Training Camp News

Miami DolphinsJosh McCown seems to be the best bet to make the first start of the season. After that, all bets are off. John Beck and Chad Henne would both like to get their chance to lead the Dolphins this year, but it probably won’t matter who is under center. At least Jake Long will prevent them from taking too much abuse.
AFC NorthPittsburgh SteelersThere’s no QB controversy in Pittsburgh as Big Ben gears his team up for another year. Roethlisberger was a happy man on draft day as Rashard Mendenhall fell into the Steelers laps. Mendenhall joins Willie Parker to form a potent 1-2 punch. The Steelers also added Limas Sweed to a WR corps. that already includes Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.
Cleveland BrownsBrady Quinn is used to waiting after his frustrating draft day, but it appears as though he’ll have to continue with his patience, as Derek Anderson became the unquestioned starter last year. Anderson has 2 of the best players in the game at his disposal. It’s scary but Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards should actually improve this year.
Cincinnati BengalsThe good news is that Carson Palmer’s #1 weapon is in camp. The bad news is that his #1 weapon wants to hit him in his bad knee. It’s not the first time that Palmer hasn’t been on the same page as Chad Johnson, but we’ll see if it affects the two during games.
Baltimore RavensJoe Flacco is the quarterback of the future, but when is the future? Kyle Boller will most likely be given his chance, but also a short leash. Either QB will have to rely on Willis McGahee and hope that Todd Heap can return to Pro Bowl caliber.
AFC SouthIndianapolis ColtsThe biggest news regarding Peyton Manning at camp is that Peyton Manning isn’t at camp. He’s somewhere nearby recovering from knee surgery and isn’t expected to see any action until late preseason.
Jacksonville JaguarsDavid Garrard enters his 2nd season at the helm with the aging Fred Taylor and the emerging Maurice Jones-Drew behind him. You can put down Troy Williamson and Jerry Porter as additions and Matt Jones as a subtraction/distraction.
Tennessee TitansReports out of camp are that Vince Young isn’t looking very sharp and making matters worse, the Titans failed to add any top WR during the draft. He’ll have Chris Johnson added to the backfield along with Craig Stevens at TE and Lavelle Hawkins at WR, but Tennessee passed on guys like Limas Sweed.
Houston TexansMatt Schaub hopes to show what he can do in a full year with Andre Johnson and Jacoby Jones could be a sleeper at WR. Ahman Green is another injury concern and West Virginia rookie Steve Slaton could wind up with a decent amount of time in the backfield.
AFC WestSan Diego ChargersPhilip Rivers showed up to camp bigger and reportedly throwing the ball very well. Health will play a key role for the Chargers, as Antonio Gates tries to put his toe problems behind him. LT will continue to keep the pressure off of Rivers.
Denver BroncosAfter Jay Cutler lost 35 pounds during his battle with diabetes, he’s slowly regaining his strength. With the departure of Travis Henry, the Broncos next 1000-yard rusher is a mystery, but Cutler will still have emerging superstar Brandon Marshall on the business end of his touchdown passes.
Kansas City ChiefsBrodie Croyle needs to have a healthy Larry Johnson to help him keep defenses honest, but if he can’t, rookie Jamaal Charles will try to shoulder the load. Branden Albert will solidify the offensive line and 6-8 Brad Cottam will provide depth behind Tony Gonzalez.
Oakland RaidersFor JaMarcus Russell, the time is now. Russell takes over as the starter and he has a lot of question marks around him. Will the improved defense allow him to win games without being in a shootout? Will Javon Walker stay healthy? Will Darren McFadden be the next Adrian Peterson?
NFC EastDallas CowboysTony Romo doesn’t have Julius Jones behind him anymore, but he still has Marion Barber and newcomer Felix Jones. He also REALLY needs TO and Jason Witten to stay healthy. If TO goes down, they have Patrick Crayton and Sam Hurd.
New York GiantsEli Manning returns this season as a Super Bowl MVP. The Giants fans love him…until his first INT. He should have a healthy Plax this year, which will lead to better numbers, but he’ll also have to rely on Kevin Boss to fill Shockey’s cleats.
