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Fantasy Football: The Awesomeness Of Auction Drafts
Published: August 7, 2009
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Are you depressed because you’re stuck with the #9 pick in your fantasy football serpentine draft this year? Are you dejected that you haven’t even a prayer of landing Adrian Peterson, Matt Forte, or Maurice Jones-Drew? Do your league competitors ridicule you because you probably won’t even have the chance to draft Larry Fitzgerald?
My friends, the solution is clear: auctions.
Auctions are one of the fastest growing trends in fantasy football. It is estimated that just over a quarter of all fantasy football leagues use an auction, but that number increases every year.
If you want to try something different and are up to the challenge, I would strongly urge you to join a league that utilizes an auction. Auctions level the playing field and involve far more strategy than a dull, run of the mill serpentine draft.
Fantasy football is evolving and changing every season. Face it, serpentine drafts are boring. You just sit there calling out names, doing very little for the vast majority of the draft. Serpentine drafts are spectator sports and a thing of the past.
Auctions allow owners an opportunity to acquire any player and the ability to impact what team gets every player. Auctions are the most fun and most challenging way for your league to distribute players each season.
It is my hope that this article encourages you to join and dominate an auction league this season.
Auction Basics
So what exactly is an auction?
An auction is an alternative way for your fantasy league to allocate or draft players. Instead of every team having a set draft spot to take turns calling out names for three hours, teams are given a set budget to spend on a set number of players.
For example, the auction league I run each season has 12 teams and each team has $125 for a budget. The auction is 15 rounds so there are 15 fantasy players per team roster.
The auction starts when the defending league champion nominates the first player. He or she can nominate any player at any position for bidding. Teams then bid for the player.
The league commissioner usually serves as or finds someone to be the auctioneer. When an owner wins a player, that owner gets to nominate the next player for bidding. The auction continues this way until all teams have the league roster limit which, in my league, is 15.
Pretty simple, eh? Now that I’ve told you what it is and how it works, I’m going to show you how to own your auction every season.
Prepare and Focus
Let’s start with the fundamentals. Now this should go without saying, but it is critically important that you properly prepare for an auction and stay focused during it. I’m sure that many of you like to tip back a few (or more) of your favorite malt beverages during your league draft.
That’s fine to do during a serpentine draft, but I would emphatically advise against it at an auction.
In an auction, every player nominated could potentially be on your fantasy football team. As I said earlier, auctions are not the eyewitness events that serpentine drafts are. A few years ago, I actually observed one owner win five players in a row.
Now, that’s not usually smart, but the fact that it can happen illustrates the importance of staying focused and alert during your auction. Staying focused and staying ahead of your competition will help put you over the top at your auction.
I know this sounds fairly fundamental, but it is important enough (and forgotten enough) to bear repeating.
Auction Preparation
1. Create a list of dollar values for each player that should be drafted
This list would be the main component of your preparation stage.
For example, take a 10 team league with 15 man rosters and a $100 team cap. This means that 150 players (15 player rosters for each of the 10 teams) will be taken for a grand total of $1000 ($100 for each of the 10 teams). Your league rules and setup will dictate your dollar values.
This is why it’s impossible for me to come up with an auction sheet for people each year.
Player dollar values are too specific for each individual league (scoring systems, roster setups, etc). Fear not, because these lists aren’t difficult to construct.
When compiling your auction sheet, math is obviously pretty crucial. In the example league above, my list of the top 150 players must be equal to $1000. If it’s not, I’m in trouble the minute the first player hits the auction block.
By the way, you need not put every NFL player on this auction sheet. In the above league, my auction sheet would only have the players that I project to be in the top 150 overall.
2. Determine a budget for players and positions
This is something you should include on your dollar value list. If you think certain players (most likely those from your favorite team) are going to make you spend more than you should, you need to set limits for yourself.
Keep in mind that you should never pay the actual market value for a player. Your goal should be to try and get every one of your players for about 75 percent of their market value.
If you can do this, you are saving money on every player while building a team that is theoretically worth far more than your league’s cap. This is the key to winning auction leagues.
In terms of limiting yourself by position, I would recommend the following percentages for an average league with a common scoring system:
QB 15 percent – Solid fantasy QBs are a dime a dozen now.
RB 50 pecent – RBs are the foundation of your team in nearly every league.
WR 30 percent – If your league starts three WRs, you will be forced to spend more here.
TE four percent – The TE position is deep, but you can splurge if you were frugal at the other positions.
K/DEF one percent – Try to save as much money here as you can. As by as much, I mean $1 for each.
As you can see, the name of the game is budget. Your league rules and scoring system will determine your budget at each position. If your league scoring system favors RBs (as most leagues do), your budget and auction sheet should reflect that. Budgeting is the most important aspect of auctions.
Trust me, when the bidding for Adrian Peterson and Larry Fitzgerald gets hot and heavy, you’re going to need every dollar at your disposal. If you plan and prepare effectively, you will have no problems finding room in your budget to grab one of those elite players on the way to building your championship team.
Nominating Undesirable Marquee Players
For the vast majority of an auction, you should be nominating star players you don’t want. You want your nominations to make other teams spend (and hopefully waste) money.
The fastest way to do that is to nominate undesirable marquee players. Nominating marquee players you don’t want will make your opponents spend a good portion of money. This is especially true for the early stages of an auction.
Early in an auction, owners get excited when the big names start coming up. This excitement causes people to overspend on those star players. This, in turn, typically leads to great deals for you later in the auction.
This strategy allows you to acquire players for 75% of their actual value, which, once again, is the key to winning fantasy football auction leagues.
Early in my auction, I’ll be nominating the marquee QBs, RBs, and WRs I don’t want. This should allow me to get the QBs, RBs and WRs I do want at significantly better value later in the auction.
