Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickup Alert: Josh Bell (3B)

August 22, 2010 by TJ · Leave a Comment 

Baltimore has finally called up there highly touted power prospect for the hot corner. Josh Bell didn’t dissatisfy owners either in his debut with a couple of HRs. He will probably play the rest of the year and if it’s not too late in your league, he makes a great keeper option. If it is too late, keep his name as a great late round flyer for next years draft.

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2010 Fantasy Football Tight End Rankings

August 21, 2010 by TJ · Leave a Comment 

Welcome to 2010 Fantasy Tight End Rankings. We’ll take a look at what most standard rankings will look like. But then we look at a snapshot of one mock draft I was involved in and breakdown any anomalies that occurred there. I’ll provide my drafting strategy for this year’s class of tight ends that may or may not vary from the consensus. We try and isolate some great value picks should you miss out on a top tier fantasy tight end or just want depth. We’ll start with the consensus rankings of fantasy tight ends.

2010 Consensus Fantasy Tight End Rankings

  1. Dallas Clark
  2. Antonio Gates
  3. Vernon Davis
  4. Brent Celek
  5. Jason Witten
  6. Jermichael Finley
  7. Tony Gonzalez
  8. Owen Daniels
  9. Kellen Winslow
  10. Visanthe Shiancoe
  11. Chris Cooley
  12. Zach Miller
  13. Heath Miller
  14. John Carlson
  15. Greg Olsen
  16. Jeremy Shockey
  17. Dustin Keller
  18. Kevin Boss
  19. Todd Heap
  20. Tony Scheffler
  21. Benjamin Watson
  22. Fred Davis
  23. Bo Scaife
  24. Brandon Pettigrew
  25. Jermaine Gresham
  26. Marcedes Lewis
  27. Aaron Hernandez
  28. Jared Cook
  29. Anthony Fasano
  30. Tony Moeaki

These rankings are pretty solid, but there are some great value picks to be had in the later rounds. As well as some upside talent that will either make a great late round flyer or an intelligent waiver wire add later on.

Now let’s take a look at a mock draft I was involved in and see how managers selected when under a little pressure and 13 other managers are hawking after the same guys. This is a 14-team league and 15 rounds so lots of picks.

2010 Tight End Rankings from Mock Draft Results

Round 4
1. Dallas Clark – Ind
3. Vernon Davis – SF
8. Jermichael Finley – GB
Round 5
3. Jason Witten – Dal
5. Brent Celek – Phi
10. Tony Gonzalez – Atl
11. Visanthe Shiancoe – Min
Round 6
2. Owen Daniels – Hou
Round 7
1. John Carlson – Sea
2. Kellen Winslow – TB
4. Zach Miller – Oak
6. Chris Cooley – Was
Round 13
1. Greg Olsen – Chi
4. Dustin Keller – NYJ
6. Mercedes Lewis – Jac
7. Todd Heap – Bal
9. Benjamin Watson – Buf
12. Brandon Pettigrew – Det
Round 14
4. Kevin Boss – NYG
6. Desmond Clark – Chi
7. Heath Miller – Pit
12. Jeremy Shockey – NO
13. Anthony Fasano – Mia
Round 15
9. Martellus Bennet – Dal
13. Jermaine Gresham – Cin

So no tight ends were taken until round 4, and that makes sense as everyone is sr5ambling for top RB, QB and WRs who usually deliver a lot more fantasy production. I read that the average weekly score for TE’s for last season was just over 7 points. That total being the lowest of all positions. Does that mean you need to have the best TE on your team to win a championship? Not really, and in fact most of the top TE spots are very over-valued compared to who you can pick up at other positions at the same point in the draft. Regarding the mock draft results, nothing too crazy although I was surprised to see Tony Gonzalez go as the 6th overall TE taken since he had almost 30 red zone looks last season. And why is anyone still drafting Todd Heap?

OK, now I’ll show you which fantasy tight ends I am targeting this year and who I am not, and why of course.

