Yardbarker: Fred Taylor

Fantasy Football Roundtable - "Who Would You Rather Own in 2008"

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 00:52:48 -0500

It's that time of the year again folks. It's August, and that means fantasy football drafts will be in full swing starting this weekend! I bet alot of you reading this article will be drafting within the next 7-10 days, and we wish you the BEST of luck. With that being said, we want you to dominate your fantasy football draft in 2008, so Bruno Boys Fantasy Football writers Marc Caviglia, Chris Ziza and Larry Joseph give you their expert analysis on which players they are targeting heading into 2008.... Reggis Bush or Maurice Jones-Drew Chad Johnson or T.J. Houshmandzadeh Reggie Wayne or Randy Moss Jeremy Shockey or Kellen Winslow and more.....

Breaking Down 2008 Fantasy Football by Position

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 13:35:54 -0500

It?s late July and that means fantasy football is getting ready to kick off.. Some players are going to come out of nowhere and flat out dominate. Some older players who used to be studs will fall off and some players will be affected by a coaching staff change or a quarterback that leaves town. It is all ways wise to do some research before walking into a draft. The NFL is a copy cat league and there are some trends popping up fantasy owners should keep their eyes on. First running back by committee a lot have teams have made the switch. Darren McFadden or Justin Fargas would be fine backs to have but both players will split time at least early on and they will take carries away from each other. The only team that can pull that off is Jacksonville Fred Taylor and MJD are both worthy of consideration. When looking for a back stay away from Denver, Miami, Tampa Bay, Tennessee and Detroit. The fullback is dead and has given birth to the slot receiver. Wes Welker redefined the position last year and put up crazy fantasy numbers. Expect more teams to follow the trend. If you have a receiver go down to injury or some of them end up on the same bye week you can find value on the waiver wire. The third wide out on a pass happy team won?t be a long term solution but can get you by in a stop gap situation. Last but not least teams that have classified their quarterbacks as game managers are teams that don?t have a fantasy worthy quarterback. Game Manager means 10 of 17 passing 123 yards and no touchdowns. When you think game manager think Damon Huard. Be aware of the unstable quarterback situations in Chicago, Kansas City, Minnesota, Baltimore and San Francisco. Quarterback 1.Tom Brady- New England Patriots 2.Peyton Manning- Indianapolis Colts 3.Tony Romo- Dallas Cowboys 4.Carson Palmer- Cincinnati Bengals 5.Drew Brees- New Orleans Saints 6. Derek Anderson- Cleveland Browns 7.Eli Manning- New York Giants 8.Ben Roethisberger - Pittsburgh Steelers 9.Phillip Rivers- San Diego Chargers 10.Marc Bulger- St. Louis Rams 11.Donavon McNabb- Philadelphia Eagles 12. Matt Hasselbeck- Seattle Seahawks 13.Jake Delhomme- Carolina Panthers 14.Jeff Garcia- Tampa Bay Buccaneers 15. Matt Lienart - Arizona Cardinals Running back 1.Ladanian Tomlinson- San Diego Chargers 2.Adrian Peterson- Minnesota Vikings 3.Brian Westbrook- Philadelphia Eagles 4. Marion Barber- Dallas Cowboys 5.Steven Jackson- St. Louis Rams 6.Larry Johnson- Kansas City Chiefs 7.Frank Gore- San Francisco 49ers 8.Joesph Addai- Indianapolis Colts 9.Clinton Portis- Washington Redskins 10.Marshawn Lynch- Buffalo Bills 11.Ryan Grant- Green Bay Packers 12.Willie Parker- Pittsburgh Steelers 13.Willis McGahee- Baltimore Ravens 14.Jamal Lewis- Cleveland Browns 15.Michael Turner- Atlanta Falcons Wide Receiver 1.Randy Moss- New England Patriots 2.Terrell Owens- Dallas Cowboys 3.Andre Johnson- Houston Texans 4.Reggie Wayne- Indianapolis Colts 5.Braylon Edwards- Cleveland Browns 6.Chad Johnson- Cincinnati Bengals 7.Marques Colston- New Orleans Saints 8.Steve Smith- Carolina Panthers 9.Larry Fitzgerald- Arizona Cardinals 10.Plaxico Burress- New York Giants 11.Torry Holt- St. Louis Rams 12.Wes Welker- New England Patriots 13. T.J. Houshmandzadeh- Cincinnati Bengals 14.Roy Williams- Detroit Lions 15.Dwayne Bowe- Kansas City Chiefs Tight end 1.Antonio Gates- San Diego Chargers 2.Jason Witten- Dallas Cowboys 3.Tony Gonzalez- Kansas City Chiefs 4.Todd Heap- Baltimore Ravens 5.Jeremy Shockey- New Orleans Saints 6.Kellen Winslow- Cleveland Browns 7.Chris Cooley- Washington Redskins 8.Heath Miller- Pittsburgh Steelers 9. Ben Watson- New England Patriots 10.Dallas Clark- Indianapolis Colts 11Vernon Davis- San Francisco 49ers 12.Kevin Boss- New York Giants 13.Greg Olsen- Chicago Bears 14.Tony Scheffler- Denver Broncos 15.Alge Crumpler- Tennessee Titans Defense 1.New England Patriots 2.San Diego Chargers 3.Minnesota Vikings 4.Pittsburgh Steelers 5.Dallas Cowboys 6..Jacksonville Jaguars 7.Baltimore Ravens 8.Chicago Bears 9.Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10.Washington Redskins 11.New York Giants 12.Green Bay Packers 13.Philadelphia Eagles 14.Indianapolis Colts 15.Seattle Seahawks Kicker 1.Stephen Gostkowski- New England Patriots 2.Adam Vinateri- Indianapolis Colts 3.Nick Folk- Dallas Cowboys 4.Nate Kaeding- San Diego Chargers 5.Mason Crosby- Green Bay Packers 6.Shayne Graham- Cincinnati Bengals 7.Rob Bironas- Tennessee Titans 8.Phil Dawson- Cleveland Browns 9.Neil Rackers- Arizona Cardinals 10.Jason Hanson- Detroit Lions 11.Josh Brown- St.Louis Rams 12.Jason Elam- Atlanta Falcons 13.Josh Scobee- Jacksonville Jaguars 14.Jeff Reed- Pittsburgh Steelers 15.Matt Stover- Baltimore Ravens Top 25 Overall 1.Ladanian Tomlinson- San Diego Chargers 2.Adrian Peterson- Minnesota Vikings 3.Tom Brady- New England Patriots 4.Brian Westbrook- Philadelphia Eagles 5.Peyton Manning- Indianapolis Colts 6.Randy Moss- New England Patriots 7.Steven Jackson- St. Louis Rams 8.Marion Barber- Dallas Cowboys 9.Tony Romo- Dallas Cowboys 10.Larry Johnson- Kansas City Chiefs 11.Terrell Owens- Dallas Cowboys 12.Frank Gore- San Francisco 49ers 13..Joesph Addai- Indianapolis Colts 14.Andre Johnson- Houston Texans 15.Reggie Wayne- Indianapolis Colts 16.Clinton Portis- Washington Redskins 17.Marshawn Lynch- Buffalo Bills 18.Ryan Grant- Green Bay Packers 19.Braylon Edwards- Cleveland Browns 20.Carson Palmer- Cincinnati Bengals 21.Willie Parker- Pittsburgh Steelers 22.Willis McGahee- Baltimore Ravens 23.Chad Johnson- Cincinnati Bengals 24.Marques Colston- New Orleans Saints 25.Drew Brees- New Orleans Saints

