Week 5 Start-Sit Injury Advice: What You Should Know.

For most of us, the final step to building our WK 5 team rosters are nearly complete. The tedious task of finding that perfect combination of players each week, is just as much of an art form to Fantasy owners as sculpting was to Dali—yes, he was a sculptor too!

But this can’t be achieved without first looking at the injury updates from around the league as well as understanding the injuries you read about—Eli Manning’s injury is a great example of this which we will get to shortly.

So let’s dive right in shall we? Once you have read the latest injury report, come check out my Week Five WR Start- Sit Rankings and from there follow the links to other positions and Free Start Sit Advice!!!

Saturday’s Injury Report:

Frank Gore-RB-49ers: Gore is hoping to make his comeback in week seven vs. the Texans. He will begin testing the ankle today. Coffee continues to start, and is a nice choice against the Falcons.

Correll Buckhalter-RB-Eagles: At this point, Buckhalter is week to week and there is no guarantee he will regain the starting role if Moreno has a good couple of outings which is likely, drop him in shallow leagues.

Jamal Lewis-RB-Browns: That nagging hamstring hasn’t subsided, and Lewis was limited in practice for a third straight day. He isn’t exactly setting the world on fire and should not be considered an option in Fantasy at this point.

Antonio Bryant-WR-Bucs: Bryant is bound to be a nice option at WR this year for Fantasy owners, but against a very good Eagles’ secondary—and the fact that Bryant is NOT 100 percent—Bryant is more of a risk this week; he should be sat.

Keenan Burton/Donnie Avery-WRs-Rams: Both Burton and Avery are dealing with hamstring issues and against the Vikings are not even worth a squirt! Don’t use either of them.

Felix Jones-RB-Cowboys: Jones is quickly becoming more of a Fantasy risk than anything else as this is turning into another straight year of not being able to stay healthy. He is slated to return in WK7 and you should keep your eye on Tashard Choice going forward since he is much more resilient.

Roy William-WR-Cowboys: The cartilage damage in his ribs and the bye week after this one is enough for the Cowboys to sit Williams, and so should you. After the bye he should be fine.

Kevin Curtis-WR-Eagles: Curtis is doubtful this week, and going forward I would consider dropping him or possibly finding a trade. Curtis just can’t seem to shake the knee issue which is a shame because when 100 percent he is a dangerous WR. Jeremy Maclin should now be on your radar. Mohammed Massaquoi has a mere 27 percent ownership in Yahoo leagues for those wondering.

Matthew Stafford-QB-Lions: The super hush-hush Lions won’t say it, but Stafford is more than likely not gonna play which means Culpepper gets the start. Monitor Stafford going forward as his unique injury (Subluxation) invites problems with swelling.

Matt Hasselbeck-QB-Seahawks: Hasselbeck is likely to play, and that means good things for everyone on the Seahawks; particularly TE John Carlson. Start him against a porous Jaguars D if you have no other options.

Willie Parker-RB-Steelers: The key here is to monitor Mendenhall NOT Parker. Even when Parker is in, he hasn’t done a whole lot and doesn’t have a high ceiling for improvement right now. Currently, he is listed as week to week with turf toe.

 

Analyzing Eli Manning: Last week Eli Manning suffered an injury to his plantar fascia, which is the big center tissue that connects the heel bone to the head metatarsal bones;  basically the toes. This is an odd injury that normally is not very dangerous.

 The problem is, every writer with a keyboard, a gallon of coffee, and writers’ block have jumped all over this like…well you know what metaphor is coming next right?

As the week progressed Manning was able to jog, run, take snaps, run the offense, drop back and move around in the pocket.

But there has been a huge sentiment that Manning should be sat—really?

Manning IS going to start, let us get that out of the way, and even if the Giants focus on running more—which they will—there is still no reason to sit Manning with weapons like Manningham and Smith.

Look, it’s not like they’re gonna run on every play right? I see Manning throwing for 230 yards and two TDs while Jacobs get two TDs of his own; would you sit a guy with those stats? Right, me either.

So there you have it. Remember to visit my weekly column at Top-Fantasy-Football.com for your weekly WR Start-Sit Rankings and advice.

Good Luck this week everyone!

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Adrian Peterson Should Sit Out Your Fantasy Game; Will Detroit Lions Get a Win?

Welcome to Week Three, one of the most trying times of the season in fantasy football. The league is in disarray, nobody has a real clear-cut view of who is going to do what, and yes, the 49ers are 2-0.

What we’ll do here today is break down who to start and who to sit in a game-by-game manner. This will serve as a great reference point for all of you managers looking to get some answers to a great deal of heavy questions.

 

Atlanta @ New England: Brady has not lost his step and Welker is going to be available for this matchup (shhh…you didn’t hear it from me), but I wouldn’t start Welker. Brady has to get a bit more accurate on his passes, but I still like his chances against Atlanta’s passing D.

