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The Once-Over: Week One

Tom MantzouranisPosted Sep 4th 2008 12:00PM by Tom Mantzouranis (author feed)
Filed under: NFL Fans, NFL Real Talk


With attention spans dwindling, we forego full game-by-game previews to give you the essentials you need to know about every contest this glorious NFL weekend. Click here to go back in time.

The Season Opener

Redskins at Giants: "Wah wah wah, we get no respect." The Giants can prove they really deserve that respect starting now. Not that the Redskins are world-beaters, they've got a few issues of their own, but the G-Men need to show everyone they can play like champions for more than just a small stretch of the season. I don't think they'll have a problem tonight.

The 1s

Cincinnati at Baltimore: Ed Reed is iffy for the Ravens, but Chad Ocho Cinco is literally insane, so that's a wash. The Bengals will be starting a converted tight end at fullback, so I hope Ray Lewis doesn't load up on pre-game carbs; he'll have a chance to eat Chris Perry on the field. Despite a new coach and rookie quarterback, the Ravens have had a more stable offseason than the Bengals, which I guess doesn't say much but could make a difference.

Jets at Dolphins: I think the storylines of this game have been discussed to the point of inducing nausea, correct? OK, good, let's just move on before my eyes start to bleed.

Continue Reading The Once-Over: Week One

Lane Kiffin Wants to Run the Ball... A Lot

Adam GretzPosted Aug 31st 2008 1:25PM by Adam Gretz (author feed)
Filed under: Raiders, AFC West


You can say this about Oakland Raiders Head Coach Lane Kiffin: he knows what the strength of his offense is. According to Raiders beat writer Jerry McDonald at the Contra Costa Times, Kiffin is having dreams of a monster, clock-killing, punishing rushing attack led by Justin Fargas, Darren McFadden and Michael Bush that will pound the ball at defenses nearly 600 times during the 2008 season.

My amateur math skills tell me that 600 rushing attempts over a 16-game season comes out to, roughly, 37 carries per game. That's a lot of running. As a team, they ran the ball 508 times in '07, including seven games where they had at least 30 attempts.

Without getting into the question of, what does it say about your offense when the strength consists of two guys to never carry the ball in an NFL game, this seems like a dream in every sense of the word. I'm not saying the Raiders aren't going to pound the ball and be a run-first team, but 600 carries, or close to it, is nearly impossible to do.
Continue Reading Lane Kiffin Wants to Run the Ball... A Lot

Mistakes Are Being Made, So Please Stop Drafting Larry Johnson

Matt SnyderPosted Aug 21st 2008 5:00PM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
Filed under: NFL Fantasy

I'll start off by giving an arm-bash to Mathew Greber on this idea. He's been running a series called, "Mistakes Were Made," a look back at some things that escaped fantasy players and experts alike prior to the '07 football season. I'll put on my prognosticator hat and give a whirl as to some mistakes that are happening currently in fantasy drafts.

If you read an unfamiliar term, it should be covered in the fantasy football glossary. If you are are looking for a league, jump on fleaflicker. It's free, and really sweet.

The Top Mistake? Ladies and Gentlemen ... it ain't even close:

Larry Johnson
Yeah, that's right. Larry Johnson on your fantasy team is a big mistake. I'm seeing him go in the late first round or early second round personally, and I'm viewing an ADP chart right now where he's ranked 11th overall. Ugh. I'm not going to list all the players being drafted behind him on the ADP chart who deserve to be taken over him, because it would take too long. I will, however, list the most egregious examples, in no particular order: Marshawn Lynch, Ryan Grant, Reggie Wayne, Braylon Edwards, Terrell Owens, Peyton Manning, Tony Romo, Larry Fitzgerald, Drew Brees, Brandon Jacobs, Laurence Maroney, and Andre Johnson.


Again, I'd rather own a myriad of other dudes than Johnson, but those are the most glaring.

Why?
Continue Reading Mistakes Are Being Made, So Please Stop Drafting Larry Johnson

To Cuff, or Not to Cuff

Matt SnyderPosted Aug 19th 2008 2:50PM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
Filed under: NFL Fantasy

From the days of Olandis Gary (yes, that's him in the picture ... I can't believe I found one) taking over for Terrell Davis to last season's Earnest Graham breakthrough following Cadillac Williams' injury, fantasy owners have long seen backup running backs rise to prominence via injury to a teammate. Conventional wisdom states that you grab the backup runner to your highly drafted starting running backs, and the term handcuff is used to describe this theory.