Philadelphia EaglesDonovan McNabb says that he’s perfectly healthy, but he hasn’t made it through a full season since 2004 and Kevin Kolb has been impressive in camp. DeSean Jackson is the only major offensive addition from the draft and it remains to be seen if he’s going to be a punt return specialist or contribute at WR also.
Washington RedskinsJason Campbell has been up and down thus far during training camp. The Redskins are going with the West Coast Offense, so it will take everyone a while to get comfortable. Washington also added Devin Thomas, Fred Davis and Malcolm Kelly via the draft.
NFC NorthGreen Bay PackersWhat can I say about Green Bay that hasn’t been all over the news already? The Packers remain in a standstill with Brett Favre, but it does appear that Aaron Rodgers will be the starting QB either way. He knows that he’ll have veteran Donald Driver and young star Greg Jennings out wide, but Ryan Grant is in the middle of a contract dispute and hasn’t reported to camp.
Minnesota VikingsMinnesota would love to bring in Brett Favre to replace Tarvaris Jackson, but that’s just not going to happen. Jackson will again lean heavily on Adrian Peterson to give him some breathing room. The Vikings did add Bernard Berrian, which gives them their best receiving threat since parting ways with Randy Moss. Look for Sidney Rice to improve on a solid rookie campaign.
Chicago BearsIt’s literally a coin toss in Chicago with Rex Grossman and Kyle Orton battling it out for the starting gig. Whoever does win the job, takes over a position that no longer has Berrian to stretch the field or Cedric Benson in the backfield. Greg Olsen should be the go-to guy.
Detroit LionsDetroit is the only team in the NFC North not mention with Brett Favre, so they will enter the season with Jon Kitna under center. With Kevin Jones gone, Tatum Bell and rookie Kevin Smith will carry the ground game. Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson return as one of the league’s top tendems. Gosder Cherlius was drafted to provide more time in the pocket for Kitna and room for the backs to run.
NFC SouthTampa Bay BuccaneersJeff Garcia is the starting quarterback. Just ask him. Brett Favre seems less and less likely to be on his way to Tampa, so Garcia would appear to be correct. Garcia will be handing the ball off to Warrick Dunn or Carnell Williams or Ernest Graham or Michael Bennett. His go-to WR will once again be Joey Galloway, but they did draft Dexter Jackson, the speedster from Appalachian State.
Carolina PanthersJake Delhomme is ready to take the reigns again and make Steve Smith the feared wide out that he can be. Jonathan Stewart will take the place of DeShaun Foster and join DeAngelo Williams in the backfield. First round pick Jeff Otah will provide the protection.
New Orleans SaintsDrew Brees rebounded from a rough start to post very respectable numbers last year. He spent a good chunk of the season without Duece McAllister and Reggie Bush did not embrace the role of starting running back. Brees will now have his full compliment of backs and the addition of Jeremy Shockey will be huge.
Atlanta FalconsOne thing is for sure in Atlanta. Joey Harrington, Chris Redman, DJ Shockley or Matt Ryan will be the starting quarterback. Word out of camp is that Matt Ryan looks good, but time will tell if they let the rookie have the job by the opener. The only offensive addition of note is the signing of Michael Turner, who joins Jerious Norwood to form a lethal combo.
NFC WestSeattle SeahawksThe Shaun Alexander era is over. Julius Jones will share the load with Maurice Morris and TJ Duckett will be the backup. Matt Hasselbeck needs a healthy Deion Branch if they want to be successful on offense. Seattle did add TE John Carlson in April.
Arizona CardinalsMatt Leinart feels much more comfortable with the Cardinals offense than he did last year. It remains to be seen if he can play well enough to keep Kurt Warner on the sidelines. With Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, the table is setup for his success.
San Francisco 49ersAlex Smith will likely be the starter, but Shaun Hill will do his best to win the job. The Niners added DeShaun Foster, Isaac Bruce and Bryant Johnson in the off-season and Frank Gore should thrive under Mike Martz.
St. Louis RamsMarc Bulger needs Orlando Pace to get healthy. Pace is the key to the Rams offense as he protects Bulger and allows Steven Jackson all the room that he needs. Rookie Donnie Avery hopes to overtake Drew Bennett on the depth chart and start alongside Torry Holt.
Go Deep: www.passitdeep.com