Atlanta is very dangerous, but I don’t see them having too much success against the Pats in New England outside of possibly Gonzalez.

Start: Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Tony Gonzalez, and John Abraham for IDP leaguers.
Sit: Matt Ryan, Brian Finneran

 

Tennessee @ New York Jets: I am not sold on the fact that the Jets are that good, nor am I sold on the fact that the Titans are that bad. The Jets will not have the same success they had stopping the run last week against the Pats, making Johnson’s stock rise considerably.

The Jets have very little to offer in this game, and I don’t see the Titans giving any room to move. Sanchez will get his first loss of the season.

Start: Chris Johnson, Michael Griffin for IDP leaguers (he may even return kicks this week)
Sit: Mark Sanchez, Thomas Jones

 

Cleveland @ Baltimore: The title says enough, and the Browns aren’t going to do squat in this game. It is safe to start any Ravens player you have this week, and it is also safe to sit any Cleveland player you have this week. Trust me.

 

Washington @ Detroit: I like the Lions to pull the upset this week as well as Johnson and Smith to have a good day. Ernie Simms is out at WLB for the Lions, leaving two rookies to fill in. Can someone say Clinton Portis?

Start: Clinton Ports, Kevin Smith, Calvin Johnson, and Louis Delmas for IDP leaguers.
Sit: Santana Moss, Jason Campbell

 

Green Bay @ St. Louis: Rodgers will face a Rams team that offers a significantly worse pass rush than the previous two competitors, and that should bode well for him, Driver, and Jennings. The Rams may have to rely heavily on Steven Jackson since Bulger is mentally MIA.

Start: Rodgers, Driver, Jennings, Jackson, and Woodson for IDP leaguers.
Sit: Bulger, Finley

 

Kansas City @ Philadelphia: Philadelphia will not have anywhere near the type of defensive collapse they had against New Orleans when KC comes to town, and it is safe to sit nearly everyone on the KC side of the ball.

Start: Westbrook, Kolb, McCoy, Jackson, and Celek
Sit: The entire KC team, unless Brandon Flowers gets the nod for IDP leaguers.

 

NYG @ Tampa Bay: Manning-to-Manningham was Week Two’s newest combo taking a place next to Manning-to-Wayne. The day will be focused, however, on Brandon Jacobs.

Tampa offers some fantasy relevance, too, with Winslow, and use Leftwich if you are stuck in a spot. Other than that, the Giants will be too much.

Start: Jacobs, Smith, Manningham, and the Caddy
Sit: Leftwich, Stovall, Clayton

 

San Francisco @ Minnesota: These two teams love to run the ball, with two QBs who are ancillary, but that’s not the only consideration here. Peterson is reported as having a back injury and was held out of practice today (Wed.), while the Vikings D has some issues with the run. I like Gore over Peterson, as taboo as it sounds.

I also like Favre, despite the fact that he hasn’t gone downfield yet. This could be the game Favre makes his true “return.” Percy Harvin has yet to NOT have a TD.

Start: Favre, Gore, Harvin
Sit: Peterson, and the San Fran receivers

 

Jacksonville @ Houston: Arizona opened up a can of passing whoop-ass on the Jags, but Schaub is not Warner—don’t be fooled by his one-game performance until he starts showing some consistency. The Jags are without playmakers, but they can run on the Texans.

Start: Jones-Drew, Johnson
Sit: Schaub, Slaton

 

Chicago @ Seattle: Housh is hurt and Hasselback is, in fact, out, making Seattle the risky play team of the week. Stay away from them entirely. But for Chicago, Cutler should have a break-out game, and the Bears are primed to have a huge day.

Start: Cutler, Knox, Bennett, Forte, Patrick Kearney, and Tommy Harris for IDP leaguers.
Sit: All Seahawks players on offense

 

New Orleans @ Buffalo: If there was one thing we learned last week about the Saints and Brees, it’s that the only time to sit Brees is when he has a bye week. But the Bills are about as aggressive as they come on offense, and this game may be a nail-biter.

Start: Owens, Brees, Colston, Taylor, and Edwards
Sit: Evans

 

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati: Big Ben is 11-0 in the state—the state—of Ohio, and 6-0 vs. the Bengals. Since the Steelers’ running game is less than spectacular, expect a big day from both QBs in this one.

Keep in mind that Antwan Odom is leading the league in sacks and has been the brightest spot on the Bengals D this year.

Start: Big Ben, Ward, Palmer, Coles, and Odon for IDP leaguers
Sit: Parker, Benson

 

Miami @ San Diego: The Chargers don’t need to win to post huge fantasy numbers, and you don’t need them to win either. Although Miami plays sound defense, it just doesn’t seem to matter who Rivers goes up against. I don’t like L.T. or Sproles in this matchup, as the Miami D should contain them rather well.