Dealing With Rookies
Rookies are usually incredibly overrated and rarely, if ever, dependable fantasy contributors in their first season. Nominate some of the top billed rookie QBs and WRs early and see if you can get your competitors to break the bank and waste some money on a rookie’s hype.
Hopefully, you noticed that I “conveniently” left out rookie RBs. Rookie RBs need to be evaluated on an individual basis. If anything, given the right situation, starting rookie RBs tend to be underrated and undervalued.
Remember, auctions are all about value.
Nominating Desirable Players
There will come a point in your auction when you will be able to start nominating (and winning) the players you covet. Now, it’s quite difficult to explain when that exact point is and how you’ll know, but you should recognize it if you’re paying attention.
For me, it’s usually about two-thirds of the way through the auction. For example, in my 12 team, 15 round auction, it will usually be just after the first 100 players are gone. It will also usually be the time when I have more money than the other teams. At this point, I am looking to steal my sleepers and high risk, high reward players at a bargain price.
Control Your Emotions
When a player you covet or desire is nominated, don’t be obvious about it. Try to wait until the bidding starts to diminish before getting involved. Use a boring, monotone voice when you bid.
If you show too much emotion, your competitors will notice it and punish you. Keep your poker face on and stick to your budget.
Conversely, exploit and abuse owners who willfully surrender important information by their inability to control their emotions. An effective strategy is showing emotion as a ploy while merely bidding up another owner. In most cases, your competitor will think you’re giving away information and he’s playing you.
Until, of course, you stop bidding and smile, knowing your cleverness just cost him more money than he wanted to spend on a player he probably did not want or need.
Patience Is A Virtue
Auctions are fast-paced and exciting. At the same time, however, auctions reward patience. David Dorey, co-founder of The Huddle, is a master of this.
I remember David and I both waited around in the 2004 Fantasy Auctioneer Invitational Expert League and annoyed one another in late bidding battles. My team was voted Preseason Favorite. David’s team ended up tying for the league’s best record.
Moral of the story? Owners who get hyperactive in auctions usually run out of money rapidly and miss out on some great deals late in the auction. With auctions, you often have to just sit back, relax, and take what your opponents give you. More often than not, you’ll be surprised at what they leave you.
Patience is a virtue and it is vital in auctions.
Be The Active Owner
You should try, in some way, to be involved in the “sale” of every player nominated. This is a major strategic element that differentiates serpentine drafts from auction leagues.
Become the owner who “controls” what team wins each player by bidding to price out certain owners or by bidding to drive up the price of a certain player. Pretend the auction is a schoolyard and you are its bully.
Remember, you’re not usually going to be bidding to actually win the player. You’re bidding to influence what owner wins the player and how much they have to pay. The goal of auction leagues is to find the best deals possible and make sure your opponents waste their money and overspend.
The key to bidding up other owners is to be smart about it and not get greedy. If you do, you could easily find yourself stuck with a player you didn’t want at a price you couldn’t afford.
The objective is intelligent aggression. That’s the key.
It’s probably going to take some practice and experience to properly understand the principle of intelligent aggression, but your effort will be well rewarded. If you can get your competitor to bid just an extra $4 on a particular player, that’s four less dollars that he or she has to spend when the bidding gets hot and heavy on the elite RBs.
Know Your League Rules and Competition
Once again, this sounds fundamental but I see people make mistakes with this every year.
Auction or not, it is essential to know and be familiar with your competition and league rules. You need to know your cap, roster size, scoring system, etc. All of these rules will determine your preparation, strategy, budget, and, ultimately, the success of your auction.
Along the same lines, you need to know your competition. Find out the players and teams they covet, the players and teams they despise, and exploit it.
Simply put, make sure the guy at your auction wearing his Tom Brady jersey pays dearly for him.
Pay Attention and Be Flexible
Always remember that no player is irreplaceable and all is never lost. Mike Ditka once said, “Success isn’t permanent and failure isn’t fatal.” This is the attitude you need to have in fantasy football.
Be ready to change your plans if the situation calls for it. Make sure that you are aware of any trends that develop during your auction. If RBs start selling for astronomical prices, it’s going to alter your strategy and have an effect on your team.
If you make a mistake early in your auction, that’s fine, it happens. Relax, recover, and get back to work. Do everything possible to keep your mistakes to an absolute minimum.
I’ve seen drunks with a cheatsheet walk out of a serpentine draft with a competitive team that makes the league playoffs. Alcohol and a cheatsheet are indistinguishable from suicide at auctions.
The Big Picture
Mistakes that your competitors make are usually more beneficial than you doing something right. This is especially true at an auction. Any mistakes made at an auction draft are immeasurably worse than what they would be at a serpentine draft.
Believe it or not, spending just $3 more than what you should have on a particular player can have catastrophic consequences on both your auction and your season. The most common mistake I see each season is owners not using all of their allotted money.
When the auction is over, you shouldn’t have any money left. If you do, you didn’t budget properly and you made some mistakes. You can get away with mistakes in serpentine drafts.
Auctions, on the other hand, are about as forgiving as an ex-wife at a custody hearing. That money is given to you to be spent, so make sure to budget and spend it all. Also remember that your overall team is more important than its individual players.
For example, if I break the bank and buy both Adrian Peterson and Drew Brees, I’m probably going to have towel boys at WR and TE. Two superstars do not make a team and my team will struggle because of it.
Always try to leave your auction with the best team, not just a couple of the best players. There is little, if any, room for error in auctions. You must minimize your mistakes while you maximize the mistakes of your opponents. I cannot overstate the magnitude of that previous sentence.
