2013 – Page 3 – The Fantasy Sports Coach

Maurice Jones-Drew, Darren McFadden, Cecil Shorts(Chad Henne is in for Gabbert,which is good for Shorts, but there aren’t many other options in the passing game to keep Shorts from being doubled), Rod Streater

Deep League Starter

Terrelle Pryor (second most rushing yards last week!)

Denver Broncos vs. New York Giants

I covered the the Giants earlier this week and nothing much has changed for me as far as my projections go.

As for talking about the Broncos, it puts me in a tough spot because I really hope they all don’t play well!

The only player I will talk about for the Broncos is Eric Decker who I think Peyton Manning will try to get involved early in the game. I expect him to have a bounce back game. Otherwise use someone else’s start/sit advice.

San Francisco vs. Seattle Seahawks

Must Start

Colin Kaepernick (fast becoming one of the best players in the game), Vernon Davis, Marshawn Lynch

Flex Options

Anquan Boldin,(Brandon Browner being out helps Boldin’s chances) Frank Gore, Golden Tate (only in deep leagues where I had an injury)

Bench

I am keeping Russell Wilson on the bench for this matchup because he had a tough time picking yardage against the 49ers last season. He did have a four TD game so if you’re forced start him there is hope.

Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Must Start

A.J. Green

Flex Options

Antonio Brown

Deep League Flex Options

Emmanuel Sanders, BenJarvis Green-Ellis, Giovani Bernard, Tyler Eifert(in leagues that weigh Tight Ends heavily)

Burns Up Your Bench

Andy Dalton (I think Dalton has a nice game on Monday night, but he will only be started in 2QB leagues.)

I will try and check the message board for any start/sit questions, but if you don’t get a response right away try and send me a Tweet on Twitter@Coachesser or a message through my Facebook page CoachEsser’s Playbook. You can also go to www.coachesser.com for any start/sit comparisons powered by NumberFire.

This post originally appeared at www.bigblueview.com on September 13th 2013.

Fantasy Football Leagues: Which One To Choose
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Fantasy Football Leagues: Which One To Choose

Fantasy Football, Uncategorized

Fantasy Football Leagues: Which One To Choose

Fantasy Football Leagues Come in All Shapes and Sizes

From “Redraft” to “Pirate” I’m here to tell you about all your options.

Keeper Leagues

Did you ever draft a player and wish he could be the corner stone of your team for years and years? Of course you have, unless you’re like the guy in my keeper league that only shows up to bum cigarettes and complain about his marriage. If you’re like him you always take the wrong player in the first round and are constantly wanting to throw all of your players back in the draft.

I, for one, love keeper leagues. You get all the benefits of being a strong redrafter with the added bonus of building your teams around a singular fantasy asset. If you’re lucky you may even have a double keeper league and you can turn that keen late round drafting eye into multiple championships. For example, in my double keeper league players like Alfred Morris, Randall Cobb, and Danny Amendola were kept as 10th round keepers this year.

Dynasty Leagues

If you want a real challenge you should try and join an existing dynasty league and try and build a perennial loser into a champion. This type of fantasy championship is so satisfying that you may find yourself joining every dynasty league you can. It would be as if you were a Raider fan and suddenly Al Davis left the team to you in his will. You show up to work and realize the team was mismanaged for years and you won’t be competitive for years. You make shrewd move after shrewd move until suddenly you go from cellar dweller to championship contender.

If that seems like too much work you can always join a dynasty startup league where you can draft your team and keep them for ever. If you are a good dynasty drafter you can both compete for a championship in season 1 and build for the future at the same time. The best thing about dynasty leagues is that trade talk is year round. Players and picks are always on the block and every off season move by teams around the league are checked over with a fine tooth comb. It takes a different breed to be a dynasty owner as it takes serious dedication. If you are only a casual fantasy football player please don’t join a league because you will just end up quitting.

Redraft Standard Leagues

Standard scoring is going the way of the dodo bird in most fantasy circles, but you better be ready for a different way of valuing players if you are invited to join a standard league. yardage and touchdowns are the only thing that matters. You need players that get in the endzone and rack up the yardage no matter how they get it. For instance if you took Darren Sproles in the second round of a standard draft you may get a Bronx cheer from the league.

Redraft PPR leagues

I would call this the “Cadillac of fantasy football leagues”. Just like Hold ’em is to the poker world now, PPR leagues are just assumed when talking about redraft values. Players like Darren Sproles and Wes Welker have been on more winning teams because of their big reception totals then players like Stevan Ridley and Dwayne Bowe. These leagues a re dime a dozen and after a summer of doing rankings I can do a draft blind-folded.

Best Ball Leagues

You can do “just draft” best ball leagues or “manage” best ball leagues. With either option you draft a team and the best at their respective positions are used as starters. In “just draft” formats you are helpless against injuries and can not use the waiver wire or trades for reinforcements. In “manage” best ball formats you can still make pickups and trades, but the pressure of starting or sitting you best players is taken away. These leagues are the best for work leagues and small buy in leagues. There is nothing more awkward than yelling at your boss on a message board for starting a player on a bye.

Survivor Style Leagues

Most of these leagues are done as best ball and for small buy ins. You draft a team and hop you don’t score the least amount of points each week. The lowest scoring team is dropped each week until there is only one winner. Some survivor style leagues drop the lowest total score each week including the previous weeks’ totals. These are great leagues to do with a group of friends that can only stay in touch over the internet. You do a slow e-mail based draft through a site like MyFantasyLeague and when it’s all said and done only one of you comes out on top.

Pirate Leagues

This is my first year participating in a pirate league and I can tell you that a close week 1 matchup will have you on the edge of your seat. The idea of the league is that you plunder the team that you beat head to head each week. To the victor goes the spoils as they say. My week 1 matchup literally wasn’t decided until the 4th quarter of the last Monday night game around 1:00 AM ET. If I had lost I would have been forced to give up Doug Martin or Demaryius Thomas and be forced to take back the owner’s worst player at the same position. Luckily Owen Daniels pulled out a last minute win for my team and now I have a shiny new LeSean McCoy to show for it. Just for week 1 edge of your seat purposes I say you have to try this format next year. It’s like being in a fantasy championship every week.

IDP Leagues

I like IDP leagues for the sheer fact that it makes you pay attention to the NFL as a whole. You need to keep track of defensive players just as much as offensive players. I usually participate in at least two IDP leagues a year and prefer leagues where you start up to five defensive players. These leagues are usually won by the people that understand football inside and out. I personally love seeing great defensive players being put up on the board right next to their offensive counterparts.

2QB Leagues

I have been in 2QB leagues for years and have never been more excited about playing in these types of leagues. The position is so deep this year that you can finally forego drafting a quarterback in round two of a 12 team league and still get a very good QB2 in the third round. If you are sick of watching your friends wait until the 8th round of a draft and still getting a quality starting quarterback then I suggest you change your league to a 2QB league.