Third-round strategy: Draft a RB or WR?

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:11:17 -0500

In the next installment of fantasy football strategy, Foxsports.com fantasy writer John Juhasz examines multiple scenarios for whether it's best to draft a running back or wide receiver in the third round.

2008 Detroit Lions Preview: Can Anybody Find Me...Somebody to Love?

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 13:24:28 -0500

It's time for the GoWF annual rite of passage that is the Detroit Lions season preview... set to lyrics. Last year, we got all hot and bothered, because we waited until the Silver and Blue got off to a doppelganger 2-0 start, thus prompting some bonerific Prince lyrics. This year, we wanted to go with a mustachio theme in honor of the immovable pile of steamy crap that is Matt Millen. While Frank Zappa tempted us, in the interests of well, everybody else, we settled on Queen. Much to our merriment, Queen proves a fantastic choice. I swear these things write themselves sometimes.

"I've paid my dues. Time after time, I've done my sentence. But committed no crime. And bad mistakes, I've made a few. I've had my share of sand kicked in my face. But I've come through." (The Proud Tradition)

Yeah, we understand how you feel Barry. We would have bolted too if we were in your shoes. The invite is always open though, you know?

"I want it all, I want it all, I want it all, and I want it now." (Last Season)

Last year the Kool-Aid tasted so good. Martz, Kitna, Johnson, Williams, Furrey, McDonald, Jones, Bell, Duckett. Ok, so maybe the Kool-Aid had a little too much Beefeater's Gin mixed with it, because what seemed like the second coming of the greatest show on turf was a hit or miss train wreck. We wanted it all and we weren't willing to wait. However, 6-2 out of the gates got our appetites wet and expectations soaring. And who could possibly forget one of the most memorable moments in Lions football since Barry Sanders left? Remember Shaun "Big Baby" Rodgers plowing into the end zone after a fumble recovery and scamper to the house?