Rounds 4 and 5
Dallas Clark – Ind: I will be passing on Mr. Clark, simply because I really find it highly unlikely to duplicate his huge season last year. Which this draft position is clearly based on. Plus Manning has so many great targets to spread the ball to. It just makes it hard to justify a pick here.
Jermichael Finley – GB: Had a breakout season last year, and while this player is a beast I try not to pay for breakout seasons.
Vernon Davis – SF: Same reason as Finley, but also a very gifted player. I am not saying these guys are not going to do well. I am just saying I rather have them in round 5, which I am sure they will not be available at.
Jason Witten – Dal: If he falls to round 5 I really consider him, he had 94 catches and I think he should garner at least 5-6 TDs this year.
Tony Gonzalez – Atl: Matt Ryan’s second favorite target after Roddy White. I see another great season for Gonzalez and in fact he might outperform most all other TE’s.
Brent Celek – Phi: He had a great season last year and I don’t see a drop in production. A very good pick for TE in round 5.
Visanthe Shiancoe – Min: Brett Favre loves his TEs so I see a nice number of RZ production from Shiancoe this year.
Rounds 7-8
Owen Daniels – Hou: Still coming back from injury, I will pass on him unless he falls very, very late, say round 9…and again that’s in a 14-team league.
John Carlson – Sea: A lot are picking him as a sleeper, but that means you have to trust Hasselbeck. And I do not, but I do like the future for Charlie Whitehurst as QB.
Zach Miller – Oak: Another sleeper of sorts. Campbell is an upgrade over any previous QB they had last season. He could easily have a very solid season and outperform his draft position.
Kellen Winslow – TB: If Freeman can solidify his play, Winslow may again become fantasy relevant. That’s a big maybe though.
Chris Cooley – Was: Injuries and the play of Fred Davis have hurt his value. But McNabb did reward Celek a lot last year. Perhaps Was TE’s this year will get those kinds of looks.
Remaining Rounds
I’ll just list who I might target at this point either as added depth at tight end or I just completely missed the boat and will pursue upside.
Kevin Boss – NYG: He can be grabbed very late and did get a decent number of TDs from Eli. He is battling an injury right now, but should be back soon. Not a bad late round pickup.
Jermaine Gresham – Cin: Rookie with lots of upside, we’ll see if he gets any targets though with a wide selection of WRs for Palmer to throw to.
That’s really all I have to say about tight ends right now. Next time we’ll look at Team Defenses.

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2010 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings: Part 2

August 19, 2010 by TJ · Leave a Comment 

In part 1 of the Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings for 2010 we went over the most common rankings currently found for fantasy wide outs. Then I went over what actually happened in a mock draft I took part in. Now based on the popular rankings, and the mock draft results, I am going to go through them round by round, when each player will most likely be available. I’ll comment on who I am going to target, why and why I pass on others. Remember this is based on a 14 team league. 10 team leagues will allow players to drop to the later rounds obviously. My strategy is based on drafts for leagues where NO PPR is provided. If you are in a PPR league, at the end of this article we’ll list suggestions for PPR league wide receivers. A quick word up front, I will be avoiding all Denver wide receivers this year, just too unstable up there.

Round 1

Andre Johnson – Hou: A beast who should be considered as a first round choice if all the top RB’s are off the board.

Round 2 – Many of the best and most reliable wide receivers will be claimed in this round. It might be a good idea for you to target a couple here in this round to get a work-horse who can deliver you fantasy gold week in and week out.

Brandon Marshall – Mia: I really like the move to Miami. He was unhappy in Denver, Henne is a very good QB, an upgrade to Kyle Orton, and there is a very good rushing attack opening up the pass. This is a player I hope to score.
Calvin Johnson – Det: This is my next target for WR. Detroit isn’t exactly the epitome of a stellar offense, but Johnson just has a knack for being awesome.
DeSean Jackson – Phi: A playmaker who doesn’t need to catch balls in full stride to score. Even with a rookie QB he will have a great season.
Greg Jennings – GB: Possibly the last wide out I will target in the 2nd round. Jennings just doesn’t get as much respect as he deserves, but the man is money.

There are a lot of other WR’s I will take if they are the best player in round 2 and they are: Larry Fitzgerald – Ari, Reggie Wayne – Ind, Roddy White – Atl, and if he is available at the end of the 2nd maybe Randy Moss – NE.

The rest of the wide receivers you will likely see go off the boards are Miles Austin – Dal and Sidney Rice – Min. I just don’t see myself over paying for these guys and that likely goes for Randy Moss too.

Round 3 – There are a couple of great players available in round 3 who may perform like 2nd rounders. I like all receivers here and they are definitely on my list.

Anquan Boldin – Bal: He has a great supporting cast of receivers to eliminate double coverage on every play, and let’s face it…he is a receiver in a line backers body. He will not make you sorry as long as he stays healthy.
Steve Smith – NYG: As a Giants fan, I watch and follow this guy a lot. He has incredible hands, runs near perfect routes and has the trust of the QB. Had over 100 catches last year, I easily see a repeat.
Marques Colston – NO: Another player much like Boldin, the only downside here is Drew Brees likes to spread the ball A LOT. So Colston can have down games when that happens too much.
Percey Harvin – Min: If the kid can shake the whole migraine headache thing and be available for every game, I don’t see why he can’t improve on last years numbers. And with Favre back, they had a rapport last year…look for that to grow.

Round 4 – Here is a round I will probably focus on another position or make reach for a pick I might not get to in round 5. Not that these are bad players, just slightly over-valued.

Steve Smith – Car: Great talent, question is can the QB get the ball into his hands, and can he avoid injury and/or suspension?
Chad OchoCinco – Cin: I haven’t liked him in years. I think him and T.O. have more interest as a circus act than reliable fantasy options.
Hakeem Nicks – NYG: A wonderful young player who made a lot of DB’s look bad last year on yards after the catch. If Eli is allowed to air it out like last year, then Hicks is a nice investment.
Michael Crabtree – SF: I’m not biting until I see some consistency.