Auction Leagues

I’m not sure there is anything more fun than an auction draft. From purposely bidding up your friends as they chase their favorite players to watching yourself get stuck with a player you never wanted in the first place. The varied strategies are the best thing about auction drafts as teams can go the “studs and duds” route,”the wait and see what’s left” route or the slow and steady route. No where else can you start your draft off with Adrian Peterson and Calvin Johnson and then go out for a beer.

If you know of any other types of leagues please feel free to comment at the bottom and let me know so i can add it to my list.

Fantasy Football: New York Giants Start/Sit Week 2
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Fantasy Football: New York Giants Start/Sit Week 2

Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football: New York Giants Start/Sit Week 2

The New York Giants could not have started the season worse from a real life football perspective. Mental and physical errors plagued the Giants as they fell behind a divisional opponent in an important week one matchup. The Dallas Cowboys took advantage of every mistake and built up a lead that Eli and his receivers were almost able to overcome. The frantic comeback attempt had Eli Manning and his receivers at the top of fantasy leader boards.

Eli was able to overcome three interceptions and throw for 450 yards and 4 touchdowns. Victor Cruz ended up as the third-highest scoring wide receiver in fantasy football and proved to be the Giants best chess piece as he absolutely killed the Dallas Cowboys. Hakeem Nicks looked quick as he was able to top 100 yards, but wasn’t able to get in the end zone. Rueben Randlewas a surprise fantasy producer as he broke the 100 yard barrier as well, but I wouldn’t expect that every week. Brandon Myers picked up a lot of action late to put him among the top tight ends of a high-scoring week one in fantasy football.

The only offensive player to not get in on the action was David Wilson. Wilson not only disappointed Giants’ fans with his poor play, but also became one of the all time biggest week one busts in recent fantasy football memory. For example, Wilson was the fourth-most selected player (31 percent of teams) in daily fantasy football drafts on DraftStreet for week one yet managed to actually put up a negative score. In contrast, Manning was only picked for 2.4 percent of daily fantasy lineups yet finished as the number two player at his position.

Wilson’s fumbling and the Cowboys’ opportunistic defense definitely inflated the Giants fantasy numbers, but if you think the Giants players are in for a big correction in week two you may miss out on some serious fantasy points. The Manning brothers may put on a show in week two and hopefully for us we can not only see the Giants come out on top, but win some fantasy football match-ups as well.

Eli Manning — NumberFire has Eli Manning slated for 287.44 yards passing, 1.56 touchdowns, and 1.49 interceptions. I have Eli topping 300 yards and throwing 2 touchdowns. As I am a Giant fan I do not like to give the statistical probability on turnovers, but if your league has a high negative for turnovers you can expect at least one.

David Wilson — NumberFire has Wilson getting 15.05 carries for 54.78 yards and .34 rushing touchdowns. They also have him catching 2.77 passes for 19.31 yards. I am keeping Wilson on the bench this week if I have a viable option to start over him, but if I don’t I would expect 12 carries for 63 yards and 2 catches for 14 yards. I am not selling him just yet and have seen running backs bounce back from similar disasters.

Victor Cruz — NumberFire has Cruz getting 5.75 receptions, 76.72 yards, and .41 touchdowns. I have Cruz once again having a big week as he will be matched up against a sub-par pair of safeties and more than likely the fourth corner on the team. I have Cruz catching 8 balls for 97 yards and a touchdown.

Hakeem Nicks — NumberFire has Nicks getting 5.24 receptions, 60.12 yards, and .31 touchdowns. I think Nicks showed in week one that he was sleep walking through the preseason. He looked very good even in a tough matchup against Brandon Carr and I expect a bigger game from him in week two. I have Nicks catching 7 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown.

Rueben Randle — NumberFire has Randle catching 2.60 balls for 40.45 yards and .14 touchdowns. I think we were all pleasantly surprised at how quickly Randle became a big piece of the Giants passing attack against the Cowboys in week one. I have Randle catching 4 passes for 65 yards and no touchdowns.

Brandon Myers — NumberFire has Myers catching 3.70 passes for 40.14 yards and .22 touchdowns. The Ravens really worked their tight ends against the Broncos in week one, but I think that had more to do with the fact that they are very thin at wide receiver. I like that Myers was able to show a nice rapport with Eli at the end of the game against the Cowboys and I think that could carry over to this week. I have Myers catching 5 passes for 56 yards and no touchdowns.

Wilson is not the only running back whoneeds to bounce back from a disappointing week one. Stevan Ridley found himself benched after fumbling twice when he was expected to put up huge fantasy numbers against the Bills. Shane Vereen filled in for Ridley and was the only running back to top 100 yards rushing on Sunday, but wound up breaking a bone in his wrist. C.J. Spiller, Maurice Jones-Drew, and Lamar Miller all had nightmare starts to their seasons and hope to get back on track week two.

If you need any last minute fantasy advice make sure to follow me on Twitter @Coachesser or like my Facebook page CoachEsser’s Playbook so that you can message me at any time. You can also see all of my latest podcasts and articles by visiting www.coachesser.com.

This post originally appeared at www.bigblueview.com on September 11th 2013.

Fantasy Football Week 1 Thoughts
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Fantasy Football Week 1 Thoughts

Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football Week 1 Thoughts

Baltimore Ravens Vs. Denver Broncos

Manning looking to hit a receiver downfield.

Peyton Manning and the Broncos had been game planning for revenge since last season’s stunning playoff defeat to the Ravens. Manning’s rumored renewed power in his right arm was not noticeable, but his timing and accuracy didn’t seem to suffer. Peyton tied an NFL record with 7 touchdown passes and threw for over 450 yards. The Broncos backfield was once again fantasy wasteland as Montee Ball rarely saw the field and Knowshon Moreno looked like his agility was sapped by off season surgery. All of Peyton Manning’s targets looked like sure-fire Fantasy All-Stars as they racked up huge numbers. Even Eric Decker looked like a viable WR2 or flex in all formats as he had the targets, but failed to capitalize on his opportunities. Julius Thomas showed that he was a high upside tight end 2 on draft days and will now be a start/sit headache for fantasy GMs. If he is on your waiver wire you have to get him where you can, I may even blow my FAAB budget to get a young Antonio Gates clone.

The Ravens looked as thin at wide receiver as we thought. Marlon Brown was forced to come into the lineup as Jacoby Jones was injured on a fair catch attempt. I think Brown will have value in deeper leagues, but I’m not that high on him. Ray Rice took over as Joe Flacco’s security blanket in the passing game, but failed to get the ground game going against a tough Denver run defense. Bernard Pierce found no running room, but did see the field a lot and looks to be a big part of the Ravens running game plans. Torrey Smith looked like he was in for a big night early, but once again disapeared for long parts of the game and will once again be a boom or bust fantasy option.