Of course, much like "Big Baby" gasping for air…soon the Lions would also be gasping for air. They collapsed; almost on cue down the stretch of the season going 2-6 the rest of the way. What seemed so perfect and so real, was just a cruel taste of the high life. We wanted it all, but we wanted it too soon and got little in return. It's like we went house hunting and thought we could afford a little more than our budget and ended up upside down with a mortgage we couldn't pay after the housing crash. Um, yup that was the Lions in 2007…we'd suppose.

"Buddy, you're a boy makin' big noise playing on the street; gonna be a big man some day. You got mud on your face. Big Disgrace. Kickin' your can all over the place." (The Offense)

Again, bless Jon Kitna's heart, but he's been masquerading as a starting QB for a wee bit too long now. The problem is...the Lions have no real threat waiting in the wings, as Drew Stanton remains an enigma. Perhaps, another 5-11 or 6-10 season will allow us to get a glimpse into the future of Stanton. However, the crystal ball will most likely reveal another damn back-up QB. Oh well.

Once again the offensive line is made of patchwork and recycled goods. No, that's not referring to a hippie's closet, rather an NFL team's offensive line. The Lions have gone ahead and attempted to implement a generic version of the Bronco's zone blocking system. Apparently, they hope this will mask the fact that they are rolling out Tatum Bell as a featured RB along with an "unknown" rookie. Gee, we hear Mike Bell and Reuben Droughns might be available to help apply some Neosporin to this pathetic RB stable.

And for the WR's...well they may or may not be the lone bright spot for this offense. Although, let's leave a TBD tag on this group for now. However, please let us keep our dream alive that Calvin Johnson will be the STUD everyone predicted he'd be.

"Fat Bottom girls you make the rocking world go round." (The Defense)

You have to hand it to Rod Marinelli. While a lot of folks out there deride him for basically bringing in every single available defensive player from Tampa Bay; it makes sense. If you are implementing a new system based on a similar system, why not bring in guys who know "said" system? It's a logical move and it is comforting that he considers a lot of these guys - particularly in a secondary that's often reminiscent of flies stuck on fly paper - system guys. The secondary is improved.

The problem with this throwback to the Tampa Cover 2 - and we're not the first to address this - is that Tampa had Simeon Rice and Warren Sapp providing a furious pass rush. The Lions have Chuck Darby, Cory Redding, Jared Devries, and Dewayne White. Marinelli calls them veterans; most would call them "blue light specials." The Cover 2 defense is useless without lightning fast defensive ends and good pressure in the middle. This is a huge question mark. The other laughable element here is Lovie Smith coached the linebackers in Tampa and installed it in Chicago. Minnesota implemented it last season. And they both have FAR better players than the Lions. Who you planning to fool here guys?

"Oooh you make me live. Whenever this world is cruel to me, I got you to help me forgive. Oooh you make me live now honey, Oooh you make me live…You're my best friend." (Coaching Staff)

Ah yes, the lightning Rod still carries the mantle of this team, but for how much longer? Well, it seems that he and Millen have formed an inseparable bond of sorts and can be seen carrying each other hand in hand in this debacle we know as the Lions. One would always have to consider Marinelli being on a short leash; after all Millen did fire a lifelong buddy in Steve Mariucci just a few short years ago.

That said; the remainder of Marinelli's staff is a collection of unrecognizable names and/or nice guys. I guess the saying holds par that nice guys finish last. Put in simpler terms, unless some facet of this team (the special teams, defense or offense) makes a huge leap this year…we won't have to worry about teams in need of head coaches raiding our cupboards. It should come as no surprise that our defense is led by Joe Barry, a Buccaneers import. Jim Colletto gets the distinguished honor of following the huge footprints that Mike Martz left behind (that's sarcasm). Of course, his track record consists of the Ravens and Raiders offenses in the past 7 or 8 years…not good.

The feel good story of the Lions coaching staff has to be Joe Cullen who somehow managed to battle his booze demons and retain his job even after driving through a Wendy's butt naked and drunk a few years back. Give that man a hug.

"Bismillah! We will not let you go, let me go. Will not let you go, let me go. Will not let you go let me go. No, no, no, no, no, no, no."