If you’re looking for a real challenge this fantasy football season, I would recommend joining an auction league. Auctions are an absolute blast and extremely challenging as well. If you have any questions regarding auction leagues or auction strategy, please don’t hesitate to email me at mkamke@brunoboys.net.
Second Year Step Ups (Players on the Rise)
Published: August 7, 2009
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Anyone who paid attention to the NFL or played fantasy football last season is aware of the solid batch of rookies that came into the league and played a significant role for fantasy owners. Names like Matt Forte, Chris Johnson, Steve Slaton, and DeSean Jackson were weekly fixtures in 2008. Still, there are more players from the draft class of 2008 who have yet to blossom. Let’s take a look at some guys entering their second seasons who may play an important role for fantasy owners in 2009.
WR Josh Morgan (San Francisco 49ers) – The sixth-round pick out of Virginia Tech started impressing in training camp last year, and some thought he would be a factor immediately. It didn’t happen, as he caught just 20 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns, but he may very well break out this year. Early reports out of this season’s training camp have been that Morgan is once again opening eyes.
The team signed former Tennessee Titan Brandon Jones, still has Isaac Bruce, and drafted Michael Crabtree, but none of those players should be potential roadblocks. Jones, while also reportedly looking good in camp, has had a nondescript four year career. Bruce will turn 37 during the season, and Crabtree, who has been doing his best to raise the ire of NFL teams and fans with his attitude since the offseason, now has his cousin and “advisor” telling people Crabtree will sit out the season if he doesn’t get the money he wants.
RB Ray Rice (Baltimore Ravens) – The grumbling started in the offseason that Rice, Baltimore’s second-round pick last season, was going to be given every shot to be Baltimore’s No.1 running back, and so far during training camp, that seems to be the case. With Willis McGahee having hit a career wall and Le’Ron McClain not possessing the talents of a true feature back, Rice will be getting numerous opportunities to deliver.
Keep in mind that McGahee and McClain will still get their carries, but Rice very well could be the one on the field the majority of the time, especially since he’s easily the best receiving threat of the three.
TE Martin Rucker (Cleveland Browns) – Rucker will be one of the players vying for the tight end job in Cleveland now that Lt. Winslow has moved on. Rucker, a fourth round pick last year, has great hands and is a tough runner after the catch, but his blocking abilities leave something to be desired. Still, he was one of the best tight ends in college football during his time at Missouri, and if he can improve his blocking, will see plenty of time on the field.
WR Keenan Burton (St. Louis Rams) – Like Rucker, Burton was a fourth round pick last season. In his first year in the league, he caught just 13 passes last season for 172 yards and a score, but could have had better numbers if he had stayed healthy.
Fellow second year pro Donnie Avery is the team’s No. 1 wideout, but every other spot is open, as the Rams purged many of their veterans after the year (including Torry Holt), meaning Burton will have every chance to win a starting spot. He’ll be competing with Laurent Robinson and Ronald Curry, but neither of those two remind anyone of Jerry Rice, so don’t count Burton out.
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*THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOYS KYLE SMITH. FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW!*
Aug. 7 News and Notes From Around the NFL
Published: August 7, 2009
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The 2009 NFL season is finally upon us.
All NFL teams have officially reported to training camp, and if you have not started preparing for your upcoming fantasy football season, you are behind the eight ball. Fortunately for you, all we do here at Bruno Boys Fantasy Football is eat, sleep and breath fantasy football.
As we enter the second week of August, the focus is upon fantasy football drafts.
If you are looking for cheat sheets, player rankings, player profiles, or team breakdowns, we have it all available to you on our 2009 Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet, which is available as a free PDF download on our homepage.
Our staff of fantasy football experts is also adding content to our Web site daily. Whether it’s opinion or news, sleepers or busts, you will find new content added to brunoboys.net daily, in order to help you prepare for upcoming draft.
Right now it’s time to take a look at news around NFL training camps and study the potential fantasy football impact.
This week we will discuss Eli Manning’s new contract, LenDale White’s weight loss, Braylon Edwards reporting to camp, and Reggie Bush’s surgically repaired knee.
Eli Manning Signs Contract Extension
The New York Giants and quarterback Eli Manning have agreed to a six-year contract extension worth a reported $97 million, with $35 million guaranteed. The extension will make Manning one of the highest-paid players in the NFL. He will even make more per season than big brother Peyton earns.
Manning did not have his best statistical season in 2008 when he passed for 3,238 yards with 21 touchdowns, but he did have his lowest interception total (10) since becoming the team’s full-time starter in 2005.
He lost his go-to-guy when wide receiver Plaxico Burress was lost for the season, after accidentally shooting himself in the leg during an incident at a nightclub. Burress has since been released by the Giants and is facing legal troubles stemming from the nightclub incident. The Giants drafted wide receiver Hakeem Nicks from North Carolina in the first round of April’s NFL Draft to help fill the void.
Getting the contract extension out of the way early means that Manning and the Giants can concentrate on football without the distraction of a contract negotiation.
Manning is currently ranked as the No. 17 quarterback by the Bruno Boys and he should be drafted as a QB2. He does not put up big numbers on a weekly basis, but he will make a solid bye week or injury replacement.
LenDale White Gives up Tequila, Loses 30-Plus Pounds
Tennessee Titans’ running back LenDale White has reported to the team’s training camp more than 30 pounds lighter than he was during the 2008 season. He reported to camp at 228 pounds, which is the lightest he has been since high school. White committed to losing weight after the Titans’ playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens in January.
When asked how he lost the weight, White’s answer was a little surprising. “It wasn’t a lot of major diet changes,” he said. “It was watching what I drink. I was a big Patron (tequila) consumer.” He went on to say that he used to drink a lot of alcohol, but he has cut it out completely and it has been six months since he had a drink.
