Fantasy Football Notes: Jacksonville Jaguars

Following an 11-5 2007 season, the Jacksonville Jaguars were a chic pick to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl last season. Unfortunately, for Jags fans, things didn’t quite go as expected. Dealing with a slew of injuries to their offensive line, the Jags were never able to find a groove. In fact, at no point during 2008 did the team possess a record better than .500, though with the squad going just 5-11 on the year, that’s not all that surprising.

With the offensive line hurting, quarterback David Garrard lacked the time needed to really make things happen for Jacksonville through the air. While he did throw for a solid 3,620 yards, Garrard managed to complete just 15 TD passes while throwing 13 INTs and getting sacked 42 times.

It didn’t help Garrard’s case that Jacksonville failed to add any star power to the wide receiver position prior to the season. Thus, the team’s top two wide outs in 2008 were Matt Jones, who racked up 761 yards and two TDs, and Dennis Northcut, who caught 44 passes for 545 yards and two scores. Perhaps finally realizing the lack of talent they have at the wide receiver position, the team added former pro bowler, Torry Holt, to the mix this offseason.

The running game, too, suffered as a result of the injuries to the o-line. Following a 2007 season in which they finished second in the league in rushing offense with 149.4 rushing yards per game, the Jags finished just 18th in the league in 2008 with 110.9 rushing yards per game.

Both Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor saw their yard per carry averages dip as MJD went from averaging 4.6 in 2007 to 4.2 in 2008, while Taylor dropped from 5.4 to 3.9. With such a steep decline in Taylor’s production, the team decided to let the vet go this offseason, meaning 2009 will be the MJD show in Jacksonville, which should help the back out-perform the 1,389 total yards and the 14 total TDs he had in 2008, making him a top-five option in 2009 fantasy drafts.

 

KEY ADDITIONS

Torry Holt (WR)—What do you do when your team hasn’t had a 1,000-yard receiver since Jimmy Smith went for 1,023 yards in 2005? Well, if you’re the Jags, you bring in a future Hall of Famer in the shape of Torry Holt.

At the age of 32, Holt is entering the down slope of his career, but while he missed out on the 1,000-yard plateau in 2008 for the first time since his rookie year in 1999, Holt still has something to offer, especially to a Jags team that hasn’t had a top notch wide out in some time now.

Tra Thomas (OT)—Following the slew of injuries that befell the o-line in 2008, the Jags made sure to make it a priority this offseason. In doing so, they signed free agent tackle, Tra Thomas, who has protected Donovan McNabb’s blindside since 1999. The Jags hope that Thomas, despite turning 35 this season, can help keep Garrard avoid the frequent trips to his back that plagued him in 2008.

 

KEY DEPARTURE

Fred Taylor (RB)—It will be strange to see Taylor in a uniform that’s not the teal of the Jacksonville Jaguars as the back had been with the team since his rookie year in 1998. In 11 years with Jacksonville, Taylor tallied seven 1,000-yard seasons, most recently in 2007; however, despite his solid play, with MJD being the team’s future at running back, it was time for Taylor and Jacksonville to part ways.

 

ROOKIE TO WATCH

Eugene Monroe (OT)—In addition to adding Tra Thomas to the o-line, the Jaguars also drafted offensive tackle, Eugene Monroe, out of Virginia with the eighth overall pick of this year’s draft. Considered by many to be the best pass protector in this year’s rookie class, Monroe should be a rock to the Jags’ front line for years to come.

 

BRUNO BOYS SPOTLIGHT

Maurice Jones-Drew (RB)—Since MJD’s debut season in 2006 in which he went for 941 rushing yards, 436 receiving yards, and 16 total TDs, fantasy owners have been clamoring for the back to be the Jags’ featured back. With the team saying bon voyage to Fred Taylor this offseason, fantasy owners will finally get their wish in 2009.