…or…

"Pressure. Pushing down on me, pressing down on you. No man ask for...Under Pressure." (Management)

At this point this has become another Detroit tale of Rasputin. The only way we're getting rid of the "unsinkable" Matt Millen is if Ford Motor files for bankruptcy, sells off either some assets, or pawns the whole shebang. Ever seen "Gung Ho?" The Japanese would turn the Lions around in no time. They are really great at calisthenics.

Honestly, the seat can't possibly be any warmer under Matt Millen's ass. Ford Jr. has voiced displeasure, but as mentioned above...we've been down this road before and nobody is convinced the end is really near should the Millen/Marinelli brain trust fail once again. Yet, we'll be sure to listen to Drew Sharp and Mitch Albom proclaim the end of the Millen era...starting around Week #1.

"Is this the real life, is this just fantasy?" (Fantasy Impact)

The gut reaction says "Don't touch these guys even if you're wearing lubed up rubber gloves, "but there are a couple scenarios where you might pull the trigger. A late round Tatum Bell pickup is a calculated gamble (ADP 125ish). Kevin Smith very well might be the guy, but taking him for your #3 RB - or larger leagues you're #2 RB - is very risky. The guy may never even play. Pay close attention to the Lion's camp if you really insist on going this route. With an ADP around 70, there's a lot to give (i.e., Fred Taylor, Donovan McNabb, Donald Driver) in order to get Smith. In the meantime, nobody is putting much stock in Taco Bell, so he's available for peanuts and he should get a share of carries - at least for a while.

Kitna is a good late round backup with TUP. He should easily fall into the double digit rounds, so at this point your biggest competition for Kitna is likely that pesky auto draft. As for Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams, as much as we all like them in reality, they reek of streaky big games and busts. Kitna looks to spend a lot of time on his back yet again, so expect a handful of turds from both of these guys. These guys have Lee Evans Syndrome written all over them.

"She's a killer queen; gunpowder gelatine. Dynamite with a lazer beam, guaranteed to blow your mind…(anytime)." (Gambling)

There's a golden rule of thumb when it comes to wagering on the Lions. "You NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER…bet for or against the Detroit Lions." That's right; they will blow your mind and slash your heart with a Lazer beam…anytime. You don't believe us? Go ahead; seal your own fate at your own risk. You've been warned to give this team a wide birth.

"It's the terror of knowing what this world is about. Watching some good friends, screaming...let me out." (Intangibles…The Fans)

Honestly, a fan revolt doesn't appear that far from the realm of reality. Wait, we've tried that one before. In the end "WE" the fans remain the victims. Try walking a week in the shoes of a Lions fan. OK, so maybe it's not all that painful, but it's quite brutal. Just imagine knowing your fate before it even happens? At least most tortured franchises have "hope" each year. As goes with Lions fans, we've become numb to hope. It's really, really...sad. And it could turn ugly really fast at Ford Field if the team starts sputtering. How fun is it gonna be to play a football game on Thanksgiving when you are getting booed by a hostile and heavily intoxicated audience?

"And another one gone, and another one gone, another one bites the dust." (Overall 2008 Prediction)

It's quite sobering to realize that it takes nearly 2000 words of rhetoric and pessimism to capture the splendor that is the Detroit Lions. Yes, we love the Lions…please make no mistakes in that regard. However, when you've had your share of sand kicked in your face…sometimes you just know you're going to lose. It's another season and another season of unfilled promises. There's really no point in getting our hopes up again, just to have them crushed. For we know if the Lions ever right the ship, it'll be like playing with house money. Oh how we long for that day, but it seems so, so far away. Bold Prediction: (6-10…Marinelli and Millen are shown the door).

TOP 10 REASONS WHY YOU WON'T WIN YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:39:57 -0500

by DMtShooter, Five Tool Tool

Plenty of places will tell you why your real team is doomed. But who is going to tell you why you're not going to win in Nerd Ball, either -- even though you probably haven't even held your draft yet? Me, that's who. Now step aside and see if you might learn something.

10. Overpreparation. Bought a fantasy football annual already, have you? Congratulations. You do realize that those are written by dyspeptic chimps whose idea of trenchant analysis is that Tom Brady Is Good, and that Fred Taylor is getting old... and that everyone else in your league has also read those words, and half of them are also taking your Cunning Scheme of going the opposite way... and that the only way this overpreparation can end is by challenging a Sicilian in a contest of death. I haven't even gotten started!

9. Underpreparation. I bet you don't even know who DeSean Jackson is, and how he's just one Reggie Brown injury or ineffective play away from putting up big numbers -- I mean, Hank Baskett numbers. ANd here you aren't even aware of how he's holding up so far in Lehigh, or if his Cal-Berkeley bulk can possibly hold up in East Coast humidity. Meanwhile, Reggie Brown's situation is known only to the truly trained insiders who go the extra mile of having trained insider spy scouts on the premises. I'd give up now, if I were you, if it weren't so transparently obvious that you've already done that.

