Fantasy Football Advice

Hakeem Nicks His Foot And His Fantasy Teams

SkyMay 25, 2012 by: Sky Category: 2012 Fantasy Football, 2012 Fantasy Football Draft, Fantasy Football Analysis

Hakeem Nicks fractured his fifth metatarsal in his right foot on Thursday while trying to learn the salsa dance from Victor Cruz, effectively putting his fantasy relevance this year into serious doubt.  Though the timetable put out by the physician says 12 weeks, it was noted that team mate Prince Amukamara had the same injury last year and didn’t even practice until 15 weeks later.  On one hand, that puts Hakeem on track to start the season right on time.  On the other hand, did ya NOT see how bad some football players were with a shortened training camp last year?  I’d be willing to speculate on Hakeem at the right price in drafts this year but something tells me he’ll be too rich for my blood when they start going live.  It’s one thing to fully heal and practice it’s another thing to get your timing down.  Plus, it’s his foot.  I don’t know about you, but in order for me to reach my full potential vertical (I can clear an iPhone box with a strenuous bound), I have to use my feet to do it.  Cuts get dicey like your name was ginsu when your foot doesn’t plant like it should.  Here’s my strategy on Hakeem and feel free to follow it if you’d like since, well, you come to this site for information like this.  Let someone else draft him.  You’re going to get enough of your headache from your runningback tandems most likely, you don’t need full on migraines.  This news is both a boon and a rub for Cruz owners.  Though he’s going to see increased targets, he’s also going to be the focus early in the season by opposing defenses.  I already felt he was going to regress this year and this sure doesn’t change my mind.  Overall, I feel this simply muddies the WR waters in NYG.  There’s the rookie of interest in this story – Rueben Randle – but I wonder if Ramses Barden gets a shot first.  Domenik Hixon and his injury history doesn’t make me interested at all.  Obviously, we’ll need to see how training camp unfolds but whatever happens, if Eli Manning doesn’t get into a groove with one of them, he might start having some emotional issues.    In other news…

Kellen Winslow - Traded to a team that doesn’t throw to their TE’s.  Fantasy Football analysis of the day: ‘this is not good for Winslow’s 2012 fantasy value’.  Couple that with the fact he has Zach Miller competing for targets and this may be the first time in my life that I don’t want to touch a good tight end.

Dallas Clark - Signed with the Buccaneers, replacing Winslow as Josh Freeman‘s security blanket.  He could and should finish near the top 10 for tight ends in 2012, despite Freeman’s attempt to ruin the fantasy value of all those around him.

David Clowney – Tweeted to the world that he was HIV free.  Why?  I assume it was to get himself on Razzball because I had no other reason to talk about him without this.  Let’s all #congrats him, shall we?

1 COMMENT

2012 Fantasy Football Team Preview: Houston Texans

Jonathan GilpinMay 24, 2012 by: Jonathan Gilpin Category: 2012 Fantasy Football, 2012 Fantasy Football Team Preview

For yet another season, Razzball will be interviewing local NFL beat writers for some in-depth actual football knowledge to sway some insight in our fantasy football knowledge.  Keep your eye out for an interview for every NFL team through the summer and check out each one on the “2012 Fantasy Football Team Previews” link.  Our first installment comes courteous of Stephanie Stradley who writes for a prominent Houston Texans blog:

1.  Arian Foster persevered after the infamous “anti-awesome white stuff” tweet, and even after missing time, was one of the best fantasy running backs in 2012.  He is now the clear number one selection in 2012 fantasy football.  Do you have any concerns regarding his workload the past few seasons?  And do you think we see about the same workload for Ben Tate spelling Foster if both backs stay healthy?

It’s hard to predict injuries, but as illustrated by the contract they gave Foster, the Texans will want to give him every opportunity to succeed. I see them continuing to use Tate in the change of pace, middle of the field role, giving Foster breathers. In blow out games, Tate will get more opportunities. Against bad teams, it’s a possibility that both will get big carries.

