6 Things To Know Before Your Fantasy Football Draft

Tis the season for fantasy football drafts. The NFL is right around the corner and to millions that means the return of fantasy football. For some fans, the only chance they have at seeing their team win a championship is in fantasy. I would know being a Cowboys fan, so I take fantasy football pretty seriously. Probably a little too seriously.

Anyway, if you're actually trying to win your league this year there are some steps you should take before your draft. I've put together 6 simple things you should know before your fantasy football draft that will give you a better chance at not being a loser this year.

Here's what you should know:

1: The Rules- You won't be successful if you don't know the scoring rules in the league you're in. Are passing TDs worth 4 points or 6? Is it a PPR league? Do kickers get 15 points for field goals of more than 35 yards? (I actually played in a league like that. Kickers routinely went for 50 points. It was ridiculous.) You can't put together a draft strategy until you're clear on what the rules for your league are. Know them inside and out before draft day.

2: The Projections- Matthew Berry said in his Draft Day Manifesto that over the past 3 years, teams that make the playoffs average 93 points per week. If you head in to your draft knowing what players are projected to do for the season, and then just divide that by 16, then you at least have an idea of what your team is going to do on a week-to-week basis. Is that an exact science? Not even a little bit. But if you draft with an idea of what players are going to average weekly you've got a better shot at making the playoffs.

3: The Schedules- That's great that you drafted Cam Newton, Adrian Peterson, Kelvin Benjamin, and Lamar Miller. That's a solid starting squad. Problem is all of them are on a bye in week 4. You need to stagger your lineup so your top QB, RB, and WR aren't all on byes the same week. Same goes for your bench. If you end up with multiple positions on byes in the same week, you're going to have to pray you find some waiver wire miracles. Take a look at the bye week schedule before the draft and have them handy while you're drafting.

4: The Depth Charts- No one expects you to know the depth chart for every team, but you need to have an idea of who the top targets are for WRs and who the handcuffs are for RBs. Otherwise you run the risk of having a whole team of guys who aren't going to see the majority of the action. Not only that, but if you know who the backups are, you can be prepared for when someone gets hurt. And someone always gets hurt. Having an idea of who is next up on the depth chart will help you get that waiver claim in as fast as you can.

5: Defense Matters- So many people wait until the final rounds to draft their defense. I like to call those people idiots. Last year, in a standard scoring ESPN league, the difference between the top scoring defense, Seattle with 187 points, and the 10th scoring defense, Baltimore with 109, was 78 points. We'll round up, so it works out to 5 points per week between the top defense and the 10th defense. Are you telling me you can afford to just give away 5 points per week? And that's assuming you get the 10th best defense by waiting until the last few rounds. You can wait on a kicker, The top kicker last year scored 138 points and the worst scored 101. We're talking about an average of 2 points per week. That's using every kicker from last year. The difference per week between the top kicker and the 20th kicker was less than 1.5 points per week.

6: The Date, Time and Location of your Draft- If you're not sure when and where your draft is, ask the commish. If it's an online draft you really have no excuse to be late. If you have to autodraft because of some extenuating circumstances, so be it. But if you autodraft because you forgot when the draft was, then you forfeit all bragging rights for the season. You don't get to gloat about wins because you didn't draft your team. Also, if the draft is being held at someone's house, don't show up empty handed. Bring some chips and dip. Or a 12-pack. Or both. Both is best.

There you go. 6 simple things you need to know before your fantasy football draft. Good luck this season, unless you're in a league with me.

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There's Nothing Like It- Some Advice For Richard Sherman

This week news came out that Richard Sherman's girlfriend might go into labor during the Super Bowl. He was asked what he would do, and rightfully he didn't give a straight answer. Earlier today I saw a post saying his girlfriend said he should play in the game. As a brand new dad, I can say without hesitation that there is no way he should play if his child is being born.

First off, how do you explain that to you kid later in life? "Sorry, son. Dad wasn't there because he was playing a football game." Granted, it's a huge game, but in the grand scheme of life, it's still a game. Not only that, but I'd assume Sherman will have more than one child, and chances are he'll be at those births. How is that going to make your firstborn child feel?

As a former athlete, I get the mindset. Not to toot my own horn but during my athletic career teams I was on won multiple Junior Olympic medals and played in 2 National Championship games, winning one of them. While those are amazing memories that I will never forget, they are nothing compared to the first time I held my daughter. People keep asking me what that experience was like and I'm truly at a loss for words. I realize some Jr. Olympic Medals and a National Championship pale in comparison to a Super Bowl, but I can't imagine anything being on the same level as being in the room when your first child is born. When my daughter was about 4 minutes old, getting all her measurements taken and crying, she grabbed my finger. It's a moment that absolutely rocked my world and something I will never forget. Even writing about it brings a tear to my eye. I wouldn't trade that for anything.

If Richard Sherman was playing in the last game of his career, or was the keystone player on his team, I could understand him wondering if he should play in the game. But all signs point to him having long career, and while he's very good, I highly doubt he'll be the difference maker tomorrow. Not that he couldn't be, I just don't see the defense struggling if he's not there.

Go ask Hunter Mahan about it. Back in 2013 he left a PGA event he was leading so he could be at the birth of his child. Had he stayed he likely would've won and pocketed a million dollars. The guy literally gave up a shot at a million dollars to be in the room when his daughter was born. That's how special this is.

So from a new dad to someone about to become a dad- Richard, if your son decides he wants to be born tomorrow, go to the hospital. You've won a Super Bowl, you know what that's like already. You have no idea how happy you'll be when your child is born. Plus, if you go and your team wins you'll be a hero. If you stay and they win you'll be the guy who missed his kid's birth because of a game. If you stay and they lose, you'll be vilified even more than you are now. If you go and they win, you'll be the inspirational hero. Do the right thing.

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Super Bowl 49 Prop Bet Odds

As usual, RJ Bell of Pregame.com put together a fantastic list of prop bets and odds for the Super Bowl. He consistently provides the best and most thorough information in the sports betting industry. Here's what he sent out earlier today:

Super Bowl Props

MVP
($100 wins …)

Tom Brady +180
Russell Wilson +350
Marshawn Lynch +500
Rob Gronkowski +900
LeGarrette Blount +1500
Richard Sherman +3000
Julian Edelman +3000
Darrelle Revis +3800
Earl Thomas +4000

Player Stats

Passing Yards
Tom Brady: o/u 262.5 yards
Russell Wilson: o/u 221.5 yards

Rushing Yards
Seahawks: o/u 143.5 yards
Patriots: o/u 95.5 yards
Marshawn Lynch: o/u 91.5 yards
LeGarrette Blount: o/u 62.5 yards
Russell Wilson: o/u 43.5 yards

Receiving Yards
Rob Gronkowski: o/u 79.5 yards
Julian Edelman: o/u 68.5 yards
Doug Baldwin: o/u 54.5 yards
Brando LaFell: o/u 53.5 yards
Jermaine Kearse: o/u 42.5 yards
Luke Willson: o/u 32.5 yards
Shane Vereen: o/u 27.5 yards
Danny Amendola: o/u 23.5 yards