8. Karma. Come on, you never win these things. It's because God hates you for all of those awful things you did behind the dumpster with the fat chick in the stonewashed denim who was OK so long as she didn't, you know, talk. You know where she is now? Rubbing a voodoo doll that looks like you from back then in dryer lint from an old Ryan Leaf jersey. You think you're coming back from that? No chance.

7. Draft position. No one ever wins when they draft from your position -- just look it up, and you'll see that you've got the slot that always winds up with Star Running Injury and Suddenly Useless Veteran. Oh, you're going for Sure Thing WR in the second? Suck on Sudden Disappointment From Aging. Ha ha!

6. Fear. You know that everyone's going to laugh at you when you make your pick, right? They all know more than you, are more decisive, and just have a better feel for this sort of thing. They also know about what you're doing with women's underwear, and how you just can't stop thinking about shoes. That's because, unlike you, they don't have a SHAMEFUL SECRET THAT WILL BE EXPOSED IN THE WHITE HOT FIRE OF THE DRAFT CRUCIBLE. Try not to blink so much.

5. Inebriation. Hey, you know what you need? A little liquid relaxation. Have a cold one; it'll help take the edge off. Besides, you won't be driving for a long time. Heck, have two, it's the best day of the year... especially when you aren't, you know, three sheets to the wind and drafting Kurt Warner in the third because God spoke to you in the bathroom. It's OK, though. God's got your back.

4. Endurance. You know when you're really going to lose this draft? In the late rounds, when I'm going to be pulling diamonds from the rough, and you're going to be drafting Joe Horn. Again. That's because I've spent the last six months prepping for this draft, pulling two a day mocks, and honing my doughy sun-hating body into an absolutely animalistic drafting machine. And so has everyone else in this draft. Muhahahee!

3. Homerism. When push comes to shove, guess who's going to take Aging Skill Player who isn't cutting it anymore, but wears your laundry with pride? That's right, it's you. Of course, this will also mean that you're going to miss out on Emerging SKill Player who will take his numbers and your heart, leaving you with a double case of fantasy homer blue balls. That's because real winners refuse to see players from their favorite team as anything but heartless lumps of meat. The world is ours, my callous brethren!

2. Callousness. Oh, you're learned your lesson this year, and now you're sworn off the siren call of Hero Player on Favorite Team? Fantastic. Finally, the rest of us can get our filthy hands on him, especially now that he's got the magic ju-ju to have his finest year ever. Your smart pick of team and player you don't care a fig about will get vultured in the red zone, wounded in the playoffs, and make you wish you had only listened to your heart. You heartless bastard. How could you?

1. Idiocy. You know what I, the guy who will wind up winning your league, have been doing while you've wasted your time with this sorry bit of timewaste, that you've read entirely in the forlorn hope that there was a nugget of drafting widsom buried deep within? (Julius Jones will be better than people think in Seattle, at least in home games. Willie Parker has some bounce back in him, but he's still going to be Fred Taylor-essue due to the lack of touchdowns. Dwayne Bowe and Roddy White have to be better than last year, because their QBs can't be worse. I'd tell you more, but it'll cost $1.99 a minute, and operators are standing by...)

Well, I've been doing draft prep. And hiring a private investigator to find that fat chick in the denim to show up at the draft and ask you why you never called. And culling together insulting entrance music for each owner. (Yours will be "Fat Bottomed Girls" by Queen. The stonewash chick says it brings back memories.)

And now that you know everything that's going to happen to you in my draft... I don't have to do any of it. BECAUSE YOU'RE ALREADY THINKING ABOUT IT. AND YOU'RE ALREADY DEAD MEAT ON A STICK.

Now, who wants in to my new league? We've still got a few openings!

TOP 10 REASONS WHY YOU WON'T WIN YOUR FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:39:57 -0500