Round 5

Mike Sims-Walker- Jac: He is a great athlete, too bad he has Garrard throwing to him or else he might be a much higher pick.
Dwayne Bowe – KC: Some say he is a big sleeper, I won’t buy that unless he is absolutely the best player available at that pick.
Jeremy Maclin – Phi: 2nd season, I see D-Jax ball hawking, although with Westbrook gone, there are that many more looks available…this could be the real sleeper of round 5.
Donald Driver – GB: Old faithful. I’m sure he’ll post respectable numbers and if he is the best pick I might just grab him, otherwise I look for upside elsewhere.
Derrick Mason – Bal: Another old faithful, but with Boldin in town, I see a loss in production.

Round 6 and 7 – Ok, I’ll start just listing the wide receivers I will be targeting two rounds at a time.

Pierre Garcon – Ind: I think his production is real. Unless they hand the job back to Anthony Gonzalez, Garcon is the #3 receiver behind Wayne and Dallas Clark in this passing attack.
Mike Wallace – Pit: Him and Ward will be poised for big seasons with Holmes gone.

The only other few I will consider in these two rounds are:

T.J. Houshmandzadeh – Sea: Because he is such a big red zone target.
Dez Bryant – Dal: If and only if that high ankle sprain will not keep him out long.
Steve Breaston – Ari: If Matt Leinart looks like he is making plays, and so far he isn’t.

Round 8 and 9

Jacoby Jones – Hou: A great sleeper pick in the late 8th or early 9th round.
Golden Tate – Sea: Might be a good pick if the QB is healthy and making plays.
Mohammed Massapuoi – Cle: Because he is the #1 target there, plain and simple.

Round 10 and 11

Austin Collie – Ind: Round 11 if possible, don’t reach. He should get the ball a lot as the slot receiver again.
Eddie Royal – Den: OK, I said I would avoid all Denver WR’s, but if you can get him in round 11 late, maybe gamble.
Kenny Britt – Ten: Could be the #1 guy in town, just not sure if that means anything.
Mario Manningham – NYG: Needs work on holding onto catchable balls and may get competition from Victor Cruz who caught 3 TDs in pre-season opener.

Remaining Rounds

Arrelious Benn – TB: A nice sleeper option.
Chaz Schilens – Oak: Came on at the end last year and could profit from a more stable QB in Campell.
Dexter McCluster – KC: Could have dual position eligibility and is a great talent.

That’s it for normal leagues. Now if you are in a PPR league, then some players will get a bump in value simply because they get possession receptions, but not big yards and scores. Also, some of the star players will have their rankings improved as they also double as the team’s leading receiver. I’ll simple list three categories, players who get a huge boost for PPR, a very good boost and notable good boost. These boosts mean they should be considered no more than a few positions or at most a round ahead of their respected current projections. Remember though running backs also usually receive the PPR bonus so do not place a WR ahead of an RB that also gets a decent share of receptions, that number being 35 – 50+.

Huge
Brandon Marshall, Larry Fitzgerald, Roddy White, Steve Smith (NYG)

Very Good
Percey Harvin, Mike Sims-Walker, Mike Wallace, Mohamed Massaquoi

Good
Donnie Avery

Everyone else is either already very highly ranked or the PPR just doesn’t separate them from others get as well. OK, that’s it for Wide Receivers. Next time we’ll discuss Tight Ends.

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2010 Fantasy Football Wide Receiver Rankings: Part 1

August 18, 2010 by TJ · Leave a Comment 

Welcome to 2010 Fantasy Wide Receiver Rankings Part 1 of 2. We’ll take a look at what most standard rankings will look like. If that’s all you are looking for feel free to stop there. Otherwise we’ll look at a mock draft I was involved in and breakdown any anomalies that occurred there. In part 2, I’ll provide my drafting strategy for this year’s wideout group and see we can isolate some great value picks should you miss out on a top tier fantasy WR or just want depth. We’ll start with the consensus rankings of fantasy wide receivers