This isn't always the case, though, unless you have a very large league. Say you have a 10 owner league with only five bench spots. Simply put, DeShaun Foster should not be taking up room on that bench.

Let's take a look at whether or not to handcuff starting RBs around the league in four different categories.

Must Cuff
Ryan Grant -- Grant held out, and now has a slight injury in camp. Meanwhile Brandon Jackson -- supposed to be the starting back last season before injuries and inexperience derailed him -- has been receiving rave reviews from the Packers coaching staff. You can still draft Grant in the 2nd round, but it is imperative to grab Jackson as well.
Continue Reading To Cuff, or Not to Cuff

Steelers Sign Rashard Mendenhall, Plan to Use Him as 'Supplemental Runner'

Ryan WilsonPosted Jul 26th 2008 1:26PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Steelers, AFC North, NFL Draft, NFL Fans

I'll admit it: in the weeks and months leading up to the NFL draft, I hated the idea of the Steelers drafting a running back with their first-round pick. There were much bigger needs along the offensive and defensive lines, and running backs, in general, are pretty easy to scare up and for relatively little cost (hi, Willie Parker!).

On draft day, however, that's exactly what happened: Pittsburgh used the 23rd overall pick on Rashard Mendenhall, running back. Thing is, given how events unfolded during the first 22 picks, it was hard to fault the Steelers; they did what diehard draft nerds are always preaching: took the best player available.

And now, two days before training camp begins, the club has signed Mendenhall to a five-year deal. Obviously, Parker is the feature back (or, at the very least, is listed atop the depth chart), but head coach Mike Tomlin has plans for the revamped rushing attack.
"Our initial plan is he's going to be a supplemental runner," Tomlin said. "The growth of his role will be determined on his ability to execute from an assignment standpoint, how he deals with being a professional athlete.

"To this point he's shown he's mature and unique for a 21-year-old guy. Hopefully, that translates into him growing and developing as a member of this football team quickly."
With plenty of lingering questions about the state of the offensive line, the skill position players will be responsible for keeping Ben Roethlisberger upright. If the offense can create match-up problems at running back and wide receiver, the o-line deficiencies could be minimized. If that doesn't happen, it could be a long, painful 2008 for Big Ben.

Much Too Much: Why Paying for 2007's Fantasy Numbers Will Cost You in 2008

Will BrinsonPosted Jul 15th 2008 7:00AM by Will Brinson (author feed)
Filed under: NFL Position Rankings, NFL Fantasy


Feel the need get a jump on fantasy football season? Then follow Tony's lead and haul-A over to Fleaflicker for free fantasy football signups using your AOL ID.

You should avoid drafting Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Tony Romo or Ben Roethlisberger on your fantasy football team this year. That's right. I said "avoid".

If you had those four in 2007, you probably did very well (which would explain why you think I'm crazy right now). Moss was easily the top receiver in all fantasy leagues, Brady was likely the top scorer in your entire league and both Romo and Roethlisberger were top-10 signal-callers across the board.

But you didn't win because you took them in the first or second rounds. You won because you culled maximum value from them later in your draft.

This year, you'll be paying a 3-to-5 round penalty -- compared to last year's draft -- for every one of them. And I'm telling you right now, pulling the trigger on these guys early, and paying for 2007's numbers, will put you in an early hole on draft day.
Continue Reading Much Too Much: Why Paying for 2007's Fantasy Numbers Will Cost You in 2008

Never Too Early: Pittsburgh Steelers Fantasy Football Preview

Matt SnyderPosted Jul 8th 2008 9:00AM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
Filed under: Steelers, AFC North, Fantasy Football

Hear that? It's the pitter-patter of fantasy football season approaching. Fantasy FanHouse is here to get you ready by previewing every team from a fantasy perspective.

Meet The ...
Most balanced offense in the NFL. With the addition of Rashard Mendenhall the Steelers now have a talented between the tackles runner to go with Fast Willie Parker. This is thunder and lightning to a higher level with the single-back abilities each guy has. They can go deep to Santonio Holmes, or to the reliable possession receiver Hines Ward. Add the extremely athletic 6'4" Limas Sweed to the fray to catch jump balls, and the very solid over-the-middle TE Heath Miller. Oh yeah, and Ben Roethlisberger is coming off easily the most prolific season of his career.

