Fantasy Football Movers & Shakers-NFC West

The 2011 NFL off season has been one of the strangest off seasons in history and the repercussions have trickled over in to the world of fantasy football.  With free agency and trades taking place on the heels of training camp and even spilling over in to the start of camp, keeping up with all the movement can be challenging.  Here is a division by division rundown of all the notable player moves with fantasy football relevance and how the moves effect the player's value.

NFC West 


Kevin Kolb

 Arizona Cardinals-The Cards accelerated off season saw many fantasy noteworthy players come and go.  Arizona hopes to have Kevin Kolb under center and consistently tossing TDs to Larry Fitzgerald for years to come.  Kolb is an upgrade for the Cards and is a fringe fantasy starter or high end quality backup.  I would approach him with caution and hope to land him as my QB2 and use him as trade bait if he performs up to expectations. 

The trade of Tim Hightower thins out a crowded backfield where now Beanie Wells is the undisputed starter.  Or is he?  The Cards drafted Ryan Williams with the intentions of giving him the opportunity to carry the load.  Wells is known to get dinged up and any extended stretch of missed time could mean that he finds himself as Williams' backup.  Avoid Wells and consider Williams as a late round flier who could be a solid contributor if he claims the starting role.  Arizona's backfield has the looks of a RBBC and you should temper your expectations for either player barring an injury. 

Todd Heap is looking to end his career closer to home and joins the Cards as their starting tight end.  Heap is a reliable, but unspectacular option.  At this stage in this career he is nothing more than a fantasy reserve, but you aren't carrying two tight ends on your roster, are you?!

San Francisco 49ERs-Braylon Edwards joins a Niners team who has several questions with their receivers.  Will Michael Crabtree mature and take advantage of all the talent that he possesses?  Can Ted Ginn contribute as a wide receiver?  Edwards signed a one year deal and will be playing this year for his next contract.  Expect him to put up decent WR3 numbers.  His background, work ethic and new surroundings will probably result in him being slightly undervalued.  If you grab two dependable wideouts early don't feel bad about adding Edwards to round out your starters. 



Mike Sims-Walker

 St. Louis Rams-The Rams only notable addition this off season was wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker.  Sims-Walker has hauled in seven TDs in each of the last two years and should be a valuable red zone target for Sam Bradford.  Consider Sims-Walker a quality backup, but with the Rams' muddled receiver situation he may have a increased role and value.

Seattle Seahawks-The Seahawks added a couple of quality pass catchers and Tavaris Jackson at quarterback.  Zach Miller is a quality tight end but his fantasy value will take a hit now that he has left the Raiders' tight end friendly passing game.  Miller has the look of a fringe starter or quality backup now that he is a Seahawk. 

Sidney Rice flourished with Brett Favre at quarterback after suffering through forgettable seasons with Jackson at QB.  But for some reason Rice followed his former Vikings teammate to the Pacific Northwest.  Rice's value stands to be as a low end WR2 given his talent, but he could have some disappointing stretches given the possibility of the Seahawk's shaky quarterback play. 

Studs & Duds-August 14th

There are only a few weeks left in the baseball season and hopefully you have positioned yourself to make a late season push and climb up the standings.  Here is a look at a few players who are hot and can help you and others who it may be time to move on from. 

Studs


MMMM Tastes like another hit!



How can you not like a guy who licks his bat?  The Braves Jose Constanza does just that before his at bats and his recent hot streak has propelled him, at least temporarily, in to a platoon with Jason Heyward in the outfield.  Constanza is a career minor leaguer and you can't expect him to keep up at this pace forever, but he has caught fire and is a decent option to put up numbers in all roto categories. 

Rays first baseman Casey Kotchman is another player who has been hot of late and could step in and contribute on your fantasy team.  In the last two weeks, Kotchman is hitting over .400 with good power numbers.  He is in the middle of a series with the Yankees and then faces the Red Sox in the middle of the week, so he will face some formidable pitching but is a able veteran player capable of delivering even in those match ups.