Longshots

+140 if Tom Brady does NOT throw an INT

+160 if there IS a Special Teams or Defensive TD

+220 if any quarter is scoreless

+250 if Patriots score in EVERY quarter

+250 if Darrelle Revis intercepts a pass

6/1 if Tom Brady throws 4 or more TD passes

6/1 if there’s a safety

6/1 if there’s a blocked punt

7/1 if game goes into OT

7/1 if Patriots win by more than 17 points

8/1 if ZERO turnovers in game

9/1 if there’s a kickoff return TD

9/1 if Tom Brady throws for 400+ passing yards

10/1 if an offensive lineman scores a TD

15/1 if Marshawn Lynch gains 150+ rushing yards

15/1 if either team wins by 37+ points

18/1 if Rob Gronkowski gains 150+ receiving yards

20/1 if first score of the game is a safety

20/1 if LaGarrette Blount gains 150+ rushing yards

20/1: ZERO sacks in game

30/1 if Russell Wilson throws for 350+ passing yards

40/1 if Revis has two or more INTs

40/1 if any fake punt gains First Down or a TD

100/1 if no TDs in game

Fun Props

Will Bill Belichick smile during the game on camera? +140 if YES

Will Al Michaels refer to odds at any point during telecast? +150 if YES

Will Marshawn Lynch “grab his crotch” after scoring TD? +400 if YES

Will Katy Perry be showing cleavage during halftime show? +500 if YES

What Color will Belichick’s hoodie be?
Grey: -150
Blue: +175
Red: +700

What Color Gatorade will be dumped on winning coach?
Orange +150
Clear +300
Yellow +400
Red +700
Blue +750
Purple +900
Green +1200

How many times will “Deflated” Balls be said during the game?
Over/Under 3 times

How many times will Gisele Bundchen be shown during game?
Over/Under 1.5 times

Cross-Sport Props

Will Dwayne Wade score more points Sunday OR Marshawn Lynch gain more receiving yards?

Will Sidney Crosby score more points or Russell Wilson throw more TD passes?

LeBron James points favored by 3.5 over Tom Brady Completions

Ten 50/50 Props (odds say either side of these props has exactly a 50% chance)
Great fun for radio hosts to battle or to print out and have party guests make picks.
(Odds over 1000/1 against getting all ten correct!)

Heads or Tails – Coin Toss

Over/Under: 2 minutes and 1 second for Idina Menzel to sing National Anthem?

Yes/No: Will the first Coach’s Challenge be overturned?

Yes/No: Will the game be tied again after 0-0?

Yes/No: Will every quarter have over 3.5 points of scoring?

Over/Under: 47.5 total points for the game

Over/Under: 44.5 yards for the game’s longest Field Goal

Over/Under: 44.5 yards for the game’s longest TD

Over/Under: 1.5 yards for game’s shortest TD

Over/Under: 14 points for largest lead by any team in game

Game Information

Patriots favored by 1 point over Seattle

Deflated football controversy has had NO EFFECT on the betting market

Only 5 prior Super Bowls have been so close that the spread was LESS THAN a field goal.

Vegas favorite has won 33 of 48 Super Bowls (69%)

Underdog 6-1 ATS in last 7 Super Bowls

Winner of turnover battle in Super Bowl history has won 36 of 39 games!

Game Trends:

(Patriots) NFL teams scoring 40+ points in the playoffs are on a 4-23 Against The Spread losing run their next game

Patriots 4-11 ATS their last 15 playoff games

Last 20 times Seattle an underdog, lost against the spread only THREE TIMES

Seattle: 34-15-1 ATS last 50 games overall

Seattle in December or later: 19-5-1 ATS (last four seasons)

Seattle: 20-7-1 ATS vs. teams with a winning record

ACTION

An estimated $10 BILLION is projected to be bet on Super Bowl XLIX worldwide!
Over HALF of adult Americans are expected to have some money at risk on the game.
Less than 1% of the total amount bet is expected to be wagered legally in Nevada.

90% of overall SB 49 action in Las Vegas will come from recreational (non-professional) bettors.
This is highest percentage of recreational bettors for any American sporting event.

Vegas Wins 92% of the Time!
Nevada has kept separate Super Bowl accounting for 24 years:
Vegas has won money (in net) 22 years, with bettors winning money only twice.

COIN TOSS

48 prior Super Bowls: exactly 24 heads; 24 tails!

NFC has won 15 of the last 17 coin tosses

Bettors favors Heads so much that some sportsbooks are actually making it cheaper to bet Tails in an effort to the even action.

--

[odds above are a consensus of multiple Las Vegas and online sportsbooks. Bovada and sportsbook.ag the main source for many of the unusual props listed]

Here's what I like-

A bet on Gronk or Earl Thomas for MVP is just too enticing to pass up. Easily worth throwing $20 on. I love the Over on the mentions of "deflated balls" being 3. I think they'll pass that in the first quarter easily. I definitely think Katy Perry will be showing some cleavage, I mean, has anyone seen her perform? I'd be shocked if she didn't have the girls on display at least a little bit.

So there ya go. More Super Bowl props than you could ever begin to consider. Good luck this weekend, everyone. And if you hit it big, don't forget me.


And as always, a big thanks to RJ Bell for putting this all together. He is by far the best in the business.

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JJ Watt For MVP

Seriously, he deserves it. Watt is clearly the defensive player of the year this season, but he should be the overall MVP as well. Here's why.

Put JJ Watt on any team in the NFL and that team instantly gets better. He has no equal. The same cannot be said for anyone else in the league. Take Aaron Rodgers, who is likely to win the award, and put him on the Broncos or Patriots. Those teams might be better, but in all likelihood they're in the same position. Same goes for DeMarco Murray. He's had an incredible year. But there are quite a few running backs who would have performed just as well as he has had they been given the volume of work he's received.

Look, I know it's a quarterback league. I know the NFL desperately wants the award to go to Rodgers, Brady, or Manning. I know those guys get 10x the amount of coverage Watt gets. Granted, Watt has seen a lot more attention this year, and rightfully so. Imagine how bad the Texans defense would be without him. The impact he has every week is astonishing. Coming in to this week he had 17.5 sacks, 1 interception (that he returned 80 yards for a TD, 3 forced fumbles, and 5 fumble recoveries (1 of which he returned for a TD). Oh yeah, he has 3 receiving TDs this year as well.

Just stop. Give him the award. No one in the NFL has had that kind of impact this season.

JJ Watt should be the NFL MVP this year.


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NFL Week 5 Betting Trends

It's been a strange NFL season so far. There are only two undefeated teams through 4 weeks, the Cardinals and Bengals. The Patriots looks downright awful, the Cowboys look competent, the Packers went from looking terrible to looking pretty good in the matter of about a week, and the Saints are a huge question mark. All of this combines to make it rather difficult to have a great deal of confidence when it comes to putting money down on some games. But fear not, RJ Bell of Pregame.com has sent out his week 5 betting trends, and there are some good ones in there. 