Start: Rivers, Jackson, Gates, and Porter for IDP leaguers
Sit: Pennington, Williams

 

Denver @ Oakland: The surprising Broncos have been turning heads since Week One, and they should continue to do the same against the Raiders in Week Three. I just can’t fathom why Russell is still considered an option for the Raiders, I really can’t.

Oakland’s one bright spot will be McFadden.

Start: Orton, Marshall, McFadden, and safety Michael Huff of the Raiders
Sit: Russell, Miller

 

Carolina @ Dallas: The Cowboys will get a chance to redeem themselves at home against the Panthers, but I don’t think it’s gonna happen. The Panthers are facing an 0-3 start for the first time in Fox’s tenure, and for the first time since ’98.

If Carolina can get pressure up front, Romo will have another bad day; something that seems very possible.

Start: Delhomme, Smith, Williams, Jones, and Ware for IDP leaguers.
Sit: Romo, Witten, and Barber with his strained quadriceps.

 

Arizona @ Indianapolis: The ONLY thing that would make this matchup better is if this game was in Arizona…’ya know, so we can all say “Showdown in the Wild West.”

Warner is coming off a career day for passing accuracy, while Manning proved last week he needs no more than a quarter of an hour to win games these days.

Indy is coming off a short week, and a long flight making them very vulnerable, so I don’t like the running game for the Colts here.

Start: Warner, Manning, Hightower, Fitzgerald, Boldin, Wayne, Clark
Sit: Brown

 

Good luck to everyone this week.

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Packers’ Loss To Bengals Is No Need To Panic.

“The Green Bay Packers never lost a football game. They just ran out of time.”— Vince Lombardi.

A testament to Sunday’s match-up against the Bengals.

There are weekends where the normal, expected circumstances grace our television screens, such as Peyton Manning throwing for over 300 yards in a win; and then there are days that provide us with more confusion than hearing about Mike Singletary giving a three minute speech in his underwear.

In today’s game, there is simply no guarantee week after week. You can be the number one team in the NFL; top dog, and still fall to the lowly underdog in the blink of an eye, and it is this type of reality that every team faces in any given season, in any given game—that’s football.

In Sunday’s contest between the Green Bay Packers and Cincinnati Bengals, we found this to hold true.

Coming into this game, the Packers were heavily favored and to be honest, the better team on paper. Now, this is not to say the Bengals are without talent, but again, on paper.

The Packers’ passing game became near one dimensional, the running game usage was inept at best, and the overall play on the O-Line was once again futile.

But even with all that said, the Packers are still a top team in the NFC believe it or not, and Sunday’s performance is very much wrapped in wool so to speak.

Yes, the Packers’ passing game became a bit one dimensional, but in defense of the Packers, the Bengals did a fantastic job rotating safety help towards Jennings. The idea was to shut down one of Rodgers’ primary weapons, and it worked like a charm.

Against the Bengals, the Pack only ran 14 times. There is no way to win a game with those amount of carriers. But there was little blocking help on the ends, and the power game up the middle as their only option was not something Green Bay was going to have too much success with anyway.

With a shootout seemingly building, the running game is always cast aside like that one toy that never gets played with—sorry Woody—so, again, although I don’t agree with the play calling, one has to envision what was going on in McCarthy’s head.

In the Chicago match-up, Allen Barbre had his hands full with Ogdenleye, but redeemed himself against the Bengals. The problem was the other side of the field in Colledge dealing with Antwan Odom, but losing Chad Clifton certainly didn’t help either. The Packers gave up 6 sacks total.

Then, there was the departure of Nick Collins, and if you were Carson Palmer wouldn’t you do everything you could to exploit that part of the field with Ocho Cinco?

I am not offering excuses, but I sure as hell won’t come out after two games and condemn the Pack either; there’s still 14 games left for crying out loud. What I will condemn them for is the lack of control, which inevitably robbed the Pack of an opportunity to tie the game in the closing moments.

In the game, the Packers were tagged with 11 penalties for 76 yards.

This week, the Pack will travel in to the most depressing stadium in the NFL—Edward Jones Dome—to face to lowly Rams. The Rams can still run, so as to not repeat what Benson did, the Packers will have to do a better job of containing the runner and holding the line. Steven Jackson is a much better, faster runner than Benson.

There shouldn’t be any threat from the passing game as Bulger looks as if he has simply lost his will, and as Lombardi always said: “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will.”

The Packers will also be devoid of any true pass rush which makes this game a perfect chance to get the ship settled again and back on track. It should also serve as a great way to give Rodgers some confidence, and work on the blocking scheme a bit to get ready for Minnesota the week after.