Patriots Vs. Bills

EJ Manuel looked calm and collected as he kept the game close and didn’t make the big mistakes most rookies seem to make against the Patriots. CJ Spiller had a nightmare start to the season as Fred Jackson out rushed him. Stevie Johnson’s fantasy value will still be limited because of the Bills conservative approach with a rookie QB.

Tom Brady was not his surgical self, but still pulled out a win. Brady was still able to feature an injured Amendola, but failed to get Zach Sudfeld involved. The Patriots other fast rising UFA fantasy commodity Kenbrell Thompkins looked nervous in his first regular season action as he and Tom Brady couldn’t hook up regularly. Julian Edelman was the surprise fantasy star as he caught two touchdowns from Brady and looks to be a big fantasy free agent pick up in week 1. Stevan Ridley couldn’t have started the season worse as he was benched after once again fumbling away a golden opportunity for fantasy points. Shane Vereen capitalized on his chance and was the only running back on Sunday to rush for over 100 yards. Unfortunately Vereen broke a bone in his wrist and will be sidelined through week 11.

Buccaneers Vs. Jets

Josh Freeman looked like a man who will be holding a clipboard later in the season for most of the game. He looked to lead the Bucs on a game winning drive, but a last minute penalty helped the Jets to a win. Doug Martin was bottled up for most of the day, but still managed a touchdown. V-Jax was as dominant as advertised as he exploded for a huge yardage day, but was caught from behind by a linebacker on a play which would have seen him score a big touchdown. Mike Williams found the endzone once again and still looks like a solid fantasy wide receiver.

Josh Smith looked almost as solid as EJ Manuel as he became an instant Jet legend with a big comeback win. Jeremy Kurley suffered a concussion and Stephen Hill saw a decent amount of targets in week 1. Santonio Holmes was non existent and will be limited by his foot injury early on. The most surprising thing to come from this game was the reemergence of Kellen Winslow at the tight end position. I’m sure he got into his young quarter back’s ear and will try and build a relationship similar to the way a young Freeman leaned on a healthier version of Winslow.

Bengals Vs. Bears

Andy Dalton had a few costly turnovers, but was able to get the ball to AJ Green almost at will in tough away matchup. AJ Green proved to be one of the top 3 wide receivers in the league as he torched the Bears for a huge day. The Bengals tight ends were heavily involved as both Eifert and Gresham had 5 receptions. Muhamed Sanu had tough day as he had a fumble that was a big reason that the Bengals lost. The lawfirm of Benjarvis green-Ellis once again plodded to very little yardage, but managed to get into the endzone. Giovani Bernard did not get enough touches in week one to be fantasy factor, and has me leaning to a wait and see for his flex value.

Jay Cutler put up representative numbers, but surprisingly managed to not get sacked. Matt Forte didn’t find a lot of running room, but still managed a short yardage touchdown. Brandon Marshall did not see huge target numbers, but was still a fantasy star as he topped 100 yards and scored a touchdown. Alshon Jeffrey did not have a huge day, but I would snatch him up if an owner overreacts and puts him on the waiver wire. Martellus Bennett managed to get in the endzone and join in the week 1 fantasy tight end scoring bonanza.

Browns Vs. Dolphins

Brandon Weeden was a turn over machine early on in this matchup and Trent Richardson owners will hope this doesn’t become the norm. Richardson was a non-factor as the Browns were forced to play catchup. With Josh Gordon suspended the Browns’ wide receivers proved to be not fantasy relevant. Many fantasy GMs were happy to see Jordan Cameron be the number 1 target for Weeden week 1 as he was one of the fastest rising players during fantasy draft season. Cameron has solidified his TE1 status with his strong performance.

Ryan Tannehill won the game and took what the Browns gave him during the game. His numbers didn’t prove Warren Sapp’s preseason prediction of Tannehill passing Dan Marino’s records to be possible. (not like we didn’t see that coming.) Brian Hartline was the beneficiary of soft coverage and put up huge week 1 numbers and even managed to get in the endzone. With teams paying close attention to Mike Wallace, Hartline can have a very nice season. Pick him up if you need help at your flex position or WR4. Brandon Gibson had a nice day in deeper PPR leagues as he outpaced the man he replace Devone Bess with 7 receptions and 77 yards. Mike Wallace was erased for much of the day by Joe Haden and was visibly frustrated after the game. Lamar Miller had a nightmare start to the season as he just couldn’t get going against a tough Browns run defense.

Vikings Vs. Lions

Christian Ponder is not an NFL quarterback. He only plays one on Sundays. Ponder struggled and will severely affect any fantasy usefulness from Kyle Rudolph and Greg Jennings. Ponder managed to hit Jerome Simpson deep a few times and Simpson ended up having a very nice day(7 receptions 140 yards) as a result. Adrian Peterson started the season where he left off as he broke a 78 yard touchdown run on his very first carry. He was frustrated for the rest of the day in the yardage department, but still managed two more touchdowns.

Matthew Stafford is going to throw the ball a ton this year. He also really likes his new toy in Reggie Bush. Bush had a huge week 1, but as expected did not come out unscathed. Bush pulled a groin muscle and dislocated a thumb, but played through both injuries to put up a monster fantasy day. Bush’s back up Joique Bell vultured two rushing touchdowns and had a nice day receiving as well. Calvin Johnson also started 2013 where he left off in 2012 as he once again had trouble securing touchdowns. Huge case of deja vu with Megatron’s week 1 performance, but I wouldn’t be too worried about it. Brandon Pettigrew had a very surprising quiet day and was outpaced by Joseph Fauria. Ryan Broyles injured knees had Nate Burleson show up in the boxscore, but I wouldn’t pay much attention to him.

Falcons Vs. Saints

The Falcons didn’t let anyone in on the secret that Roddy White was essentially going to be a decoy in week 1. White’s injured ankle killed a lot of fantasy owners out of the gate and he should be a wait and see for week 2. Julio Jones looked good in his chance to take over as the WR1 in Atlanta. It may actually be a changing of the guard in Atlanta, even if it’s due to injury and not effectiveness. Tony Gonzalez found the endzone and Harry Douglas managed to top 90 yards from the slot. Matt Ryan topped 300 yards, but failed to win the game on a last minute drive. Steven Jackson could have had a huge week, but did not receive the touches necessary to wear down the defense.

Drew Brees topped 350 yards and used all of his weapons. Mark Ingram was once again, well, Mark Ingram. His production and play disappointed. The only running back you can count on in New Orleans is Darren Sproles, especially in PPR leagues. His late 35 yard reception put a smile on many owners’ faces. Lance Moore had a surprisingly quiet day. Kenny Stills had a nice game, mostly because of one long catch and run. Colston and Graham found the endzone and all is right in the fantasy football world.