While there is some room to be concerned with MJD carrying a full workload due to his diminutive size, the back has proven quite durable to this point in his career. With a revamped line in front of him, opening up holes, get ready to see those thunder thighs do their magic in 2009.

For more fantasy football insight and advice, click the link below…

Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

2009 Fantasy Football Deep, Deep Sleepers

If everyone who plays fantasy football has the same sleepers, are they really a sleeper? Deep, huh? Okay, maybe that particular question isn’t Socrates-esque in its profoundness, but it is a valid one, because every season when the experts roll out their lists of sleepers, the same names pop up.

So we’re going to go ahead and give you something a little different; the type of sleepers that are so far under, it’s like they’ve mixed a Xanax with a Tylenol PM and shot of Nyquil before they hit the sack. Just so we’re clear, these aren’t they type of players that should be drafted highly, or maybe even drafted at all. But they are someone to simply keep an eye on and monitor their progress in training camp and the preseason to see if they may become a fantasy football factor down the road.

Chauncey Washington, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars: As a rookie seventh-round pick last season, Washington amassed a total of 18 yards—nine rushing yards on four carries, nine receiving yards on one reception. At least he split the yards up evenly. With Fred Taylor having been let go, someone has to back up Maurice Jones-Drew. There are a number of candidates, and Washington has as much a chance as anyone. He’s competing with Alvin Pearlman and rookie seventh-rounder Rashad Jennings, who reportedly had a nice offseason.

Daniel Fells, TE, St. Louis Rams: Make no mistake, Fells is not going to supplant Randy McMichael as the tight end for the Rams, but he certainly has a good shot to be their No. 2, ahead of former second-round selection Joe Flopens… um … Klopenstein. Fells has excellent hands and snags nearly everything thrown his way. Last season, the Cal-Davis product started suiting up in Week 6 and though he caught just seven passes for 81 yards, he opened some eyes. In the Rams’ new West Coast offense, tight ends should play a big role, and considering the receiving options on the team are lacking, Fells could play his way into a regular part of the offense.

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READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE….

2009 Fantasy Football Deep, Deep Sleepers

 

2009 Fantasy Football Deep, Deep Sleepers

If everyone who plays fantasy football has the same sleepers, are they really a sleeper? Deep, huh? Okay, maybe that particular question isn’t Socrates-esque in its profoundness, but it is a valid one, because every season when the experts roll out their lists of sleepers, the same names pop up.

So we’re going to go ahead and give you something a little different; the type of sleepers that are so far under, it’s like they’ve mixed a Xanax with a Tylenol PM and shot of Nyquil before they hit the sack. Just so we’re clear, these aren’t they type of players that should be drafted highly, or maybe even drafted at all. But they are someone to simply keep an eye on and monitor their progress in training camp and the preseason to see if they may become a fantasy football factor down the road.

Chauncey Washington, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars: As a rookie seventh-round pick last season, Washington amassed a total of 18 yards—nine rushing yards on four carries, nine receiving yards on one reception. At least he split the yards up evenly. With Fred Taylor having been let go, someone has to back up Maurice Jones-Drew. There are a number of candidates, and Washington has as much a chance as anyone. He’s competing with Alvin Pearlman and rookie seventh-rounder Rashad Jennings, who reportedly had a nice offseason.

Daniel Fells, TE, St. Louis Rams: Make no mistake, Fells is not going to supplant Randy McMichael as the tight end for the Rams, but he certainly has a good shot to be their No. 2, ahead of former second-round selection Joe Flopens… um … Klopenstein. Fells has excellent hands and snags nearly everything thrown his way. Last season, the Cal-Davis product started suiting up in Week 6 and though he caught just seven passes for 81 yards, he opened some eyes. In the Rams’ new West Coast offense, tight ends should play a big role, and considering the receiving options on the team are lacking, Fells could play his way into a regular part of the offense.

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READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE….

2009 Fantasy Football Deep, Deep Sleepers

 

Marshawn Lynch Set To Lose Carries in 2009?