If you haven't already listened to me and added Jeff Nieman you need to.  He posted another solid outing this week pitching in to the seventh while only allowing one earned run.  Nieman did give up nine hits and only struck out two.  His next start comes against the Red Sox who he pitched very well against in July. 

Duds



Bonifacio is in the midst of a cold streak



Emilio Bonifacio was a trendy add several weeks back with his ability to hit and swipe bases, but he is very cold lately and now it is time to drop him.  Bonifacio is only hitting a little above .200 in the last two weeks.  His value is tied to him getting on base and utilizing his speed and when he is not hitting he simply can not produce numbers for your team. 

Erick Aybar has been ice cold for the last month now, but for some reason is still owned in nearly every league.  Over the last two weeks Aybar is barely hitting over .100 and hasn't driven in a single run.  No complicated analysis here...you can find better options, drop Aybar. 

Anibal Sanchez was pitching well early in the season, racing out to a 6-1 record but has become very undependable lately.  Sanchez has lost his last five decisions and most recently was lifted after less than two innings.  He can be a option for strikeouts, but given his shaky performance of late, starting him is a major gamble. 

Don't get bogged down in the dog days of summer and keep an eye on your team from day to day and ride your studies and efforts to a fantasy league title. 

Studs & Duds-August 8th

Here is a look at the Studs and Duds of fantasy baseball entering the week of August 8th. 

If you are looking for a little extra in the power categories then take a look at Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis.  His average isn't great but he has five home runs and eight runs and RBI in the last two weeks.  Another hot hitter is Jesus Guzman of San Diego.  Guzman is very versatile having both SS and 1B eligibility.  In the past two weeks he is hitting nearly .400 while registering solid runs and RBIs.  Guzman has a little pop and speed making him capable of hitting home runs or swiping the occasional base. 

A's pitcher Brandon McCarthy has been very strong lately, picking up up another win in a quality outing on Saturday.  He has a tough match up in his next outing against Texas.  Keep an eye on McCarthy and see if his resurgence continues against the Rangers who roughed him up earlier in the year.  If no one in your league has latched on to Javy Guerra, the current closer for the Dodgers, then grab him now.  Guerra was inconsistent when first entrusted with the closer role, but has been steady lately.  In his last several appearances he has struck out seven allowing 0 earned runs and tallying four saves. 

Danny Espinosa likely made his way onto fantasy rosters due to his ability to provide power and stolen bases, but lately he hasn't done much of anything.  A .161 average with no home runs or RBI in the last two weeks have made him expendable.  Keep a close eye on him in case he turns it around but right now he belongs on your bench and if you are lacking roster spots it may be time to look elsewhere.  A month ago Johnny Damon was in the midst of a great year and belonged in your lineup daily.  Lately, Damon has been slumping and there are several better options in the OF. 

Trevor Cahill has been wildly inconsistent this season and finds himself currently in one of his bad stretches.  He is pitching through an injury on his hand that has begun to give him more trouble.  Given his inability to show consistency I suggest you find others options than Cahill.  Much was made of the Brewer's renegotiating of Francisco Rodriguez' contract to allow him to close games.  The last several weeks suggest that barring a meltdown by John Axford the Brewers intend on using K-Rod as a setup man, therefore meaning he has very little fantasy value.  He has not registered a save since joining the Brew Crew. 

Be willing to tweak your lineup week to week as we head down the stretch to finish out strong.   

NFC East-Fantasy Football Do's & Don'ts

Most of the key free agents have found homes and the season is starting to come in to focus.  We are less than a week from the first preseason games.  Here is a look at the NFC East's notable fantasy players. 

Dallas Cowboys

Romo looks to bounce back
from a season ending injury

Tony Romo was off to a great start before his season ended in Week 7 of 2010.  Romo finds himself at a crossroads on an inpatient team with annual high expectations.  I expect a solid bounce back and see Romo as a high second tier fantasy QB.  If you miss out on the studs while stocking up on backs and receivers you can still grab Romo and round out your starters and walk away happy. 