The Breakout
Really tough call here. Did Santonio already have his breakout season last year? (YES) Is Sweed really ready to have a good enough season to call it a breakout? (HMMM ... ) Hasn't Mendenhall received enough hype that he's accurately "rated" (as opposed to underrated or overrated)? I guess if pushed I'll go with Mendenhall. Ward seems a lot less ready to yield his spot outside than Fast Willie is in the backfield to me, plus Nate Washington clouds things at WR. Mendy (yeah, just made that up) will at least vulture the goal-line TDs and has enough speed to fully take over should Parker go down via injury.
Continue Reading Never Too Early: Pittsburgh Steelers Fantasy Football Preview

Mewelde Moore Draws Comparisons to Kevin Faulk, Sans Marijuana Possession Charge

Ryan WilsonPosted Jul 4th 2008 2:58PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Steelers, AFC North


Last week, the Steelers released Najeh Davenport, a 245-pound running back who was signed to replace the ineffective Duce Staley in 2006. Staley was signed two years earlier to take over for the soon-to-be-retiring Jerome Bettis (he's from Detroit, you know). The common theme among the three backs? They were all big, plodding bruisers who could move the pile and excelled in short-yardage situations.

But as Pittsburgh heads into 2008, Gary Russell is the "heaviest" runner of those destined for the final 53, and he weighs 215 pounds (according to NFL.com). Rookie Rashard Mendenhall is 210, and Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore are listed at 209. But it's Moore, signed this offseason to a three-year, $4.95 million deal, who could be the key component to the new-fangled running game.

Not so much for his ability to actually run the ball, but because of his many other talents.
Continue Reading Mewelde Moore Draws Comparisons to Kevin Faulk, Sans Marijuana Possession Charge

Ryan Grant, Packers Closer to New Deal (But Still a Long Ways Off)

Ryan WilsonPosted May 28th 2008 6:18PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Packers, NFC North


Last week, Michael David Smith wrote that running back Ryan Grant and the Packers had started the process of working on a new deal for the guy who had just about everything to do with Green Bay's revitalized rushing attack.

Today, the Green Bay Press Gazette reports that "talks are heating up" between the sides, although it sounds more like the Packers and Grant('s agent) are just closer to getting a deal done than they were last week. If nothing else, it's progress:
His agent, Alan Herman, has said Grant won't sign the $370,000 minimum tender for a second-year pro. However, after a 1½-hour conversation with Packers negotiator Russ Ball late last week, Herman said the team is open to a long-term deal, though it will require major compromises by both sides. "The important issue is the club has indicated they're not big players in the free-agent market and they like to take care of their own," [Alan] Herman said. "Ryan had truly an extraordinary year and it wasn't like he was a flash in the pan..."
Herman's right about one thing: the Packers do like to keep talented players in the fold instead of restocking the roster through free agency. That said, Grant won't be among the top-10 highest-paid running backs anytime soon.

He's more likely to receive a Willie Parker-type deal: four years, $13.6 million, with a $3.75 signing bonus. Which is still pretty good considering Grant was on the Giants' practice squad a few years ago.

Jaguars Give Steelers a Roadmap

JJ CooperPosted May 14th 2008 7:36PM by JJ Cooper (author feed)
Filed under: Steelers, AFC North, Pittsburgh

Back when the Jaguars were establishing themselves, it sometimes seemed like they were copying the Steelers. They emphasized line play and a power running game, they swiped away Steelers Pro Bowlers Leon Searcy and Carnell Lake in free agency, and seemingly every year they would snag a waived Steeler just before a key Jaguars-Steelers game.

Now Pittsburgh is returning the favor.

After watching the Jaguars' two-headed monster of a running game run over the Steelers three times in this past two years, the Steelers decided they needed a combo-pack of their own. The Steelers haven't added teal to the team colors of black and gold, but if everything goes right, Rashard Mendenhall and Willie Parker will give the Steelers a pair of backs like Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew.

By drafting Mendehall, Pittsburgh not only has an effective backup to Willie Parker, they also have a back who hopefully will allow Parker to avoid the "stuffed for no gain" carries that have been as much a part of his career as the 40+-yard scamper.

Continue Reading Jaguars Give Steelers a Roadmap
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