Hopefully all of you have had time to start studying the 2009 Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Webazine which is available for FREE as a downloadable PDF. It is already mid-July and what better way to get a jump on the competition then by using the best source of fantasy football draft information available for free on the internet. The best part is we will continue to update this Webazine throughout the summer giving you the most up-to-date fantasy football draft information possible.

With an ever growing staff of expert fantasy football writers the Bruno Boys are also adding fantasy football content to our new look website daily, in order to keep the Bruno Boys Nation as prepared as possible for the upcoming 2009 fantasy football season. In the latest installment of our NFL News and Notes segment we will take a look at the sudden retirement of Derrick Mason, a possible loss of carries for Marshawn Lynch this season, new contracts for Matt Cassel and Terrell Suggs, and the latest on Brett Favre.

Derrick Mason shockingly retires

In what came as a bit of a surprise Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason announced his retirement this week. No one saw this coming, including the Ravens organization. Mason had not even hinted at retirement during the offseason and if he had Baltimore would have likely addressed the wide receiver position more in the draft and/or free agency.

Mason said that his heart just is not in it right now, which is understandable coming off the death of his good friend and former teammate Steve McNair, whom he played with in both Tennessee and Baltimore. Mason’s retirement leaves a gaping hole at the wide receiver position for the Ravens. Entering his 13th professional season he was expected to be quarterback Joe Flacco’s top receiving option again this season. Mason was a solid WR3 last season when he had 80 catches for 1,037 yards with five touchdowns. He has posted 1,000 plus receiving yards seven of the past eight seasons.

Mason has yet to file his retirement papers with the NFL, which means there is still hope that he will change his mind and indeed play this season. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said he plans to meet with Mason as soon as he returns from vacation with his family. Keep a close eye on this situation in the next couple of weeks. Ravens wide receiver Mark Clayton could receive some increased fantasy football value with the retirement of Mason and he could become a low-end WR3.  Mason and Clayton currently rank No. 37 and No. 50 respectively on the Bruno Boys Wide Receiver Rankings, but the day Mason files his retirement papers with the NFL, those rankings will change.

Marshawn Lynch could lose carries this season

Reports out of Buffalo indicate that Bills running back Marshawn Lynch could see a decrease in carries when he returns from his three game suspension to start the season. The same could also go for his backup Fred Jackson as the Bills brought in Dominic Rhodes as a free agent from the Indianapolis Colts. “We’d like to take a little bit of pressure off of them,” said Bills head coach Dick Jauron, speaking of Lynch and Jackson. Adding an experienced backup in Rhodes should help the Bills keep both Lynch and Jackson fresher down the stretch this season.

After a hot start the Bills faded down the stretch losing 8 of their last 10 games and missed the playoffs. Lynch finished the season with 250 carries for 1,036 yards with eight touchdowns. He also added 47 catches for 300 yards with one touchdown. A shoulder injury seemed to slow Lynch down during the second half of the season as he only managed two touchdowns in the teams final seven games. Jackson had 130 carries for 571 yards with three touchdowns and added 37 catches for 317 yards.

A loss of touches and a three game suspension to start the season will hurt Lynch’s value some, but he is still a very good fantasy footballrunning back and should be drafted as a RB2, you just have to make sure you are prepared for the first three weeks without him. Lynch ranks No. 15 on the Bruno Boys Running Back Rankings. Jackson will have increased value for the first three weeks without Lynch, but the addition of Rhodes will could cut into his workload. Jackson is the No. 46 ranked running back by the Bruno Boys and he should be considered no more then a backup, although he will have increased value the first three weeks. Rhodes has minimal fantasy value at this time, even during Lynch’s suspension.

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CLICK HERE FOR MORE NFL PLAYER NEWS…

Fantasy Football News & Notes (7/17)

Marshawn Lynch Set To Lose Carries in 2009?