The Texans staff/players believe that the defense will continue to improve as the players get a full camp to implement the entirety of Wade Phillips’ defensive scheme. Assuming average to above average defensive performance, the Texans will continue to maintain their preferred game plan: use their offense to get to an early lead and then use the running game to chew clock and wear opposing defenses out in the second half.

Rick Dennison has made it clear since he became the offensive coordinator that his first choice is to impose the Texans will in the red zone with the run. Foster will get the majority of those touches assuming health.

The biggest question mark for the offense is the unproven players at the right tackle and right guard positions replacing the tough options of Eric Winston and Mike Brisiel. The Texans have very good offensive line coaching, but until the replacement players prove that they can play a 16-game regular season, we will not know for certain.

2.  Speaking of healthy, Andre Johnson could easily have been the best WR of the past decade if he could stay on the field.  There’s no denying how dominant he is when he plays.  Is there any talk of his off-season workouts or any plans he has regarding injury prevention for the upcoming season?  Or should fantasy owners expect a few games out again this year?

Andre Johnson is one of the fittest people on the Houston Texans at any age and always comes into camp in shape. The hamstring issues that he suffered last season were a first for him. In his career, he’s had 5 years of 16 games, 2 years of 13 games, 1 year of 9 games, and last year with 7 games (though he was likely held out longer than he wanted to as a playoff precaution).

In his years with Kubiak, whether he has missed games or not, 4 of the 6 years he’s had over 1,000 yards, and has always led the team in explosive plays. The Texans offensive scheme typically is set up to go to the open target, but when Andre Johnson is healthy, the target preference is usually AJ and then everybody else.

As a player ages, certainly injuries are a concern, but if he is healthy, he will be the highest performing receiving target for the team even if the Texans get into more run oriented games. I do not think fantasy players should expect a performances of 1500+ yards as we saw in 2008 and 2009 because the Texans had to throw the ball a lot due to poor defensive performances and falling behind in games. Even so, 1100+ yards would not be surprising—he was on pace for those numbers last year with an improved defense before he was hurt.

3.  Keeping the theme going (sorry to be so injury-dreary!), but Matt Schaub has had numerous injuries keeping him off the field as well.  I know a lot of his injuries have been fluky, but do you see the Texans’ offense soaring again or will Schaub be slowed from his Lisfranc surgery and missed time?

Last year was a tough one for injuries for the Texans offense as Schaub, Johnson and Foster only played together for less than 4 quarters last year. As with many other teams, you need to look at public injury statements about players with a great degree of skepticism. However, there is nothing with the Texans off-season moves that make you think that Schaub is expected to miss time.

All the public statements given by the Texans and by Schaub are that his recovery is on course.

For fantasy players, it is worth looking in particular at the Texans matchups week-to-week. Schaub is going to be facing some very good pass rushers, and with the changes on the Texans offensive line, it will be interesting to see if they can conduct their offense as usual and whether Schaub can stay in one piece.

4.  With the departure of Joel Dreessen to the Broncos, Owen Daniels looks to have a huge role in the offense like he did in 2009 before he tore his ACL in week 8.  Daniels was destroying it that year before that unfortunate injury and hasn’t really put up the numbers since.  Is Daniels in store for a big year?

Joel Dreessen last year acted as the sneaky TD vulture at the goal line with an absurd TD-to-catch ratio. Dreessen would end up being the guy not covered as defenses were paying attention to other Texan weapons. I think the biggest drag on Daniels’ numbers will be the Texans preference to run 2-TE sets in order to disguise run/pass.

They’ve wanted to run a lot of 2-TEs more frequently in the past, but had trouble due to injury at the TE position. The decrease in Daniels’ numbers likely has less to do with injury and Dreessen getting more looks, and more about the vast improvement of the Texans running game with offensive coordinator Rick Dennison and the addition of Arian Foster. More reliable targets and a stronger rushing attack means less targets for Daniels.

Schaub has a good rapport with Daniels, and depending on matchups, will have solid games here and there.