MLB Weekly Review

Don’t look now but the defending National League Champions are well on their way to teaching the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Los Angeles Dodgers a very important lesson.The Colorado Rockies are blazing a trail to the top on the NL West and the Dodgers and Diamondbacks are kicking themselves for letting them hang around.The Rockies have won 9 of their last 10 games, including 5 in a row. Colorado is averaging 7.6 runs per game during that stretch and they scored 10 in their lone loss. In a 16-10 loss to the Dodgers, Kip Wells was tagged for 8 runs in one-third of an inning and the Rockies couldn’t overcome an 11 run deficit. Matt Holliday, Brad Hawpe and Troy Tulowitzki were all visitors to the DL this season and Tulowitzki just returned from his 2nd stint. He has provided the team with a spark since his return going 13 for 26.The Rockies aren’t the only streaking team, as the New York Yankees have also been playing inspired ball since the All-Star Break.New York was riding as 8-game winning streak before suffering a 9-2 setback on Sunday in the series finale at Boston.During the winning streak, the Yankees held their opponents to just 15 runs and used their defense to lead them to 2-1 and 1-0 victories. They now sit just 3 games back in the division.Players like Matt Holliday(.565 average), Jeff Baker(.579), Alex Rodriguez(.476) and Robinson Cano(.480) have contributed to their teams success recently, but they aren’t the hottest hitters of the past week.Alex Rios takes top honors as the best hitter of the week with his .344 average, 7 Runs, 4 HR, 8 RBI and 4 SB. Ryan Braun is a close 2nd with a .414 average, 4 Runs, 4 HR and 12 RBI.Andy Pettitte and Cliff Lee turned in the top pitching performances this week as they each collected 2 wins. Pettitte went 14 innings while scattering 9 hits, allowing 2 ER and striking out 16. He won a 10-3 blowout and a 2-1 pitchers duel.Lee pitched 17 innings while giving up 17 hits, 4 ER and struck out 14 batters.Rich Harden was also lights out this week, but has an 0-1 record to show for it because the Cubs provided just 2 runs of support in 2 games.Harden pitched 12 solid innings while giving up just 3 hits. Two of the 3 hits were solo homeruns and the only runs he allowed. He struck out 10 in each outing, giving him 30 in 3 games as a Cub.We haven’t seen any major deals since Harden joined the Cubs, but there were a couple trades of interest this week.The New York Yankees added Damaso Marte and Xavier Nady from the Pirates in exchange for prospects and Casey Blake was sent from Cleveland to the Dodgers.With only a few days remaining before the deadline, things could get interesting.Will the Rockies be buyers or sellers? Will the Yankees add Jared Washburn or Adam Dunn? Will Mark Teixeira remain in Atlanta? Will Manny keep being Manny in Boston?Some many questions and so little time remaining to answer them.