Hopefully all of you have had time to start studying the 2009 Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Webazine which is available for FREE as a downloadable PDF. It is already mid-July and what better way to get a jump on the competition then by using the best source of fantasy football draft information available for free on the internet. The best part is we will continue to update this Webazine throughout the summer giving you the most up-to-date fantasy football draft information possible.

With an ever growing staff of expert fantasy football writers the Bruno Boys are also adding fantasy football content to our new look website daily, in order to keep the Bruno Boys Nation as prepared as possible for the upcoming 2009 fantasy football season. In the latest installment of our NFL News and Notes segment we will take a look at the sudden retirement of Derrick Mason, a possible loss of carries for Marshawn Lynch this season, new contracts for Matt Cassel and Terrell Suggs, and the latest on Brett Favre.

Derrick Mason shockingly retires

In what came as a bit of a surprise Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Derrick Mason announced his retirement this week. No one saw this coming, including the Ravens organization. Mason had not even hinted at retirement during the offseason and if he had Baltimore would have likely addressed the wide receiver position more in the draft and/or free agency.

Mason said that his heart just is not in it right now, which is understandable coming off the death of his good friend and former teammate Steve McNair, whom he played with in both Tennessee and Baltimore. Mason’s retirement leaves a gaping hole at the wide receiver position for the Ravens. Entering his 13th professional season he was expected to be quarterback Joe Flacco’s top receiving option again this season. Mason was a solid WR3 last season when he had 80 catches for 1,037 yards with five touchdowns. He has posted 1,000 plus receiving yards seven of the past eight seasons.

Mason has yet to file his retirement papers with the NFL, which means there is still hope that he will change his mind and indeed play this season. Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said he plans to meet with Mason as soon as he returns from vacation with his family. Keep a close eye on this situation in the next couple of weeks. Ravens wide receiver Mark Clayton could receive some increased fantasy football value with the retirement of Mason and he could become a low-end WR3.  Mason and Clayton currently rank No. 37 and No. 50 respectively on the Bruno Boys Wide Receiver Rankings, but the day Mason files his retirement papers with the NFL, those rankings will change.

Marshawn Lynch could lose carries this season

Reports out of Buffalo indicate that Bills running back Marshawn Lynch could see a decrease in carries when he returns from his three game suspension to start the season. The same could also go for his backup Fred Jackson as the Bills brought in Dominic Rhodes as a free agent from the Indianapolis Colts. “We’d like to take a little bit of pressure off of them,” said Bills head coach Dick Jauron, speaking of Lynch and Jackson. Adding an experienced backup in Rhodes should help the Bills keep both Lynch and Jackson fresher down the stretch this season.

After a hot start the Bills faded down the stretch losing 8 of their last 10 games and missed the playoffs. Lynch finished the season with 250 carries for 1,036 yards with eight touchdowns. He also added 47 catches for 300 yards with one touchdown. A shoulder injury seemed to slow Lynch down during the second half of the season as he only managed two touchdowns in the teams final seven games. Jackson had 130 carries for 571 yards with three touchdowns and added 37 catches for 317 yards.

A loss of touches and a three game suspension to start the season will hurt Lynch’s value some, but he is still a very good fantasy footballrunning back and should be drafted as a RB2, you just have to make sure you are prepared for the first three weeks without him. Lynch ranks No. 15 on the Bruno Boys Running Back Rankings. Jackson will have increased value for the first three weeks without Lynch, but the addition of Rhodes will could cut into his workload. Jackson is the No. 46 ranked running back by the Bruno Boys and he should be considered no more then a backup, although he will have increased value the first three weeks. Rhodes has minimal fantasy value at this time, even during Lynch’s suspension.

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CLICK HERE FOR MORE NFL PLAYER NEWS…

Fantasy Football News & Notes (7/17)

Fantasy Football Q & A (7/17)

In eighth edition of Bruno Boys Mailbag I will be tackling two separate email questions that are centered around keeper leagues and draft strategy . Last but not least we will provide you with some valuable information on how everyone should use a Commish Kit Draft Board at their fantasy football draft.