5.  For years Jacoby Jones was a fantasy sleeper in the Texans offense, but never delivered and now is with the Ravens.  Kevin Walter has always been the number two, but has never had a huge season and is coming off his worst year since 2006.  At the time of this interview it appears Walter is the number two entering 2012, but there’s got to be another receiver that emerges, perhaps third-round pick DeVier Posey.  Who would you pick to have the biggest season behind Johnson and Walter and do you think a receiver surpasses Walter on the depth chart at some point in 2012?

People who picked Jacoby Jones to be a fantasy sleeper for the Texans probably don’t pay attention to what the Texans offensive scheme is supposed to do.

The Texans offense has the same fantasy football issue that a lot of prolific offenses have: Too many targets. Receivers not named Andre Johnson may have big games here or there depending on matchups, but none will likely in the short term be a consistent receiving target.

Gary Kubiak wants his players to meticulously know the playbook to execute the plays exactly as called, so he is very reluctant to put offensive skill position rookies on the field too fast if he has other veteran options. Assuming Andre Johnson and Kevin Walter say healthy, they will be the preferred 1 and 2 options on the field.

Even so, given Johnson and Walters’ ages of 30, the Texans are going to want to develop their future receivers. Fantasy players should monitor coaching discussions of the wide receivers during camp, particularly evaluations of things like blocking, route running, and understanding the playbook, all critical to the offensive scheme working as a whole.

Posey may have a bit of advantage given where he was drafted, but for the skill sets that compliment Johnson and Walter, a player like Keshawn Martin with return skills may get quicker playing time. And as Arian Foster demonstrates, if an undrafted player outperforms those who were chosen in the draft or were brought in as free agents, they can get time too.

It was the fantasy players who paid attention to Texans camp coach talk in 2010 who picked up Arian Foster in their drafts and were the beneficiaries of his breakout year.

Even so, short term and from a fantasy perspective, the most appealing fantasy players will be Arian Foster, Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub. Owen Daniels may be a good value choice for someone who needs a TE. There are too many playmakers for the Texans for the rest of the players to contribute much in other than desperation waiver-wire pickups.

 

Stephanie Stradley is a lawyer who writes a popular Houston Texans blog for the Houston Chronicle online. You can find her on Twitter @StephStradley where she frequently gives out Texans-specific fantasy football information. You can also find her writing for her personal blog at www.StephStradley.com

2 COMMENTS

A Forte At The Goal Line Is Worth A Touchdown to Bush

SkyMay 22, 2012 by: Sky Category: 2012 Fantasy Football, 2012 Fantasy Football Draft, Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Analysis

Alright, stop me if you’ve heard this one before: ‘All Chris Carter does is catch touchdowns’.  Alright so you have, but how about ‘All Matt Forte does is score touchdowns’?  No, that would be news to you, wouldn’t it?  That’s because in 60 games and with a total of 1237 career rushing and receiving touches, Forte has 30 TDs.  So he has averaged a touchdown every other game, you’d say, but his career line goes a little more like this: 12/4/9/4.  Now that’s not a badly formatted date, that’s his total touchdowns from each season since 2008.  As anyone can tell you, it’s hard to predict touchdowns but there’s one thing you can predict besides the next M. Night Shyamalan movie being disappointing: what a team thinks about it’s players based on the moves they make.  With that, in steps Michael Bush.  You’re probably familiar with him from his days in black and grey with the Raiders.  What you may not be quite familiar with was where he finished in rankings last year for RBs.  Nestled between the muscular backside of Steven Jackson and in front of Reggie Bush was Michael for 11th place according to ESPN standard scoring.  What’s even more intriguing about Michael is his career line.  Over 61 career games, Michael Bush has crossed the goal line 22 times.  However, he’s done it in a little over half the combined touches (723) it has taken Forte to tally his 30 TDs.  So what’s with all the math and will there be a test later, you say?  To answer your last question, no, but to answer the original one, it’s to prove that you might be overspending to get Forte’s services for this year if he plays with the Bears.