White had 200 carries for 773 yards to go along with 15 touchdowns in 2008. He is part of a dynamic running back duo in Tennessee with second-year man Chris Johnson. Johnson is the speed back and White is the change of pace power back.
The question is, how will the weight loss affect White’s power game? To be honest, it shouldn’t. He is still a strong powerful back at 6’1″ and 228 pounds and is an explosive runner. If anything, he should be more agile and have the possibility of breaking longer runs.
White is our No. 25 ranked running back in our fantasy football cheat sheets. Tennessee employs a heavy run oriented offense and White should once again approach double digit touchdowns. He is more than a handcuff for Johnson and he should be drafted as a high-end RB3 or flex player.
Edwards Finally Takes the Field With Browns After Missing Four Practices
After missing the Browns’ first four days of training camp with an undisclosed injury, wide receiver Braylon Edwards practiced with the team for the first time on Wednesday.
An apparent leg injury had limited Edwards to riding a stationary bike during the Browns’ initial training camp workouts, but he received medical clearance from team physicians on Tuesday and he practiced in full with the team on Wednesday.
Edwards, who also missed the team’s mini-camp last month, did not show any signs of rust during his first practice with the team as he made a leaping catch in the end zone for a touchdown against cornerback Gerald Lawson.
Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for the fifth-year pro.
After scoring 16 touchdowns in 2007, Edwards had a down year in 2008 when he posted 55 catches for 873 yards with just three touchdowns.
He is currently ranked No. 17 in the Bruno Boys Wide Receiver Rankings. After trading tight end Kellen Winslow, releasing Joe Jurevicius and likely losing Donte’ Stallworth for the season, the Browns desperately need Edwards to step up this season.
Draft him as a WR2, but if he can regain his ’07 form he can put up WR1 numbers.
Make sure to read the full story, by clicking the following link: News & Notes From Around The NFL (8/7)
Is Kevin Smith Worth a Second Round Pick in Fantasy Football?
Published: August 7, 2009
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In this week’s edition of “Bruno Boys Mailbag” we will be tackling some hot topics that are surfacing in our Bruno Boys Message Board.
If you haven’t already signed up for an account head over to our Forums (click to sign-up) and do so.
As always, if you have a question about a specific fantasy football player or need some draft strategy advice, send an email to contact@brunoboys.net
and we will give you all the support needed to help make you successful.
With that being said, lets get started on the August 6, 2009 edition of the Bruno Boys Mailbag: Fantasy Football Q & A.
Question
During a solid Rookie campaign in 2004, Detroit RB Kevin Jones amassed 1,313 total yards with six total TD’s, averaging 4.7 yards per carry.
During the ensuing fantasy football draft, I bought into the hype, which included every fantasy football cliche’ in the inventory: “Can’t miss Prospect, Breakout Year, Stud, etc.”
He rewarded me with 773 total yards, five total TD’s, and averaged 3.6 yards per carry. Some breakout year, huh?
Fast Forward four years and we see a similar back, on the same team, with the same name and hype, following eerily similar Rookie Seasons: the current Detroit RB named Kevin (Smith) had 1,276 total yards, eight total TD’s and averaged 4.1 yard per carry.
Can someone please explain to me why on earth I would buy into the hype of a guy like Kevin Smith, who plays behind a wretched Detroit Line? A guy who plays on a team who’s starting QB changes like my wife’s throughout the day? Who will more likely than not have a young QB at the helm by Week Six?—(Kearnsy, Bruno Boys Forum)
Answer
Kearnsy…The Lions offensive line has improved through time. But that doesn’t mean it is adequate by any means. But there is something that you should read before heading elsewhere with Kevin Smith, as he is a workhorse that is striving to get better. And the passing game that surrounds him along with the blocking that Brandon Pettigrew will offer is something to be excited about.
Plus, Smith spent the whole offseason conditioning himself to break arm tackles. He is no where to being satisfied. In a recent article at MLive.com (Detroit’s local news outlet) he said the following, “I ran the hills a lot more in the offseason. I wanted more lower-body explosion. I have to break more arm tackles—I left a lot of yards out there last season.”
If that isn’t being determined then we don’t know what is. Here are a few more quick hitters to help make drafting Smith easier:
1. Scott Linehan’s offensive scheme, which utilizes a zone blocking system, complements Smith’s one-cut running style quite nicely.
2. Smith is a slightly better receiver than Jones, as he caught 39 passes compared to Jones’ 28 as a rookie and averaged .9 more yards than Jones did per catch.
3. The prospect of Stafford being under center does hurt Smith’s value some what, but it also helps in some ways too. Usually, young QBs tend to dump the ball off quite often, and you can bet if Stafford follows that trend, Smith will be one of the guys who will benefit (answer by Bruno Boys Chris Ziza and Mike Whooley).
You can read the full story by clicking the following link: Is Kevin Smith Worth a Second Round Pick in Fantasy Football?
2009 Fantasy Football Sleeper Rankings: Kickers
Published: August 7, 2009
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You’ve all heard of that old saying “You Snooze, You Lose” right? Well, if you haven’t, let us introduce you to the Bruno Boys philosophy on finding those diamond in the rough fantasy football impact players or identifying a player coming off injury who is set to have a big season.
We like to call our traditional sleeper rankings, Snooze Alarm rankings, because we focus on players who are virtually unheard of coming into the season or are undervalued because they might have suffered an injury or inconsistent play in the previous season.
On some occasions we will even tackle a player who had a solid season the year before, but still isn’t getting the attention he should.
Often times, these are the exact same players who either outperform their average draft position in fantasy football drafts by season’s end, or they hit your league as a free agent, but finish as a top performer on a weekly basis.