Tough Decisions - Part 2

Terrell Owens vs. Reggie Wayne We had a similar debate last year involving Reggie Wayne and his partner in crime Marvin Harrison (pun intended). We clearly stated Reggie would supplant Harrison and step in as Peyton’s new favorite target. As Peyton’s main man, is Reggie setting his fantasy sights on the incumbent number two, Terrell Owens. Not yet. Wayne is a phenomenal receiver and he will have an extraordinary year, but he still cannot compete with Terrell Owens’ nose for the end-zone. Over his entire career, Owens has averaged a touchdown in 3 out of every 4 games. When looking at other players with stellar careers such Marvin Harrison, Chad Johnson, Torry Holt, Randy Moss or any other active receiver that comes to mind, only Randy Moss has a better ratio. Owens has showed no signs of slowing down and I expect him and Romo to continue to connect. On the other hand, Wayne does have more value in one format and that is if your league rewards points for receptions (PPR). With Jason Witten on the field, Owens will never have the chance to compete for the league lead in receptions, whereas Reggie Wayne is the man we expect to end the year atop the receptions list. Even though T.O. will end the year with more touchdowns, Wayne’s yardage and reception totals will push him into the number two spot in PPR formats. So as you can see, while Owens is our choice, the winner of this battle depends greatly on you league rules and scoring format. Thankfully, our Customizable Cheat Sheets do all of the hard work for you. Chad Johnson vs. T.J. Houshmandzadeh Chad Johnson seems to be this year’s trendy “Bust” prediction. He threatened to hold out and he’s currently nursing injured ankles, so everyone’s jumping on the wagon and avoiding Chad. Let make this clear, Chad Johnson will be fine! But for the time being, take advantage of the situation and draft Johnson as he is falling deep into the third round in some leagues. Who would have thought we would see the day when Chad Johnson is drafted after T.J. Houshmandzadeh? I mean first of all, if for some strange reason Johnson does miss time, all of those who drafted T.J. in the late second round will be hating life. The Cincy offense needs Ocho Cinco to succeed and the only reason T.J. is so successful is because he’s constantly single covered. Take the time to watch the some film from the Cincy offense and you will always see the safeties shaded towards Johnson, and he will constantly be bracketed, especially in the red-zone. Secondly, T.J. has never eclipsed 1200 yards in a season. Even last year, when he led the league in receptions with 112, he still only managed 1143 yards. Simply said, he will never have the yardage to compete with the elite guys. Yes, he did have 12 touchdowns, but when it was all set and done, Johnson still ended the year with more fantasy points. Chad Johnson is arguably the most consistent receiver in fantasy football. Some claim his production comes in lump sums, but even that claim is flawed. All receivers, even the best, have days where they don’t show up. Last year, Moss had a 34 yard game, Owens had a 21 and a 25 yard game and even Reggie Wayne had a 38 yard game. Yet Johnson, who has been labeled the inconsistent one, never had less than 48 yards in a game. So when the time comes, pass on T.J. and pick Johnson. And don’t worry about his injury, rehab on his ankle is going fine and I fully expect Chad to be Chad. Still, I can’t complain about this growing trend. In one of my leagues that awards a point per reception, I was able to pick up Andre Johnson with my second round pick and was ecstatic when I grabbed Johnson with my third pick.

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Top 40 NFL Running Backs Going into 2008

already given you the top 31 QB's, this list will cover the top 40 RB's, and soon we will rank the WR and TE. Here are the running backs:

1. LaDanian Tomlinson, San Diego Chargers
   1,474 yards, 15 TDs, 60 rec, 475 rec yards, 3 rec TDs
   

   LT is still the best in the game, even though his numbers were no where near his MVP season. He does it all, he gets the tough yards, he can break one all the way, and he is great catching passes out of the backfield. His offensive line is better than average, and the San Diego offense basically revolves around him. He's been saying that he probably has three years left before he starts thinking about retiring, so there's no reason to think that he won't be the best back in the NFL again in 2008.




2. Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts
   1,072 yards, 12 TDs, 41 rec, 364 rec yards, 3 rec TDs
   

   I'm using the term "man-crush" for my feelings about Addai. His stats don't jump up and slap you in the face to get your attention, but he is definitely one of the best. He is basically the only running back option that they have in Indy, so it isn't like he will lose 10 carries a game to his backup. He had a good statistical season even though the Colts basically rested him the last four weeks of the season to get him ready for the playoffs. He gets the goal line carries, he gets the short yardage carries, is better than average catching the ball out of the backfield, and I can easily see him rushing for 15 TDs this season.