But it all comes down to what the Packers actually do!

The Packers have another game that suggests an easy win, but as Lombardi also said: “The greatest accomplishment is not in never falling, but in rising again after you fall.”

Look for the Packers to bounce back vs. the Rams 27-7.

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Chargers-Ravens Fantasy Football Preview: Rolling the Dice

Within the plethora of games this week to preview, the Chargers-Ravens matchup is about as intriguing as the mesmorizing dance moves of “Green Man.”

Sure, we can talk about Drew Brees or Adrian Peterson, but we can also favor more predictable topics such as cookies and milk and the natural passing of gas; this is more entertaining and informative.

For the Chargers, they will have to not only prove that last week’s struggle against Oakland was due to perhaps opening-day jitters but also prove to themselves they can survive without LaDainian Tomlinson.

For the Ravens, this vaunted defense will have to shore up some flaws from last week’s porous performance against Kansas City while riding the hot electrifying arm of Joe Flacco.

From a Fantasy aspect, there are more choices to navigate through than your favorite $9.99 buffet, but, with a little thought, we should be able to see where the value is or is not.

Let’s see what’s what.

 

The Quarterbacks

We begin with Flacco, the head-turning quarterback that has brought salvation to the Raven faithful. Last week Flacco threw for 307 yards and three touchdowns, but he did it against the worst defense in the AFC: the Kansas City Chiefs.

There is no questioning Flacco’s ability and talent; the guy is solid. He is also afforded a very competent rushing attack, making for a pretty balanced offense, but he should get a heftier challenge in San Diego this week, so expect the numbers to drop a bit.

Philip Rivers threw for 252 yards and a single TD against an Oakland defense that was supposed to be a lot worse than they were. Although Rivers is just as solid as Flacco, the defense is the difference maker here.

The Ravens are an incredibly aggressive team that usually plays sound technical defense, so they shouldn’t have too much trouble with the San Diego passing game.

I like Flacco over Rivers in overall Fantasy worth.

Edge: Ravens

 

The Running Backs

I will say it now: Darren Sproles is going to get a wakeup call on Sunday, and he is going to regret answering it. The Ravens feast on flashy smaller backs, so don’t expect anything from Sproles, no matter how good he is otherwise.

L.T. is out, for those of you who don’t know, and even if he wasn’t, he wouldn’t be much to look at here. L.T. is hampered by that nagging ankle and historically doesn’t do well against the Ravens’ vaunted defense anyhow, so you need to bench him until further notice.

The Raiders showed the world that the Chargers have flaws in their rushing defense, which will bode very well for the new kid on the block, Ray Rice. Rice is a bruising, punishing back that will have a great deal of success on Sunday, and the Ravens also have—to their afford—Willis McGahee.

I like Rice’s value very much, while McGahee will probably be used in situational downs. If you have Rice, start him; as for any other back in this game, it’s not worth it.

Edge: Ravens

 

The Receivers and Tight Ends

For as much as I like Flacco, I envision him using Todd Heap and the running backs more than his receiving options this week, making the Ravens’ receivers a bit undervalued.

If the Chargers can shut down the outside receiving threat of the Ravens, then Heap should have no problem seeing more than last week’s five-catch performance; I would bank on this scenario.

The Chargers are going to pass the ball—so someone might wanna forward this article to Baltimore (wink-wink)—and they are going to do it a lot. Vince Jackson and Antonio Gates are huge targets with a ton of reliability.

I see the same scenario here for San Diego: A lot of throws out of the backfield and to the TEs, so Gates is bound to have a good day regardless.

Edge: Chargers

 

Intangibles

–          The Ravens are 10-2 when Flacco throws a TD pass.

–          The Chargers are 20-4 at home since 2006

Edge: Even

 

All in all, there are some good matchups in this game, but there are also plenty of guys who you just need to sit if you can afford it. Don’t take any chances and get cute with this game; do what you know is right and stay logical.

In regard to games on the Tele this week, this is a game to watch if it is available to you. The Ravens and Chargers always provide a great contest, and the Ravens, especially, are a team rising to the top faster than you can say Edgar Allen Poe.

For free start-sit advice, visit our “Start-Sit” feed at Top Fantasy Football. Yes, you read correctly, it’s FREE…so what are you waiting for?

As always, gang: Good luck this week! 

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

BREAKING NEWS: Jeff Garcia To Philadelphia, A.J. Feeley To Carolina!

A familiar face is back in Philadelphia, while a true journeyman has landed a job in Carolina setting up a week two frenzy of media hoopla.

Jeff Garcia has rejoined the Philadelphia Eagles as they weigh their options against Donovan McNabb’s injuries, while the Panther made a bold move to sure up the No.2 spot that was previously thought to be solid in acquiring A.J. Feeley.