Making Even More of a Case to Jump on the Bandwagon

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:16:43 -0500

After hearing from folks around the country, I've come to realize that the Jaguars are poised to have more fans jumping on the bandwagon than at the start of any other season in franchise history. And while the bandwagon often carries with it a negative connotation (SEE fair-weather fans) for this team it can only be a good thing. With rumors swirling of the franchise's uncertain future in Jacksonville, fan and media attention is more important than ever. Training camp begins today so for all the undecided, here are three reasons you should seriously consider joining the Teal and Black Bus. After I've convinced you, next week I'll offer three reasons you may be in for a bumpy ride. WINNING: First of all, you should hop on board now cause this train just might go all the way to the Super Bowl. By definition, bandwagons follow a winner and this team is going to be just that. In 2007, the Jaguars displayed a winning mentality. The offense struggled at times while the defense was porous at others, yet they found a way to win on most weekends. Believe it or not, the inconsistent Jags won the games they were supposed to win, showing poise that they'd lacked from the turn of the century. In David Garrard, the team found their first legitimate star quarterback since the peak of Mark Brunell's career. Last January they nearly challenged the Pats for AFC supremacy, and might have pulled the upset if not for a couple dropped "touchdown" passes and an inability to get in Tom Brady's zip code. Heading into this season, it looks like they've only gotten better. EXCITEMENT: Bandwagoners are attracted by exciting teams, and while the bottom line is to win, it helps to do it in an exciting way. The receiving corps received a boost of speed with the acquisition of Jerry Porter from Oakland and Troy Williamson from Minnesota. While Porter will miss all of the pre-season to recover from hamstring surgery, if either he or fellow wideout Mike Walker (knee) can successfully rehabilitate and live up to expectations, the Jaguars will see an immediate improvement in the passing game. Speedsters Williamson and John Broussard also have the ability to stretch any defense. If the Jags' can produce a legitimate passing attack, that will only facilitate the running game; a very scary thought indeed. Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew still have the ability to score on every touch and Garrard is certainly one of the most exciting quarterbacks to watch working with his feet. On defense this team brought in the aggressive Gregg Williams to direct the unit and he should have enough weapons to suit his attacking style of play. Explosive rookie ends Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves were drafted with one job: get to the quarterback. That's quite a burden on their young shoulders, but they should be aided by second-year players Reggie Nelson and Justin Durant, who figure to factor often in WIlliams' schemes to get pressure on the passer. This team should be fun to watch on both sides of the ball. COLLEGE AFFILIATION: If you're part of the Gator Nation it's hard not to be a Jaguar fan right now. Stars Fred Taylor and Mike Peterson both spent their college years playing in the Swamp, as did Nelson and Harvey. A fifth Gator, DE Jeremy Mincey, will be hoping for a roster spot as he sits out training camp on the PUP list. On top of that, this team has a decidedly Floridian flavor with RB Greg Jones, WR Mike Walker, and CBs Trae Williams and Rashean Mathis representing FSU, UCF, USF, and Bethune-Cookman respectively. Add DBs Jamaal Fudge and Drayton Florence to the list that grew up in Florida and you truly have Florida's team. College fans out in LA might want to keep an eye on the little stat-machine, Jones-Drew, as well as his Bruin counterpart TE Marcedes Lewis, who figures to play an even more prominent role this season. And their cross-town rivals will be interested in following the two USC products picked up by the Jags in the later rounds of this year's draft. Trojans LB Thomas Williams and RB Chauncey Washington will be battling to impress head coach, and fellow USC-alum, Jack Del Rio to secure a place on the team.

Making Even More of a Case to Jump on the Bandwagon

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 21:16:43 -0500

Top 40 NFL Running Backs Going Into 2008

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 13:22:04 -0500

A list of the top 40 fantasy NFL running backs heading into the 2008 season.