3. Stephen Jackson, St. Louis Rams
   1,002 yards, 5 TDs, 38 rec, 271 rec yards, 1 rec TD (12 games)
   

   Before the start of the 2007 season Jackson was viewed as a guy who would rival Tomlinson for the top spot in fantasy. Well, between injuries to himself, his QB, and most of his offensive line, the season was a nightmare that rivaled Britney Spears' custody battle. Jackson still managed to run for 1,000 yards (just barely!), and remains the only show in town in the Rams' backfield. He is great as a pass receiver, as he caught 90 passes in 2006. Jackson is big, motivated, and will reestablish himself as one of the top options in fantasy football.




4. Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
   1,341 yards, 12 TDs, 19 rec, 268 rec yards, 1 rec TD
   

   Ok, the guy had an amazing rookie season and was easily the best first year player in 2007. However, I think we might have been a little quick to anoint him as someone who could supplant LT as the best in football in just his second year. Peterson is explosive and can take any carry all the way, there's no doubt about that. But here's a few factors that have me ranking him behind Addai and Jackson. First, Chester Taylor is a very good backup and will get at least five to seven carries every game. Two, he has had some injury problems in the past. He broke his collarbone among other things when he was in college and missed two games due to a knee injury last year. It isn't a HUGE concern, but running backs are fragile due to the beating they take, and as the injuries mount up, it takes its toll. Three, his touchdown numbers were good, but ten of the twelve touchdowns he scored were in four games. That leaves 13 weeks of the fantasy season where he didn't score for you, and let's face it touchdowns are where you win and lose your matchups. Additionally, five different weeks he had 60 yards or less. The last thing that keeps him from the top for me is he doesn't catch the ball at all. 19 catches over a full season is terrible for a RB, and he doesn't get that added dynamic that the top few options get. All that being said, if you can grab "All Day" in the fourth spot, you should be quick to pick Peterson. This is not a knock on his talent, just the reasons he wasn't ranked higher.




5. Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins
   1,262 yards, 11 TDs, 47 rec, 389 rec yards, 0 rec TDs
   

   When the Redskins really needed him to step up as they made their playoff push, Portis responded in a big way. He rushed for 306 yards and 4 TDs in the last three weeks (read: fantasy playoff time), and had another successful campaign. When healthy, this guy is one of the more explosive backs in the league, and has never rushed for under 1,200 yards when he played the whole season, and he has had double digit touchdowns every year but one. Ladell Betts proved he could carry the load during 2006 when Portis missed half the year, but Betts was almost completely ignored last season while Clinton was healthy, proving who is the star of the show in DC. I am expecting even better stats in 2008, with 1,400+ yards and 14 TDs.




6. Marion Barber, Dallas Cowboys
   975 yards, 10 TDs, 44 rec, 282 rec yards, 2 rec TDs
   

   This guy runs like he is pissed off at the world, and when he hits someone in the open field, he usually falls forward or just keeps right on going. Barber has been the Cowboy worth owning in the Texas Twosome of he and Julius Jones, as Barber had been getting all the red zone carries and the majority of the scores. Well, Jones left town for the Great Northwest, so now Barber is sharing the backfield with a rookie and figures to get 20+ carries every game. Barber is a very physical runner, which could lend itself to injury, but so far in his career he has been quite durable. He has shown some talent with receptions out of the backfield and is dangerous once he gets a head of steam rolling. This is the first time he will be "the man" in Dallas, and I completely expect him to thrive under that situation. I'm looking for him to run for 1,300+ yards and 13 scores.




7. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles
   1,333 yards, 7 TDs, 90 rec, 771 yards, 5 rec TDs
   

   This is a guy that I have never been high on, but after last season you can't ignore the stats. Westbrook's small frame has made his susceptible to injury over the past few years, but he never seems to miss entire games too often. He is one of the best with the ball in the open field, and the Eagles offense gives him a lot of opportunity to showcase this with swing passes and screen plays. Especially with the recent injuries to Donovan McNabb, the entire offense in Philly has revolved around Westbrook. He isn't a huge touchdown scorer, which hurts his value, but he makes up for it with the pass receptions (if your league gives points for that). Assuming McNabb comes back healthy, I expect his numbers to take a step back to right around 1,000 yards rushing, 5 TDs, and about 60 catches. Good numbers, but not his 2007 season.