For many Eagles fans, the memory of Garcia filling in last year was more positive than negative, and considering Vick is unavailable, and Kolb is all but useless, this move makes more sense than powdered sugar on funnel cake.

For the Carolina Panthers, the move is bold and logical, but it is also one that will undoubtedly make for a minor QB controversy going forward. But let’s not forget, football teams make moves that help them, not pander to the media or fan base.

Feeley is not considered to be a top QB, but he does posses the skills that are a bit better than anyone else taking over the helm in Carolina. In the event Delhomme has another outing like he did in Philly, Feely could show himself to have some initial worth.

The Eagles take on the high flying New Orleans Saints, while the Panthers entertain the Atlanta Falcons in the first divisional showdown between the two.

The Eagles could have more success utilizing the services of Garcia before the Panthers show any fantasy worth in Feeley.

This whole situation comes at the end of a huge interest in Feeley by as many as four teams: Carolina, St. Louis, Philadelphia, and New England.

Yes, I said New England, and it doesn’t make sense to me either but, moving on.

St. Louis pretty much either fell off the map in the race to sign Feeley, or just simply wasn’t interested enough. Garcia is the most unexpected turn for the Birds top date, let alone for the old greybeard himself; no-one saw this coming.

The implications in regard to Fantasy are still up in the air.

Philadelphia is still on the fence about McNabb at the time of this article, but even if McNabb plays he won’t be worth a squirt, making Garcia an intriguing player to watch.

Feeley is more of a top tier waiver wire guy. John Fox has already said Delhomme will start against Atlanta, but if he fails Feeley is the man. Add him to the waiver now just to be safe.

For coverage on the NFC East, and the Garcia effect, visit my post on Tuesday (which will be updated Tueday morning) and remember, the waiver wire is your friend.

 

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Packers’ Ground Game Hits Wall vs. Bears: So What Needs To be Changed?

The week one matchup between the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers didn’t show itself to be the high scoring affair most of us thought it was going to be.

As we take an analytical look at the Packers, there is one glaring issue that has seemed to rear its ugly head for the past three years. If it’s one philosophy the NFL teaches, it’s the importance of the ground game.

Without a competent rushing attack, teams are forced to throw more than they should, which leaves the door wide open for turnovers.

You don’t need an Adrian Peterson to utilize the ground game—although it does help—in a way that produces positive results. Without it, there is no play action setup to draw the safeties in, there is little room for proper clock management, and the overall offensive becomes one-dimensional.

For the past three years, the Packers have averaged only 19.5 carries a game; a number that’s more anemic than it is stout. Last night’s opening game was no different, with Ryan Grant rushing only 16 times.

The Chicago defense made good in containing Grant, but it wasn’t as if there weren’t just as many holes for him to exploit—he just simply didn’t get enough touches.

The Bears showed that, if you can stuff the Packers ground game in the early goings, they are more reluctant to abandon it later on; something that needs to be addressed now, before Cincinnati comes rolling into town.

 

The X’s and O’s

The Packers didn’t have too many problems opening up the gaps for Grant, but Grant seemed, at times, hesitant. When the Packers ran off-tackle they had better success, especially when sealing the outside block.

The Bengals—Green Bay’s next opponent—did a pretty good job shutting down Denver’s ground game, but the Bronco rushing attack is vastly different from the Packers. So, the Bengals will have their hands full with a more talented backfield than Denver had to offer.

But all of this will be a moot point if Green Bay doesn’t run more than 16 times.

 

Tweaks and Adjustments

Offensive coordinator Joe Philbin, and running backs coach Edgar Bennett must get Grant more inclined to finish through his runs. If you look at the “tape”, there were a few runs where Grant just seemed to stop; something he does often.

Grant must learn to “run through the run” so to speak, and simply finish the job if the Packers are to have a good rushing campaign this season. The offensive line did a good job opening up the primary gaps, but that’s not where you want to hit the Cincinnati defense.

Dhani Jones is a good run stuffer capable of making life miserable for anyone coming through the middle, so a north-south approach may not be favorable. Keith Rivers and Rey Maualuga work well at the point of attack, but can be exploited at the line of scrimmage.

The Bengals are a jumpy team. They are a respectable group of players, but tend to be in places where they are not supposed to be—the perfect situation for off-tackle running.

The Packers showed they can get the blocks down to open up the outside road for Grant, and Grant showed last night he is not only healthy, but deceptively fast. Mixing in Wynn, is a great third down option as well, so don’t expect the Packers to change that part too much.

The Packers have a golden opportunity to get Grant’s motor running now, before it’s too late.

If Aaron Rodgers can pass early with success, and the O-Line can block a little better (I’m talking to you Allen Barbre), then Grant can be utilized better, allowing the Packers to control the game and establish the run.