Now for some non-fantasy talk that has fantasy relevance.  As of this writing, Forte has not signed the long-term contract he has requested even though it’s being treated like a foregone conclusion, despite how unhappy he was to get slapped with the franchise tag.  Some people say the wrinkle of LeSean McCoy and his contract are to blame as it’s changed Forte’s price.  If it did, I’d like to think a level headed team would just stay with Bush and let Matt test the waters but I’m sure that won’t happen.  Forte lovers out there, I have news for you.  Those 1237 touches come with a 26 year old running back, not a 23 year old one.  Michael Bush is 27 and only has those 723 touches.  Smart money would use the four years of Bush while drafting younger backs as a future replacement.  While this won’t happen, as summer drags on there will be a higher and higher likelihood that Forte could become a hold out.  Unlike Allen Iverson, football players need to practice to be ready to go for the upcoming season.

What was this all about, you say?  Lotta words, but what are you supposed to do?  My words of advice is to try and avoid Forte in the drafts and feel free to nab yourself Michael.  At worst, you’ve still got the goal line back.  I double this stance if Forte’s contract talks stretch on too long.  Who knows, maybe Forte won’t like how much you paid for him in the draft and holds out on you too.

11 COMMENTS

Cutler Gives His OL A Thumbs Down

SkyMay 17, 2012 by: Sky Category: 2012 Fantasy Football

For some reason, Jay Cutler is concerned about his offensive line this season.  I don’t know why that could be; it has been quite an offensive group since he’s been in Chicago.  Starting from 2009, the Chicago Bears have given up 110 sacks.  That would give any man cold feet and I’m sure Kristen Cavallari can attest.  There’s a difference between a running quarterback like Cam Newton and a running scared quarterback like Cutler, namely the urine stains the Bears facilities has to wash out after each game.  Though I’m sure having Brandon Marshall as the number one receiver over Roy Williams will help, he still needs longer than one second to pass the ball.  Is it any wonder Cutler has been using animal therapy to deal with his fears?  I’m not gonna get excited about Cutler for fantasy purposes this year.  In fact, I bite my thumb at the idea of it.  In other news-like information:

Vince Young – Signed with dream team 2.0 last Friday – also known as ‘whatever team will pay him to still play’ – joining the Buffalo Bills to be the backup for Ryan Fitzpatrick.  This move might actually have fantasy relevance given Ryan’s late-season swoon after signing his extension during the 2011 season.  Of course, only bye week and two quarterback league relevance but that counts right?

Wes Welker – Signed a franchise tender on Tuesday, which is almost as tasty as a chicken tender.  Last year was off the charts for Welker and his fantasy owners, especially in PPR leagues.  We can’t assume a repeat but if he gives us a 2007 or 2008 season again it will be almost as useful, more or Wes.

Adrian Peterson – Says he’ll be very surprised if he doesn’t play week 1.  Sky at Razzball says he’d be very surprised if he did.  Who you gonna believe?  I know it’s early to test your faith but believe me, athletes say the darndest things.

Christian Ponder – In other Viking news, Ponder was extremely happy to see the Vikings sign OL Matt Kalil.  Though on the surface Ponder had a bad rookie campaign, you have to consider some factors.  One, he played with a hip pointer injury over his last five games.  Two, he was a rookie dropped into the starting role about mid-way through a training campless season.  Three, blindside isn’t just a movie title, kids.  There could be some sneaky value in Ponder this year, even if Peterson doesn’t come back straight away.  We wrote a lot about this kid in a newsie type blurb.  Sounds like we’ll need to deliberate about him as hard as he does his faith with a sleeper post in the future…

Darren McFadden – States that everything is ‘full speed ahead’ for the 2012 season.  I’m going to let you in on a big secret: ‘McFadden is very good when he is healthy’.  Oh, you knew that already?  Alright then, another secret: ‘He never stays healthy’.  So you knew that too?  So why are you drafting him then?  He always goes higher than he should based on his talent.  It’s hard to replace your 2nd or 3rd round pick and when you have someone who’s never played a full season going that high, you’re asking for the headache.  But if you want to draft him, go ahead.  Go on, I’m Darren ya!