Marion Barber is gone and Felix Jones inherits the starting job in the backfield for the Cowboys.  The bad news is that the backfield is still crowded with the talented Tashard Choice and rookie Demarco Murray.  Jones should get the majority of the carries, but not enough to make him a star running back.  Project Jones as a low RB2 with a little upswing in PPR leagues.  Choice and Murray are deep league fliers or injury insurance but should be on your radar as serviceable fantasy backs if given the opportunity. 

The Cowboy's receiving corp is anchored by Miles Austin and Dez Bryant.  Austin is a top flight receiver with Romo under center.  He should put up 80/1,300/10 stats.  If Bryant can keep his head level he has the talent to replicate Austin's numbers.  He should be good for a solid WR2.  The Cowboys have a litany of offensive weapons for Romo to spread the ball around to.  His favorite option is tight end Jason Witten.  Witten is a top option at tight end.  If you play in a PPR league he may well be the top option.  He could approach 100 grabs with 1,000 yards and ten TDs. 


NY Giants
The Giants are lead by the other Manning at quarterback.  Eli is not nearly as talented as his brother but can be useful in fantasy football in small stretches.  Eli is a good QB2 or has potential value when rotating two QBs based on match up.  Manning is nothing flashy, but you can pencil in a middle of the road stat line and rest easy. 

Ahmad Bradshaw shopped his services around then elected to resign with the Giants.  Bradshaw pairs with Brandon Jacobs to form a dependable backfield.  Both players have value in fantasy football.  Bradshaw is the higher rated player but because of the timeshare only projects to be a solid RB2.  Jacobs is more valuable in TD leagues and is a quality reserve. 

Hakeem Nicks enters his third season with the opportunity to not only breakout, but to catapult to top five status.  He posseses the skill and ability to take any reception to the end zone for a touchdown.  Nicks is a trendy receiver pick so he is likely to be overvalued on draft day.  If you can get him for value grab him as a solid WR1, but don't reach and overpay.  I have a terribly hard time getting excited about Mario Manningham.  He is wildly inconsistent.  Last year he posted five 100+ yard games but also turned in six games of less than 60 yards receiving.  He did manage to get 9 TDs and has fantasy value as a WR3-4, but play your match ups carefully. 

Philadelphia Eagles

#1 QB or #1 Risk...YES!

The Dream Team...OK maybe not, but they do have several key fantasy players on their team.  Michael Vick headlines the team and is the ultimate boom or bust pick.  He can take over a game as he did last season against Washington when he accounted for over 400 yards and six TDs.  He doesn't come without a considerable risk, however.  Vick's ability to get outside the pocket and run also make him susceptible to injury.  He is a top tier QB now, but make sure you grab your backup quicker than you might with other top signal callers. 

Lesean McCoy is a PPR machine capable of being a top five back.  I expect nearly 2,800 total yards and 13 TDs out of a solid mid first round pick.  Vet Ronnie Brown signed with the Eagles and is decent backup if you are in a position to handcuff a McCoy draft pick. 

The Eagles have two elite receivers in DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, but their talents being on the same team manages to slightly drag each other's value down.  Both guys enter the season with questions swirling about them.  Jackson is a top 10 receiver who has the talent to be a WR1.  He is holding out of camp and will likely show some rust early in the season due to the lack of reps.  Maclin has been held out of camp and is said to be visibly lighter than last year.  The Eagles are not disclosing his illness.  When healthy Maclin is a good WR2.  Monitor both situations throughout camp and draft accordingly. 

The emergence of Vick came at the expense of tight end Brent Celek.  Celek caught far fewer passes for nearly 500 less yards while having his TD total slashed in half.  He is not worth a starting spot and can not be counted on from week to week with the Eagles' new offensive focus.


