Rankings Review: Overlooked Tight Ends

The free agency period and NFL draft has come and gone, rookies are being signed, and teams are actually taking the field. All this means is that not only are we closer to baseball season being over (thank you!), but it’s time for fantasy football (it’s a year-round thing for some of us. Shhhhh, please don’t tell my wife…)

The rankings are starting to tumble out here at Razzball, and the most recent was the tight end position (Non-PPR Rankings, PPR Rankings). The first thing I did with the newly released rankings was start digging for players that I feel are being ranked lower than they should be. I know it’s nothing new, but I am all about finding those draft day bargains. I want to try and get maximum value for each one of my draft selections. With all that being said, I am going to shine some light on three players that will bring much more in return compared to their current rank. I will be focusing on the PPR ranks and 12-team leagues, being that is what the Razzball Commentary Leagues (RCL) will be using for scoring.

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2014 NFL Draft Review: Possible WR and TE Rookie Impact

by: Doc Matt

Now that the draft dust has settled and mini-camps have started, we can start to get serious about rookie wide receiver and tight end contributions in fantasy football this year. The wide receiver class is full of studs; those who could potentially unseat the incumbents and make some serious noise. The tight end class is much weaker, as there are only a couple of names that could potentially see a significant amount of playing time.

Before we get too excited about some of these guys, I always consider the quarterback throwing them the ball first. We have all made mistakes in the past drafting high profile, high potential receivers (ahem, Larry Fitzgerald) with the hopes that they can miraculously make their quarterback’s smarter, or mechanics better. Be realistic here, and still stick with drafting wide receivers and tight ends who have proven passers.

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2014 NFL Draft Review: Filling In the Blanks

May 13, 2014 | 2014 Fantasy Football, 2014 NFL Draft, Fantasy Football Buy/Sell | 8 Comments

by: Fantasy with Dase or Days

The following post has some of my thoughts for the first three rounds of the draft. You can catch Jay’s thoughts on Round one here. I will be covering the players (either drafted or the players affected by the new draftees) that weren’t covered in-depth by Jay, and what this does to their value for the upcoming season in redraft leagues. All of my views will be for that of a standard (Non-PPR) scoring.

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Witness: Beddict’s 2014 1st Round Mock Draft

May 7, 2014 | 2014 Fantasy Football, 2014 NFL Draft, Mock Draft | 22 Comments

by: LT Murray IV

Greetings!!! Welcome to Razzball’s first ever, REAL NFL Mock Draft. The more you know and understand about rosters and the NFL in general, will only help you achieve your grandiose dreams of fantasy greatness. Who better than I, Tehol Beddict, Razzball’s own in-house football expert, to break down what all 32 NFL teams should be doing with their first round selections? Don’t answer that.

I expect there to be numerous trades in the first round, and all throughout the draft, but I’m not even going to attempt at predicting all of the trade scenarios. That’s like trying to decipher how Nicolas Cage went from an A-list leading actor to the holding up “Will Work for Food” signs on Hollywood Boulevard. I don’t recall ever being this pumped up about an NFL Draft, as this is one of the more intriguing draft classes in some time. I’m giddy like a school girl on Christmas Eve!

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Last Second Decisions – The Fantasy Other Guys

November 10, 2013 | Last Second Decisions | 120 Comments

by: JB Gilpin

I’m looking across my lineups this week, and I’m feeling like my teams’ narratives are like The Other Guys. My Samuel L. and the Rock who were guns blazin’ and taking care of business have gone down to ridiculous injuries, and I’ve got to go with the wild card play of the cop who shot Derek Jeter, then the lanky cop with the crazy Gator past (no not Aaron Hernandez!) to try and fill in. Marlon Brown last week got me my first desk pop! Those TDs were nice. So I’m hoping to be your Michael Keaton and get the police unit to work together, while also trying to keep my Bed Bath & Beyond profitable and my employees from chasing waterfalls.

Going back to last week’s picks, Marlon Brown actually won me a league last week! I liked that one. Terrelle Pryor and Josh McCown gave you solid games as deep QB plays, and Le’Veon Bell also was very solid. My very deep Myles White call was more for James Jones behind hypothetically out, then the Aaron Rodgers injury made things worse, but a loss nonetheless. For my benchers, Matt Ryan was awful and I indeed got the Vincent Jackson bench right! I feel like I’ve missed on VJax 4-5 times over the past 2 years. Fred Jackson was a wash, but Tom Brady and Danny Amendola had huge games. My bad on that one, I knew the Steelers D was bad, but didn’t think the Pats O would get it together. Here’s who I like in week 10 and their % started in ESPN and Yahoo, respectively (NOTE – these are not always recommendations for 1-for-1 swaps, just guys I like who are understarted and guys I hate overstarted):

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Last Second Decisions – Another Week Of Bye Murder

November 3, 2013 | Last Second Decisions | 127 Comments

by: JB Gilpin

Ohhhhhh man. Another week and another 6 teams on bye. That makes 20% of players gone. So it’s kinda like Tehol’s weekly Writer’s League lineup.