 

 

16 COMMENTS

First Expert 2012 Fantasy Football Mock

Jonathan GilpinMay 15, 2012 by: Jonathan Gilpin Category: 2012 Fantasy Football, 2012 Fantasy Football Draft

It’s May isn’t it? Something like four months until football starts?  But it’s never too early to see how the chips are falling, albeit really early chips.  Like when Erik Estrada wasn’t as famous.

I was hoping for some specific guys early on, and all my hopes were crushed.  The rankings this year are going to vary dramatically based on several position battles, free agent moves, rookies etc.  Which is par for the course, but it isn’t usually as dramatic in the first few rounds.  The top of the rankings are going to get shaken up more than a Bond Martini.

Here’s how my roster shaped up, in a 12-Team non-PPR Mock with industry guys like Scott Pianowski, Andy Behrens, Christopher Liss, and others:

QB – Aaron Rodgers

RB – Matt Forte

RB – Steven Jackson

WR – Marques Colston

WR – DeSean Jackson

WR – Torrey Smith

TE – Tony Gonzalez

FLEX – Reggie Bush

Bench – Malcolm Floyd

Bench – Mikel Leshoure

Bench – Anquan Boldin

Bench – Daniel Thomas

DEF – Detroit Lions

K – Robbie Gould

Here’s a recap of my thoughts on some of the picks:

1st Pick – Aaron Rodgers (5th Overall): Knowing Arian Foster was going first, I was hoping either Megatron, Ray Rice, or LeSean McCoy would end up falling to me, but all three were taken in that order.  I do not like MJD enough to take him 5th, and while I hadn’t planned on going QB in the first round, I kind of got stuck with Rodgers.  He is easily the consensus #1 QB and should be the class at the position.  With QBs getting drafted higher than any draft in recent memory, I have no problem grabbing the best one and being able to forget about the position.

2nd Pick – Matt Forte (20th Overall): This was a pick I labored over immensely.  Forte has got all sorts of question marks with ending last year on an injury (albeit a minor one), new acquisition Michael Bush in town, and currently in a contract dispute that may end up in a trade.  I was crossing my fingers either Trent Richardson or DeMarco Murray would fall to me, but both went much earlier than I had anticipated (8th and 13th overall).  So I was stuck in a rut of wanting a RB, and took a shot on Forte’s upside.  He will be a focal point in whichever team he ends up with in both the rushing and passing attack, and if he does indeed stay with the Bears, the addition of Brandon Marshall should help spread the field and give Forte a bit more room.

5th, 6th, and 7th Picks – Marques Colston, DeSean Jackson, & Torrey Smith (53rd, 68th, 77th Overall):  I grouped my receiving corps together because I really, really like this group which I took consecutively after building my QB and backfield.  Colston is back with Brees and with the Saints defense losing playmakers due to the Bounty mess, the Saints should have to throw even more.  Jackson is a total upside play; the Eagles have committed to him, and a rebound season should be in store.  And I really, really, really (three really’s!) like Torrey Smith for 2012.  He and Flacco were really clicking during the second half and his sheer speed and athleticism are going to translate into some monstrous games.  After going fairly safe through the first five rounds, upside plays like Jackson and Smith are exactly what I wanted.  I would be happy with this receiving trio even in a 10-team league, so WR-depth appears early on to be quite plentiful.

12th Pick – Tony Gonzalez (140th Overall): I bring this pick up only to mention that Andy Behrens took Jacob Tamme the pick RIGHT BEFORE ME!  Thanks a lot, Behrens.  With Gonzalez still on the board, it wasn’t the end of the world, but you can read my thoughts on Tamme here.  Behrens commented he was thinking about taking Tamme earlier, so I think he’s slowly climbing up the draft boards.  I wouldn’t mind a middlish-round pick for Tamme, as he’s gaining some momentum.