Jaguars Training Camp: Five Things To Watch

Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:59:41 -0500

The Jacksonville Jaguars begin training camp on Friday, 7/25, and Coach Jack Del Rio's team seems primed for a big year (at least on paper). This may be the deepest Jaguars team top to bottom since the 1999 team that went 14-2 en route to the AFC Championship Game. Though the roster is strong, here are five things to watch closely as the Jaguars begin the 2008 campaign: 1. Will WR Matt Jones Make It Through The Final Cuts? It certainly seems like Matt Jones is at the end of his nine lives. The much-maligned WR has not lived up to his 1st round draft status, and his recent arrest on felony cocaine possession charges is not helping his cause in the eyes of the coaching staff, the fans, and owner Wayne Weaver. Coach Del Rio has stated that Jones will not be cut based on his recent arrest. However, it remains to be seen if Jones will do anything special in training camp to climb out of the doghouse. The only thread of hope he seems to have is that WR Jerry Porter is out for the entire preseason recovering from hamstring surgery. With both the uncertainty of WR Mike Walker's recovery from a knee injury and the questions still surrounding WR Troy Williamson's ability to shake off his past woes in Minnesota, Jones may have bought himself some time for one last shot to prove himself. 2. Who Becomes The Starting Strong-Side Linebacker: Clint Ingram Or Justin Durant? Clint Ingram had a great rookie year in 2006 when he was thrust into action because of injuries. But he tailed off a little bit in 2007, and Justin Durant went on to have a stellar rookie campaign once Mike Peterson was out with an injury. Now Peterson is healthy and ready to reclaim his spot at middle linebacker. With the underrated Daryl Smith taking care of the weak side, the battle between Ingram and Durant will be fun to watch. Durant, ironically wearing #56, looks and plays like a young Lawrence Taylor. His speed in getting into the backfield, defending the run, and showing good coverage in passing situations is likely to get him the starting nod on Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams' defense. 3. What Contributions Will Rookie DEs Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves Make In 2008? The Jaguars were criticized by the so-called experts for not pulling the trigger on a trade during the April draft for Dolphins' DE Jason Taylor and for trading up to spot #8 to take Derrick Harvey from the University of Florida. But clearly, two young defensive ends are better than one aging, soon-to-be-dancing-into-retirement defensive end. Harvey and Groves (as of 7/24) remain unsigned, so hopefully, the Jaguars can be swift at getting the contracts done and the rookies into camp on time. So where do they fit in the grand scheme of things? I would expect to see Harvey and Groves contribute right away. There is no guarantee that DE Reggie Hayward has fully recovered from the devastating ruptured Achilles' heel injury in 2006. If he cannot prove he is back to normal, it would not surprise me to see the Jaguars cut Hayward and get Harvey and Groves more in the mix. Granted, the Jaguars still have DE Paul Spicer, who is coming off a career year for himself. But he is 33 years old, and I can see the Jaguars rotating Harvey and Groves out in situations to keep the older guys fresh for the season. 4. Can LB Mike Peterson Shake Off The Injuries Of The Last Few Years And Make An Impact In The Final Year Of His Contract? There is no questioning the heart of a warrior. Mike Peterson leaves it all out on the field on every snap he is in the ball game. When you listen to him in interviews, you know he means business. There is no BS when it comes to Peterson. However, the recent injuries of the last few years have started to build. In 2005, he injured his wrist late in the year and was a non-factor in the 28-3 playoff loss to New England. In 2006, he tore a pectoral muscle and missed 11 games. In 2007, he missed 6 regular season games and 2 playoff games with a broken hand. Are there legitimate questions about his durability? Sure. Is there any questioning his heart? No way. You can bet Peterson has a huge chip on his shoulder and wants to prove he is not damaged goods. He knows the crop of linebackers itching to take his place (Ingram, Durant, and D. Smith) are lurking in the shadows. Will he be able to ward them off in 2008? 5. Can RB Fred Taylor Repeat His Stellar 2007 Season, Or Has He Peaked? Fred Taylor is just like his fellow Florida Gator Mike Peterson. He takes his job seriously, strives for nothing but the best, and takes pleasure when people question his abilities and he is able to serve up some tasty crow when his critics are wrong. Taylor got to his first Pro Bowl in 2007 after an amazing season where he ran for 1202 yards and averaged a whopping 5.4 yards per carry. With the combination of a rigid offseason workout routine coupled with sharing carries with RB sensation Maurice Jones-Drew, Taylor has managed to elevate his game as he heads toward the twilight of his career. The critics may be ready to push Fred Taylor out the door. However, Taylor has made it known that he intends to pass Hall of Fame RB Jim Brown before his career is done, which gives Taylor a good two years to potentially do it. Has Fred Taylor peaked? No way. Watch for the Jaguars to heavily showcase the running game again in 2008.

NFL Fantasy Draft Guide: Breaking Down the Backs 80s Sitcom Style

Sat, 19 Jul 2008 14:36:53 -0500

Fantasy football drafts are right around the corner, so who looks to be the hits and misses? This guide's a long read, but it's in-depth, and it channels the wayback machine for some who are older than they'd like to admit (or buy lots of old DVDs).

