Posts Tagged ‘sports’

Keys to Super Bowl XLVI

With less than a week till Super Bowl XLVI, it’s time we take a look at the keys to the game for both the Patriots and the Giants.

Gronk’s Health – This has been the biggest story for the last week and a half, and will continue to be the leading story until we see Gronkowski play on Sunday. With the recent report coming from his dad that he has a high ankle sprain, this is a major issue for the Patriots. Gronkowski has become the focal point of the offense, allowing others like Welker and Hernandez more room to run. If Gronk is unable to be effective during the game, the Giants won’t have to double him and can concentrate on taking away Brady’s other targets. If this is the reality, Deon Branch could be the key to the Patriots passing game. If Gronk is able to be effective, than the pressure is on the Giants’ mediocre core of linebackers to handle two stud TEs.

Giants Pass Rush – In Super Bowl XLII the Giants’ pass rush shocked the New England offensive line and overwhelmed Brady. The Patriots were to inept to handle the rush, or make game time adjustments to slow down Giants. However, the Giants don’t have the same type of D they had in ’07. While their front 4 are the best in the game, their linebackers are weak, and can’t be left alone in 1on1 pass coverage all game. The Patriots O-Line handled the Ravens front 7 and if they do the same to the Giants, Brady will carve their weak (but not as pathetic as the Patriots) secondary.

Turnover Battle – While this is a no brainer key to the game, the events in both the AFC and NFC Championship games, makes this even more important. In the AFC Championship, Brady and the Patriots almost blew their chance to be in the Super Bowl with turnover after turnover. Brady was surprisingly bad, throwing three INTs including an awful decision to take a shot down field after a Brandon Spikes‘ interception that could have sealed the game. After the Patriot escaped elimination after numerous turnovers, the Giants got their berth to the Super Bowl capitalizing on turnovers. Kyle Williams inability to hold onto the football, and the fact he thought he could fool the 700 angles of instant replay, allowed the Giants to sneak into the Super Bowl. The Patriots had similar issues with Danny WoodHead fumbling on a kickoff return. If the Giants are able to force multiple turnovers, this game could get out of hand. Look for the giants to try and fluster Brady and force him to make bad decisions.

RANDY MOSS A VIKING AGAIN! FAVRE, MOSS, TATE VALUES WAY UP.

Randy Moss has been traded from the New England Patriots to the Minnesota Vikings, the team that drafted him, for a 3rd round draftpick on Wednesday.  The Patriots receiver has verbalized recently that he has felt unwanted in New England when they refused to extend his contract that ends at the end of this season. 

Fantasy wise, this puts the values of Moss up significantly, considering that Moss will be the only reliable  receiver on the struggling Vikings pass offense until Sidney Rice comes back from a hip injury that is supposed to keep him out until at least week 6, probably longer. 

This also raises the value of Brett Favre, who has disappointed fantasy owners thus far with only TE Visanthe Shiancoe as the Vikes only pass catcher who has proved reliable in the first 3 games of the Vikings season.  Having Moss to throw to figures to make Favre’s numbers much better.  This goes up even more when Rice returns.

On the New England side, WR Brandon Tate, who has wowed everyone with his extraordinary soecial teams play has a major increase in his value as well, as he reportedly will become the Pats #1 receiver.  Tate should be added in every league, and he is probably available as of this writing at almost 10 am Wednesday.  Get him if you can.  He may not be what we expect, or he may save your season.

Mid-week QB changes mean more fantasy lineup changes than just the QB’s

This week, Mike Vick was announced as the new starting QB for the Eagles over Kevin Kolb.  Today, is was announced that Bruce Gradkowski will be the new starter for the Oakland Raiders over Jason Campbell.  Obviously, if you planned to start Kolb or Campbell this week, this will change your plans but there are more fantasy lineup implications to this than just those two. 

Gradkowski loved throwing the ball to Louis Murphy last season.  Gradkowski played 4 full games after getting the nod over Jamarcus Russell and before going down with an injury in week 14.  In those 4 games, Gradkowski threw 6 TD passes.  3 of those 6 were to Murphy.  Murphy without Gradkowski?  1 TD. 