Washington Redskins
How is it that the team that used to treat free agency like a fantasy football draft barely has any guys worth fantasy consideration?  The Redskins have unanswered questions at all the skill positions.  The QB situation is unsettled, and will not stabilize the team this season.  Ryan Torain came up big last year when he stepped in to the starting role...then he proceeded to get injured.  His inconsistency and Mike Shanahan's commitment to drive fantasy owners crazy are enough to lead me to stay away.  The Skins picked up Tim Hightower and he expects to have a shot at the claiming the starting job.  Torain and Hightower are worth a RB3-4 slot on your team and if one guy manages to claim the majority of the snaps may have starter value.  Rookie Roy Helu is in the mix and will likely be picked late in deep leagues, but joins in a congested backfield with value that is yet to be determined. 



Serviceable not spectacular

 Not surprisingly the Redskins' top receiver is only worth fantasy team consideration as a reserve.  Santana Moss is a dependable, not spectacular reserve.  He is a solid by week fill in.  You will get consistent stats but rarely an offensive explosion or difference maker.  Anthony Armstrong is not as solid as Moss but has more upside.  He can be claimed later and will make a good late round flier.  Chris Cooley is a low end starting tight end.  He will not put up great numbers but could be the beneficiary of an abbreviated off season and shaky quarterbacking situation and be the target of check downs on a weekly basis.

NFC South-Fantasy Football Do's & Don'ts

If you were crazy enough to have your player rankings started before the start of free agency and training camp, I hope you at least had the foresight to use a pencil.  Much has changed in the last week.  Here is a trip around the NFC South and the players who should be on your fantasy football radar. 

Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons are coming off a playoff loss to the eventual Super Bowl champ Green Bay Packers and are looking to build off the solid run they had last year.  The team feels that all the pieces are in place to win now and made a big splash in drafting wide receiver Julio Jones giving Matt Ryan another weapon to throw to.  Ryan is a low end starting fantasy QB with some upside if he takes his game up a notch.  He has shown flashes but has not established himself as an every week starter.  He is one of those QBs you draft a little late but then backup with your QB2 fairly quickly.  I anticipate a step forward in 2011 with a 4,000/30 season possible.  If you miss out on the top tier QBs, Ryan is as close a thing to a low risk, sure thing as you will find. 

Michael Turner rebounded from an injury to put up solid 1,371/12 season in 2010.  Turner confirmed last week that he had off season groin surgery, but he expects no problems or setbacks.  But then again, what did you think he would say?  I would proceed with caution with Turner.  He has logged over 300 carries in the two of the last three seasons, with the third being limited to eleven games due to injuries.  His carries were limited early in his career when he backed up LaDanian Tomlinson in San Diego, but you can not minimize the effect of so many carries on a back.  He has the offensive line and talent to pile up solid numbers reminiscent of last year, but he will need to show in the preseason that he is completely healthy and ready to again shoulder the load for the Falcons.  I see him as a low end RB1 or a high RB2. 



Roddy White is a top 3
fantasy wideout

 If rookie Julio Jones is able to live up to the hype the Falcons will have one of the top receiving corps in the NFL.  Jones will likely be overvalued on draft day due to name recognition and preseason hype so don't get sucked in and overpay.  I see Jones as a WR3, but early in the season he may struggle to put up solid numbers.  Fortunately, Jones will have Roddy White to draw the attention and coverage from him.  White is a top end WR1 after tallying 115/1,389/10 numbers last year.  Expect similar numbers from White in 2011 as the Falcons have all the pieces of a very potent offense in place.  Tony Gonzalez's reception total was his lowest since 2002.  I am not alone in having a soft spot for Gonzalez having rode his early career production to fantasy titles over the years, but he is simply no longer the player he once was.  If you insist on drafting him, understand Gonzalez is only worthy as a TE2 at this stage. 

Carolina Panthers
Cam Newton should only be drafted in keeper leagues.  The Panthers have high hopes for the #1 overall selection, but with the abbreviated offseason, complicated QB position and a new coaching staff Newton will struggle in his rookie campaign. 