With that being said, please read on and enjoy the 2009 Bruno Boys Kicker “Snooze Alarm” Rankings (that’s right we even cover Kicker sleepers). Doing so, will allow you to not panic on draft day when a certain position starts flying off the board, and should help add much coveted depth to your fantasy football roster.
Ranking System: The higher the “Snooze Alarm” Ranking, the more sleeper value the player has.
Garrett Hartley (New Orleans Saints)—Out of 13 field goal attempts last season, Hartley made them all. Winning the confidence of his coach and teammates and solidifying his spot as starting kicker for the Saints’ powerful, weapon laden offense.
With what is hoped to be an improved defense, New Orleans may be even better than last year, which means Hartley should see the field often. Expect Hartley to be one of the top kickers in fantasy football leagues by the end of the season and watch him outperform the majority of the bigger names being drafted ahead of him.
SNOOZE ALARMS: 3 ALARMS
Robbie Gould (Chicago Bears)—With the addition of rocket armed Jay Cutler and Matt Forte’s run game keeping opposing defenses honest, the Bears should have no trouble moving the ball downfield.
A dominant defense should also translate into lots of opportunities for Chicago’s offense and Gould could see even more attempts in 2009. Considering he made 26 of 29 of field goals last season and was 8 of 11 were more than 40 yards, snagging him as your No. 1 kicker seems like a no-brainer.
But remember you should be able to do so in the last round of your fantasy football draft.
SNOOZE ALARMS: 2 ALARMS
Jason Hanson (Detroit Lions)—If nailing 21 of 22 field goals at 38 years old is impressive, going 8 for 8 on field goals 50 yards or longer earns Hanson a totally new level of respect in my book.
If he weren’t starting for the 0-16 Lions’, he might be closer to the top of fantasy football kicker rankings, but there is a lot of uncertainty going into the 2009 season. However, with Calvin Johnson running deep, expect Dante Culpepper to sling the ball downfield a lot.
Plus the Lions’ offense may be growing but it’s not quite there yet, so Detroit could settle for a lot of field goals, boosting Hanson’s fantasy football numbers. Even if Matthew Stafford ends up starting at some point in the season, Hanson’s value should stay consistent.
Target him late in your draft and reap the benefits of his consistency, especially if your league awards additional points for 50+ yards field goals.
SNOOZE ALARMS: 1 ALARM
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READ MORE CONTENT AT WWW.BRUNOBOYS.NET
Fantasy Football: Five Guys To Avoid In 2009
Published: August 3, 2009
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It seems every year in preparing for my fantasy football drafts, I run across what I like to call fantasy football lepers.
These are guys that, come draft day, I’m going to avoid at all costs, letting some other schmuck in my league get stuck with the head ache for the season. And, today, Bruno Boys Nation, I want to share five of my fantasy football lepers for 2009 with you. Perhaps in doing so, I can help you avoid some pain.
WR Dwayne Bowe (Kansas City Chiefs)—Placing Bowe on this list does pain me some. When it comes to fantasy football, one of the main things I want from my guys is consistency, and Bowe indeed had that in 2008.
In compiling his 1,022 receiving yards and seven touchdowns, Bowe finished with less than seven fantasy points in just three games out of the 16-game season. So, why am I turning my back on him in 2009, especially since the Chiefs went out and got a real quarterback in Matt Cassel to throw him the ball?
Plain and simple, it has to do with the departure of Tony Gonzalez.
When you’re a wide receiver, life is always made easier when you have a future Hall of Famer roaming the middle of the field, keeping secondaries honest.
With Gonzalez gone, defenses are going to throw everything but the kitchen sink at Bowe, and it’s going to be a lot harder to be consistent when you’re dealing with double teams.
RB Reggie Bush (New Orleans Saints)—A superb receiving running back on the best passing offense in the NFL—what’s not to like?
How about Bush’s measly 3.7 yards per carry average for his career, or the fact that Bush has missed 10 games over the last two seasons?
Yes, Bush can make the highlight reel play, but unless you’re in a league that awards points for a player’s appearances on SportsCenter, there are better options than Bush, especially since at least one owner will overvalue the Saints’ back based on name alone.
TE Vernon Davis (San Francisco 49ers)—Yes, he may be an impressive physical specimen, but so far, his size and athleticism has not translated into a successful football career.
In fact, the best year the former first rounder has amassed in his three years in the league was a 509-yard and four TD campaign in 2007. With many other young tight ends (John Carlson, Greg Owens, Owen Daniels, etc.) coming into their own, it’s time to stop being blinded by Davis’ physique.
QB Marc Bulger (St. Louis Rams)—I’m not going to lie. Following a disappointing 2007 season, I thought Bulger was set for a bounce back 2008.
I was wrong.
Finishing 27th among all fantasy quarterbacks with just 117 fantasy points, Bulger looked old and out of sorts at multiple times last season.
Once a top 10 fantasy option at his position, Bulger hardly warrants backup consideration moving forward. Not only will he be throwing to inexperienced receivers in the form of Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, and Laurent Robinson, but also the Rams’ offense is no longer the pass happy attack it was earlier in Bulger’s career.
WR Antonio Bryant (Tampa Bay Buccaneers)—Bryant was an excellent story last season.
After underachieving throughout his career and bouncing around from team to team, Bryant returned to the NFL, following a year off in 2007.
To the delight of Bucs fans and fantasy owners nationwide, he went registered 1,248 receiving yards and seven TD, good for eighth best among fantasy wide receivers.
Sadly, the good times will come to a crashing halt in 2009, and, unfortunately, it won’t be Bryant’s fault.
The wide out will see a decline in production thanks to a bad quarterback situation.
Neither Jeff Garcia nor Brian Griese are Peyton Manning, but both quarterbacks are preferred over the combo of Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown.