2010 Consensus Fantasy Wide Receiver Rankings

  1. Andre Johnson
  2. Randy Moss
  3. Reggie Wayne
  4. Larry Fitzgerald
  5. Roddy White
  6. Calvin Johnson
  7. Brandon Marshall
  8. Miles Austin
  9. DeSean Jackson
  10. Greg Jennings
  11. Sidney Rice
  12. Marques Colston
  13. Steve Smith(Car)
  14. Steve Smith(NYG)
  15. Anquan Boldin
  16. ChadOcho Cinco
  17. Hines Ward
  18. Michael Crabtree
  19. Hakeem Nicks
  20. Percy Harvin
  21. Mike-Sims Walker
  22. Dwayne Bowe
  23. Pierre Garcon
  24. Jeremy Maclin
  25. Donald Driver
  26. Santana Moss
  27. T.J. Houshmandzadeh
  28. Wes Welker
  29. Vincent Jackson
  30. Mike Wallace
  31. Derrick Mason
  32. Robert Meachem
  33. Braylon Edwards
  34. Dez Bryant
  35. Steve Breaston
  36. Devin Aromashodu
  37. Malcom Floyd
  38. Kenny Britt
  39. Lee Evans
  40. Santonio Holmes
  41. Jerricho Cotchery
  42. Antonio Bryant
  43. Terrell Owens
  44. Devin Hester
  45. Johnny Knox
  46. Eddie Royal
  47. Donnie Avery
  48. Austin Collie
  49. Jacoby Jones
  50. Mohamed Massaquoi
  51. Nate Burleson
  52. Chris Chambers
  53. Jabar Gaffney
  54. Golden Tate
  55. Chaz Schilens
  56. Kevin Walter
  57. Bernard Berrian
  58. Mario Manningham
  59. Mike Williams(TB)
  60. Lance Moore
  61. Laurent Robinson
  62. Anthony Gonzalez

I tend to have the notion that Randy Moss and Sidney Rice are over-valued in the top 10 group. Moss will not have a completely health Wes Welker to draw coverage. And Rice had a break-out season in a sub-par career that warrants caution. A rule I usually follow is to never pay for a break-out season, and I will certainly not make an exception for Rice. I also do not like Matt Leinart as Larry Fitzgerald’s passer, but Fitz is such a beat he makes plays on the ball and doesn’t really require a perfectly thrown pass. Still I tread lightly there as well. Steve Smith in Carolina doesn’t excite me either, seems to be over-valued with Matt Moore at the helm. How does Michael Crabtree get vaulted ahead of Percy Harvin, Hakeem Nicks and Mike-Sims Walker, three guys I like very much?

Now let’s take a look at a mock draft I was involved in and see how managers selected when under a little pressure and 13 other managers are hawking after the same guys. This is a 14-team league and 15 rounds so lots of picks.

2010 Wide Receiver Rankings From Mock Draft Results

Round 1

8. Andre Johnson – Hou

Round 2

17. Randy Moss – NE

18. Brandon Marshall – Mia

19. Larry Fitzgerald – Ari

20. Miles Austin – Dal

22. Reggie Wayne – Ind

23. Calvin Johnson – Det

24. Roddy White – Ari

25. DeSean Jackson – Phi

26. Sidney Rice – Min

28. Greg Jennings – GB

Round 3

32. Steve Smith – NYG

37. Anquan Boldin – Bal

39. Percy Harvin – Min

41. Marques Colston – NO

Round 4

44. Steve Smith – Car

46. Chad OchoCinco – Cin

52. Hakeen Nicks – NYG

55. Michael Crabtree – SF

Round 5

57. Mike Sims-Walker  – Jac

58. Dwayne Bowe – KC

62. Jeremy Maclin – Phi

69. Donald Driver – GB

70. Derrick Mason – Bal

Round 6

73. Santana Moss – Was

75. Pierre Garcon – Ind

77. Vincent Jackson – SD

78. Mike Wallace – Pit

79. T.J. Houshmandzadeh – Sea

81. Dez Bryant – Dal

83. Robert Meacham – NO

84. Wes Welker – NE

Round 7

87. Steve Breaston – Ari

91. Devin Aromashodu – Chi

94. Braylon Edwards – NYJ

96. Malcom Floyd – SD

98. Santonio Holmes – NYJ

Round 8

105. Devin Hester – Chi

108. Mohamed Massaquoi – Cle

110. Terrell Owens – Cin

112. Golden Tate – Sea

Round 9

117. Jacoby Jones – Hou

121. Johnny Knox – Chi

123.Torry Holt – NE

126. Chris Chambers – KC

Round 10

130. Bernard Berrian – Min

133. Eddie Royal – Chi

Round 11

142. Kenny Britt – Ten

143. Austin Collie – Ind

145. Anthony Gonzalez – Ind

147. Lee Evans – Buf

149. Roy Williams – Det

150. Antonio Bryant – Cin

152. Julian Edelman – NE

153. Demaryius Thomas – Den

154. Mario Manningham – NYG

Round 12

156. Jerricho Cotchery – NYJ

159. Joshua Cribbs – Cle

160. Devin Thomas – Was

161. Donnie Avery – StL

163. Arrelious Benn – TB

165. Chaz Schilens – Oak

Rounds 13 – 15

Nate Washington – Ten

Dexter McCluster – KC

Demetrius Williams – Bal

Damian Williams – Ten

Sam Hurd – Dal

Nate Burleson – Det

Rounds 1-4 went pretty much as I would expect. Again I think Moss, Rice and Crabtree are a little over-valued, but you never know. Hine Ward could be in for a return for big numbers with Holmes gone and a continued commitment to a passing offense. Garcon I think should have been drafted earlier than Maclin, Mason and Moss. He has such a talent for getting open and making plays. Massequoi could be a steal id grabbed as late as this draft had him and Golden Tate could prosper like Austin collie did last year with Houshmandzadeh getting a lot of the attention. I like Jacoby Jones as a late sleeper. I think Chris Chambers in KC will be a solid pick late in the draft if you are weak at WR. Same goes for Berrian with Favre back.