 

The Future of Ryan Grant

Provided Grant remains healthy, there is no reason to think he won’t eclipse 1,500 yards on the ground, and that’s allowing for many games under 100 yards.

Ultimately the more they run, the easier it will be for Grant to achieve such numbers.

In the end, I would like to see Grant with at least 400 carries for the year (a 25 per-game-average), but as history has shown, it will be significantly less than that; a projection I hope I am not correct.

Grant Projections: 350 carries for 1,426 yards and seven TD’s—a 4.0 YPC average compared to last year’s 3.8.

 

For fantasy breakdown of week one’s matchup and a weekly look at the NFC East matchups click here.

 

 

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NFL Football: A Love Affair That Runs Deep

On Sunday, my undivided attention will be focused on one major sporting event: The NFL and Kickoff Sunday!

The opening day of the football season is the Christmas of all of sporting events. The giddy feeling of hearing—for the first time—the NFL “swan songs” of your favorite pregame shows.

The anticipation of seeing your favorite team make their virgin entrance onto the field, and the indelible roar of the crowd as we climatically watch the opening day kickoff.

Are you ready for some football?

The beauty and mystique of this glorious game is heavily steeped in tradition.

The notion of getting out on the field, week in and week out, giving 110 percent, and literally destroying your body seems intimidating to most of us, but to the various soldiers on that field, it’s all just a day’s work.

It is a game that teaches us the value of teamwork, communication, and never giving up. It’s a game where 1,696 players all chase the same dream every single week; a very powerful message.

You can sense the tension quicker than a cat can sense an earthquake. You can understand the energy between two bitter rivals without even having a clue as to how the game works.

You don’t even have to be fan of the game to know names like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, or even legends such as Walter Payton, Joe Montana, or Johnny Unitas; somehow, you just do.

For me, there simply isn’t any other way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

This one day is almost ritualistic. The early venture to the Lord’s house, a quick game of catch with my son—who used to play some football—and a long relegation to the kitchen where my olfactory region is invaded with the pleasantries of whatever party favors I decide to whip up.

This, of course, is quickly followed by the arrival of various friends and family—some of whom who are my arch-rivals—and the early morn rapidly advances to stage two: Game time!

In the background are the echoes of children playing, in the foreground is today’s special feature; best served cold with a side of “your team sucks.”

This game is just different from every other sport.

I feel every hit, I simultaneously yell with the coaches on every bad call—as if my war cry will have any effect on the outcome—I seethe at every fumble, and dropped pass, and I dance around like a little kid after every score.

Football isn’t the kind of sport that reminds us of hot dogs and peanuts, or chewing gum. Football is the kind of sport that reminds us of Band-aids, and the importance of health insurance.

It’s the kind of game that proves you can run through a guy like a Mack truck and still get up to get a drink of Gatorade. It’s the kind of sport where trash talking is a whole new language understood by the player AND the fan.

It gets the blood moving faster than the residents of Haddonfield, Ill., on Halloween night, and keeps us satisfied till the very last tick of the clock—unless, of course, you happen to be on the losing end.

We wake up with headaches every Monday morning with our voices raped of all functionality, making most of us sound like Jimmy Durante on a good day.

This is FOOTBALL! There’s not a football fan alive who doesn’t have an undying love for this game.

This is tradition at its finest. It’s the one thing we relish for five months out of the year, and yearn for the other seven.

So, when it comes to deciding where my attention will be Sunday, there is no question. I’ll be one fan in a sea of thousands who will choose NFL Sunday Football!

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Aaron Rodgers for MVP? Why the Packers Quarterback Is a Lock for the Award

This article was created with the helpful insight and masterful advice of Mr. Leroy Watson. I would like to personally thank Leroy for his help with this project, as it could not have turned out quite the way it did without him; thank you, my friend!

Want a prediction you can both chew and choke on? How about Aaron Rodgers WILL be the MVP at the end of this NFL season?

Write it down!

The 2009-10 season opens up for the Packers and Rodgers with plenty of upside, and with expectations for the impossible to be achieved; being crowned MVP is one of those impossible possibilities for Rodgers.

We live in a day and age where quarterbacks Peyton Manning and Tom Brady have basically cornered the MVP market since 2003, but the winds of change are upon us.

With Brady surely making a bid for Comeback Player of the Year, and Manning not having the type of offensive weapons he has been used to in recent years, the door is wide open for some new blood.

Rodgers led a team last year that had all the right pieces to be a playoff team, despite a collapse late in the season. He threw for 4,038 yards and 28 touchdowns with only 13 interceptions. For those scoring at home, that’s one more touchdown and interception than last year’s MVP: Manning.

But Rodgers didn’t have a 12-4 team to go along with his personal success.

