah, Reggie Wayne may be 33, but he can still play. He has top-20 upside and a fantastic matchup this week versus Vikings, who couldn’t hinder Blaine Gabbert much.
— If you are a Matt Forte owner, you can’t be discouraged. You knew the deal when you drafted him; Michael Bush is going to be a big-time vulture this year. Forte is still going to be used all over the field as both a runner and passer. He’ll just have to score from outside the 5 (as he did Sunday when he scored from the 6). If you are banking on at least 1,500 total yards with 8-10 touchdowns from Forte, I promise that you won’t be disappointed.
— If you are a Michael Bush owner, be realistic. He’s not going to score twice per week, and touchdowns are generally difficult to project. He got 12 carries in this game, five of which came during the fourth quarter when the game was well in hand. If he doesn’t score, he’s going to really hurt your starting lineup. I would be looking to see if anyone in your league has an elevated opinion on Michael Bush, because now would be a good time to sell.
Read more…
Whining, Bitching And Moaning About My Fantasy Football Draft
This is me on about 17 days during the fall
I think we can all agree that it is now September*. As such, it’s time for me to return to my usual fall behavior: Maintaining an unhealthy obsession with fake football that will lead to much self-induced stress, 5:30 a.m. wake-up calls on Sundays and pushing the priorities of life to the back burner without a second thought.
I am not the only one.
*When I was a copy editor at UCF’s student newspaper, I remember some girl starting off with her opinions column with something like, “I think we can all agree that it is now December.”
Yes, it was December. There was no agreement to be reached; we all knew the date. Everyone had a calendar. No one was going to respond, “IT’S APRIL!” I often think about that line and how it is one of the worst sentences I have ever read by a writer of any sort.
The beginnings of my annual trip to the emergency room took place Thursday night with the only fantasy football draft I take part in every year. I do a ton of mocks; I pile research on top of research. Hours wasted preparing. It is all for one free, 12-team league among high-school friends. It was the time to make all that time and energy spent over the summer pay off.
And I think I screwed it up.
For the past three years, our teams have been decided through an auction draft. If you haven’t given it a try yet, you’re missing out. It takes strategy, patience and a lot of shit-talking. We have never done an actual live, everybody-in-one-room auction draft, although I’m sure that’s a blast. But even through computers, it just feels so good to be that guy who crushes people’s hopes and dreams, just as they think they are about to get Arian Foster or Ray Rice and then bid them up by $1 with one second left on the clock.
Over and over and over again.
You just have to be careful that you don’t go too far and end up spending too much for a player; those extra bucks will come back to haunt you.
I think I did that a couple of times Thursday night. I should have shown more patience, let people make it rain early and then be there to strong-arm anyone who challenged me in the later rounds. But I didn’t really do that and — well, let me just show you who is a member of “17 Wasted Sundays.”
Again, this is a 12-team league. All touchdowns count for six points and all turnovers cost you three. Everything else is standard.
Yes, Virginia, There Is An NFL Season
I’m sure you have been exposed today to articles that describe the recently extinct NFL lockout in hyperbolic terms, as if the media just survived the Black Death. I got an e-mail today with a story about the lockout from a former college professor of mine. The first line is: “Today was Day 129 of America Held Hostage.”
Yeah, what had become of the NFL over the past four-plus months sucked. I can’t put it more eloquently. It sucked, it bit, it blew.
But all I have is three words for ya: Are you ready?
No, I don’t mean that in the honky-tonk Hank Williams style. More like D-Generation X:
Are you rrrrrrrrrrrrready?!
Are you ready for actually meaningful fantasy football drafts?
Are you ready for the most hyperactive week in NFL history?
Are you ready to no longer care that Susan Nelson, David Doty, Jeff Pash, Bob Batterman, Jeff Kessler and Arthur Boylan actually exist?
Are you ready for an alarming amount of muscle pulls, strains, tweaks and sprains after some of the world’s greatest athletes aren’t even close to being in condition to do their job, which will really matter 48 days from now?
Plaxico Burress’ Fantasy Prospects for 2011
Who knows if Plaxico Burress “gets it.” Watching the re-air of his August 2009 interview with ESPN, you can see that Burress was a bit disgusted at that time. Not with himself but with his situation.
“I gotta wake up every morning and look at my leg, and I got a hole in my leg. And I gotta go to prison for almost killing myself.”
Actually, Burress had to go to prison for unlawfully possessing a gun. And while the penalty was harsh, that’s how it is in New York for such crimes. You don’t try to make yourself the victim for being ignorant about the law.
I don’t know if his point of view has changed in the past 22 months. But that’s the one of the perks of fantasy football — you can act like a general manager while not worrying about character concerns.
Terrell Owens has been a jerk for most of his career, but if he can get you 80 yards and a touchdown every week, he can say whatever he wants. You don’t care about chemistry; just win, baby!
Michael Vick slaughtered dogs, but if he can get 28 fantasy points per week (which is close to what he averaged in 12 games last season), you can find a way to push his failings as a person to the back. I know that sounds amazingly cold, but that’s how you have to approach fantasy sports. Biases must fly out the window.
However, Plaxico isn’t Vick. On the field, I mean. Vick appears to be in his prime and is considered by many to be a first-round pick in fantasy drafts this fall. Burress is a largely unknown commodity.
NFC East Fantasy Preview … Expedited
I wanted to give the NFC East a full breakdown, but as we are now just less than 14 hours away from the start of the NFL season, I know that is impossible if I plan to finish these previews before the first kickoff of the regular season. So, here are some quick fantasy hits about players in the NFC East.
I apologize for my poor planning. It serves me right for wanting to sleep, eat and leave my apartment. I should have known that this blog takes priority over those activities of leisure.
Who will be the LaRon Landry of 2009?
New York Giants: Quarterback Eli Manning has a ring and enough money to buy about three islands, but he is a horrible fantasy QB. He has a tendency to collapse in the second half, and I don’t think he’ll finish in the top-20 among quarterbacks this year.
John Madden to DeAngelo Hall: You Suck
The Redskins should expect less of this ...
Yesterday, I wrote that DeAngelo Hall is one guy that I can’t stand to watch. He’s just another loud mouth with a big name and a small game.
We’ve known this for a while now. The Falcons traded him. He even wasn’t good enough for the Raiders last year!
He’s now on the Redskins and despite the talk that he’s had good OTAs and the fact that he played pretty well last season, that mouth can’t help but make him look stupid every so often.
Yesterday, DeAngelo made it be known to a Redskins blogger that he’s a little upset. Not because he dropped an interception in practice or got beat on a double move.
No, D-Hall is mad because John Madden doesn’t like him anymore (You should read that entire article because DeAngelo goes on to compare himself to Michael Jackson, which is — well, typical DeAngelo).
More Talk, Less Walk 