8. Larry Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs
   559 yards, 3 TDs, 30 rec, 186 rec yards, 1 rec TDs (8 games)
   

   The second overall fantasy pick the past couple seasons, Larry Johnson came crashing back to earth after struggling the first few weeks, and then his season came to an end after a cracked bone in his foot. Johnson recovered from a rough beginning to rush for over 100 yards in three of his last five games, and scored in his last three. However, the offense surrounding him in Kansas City is going to make it tough for him to get back to those 1,700 yard, 18 TD seasons. His quarterback is horrible, meaning he will be facing eight men in the box on many occasions. Even worse, his offensive line is far from what it used to be, meaning those big gaping holes that Johnson used to run through are now going to look more like pinholes instead of craters. He still has plenty of talent, and not much in the way of a backup, but will need lots of help from those around him to achieve greatness, and I just don't have faith in his supporting cast.




9. Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers
   1,102 yards, 5 TDs, 53 rec, 436 rec yards, 1 rec TD
   

   With new offensive coordinator Mike Martz in the fold, there is excitement surrounding the 49ers offense for the first time since Steve Young retired. Gore has tremendous ability, but the supporting cast around him is questionable at best. His offensive line has some experience, but they have struggled as a unit. And speaking of struggling, Alex Smith looks like a bust in the mold of Heath Shuler. So, with not a lot of holes to run through and the defense focusing on stopping him, it is a wonder that Gore rushes for any yards. The Niners brought in DeShawn Foster in the offseason, who won't push for Gore's job, but will probably get his fair share of carries. Gore has never scored double digit TDs, but is pretty useful out of the backfield. Don't expect him to morph into Marshall Faulk under Martz, but Gore still should top 1,100 yards and 5-7 TDs.




10. Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo Bills
    1,115 yards, 7 TDs, 18 rec, 184 yards, 0 rec TDs (13 games)
    

    >Assuming that nasty hit and run incident that Lynch was involved him doesn't earn him any sort of suspension, Marshawn has the tools to really burst on the scene. He was the model of consistency as rookie runners go, as he ran for at least 60 yards in every game he played. He is also in a run-first offense in Buffalo, partly because that's the way the team has always been, and partly because the passing game stinks. His offensive line is a bunch of big boys, so he should have holes that are plenty big enough to run through. I expect Trent Edwards to make some sort of progress, so that should help Lynch out some. He did lose three weeks to an ankle injury, and he isn't very useful catching passes, but expect Lynch to top 1,300 yards and close in on ten scores.
    




11. Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers
    956 yards, 8 TDs, 30 rec, 147 rec yards, 0 rec TDs
    

    Not even on the fantasy radar at the start of the season, Grant took the starting job over after injuries and ineffectiveness caused him to be the best option, or at least the next option. But he quickly made it look like it was his job all along, as he almost ran for 1,000 yards in just ten weeks. He also was great at finding the endzone, and should go into 2008 as the unquestioned starter. Grant was also pretty effective as a pass catcher out of the backfield, and regardless of who the QB is in Green Bay I expect him to continue to run the ball effectively. He should continue to be a good fantasy back, but without a full season of running the ball there has to be at least a small bit of concern. Draft him with confidence at this ranking.
    




12. Lawrence Maroney, New England Patriots
    835 yards, 6 TDs, 4 rec, 116 rec yards, 0 rec TDs
    

    How did the Patriots throw so many passes and Maroney only caught four the entire season? That is shocking to me. Maroney definitely played second fiddle to the record breaking Pats passing attack in 2007, but showed flashes of brilliance down the stretch. Maroney has had trouble staying healthy in his two seasons, but at least they were minor, nagging injuries that only cost him a couple of weeks each season. He shares the backfield with Kevin Faulk, and doesn't carry the ball 20 times a game. He is a decent option as your second back, but if Maroney is leading your backfield I suspect you will be looking upwards at the leaders in your league all season long.
    