Overall Thoughts: I was really bummed out with my first two picks… I really thought Calvin Johnson might land to me, and then take either T-Rich or Murray.  Forte is my biggest gaffe and question mark, but then looking at my team, I think it’s a very well rounded and an absolute contender, especially in a 12-teamer.  I went a little safer early on, but was able to get HUGE upside playmakers in Jackson and Smith.  I was also able to get handcuffs in Anquan Boldin and Daniel Thomas, which will alleviate some of the question marks behind Reggie Bush and Torrey Smith should they falter out of the gate.

What say you about this draft?

8 COMMENTS

Welcome To 2012! Look No Further For Your TE Sleeper

Jonathan GilpinMay 10, 2012 by: Jonathan Gilpin Category: 2012 Fantasy Football, 2012 Fantasy Football Sleepers

Razzball Nation!  The 2012 Fantasy Season is approaching!  It’s great to be back and never too early to start thinking about how to field your best squad.

What better way to start planning for your upcoming drafts than to think about sleepers.  And just like your friendly proctologist, I’m going to start with the Tight End.

Back in the day, it used to be, “Tight End, who gives a Fells?”  Then the position started going bonkers when Antonio Gates could play on both feet and Tony Gonzalez caused more carnage slam-dunking than Darryl Dawkins.

Entering 2011, the position had come full circle and died down yet again.  Gates was the prettiest girl of the bunch, but they all kinda blended together into one of those not-quite-ugliest but definitely not-one-of–the-hotter sororities.  Just have enough beers and you’ll take when you can get.  Then arose the power of the Gronk!  You like Gronk!  Gronk no take ugly sorority girl he take porn star!

With 2012 comes the year of the highly drafted #1 stud.  Gronkowski is currently getting drafted in the early second round according to Mock Draft Central, an ADP that I see rising and rising through more and more mock drafts.  Then there’s also Jimmy Graham going in the late second round.  Now, I don’t have a problem with either of those selections.  I think both will end up right around there in value, but I don’t think I’d ever get my Tight End that early.  There are just too many other skill players I’d want to draft.

After those two, it goes Gates, Witten, Hernandez, Finley, Davis, then Gonzalez, all taken rounds 5-9.  That’s 8 TEs taken before round 10, and if you’re in a 10-team league, TEs fly off the shelf like that Van Halen song: “Everybody wants some!  You want some too!”

But I’m holding out.  Who am I holding out for?  Mr. Jacob Tamme, who is flying so under-the-radar that you can wait until one of your final rounds to nab.  According to Mock Draft Central, Tamme is so undrafted he’s not even taken in the top 18 TEs and falls out of their reports and out of the top 196.  Where’s the love?

It’s pretty easy to forget just how dominant Tamme was in 2010.  After Dallas Clark went down on the IR, Tamme put together a line of 67 catches for 631 yards for 4 TDs.  Oh wait, that was in 10 games!  Sure, people argued, “he’s only a product of the system,” and “he was just a lucky pickup on the wire for teams down the stretch.”  Yada, yada.  Tamme proved he was a quality Tight End when he got his shot.  But last year, with Clark returning and Peyton Manning spending too much time with his head out of car windows, Tamme became a bigger afterthought than Larry Johnson.  He snagged only 19 catches all season while searching for playing time and an actual quarterback.

Then in the offseason, Tamme signed with the Broncos on a three-year deal following the signing of Peyton Manning.  Manning has recently said the additions of former teammates Tamme and free agent Brandon Stokley have eased his transition, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Peyton had a hand in bringing Tamme in.  Even though the Broncos have also brought in Joel Dreessen who has flashed some skills in Houston, I think Tamme is going to see a lot of work in the passing game.  First, consider Manning’s two wide receiver options:  Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker aren’t exactly the class of the league.   I think Decker has the bigger year, but that’s just a gut call and of no consequence to what I expect from Tamme.  Second, consider Manning’s limitations with both a probable limitation of arm strength and playing outdoors at Mile High vs. playing the majority of his career indoors.  I don’t think it’d surprise anyone to see a lot of check downs and a more West Coast-style of passing offense rather than the more aerial approach the Colts utilized in Manning’s heyday.