*THIS ARTICLE WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOYS WHOOLEY. FOR MORE FANTASY FOOTBALL INSIGHT AND ADVICE, CLICK THE LINK BELOW!*
2009 Fantasy Football Sleepers: Wide Receivers
Published: August 3, 2009
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You’ve all heard of that old saying “You Snooze, You Lose,” right?
Well, if you haven’t, let us introduce you to the Bruno Boys philosophy on finding those diamond in the rough fantasy football impact players, or identifying a player coming off injury who is set to have a big season.
We like to call our traditional sleeper rankings, Snooze Alarm rankings, because we focus on players who are virtually unheard of coming into the season or are undervalued because they might have suffered an injury or inconsistent play in the previous season. In some occasions we will even tackle a player who had a solid season the year before, but still isn’t getting the attention he should.
Often times, these are the exact same players who either outperform their average draft position in fantasy football drafts by seasons end, or they hit your league as a free agent, but finish as a top performer on a weekly basis.
With that being said, please read on and enjoy the 2009 Bruno Boys Wide Receiver “Snooze Alarm” Rankings. Doing so will allow you to not panic on draft day when a certain position starts flying off the board and should help add much coveted depth to your fantasy football roster.
Ranking System: The higher the “Snooze Alarm” Ranking, the more sleeper value the player has.
Anthony Gonzalez (Indianapolis Colts)—Indianapolis’ former first-round pick, Gonzalez’s numbers improved in his second campaign with the team in 2008 by 20 catches, nearly 100 receiving yards, and one touchdown.
With Marvin Harrison no longer with Indy, Gonzalez is firmly entrenched as Peyton Manning’s No. 2 receiver behind stalwart Reggie Wayne. Though the Colts have a new offensive coordinator, look for the team’s offense to remain similar to years past, and for Gonzalez to continue to improve his numbers for the third straight year.
SNOOZE ALARM RANKING: 6 ALARMS
Roy Williams (Dallas Cowboys)—Williams was an unmitigated flop coming over from Detroit last year in a trade that cost the Cowboys their first and third-round picks. With the release of Terrell Owens, there just isn’t anyone else for Tony Romo to throw to other than tight end Jason Witten.
Though the team will also continue to employ its running backs as receiving options, the only wideout on the roster that has produced significant numbers in the past is Williams. And in Dallas’ pass-happy offense, that should result in a stellar year.
SNOOZE ALARM RANKINGS: 5 ALARMS
Lee Evans (Buffalo Bills)—Evans scored a total of 24 touchdowns in his first three seasons in the league, but in his last two years, has a total of just eight.
Fantasy owners have long lamented the fact that Evans has not had a complementary receiving threat to take the pressure off of him, but that has all changed with the addition of Terrell Owens. Owens’ departure in Dallas is a boon for Roy Williams, but it may also be a benefit for Evans. Teams can no longer double the diminutive speedster, which should allow him to make big plays down the field, racking up yards, and hopefully, touchdowns.
SNOOZE ALARMS: 4 ALARMS
FOR THE REST OF THE WIDE RECEIVER SLEEPERS, CLICK THE LINK BELOW…
2009 FANTASY FOOTBALL SLEEPERS: WIDE RECEIVERS
*THIS ARTICLE WAS WRITTEN BY BRUNO BOYS KYLE SMITH.*
Grab These Running Back Sleepers While Friends Nap at the Fantasy Wheel
Published: August 3, 2009
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You’ve all heard of that old saying “You Snooze, You Lose” right? Well, if you haven’t, let us introduce you to the Bruno Boys philosophy on finding those diamond in the rough fantasy football impact players or identifying a player coming off injury who is set to have a big season. We like to call our traditional sleeper rankings, Snooze Alarm rankings, because we focus on players who are virtually unheard of coming into the season, or they are undervalued because they might have suffered an injury or inconsistent play in the previous season. In some occasions we will even tackle a player who had a solid season the year before but still isn’t getting the attention he should.
Often times, these are the exact same players who either outperform their average draft position in fantasy football drafts by season’s end, or they hit your league as a free agent, but finish as a top performer on a weekly basis. With that being said, please read on and enjoy the 2009 Bruno Boys Running Back “Snooze Alarm” Rankings. Doing so, will allow you to not panic on draft day when a certain position starts flying off the board and should help add much coveted depth to your fantasy football roster.
Ranking System: The higher the “Snooze Alarm” Ranking, the more sleeper value the player has.
Kevin Smith (Detroit Lions): Heading the list of sleepers or undervalued players who could have a solid impact during the 2009 fantasy football season is the Detroit Lions’ Kevin Smith. Having impressed during training camp and the preseason games, the Lions rewarded Smith’s efforts with the starting gig. He lasted only four games before being leap frogged by long-time Cincinnati Bengal, Rudi Johnson.
That did not last long though as he came off the bench for four games to only be thrown back into the starting lineup; this time for good. During his last eight games Smith averaged well over 100 all-purpose yards and punched in five touchdowns.
He is going into 2009 with a better offensive line in front of him, a rookie tight end in Brandon Pettigrew who takes enjoyment in laying hard blocks as well as getting to play behind a vastly improved passing game. If he were playing for the New England Patriots there is a good chance he would be being targeted as a mid-high RB2 in 12 team leagues. Luckily for you he is a Lion and a lot of people will allow him to slip much lower. Don’t be one of those people. Grab him later than he should be going and enjoy his production. That is why we here at the Bruno Boys are giving Smith SIX SNOOZE ALARMS!
SNOOZE ALARM RANKING: 6 ALARMS
Darren McFadden (Oakland Raiders): Unlike Kevin Smith, Darren McFadden had a pretty rough rookie season. Expected to make an immediate impact as a top backup RB3 in deeper leagues, the fantasy football world, along with the Oakland Raiders all cringed as we watched him limp into 784 total yards, four touchdowns and only five games started.