• Bengals: the away team has covered only 4 of last 22 Cincinnati games
• Bills: the home team in Buffalo games 17-4 ATS
• Broncos: Peyton Manning off a bye has won 8 straight ATS
• Chiefs on road: lost only 1 of last 11 ATS
• Cowboys off a win, then favored the next game: 2-13 ATS
• Cowboys as home favorite: covered only 6 of last 25
• Eagles at home: covered only 7 of last 30
• Falcons off a loss by 6 or more points: 20-4 ATS
• Lions off a win: covered the next game only 5 of 19
• Patriots: home underdog for only second time since 2005
• Patriots: off a loss as a favorite, then an underdog the next week: 17-2 ATS
• Patriots: off a loss as a favorite, then playing a winning team the next week: 14-1 ATS
• Saints (with Payton coaching): have not lost a game at home against the spread since the 2010 
• season! (18-0-1 ATS)
• Saints (with Payton coaching) when favored by more than a touchdown: 14-2 ATS
• Saints off a road loss: 21-4 ATS the next game
• Steelers as a road favorite of 6 or more points: lost 10 straight ATS
• Titans have not covered a game at home in over one calendar year (0-7 ATS since 9/29/13)

There's a lot of good information in there, but some of it has to be taken with a grain of salt. The Patriots for example, would you put any money on them this week? Sure, teams bounce back after bad losses all the time. But those teams typically have an impressive offense who just ran into a better defense. Impressive is not a word you'll hear anyone use when describing the Pats offense. I do like the Saints this weekend. They're -10 at home against the Bucs and they need a big win after last week's dismantling in Dallas. I also really like the Steelers this weekend despite the trend. They're -6.5 on the road, but they're in Jacksonville. I'm fairly certain you could take the top 50 college players and they'd be able to give the Jaguars a decent game right now, the Jags are that bad. 

Once again, thanks to RJ Bell of Pregame.com for taking the time to put this information together. 

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Free NFL Survivor League- $200 To The Winner

For the past few years I've either run or been a member of an NFL Survivor league. It's a fun way to stay involved outside of just fantasy football and it's really easy. You pick one winner each week and if you win you move on. If you lose twice, you're out. But the catch is you can't pick a team more than once. So for instance if you pick the Patriots to beat the Dolphins in Week 1 you cannot pick the Patriots again at any time. Interested?

Here's the deal, I'm not actually running a Survivor league this year but I'm part of one that is open to the public. Best of all, this league is free to join. The winner will receive $200 and if you have a perfect season that will be doubled to $400. Survivor leagues are fun, profitable, but can be insanely stressful. Trying to gauge when you should pick teams like the Broncos or Packers isn't as easy as it sounds.

Like I said, this year's NFL Survivor league is open to the public. All you have to do is sign up on ViceHood then go to this forum and enter your pick. All the official rules can be found there as well. No double entries are allowed and your pick must be in before the Thursday game kicks off each week, except for week 1.

Please feel free to invite anyone who you think would be interested in this and if you have any questions just hit me up on Twitter.

2014 Fantasy Football WR Rankings

Part III in this series will cover my top 10 wide receivers for the 2014 fantasy football season. There are a lot of things to consider when drafting your wideouts. First, where are they on the depth chart? You need to have at least one top weapon. You will not make the playoffs with a team of second options. Sure, you'll get some wins and some big games, but the consistency won't be there. Another thing to keep in mind is your league rules. If you're in a PPR league it should change where you're taking your WRs and who your backups are going to be.

1. Calvin Johnson- Who else. Megatron had a down year last year and was still the 2nd highest-scoring, or third depending on your league, wide receiver. He's damn-near impossible to defend and his combination of size and speed makes him an absolute monster. Contributing to his "down year," which still saw him go for nearly 1,500 yards and 12 TDs, were injuries to his knee and finger. Both of those were addressed with offseason surgery. He is the best wide receiver in the NFL and should probably be taken in the first round of the draft. I wouldn't take him before the fifth pick, but anytime after that is perfectly fine.

2. Demaryius Thomas- Have you met Peyton Manning? Thomas put up the same amount of points in fantasy as Calvin Johnson last year, at least in my league, and there is no reason to think he won't have another monster year. He's a beast when it comes to yardage after the catch, 1,225 yards last year which was best in the league, and he caught 14 TDs. What makes him so dangerous is Peyton looks for him in short-yardage situations too. He scored 9 of his 14 TDs on short throws. Is he a first-rounder? He certainly could be, but I'd expect him to go early in the second.

3. AJ Green- While he doesn't have a great QB throwing to him, he gets a ton of opportunities. In fact, Green saw more targets, 178, than any other wide receiver last year. He's quick, tall, and has great hands. This makes him a great vertical threat and a prime redzone target. As I mentioned, he does have Andy Dalton pitching to him which doesn't exactly inspire confidence. But Green makes up for Dalton's shortcomings and he's a very safe pick. I wouldn't take him in the first round, but I'd be thrilled if I could get my hands on him later on.

4. Brandon Marshall- Marshall has more targets since becoming a Bear than anyone in the NFL. He found the endzone 12 times last year and nearly hit the 1,300-yard mark. Yes, you will see Alshon Jeffery get looks that will take away chances for Marshall. But considering he still saw more than 140 balls thrown his way last year I wouldn't really worry about it. Plus, if you can handcuff Marshall and Jeffery you've got a great combo. I'd look for Marshall in the late second round. If he's still available in the third I'd definitely jump at the chance to take him.

5. Dez Bryant- I know, another Cowboy on the list. Hear me out though. When he's not yelling at his teammates on the sideline, Dez puts in work. He had 13 scores last year and over 1,200 yards. The biggest drop for Dez last year was the number of deep balls he saw. However I expect that to change this season. Scott Linehan is the new offensive coordinator in Dallas and I think they're going to stretch the field with Dez a lot more in 2014. Granted he's still got Romo under center, which can be stressful, but Romo does have the arm to get the ball downfield. Plus, Romo loves throwing to Dez in the endzone. Late in the second is where Dez should be drafted, but I expect him to go higher in most leagues. Not a first-rounder or an early second-rounder, but definitely a safe pick early in the draft.

6. Julio Jones- Jones missed 11 games last year with a broken foot. When he got hurt he was on pace to top 1,800 yards and score 6 times. You and I both know he would have found the endzone more than half a dozen times if he played those 11 games. The re-tooled offensive line in Atlanta should give Matt Ryan some more time to find his top option. Roddy White is still going to get some attention, but Jones is clearly the number one receiver. Plus Tony Gonzalez retired, so Ryan's redzone safety net will likely be Jones as well. I'm very comfortable taking him in the latter half of the second round.

7. Jordy Nelson- No one missed Aaron Rodgers more. "Nelson ranked fourth among WRs in fantasy points on vertical throws (118) and tied for 31st on short ones (47)," according to ESPN. When Rodgers got hurt, Nelson's value plummeted. He's a deep threat who is going to find the endzone. Despite Rodgers abscence, Nelson was still able to put up 8 TDs on just over 1,300 yards. I fully expect him to hit double digits in scores and get at least that many yards this season. You can feel confident taking Nelson very late in the second round if you have a star running back, otherwise look for him in the third to compliment your first two picks.

