Almost every fantasy football owner has been faced with the dilemma:
Is it worth it to start a guy who only gets points from kick and/or punt returns?
Kansas City's Dante Hall, a wide receiver, was the first to present this question to fantasy owners.
Hall would catch two or three passes a game, but his only real value came in the form of returns - he picked up 12 return touchdowns from 2002-2007.
But it always seemed too much of a crap shoot to start a guy who may take two to the house or may not touch the ball once in a game.
Well, we may have just found our exception to that theory.
Bears return man Devin Hester has become such a dominant return man (10touchdown returns in his 27 career games) that starting him on your fantasy team might not be such a bad decision.
Hester has posted 62 fantasy points this season, in contrast to starting wide receivers including Calvin Johnson, Derrick Mason and Hines Ward, who get started weekly in most leagues.
If you play in a league with 10 or more teams, look into picking up Hester.
He may not touch the ball that often, but when he does he's as good a threat to score as any player - at any position - in the league.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Tricks of the trade
Next time you log on to your fantasy football league page, you're likely to see the following words pasted across the top:
"Trade deadline: Friday, Nov. 16."
Most league's trade deadlines are this weekend, which means you've got only a few more chances to make some deals happen.
Trades can be a scary prospect for many fantasy owners.
Is it worth letting Chad Johnson go to grab Maurice Jones-Drew and the Chicago defense?
Should you send Drew Brees packing for Marc Bulger and a solid number two running back?
Here's Andy Behren's advice for trade deadlines.
Remember that standing pat and not making any moves may end up paying off, but it may also leave you thinking "what if" the rest of the season.
Don't trade any team MVP's off, but don't be afraid to make a move.
The risk-takers are often the ones that wind up in the playoffs.
"Trade deadline: Friday, Nov. 16."
Most league's trade deadlines are this weekend, which means you've got only a few more chances to make some deals happen.
Trades can be a scary prospect for many fantasy owners.
Is it worth letting Chad Johnson go to grab Maurice Jones-Drew and the Chicago defense?
Should you send Drew Brees packing for Marc Bulger and a solid number two running back?
Here's Andy Behren's advice for trade deadlines.
Remember that standing pat and not making any moves may end up paying off, but it may also leave you thinking "what if" the rest of the season.
Don't trade any team MVP's off, but don't be afraid to make a move.
The risk-takers are often the ones that wind up in the playoffs.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Feeling defensive
Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki fell two points - two points - short of being the National League Rookie of the Year.
Instead, the honor went to Brewers third baseman Ryan Braun.
Honestly, with east coast/west coast sports media bias, I never argued that Tulo would be the ROY, simply that he SHOULD be.
And can anyone disagree? He led ALL MAJOR LEAGUE shortstops in fielding percentage (.987) this season.
He set a MLB RECORD for chances (834)as a rookie and had only ELEVEN errors.
He had the 13th ever UNASSISTED TRIPLE PLAY early in the season.
He also had impressive offensive stats. But because Braun played in fewer games, his offensive numbers are SLIGHTLY more impressive.
But Tulo's defensive numbers are SIGNIFICANTLY more impressive. Braun had only 246 total chances this year and committed 26 errors!! 26!
Factor in the fact that Tulo helped his team to a playoff berth and Braun's defensive blunders aided in the Brew Crew missing the playoffs, and you've got a strong advantage for Troy.
I know, I may be biased, but I watched Tulowitzki become the heart and soul of the Rockies this season. I have not heard that said about Ryan Braun.
Instead, the honor went to Brewers third baseman Ryan Braun.
Honestly, with east coast/west coast sports media bias, I never argued that Tulo would be the ROY, simply that he SHOULD be.
And can anyone disagree? He led ALL MAJOR LEAGUE shortstops in fielding percentage (.987) this season.
He set a MLB RECORD for chances (834)as a rookie and had only ELEVEN errors.
He had the 13th ever UNASSISTED TRIPLE PLAY early in the season.
He also had impressive offensive stats. But because Braun played in fewer games, his offensive numbers are SLIGHTLY more impressive.
But Tulo's defensive numbers are SIGNIFICANTLY more impressive. Braun had only 246 total chances this year and committed 26 errors!! 26!
Factor in the fact that Tulo helped his team to a playoff berth and Braun's defensive blunders aided in the Brew Crew missing the playoffs, and you've got a strong advantage for Troy.
I know, I may be biased, but I watched Tulowitzki become the heart and soul of the Rockies this season. I have not heard that said about Ryan Braun.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Go see your Priest
When I drafted Larry Johnson back in August, I immediately heard from many of my fellow fantasy footballers.
The message was the same from each of them.
"Dude, the guy carried 416 times last year, he's going to get injured this year by Week 5!"
Well he showed you, didn't he. He didn't get injured until Week 9!
That's right, four extra weeks on what has been a completely disappointing season for L.J. But I'm not bitter.
Maybe I should have listened to my friends and not the beverage I may or may not have been consuming during the draft in Las Vegas.
Nonetheless, this brings us to the pick-up of the week in fantasy football - Priest Holmes.
If you have not already done so, check his availability stat. Remember, this is a guy who set the NFL single-season touchdown record just four years ago (though it's already been broken - twice). He's a baller.
And with LJ out for at least two weeks, Holmes will carry the load for the Chiefs, and he'll start this week agaisnt Denver - the league's worst rush defense.
If Holmes is gone - and chances are good he is - here is Yahoo's remaining top pick-ups for Week 10.
The message was the same from each of them.
"Dude, the guy carried 416 times last year, he's going to get injured this year by Week 5!"