The Panthers' strength is their running game.  Unfortunately their success is as much a product of depth as it is performance.  Deangelo Williams shares time with Jonathan Stewart, Mike Goodson and Tyrell Sutton in a very crowded backfield.  Fantasy owners would have loved to have seen Williams sign elsewhere opening the door for both he and Stewart to have spotlight positions with their teams. If Williams can stay healthy (he regularly misses some games) he projects as no better than a RB2 with a lot of questions.  Stewart will also be drafted but is not without injury questions of his own.  Stewart expects to get slightly fewer carries than Williams and is a RB3 or injury flier at best.  Goodson and Sutton are both capable performers but are blocked in a crowded backfield will see very limited action. 

Steve Smith has the tools and determination to be an elite receiver, but their are too many questions at the QB position in Carolina.  If you can grab Smith as a low end WR2 or high WR3 do so, but remember much of his value will be tied to who is charged with getting the ball to him.  Brandon LaFell and David Gettis are the other receivers for the Panthers and do not deserve fantasy consideration until they can prove their ability to consistently contribute.  Greg Olsen joins the Panthers after a trade from the Bears and is known for his ability to get down the field.  Olsen has low TE1 projections with a good upside. 

New Orleans Saints

Five straight years of at least 4,300 yards and 26 touchdowns; that's all Drew Brees has done.  Brees is poised for another great year as the Saints have a solid set of skill players.  Brees belongs in that top tier of QBs along with Rodgers and Brady.  There is no reason to think that Brees won't put up the same type numbers he has enjoyed over the past several years in New Orleans. 

Reggie Bush never was your typical workhorse type back and has moved on to Miami.  The Saints are set to turn the majority of the carries over to rookie Mark Ingram.  Ingram stands to be the beneficiary of the Saints spread offense that will open a lot of holes for him to run through.  Ingram rates as a solid RB2 choice with upside.  Pierre Thomas seems to have missed his opportunity to be the primary back and now is relegated to spot duty and only has value as a late flier pick or as an injury replacement.

Several wide receivers have value in the Saints' high power offense.  Marques Colston is a solid WR1 option and is capable of carrying a fantasy team.  Colston is a big red zone target and should be good for a 75/1,100/8 season.  Lance Moore resigned with the Saints and will pair up with Robert Meachem as the other wideouts.  The Saints offense will frustrate you from week to week with a different hot receiver.  Colston is the most consistent of the trio but the other two make good matchup plays or bye week fill ins. 

With Jeremy Shockey no longer in town, Jimmy Graham steps in and figures to be the Saints starter at tight end.  Graham has good sleeper potential as a solid receiver on an explosive team.  Graham put up modest numbers last year in limited action, but is a strong breakout candidate in 2011.  I would feel comfortable having Graham as my starting tight end. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Josh Freeman was a breakout player at quarterback last year and should only get better.  If he can modestly build on last year's numbers Freeman projects as low end every week starter this year.  You are best served using Freeman in a platoon setup where you play the better matchup from week to week. 

The Bucs were full of surprises last year and LeGarrette Blount was a second half savior for many owners.  With Cadillac Williams out of the picture Blount catapults to a dependable RB2 who should have little competition in the backfield.  Another 1,000 yard with double digit TDs could be in order for his sophomore campaign. 

Mike Williams (the other one) is the go to receiver in Tampa.  As he continues to build a rapport with Freeman, Williams' numbers should improve.  He was a TD machine last year, hauling in 11 catches for TDs.  Grab Williams as a high end WR2 and you will be happy as he grows in his role.  Arrelious Benn is said to be healthy and is a late round pickup who you can stash away on your bench to see how he performs.  Kellen Winslow has to be mentioned but is inconsistent and is a reserve or injury fill in at best. 

We are over half the way through looking around the league.  Keep checking back for more updates and insights as you prep for your fantasy football draft.