8. Victor Cruz- If you owned Cruz last year you probably think I'm nuts. But just look what he went through in 2013. He got hurt, the Giants had no one to take attention away from him, and Eli was an interception machine. Much like the Cowboys the Giants have a revamped offense. They clearly still have their issues, but they should be much better than last season. Look at what Cruz did in the first 4 games of the season last year and use that as your indicator of how good he really is. Over those four games he averaged a touchdown and 106 yards. That includes a stinker in Carolina where he only 3 balls for 25 yards. Cruz is a solid third round pick.

9. Antonio Brown- Remember what I said about drafting guys who were the number one option? That's Brown. Emmanuel Sanders is now in Denver clearing the way for Brown to have a big year. He caught 110 passes last season for nearly 1,500 yards and scored 8 times. While I'm not sure his yardage numbers will increase, I'd be shocked if he doesn't find the endzone at least 10 times. Roethlisberger looked to Brown on both short and deep balls, expect that to happen again.

10. Alshon Jeffery, Pierre Garcon, Randall Cobb- With the exception of Garcon these guys are all strong number two wideouts. They're all very viable receivers, they just have guys in front of them. That makes them fantastic handcuffs and great value picks. Garcon is different because he is a number one. But that was before the Redskins had DeSean Jackson and who knows what RG3 is going to do.

Looking at what Josh Gordon did last year you probably want to know why he isn't on this list. Simply put, he's likely not going to play this year. He was already facing a season-long suspension for testing positive for marijuana, then he got a DWI. Gordon is a great receiver, albeit on a crappy team. If he's able to play, he's probably a mid to late second-rounder. However drafting him before knowing his status is beyond risky. It's not worth it to me to use anything other than a very late pick on him.

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Why Does Tony Romo Drive An Automatic?

Because he just can't figure out the clutch.

Alright, stupid jokes aside, let's stop with the over-analyzing of Tony Romo. How'd he play on Sunday? In a word, amazing. Over 500 yards, 5 TDs, and just one pick. The problem is, that pick came at the absolute worst time. That one interception is just another reminder of the kind of quarterback Tony Romo is and probably will always be.

My opinion of Romo has been the same since he muffed that snap back in 2007. He's as physically talented as any quarterback in the NFL, but he's just not mentally strong. He has some sort of block that hinders him when it comes down to "the moment." In elimination games Romo is 1-6 for his career. Sunday's late interception was just another manifestation of Romo's mental demons.  Instead of rising to the occasion, when the game is on the line, Romo cracks. He panics and makes bad decisions. He threw into triple coverage and got picked off. There were plenty of people who said he didn't have any other choice on that play; those people could not be more wrong. He had DeMarco Murray open on a check-down, or he could've simply thrown it away. By the way, WHY DOES HE NEVER THROW THE BALL AWAY?!? He takes bad sacks or tries to force a pass instead of just getting rid of the ball. It kills me, but I digress. Anyway, Murray was open. How open? Have a look.

Thanks to @Munchdown for the image

Yeah, I'd say he was pretty open, wide open in fact. But for whatever reason, Romo didn't see him. His brain just doesn't work like that. 

Now to those of you who think the blame should fall on the defense, I'm not saying you're wrong. But you're not right either. The defense gave the offense a chance. They picked off Peyton and held the Broncos to field goals on two separate occasions. Is giving up 51 points ok? Never. Monte Kiffin should be fired immediately. And no, I'm not joking about that. But it's not like they were playing the Jaguars. Denver has carved up every single opponent they've faced this season, and for the first time, they were in danger of losing. Romo was all set up, thanks in part to his defense, to lead a game-winning drive and take a massive step towards shedding his reputation as a choker . He didn't, he failed.

Rodney Harrison explained Romo perfectly during halftime of the Sunday Night Football game. I'm paraphrasing here as I was watching baseball by then and only heard it in the background. Harrison said that Romo is the guy you see on film and are amazed at what he can do. He has big-play potential and does things that don't seem possible. But when it's crunch time, and the cream rises to the top, he's going to make a mistake. He's not thinking about what he can do to make the play, he's thinking about what kind of mistake he might make.

That is Romo's downfall. He doesn't have confidence in himself. It's said that sports are 90% mental. Tony Romo is proof.

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Praising Peyton

Let me preface this whole thing by saying I'm very much a Peyton Manning fan. Not only is he a great QB but he seems like an all-around good guy. Plus he makes funny commercials. Now, let's get started....

I'm sick and tired of all the praise being heaped on Peyton lately. Yes, he has the Broncos 3-0 right now and looking like the best team in the NFL. Yes, he's been untouchable in terms of touchdowns. Yes, he's looking more and more like the Peyton that lead the Colts to the Super Bowl 2006. But pump the brakes just a bit before we anoint him.

Who have the Broncos played this season? No one, that's who. They beat the Ravens and Raiders at home and he punked his little brother's team in New York. These teams are nowhere near the top of the league. The Ravens are a shell of themselves from a year ago, the Giants are the biggest mess in the NFL, and the Raiders are, well, the Raiders. It's not like Peyton took the Broncos to Seattle and laid a beatdown on the Seahawks. He's been very good against bad teams. I'm not trying to diminish his amazing start, because it's been literally record-setting, but praising him like he's beating the cream of the crop is just ridiculous.

My next point is one that has bothered me for years. Peyton Manning is not the Greatest Quarterback of All-Time. Is he high on that list? Of course he is. But he's not the GOAT. There are quite a few guys who jump to my mind that I feel are better overall QBs than Peyton. Steve Young, John Elway, Tom Brady, and Joe Montana all are more impressive to me than Peyton. Their postseason record speaks for itself. Montana was 16-7, Young was 8-6, Elway was 14-8, and Brady is 17-7. Peyton is 9-10. I'm sorry, you can't be considered the GOAT if you have a losing record in the playoffs. I mean, put it this way, had Peyton lost in the Super Bowl in 2006 he'd have the exact same postseason record as Dan Marino. And as much as I love Marino, he definitely isn't the greatest QB to have every played the game.

I'm not going to dig in to the veteran QBs like Sammy Baugh, Johnny Unitas, Roger Staubach, Otto Graham, or Bart Starr. I just don't have the energy. If you don't know those names, look them up. They're some of the best to have ever played the game. Peyton just doesn't measure up.

I get it, his accuracy is surgical. His drive is amazing. But he doesn't adapt. There's a reason Peyton has been so good in the regular season and not so good in the postseason. I heard it explained like this. Peyton prepares for every game the same way. He breaks down teams and figures out how he's going to attack. That's great for the regular season when the majority of your games are against teams who don't measure up on the talent/athleticism level. But when you're in the playoffs, you have to step your game up. It's not that Peyton doesn't, it's that he can't. He's already prepping and playing at the highest level possible. So when the playoffs come around and teams go to another level, Peyton can't do the same thing. His brain doesn't work like that. I don't know if that makes sense to you, but it makes perfect sense to me.