Luckily my one really bad team was the only one hit with terrible byes last week, but this week… Man… Lots of tough cookies. Guru is already talking smack because my 8-0 boys have James Starks at RB Eddie Royal in there in my flex. Spoiler alert! Neither are recommendations below. Slim Pickens on the wire. Plus ally of the JB world Justin Blackmon went on a Jessie Pinkman bender. It’s all coming to an end. But I must maintain the faith, visualize a redonkulous upset, and hope my path to perfection stays true.

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Last Second Decisions – The Battle Of Midway

October 27, 2013 | Last Second Decisions | 121 Comments

by: JB Gilpin

Man, hard to believe we’re already halfway through the fantasy season. Where has the time gone?

At the mid-point, it’s time to start really addressing a few things. Injury status, playoff schedule, all of that good stuff is important to start noting, especially with trades. When trading right now, its critical that you look at the schedule and realize you’re only getting 6 regular season games out of new acquisitions past this Sunday if 4 teams make week 15/16 playoffs, and only 5 if it’s a 6-team playoff. A little crazy to think you get that little time. While Fantasy Baseball and Fantasy Basketball (pumped for a big year!) are both marathons, Fantasy Football is a sprint. I pick Usain Bolt! Championship.

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Sawbones Scribings–Injuries Over My Hammy

October 18, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Injury Report | 9 Comments

by: Andrew Nordmeier

This week’s injury report is brought to you by hurt hamstrings. These seem to be all the rage around the league right now and make up a majority of the injuries we’re seeing on this week’s report. The good news is that once old Doc here can figure out how to heal them, a lot of players should be coming back.

Hamstrings are the muscles in the back of the leg that help allow you to bend your knee. Imagine yourself trying to kick a football but you couldn’t bend your leg. That would be what life is like with a hamstring injury. Kicking is tough, running is hard and slow and they don’t seem to heal quickly for anything.

Let’s take a look at who is all on the training table this week. All injuries are hamstring unless noted otherwise.

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Buy Lamar While He’s Priced Like Miller Lite

October 16, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Buy/Sell | 345 Comments

by: Sky

I’m gonna start this buy/sell off saying I’m sorry to those who think Miller Lite is a good beer. I’m not here to tell you that you’re wrong – though you are…just saying that’s not why I’m here – I will say there’s been plenty of brewers over the last 20+ years who’ve come out and I strongly suggest you take a swig or two of some other brews out there. Heck, I’m not even gonna tell you I’m all about the microbrews. I like me some Blue Moon and I’ll drink a Corona. What I’m trying to tell you is that you and I aren’t so different from each other. I wake up and put my assless chaps on just like everyone else. The main difference is, when I’m done I go buy a local IPA most likely and you buy Molson Ice. Wait, what are we talking about? Oh yeah, Lamar Miller. I’ve been getting a lot of ‘should I sell this guy for a bag of doritos and signed photos of from Menudo’ questions lately and I want them to stop. NOW. So I’m making him my buy feature. Ok, that’s not the only reason of course. The kid’s been good or at the least ‘not as bad as people think he’s been’ good. The first real game Lamar’s been given a chance to be the man started week 4 against the Saints. Wanna know what he did? Well, 11/62/1 on the ground. Not overly excited? Keep in mind most of that happened in the first half before NOLA went for the jugular in the second half and put the Dolphins on pass-heavy alert for the remainder of the game. The next week against Baltimore was tough sledding – only 7 for 15 on the ground – but few have run the ball well against the Ravens defense so far this year. It seems that maybe expectations have clouded judgement concerning Lamar coming into the year. He still looks like a solid low end RB2/flex play most weeks but I think people think he’s their bench RB at this stage. I can’t promise sexy numbers but I think there are plenty of 80 yard games in his future with a touchdown here and there just waiting for him. Take advantage before the market on him goes dry…Bud Dry…yeah, I’m gonna stop talking about beer now. In other buy/sell news for 2013 Fantasy Football…