Raiders Vs. Colts

Terrelle Pryor is not a good NFL quarterback, but that doesn’t matter in fantasy football. He managed to rush for over 100 yards and was a top 10 fantasy QB even though he is very limited in the passing game. The Raiders lack of talent and depth along the offensive line made Pryor and this new running offense the only option. Darren McFadden managed to score a touchdown and almost had a nice touchdown catch if he could have gotten his feet down. Both Raider wide receivers have no better than WR5 value even after catching touchdown passes.

Andrew Luck once again managed to run for a touchdown and may put up more than Aaron Rodgers bonus running numbers this season. Luck once again locked in on Reggie Wayne as they managed to hook up for a touchdown. TY Hilton was a fast riser during drafts, but managed to have a disappointing week 1. Vick Ballard had the Lion’s share of touches in the backfield, but did not do anything to think that he can hold off Ahmad Bradshaw once the Ex-Giant is healthy. Even though Allen managed a touchdown catch I would still stay away from starting a Colts TE until they show they can produce TE1 numbers.

Titans Vs. Steelers

Jake Locker and the Titans offense were far from spectacular. Chris Johnson got 25 carries, but failed to break any long runs and finished with pedestrian numbers. Locker’s lack of accuracy will always be an issue as trusting any Titans receivers going forward will be hard.

Ben Roethlisberger had a nightmare start to the season. His starting runningback fumbled twice. His only quality offensive lineman was lost for the season with a knee injury and he wasn’t able to make any of his normal Big Ben big plays. The lack of talent along the offensive line will keep all of the Steelers off my must start list for a while. I had expected a big day from Antonio Brown, but obviously that didn’t happen. He is still a flex option going forward, but He isn’t a WR2 until they can prove they can throw the ball.

Seahawks Vs. Panthers

Russell Wilson compiled a nice passing day, but his penchant for throwing to everyone wearing a Seahawks jersey makes starting any of his receivers iffy. Marshawn Lynch had a tough time finding running room a against a revamped Panthers front and preseason phenom Christine Michael failed to see the field.

Cam Newton had a slow start to the season as was expected against a stingy Seahawks defense. Steve Smith managed to get in the endzone on a short crossing patterna dn greg Olsen was once again the number two target in Carolina. DeAngelo Williams had a nice start to the game, but failed to reach pay dirt.

Chiefs Vs. Jaguars

Alex Smith did what Alex Smith does. He threw the ball short and managed the offense. His presence kills Dwayne Bowe’s value, but he is going to win games for the Chiefs. Jamal Charles looked good early as he was involved in the passing game and scored a touch down rushing. He wasn’t needed late and was taken out before he could have a huge day.

Blaine Gabbert was injured and I’m pretty sure Cecil Shorts isn’t too upset about it. Shorts was able to get a reception until Chad Henne came on in relief and got Shorts on the score sheet. Maurice Jones-Drew had a rough day as he just couldn’t get going. The Chiefs are an underrated defense and hopefully MJD will get it going next week. This offense desperately needs solid quarterback play to have their players be fantasy relevant. Justin Blackmon is also sorely missed.

Cardinals Vs. Rams

Carson Palmer and Bruce Arians have saved Larry Fitzgerald from the fantasy football abyss. Palmer was able to get the ball to Fitzgerald and find Michael Floyd deep early on in the game. Andre Roberts was able to put up nice numbers as Palmer fed him late in the game. Rashard Mendenhall looked okay early on, but was in a surprising time-share with Alfonso Smith. Smith didn’t do anything to scare Mendenhall owners, but I would rather see Mendenhall get the Lion’s share of touches to make him flex worthy.

Sam Bradford was able to finally show that he can be fantasy relevant as he found his new favorite target Jared Cook for two touchdowns. Chris Givens was bottled up and Tavon Austin failed to provide any explosive plays. Daryl Richardson failed to break out in his first week as the undisputed starter in St. Louis. With Isiah Pead coming back from suspension week 2 Richardson will still see the most touches, but will be a flex play more than a RB2 option. Hopefully week 2 will see him break out for the Rams and fantasy owners.

Packers Vs. 49ers

Aaron Rodgers was once again dominant as he carved up the 49ers for over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns. Jordy Nelson was a popular wide receiver to bench because of a bad matchup, but proved he is WR1 material every week. James Jones failed to make a catch and showed inconsistent hands again. Jermichael Finley had a very nice day, but once a gain made a big blunder by dropping a pass that turned into an interception. Randall Cobb had a big day and looks like he could exceed my expectations going forward. I felt like he was overdrafted, but he looked like his value may have been just about right. Eddie Lacy had a costly fumble, but managed to bounce back with a nice short yardage touchdown.

Colin Kaepernick was unbelievable in week one. He threw the ball for over 400 yards against a stunned Packers defense. While many thought he would once again rush the ball at will again against the Packers the 49ers reversed course and opened up the passing playbook. The beat writers in San Francisco had said that Kaepernick had a great rapport with both Boldin and Davis at practice and if week 1 results are any indication they will all be monsters going forward. If Kyle Williams would have been able to come down with a few balls Kaepernick may have topped 500 yards. Frank Gore managed to get in the endzone and didn’t find much running room otherwise. I still would use him as a flex because he will score plenty of touchdowns in this offense.

Giants Vs. Cowboys

Well the elephant in the room was the abortion that was David Wilson’s week one performance. He was picked in 31% of DraftStreet daily fantasy lineups, but put up negative points. They Giants turned to Brandon Jacobs on Tuesday to mentor the young running back and hopefully he will get out of the doghouse quick. Eli Manning was forced to play catchup and threw the ball for over 450 yards and four touchdowns. Victor Cruz had a monster day as his heel was not a problem on Sunday night. Hakeem Nicks managed to go over 100 yards and looks like he took it easy in the preseason. Rueben Randle was great best ball asset as he also topped the 100 yard mark. Brandon Myers had a lot of late action and scored a late touchdown to put his numbers into TE1 territory.

Tony Romo threw the ball early and often, but failed to make any big plays. He also failed to get Dez Bryant involved in the game and ultimately lost Bryant to a foot injury late in the game. Miles Austin looks to be a PPR asset as the Cowboys featured him as a possession receiver. DeMarco Murray had a decent game, but the Cowboys were once again a passing team first. If they get back to a more balanced offense I think he will have RB2 value going forward. Jason Witten was his usual dominant self and the reports from Dallas that he would see more redzone targets were accurate.

Eagles Vs. Redskins

LeSean McCoy owners should rejoice. 20 carries for 115 yards in the first half. WOW! Michael Vick was mistake free and Desean Jackson burned the Washington secondary for over 100 yards and a touchdown in the first half. Brent Celek had two long receptions, taking one to the endzone and looks to be a nice TE2 going forward. The Eagles took their foot off the gas in the second half and let the Redskins get back into the game. I love the Eagles going forward, but I did not like that Michael Vick decided to go head first for a rushing touchdown. If he keeps taking chances like that you can expect Nick Foles to see the field.