Well he showed you, didn't he. He didn't get injured until Week 9!
That's right, four extra weeks on what has been a completely disappointing season for L.J. But I'm not bitter.
Maybe I should have listened to my friends and not the beverage I may or may not have been consuming during the draft in Las Vegas.
Nonetheless, this brings us to the pick-up of the week in fantasy football - Priest Holmes.
If you have not already done so, check his availability stat. Remember, this is a guy who set the NFL single-season touchdown record just four years ago (though it's already been broken - twice). He's a baller.
And with LJ out for at least two weeks, Holmes will carry the load for the Chiefs, and he'll start this week agaisnt Denver - the league's worst rush defense.
If Holmes is gone - and chances are good he is - here is Yahoo's remaining top pick-ups for Week 10.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
An A(P) for effort
Adrian Peterson is my hero.
Yes, I may be biased, considering he's on my fantasy team and got me a whopping 46 points on Sunday.
But the dude's a flat-out stud.
Read this story in the Dallas Morning News and you'll know what I mean.
The guy's mom dies when he's a kid. His dad gets involved with drugs and spends most of his son's lifetime in jail.
When his dad finally gets out to see him play a college game at Oklahoma for the first time, Peteron breaks his collarbone.
Then "AP" loses his brother in February.And, due to injury concerns, the guy slides to the seventh pick in the NFL draft in April.
That means there's six teams out there right now saying one thing:
Oops.
Not to mention the other nine members of my fantasy league, who let AP drift to the seventh round, where I picked him up.
Through nine weeks, Peterson is the leading fantasy running back and has already elevated himself as one of the elite backs in the NFL.
It's hard not to root for a guy who's been through so much.I suppose it's even easier to do when he gets your fantasy team 46 points.
Did I mention that, already?
Yes, I may be biased, considering he's on my fantasy team and got me a whopping 46 points on Sunday.
But the dude's a flat-out stud.
Read this story in the Dallas Morning News and you'll know what I mean.
The guy's mom dies when he's a kid. His dad gets involved with drugs and spends most of his son's lifetime in jail.
When his dad finally gets out to see him play a college game at Oklahoma for the first time, Peteron breaks his collarbone.
Then "AP" loses his brother in February.And, due to injury concerns, the guy slides to the seventh pick in the NFL draft in April.
That means there's six teams out there right now saying one thing:
Oops.
Not to mention the other nine members of my fantasy league, who let AP drift to the seventh round, where I picked him up.
Through nine weeks, Peterson is the leading fantasy running back and has already elevated himself as one of the elite backs in the NFL.
It's hard not to root for a guy who's been through so much.I suppose it's even easier to do when he gets your fantasy team 46 points.
Did I mention that, already?
Thursday, November 1, 2007
The Great Debate
This Sunday's game between the New England Patriots and the Indianapolis Colts is being labeled as one of the biggest regular season games in NFL history.
There are many factors that make this game so intriguing.
For one, the coaches are two completeley different people with completely different styles.
For two, the Colts and Pats have been the two most successful NFL teams over the past decade.
For three, the Colts' win over the Pats in the AFC title game last season was the first time anyone had been able to shut down New England's dynasty and go on to win a Super Bowl of their own.
But the most intriguing part of this "rivalry" is the quarterback matchup of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
Who is the better quarterback? Who will go down as the best historically? Who has the best arm? Who has the best commercials?
They are all interesting questions. But let's look and see which is the better fantasy quarterback.
Because really, that's all that matters.
Here are their career fantasy-centered stats:
Tom Brady: 104 games, 2,094 completions, 23,995 yards, 230.7 yards per game, 177 touchdowns, 80 interceptions.
Peyton Manning: 151 games, 3,283 completions, 39,419 yards, 261.1 yards per game, 288 touchdowns, 142 interceptions.
Factoring in the fantasy rules my league applies, Tom Brady has amassed 1,701 fantasy points in his career, averaging out to 16.36 fantasy points per game.
Peyton Manning has a career total of 2,757 fantasy points, averaging to 18.26 points per game.
The numbers have spoken. Peyton Manning is the greater fantasy football quarterback.
The Hall of Fame needs no other proof.
For the record, I've got the Pats beating the Colts 31-27 Sunday.
There are many factors that make this game so intriguing.
For one, the coaches are two completeley different people with completely different styles.
For two, the Colts and Pats have been the two most successful NFL teams over the past decade.
For three, the Colts' win over the Pats in the AFC title game last season was the first time anyone had been able to shut down New England's dynasty and go on to win a Super Bowl of their own.
But the most intriguing part of this "rivalry" is the quarterback matchup of Tom Brady and Peyton Manning.
Who is the better quarterback? Who will go down as the best historically? Who has the best arm? Who has the best commercials?
They are all interesting questions. But let's look and see which is the better fantasy quarterback.
Because really, that's all that matters.
Here are their career fantasy-centered stats:
Tom Brady: 104 games, 2,094 completions, 23,995 yards, 230.7 yards per game, 177 touchdowns, 80 interceptions.
Peyton Manning: 151 games, 3,283 completions, 39,419 yards, 261.1 yards per game, 288 touchdowns, 142 interceptions.
Factoring in the fantasy rules my league applies, Tom Brady has amassed 1,701 fantasy points in his career, averaging out to 16.36 fantasy points per game.
Peyton Manning has a career total of 2,757 fantasy points, averaging to 18.26 points per game.
The numbers have spoken. Peyton Manning is the greater fantasy football quarterback.
The Hall of Fame needs no other proof.
For the record, I've got the Pats beating the Colts 31-27 Sunday.
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