Just one year ago, Rodgers navigated through the whole Favre fiasco at the start of training camp, proved to the critics throughout the year he was more than a legitimate leader in the pocket, and orchestrated one helluva “rookie” campaign for a guy who had some big shoes to fill. 

So, with the proven veteran-ship of Manning and Brady and the fact that Rodgers is only in his second year as a starter, how could he possibly be crowned with such a huge award, you ask?

Well, for starters, if we take a look at the “criteria” for MVP (good luck trying to find the actual voting standards), there are basically five key things one must accomplish.

 

1. Good Recognition and Market Exposure

As the guy who took over for Brett Favre—in of all places Green Bay—there isn’t much better market exposure than that, right?

Oh wait, how about Rodgers and Favre going at it as division rivals two times this year, is that better?

In addition, all season long, MVP voters surely will be asking themselves questions like: Can Rodgers do it again? Will he top last year’s performance? How will he deal with Favre and the Vikings from a division standpoint?

This will have direct effects on his recognition.

Add in an offense that’s primed to be in the top three elite—with more weapons than a major military force—and, well, everything sort of speaks for itself. Rodgers will be talked about.

 

2. High Statistical Numbers

Last year’s offensive numbers were just sick, and Rodgers led the way with fewer options on the ground and in the air than he has coming into this year. Barring any unforeseen injuries that could sideline him, it’s pretty hard to say he WON’T top last year’s stats.

Rodgers has finally come into his own; he has proven he can see the field just as well as any other QB in the league, and he has shown he can work through adversity and personal mistakes. He allows the game to come to him, and is technically sound, all the tools for great numbers.

 

3. A Winning Team

This piece of the puzzle eluded Rodgers last year, especially down the stretch, but it wasn’t due to bad players on either side of the ball. Rather, an inferior defensive system, and piss-poor conditioning on the defense all-around, not to mention some key injuries all conspired against the Pack.

This year’s new defensive alignment—the work of mastermind Dom Capers—has already begun to show its effectiveness with Desmond Bishop and Anthony Smith as the current NFL preseason leaders on defense.

Linebacker Desmond Bishop has a total of 18 tackles, 16 of them solo, a sack, and two interceptions, while safety Anthony Smith has 10 tackles, all of them solo, with two interceptions and a sack of his own.

The system is working and individual play is getting better which WILL make Green Bay vastly better on defense than last year. That will mean more wins and a playoff berth.

 

4. Key Game Winning and/or Highly Publicized Plays

Again, thank you Minnesota for pretty much giving this one to us. I can see Green Bay winning both contests in this one unless Minnesota tightens up the blocking from their offensive line, and I can also NOT see Favre lasting 16 games effectively.

In addition, with games against St. Louis, Cincinnati, Detroit (twice), San Francisco, and Tampa, the potential for Rodgers to have some huge games is very high.

Against Detroit and Tampa (the only two teams he faced out of the above-list last season) Rodgers threw for 750 yards with eight touchdowns. St. Louis, San Fran, and Cincy are not much better defensively.

All five teams have upgraded, true; but they are still bottom feeders defensively and are no match for a team that can move the ball like Green Bay. And you can bet Rodgers will hit some big plays that will get time on ESPN.

 

5. Strong Media Exposure and Interest

Probably the very least criterion, but still something the Packers should get a heavy dose of this year. Green Bay opens with their first four games against Chicago, Cincinnati, St. Louis, and Round One of the Minnesota war.

Rodgers should be very accustomed to the interview requests by then.

The media frenzy accompanying the division matchups alone, and the fact that it’s his sophomore year, will be huge to say the least.

If that’s not enough, if Rodgers is successful in the bid to capture an MVP trophy, he will be only the second quarterback in his second year as a STARTER to accomplish this feat since Bert Jones of the 1976 Baltimore Colts (11-3).

 

Yet, outside of the “criteria” I have mentioned is something a bit more intangible and special; something that is very extraordinary and emerging.

We are watching a rising young star materialize, as he begins his journey toward his place as the next elite quarterback in NFL history. With each passing year, Rodgers will get better through his triumphs as well as mastering his challenges. He will continue to morph into the gunslinger most thought he could be before leaving Cal.

And the Packers as a whole, with their superior blend of youth and experience, along with a more than competent coaching staff, will only grow stronger in the years to come, making them more and more dangerous.

But for now, however, the 2009-10 season is filled with possibilities that seem endless for Rodgers. The MVP race will have a new winner at year’s end; his name will be Aaron Rodgers.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Move Over Manning and Brady: Here Comes…Chad Pennington?

Peyton Manning and Tom Brady are today’s biggest household names when it comes to football, and to be honest, there are plenty more names who are just as familiar.

Chad Pennington, to most, is not one of them.

Well, that could change sooner than you think. Pennington is not as bad as most people think, and in fact he is more of a mystery than anything else.