That’s it for Part 1 of 2010 Fantasy Wide Receiver Rankings. Part 2 will go over some common strategies and who I plan to target this year for the wideout position.

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 20

August 15, 2010 by TJ · Leave a Comment 

It’s Fantasy Baseball Week 20, time to scour the waiver wire for roster upgrades or replacements. We’ll try and look at suitable pick-ups for each spot in the lineup. We’ll select players who have been hot in the last week to month, and will be typically owned by half of the leagues or less out there. Taking a look at batting first:

*(positions in brackets are possible other eligible spots)

First Base

Mike Lowell - Bos: Mike Lowell returns from fantasy purgatory, and with a vengeance. 7Rs, 2HRs, 7RBIs and .324Avg line over the last two weeks. (3B)
Todd Helton – Col: Helton has also returned from absence and has put up very solid numbers. Pick him up while he is still surging.

Second Base

Ryan Raburn - Det: The second baseman has batted .318 with 7Rs, 3HRs and 8 RBIs over the last 14 days. (1B,OF)
Jerry Hairston Jr. - SD: Has been hitting close to .300 for weeks and also deliverin even stats in all categories. (SS,3B,OF)

Third Base

Bill Hall- Hou: Hall is known for bursts of production over his career. He has been hot lately, see if you can ride him to the end on a hot bat. Plus .300 avg and 4 HRs over 2 weeks. (2B,OF)
Pedro Alvarez- Pit: Still owned by only a small percentage!  Batted .326, 5Rs, 3HR, and 11RBIs last two weeks.

Short Stop

Ian Desmond - Was: A highly touted rookie who hasn’t provided eye-popping stats, but plays a scarce position and will provide some steals. a possible consideration for keeper in those formats. (2B)
Jed Lowrie - Bos: Has been very hot since coming back from the DL. Will provide a steal or two every week.

Outfield

Coco Crisp- OAK: Very under-owned, 5Rs, 6RBIs, 3SBs, and .341 AVG over last two weeks.
Mike Stanton- Fla: An absolute source of power lately with 5 HRs over 14 days.

Catcher

Yorvit Torrealba - SD: Won’t provide much but a nice batting average..

Now let’s switch to pitching:

Starters

Gio Gonzalez - Oak: Last months line looks like: 3Ws, 25Ks, 2.65ERA, 1.12 WHIP.
Vincente Padilla- LAD: Still available for the stretch run. He is very likely available in your league and has provided a line of 2 Ws, 27 Ks, .79 ERA and .74 WHIP in his last 34 innings.
Jeremy Guthrie- Bal: Not going to be much runs support,  but over the last month he has 2 Ws, 17 Ks, 1.95 ERA and .94 WHIP.
Keep an eye on Josh Tomlin – Cle, Jake Westbrook – StL and Joe Saunders – Ari. These guys might have new life after trade or promotion.

Closers

Alfredo Simon - Bal: Has pitched with good stuff and solid command, might share closer duty with Mike Gonzalez, but that hasn’t been the case yet.
Brandon Lyon - Hou: Has been collecting saves when the team has been able to get a lead.
Aaron Heilman - Ari: Nothing sexy but handling the job nicely.

Relievers

Sean Marshall, Brandon lyon, Hong-Chih Kuo,  Luke Gregerson, Johnny Venters and Scott Downs. All are maintaining a healthy ERA, WHIP and will get the occasional win/save.

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Fantasy News: Oakland calls up power prospect Chris Carter

August 10, 2010 by TJ · Leave a Comment 

Oakland, who is near the bottom in  power production recalled Chris Carter. He is there biggest power prospect belting 17 round-trippers this year and 28 last season. The down side is he strikes out at rates Mark Reynolds would be proud of. So only pickup Carter if you have nowhere else to turn to for a late boost in HRs and you don’t mind the loss in AVG.

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 19

August 8, 2010 by TJ · Leave a Comment 

It’s Fantasy Baseball Week 19, time to scour the waiver wire for roster upgrades or replacements. Some notable losses to injury were Carlos Pena, Brandon Phillips, Kevin Youkilis, Kris Medlen, Carlos Santana, Aaron Cook, Russell Martin , Ryan Howard, Jason Motte, John Buck, and Nyjer Morgan. Jeff Neimann is having his shoulder examined, could miss one start minimum. We’ll try and look at suitable pick-ups for each spot in the lineup. We’ll select players who have been hot in the last week to month, and will be typically owned by half of the leagues or less out there. Taking a look at batting first:

*(positions in brackets are possible other eligible spots)

First Base

Todd Helton - Col: Back from the DL, Helton had a productive week. There is not much power but he will contribute to Avg, Runs and RBIs.
Dan Johnson – TB: Taking over for an injured Carlos Pena. Johnson hit 30 Hrs with 95 RBIs while batting .303 in triple A. Definitely worth a look. Might even see DH time when Pena comes back.