Making matters worse in 2008, but significantly improving your chances of being able to grab him as a great sleeper is the fact that he not only plays for the Raiders, but that he also only had two games in which he totaled more than 100 yards through the air and on the ground. Those are not numbers that one wants to see when looking to draft a RB2 to your team. That is why he most likely will be available as a RB3 in deeper leagues and has a very good chance at producing solid RB2 numbers throughout the season.
While he has a fairly tough schedule for opposing rush defenses, he does play seven games against opponents in 2009 that were not very solid against the run in 2008. Used in the right matchups, McFadden will definitely make fantasy football owners happy this year. That is enough to convince us to give him FIVE SNOOZE ALARMS!
SNOOZE ALARM RANKING: 5 ALARMS
Cedric Benson (Cincinnati Bengals): No one expects much from this once highly regarded Chicago Bears No. 1 draft choice in 2005 and there is just reason for that. He hasn’t approached anywhere near what his reputation was selling when he entered the league. But with a few off-the-field problems and a release by the Bears, the Cincinnati Bengals decided to give him a chance, and that turned into one of the better stories around the NFL in 2008.
Cedric Benson was brought in after the Bengals had given up on the talent that they have at running back and took full advantage of the situation. Getting into game shape by coming off the bench during his first two games with the Bengals, he started their final 10 games having put up an average of 124 combined yards per game during his last three contests.
You have to keep in mind that those games were not against the toughest rush defenses in the game; far from it. But it should serve as an eye opener and gives you someone to keep in the back of your mind for a solid RB3 option that could be a solid starting option during certain weeks. He does have a tough division in which he will be facing the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Baltimore Ravens twice a year, putting a solid nick in his fantasy football value. But if you have the room and can grab him to spot-play, he can server your team well. That is why he is getting FOUR SNOOZE ALARMS!
SNOOZE ALARM RANKING: 4 ALARMS
Ronnie Brown (Miami Dolphins): Ronnie Brown has shown a lot of promise since he was drafted in 2005 by the Miami Dolphins. In 2007, his third year in the league, Brown was off to a very hot start having accumulated almost 1,000 all-purpose yards and five touchdowns in his first seven games. That seventh game ended in disaster though as he blew out his ACL; but as we said that is 2007; this is 2009.
Playing through a rebound year in 2008, Brown split a lot of time with Ricky Williams and yet he still had a total of 1,170 yards and 10 touchdowns. Those numbers are pretty solid for a guy that was expected to miss the first half of the season while recovering from his ACL injury.
This offseason he is 100 percent and is expected to take on a much more prominent role in the offense. That could mean that he is in for a year unlike any other that he has had. A solid spike in both yardage on the ground and the air is to be expected while touchdowns may hover at or near what he did in 2008. The good thing though is no one knows and he could produce even more, or re-injure himself. That is why he is on the sleeper map. There will be plenty of fantasy football owners that are not going to be willing to throw him in as their RB2 as they want assurance.
Well, this is the NFL and the only thing that you are assured of is that LaDainian Tomlinson can have a knife in his back and still find a way to put pads on and get into the game. There is just enough question marks around Brown to make him qualify on this list and that is why the Bruno Boys are giving him THREE SNOOZE ALARMS!
SNOOZE ALARM RANKING: 3 ALARMS
TO SEE THE REST OF THE SLEEPERS CLICK HERE…
Fantasy Football Running Back Sleepers
How Contract Disputes Can Hurt a Player’s Fantasy Football Value
Published: August 3, 2009
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One thing in the offseason that can kill the potential of a fantasy football player is a contract dispute. And if it happens to be going on before training camp, you could be looking at a no show.
Just because the no show has become a common practice among the league, doesn’t take away from the fact that missing it can take a serious toll on the player’s performance going forward. Training camp is a precious time for players.
Even if they have been keeping in shape by their own methods, working out with coaches and other teammates is almost always going to be more intense and effective.
Team strategies, plays and techniques are learned, practiced and developed. Competitions are held to see who deserves to be on the field and who’ll be watching from the sidelines.
Perhaps most importantly though, training camp is where relationships are formed between teammates and with coaches. Where wide receivers develop a rapport with their quarterbacks. And where a group of guys becomes a team.
Missing this time may not only cause a rift between a player and their team, it can set them back significantly during the regular season. Many players who miss camp spend a lot of the first half catching up instead of producing at an elite level.
This is especially true for rookies, and if you don’t believe the Bruno Boys just ask Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell. Here are a few players in the middle of contract issues who have yet to show up in camp. If things don’t change soon, you may want to bump them down a notch.
Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers: The freakishly talented Crabtree was the 10th pick in the first round of this year’s draft. However, he and his agent apparently think he should be paid as a top three pick.
Sure, and I’d like to pay rent with my charming smile.
If Crabtree doesn’t make camp soon, he’ll have an even more difficult time learning the offense, especially since the wide receiver position is one of the hardest to adapt to the NFL. Camp time is vital for him to get his routes down, earn his team’s trust and create a good relationship with QB Shaun Hill.
Right now, it looks like Crabtree could be a diva in the making. So if he continues to hold out throughout the majority of training camp steer clear of him until the later rounds of your fantasy football draft unless you are in a dynasty league.
Knowshon Moreno, RB, Denver Broncos: Moreno not showing up tells me one of two things. He’s confident that he is the unquestionable starter for his new team. Or he forgot to account for the parade of backs behind him just waiting for the chance to take his job.
While it’s true running backs tend to adapt to the NFL more quickly than most positions, training camp is still essential to his production so he can more easily adapt to the game at a higher level.