Again, I'm not saying Peyton isn't a great QB. I'm not saying he isn't one of the best of all-time either. I'm just saying he's not on the top of the list. He's also doing exactly what a future Hall of Famer should against bad teams so far this season. Thinking he's going to keep up this torrid pace is nothing short of ridiculous.

All that being said, I could not be happier to have him on one of my fantasy teams.

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Fantasy Football Draft Strategy

Now that my drafts are over, meaning my friends who I play with can't learn/steal my strategy, I'll post this. I know it's pretty late, but just in case you haven't drafted for your fantasy league, here is how I go about drafting my team.

First off, know your league's rules. This is probably the most important aspect aside from actually drafting players. Is your league QB heavy? For instance, one of the leagues I play in gives you 6 points for every passing TD. This makes the QB the most "profitable" position. That being said, drafting a QB with the 1-5 pick still isn't all that advisable in this format. Running backs are going to be your bread and butter. Plus, the drop off between top tier RBs and 2nd tier is greater than that of QBs. In summation, know the rules. If you don't, you're doomed before you start. 

Now that you know the rules, which positions should you draft where? Regardless of the rules, if you have a pick in the top 5 or 6, you should be taking a running back. Like I said, these are the workhorses of Fantasy Football. However after that, you can theoretically get away with going for a QB. Think of it this way, if I'm drafting 7th out of 10 positions in the first round I'm probably drafting 4th in the 2nd round. By this point all of the huge name RBs are going to be gone. But I've got a shot at Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, or Tom Brady. And if they're all gone that means there is still a star RB available, so draft him. Anyway, in our hypothetical situation I'm taking a top QB in the first round and then a RB in the second round. This is where a lot of guys make a mistake. You have to wait quite a few picks before making your 3rd round selection. In all likelihood most of your starting RBs are going to be gone. But you should have a good shot at a #1 wide receiver. Draft someone who is on the same team as your QB. If you can, get his favorite target. You do run the risk of having one or the other go cold, but the reward outweighs this in my mind.

The forgotten positions. Everyone says don't draft a kicker until the end and leave the Tight Ends for the later rounds. While you can certainly get a viable kicker late in the draft, you definitely don't need to wait until the last round. For instance, Blair Walsh was the top-scoring kicker in the league I run last year with 165 points. He outscored all but 8 TEs and only 22 RBs scored more points than that. Getting a top-tier kicker is one of those things that can put you over the top in a close week. That being said, only draft one. You will need a replacement during your kicker's bye week, but they're plentiful on the waiver wire. A 1-week replacement should be easily found. As far as TEs go, I'm a big advocate of their role in Fantasy Football. These guys are the unsung heroes of wins. They're often the safety valve for the QB and typically the go to Red Zone receiver. Don't draft one in the first 4 or 5 rounds, although I guarantee someone in your league will, but don't overlook them either. Once you have your starting QB, at least 3 of your 4 starting WRs/RBs, think about a TE. If there are still viable WRs and RBs available, go that route. But if you're into the backups now, go for a top TE. It's worth it. The top 10 TEs in my league last year scored 162 or more points. Having one of these guys instead of the 30th ranked RB (Marcel Reese-127 points) gives you an advantage. 

Offense wins games, defense wins championships. This one is tough. Someone in your league will draft a defense probably before the 10th round. This person will likely not make the playoffs. You can wait on this one too, but again, no reason to make it the last round. Again going back to my league last year, the top 10 D/STs scored 131 or more points. That's on average better than a low-tier RB/WR. Also the difference between D/STs is pretty big. Top D/ST last year scored 212 points, compared the #5 who netted 159. That's a huge gap, don't wait too long to take a D/ST.

Subs. Alright, you've got your weekly starting lineup filled, now for the bench. I always try to go with a lineup that will start every week except in the case of bye weeks or injuries. I value my bench, but not to a huge extent. You do need viable options to plug in, but you don't need try to draft top level guys for your bench. This is where backups, short-yardage guys, and handcuffs come in to play. For instance, if you get Matt Forte, think about Michael Bush. You're not going to start Bush on a week to week basis, but when one of your starters gets hurt (and they will) or is on a bye, Bush can be a decent plug in.

So there you go, some things to think about when you head in to your draft lobby. Also, look up rankings from guys like Matthew Berry. He may come off a little snobbish, but he does know what he's talking about. However don't take his word for gospel. He plays in leagues with guys who have been doing this for decades. They have their own theories on which positions to draft where because their league's rules are probably different than yours. Also, the draft kit from ESPN can help as well. But again, sometimes you have to go with your gut. For example, I'm not going to draft RGIII to be my starter. I'm not convinced his knee is going to be 100% and we all know about the sophomore slump, Cam Newton last year is a perfect example. But if he's available in the later rounds, he's worth a look as a back up. When it comes down to it, have some rankings in front of you when you're drafting but don't be afraid to take a risk.

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Super Bowl Picks And Predictions

I've put this off long enough, it's time to make my Super Bowl predictions. I've looked at all the "experts" picks, all the stats I can find, and talked to my friends. I'm picking the San Francisco 49ers to beat the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday.

This boiled down to one thing really. The Ravens have trouble stopping the run. They haven't played a team in the playoffs that has an above average ground game. San Francisco clearly has an above average rushing attack. Everyone keeps talking about how Kaepernick can't throw from the pocket, so all the Ravens have to do is contain him. Did anyone watch the 49ers beat the Falcons? There was only one play called that was a designed QB run. Kaepernick threw for 233 yards. That's not a ton, but the thing about the SF offense is they are versatile. In that game against Atlanta, Kap threw for a TD, Gore rushed for two, and LaMichael James rushed for two. Oh, and that TD that Kap threw was to Vernon Davis. So now in addition to having Crabtree and Moss, Kap has finally found Davis. This isn't an offense that can be stopped by playing one scheme. You have to be ready for anything and everything.

Now I'm not saying the Ravens defense isn't good. Lewis, Suggs, and Reed are all great. But I don't think they're fast enough to keep up with the SF offense. They stack the box to stop Gore, Kap either uses his legs or hits one of his 3 more than capable receivers. I just don't think the Ravens have seen anything like the 49ers offense. In fact, the two games they played against "running" quarterbacks, I prefer the term mobile but whatever, they lost. In week 2 they lost to the Eagles, giving up 371 yards in the air to Michael Vick. They contained him on the ground, but didn't do squat down the field. Yes that game was ages ago, but it's important. Also, they lost to the Redskins. This was in week 14, so much more recent. RGIII hit them for 242 yards in the air and 34 yards on the ground. Clearly they were more prepared for a mobile quarterback. Problem is, they gave up 129 yards on the ground to Alfred Morris, a rookie. That 'Skins offense is fairly similar to San Fran's. Baltimore had trouble against Washington, I have no reason to believe they won't have trouble against San Francisco.

If I was a gambling man, which I am 100%, my money is/will be on San Francisco. I like San Fran at -3.5 and I definitely like the over at 47.5, in fact I'd probably take the over if it was 51 or lower. My final score prediction is 34-24 and my MVP pick is of course Kaepernick.