The only real concern I have with Tamme is John Fox has never fully incorporated Tight Ends in his passing game.  I’m a Panthers fan and watched almost every play in the John Fox era and if it’s not a run play it’s probably not a pass to the Tight End.  However, I think Manning’s input and whatever will cater to his capabilities will supersede Fox’s offensive mantra.   Don’t forget, Tamme’s huge 10 weeks in 2010 was the last time Peyton Manning was on the field, so his rapport with Tamme should still be there.

Especially in PPR leagues, I think Tamme is going to be a beast and a top-7 TE.  With a major downgrade in WRs from what he was working with in Indy, I expect Manning to look for Tamme early and often.  And with such a discount in price, why not load up on other position players and snag Tamme late?  That’s going to be my plan.

2012 Projection:  79 Catches  819 Yards  8 TDs

4 COMMENTS

Fred Signs Extension With Buffalo, Asks To Get Paid In Jacksons

SkyMay 09, 2012 by: Sky Category: 2012 Fantasy Football

The Buffalo Bills showed respect to their 31 year old breakout from the 2011 season as they sign Fred Jackson to a 2 year $9 million dollar extension.  Why did I preface that with his age, you ask?  Cuz he’s a running back and he’s 31.  You need a better reason?  There’s talk that because his body didn’t take the wear and tear up to this point like other RBs did, he still has fresh legs.  I liked that story better the first time I heard it about Ricky Williams in 2009 when he was keeping limber with his ‘ayurvedic medicine’.  I hear it has the same holistic powers as what he was suspended from the league for when he retired in 2004.  That’s not to say Jackson won’t be successful this year but that his backup CJ Spiller performed well in his absence.  Knowing that RB lives are preciously short, there might be a bit more of a timeshare in store for Fred in 2012 than we’re willing to admit and it’s just as annoying as the one your Uncle Sal keeps asking you to buy in with him on off the coast of Maine.  Keep that in mind when you start a mockin and you don’t want us to come knockin.  In other news…

Robert Griffin III - One day into mini-training camp and Mike Shanahan is quoted with ‘He’s our starter, period’.  It was at first considered a bold move but then Shanahan pulled out the tape of Rex Grossman highlights he had been watching that morning prior to his statement and the media concurred.  PS, I’m gonna love me some RG3 in the rankings and I’m gonna hate me some Andrew Luck.  Feel free to throw tomatoes if you disagree.  I could use some extra vitamin C.

Joseph Addai - It’s looking like he’ll sign with the Patriots to wrestle with Danny Woodhead and Stevan Ridley for touches.  No word if ‘touches’ in that sentence means the ball or Tom Brady‘s beautfiul butt chin but in either situation, I’m not interested.  BenJarvus Green-Ellis had one successful season in 2010 and a lot of bupkis surrounding it.  Considering the Patriots started handing off to Aaron Hernandez – yes, their TE – near the end of the season, it’s safe to say I won’t add Addai…hrm, that sounded like a stuttering biblical name.

Terrell Suggs - Partially tore his Achilles tendon while playing basketball doing conditioning drills in Arizona.  Reports are saying he’ll miss the season.  Suggs disagrees.  A rock, paper, scissors contest between the two sides revealed we still don’t know, but it’s still going to hurt the Ravens defense this year and makes them hard to target as an automatic in your draft.

Bryan Anger -  He’s a punter and was taken in the 3rd round by Jacksonville in the draft.  You’ve heard it plenty of times but I just felt like chiming in to voice my encouragement for the move.  When Blaine Gabbert is your starting QB, it’s nice to have someone on your team that can move the ball 50 yards through the air.  The Jaguars are literally telling you not to draft Gabbert even in a 2 QB league.  This isn’t prevent defense, it’s declaring preemptive defeat.  Sad emoticon.

12 COMMENTS