The real danger for Moreno though is that if he doesn’t get to work soon, he could find himself a third or fourth back at the start of the season. Especially when his coach is Josh McDaniels, a guy who obviously doesn’t get swayed by public opinion and outside pressures, 1st round pick or not. I do think Moreno will be in camp soon but keep an eye out. In dynasty leagues he’s a first round pick regardless but seasonal owners be alert.
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles: Maclin probably isn’t someone you’re going to draft unless you’re in a very deep league or dynasty. Still, if the Philadelphia Eagles offense is clicking on all cylinders or someone gets injured, he has the talent to bring in a few scores with Donovan McNabb throwing him the ball.
Him not being in camp pushes him even further down the draft boards because it’s hard enough to grasp the complex offenses and routes of the NFL for a rookie receiver, let alone if he’s not there to work on them. His absence also keeps him from developing a relationship with his Pro Bowl QB.
This could keep him on the sidelines for a while or at least out of the playbook until he fully understands the system. The talent is there so dynasty owners in deep leagues should grab him in the early rounds but seasonal owners should steer clear for now and see if he can have any real value at all later in the season.
However, for those of you dying to draft him during your upcoming fantasy football draft make sure it’s in the later rounds.
Roddy White, WR, Atlanta Falcons: White is on the verge of becoming one of the league’s elite wide outs. Problem is contract issues are currently keeping him out of camp. It’s essential that he continue to build upon the success he and QB Matt Ryan had last season.
Ryan looks like he’s on his way to becoming one of the league’s star passers and with a little time, White and Ryan could develop the kind of relationship that Peyton Manning had with Marvin Harrison for so many years.
Unfortunately, White is wasting that precious time off the field. His draft status shouldn’t change much but watch to make sure he gets in there soon or he could see a drop in production at the start of the season as he and Ryan try to regain their rapport.
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Fantasy Football Quarterback Sleepers
Published: August 2, 2009
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You’ve all heard of that old saying “You Snooze, You Lose” right? Well, if you haven’t, let us introduce you to the Bruno Boys philosophy on finding those diamond in the rough fantasy football impact players or identifying a player coming off injury who is set to have a big season.
We like to call our traditional sleeper rankings, Snooze Alarm rankings, because we focus on players who are virtually unheard of coming into the season, or they are undervalued because they might have suffered an injury or inconsistent play in the previous season.
In some occasions, we will even tackle a player who had a solid season the year before but still isn’t getting the attention he should.
Often times, these are the exact same players who either outperform their average draft position in fantasy football drafts by seasons end, or they hit your league as a free agent, but finish as a top performer on a weekly basis.
With that being said, please read on and enjoy the 2009 Bruno Boys Quarterback “Snooze Alarm” Rankings. Doing so, will allow you to not panic on draft day when a certain position starts flying off the board and should help add much coveted depth to your fantasy football roster.
Trent Edwards (Buffalo Bills) — Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards has been somewhat of an enigma the past couple seasons. There have been times when he’s absolutely brilliant, and other times when he looked completely lost on the field.
Part of the reason for this is because the Bills have typically only had two options on offense in that they could either run the ball or throw to wide receiver Lee Evans.
The addition of Terrell Owens at wide receiver is going to change the offense dramatically. Teams will no longer be able to double team Evans and third receiver Josh Reed will now work against lower-caliber defensive backs. Edwards now has options as the field will open up for him.
But perhaps the biggest bonus the Bills will receive from the addition of Owens is that he’s so good in the red zone, where Evans and Reed struggled to catch passes. You should be able to draft Edwards as a middle of the road QB2 entering 2009 but if he continues to take care of the football he could play his way into a QB1 by seasons end.
SNOOZE ALARM RANKING: 6 ALARMS
Carson Palmer (Cincinnati Bengals) — After injuring his elbow last season Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer opted not to have surgery in favor of rehab with the hopes that he could return late in the season. He did not return and has been continually rehabbing, and has recently said he feels 100 percent.
Reports from Cincinnati have been positive about Palmer in his throwing sessions during minicamp and OTAs, and the team brought in Laveranues Coles to replace the departed T.J. Houshmandzadeh. When healthy Palmer has traditionally been one of the best and most consistent quarterbacks in the league.
His injury will cause him to fall in drafts this season but Palmer will rebound nicely and will finish among the top 10 quarterbacks.
SNOOZE ALARM RANKING: 5 ALARMS
Matt Hasselbeck (Seattle Seahawks) — Back problems pretty much ended the season last year for Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck before it started. Hasselbeck played in seven games last year but was just never quite himself.
Similar to Palmer, when healthy Hasselbeck is one of the best and most consistent players in the league at his position. He’s never going to throw 40-plus touchdowns in a season but he gets the kind of solid production every week you want out of a starting quarterback.
What’s going to make Hasselbeck a better player this season is the addition of Houshmandzadeh, who will provide a nice complement to Deion Branch.
Hasselbeck has usually had pretty good receivers but never a combination as talented as Branch, Houshmandzadeh and tight end John Carlson, thus if can stay healthy he is primed for a good season.
SNOOZE ALARM RANKING: 4 ALARMS
Shaun Hill (San Francisco 49ers) — Shaun Hill may not be the long-term solution at quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers but he’s good enough to play now and he won’t turn the ball over multiple times a game the way J.T. O’Sullivan did last year.
Hill is an intriguing option because he showed flashes last year of being a good quarterback, plus he’s got a decent supporting cast around him.
The question now is can Hill produce being the starter from day one instead of coming off the bench? Other players have not had much success when making that transition but Hill is well-suited for the job. He may not finish as a top-10 quarterback this season but will have some big point-scoring games and make for a good backup in any size of league.
SNOOZE ALARM RANKING: 3 ALARMS
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Fantasy Football Quarterback Sleepers