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It's Not That Easy

So Bob Costas and Jason Whitlock think handguns shouldn't be legal. During halftime of Sunday night's Cowboys/Eagles game, Costas quoted part of Whitlock's column concerning the tragedy caused by Jovan Belcher. ''In the coming days, Jovan Belcher's actions and their possible connection to football will be analyzed. Who knows? But here, wrote Jason Whitlock, is what I believe. If Jovan Belcher didn't possess a gun, he and Kasandra Perkins would both be alive today," Costas said while quoting Whitlock. This is incredibly irresponsible and inappropriate. 

First off, why is Costas on a soapbox during halftime of an NFL game? This isn't a news or opinion broadcast, this is a sports broadcast. He is certainly entitled to his opinion, but it was neither the time or the place for him to express it. One of the websites I contribute to has started a discussion forum about this very topic and already someone has brought up a great point; what about Chris Benoit? If you're unfamiliar, Benoit was a very popular professional wrestler who killed his wife, his son (age 7 at the time) and himself, all without the use of a firearm. So to say that Perkins and Belcher would be alive if he didn't have a gun is just wrong. He can't know that. You can't know that. I can't know that. Is it possible they'd both be alive? Absolutely it is. But it's just as possible that they would both still be gone.

I'm not going to hide the fact that I'm pro-gun. I'm a firearms enthusiast, but at the same time I can see the other side of the issue. I know guns are dangerous. They're not toys, they are tools. For that reason, I fully believe that anyone who is legally allowed to own a firearm should be able to if they so choose. It's a cliché, but if you outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns. People who commit crimes don't care about the law, so outlawing guns won't stop them from owning, carrying, and using them. I'm not saying everyone should be armed to the teeth, but blaming guns isn't the answer. If guns commit crimes, then they also do a lot of good. Guns took out Bin Laden, not the heroes of Seal Team Six. You and I both know that's incorrect. A gun is a useless chunk of metal until it's in someone's hands.

Blaming the legality and availability of firearms isn't right. But it's not right to say that firearms had nothing to do with this either. Clearly Jovan Belcher was an irresponsible gun owner. I am curious as to whether or not he did legally purchase the gun he used, and if had it registered or a permit for it. That's not to suggest Belcher wouldn't have got his hands on a gun otherwise, or that if he didn't have a gun this horrible tragedy would still have happened. But to blame the gun, and not the man, as Costas and Whitlock did just isn't right. I feel bad for Perkins' friends and family, and I do for Belcher's. I feel the worst for the 3-month old baby who will grow up without either parent because of this. But placing the blame on an inanimate object? It's not that easy. There is far more to this horrific event than a gun. It's sad that NBC would allow Costas to make such a point.

I know everyone isn't going to agree with me on this. I realize there are people who are anti-gun, and that's fine. You're entitled to your opinion just as I am mine. If you'd like to discuss this further, I encourage you to comment. But if you're going to do so with a closed mind, save us both the time.

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"Sports" Illustrated

This is going to be a rant, so if you don't feel like listening to me complain, go ahead and just close the window now. I'm pissed off. I'm upset that Sports Illustrated is no longer the magazine I once loved. For the better part of the past decade I've had a subscription to Sports Illustrated, it's always been a birthday present from my parents. I looked forward each week to the new issue and reading stories from around the world of sports. Not anymore.

My love for SI first hit a bump earlier this year. I get my issue every Wednesday; always have, since day 1. However this year, right before March Madness began I didn't get it on Wednesday, I got it on Thursday. Normally not a big deal, but for someone who loves March Madness as much or more than the Super Bowl, I was upset. This is the issue that breaks down each team/region and gives you the pullout bracket you can fill in. Now it's entirely possible that this is because of the Post Office, but I thought I would bring it up to SI through their Twitter account. I voiced my displeasure/concern and they asked if I normally got my issue on Wednesday or Thursday. I said I've always gotten them in the past on Wednesday's, and their response was something to the effect of oh, well that stinks. Not exactly what you would call excellent customer service. But I brushed it off, not like there was anything they could do.

What really started this fire burning was when my Kings won the Stanley Cup. Their first Stanley Cup in the history of the organization. That would surely merit coverage and the cover of the most prominent sports publication in print journalism right? Nope. The covers of Sports Illustrated during July featured in order; Ken Caminiti, Josh Hamilton, Kevin Durant or LeBron, depending on where you live, LeBron again (this time attempting to dunk over Serge Ibaka, and if you didn't know any better you'd think he did, but in fact Ibaka totally stuffed him) and then to start off July LeBron was on the cover again. So depending where you live you might have received 3 straight issues with LeBron James on the cover. Wow. Talk about shoving it down our throats. The Stanley Cup is widely regarded as the most difficult trophy to win in North American professional sports, and it wasn't on the cover of Sports Illustrated. That's unacceptable. Not only that, but there was never a story written about the Kings winning the Cup. There was a story about Jonathan Quick that was great, but come on guys. I looked up covers to see when the last time the Stanley Cup Champions didn't appear on the cover, it was 2007 when the Ducks won. Apparently Southern California doesn't matter. What a joke.

The past two weeks have really made my blood boil when I've opened my mailbox on Wednesday. Last week Deron Williams was on the cover. I have no idea why. The NBA season is weeks away, the NFL season is in full swing, and the MLB playoffs were going on. Yet a player who is nowhere near the top 10 in the NBA on a team that finished 22-44 last year was on the cover. Not only that, but there was only 1 MLB story in the entire issue. This week, Tyrann Mathieu is on the cover. WHAT IS GOING ON?!?! Why is a player who had one good year, who isn't playing this year and isn't enrolled in school on the cover of a sports magazine? This makes absolutely no sense. Miguel Cabrera just won the Triple Crown. The Atlanta Falcons are 6-0 right now. The NHL is in the midst of yet another lockout. Even NASCAR is in the middle of their run towards the championship. But no, a college kid who got kicked off a team for drugs is on the cover. Disgusting. The major stories in this week's issue are college football (Alabama), college football (Mathieu, which really isn't college football seeing as he's NOT PLAYING THIS YEAR), Lance Armstrong and his legal troubles (better suited for Time magazine in my opinion), NFL (the Vikings punter is profiled, does anyone outside of Minnesota care?), and a baseball story that isn't related to the MLB playoffs. There is no mention of the playoffs except for the Leading Off section that shows some great pictures. But that's it. Football, football, football, and cycling. In the last two issues of Sports Illustrated there has been one story related to the MLB playoffs.

I looked up the cover and the stories in last year's Sports Illustrated from the same week. NASCAR superstar Jimmie Johnson was on the cover, and there were stories about the NFL, the MLB playoffs, college football, golf, and a little bit of basketball. Yes the NBA was in the middle of their lockout, so naturally coverage would be lighter. But still. Look at the difference between the two years. I'm sure it would be even worse if I dug through the issues I've saved (all of them) and looked at the diversity of stories from around the same time. Don't get me wrong, there are still things I love about SI. I love the Sign of the Apocalypse, the They Said It quote, By The Numbers, the back page article, and the Dan Patrick interview. I just want to be able to read stories from the world of sports, not just the world of football and basketball. Miguel Cabrera won the first Triple Crown in 45 years, how does that not merit some sort of story? I realize we'll probably get a feature story at some point in the next month or two, but come on guys. How is this not brought up without a story a page long or so?