Second Base

Neil Walker - Pit: Has been hitting near .300 all season long and a decent run producer. (3B)
Brendan Ryan - StL: Has been hitting close to .400 for a month now. Will get the occasional steal and provide modest values in the other stat categories. (SS)
Sean Rodriguez - TB: Getting playing time and delivering again modest results from a middle infielder position. (OF)

Third Base

Chris Johnson- Hou: Still available in most leagues. Batted .391, 4Rs, 1HR, and 8 RBIs last week. He won’t be available much longer people!
Pedro Alvarez- Pit: Huge week! 4Rs, 3HRs, 8RBIs and .348. He did have a minor slump a few weeks back, but this kid seems to be legit.
Edwin Encarnacion - Tor: Has been hot over that last few weeks, and a decent starter over a month now. Take a look if nothing better is out there.

Short Stop

Ian Desmond - Was: A highly touted rookie who hasn’t provided eye-popping stats, but plays a scarce position and will provide some steals. a possible consideration for keeper in those formats. (2B)
Starlin Castro - Chi: Still hitting for Avg and SBs!
Angel Sanchez - Hou: .342 Avg, Rs and 14RBIs over the last month.

Outfield

Coco Crisp- OAK: Owned in less than half the leagues, Crisp has been a menace on the base paths with 9SBs over the last month. Batting Avg. is killing us though.
Dexter Fowler- COL: Leadoff man for the Rox, that’s always a plus for Run and Stolen Base production. 10R, 1HR, 6RBI, 2SBs and .341 Avg. last two weeks.
Jose Tabata- Pit: 19Rs, 1HR, 10RBIs, 4Sbs and .388 Avg for the month. Barely owned, roster him!
Felix Pie - Bal: 3Rs, 4RBIs, 2SBs and .348 in 23 at bats this week. He is always streaky. Ride it while he is hot.

Catcher

Yorvit Torrealba - SD: Batting over .440 for a month now.
Carlos Ruiz – Phi: Has maintained a tear with a line of 7Rs, 3HR, 14RBIs and batting .377 over the last two weeks now.
J.P. Arencibia - Tor: OK, we only have one game to look at, but he belted 2HRs in it, after almost hitting 30 in triple A this year. Definitely worth a look, especially in keeper formats.

Now let’s switch to pitching:

Starters

Gio Gonzalez - Oak: Last months line looks like: 3Ws, 25Ks, 2.65ERA, 1.12 WHIP.
Vincente Padilla- LAD: Still available for the stretch run. He is very likely available in your league and has provided a line of 2 Ws, 27 Ks, .79 ERA and .74 WHIP in his last 34 innings.
Jeremy Guthrie- Bal: Not going to be much runs support,  but over the last month he has 2 Ws, 17 Ks, 1.95 ERA and .94 WHIP.
Keep an eye on Josh Tomlin – Cle, Jake Westbrook – StL and Joe Saunders – Ari. These guys might have new life after trade or promotion.

Closers

Alfredo Simon - Bal: Has pitched with good stuff and solid command, might share closer duty with Mike Gonzalez, but that hasn’t been the case yet.
Michael Weurtz - Oak: With Andrew Bailey out he has been lights out filling in.
Joel Hanrahan - Pit: Did record a save this week, but also blew another. Keep a close eye on.
Aaron Heilman - Ari: Nothing sexy but handling the job nicely.
Drew Storen -  Was: Recorded his first save as the new closer this week.

Relievers

Sean Marshall, Brandon lyon, Hong-Chih Kuo,  Luke Gregerson, Johnny Venters and Scott Downs. All are maintaining a healthy ERA, WHIP and will get the occasional win/save.

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Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire Pickup Alert: J.P. Arencibia (C)

August 8, 2010 by TJ · Leave a Comment 

Power hitting catchers are always a nice commodity. Tonight in his first major league, J.P. Arencibia lived up to his minor league power numbers by launching 2 home runs. He may or may not have a playing time issue, but if you have roster room can you afford not to take a gamble?

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2010 Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings: Part 2

August 7, 2010 by TJ · Leave a Comment 

In part 1 of the Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings for 2010 we showed what the most reputable websites had as the consensus rankings. Then I went over what actually happened in a mock draft I took part in. I can’t stress enough how important taking part in a mock draft can do for your preparation. You get an idea of what other fantasy managers are targeting. Who is being reached for and who is being passed over. Now based on the consensus rankings, and the mock draft results, I am going to go through them round by round, when each player will most likely be available. I’ll comment on who I am going to target, why and why I pass on others. These are just my strategies for this year, so take them with a grain of salt but I hope they help you. Remember this is based on a 14 team league. 10 team leagues will allow players to drop to the later rounds obviously.