Most people remember his 2002 banner year with the Jets where he threw for 3,120 yards and 22 TDs with a 68.9 percent completion rate.

Still fresh in the Dolphins’ fans minds, is the equally productive campaign of last year as Pennington threw for 3,653 yards, and 19 TDs with a 67.4 percent completion rate.

In total, Pennington has thrown for 17,391 yards, 101 TDs, with a career 66.0 percent completion rate; a rate higher than both Manning and Brady from 2000 to the present.

What people don’t know, is that Pennington has done this much so far with only two full seasons under his belt—that’s right, just two.

He played all but three games between 2000 and 2001. He only started 37 out of 64 games from 2002 to 2005, while only playing eight games in 2007—imagine the possibilities.

2006 and 2008 were the only two seasons he played all 16 games, and if you include 2002, these were arguably his best seasons.

Now, I am not saying that Pennington will be the next Manning or Brady, but I am saying the ceiling for a better season this year is pretty high, and if he stays healthy and builds on last year’s success we could see close to 4,000 yards out of the ex-Jet with about 25 TDs; for Pennington that would be a personal best.

The road will not be easy however.

Pennington is not known for a strong arm so his bread and butter are the over-the-middle passes. He has great field vision, and has learned to get rid of the ball in a more timely fashion than in the past. He has also proven that he can, in fact, be a leader in the huddle, and in the locker room.

Pennington will also have to deal with one of the hardest schedules in the NFL as well; a task all in its own.

Miami will face, outside of the division, Indianapolis, San Diego, New Orleans, Pittsburgh, and Tennessee just to name a few, and these teams will bring a challenge especially in coverage and getting to the quarterback.

Pennington will also have to rely on more conventional packages this year since it’s pretty much a given they will not have as much success with the hybrid “Wildcat” formation.

Of course, with all that said, Pennington will have to do something he has never done in his professional career: Stay healthy for 16 games, two years in a row.

But if you think about what the guy can do with the right talent, and the proper health, he suddenly becomes more than a mysteriously “average” quarterback—maybe not the next Marino—but definitely the guy Miami fans have been waiting for him to come into.

All in all, despite whatever has stood in his way, whether it was injury or lack of talent around him, Pennington has always been that guy you wonder about, and if his teammates can step things up, if he can get more ground support, and if he remains healthy we could be adding a new name to the household by 2010.

If you would like a Fantasy viewpoint regarding Pennington and the Dolphins as a whole please visit that post here!

Ladell Betts Set to Have a Breakout Fantasy Season?

The Redskins have announced the Ladell Betts will be their go to guy on third downs and in the two-minute drill, an announcement that seems to support the notion that Portis’ well is drying up, and his best days are behind him.

But this isn’t all that bad especially if you are looking for a sleeper back that could have a better season than you think.

Trust me; Ladell Betts isn’t going to be on anyone’s top list of backs to draft, so the likelihood of him being available in the later round is pretty high. In addition, there are some changes going on in Washington that could yield TDs galore for Betts and possibly more.

The two minute drill offers a lot of endzone opportunities which could translate into a lot of scores for Betts. Since Portis is aging and the Redskins don’t want to risk any injury, Betts and his bruising style is a perfect fit.

Third down also has its potential perks.

Betts has proved to be a viable threat out of the backfield as well as a big threat on the ground. Although typically, owners don’t garner a lot of points from a third down back, if you pile up goalline TDs and hit and run yardage as a runner and receiver all-of-the-sudden Betts looks like a pretty interesting pick.

Portis’ health is also a big factor.

The last time Portis went down Betts rushed for over 1100 yards in case anyone forgot, and the chances of Portis getting hurt are pretty high. Injuries to his knee, back, ribs, and neck have began to wreak havoc on Portis’ 27-year-old frame and his performance has taken a hit as well; undoubtedly the team will cut his touches back to try and utilize both Portis and Betts to the fullest extent.

In a perfect world, the redskins would go to two back system, and it very well may happen later in the season, but taking a chance on Betts is not really as risky as it seems. If you’re not sold, at the very least, put him at the top of your watch list and keep a very close eye on him.

Favorable matchups for Fantasy managers owning Redskin players:

Week Two against the Rams

Week Three @ Detroit

Week Seven against KC

Week 15 @ Oakland

Hits and other quick news around the league:

Kenneth Moore-WR-Carolina is having a fine camp for Carolina and could have the inside track for the fourth receiving spot. Mark Clayton-WR-Ravens, says he is close to 100 percent but he still doesn’t seem to be a guarantee for opening day, or for that matter a good option for Fantasy this year, and finally Matt Cassel-QB-Kansas City continues to struggle in KC and I wouldn’t recommend playing into the hype of last year at all.

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