Sports Illustrated used to be my go to source for sports information. You could find stats and stories that you wouldn't see or hear anywhere else. That's just not the case anymore. If it's not football or basketball, they just don't care. Yes there are baseball-centric issues, but they are so few and far between now that it's laughable. Hockey coverage is nearly non-existent, and forget soccer. I have no reason to ask for my subscription to be renewed. They don't cover the sports I'm most interested in. I realize the NFL and college basketball are the most popular sports in the country, but maybe that’s because the sports magazine with a circulation of over 3.2 million chooses to focus on them and nearly nothing else. The magazine no longer lives up to its name, the name Sports Illustrated is misleading.  It’s upsetting, but my wife will be thrilled that I won’t be getting more magazines I refuse to throw away, so at least there’s an upside.

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How About Them Cowboys?

No seriously, where the hell are they?  Where is the Dallas team that beat the Giants in Week 1? As it sits right now, the Cowboys will be lucky to finish 7-9. This team won't beat the Giants again, they won't beat the Eagles, the Ravens, the Falcons, or the Steelers. They've got a shot to beat Washington twice, but even that's iffy.

Let me get something out of the way right now, I've never been a Romo fan. He has all the talent in the world, but he can't man up. That's what it boils down to. Yes I've seen him lead the team to victories after trailing in the 4th quarter, and that's great, but when he continually makes poor decisions and doesn't take care of the football, that doesn't matter. He doesn't put his team in a position to win. I'm not even talking about his 5 interceptions Monday night. Yeah they were all bad, one could've been ruled a fumble and one bounced off Ogletree's arms but whatever, it's the throws that he makes to open receivers and misses. His decision-making when the game is there for the taking is atrocious on a consistent basis. I don't see how Jerry Jones can say he believes in Tony Romo and actually mean it. Of course he has to say it, you can't go out and trash your franchise QB, but there is no way he can believe it right? There is a reason why QBs like Peyton, Brady, Rodgers, Brees (not so much this year, but it's not his fault their defense has more holes in it than a beer can that's been hit with birdshot), Matt Ryan, and Roethlisberger are so successful. They make good decisions. They know when to throw the ball away, or when to check down, or how to let a play develop. Romo doesn't, he panics. When Bryant blew that route, he still threw the ball. He didn't throw it away or look for another option. He gave Chicago 6 points right there.

Is Monday's loss to the Bears squarely on Romo's shoulders? Not at all. He got little help from his receivers as both Ogletree and Bryant had trouble actually catching the ball and running the right routes. The Cowboys highly touted defensive line only managed  2 sacks against the Bears who have had trouble keeping Cutler upright since he got to Chicago. Coming into the game Cutler had thrown 5 interceptions on the year compared to 3 touchdowns. That revamped Dallas secondary didn't pick him off once. Rob Ryan's defense looked as bad if not worse than last 3 years. They Dallas defense as a whole only forced 2 3-and-outs all game. 3 if you count the forced fumble that they recovered. That simply isn't good enough. The offense sputtered as well, but that's not all that surprising to be honest. They've managed 7 total touchdowns in 4 games. Their 16.2 points is 31st in the NFL. If Jason Garrett and Rob Ryan aren't worried about their jobs right now, they should be. This isn't an acceptable return with the amount of talent on that team. It's the coach's job to get the individuals to work together as a unit, and they have both failed to do this so far.

I've been a Cowboys fan my entire life, something I'm not ashamed of nor will I ever apologize for it. But I'm a rational fan. I know this team has enough talent to make a serious Super Bowl run. But they lack leadership, coaching, discipline, and to speak frankly, balls. They play like they're owed something, and that's not only sad, but it's embarrassing and insulting. Like the title of this post says, how about them Cowboys? Well to me, I can sum up their season pretty easily so far. The defense is inept and the offense is clumsy. Not exactly what I'd call a recipe for success.

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Waiver Wire Warriors

A lot of fantasy football games are won and lost based on how you treat waivers. Completely ignore them, and you're either not very involved, you're incredibly lucky that you drafted the perfect team, or you don't plan on winning your league. Here are a few players that based off of their Week 1 performances can probably help most teams out. Also, if they can't help you now, think about bye weeks as well as trade bait.

Kevin Ogletree-Unless you're 1st or 2nd on the waiver priority, you can probably forget about this guy. He's owned in about 26% of ESPN leagues, and that number will skyrocket later this week. He had 2 TDs last week and went for 114 yards. Don't expect him to duplicate those numbers again this year though. Witten wasn't healthy last game, and assuming he's back to normal, Ogletree's targets will go down. That being said, he's a viable option. Dez Bryant and Miles Austin will get the majority of coverage, so Ogletree will find himself open. If you're lucky enough to have a high waiver spot and you need a WR, Ogletree may help you. 

Alfred Morris-He may be listed as the Redskins number 3 running back on their official website, but make no mistake, he's their number 1 runner. He had 2 TDs and nearly 100 yards last week, and with teams focusing on RG3 and Pierre Garcon, he could be in for a decent year. He's owned in just under 16% of ESPN leagues too, so he's probably available. Don't forget though, Mike Shanahan is known for throwing just about anyone in the backfield, so don't say I didn't warn you. But as long as Morris continues to produce, he should remain the starter.

Randall Cobb-He was much more involved in the GB offense than anyone expected him to be. He had 9 receptions for 77 yards and a punt return TD. We all know Cobb is a dangerous return man, but to see him getting so much attention as a WR makes him even more attractive. Also, it should be noted that there are reports that Greg Jennings may miss Thursday's game against Chicago, increasing Cobb's role. He's only owned in 14% of ESPN leagues, so if you need some WR help, check him out too.

Scott Chandler-While 4 catches for 38 yards and a TD doesn't exactly scream pickup, it's not terrible for a TE that is only owned in 3.3% of ESPN leagues. He'll be a huge Red Zone target for the Bills, and he has a good relationship with Fitzpatrick. If for whatever reason you need a second TE, he's definitely worth a look.

I'm going to try to get a post about decent waiver options up about once a week. Going forward it is going to be more difficult as players get picked up, but we'll see how it goes. Have any questions about a player, feel free to send them my way and I'll do my best to give you a somewhat educated answer.

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[UPDATE] Saints Bounty Scandal Penalties Overturned

About 20 minutes ago, Sports Illustrated senior writer Jim Trotter tweeted, "BREAKING: A 3-member appeals panel has overturned the player suspensions in the Saints bounty case, says a source. Details coming." I for one, am shocked.

I thought for sure the players suspensions would be upheld, obviously there was much more to this story than was originally reported. Trotter went on to say the commissioner Goodell can reconsider the penalties only if there is evidence of intent to injure beyond just the performance pool, according to a source. What that boils down to is that Goodell will have to find something else in order to keep the players out of the game. Details are still coming out on this, and there has been no official word from the NFL as of yet.