As always, if you have a question about a player or draft strategy send an email to contact@brunoboys.net

and we will give you all the advice needed to make you successful. With that being said. lets get started on the July 17tth, 2009 edition of Bruno Boys Mailbag: Fantasy Football Q & A.

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QUESTION: Hey guys – I am in a PPR (.5 point, 12 team) keeper league and I am keeping Matt Forte (as my 4th round pick this year), Matt Ryan, and Lendale White in later rounds..so I am set on my keepers. My real question revolves around my draft strategy in the first 3 rounds this year, which I have the 5th pick in the first round. I am not sure where to go with my 1st – 3rd round picks. Would it be a stretch to draft Larry Fitzgerald or Andre Johnson at a number 5 overall pick in a PPR league and pass up on an LT or Westbrook?? I feel like if I don’t draft a stud WR in the first round that most of them will be gone by the second round or 17th overall pick. Could I go WR, RB, WR or would that just be foolish with the 5th pick? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks guys! — Jesse (Washington, DC)

ANSWER: Jesse… Thanks for the question and now let’s get down to business. Keeping Forte and only losing a 4th round pick because of it is great value. Forte trails only Adrian Peterson and Michael Turner in our 2009 Fantasy Football Top 150 Rankings and he should produce at the same level of a year ago. White is a TD machine and should have no trouble reaching double-digits again in 2009 while the addition of Tony Gonzalez in the Atlanta passing game should only help Ryan progress.

Assuming you start two running backs, two wide receivers and a Flex there are many different approaches you can take with the 5th overall pick but if I was in your shoes I’d shy away from the likes of Tomlinson and Westbrook and snag Larry Fitzgerald. With you already keeping two solid running backs and plenty of question marks surrounding Westbrook and Tomlinson, the choice of Fitzgerald (or even Johnson) will give you one of the games elite wide outs and a solid foundation to build off of. Plus, with it being a a point-per-reception league no one can combine yardage, touchdowns and receptions totals better than these two guys (sorry Randy Moss & Calvin Johnson). 

Finally, after snagging one of Fitzgerland or Johnson I would take the best available player on the board over the next two rounds. Assuming your league starts a Flex it probably wouldn’t hurt to target the likes of Pierre Thomas, Ronnie Brown, Darren McFadden when your draft pick at No. 17, but remember you don’t have to be married to drafting a RB if there is a WR available that ranks higher in a PPR format.  Keep the questions coming!

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READ MORE CONTENT AT WWW.BRUNOBOYS.NET

Fantasy Football Q & A (7/17)

In eighth edition of Bruno Boys Mailbag I will be tackling two separate email questions that are centered around keeper leagues and draft strategy . Last but not least we will provide you with some valuable information on how everyone should use a Commish Kit Draft Board at their fantasy football draft.

As always, if you have a question about a player or draft strategy send an email to contact@brunoboys.net

and we will give you all the advice needed to make you successful. With that being said. lets get started on the July 17tth, 2009 edition of Bruno Boys Mailbag: Fantasy Football Q & A.

————————

QUESTION: Hey guys – I am in a PPR (.5 point, 12 team) keeper league and I am keeping Matt Forte (as my 4th round pick this year), Matt Ryan, and Lendale White in later rounds..so I am set on my keepers. My real question revolves around my draft strategy in the first 3 rounds this year, which I have the 5th pick in the first round. I am not sure where to go with my 1st – 3rd round picks. Would it be a stretch to draft Larry Fitzgerald or Andre Johnson at a number 5 overall pick in a PPR league and pass up on an LT or Westbrook?? I feel like if I don’t draft a stud WR in the first round that most of them will be gone by the second round or 17th overall pick. Could I go WR, RB, WR or would that just be foolish with the 5th pick? Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks guys! — Jesse (Washington, DC)

ANSWER: Jesse… Thanks for the question and now let’s get down to business. Keeping Forte and only losing a 4th round pick because of it is great value. Forte trails only Adrian Peterson and Michael Turner in our 2009 Fantasy Football Top 150 Rankings and he should produce at the same level of a year ago. White is a TD machine and should have no trouble reaching double-digits again in 2009 while the addition of Tony Gonzalez in the Atlanta passing game should only help Ryan progress.

