Fantasy Football - RI style
Friday, September 03, 2010
My favorite football team doesn’t play in the NFL. We (and yes, I refer to them as we) don’t play in the CFL, AFL, UFL or XFL. We aren’t in the Big East or Big 10 and we certainly aren’t bright enough to compete in the Ivy League.
Nope, my favorite team plays in the West Haven Fantasy Football League (WHFFL) and over the years, we’ve gone by a variety of nicknames – The Fighting Danny’s, The Fresh Ones, The Romosexuals and this year, Rice to the Top. Founded in 2002, the league is made up of a group of friends who have known each other since Pee Wee Football. Over the years, we’ve altered the rules, expanded from eight to ten teams and raised the stakes to keep things interesting, but most importantly, we’ve made a commitment to get together every single season to drink cheap beer and draft our teams.
That’s what people who criticize fantasy football don’t understand. There’s a social component. Our league started at a high school lunch table, but now four of us live in different states, two of us are engaged and only one still lives at home with his mom. We’ve grown up, which means the only times we’re all guaranteed to see each other is at our weddings and our drafts.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTFantasy football doesn’t just bring you closer to your friends; it brings you closers to the players. Remember that scene in A Bronx Talewhen Sonny says Mickey Mantle wouldn’t give C’s father money if he asked? Well if you had Titans running back Chris Johnson last season, chances are he helped you with January’s heat bill. I suppose the same could be said if you just bet different games each week, but playing fantasy means you never have to go see Big Sal on Federal Hill. Quite simply, it’s better for your health.
If you aren’t among the 30 million people already playing fantasy football, I implore you to give it a chance. It makes the game infinitely more interesting. If you are in the club, this column will be for you. Every Tuesday, I will break down the week that was in the NFL and preview the next slate of games, complete with analysis, waiver wire picks and trade suggestions.
(And I promise, from the bottom of my heart, that I won’t talk about Rice to the Top too much. I realize you care about my fantasy team about as much as I care about your bad beat poker story. )
This week, I’m going to help you prepare for your draft by giving you the top five players at each position as well as the best sleeper selections and the avoid-at-all-costs picks that everyone needs to know about.
Quarterbacks
1. Drew Brees – Super Bowl winning quarterback threw for at least 298 yards 10 times last season.
2. Matt Schaub – Led the NFL in yards and completions and throws to the best receiver in the league.
3. Peyton Manning – Always reliable and has plenty of options to throw to.
4. Aaron Rodgers – Arguably the best in the NFL, but shaky offensives line allows too many sacks.
5. Tom Brady – Contract year for Brady. Contract year for Randy Moss. Watch out.
Quarterback Sleeper
Carson Palmer – How quickly we forget what a great player Palmer was a few years ago. At 30, he’s healthy and has a better receiving corps this year than the one he led to the playoffs last season.
Buyer Beware
Brett Favre – Don’t let last season fool you. Favre might be the all-time leader in touchdown passes, but he’s also the all-time leader in throwing touchdown passes to the other team. The old gunslinger has always been known for trying to do too much, and without his top receiver, expect more wild throws that will doom the Vikings and your fantasy team.
Running Backs
1. Chris Johnson – Fastest guy in the league and will get more carries than anybody.
2. Adrian Peterson – Fumbled too much last season, but is always consistent.
3. Ray Rice – If not for Johnson, Rice would have been the breakout player of the year last season.
4. Ryan Mathews – A star before he ever played a down. Mathews is in the perfect system to flourish.
5. Shonn Greene – Will get the bulk of the carries for the favorites in the AFC.
Running Back Sleeper
Matt Forte – A top five pick from a year ago, Forte had a dismal 2010 playing for a dismal team. The Bears should be much improved this season and Forte should bounce back.
Buyer Beware
Steven Jackson – If he were on any other team in the league, Jackson might deserve to be the top pick. But he managed to score just four touchdowns for the woeful Rams and has only managed to score more than eight times once in his career. Let someone else suffer with Jackson.
Wide Receivers
1. Andre Johnson – The one non-running back worth taking in the top five of your entire draft.
2. Brandon Marshall – Playing in warm weather with a better quarterback on a better team.
3. Randy Moss – Led the league in touchdowns and now wants to get paid.
4. Reggie Wayne – Would have put up Johnson-caliber numbers if not for a late-season knee injury.
5. Calvin Johnson – Ready to bounce back following an awful year. Lions might be improved this year.
Wide Receiver Sleeper
Percy Harvin – Not a huge sleeper, but the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year will be Favre’s top target in 2010.
Buyer Beware
Larry Fitzgerald – Not his fault, but is dealing with a quarterback that has about as much interest in football as Snooki has in reading. Good luck, Fitz.
Tight Ends
1. Dallas Clark – Led tight ends in touchdowns last year. Still has Manning throwing to him. No change.
2. Antonio Gates – Plays like a wide receiver and will get plenty of red zone targets.
3. Brent Celek – Best friends with Philly’s new quarterback Kevin Kolb. How’s that for chemistry?
4. Jason Witten – Finally healthy, Witten and the Cowboys are thinking Super Bowl this season.
5. Jermichael Finley – Quickly becoming the new Gates. Sky’s the limit for this guy
Tight End Sleeper
Chris Cooley – Always seems to be the sleeper in this category. Now has Donovan McNabb as a quarterback. Cooley should have another nice season.
Buyer Beware
Tony Gonzalez – Showed signs of age last season. Might hang ‘em up after 2010.
Defense
1. New York Jets – Even without Revis, the Jets have the best defense in the league. But Revis will sign.
2. Dallas Cowboys – Will lead the NFL in sacks this year. Mark my words.
3. Philadelphia Eagles – Blitzes more than anybody. Lots of pressure. Should score a lot.
4. Pittsburgh Steelers – Defense will need to be even more effective while waiting for Big Ben to return.
5. Baltimore Ravens – Aging, but still the scariest defense in the league.
Defense Sleeper
New England Patriots – Haven’t looked great in the preseason. But will probably have a lot of interceptions and chances for to turn turnovers into points.
Buyer Beware
New York Giants – Allowed 40 or more points five times last season. Secondary is woeful.
Kickers
1. Nate Kaeding – Best kicker in the league over the last three years.
2. Stephen Gostkowski – Pats should lead the league in scoring, which means plenty for Gostkowski.
3. Garrett Hartley – Missed the first 12 weeks of last season, but was great in the playoffs.
4. Ryan Longwell – Highest field goal percentage of his career last season.
5. David Akers – Always reliable. Virtually a guarantee when kicking under 40 yards.
Kicker Sleeper
Neil Rackers – Now playing in Houston for a team that will score in bunches.
Buyer Beware
Matt Prater – Was a top ten fantasy kicker last season, but Denver will struggle to get past mid-field all season. Prater’s numbers will surely suffer.
Related Articles
- NFL News & Notes
- Cordischi’s NFL News & Notes: Preseason
- Pats Cut Farnham / NFL News & Notes
- Brown’s Buddy Farnham Signs With the Patriots
- Buddy Farnham Re-Signs with Patriots