13. Ronnie Brown, Miami Dolphins
    602 yards, 4 TDs, 39 rec, 389 rec yards, 1 rec TD (7 games)
    

    Brown was enjoying a resurgence in 2007 as he was having a great season before tearing his ACL at the end of October. Unfortunately for Brown, the Dolphins have committed to 2008 being a complete rebuilding process, and the QB and WR position are incredibly young and inexperienced. His offensive line is a work in progress, and he will struggle to find open running lanes throughout the year. He is sure to lose some carries to Ricky Williams, but I don't see him losing the majority of carries to Williams.
    




14. Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Browns
    1,304 yards, 9 TDs, 30 rec, 248 rec yards, 2 rec TDs
    

    Picked up by the Cleveland Browns after being released by the Raves, Jamal Lewis had something to prove and did just that as he had his best season since he rushed for 2,000 yards in 2003. He was thought to be written off the fantasy map, but a guy with a chip on his shoulder can surprise you sometimes. Especially a guy who is 245 pounds and running at you with a head of steam. The whole Browns experience was a surprise last season, and I wouldn't be shocked to see these numbers come back to around 1,100 yards and 6 scores as Lewis is inching toward that tragic number for running backs, 30 years old (turns 29 in August)
    




15. Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants
    1,009 yards, 4 TDs, 23 rec, 174 rec yards, 2 rec TDs (11 games)
    

    Jacobs would rather go around you than through you, but when it comes to the goal line, he usually knows what to do. It seems sometimes he would rather be a finesse runner than the big bruiser that he was built to be, but he is pretty nimble for a guy his size. The Giants found a number of different options while Jacobs was hurt, so Ahmad Bradshaw and Derrick Ward should get carries as well. But like I said earlier, when it comes to punching the ball in, Jacobs is like a wolf to a piece of meat, hehttp://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif sniffs it out and attacks. Expect the yards to stay similar, but the TDs to near double digits.
    

To get running backs 16-40 head on over to the complete article at Fighting Chance Fantasy.

Tough Decisions - Part 1

Peyton Manning vs. Tony Romo

Even though we recommend waiting on a QB in most cases, this conflict still has to be resolved. In times past, when Peyton was involved in a debate, his ravishing good looks and exceptional acting abilities always put him over the top. But now, he has met his match, Mr. Hollywood himself, Tony Romo. Should the deciding factor be Tony’s dreamy smile or adorable dimples, Peyton’s chiseled abs or rocket arm, or Jessica Simpson? While Romo has a slight edge because of his endearing personality, that’s not the reason were going to tell you to select him. We want you to pick him because he is a better fantasy quarterback.

We expect Romo to trail Brady all year for the league lead in touchdown passes, finishing just one or two behind. In 26 career starts, Romo has 53 passing touchdowns and 2 rushing touchdowns and is entering his second consecutive season with offensive genius Jason Garrett. Things are only getting better for Romo. To top it off, Romo has always had that indescribable ability referred to as “it”. Watch him play. He consistently amazes me as he always has a trick up his sleeve. He is rarely sacked due to his uncanny ability to avoid the rush and is never afraid to take a chance for the big play. Sure, because of this he may throw a few more picks than Manning, but he will also throw more touchdowns. Last time I checked, high touchdowns are still better than low interceptions. Both quarterbacks are great options, but Romo is the better option. And here’s the kicker, Manning is going before Romo in almost every draft across the country. So if you’re in the market for a big time quarterback, just sit back and let Romo come to you.

LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Adrian Peterson

This is a very common question this year, but it has an extremely simple answer. Yes, Adrian Peterson is amazing and yes he may be one of the greatest young backs we have seen in some time, but when forced to make this call, you still have to go with L.T. Why? For many reasons, first one, being Peterson’s lack of experience. We have to keep in mind Peterson only has 14 career games played. He definitely caught defenses by surprise and entering this year, every opponent he faces will stack the line and force the Vikings to pass. Every team will happily allow Tarvaris Jackson to beat them before they allow A.P. to run all over them. Simply said, the Vikings do not have a pass offense that warrants extra concern from the average defense, which will allow them to use more 8 man fronts. The Vikings were successful last year, but remember, this is a new year and defenses will be far more ready for Peterson and the Vikings offense. Second, would be his susceptibility to injury. Peterson had injuries in college and continued this pattern as a rookie in the NFL missing two games because of a knee injury. L.T., also known as Superman, is the complete opposite. Yes, he did suffer an injury in the 07’postseason, but Tomlinson has a stellar resume, both physically and statistically. Third, the amount of carries A.P. will receive. Minnesota will use Peterson frequently, but by no means will they run their franchise back into the ground. They have the very competent Chestor Taylor sitting on the bench and we expect the veteran to see a large amount of 3rd down opportunities as well as even spell Peterson in some 1st and 2nd down situations.

Don’t take this the wrong way, we fully see Peterson’s natural talent, but when it comes to the fantasy world, L.T. remains the better option. He is on the field almost every play, he is a better receiver, he has other weapons such as Gates and Chambers who force teams to cover the pass and he has proven himself many times over. We even recommend passing on Peterson for the likes of Brian Westbrook and Steven Jackson especially in PPR formats. We projected Peterson to do very well, but we expect Tomlinson, Westbrook and Jackson to end the year with more total yards. The touchdowns will vary, but when it’s all set and done, these three players will have more fantasy points than Peterson in both standard scoring formats and PPR formats.

Are you ready for some football?

Are You Ready For Some Football?
It’s late July and that means that one by one training camps around the league will open up and the buzz of the upcoming season will fill the air.
Teams will hit the weight room, attend meetings, play in scrimmages and probably take on some two-a-days.
Multiple daily practices in the mid-summer heat are the worst part of the year for the players, but it’s one of the best times of the year for fantasy players.
For the next several weeks, we can sit back and consume every morsel of goodness that is training camp news. What rookie has a shot at starting? What vet seems to be losing his skills? What QB will start for Chicago?
Ok, so no one besides Rex and Kyle’s moms really cares about that last question, but the fact remains that training camps go a long way in shaping the NFL Season, as we know it.
The 2 big trades that we’ve seen in the last week will start to take effect as camp begins.
In Washington, Daniel Snyder wasted no time in acquiring Jason Taylor after being hit with the injury bug early in practice. Taylor appears to be ready to play at least 2 more years after originally telling Miami that this would be his final year. Taylor will make an instant impact on a team that had only one player record more than 5 sacks last year. Taylor has averaged 10.5 sacks a year throughout his 11-year career.
Jeremy Shockey also changed addresses this week as he was traded to the New Orleans Saints for draft picks. Shockey immediately boosts the Saints offense by giving Drew Brees another weapon. Last year, the Saints sent out a platoon of Eric Johnson and Billy Miller, so obviously Shockey is a major upgrade.
Kevin Jones wasn’t traded but he has found a new home after spending much of the off-season without a job. The Chicago Bears added the former Virginia Tech RB to compete for the starting tailback job left vacant by Cedric Benson. Jones joins Matt Forte, Garrett Wolfe and the other Adrian Peterson in the crowded Chicago backfield. Jones has more experience, but he’s also recovering from a torn ACL.
You may have also heard that Brett Favre is re-thinking retirement.
In a story that you can’t get away from no matter how hard you try, Favre appears to be intent on forcing the Packers to make a move. If the phone calls to Vikings coaches are any indication, Brett would love to follow Darren Sharper and Ryan Longwell and trade in his green jersey for purple. It’s too bad for Brett that there is no chance of that happening.
Green Bay is ready to move on with the Aaron Rodgers era and in doing so, must decide what to do with #4. They certainly can’t release him and risk him going to Minnesota where they would face him at least twice during the year and they can’t bring him in to back up Rodgers. Favre’s selfishness will ultimately end in a trade, possibly to Tampa Bay, where Jeff Garcia is in the doghouse. Coach Gruden has a history with Favre and likes older quarterbacks.
We will continue to follow training camp battles in the weeks to come, but right now we just have to be on the look out for who shows up and who holds out. The All American Touchdown Derbywww.passitdeep.com