Robert Griffin III had trouble shaking off the rust in his first action since knee surgery. With Griffin and Morris turning the ball over early the Redkins were forced to watch as the Eagles put on a show in the first half. Griffin managed to top 300 yards chasing the Eagles lead, but Morris was not able to get going. Morris did manage a touchdown and even caught a screen pass to prove he may be more involved in the passing game. I was surprised Fred Davis didn’t have more targets and was even outproduced by rookie Jordan Reed. Leonard Hankerson outproduced Josh Morgan and looks to be in line for more playing time according to Rotoworld. Pierre Garcon was one of my big week one misses in daily leagues a he didn’t manage to put up WR1 numbers. I still like him going forward.

Texans Vs. Chargers

Arian Foster out touched Ben Tate, but looked to be the lesser back on multiple occasions. He had two big drops and failed to get in the endzone. Ben Tate did nothing to hurt his fantasy stock going forward and looks to be in line for more touches if Foster struggles. Andre Johnson was his usual dominant self as he ripped off big catch after big catch. Once again he was non existent in the redzone. Owen Daniels had a huge day as Matt Shaub was able to find his tight end twice for touchdowns. Matt Shaub put up huge numbers after the Texans fell behind 28-7 to the Chargers on the road. If Foster isn’t his dominant self I would expect Shaub to put up nice numbers. The rookie DeAndre Hopkins had a nice night and hopefully will benefit from teams having to double AJ going forward.

Philip Rivers was a popular pick for a bounce back season, and looked to be well on his way as he threw four touchdowns against a tough Texans defense. Then the inevitable happened as Rivers threw an interception at the exact worst moment in the game. Ryan Mathews had Twitter buzzing as he caught a wheel route for a touchdown on the first play on offense for the Chragers, but it became painfully obvious throughout the game that the Chargers are featuring a RBBC. With Ronnie Brown seeing the field in key situations Mathews and Woodhead’s value take a hit. Antonio Gates managed 2 receptions for 49 yards, but was blanketed in the redzone. Vincent Brown and Malcolm Floyd looked like WR4 options at best as slot receiver Eddie Royal exploded for two touchdowns.

Fantasy Football: New York Giants Start/Sit
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Fantasy Football: New York Giants Start/Sit

Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football: New York Giants Start/Sit

Fantasy drafts are finally behind us and now it’s time to put on our best managerial hats and make sure we don’t leave fantasy points on the bench. Nothing drives you more nuts then when you see a matchup that screams huge fantasy production, yet you don’t make the appropriate lineup changes. For example, a reader sent me a start/sit question that screamed matchup play. This particular reader needed advice on who to start as their third wide receiver for week 1 between Steve Smith and Lance Moore. Without looking at the schedule some might say, ” I drafted Steve Smith in the sixth round and Lance Moore in the ninth round, so I should obviously start Smith.” Wrong! Steve Smith is facing the Seattle Seahawks Defense and Lance Moore is playing at home on turf in an expected shootout against the Atlanta Falcons. It might be Moore’s best matchup of the season. Playing the matchups at your flex position or third wide receiver will win you a championship.

Eli Manning: 23-of-34, 264 Yards, 3 TDs

Eli Manning and Kevin Gilbride had to hit the film room to try and get handle on on what to expect from Monte Kiffin’s new 4-3 defense in Dallas. While Kiffin has been out of the NFL the last few years, his core defensive principals are still being used around the league. The key to beating Monte Kiffin’s best defenses was always taking what the defense was willing to give. Exploiting the areas between the deep safeties and linebackers and keeping the chains moving. The last thing you want to do against a Kiffin defense is to get into too many third and longs. I think Eli will be able to work the middle of the field with a combination of Victor Cruz and Brandon Myers and exploit Dallas’s weakness at the safety position. I have Eli as a borderline QB1 for week one and a definite start in 2QB leagues.

David Wilson: 21 carries, 88 yards, 2 receptions 23 yards, 0 TDs

The New York Giants running game will be a little hard to predict out of the gate against the Dallas Cowboys this season. The reshuffled offensive line mixed with some question marks because of injuries further cloud the actual production that should be expected. If Henry Hynoski and David Baas were healthy Wilson may be a top 10 start against the Cowboys, but for now we have to temper our expectations just a bit. I would only keep Wilson on the bench this week if I had started a draft with three straight running backs, or if the league was a full point PPR league where Wilson was my third running back.

Victor Cruz (If Healthy): 8 receptions, 105 yards, 1 TD

Victor Cruz is the best chess piece that Gilbride and Manning possess going against Dallas this week. His ability to threaten the entire middle of the field from settling in behind the linebackers to driving past safeties can make a defensive coordinator have nightmares. In a typical “Tampa Two” look the middle linebacker will have deep middle in certain situations and that could be a nightmare for Sean Lee as Victor Cruz blows by him. I have Cruz as one of the best wide receiver plays this week as long as his bruised heel cooperates.

Hakeem Nicks: 4 receptions, 67 yards, 1 TD

Nicks is a bit of a conundrum. He is the guy that made Jerry Jones open up his wallet to sign Brandon Carr and draft Morris Claiborne, but is he still that guy? I have a feeling Hakeem is going to have a very good year this season, but I don’t think this is the ideal matchup for his skill set. If his quickness is there he could find the void between the corner and the safety by beating the Dallas corners at the line of scrimmage, but the odds are slightly against him. I still have him in the top 20 as far as matchups this week, but he is more of a flex play then WR2.

Brandon Myers: 6 receptions, 65 yards, 1 TD

Brandon Myers and Manning didn’t exactly inspire confidence in the preseason, but the matchup in week 1 screams tight end production. Myers should be able to exploit the middle of the field and the flats to put up tight end 1 numbers after being almost invisible in the preseason. NumberFire has Brandon Myers as their number seven tight end for week 1 and I think that sounds about right after looking at the macthups.

Rueben Randle: 4 receptions, 52 yards, 0 TDs

While Randle is an important part of what the Giants offense there are too many other good wide receiver matchups around the league to think that Randle should be in anyone’s week 1 fantasy lineup. I like Randle’s long term outlook, but his immediate value is only in the deepest of leagues.

For any of your last minute Fantasy Football questions follow me on Twitter @Coachesser or message me by liking my Facebook Page CoachEsser’s Playbook. If you need start/sit advice fast go to my website www.coachesser.com and use my start/sit widget powered by NumberFire.

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy Part 2
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Fantasy Football Draft Strategy Part 2

Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy Part 2

This is the year of disappearing running back depth. The top of the class is so strong that taking one in the first round can lull an owner into a false sense of security. While picking off studs at other positions you can quickly find yourself with either a very old or very injury prone second running back. The depth looks even worse when you are playing in a standard scoring league with no PPR. Reggie Bush and Darren Sproles go from borderline first round picks in deeper PPR leagues to a 2nd or 3rd running back that you are not too happy about having on your roster in standard leagues. More and more fantasy experts are embracing going with three straight running backs in the first three rounds if the value fits and I am becoming a convert.