Assuming you start two running backs, two wide receivers and a Flex there are many different approaches you can take with the 5th overall pick but if I was in your shoes I’d shy away from the likes of Tomlinson and Westbrook and snag Larry Fitzgerald. With you already keeping two solid running backs and plenty of question marks surrounding Westbrook and Tomlinson, the choice of Fitzgerald (or even Johnson) will give you one of the games elite wide outs and a solid foundation to build off of. Plus, with it being a a point-per-reception league no one can combine yardage, touchdowns and receptions totals better than these two guys (sorry Randy Moss & Calvin Johnson). 

Finally, after snagging one of Fitzgerland or Johnson I would take the best available player on the board over the next two rounds. Assuming your league starts a Flex it probably wouldn’t hurt to target the likes of Pierre Thomas, Ronnie Brown, Darren McFadden when your draft pick at No. 17, but remember you don’t have to be married to drafting a RB if there is a WR available that ranks higher in a PPR format.  Keep the questions coming!

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READ MORE CONTENT AT WWW.BRUNOBOYS.NET

2009 Fantasy Football Mock Draft: Round 2

Indianapolis Colts Fantasy Football Notes

Fantasy Football Notes: Green Bay Packers

After going 13-3 and going to the NFC Title Game in 2007, the Packers looked to establish a new identity in 2008, as a changing of the guard occurred with Brett Favre giving way to Aaron Rodgers.

The Brett Favre saga was forever linked to the Packers throughout the season, but Rodgers did all he could to put it behind them, finishing with 4,038 yards, 28 touchdowns, and only 13 interceptions.

His efforts, though, were hidden by the Packers’ overall record of 6-10.

Rodgers’ numbers were partly a result of the shootouts the Packers were regularly involved in, making it evident that changes were needed on the defensive side of the ball. As such, Dom Capers was brought in this offseason to be the defensive coordinator and will change the defensive scheme to that of a 3-4 defense.

The switch will put defensive end, Aaron Kampman, at outside linebacker. The Packers also drafted NT B.J. Raji out of Boston College and LB Clay Matthews out of USC to fit the new scheme and to try to rebuild their defense quickly.

While changes were made to the defense, the offense will look pretty similar to the 2008 version. Behind Rodgers will be Ryan Grant, who rushed for 1,203 yards and four touchdowns a season ago. Grant struggled to find his groove early in the season due to a holdout and hamstring injury, but with a full offseason, he should be ready by Week 1.

His backups will still be Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn, who will come in when Grant needs a breather.

The guys catching the ball will be familiar faces, too. Greg Jennings remains Rodgers’ favorite target, as he caught 80 balls for 1,292 yards and nine touchdowns a season ago. Donald Driver and his 74 catches for 1,012 yards and five touchdowns will be on the other side of the field. Jordy Nelson, in his second year out of Kansas State, will look to add to his 366 yards and two scores from a season ago.

Finally, tight end Donald Lee will again be Rodgers’ safety valve, as he caught 39 balls for 303 yards and five scores last year.

 

KEY ADDITION

Anthony Smith (S)—Smith comes over from the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was known for his big hits and his guarantee that the Steelers would end the Patriots’ run to perfection back in 2007. A guarantee that blew up in his face when the Steelers lost and the Pats picked on him all day long.

His presence, though, may help the Packers as they switch to a 3-4 defense.  He can play general, helping out the secondary and making sure they get into the right packages.

While he does tend to get beat deep at times, he is a hard hitting safety who looks to make the big plays. 

READ MORE CONTENT AT WWW.BRUNOBOYS.NET

 

 

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