The first round I will not comment on because I would take any of these top tier quarterbacks after pick 6 or 7, depending on who fell to those picks. If you are in a league where passing touchdowns are worth 6 points, you really should draft one of the top quarterbacks after missing out on the top running backs. If you check the fantasy points over the last few years you will find Brees, Rodgers, Manning, etc. were easily in the top 10 of all fantasy scoring in those type leagues. Don’t pass them up for a lesser fantasy point contributor like a 2nd tier running back.

Round 1

  1. Aaron Rodgers – GB: Any of these three can be the backbone to a championship season.
  2. Drew Brees – NO
  3. Peyton Manning – Ind

Round 2 – There are still some great Quarterbacks on the table, but with the top three off the board it might be wiser to draft an elite WR or another RB that can set you apart from the rest, while still having options at QB that are desirable. Here I will target one or two guys if I am drafting near or at the turn of round 2 since I will have a couple of picks close together.

  1. Tom Brady – NE: I take a gamble on Brady returning to Brady-esque form now that his leg issues are behind him. Again, if i’m near the turn

Round 3 - No need to panic, still a handful of great Quarterback options. Remember to check your cheat sheet and pick that will guarantee you the most points. If it’s a Quarterback, great if not so problem take that play then.

  1. Tony Romo – Dal: Dez Bryant will add an element Tony hasn’t had since T.O.
  2. Matt Schaub – Hou: Him and Johnson just keep lighting up offenses.

Round 4

  1. Brett Favre – Min: Risky pick. Does he play, if so when? If he does play..he is a good pick for late round 4, steal in round 5…again if plays. I won’t be targeting, unless I hear definite news.
  2. Philip Rivers – SD: I pass on Rivers. I see SD turning to the run a little bit more. Rivers will still be good, just not round 3 good when I can grab a stellar WR or add depth to my running game.
  3. Kevin Kolb – Phi: I have no doubt Kolb will be great this season, but it’s not been proven just yet. Likely some other manager is going to reach on him. Let it go. You can get Eli Manning or Joe Flacco later with same numbers.

Round 5 – If I don’t have a late pick in round 4 or early one in round 5, I probably draft Eli or Flacco.

  1. Eli Manning – NYG: Poised for a repeat or better of his 2009 breakout season. His receivers will be better, and more importantly the run game will be back.
  2. Joe Flacco – Bal: Fantasy pundits are all over this guy, so why not. With Anquan Boldin, I like his chances.
  3. Jay Cutler – Chi: Pass…I have no faith. What more can I say. He was great in Denver with Marshall. He should have been quiet and stayed.

Round 6 and 7 – Most everyone has taken their starting Quarterback by now and if you haven’t, well don;t waste it now on Matt Ryan.

  1. Matt Ryan – Atl: Solid pick, nothing sexy. I probably pass though, not convinced he deserves to be selected this high. Gotta love Roddy White though.

Round 8 and9 – If you haven’t gotten a Quarterback yet, then you’ve been unlucky or just been stocking up on great picks at other positions. No problem. You can afford to spend two middle draft picks on Quarterbacks. One for sure should pan out. Best case scenario, you have depth and that means solid backup and you have the options to trade one or play matchups.

  1. Matthew Stafford – Det: I pass. I like Calvin Johnson as a target, but he is still feeling his way out. Too risky.
  2. Carson Palmer – Cin: I like him as a sleeper candidate, but in years past he has let me down. i think I let my emotion get the better of me andpass. Having said that, if you don’t have a starter yet, spend a pick here.

Round 10

  1. Donovan McNabb – Was: Waning years, 20-22 TD’s are a high estimate for a fantasy quarterback with little to no passing options besides double teamed Cooley. Pass.
  2. Chad Henne – Mia: This is a player I have targeted all along, he should be available in this round, if not someone overpaid. Brandon Marshall only improves upon what Henne did in his last few games last year.

Remaining Rounds

  1. Ben Roethlisberger – Pit: After suspension, will be his normal productive self, could be a steal here as long as you have something to start the season with.
  2. Alex Smith – SF: Supposedly sleeper, If no better pick available before my next selection, I might give Smith a shot.
  3. Vince Young – Ten: Gained fantasy relevance again…barely.
  4. Mark Sanchez – NYJ: Possible Flacco proto-type
  5. David Garrard – Jac: Serviceable as a backup for the bye week.
  6. Matt Leinart – Ari: This wouldn’t be the worst pick to see if he can take advantage or Fitz and Breaston.
  7. Matt Cassel – KC: I really don’t care for any of the remaining Quarterbacks. If I have no backup so be it, one of these guys will there when I need them come bye week. Draft a player at another position with upside. Keep your eye on the wire to see if any of these guys turn out to be productive.
  8. Matt Hasselbeck – Sea
  9. Kyle Orton – Den
  10. Jason Campbell – Oak
  11. Matt Moore – Car
  12. Josh Freeman – TB
  13. Trent Edwards – Buf

I’ll try and get into a coupe more mock drafts and see how things turn out. I suggest you do the same or just check back. Next we’ll look at the guys these Quarterbacks will be tossing deep bombs to.