Don’t get me wrong there are RB2s with excellent potential. In 10 team leagues I love teams that have Matt Forte, Steven Jackson, Chris Johnson, and Maurice Jones Drew as their RB2. In 10 team PPR Reggie Bush and Darren Sproles as RB2s can make an owner look like a genius. I even like veterans that are in the third to fourth-round range like Frank Gore and DeMarco Murray. It’s when you start having Darren McFadden and Ryan Mathews as your RB2 that you should lose some sleep. I would also toss and turn if I was relying on a rookies like Eddie Lacy or Montee Ball as well.

The injuries to Jonathan Stewart and LeVeon Bell have further depleted the running backs worth targeting as RB2s in drafts. The injury histories of Rashard Mendenhall, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Chris Ivory make taking them a complete gamble. With all the question marks and speed bumps at running back after the first round I have to say I am very comfortable going RB-RB or even three straight running backs in drafts.

When drafting running backs make sure to look at my running back tiers. (.5 PPR is my basis for scoring)

Tier 1

Adrian Peterson

Tier 2

Doug Martin, Jamaal Charles, C.J. Spiller, Arian Foster (not buying the injury), LeSean McCoy

Tier 3

Ray Rice, Trent Richardson, Marshawn Lynch, Alfred Morris

Tier 4

Matt Forte, Reggie Bush, Darren Sproles, Steven Jackson, Chris Johnson, Maurice Jones Drew

Tier 5

Stevan Ridley, DeMarco Murray, David Wilson(Move him up another tier due to injury), Frank Gore, Lamar Miller

Tier 6

Darren McFadden, Ryan Mathews, Shane Vereen, Giovani Bernard, Daryl Richardson

Tier 7

Eddie Lacy, Ahmad Bradshaw, Montee Ball

Tier 8

Chris Ivory, Rashard Mendenhall, DeAngelo Williams, Andre Brown(Injured out 4-6 weeks), Mark Ingram

Note: LeVeon Bell is already out of his walking boot and could be a factor in the second month of the season.

There are a few wide receivers that can’t be overlooked when drafting this year. Calvin Johnson is a first-round pick in any scoring system and if you get him at the bottom of the first round count yourself lucky. After Megatron there are a handful of second-round worthy wide receivers that can be drafted before a borderline RB2. Dez Bryant leads this list as he is looking more and more unstoppable after his breakout second half last season. In PPR leagues I am not letting him slide past the 14th pick. A.J. Green is a monster as well, but there a few too many mouths to feed on the Bengalsoffense for him to really push my top two rated wide receivers. Brandon Marshall is a wild card at this point because of his hip issues and his frustration with his recovery. When healthy and with Jay Cutler throwing him the ball there are few wide receivers in the league I would rather have.

The next two guys are neck and neck for me. Julio Jones and Demaryius Thomas are both tremendously talented wide receivers who play in high scoring offenses, but both lose targets because of the talented pass catchers they happen to be teammates with. Julio is poised to finally take over the lead roll from Roddy White, but we have said that before. His up and down production can be maddening, but his potential to be dominant is tough to pass up. Demaryius is Peyton Manning’s best target in Denver and only slides down my list because of Eric Decker and Wes Welker stealing targets. Even with limited (for a WR1) opportunities he should top 1,500 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Now let’s see how my wide receiver tiers stack up. (.5 PPR is my basis for scoring)

Tier 1

Calvin Johnson

Tier 2

Dez looks poised to join Calvin on top of the WR rankings.

Dez Bryant, AJ Green, Brandon Marshall, Julio Jones, Demaryius Thomas

Tier 3

Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Roddy White

Tier 4

Victor Cruz, Vincent Jackson, Randall Cobb

Tier 5

Danny Amendola, Marques Colston, Jordy Nelson, Reggie Wayne,Hakeem Nicks, Dwayne Bowe, Pierre Garcon

Tier 6

Wes Welker, Antonio Brown, Mike Wallace, Torrey Smith, Steve Smith, DeSean Jackson, Eric Decker

Tier 7

James Jones, Cecil Shorts, TY Hilton, Mike Williams, Josh Gordon(suspended 2 games)

Tier 8

Anquan Boldin, Miles Austin, Stevie Johnson, Kenny Britt, Kenbrell Thompkins, Golden Tate, Chris Givens

Tier 9

Tavon Austin, Lance Moore, Michael Floyd, Vincent Brown, DeAndre Hopkins, Justin Blackmon

Note: Justin Blackmon will be a WR2 when he comes off his 4 game suspension.

I want to wish everyone a fantastic fantasy football season and would love if my tiers ended up helping you to a championship. Please keep me informed throughout the year by following me on twitter @Coachesser or liking my Facebook page CochEsser’s Playbook. You can also keep in touch by visiting my website www.coachesser.com each week. Every Monday from 8-9 p.m. I am available for your Fantasy Football questions on Google + by stopping by Catching up with the Counselor on #FFCentral.

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Part 1
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Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Part 1

Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football Draft Strategy: Part 1

Every fantasy football draft has it’s own rhythm. Some leagues draft quarterbacks like there’s a storm coming and they need to fill that slot before the drat closes. Some leagues march to the beat of the ground game and runningbacks roll off the draft list like dominoes. Calvin Johnson, the only sure thing wide receiver to be a first rounder the last few years, is once again a sure thing first-round producer.

In short, I don’t endorse any particular fantasy football draft strategy because every league is different. You have to be flexible and be prepared for anything. I do think you should have a best-case and worst-case contingency plan already worked out. There’s nothing worse than picking a guy early who you didn’t think would make it to you and not being prepared to draft his handcuff at the proper point later on in the draft.

One example of this possibly happening this year would be if you were picking late in the first round and everyone was scared off of Arian Foster because of his lingering back issue. You immediately jump at the chance to draft a possible top 3 fantasy player without ever thinking about what pick you’ll have to spend to get his backup, Ben Tate, later in the draft. Believe me you will be sorry when you glance at your draft magazine printed in April and it shows Ben Tate as a ninth-round pick. You sit and wait and your buddy takes Tate in the seventh and you’re left worrying the rest of the year that Foster might get hurt, or worse, forced to make a lopsided trade to get a backup.

The one thing you don’t want to do is force a pick at a position that is deep. Usually the onesie positions are pretty deep from year to year. This year they are extremely deep. There are tiers to each position in fantasy football, but quarterback and tight end have a very small top tier and then a bunch of guys that should all finish bunched up at the end of the season.

QB Top Tier

Drew Brees

Aaron Rodgers

QB 2nd Tier

Peyton Manning

Cam Newton

Matt Ryan

QB 3rd Tier

QB 4th Tier

The rest are all QB 2 types, but anyone (Except Mark Sanchez) could make a jump up the list.

