by Anthony & Andy | Jul 25, 2014 | Fantasy Football
After serving several seasons as the caddy to Maurice Jones Drew, Rashad Jennings moved on to Oakland last season where he started the season … caddying for Darren McFadden. Luckily for Jennings, McFadden followed his typical form and got hurt, allowing Jennings to step into a starting role for the second half of the season.
Jennings took advantage, starting seven of the final eight and putting up solid numbers. The stretch earned him a contract from the New York Giants, where he enters training camp as the top dog. Can he handle the role and expand on his success from last season? Or will he be exposed as someone who is more appropriately suited to the role of complementary back?
Rashad Jennings
ADP: 65.3
RB: 25 (more…)
by Anthony & Tony | Jul 24, 2014 | Fantasy Football
Few off-seasons have been as strange as the one experienced by Carolina Panthers. Coming off a surprise trip to the playoffs, fans 
watched as virtually the entire WR corps was traded or allowed to leave as free agents. The team is left with TE Greg Olsen and a collection of rookies and free agents that will cobble together Cam Newton’s supporting cast for 2014. The highest expectations, arguably, have been put on 10-year veteran Jerricho Cotchery.
Jerricho Cotchery
ADP: 170
WR: 67
(more…)
by Tony & Andy | Jul 23, 2014 | Fantasy Football
Starting to cobble together your fantasy football draft lists? Not sure where to place certain guys? We’re here to help. Throughout the next several weeks we’ll be providing the buy and sell arguments based on their average draft position at ESPN.
Cordarrelle Patterson
ADP: 65.7
WR: 23
Buy:
You’ll read a bit over the next few days on these pages about the work Turner has done as a coach in padding the stats of tight ends. That data is not wrong—he’s been good for guys like Antonio Gates and Jordan Cameron, without question.
But when he has been the offensive coordinator and not the head coach, a look at the stats generated by his players shows a couple things: RBs catch passes, the ball gets spread around a lot, and dynamic WRs break out. Last year it was Josh Gordon, who put up 87 catches, 1,646 yards and nine TDs. In 2006 the rather pedestrian duo of Arnaz Battle and Antonio Bryant put up 59 and 40 catches respectively with Alex Smith at QB on a bad San Francisco squad. The 2001 San Diego Chargers were led by Curtis Conway’s 71 catches, but Jeff Graham had another 52 and LaDainian Tomlinson had 59. (more…)
by Anthony Maggio | Jul 23, 2014 | 2014 season, Fantasy Football
Teams are already reporting to training camp, which means its that time of year to start putting your fake team together! As we did a year ago here at Zoneblitz, we’ll be provided a standard league fantasy football cheat sheet that will be regularly updated to reflect news, injuries, position battles, and anything else that requires a shift in thinking. Print this out, take it with you to your fantasy draft, and dominate your league!
Got questions? Well we’ve added my email address and Twitter handle to this year’s cheat sheet so you know where to find me. I’d wish you good luck this season, but with my help, you won’t really need luck.
2014 Fantasy Football Rankings – Download – LAST UPDATED: 8/10/2014, 11:48 PM
by Anthony & Andy | Jul 16, 2014 | Fantasy Football, NFL Random Thoughts
Way back in 2006, a young sports reporter walked into the doors of Fanball world headquarters wearing a freshly dry-cleaned suit looking for a full-time gig in fantasy sports. After getting a lot of weird looks from the staff for overdressing, I met with the publisher, Bo Mitchell, who after several bribes finally relented and offered me a job. These days, Bo is vice president of content at SportsData, so he’s still kind of a big deal. He also was a guest co-host with me for one glorious Sunday on ESPN 1500’s Fantasy Football Sunday last season.
At any rate, Bo’s a guy whose brain is ripe for picking. And with mock draft season here, I figured it’s time to touch base with Mr. Mitchell to talk shop. So, Bo, my first question: Assuming your top three running backs are AP, Charles and McCoy, in some order, who is fourth, why is he fourth, and would you draft him over Jimmy Graham, Peyton Manning and Calvin Johnson?
Bo:
That day in 2006 was the last time I’ve seen you over-dressed, Magsh.
Bo Mitchell
As for your question, you’ve astutely identified what seems to be the consensus top tier in this year’s drafts. From there, owners need to consider the three players you listed (Manning, Johnson, Graham) as well as a few other running backs, including Matt Forte, Marshawn Lynch, Eddie Lacy and probably even Montee Ball.
Typically at this point of a draft I would rather take the top player at another position rather than the fourth-best running back. I acknowledge that the “safe” running backs dry up in a hurry this year and I’d forfeit any chance of having a top-10 runner by passing on one with the fourth pick. However, “top-10” running backs go bust in fantasy football terms more than any other position. Even those top three aren’t immune.
Therefore, I’d likely lean toward Calvin Johnson. Manning’s numbers are going to regress somewhat and the quarterback position is loaded. I like Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees just as much as Peyton. All three are very safe. Graham is tempting and he’s a differentiator given the gap between him and the next-ranked tight end on most owners’ cheat sheets. But I’m not sure that gap is as canyon-esque as some folks think. For instance, if (and it’s a sizeable if) Rob Gronkowski stays healthy, he’ll post similar numbers at a fraction of the price. That’s the thing: you can get tight ends that really should put up good numbers (e.g. Julius Thomas, Vernon Davis, Jordan Cameron and Kyle Rudolph) several rounds later.
I’m torn, but if I drafted today I’d select Megatron by a hair over Graham and Forte. (more…)
by Anthony Maggio | Jun 16, 2014 | Fantasy Football
My cousin, Karen, died last fall after a battle with breast cancer that was nothing short of heroic. She was 54 years old and left behind her husband and four adult children. My grandfather’s struggle with cancer ended eight days after the birth of my son in 2012. These are only my family’s most recent run-ins with this awful disease, and mirror the experiences of countless others.
My dear friend and former colleague, Bo Mitchell, and his family have been run through the ringer by cancer. But as he and his lovely wife Kari have admirably shown through their efforts with the RE/MAX Results Breast Cancer Ride and the AttaBoy Ride, cancer’s not just gonna get away with it. I’m honored to have been asked to help support their efforts to continue raising money to fight cancer by participating in the first ever Breast Cancer Fantasy Football League!
This 48-team league includes four divisions, with each division featuring a local media member/fantasy football expert. I’ll be taking all comers in the End Cancer division, The Huddle’s John Tuvey will be doing his best to manhandle the Find a Cure division, Kare 11’s Dave Berggren will take your best shot in the Save 2nd Base division, and Bo himself will attempt to hold down the Beyond the Pink Ribbon division. Rather than break down the particulars in this space, here’s a link to all the who/what/when/where/why information. http://www.charityeventsofminnesota.org/site/PageServer?pagename=FantasyFootball. All of the money raised will go to support foundations fighting breast cancer, but there will be an engraved league trophy to go along with some serious bragging rights.
Before you sign up, though, please note that there will be a live draft on Saturday, August 23rd, at Poor Richard’s Common House in Bloomington. You MUST be able to attend this live draft event in order to participate. OK, now click on the link above and sign up, because space is limited. I look forward to beating you down in our head-to-head matchup, and teaming with you to beat down breast cancer.
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Patrick in short: im in favor of seniors who played from 1970 onward most of the posters favor pre 1970's…
opps that was weird - I posted my middle name by mistake-Paul
on what?
lets just say i have a difference of opinions from you guys and leave it at that
Good calls, Paul ... with Kiper, he will defend a pick come-hell or high water, which does make for interesting…