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Coming Foles Circle

October 14, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Daily Notes | 260 Comments

by: Sky

When the off-season began for the Eagles, it was clear that times would be changing. How much things would change was merely the question. Would they overhaul the roster? Would they resign Vick? Would their defensive ineptitude come close to improving? Well, to answer those questions, no, yes, and no. When I originally saw the signing of Chip Kelly, I was surprised by how many people assumed that Vick would be the starter in Philly. Too many people assume that Chip’s offense is solely built for a running quarterback when the truth was nowhere near that. Chip’s offense relies on his QB to be quick. Quick on his reads, that is. So when people heard that there was actually a camp battle for starting QB, many assumed it was just the media hyping things to make drama. Normally, I’d side with the hype-train side of the argument but there was definitely a case for Nick Foles to become the starter in Philly. For all intents and purposes, I saw Foles as the future for the Eagles barring any major trades or draft picks heading into 2014 so to see him step up against a strong defense in the Bucs and dismantle them – going 22/31 for 296 and 3 passing touchdowns to go with one on the ground – you could say I wasn’t overly surprised. Ok, I was surprised he scored THAT much but still the fact remains that Foles is quality QB and Chip knows how to handle one of those. It’s gonna be hard to tell how this whole scenario plays out given that Vick was named the starter heading into the year but has been very erratic in terms of how he’s run the offense so far. Don’t be surprised if Vick’s hamstring ‘isn’t quite ready’ next week so the Eagles can see what they have in this young Philly. In other news from week 6 of the 2013 Fantasy Football season…

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Hard Targets: Alshon Jeffery Turns the Tables and Undresses Saints

October 11, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Hard Targets | 17 Comments

by: LT Murray IV

Greetings! Tis I, your servant, Tehol Beddict, here to talk some fantasy football and stimulate your minds. It seemed like Alshon Jeffery was untouched during the Bears losing effort against the Saints of New Orleans. I know what you’re thinking: ” Tehol, an attractive young man not being “touched” by a “Saint” is an oxymoron!” I know this to be true. I’ve dug oh so deep into the dark, crusty annals of our worlds history, and rarely have I read about a supposed “Saint” that wasn’t either a sexual deviant or just a disgracefully foul human being in general. If you doubt me, send your boys to Sunday school with no parental vision, just make sure they wear a wire. Does anyone even read my column? After this opening I’m guessing my readers just went from 2 to zero. Sky don’t edit this or I’ll show up at your front door with Bishop Eddie Long in tow, and you know what that means: A nice friendly game of “Butts Up.” Anyway, I know Jeffery didn’t follow up his record breaking performance this week with anything special, but the fact remains he is now heavily targeted and was missed on a few bombs last night against the Giants. This young bull has undoubtedly been blessed by the Elder God’s with immense size, talent, and stature. I can only imagine what he’s packin and I’m not speaking of weaponry. Although I suppose that could be considered weaponry as I’m sure it’s deadly when he uses it’s deep impact capabilities. Jeffery’s stat line from last week you want? Here it is: 10 receptions for 218 yards with a TD on 13 targets. Yea, he truly went Berzerk, and I’m not talking the horrific, embarrassingly bad, new Eminem song produced by that dirty old man, Rick Rubin. I’d start every week at the WR 3 spot or flex if I were you. But If I were you, then you’d be me, and you’d be betting oiled up with banana cream pudding with two female midgets licking it off for a hot new advertisement in Bangkok and telling me what to do with my fantasy roster. Again, nobody is really reading this far, right?

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Romo-te Control

October 7, 2013 | 2013 Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Daily Notes | 152 Comments

by: Sky

Well, we knew there’d be plenty of fantasy points scored in this Broncos vs Cowboys game. We had all those superstars. You know, Manning, Orange Julius, Welker, DT, Decker, Dez…hrm, it feels like I’m missing someone. Who could possibly still be left to talk about that’s fantasy relevant in a game like this? Answer: well, quite a few guys really but in reality very few people have talked about the under the radar performance of Tony Romo so far this year. It’s understandable. He’s not wowing anyone with his stats. In fact, he was being outscored by Alex Smith in QB scoring rankings for fantasy heading into Sunday. But then Romo done lost his mind. Tony threw for 506 total yards on the day, going 25/35 for 5 touchdowns and a 2 point conversion. Yes, yes, he threw a soul-crushing INT late in the game but you don’t lose more or less points based on how frustrating an INT is. Looking back where certain QBs went in your draft vs Romo, you have to ask yourself, ‘why did I spend all that on a QB when this was still out there?’. In reality, QB is a deep position so it’s hard to get too mad when days like this happen but the reality is Romo has been a consistent scorer for his owners most of this year and there’s no reason to think it can’t keep up. Ok, not 500 yards keep up but being startable most weeks keep up is still valid. In other 2013 Fantasy Football news…

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