Yardage wasn’t that much for Murphy even with Gradkowski, so I wouldn’t make him a starter at WR if you have better options until you see more yardage production.  But if you are looking for a flex play in a 12 team league or some extra depth at WR, Murphy is a good pickup if you can get him.  Grab him now if you want him.

As for the Eagles; Kolb owners (especially those who took him early in drafts) are not happy today.  I hope you had the sense to draft a quality backup if you drafted Kolb without knowing how good he’d be.  If you didn’t, try to grab Vick if he’s still availabe.  If not, see if you can get Vince Young, Josh Freeman, Alex Smith, or Chad Henne off of the waiver wire.  If not, make a trade.  You might get a guy like Joe Flacco cheap right now and relish in it when he finds his rhythm.

Bump up DeSean Jackson in value, as well as Jeremy Maclin now that Vick is in.  Brent Celek may be valued lower, as Vick doesn’t usually go to the Tight End as much as Kolb or McNabb.  So grab a good backup TE if you don’t have one. 

As always, ask questions if you like, and I will answer them as I see them.  Look for Start ‘Em and Bench ‘Em for week 3 in the next couple of days.

Top 10 Fantasy TE’s

My top 10 TE’s for fantasy football.  In my opinion, this is how the season’s TE’s should shake out in terms of fantasy scoring.

1. Antonio Gates – SD

2. Dallas Clark – IND

3. Brent Celek – PHI

4. Jason Witten – DAL

5.Vernon Davis - SF

6. Owen Daniels - HOU

7. Jermichael Findley - GB

8. Tony Gonzalez - ATL

9. Visanthe Shiancoe -MIN

10. Zach Miller – OAK

Top 10 Fantasy WR’s

My top 10 WR’s for fantasy football.  In my opinion, this is how the season’s WR’s should shake out in terms of fantasy scoring.

1. Andre Johnson – HOU

2. Miles Austin - DAL

3. Roddy White – ATL

4. Greg Jennings – GB

5. Randy Moss – NE

6. Steve Smith – CAR

7. Marques Colston – NO

8. Brandon Marshall – MIA

9. Reggie Wayne – IND

10. DeSean Jackson – PHI

Top 10 Fantasy RB’s

My top 10 RB’s for fantasy football.  In my opinion, this is how the season’s RB’s should shake out in terms of fantasy scoring.

1. Chris Johnson – TEN

2. Adrian Peterson – MIN

3. Ray Rice – BAL

4. Michael Turner – ATL

5. Maurice Jones-Drew – JAC

6. Frank Gore – SF

7. Steven Jackson – STL

8. DeAngelo Williams – CAR

9. Cedric Benson – CIN

10. Ryan Grant – GB

Panthers WR Steve Smith breaks arm; will miss start of training camp

By Bob Metz

WR Steve Smith, Carolina branch (Panthers) has a broken arm he suffered in a flag football game according to Mike Cranston, AP sports writer.

Smith had surgery Sunday night on the same arm he broke against the New York Giants last season, though not in the same place. The team does not have a timetable for his return.

However, all may not be lost, fantasy owners because though Smith will miss the start of training camp for certain, the reports at this early stage sound optimistic about Smith possibly being able to play by week 1 of the regular season.

Either way, I wouldn’t count on Smith being a top notch WR this season.

2010 NFL FANTASY FOOTBALL MOCK DRAFT UPDATED!

By Bob Metz

Click for an updated version of my 2010 fantasy mock draft!

http://nfldraftmock.com/2010-nfl-fantasy-football-mock-draft/

The 5 Deadly Sins Of Fantasy Drafting

By Bob Metz

As your fantasy football expert, I am here with a warning.  Do not commit these common fantsy draft mistakes.  If you do, you’ll likely miss your playoffs and wish you had heeded these 5 deadly sins of fantasy drafting:

Read more…

2010 NFL FANTASY FOOTBALL MOCK DRAFT

2010 NFL FANTASY FOOTBALL MOCK DRAFT!! 

http://nfldraftmock.com/2010-nfl-fantasy-football-mock-draft/