Like I said, I'm shocked by this. This whole ordeal has made Goodell look like a hard-nosed commissioner who isn't going to allow a bounty program and is willing to severely punish those who participate in one. The appeals board has pretty much undermined this whole idea. According to them, simply being part of a bounty program isn't enough to warrant suspensions. Either that, or there was new evidence that what we all thought went on in New Orleans didn't really happen the way it was reported. Whatever the case may be, I'm sure this isn't over, not by a long shot. Also, it should be noted that the coaches have not been mentioned whatsoever, only the player's suspensions have been overturned. Again, that may change, so stay tuned for updates.

UPDATE- Here's the full statement from the NFL: "Consistent with the panel's decision, Commissioner Goodell will, as directed, make an expedited determination of the discipline imposed for violating the league's pay-for-performance/bounty rule. Until that determination is made, the four players are reinstated and eligible to play starting this weekend."


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Cowboys Start The Year Off Right

One streak continued while another ended on Wednesday night. Defending Super Bowl champions had been 8-0 since the current format of them playing the season opener began. The Cowboys ended that streak by beating the Giants 24-17. But the Cowboys unbeaten streak against the Giants in season openers was extended and they are now 6-0 in those games. But what does it all mean?

First off, let me say that I'm not surprised by this outcome. The Cowboys weren't expected to win this game. Vegas had them as 3.5 point dogs, and given the 'Boys habit of giving up leads last year, twice to the Giants I might add, it was easy to see why New York was favored. Add on the fact that Jason Witten was doubtful for the game, it was even more clear why most people picked the Giants. But here's the thing, Romo, and it seems the Cowboys entire team, plays a whole lot better when people aren't expecting much from them. It's when the expectations are high and the pressure is on that they crumble. I'm not saying that wasn't a pressure packed game by any means. I'm saying there was far more pressure on the defending Super Bowl champion to beat a division rival whose owner had called them out, then there was on Dallas.

While the Cowboys did win, and look like the better team, they are nowhere near where they need to be. The secondary was still soft on 3rd down coverage, there were way too many penalties, and Romo didn't look as great as everyone is making him sound. I'll be the first to admit that the defense did look better than it has in a while. Coverage was adequate down the field, but still not where it needs to be. I'm glad to see they're playing man coverage, but there were still times when they were clearly beaten. Had the Giants receivers actually held on to the ball tonight, the score line probably would've looked much different. Luckily for the Cowboys there were several drops. I know I'm overly critical of the defense, but with the kind of talent Dallas has on the field now, there is no reason to get beat consistently down the field. The defensive line looked great, they managed 3 sacks, and forced a fumble.

As for the penalties, ugh. 13 penalties for 86 yards is awful, especially considering how many false starts there were. I know it was loud and they were in hostile territory, but come on. I'm hoping this was a first game jitters kind of thing and doesn't carry over to the rest of the season. Which brings us to Romo. Now let me be the first to say that I'm a die-hard Cowboys fan. Have been my whole life. But I'm not a Romo fan. He's got as much talent, if not more, than the top QBs in the NFL. What he lacks is the mindset, or clutch gene as I like to call it. Under pressure, he terrifies me. Yes there are times when he comes through, like the 38-yard completion to Dez Bryant. You won't find anyone else who could've made that pass look any better. But when he has to make a short dump-off pass because he's under pressure and there isn't anyone open down field, he can't do it. At least twice during the game he failed to complete a short 2-4 yard pass that would've come close to a first down. This is what kills me. Sure, he threw for 3 scores, was 22-29 and had 307 yards. But he also had a stupid interception, and he threw another ball in the endzone that had he made a better pass would've been TD number 4, and he was lucky that one actually didn't get picked off as well.

I know I'm overly critical of Romo. I have been since day 1. A lot of it has to do with the media shoving him down my throat. I'm sorry, I grew up watching Troy Aikman under center. So when people try to tell him how good Romo is, and how he's great for the Cowboys, I want to puke. Not his fault necessarily, but whatever. I don't want to sound like I wasn't impressed by the Cowboys though. They played well enough to win, they looked better than I expected on defense, Murray showed just how good he can be, and they didn't blow a 4th quarter lead. Oh, and Kevin Ogletree, yeah, he's like, good and stuff.

All in all, this was a big win for Dallas. They beat a division rival on the road. Last year they only won two divisional games, both against the lowly Redskins. So while this is week 1, it does have implications. There are still some areas that need improvement, but I was pleasantly surprised by their performance. Yeah the first quarter was ugly, the whole first half wasn't great from an offensive standpoint. But hey, I'll take it.

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Fantasy Football Problems

It's August, so why not kick off the month with my first fantasy football related blog post? This might not go over so well, as it will seem like I'm bragging a bit (which it totally unintentional, I swear) but I truly do need some input from other people. So just bear with me.

Let me start by saying this, my name is David and I love and am addicted to fantasy football. I first played fantasy football back in the 02/03 season and I've only not had a team once since then. Recently I've been pretty successful with my teams. I've won a league 4 years in a row, and 2 years ago I not only won my league but I also won the Survival league I was in. Again, I'm not trying to brag. I do a lot of research before the draft and during the season. Free agents and trades are where seasons are won and lost. Yes the draft is important, but it's incredibly rare for the team you draft to be your team at even the halfway point of the season. See, I told you I was addicted.

So last year I ended up with a pretty good team. By pretty good, I mean it was rather ridiculous. A quick rundown. QBs-Brees, Vick, and Romo. RBs-Lynch, Spiller, Foster, Murray. WRs-Cruz, Welker, Colston, Wallace. TEs-Graham, Gonzalez. D/ST-Ravens, Bengals. K-Bailey. I had Janikowski at one point but used him in a trade, which was him and 2 other players that I don't recall for Brees. As you can see, my team had very few, if any holes. I had a great draft, even being in the last slot, and I picked up some good free agents and that trade I mentioned.

Here's my problem. This is a keeper league. I don't normally play in keeper leagues. I can only choose one player to keep on my roster. I'm torn between Brees, Foster, and Graham. I can pretty easily talk myself out of Graham, but he's worth mentioning. He was the number 2 TE last year and I'm a big believer in having a worthwhile TE, they'll win you games. I'm worried that Brees, and his MASSIVE contract, are going to have an off year. The Saints have so much drama around them, I just don't know if I trust the guy and their interim coach. With Foster, there have been reports that he has become of vegan. Now, nothing against anyone who chooses to be a vegan, but it doesn't seem like the greatest idea for a football player let alone a running back.   I know it sounds dumb, but he's already been injured a few times, and this makes me think he could miss some significant time this year

So what would you do? I've already looked over all the rankings from different sites, and ESPN actually has Foster as the number 1 overall keeper and Brees as 13th on their list. But I'm still not convinced. I should point out that our league is not a PPR league, but all touchdowns are worth 6 points, even passing touchdowns. Other than that the rules are pretty standard. So leave a comment or hit me up on Twitter or Facebook and let me know what you think, who should be my keeper this year?

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