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2010 Fantasy Football Quarterback Rankings: Part 1

August 5, 2010 by TJ · Leave a Comment 

Welcome to 2010 Fantasy Quarterback Rankings Part 1 of 2. We’ll take a look at what most standard rankings will look like, and if that’s all you need awesome. But then we look at a snapshot of one mock draft I was involved in and breakdown any anomalies that occurred there. In part 2, I’ll provide my drafting strategy for this year’s class of quarterbacks and see we can isolate some great value picks should you miss out on a top tier fantasy quarterback or just want depth. And let’s honest, we should all want depth. We’ll start with the consensus rankings of fantasy quarterbacks.

2010 Consensus Fantasy Quarterback Rankings

  1. Drew Brees – NO
  2. Aaron Rodgers – GB
  3. Peyton Manning – Ind
  4. Tony Romo – Dal
  5. Matt Schaub – Hou
  6. Tom Brady – NE
  7. Philip Rivers – SD
  8. Jay Cutler – Chi
  9. Kevin Kolb – Phi
  10. Brett Favre – Min
  11. Eli Manning – NYG
  12. Matt Ryan – Atl
  13. Joe Flacco – Bal
  14. Matthew Stafford – Det
  15. Carson Palmer – Cin
  16. Donovan McNabb – Was
  17. Chad Henne – Mia
  18. Ben Roethlisberger – Pit
  19. Alex Smith – SF
  20. Vince Young – Ten
  21. Mark Sanchez – NYJ
  22. David Garrard – Jac
  23. Matt Leinart – Ari
  24. Matt Cassel – KC
  25. Matt Hasselbeck – Sea
  26. Kyle Orton – Den
  27. Jason Campbell – Oak
  28. Matt Moore – Car
  29. Josh Freeman – TB
  30. Trent Edwards – Buf

I actually think this is a pretty solid Fantasy Quarterback Ranking. I do think a few guys are being overvalued like Rivers, Cutler, Young, and you know what even Tom Brady somewhat. Yes, Brady is great, but who is he going to throw to? And the run game is suspect still, with no help from the draft. Too big of question to take as the #4 overall Fantasy Quarterback. There are guys way after them I rather have rostered. The undervalued picks that pop out at me immediately are Sanchez and Henne. He finished strong at the end of last year and now he has Brandon Marshall. All systems are go. Now, all Sanchez did was take his team to the playoffs in his rookie campaign. I know that doesn’t matter in fantasy, but it does implicitly if you figure he conquered some major growing pains early. Consider Sanchez a Flacco proto-type, with a slightly less powerful arm. If I had to pick sleepers I might say, and starting from biggest reach downward…Leinart, remember Fitzgerald and Breaston? Alex Smith…same O-Coordinator and honestly he needs to perform or he might be done. Henne could easily out perform his rank by 4-5 spots.

Now let’s take a look at a mock draft I was involved in and see how managers selected when under a little pressure and 13 other managers are hawking after the same guys. This is a 14-team league and 15 rounds so lots of picks.

2010 Quarterback Rankings From Mock Draft Results

Round 1
6. Aaron Rodgers – GB
9. Drew Brees – NO
10. Peyton Manning – Ind

Round 3
29. Tom Brady – NE
30. Tony Romo – Dal
31. Matt Schaub – Hou
33. Philip Rivers – SD

Round 4
53. Kevin Kolb – Phi

Round 5
63. Brett Favre – Min
64. Jay Cutler – Chi
68. Eli Manning – NYG

Round 6
71. Joe Flacco – Bal

Round 7
83. Matt Ryan – Atl

Round 8
88. Carson Palmer – Cin

Round 9
120. Donovan McNabb – Was

Round 10
135. Matthew Stafford – Det

Rounds 11 – 15
Alex Smith – SF
Ben Roethlisberger – Pit
Chad Henne – Mia
Vince Young – Ten
Kyle Orton – Den
Matt Hasselbeck – Sea
Matt Cassel – KC
Mark Sanchez – NYJ
Josh Johnson – TB
Byron Leftwich – Pit

Wow, I was totally shocked that Leinart and Garrard were not drafted at all. Seriously, Leinart could prove us all stupid and just step out of the shadows and take advantage of his talented receivers. So you saw the elite 3 go in round one and I completely agree as long as those picks come after the top 6-7 running backs. Especially if you are in a league, and a lot of us are, where Quarterbacks get 6 fantasy points per passing touchdown. I think Eli Manning will repeat last years numbers, possibly increase his TD output as his young receivers improve and the running game resurfaces. So Eli is a great pick at #68.

That’s it for Part 1 of 2010 Fantasy Quarterback Rankings. Part 2 will go over some common strategies and who I plan to target this year for quarterback.

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