TE Top Tier

Jimmy Graham

TE 2nd Tier

Jason Witten

(injury concern) Rob Gronkowski

TE 3rd Tier

Vernon Davis

Tony Gonzalez

TE 4th Tier

Greg Olsen

TE 5th Tier

Jared Cook

TE 6th Tier

(Fast Riser) Zach Sudfeld

When drafting either of these positions it’s all about what you’re comfortable doing. If you need a must start QB with no questions asked week in and week out then you need to stick to those top two tiers and pay whatever price your draft dictates. If you don’t mind playing matchups and banking on a quarterback bouncing back to an elite level (Matthew Stafford) or taking a leap to an elite level (Andrew Luck) then you can wait until QB tier 3 guys start to come off the board and build up your team elsewhere in the meantime.

Tight end is a position I largely ignore. I don’t mean I ignore projections an analyzing the position. I mean that I try not to get sucked into drafting a tight end too early in a draft unless it’s a guy that’s a difference maker at a clear cut value. Jimmy Graham in the mid-second round. VALUE! Rob Gronkowski or Jason Witten in the fifth round. VALUE! Anyone after that will have to wait until the ninth round for me to even consider taking a look. There are just too many good players available (Cecil Shorts III, Michael Williams,Anquan Boldin, T.Y. Hilton) in the sixth through eighth rounds for me to take a tight end who can get outscored by someone taken in the 12th round. Don’t force it just to get a starter’s spot filled.

Check back next week when I go over my final running back and wide receiver tiers and let you know how I will be attacking every fantasy football draft this year.

This article was originally featured at www.bigblueview.com on Friday August 23rd, 2013.

Fantasy Football: Handcuffs

I am completely in favor of avoiding handcuff situations in almost all circumstances. To spice up a relationship might be the only acceptable circumstance, but even there I’m afraid of what the wife might do. When it comes to a fantasy football draft there aren’t many things more nerve racking than drafting an injured or injury prone player early and playing the guessing game on when to draft his handcuff for the rest of the draft. I know in my home leagues some guys will take your handcuff early just to spite you for something you did to them in high school. (or with their sister.)

This year Arian Foster has again become an early season injury concern. Reports about his back problems have some GMs running to the hills and I don’t blame them. Most experts have dropped him below the top 10 running back tier that he was locked into all off season. I am not dropping him that far YET, but I will be more cautious when drafting in the 7-11 slots before his week 1 status is confirmed.

I am always reluctant to draft an injured or recovering player in the first few rounds for good reason. Somewhere out there Domanick Williams owes me a beer for drafting him in the second round in the late summer of 2005 in my best home league. Needless to say we had to draft early because of my impending nuptials and my wedding present was a player who would be put on IR. So maybe I have a bias against Houston running backs, wouldn’t you.

The main reason I never liked drafting Foster in the first place was the cost of Ben Tate. Yes Tate is an excellent back-up RB capable of putting up RB1 numbers if called upon, but his ADP has always been much higher than other handcuff candidates. With Foster’s back injury Tate could climb into the top of the 7th round and if you took Foster in the middle of the first you may have to bite the bullet and take Tate in the 6th. Two top 6 picks on a pair of RBs where only one will have RB1-RB2 status at any given time. Absolutely not happening for me.

I would much rather take David Wilson in the late third of a 12 team league or in the 4th of a 10 team league and take Andre Brown later in the draft. Those are two handcuffs that will contribute to your team week in and week out. By waiting on Wilson and Brown I am able to stack my team with a top RB and WR in the first two rounds and still build depth and usefulness at the running back position later. If I took Foster in the first I would be forced to blow that 6th round pick on Tate instead of taking a valuable player like Tom Brady or Matt Ryan in that spot.

The only first round running back who’s handcuff actually intrigues me is LeSean McCoy and Bryce Brown. With Chip Kelly’s offense putting up huge rushing numbers and the fact that Brown will get plenty of touches all on his own makes these two my ideal first round handcuff situation. Chris Polk scared a few GMs away from Brown earlier in the summer when he went ahead of Brown in the Eagles’ backfield pecking order, but I suspect that was just a motivational ploy by Chip Kelly. Brown is far and away the superior talent behind McCoy and is the one of the only back up running backs in the league who could push top eight numbers if there was an injury to the starter. Brown’s cost is low right now at right around the 90th overall pick as seen on www.fantasyfootballcalculator.com.

Fantasy Football:NY Giants BreakoutCandidates
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Fantasy Football:NY Giants BreakoutCandidates

Fantasy Football

Fantasy Football:NY Giants BreakoutCandidates

The New York Giants are one of the key teams this year in fantasy football. While some teams are almost entirely ignored during drafts, like our neighbors the New York Jets, the Giants have seven players that will be drafted in almost every 12 team fantasy football league. Here we take a look at all seven and their potential to breakout.

Eli Manning– Eli’s fantasy football stock has come down since last year and that’s just fine by me. While Eli was unable to match his 2011 numbers in 2012, he may be able to surpass those 2011 numbers this year. Eli will rely on a veteran offensive line to keep him upright as he looks to put up huge numbers. The loss of Ahmad Bradshaw will be tough as he was an excellent pass blocking running back and was proven pass catcher out of the backfield.Andre Brown and David Wilson will vie for their touches in the passing game, but only if they can pick up the blitz when called upon. A healthy Hakeem Nicks, a content Victor Cruz, and an emerging Rueben Randle will have defensive backfields on their heels. Brandon Myers is a steady tight end who is an excellent route runner and has soft hands which will be a nice addition for Manning. With all of these weapons Eli could break his career highs and reach the golden QB territory of 5, 000 yards and 30+ touchdowns. One thing he will not and should not do is run with the ball.

David Wilson – I may sound like I am beating a dead drum, but David Wilson’s talent will be hard to ignore. He must prove himself a willing blocker before he gets the keys to the Giants’ backfield, but his skills are undeniable. His biggest comparison player in fantasy football has been C. J. Spiller who was a break out star last year after starting the season as the second running back in Buffalo. Talented backs like Spiller and Wilson are hard to keep on the bench especially after they pick up the nuances of the pro game. if Wilson averages 15 touches a game he is an excellent RB2 this season.

Andre Brown – I fully expect Andre Brown to be a big piece of this offense if he stays healthy. Brown totaled 8 rushing touchdowns last year in limited duty and will be the featured goal-line back this season. His ADP is extremely low for his scoring potential and might be one of the best value picks of a fantasy football draft this year. If Brown gets 15+ touches plus goal-line work he will be a low-end RB2 and excellent flex option.

Hakeem Nicks – Hakeem’s skills are never in question, it’s just his health. With Nicks being extra careful this offseason and not pushing through little injuries here and there, he will be entering the season the healthiest he has been in at least two years. With the extra motivation of a big free agent pay day hanging over his head he could outperform his current ADP by leaps and bounds. He had been drafted as the 5th WR off the boars in previous drafts and now he is being drafted somewhere around the 16th wide receiver off the board. He can easily be a top 8 wide receiver if he stays healthy. 70-85 receptions,1200-1350 Yards, 8-12 TDs should be easily attainable if he is healthy.

Victor Cruz – Victor Cruz could have had a lost season if the Giants didn’t step up to the plate and sign their star receiver from Patterson New Jersey. With Cruz reporting to training camp with a fat new contract in hand he will be eager to live up the money. Sometimes that pressure can be tough to overcome, but Cruz has faced tougher challenges in life and come out on top. I expect Cruz to continue his dominance as one of the best inside wide receivers in the game as he has already shaken off the rust and linked up with Eli Manning in the preseason for a 57 yard touchdown against the Steelers. 80-90 receptions, 1100-1300 yards and 9-11 touchdowns would be an excellent season for this Giants’ star.

Rueben Randle – I have already posted today about Randle’s break out potential, but it’s worth noting that Kevin Gilbride has been personally singled out Randle time and time again during training camp and OTA’s as being one of the best Giants on the practice field. His time may not be this year as he could be Nicks eventual replacement, but in deeper leagues Randle could be a great lottery ticket. If there is an injury to a starting wide receiver there may be no more talented receiver, who’s currently not a starter, to step up and take his place. I expect Randle to have 40-50 receptions for 800-900 yards and 6-8 touchdowns.

Brandon Myers – While in most 10 team leagues Myers may be overlooked on draft day he is being drafted on most sites as the 13th tight end going off the board. Myers production will pale in comparison to his 2012 season in Oakland where he was the only option in the passing game, but he will be a nice piece to the Giants passing game puzzle. His route running savvy and soft hands will make an excellent fourth option in the Giants passing attack. I expect Myers to have 45-60 receptions, 500-650 yards, and 6-10 touchdowns. Not bad numbers for your back up tight end.

This article originally appeared at www.bigblueview.com on July 17th, 2013.

Jimmy Graham in the 2nd or Bust!

First of all I am not saying that you definitely have to take Jimmy Graham in the 2nd round of Fantasy Football drafts, but if he is available at pick 20 overall then it’s a slam dunk pick. I’m talking Dr. J posterizing Michael Cooper type of pick. (What, you don’t know who Dr. J is? Fine, Blake Griffin over Kendrick Perkins.) Getting a tight end that’s head and shoulders above all the others is awesome, but getting one that could put up wide receiver 1 type numbers is a huge bonus. What type of numbers are we talking? Well some fantasy pundits think Jimmy Graham can get to 100+ catches with 1500 yards and 15 TDS. Those numbers are ridiculous by normal tight end standards, but only sound outlandish. In 2011 Graham had 111 catches, 1468 yards and 14 TDs and he had room to grow.

Crazy Numbers

Jimmy Graham’s 2011 TE numbers Compared to Last year’s Highest scoring WRs

Jimmy Graham scored 341.8 fantasy points in 2011

Calvin Johnson scored 348.4 total fantasy points in 2012

Brandon Marshall scored 334.8 fantasy points in 2012

Andre Johnson scored 323.5 fantasy points in 2012

Yeah, so when you’re faced with taking Graham or Demaryius Thomas or Julio Jones just look at those numbers. When healthy Jimmy Graham will outscore every wide receiver in the league not named Megatron and plays a position where there is precipitous drop off after he is drafted. I’m not condoning taking him in the first round like some other guys are, but I definitely see their point. I just don’t like the way my team looks after taking Jimmy graham in the first round. My running backs end up being either a year away from social security or rookies that are a complete mystery.

I’m much more comfortable taking a running back or Calvin Johnson in the first round of a draft. I tend to like how my team looks on paper after the draft and it helps me sleep at night. When I go running back in the first round I feel like there is an opportunity to take Jimmy Graham in the second round because I already have that security blanket. Just call me Linus hanging onto C. J. Spiller with all my might. I will take Jimmy Graham before almost every receiver after Calvin Johnson. The only one that gives me pause is Dez Bryant because of his Megatron-lite like qualities.

If I don’t get Graham in the second round you can count on me putting the tight end blinders on until the 10th round. 10th round, really? Yep, I will only look at tight ends if there is a tremendous value. I will contemplate Gronk at the bottom of the 4th round if my top 14 WRs have all been taken. I will look at Jason Witten in the middle of the 5th if I’m not happy with what’s there at runningback or wide-receiver. Almost every time they haven’t made it to where I would be willing to pick them. So on the blinders go until the 10th.

The 9th round is usually the toughest to hold off because the ADP usually is pushing Greg Olsen or Jared Cook, but I can always find a wide receiver or a high upside back up running back to take. I do like Olsen because he is legitimately the number 2 passing target in Carolina, but there are similar tight ends available much later. Jared Cook is said to be the new slot favorite of Sam Bradford, but I have heard his virtues sung from many a Titans training camp only to have a giant hole on my roster.

the 10th round is where I start to survey the tight end landscape and usually to my surprise some very decent tight ends have fallen. Guys like Jermichael Finley, Owen Daniels, and Martellus Bennett are usually available in the 10th round and you can look at other owners roster dept to plan your course of attack. I usually take Bennett out of the equation as I have never been a fan of his sloppy route running, but I do like the huge chunks of yardage Owen Daniels rips off in the Texans play action passing game. If Daniels isn’t on the board I have to back to Jermichael Finley once again.

The guy has burned me more times than Dunkin Donuts coffee, but I will still go back for more. Finley’s impending free agency and his age (only 26) make for a great opportunity for him to cash in big time if he has a huge year. He has the talent, but he is only the fourth option in the Packers’ vaunted passing offense. It’s better now that Greg Jennings has moved on to Minnesota, but I would still be more comfortable with Daniels because of his position in the pecking order in Houston.

Let’s say I miss out on all those guys in the 10th round. Should I panic? Heck no! I still have options. Jordan Cameron of the Browns becomes my new tight end obsession. I will him to come to me in the 11th or 12 rounds. It’s just that simple. I wish for it and he appears. The power of positive thinking! (or some bullshit) Again if there is another sneaky GM just in front of me who happens to steal him from me I turn my sites to some guys that were once considered tight end 1 material. I start to go after Brandon Pettigrew, Fred Davis and ~~Dustin Keller~~ like there’s no tomorrow. And usually there isn’t a tomorrow because I am doing this at the very end of drafts.(Note:Dustin Keller suffered a career threatening knee injury last night.)

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my affections for Tyler Eifert and Zach Sudfeld. Two huge targets that are going to be a big part of their passing games. I love to pair them with a seasoned veteran as a high upside TE2.

Looking up and having Brandon Pettigrew as my starting tight end might not feel very good, but it’s a lot more comforting than having Darren McFadden or DeMarco Murray as my RB1! Take it from me you will sleep better at night waiting on a tight end than drafting anyone, but Jimmy Graham in the early rounds.