Fantasy Football Running Backs - Third Tier

Fri, 18 Jul 2008 10:34:08 -0500

We've done the Big Dog RBs and the Second Tier RBs, now it's time to look at the next wave of RBs. These are likely your #2 backs unless you opted to go QB or WR early (which isn't a bad idea). Willie Parker - Fast Willie piled on the yards last year (1316 to be exact), but didn't make many trips (2) to the endzone. I don't see Big Ben tossing as many TD passes next year so that number should go up. The problem I have with Willie is the drafting of Rashard Mendenhall. He scares me if I'm a Willie Parker owner. Jamal Lewis - Jamal had a terrific season (1552 total yards, 11 TDs) last year with Cleveland, but I just don't trust him to be my #1 RB. I expect their passing attack to take a step back next year, which will make it harder to run. Ryan Grant - Ryan Grant came in and answered Green Bay's prayers for some balance. Lost in the whole QB debate is whether or not Grant will be a fluke. If Rodgers struggles at QB, things could get difficult for Grant. I'd hate to pin my hopes on him. Maurice Jones-Drew/Fred Taylor - MJD gets the TDs. Fred Taylor gets the yards. Will the recipe be the same in Jacksonville next year? Most likely. They compliment each other so well. Unfortunately for fantasy owners it makes it difficult to rely on either one. Obviously I give MJD the edge because of his age and his ability to reach paydirt. Laurence Maroney - Did you see Maroney run in the playoffs? I'm sure the Patriot Coaches did. Heck, they probably even have video on it. Bad jokes aside, I see the Patriots running a more balanced attack next year. With the holes the passing game should open, Maroney should run wild. Ronnie Brown - Until he got hurt, Ronnie Brown was having one of the best years by any RB. Unfortunately he blew out his knee following an Interception (thanks Cleo Lemon) and will likely take a year or so to get back to form. Brandon Jacobs - Brandon Jacobs is a beast. He should have plenty of opportunity to score TDs. He needs to prove he can stay healthy. He'll likely have to share carries with some capable running mates. Edgerrin James - Edge had over 1400 total yards last year, but will turn the dreaded 30 next month. That usually doesn't go over very well for a Running Back. The Cards have two extraordinary WRs to keep defenses honest, but I'd be shocked if Edge replicates his 2007 campaign. Darren McFadden - This one is based on potential, but Run DMC sure seems to be this year's version of Adrian Peterson. I don't see him running for as many yards, or breaking any records, but I wouldn't be surprised in the least if he finished in top ten for RB fantasy scoring.

Fantasy Insider: How to Spot A Fantasy Football Sleeper

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:24:12 -0500

How to Spot A Fantasy Football Sleeper is a knack that could make or break your fantasy team. Daniel Kalles gives all you fantasy owners a "How To" locate and find fantasy sleepers and plenty of time to exam the players you feel could be sleepers this season. Best of luck this season. As Daniel Kalles, The first thing you need to know about finding a "sleeper" is figuring out what a sleeper is. Many people will have many different explanations as to what a sleeper really is, where to find them and how important they are, but they will pretty much agree that a sleeper is someone who doesn't have a big name, probably doesn't start, hasn't put up big numbers in the past, who now might have a chance to have a breakout season and be a difference maker on your team. Sleepers are usually either late round draft picks or waiver-wire pick-ups who went undrafted. Now how to spot sleepers, when to draft them, and how long you wait until you believe they are actually worth putting in your lineup are all a little different. Having one of the few sleepers who pan out and be a worthy starter can make the difference in winning your league or not winning. No one starts off the season knowing which sleeper will for sure breakout; all you can do is try and draft one or two and hope that a couple of things fall your way and your sleeper goes from nobody to somebody just like that. It's very hard to go into the draft focused on the guys who will be drafted in the later rounds, but the truth is many drafts are won in the later rounds. If you can have a good draft from top to bottom, it will help you down the line; having a deep team will help you in the event of an injury or to make trades. It's not very difficult to draft players in the first bunch of rounds, guys like Alexander, Tomlinson, Owens, Moss, these players have a history, they have done it before, we can look at their numbers and see where they should be drafted, but a sleeper is different. Most sleepers haven't played enough to accumulate enough stats to make decisions on, so you have to take a small sample (if one exists) to figure out who might be the sleepers of this year's draft. There are many different places and ways to find sleepers. One way is to look for 2nd or 3rd year players who had a chance to play near the end of the year before. At the end of most seasons, the teams out of the playoff hunt will look at some young players, giving them starts and letting veterans sit out. Watching these players can sometimes give you a hint into who might be a good sleeper the next season, if they play a good game or two. Look at Willie Parker who was undrafted out of college and was sitting on the bench in 2004 when the Steelers went 15-1. In the last game of the season, once they had already clinched home field advantage, they decided to rest veteran running back Jerome Bettis, and see what Parker could do. He went into Buffalo, on a cold January Sunday, to face the hottest team in football. The Bills were looking to get a victory and a spot in the playoffs. Well, Parker gained 102 yards on only 19 carries, to help the Steelers win the game, and give anyone who was actually paying attention to this Steelers backup a 1200 yards rusher out of nowhere in 2005. Now this doesn't mean things will always work out for you, but it's a good way of finding a sleeper. Another way of finding a sleeper is to watch the player and coach movement in the off-season, and see which players have been put in situations where they might be able to break out, with the help of certain coaches and their philosophies. A player who might have been going downhill in his career, or hasn't been able to find his way yet might be able to change that by being on a team whose system better suits their abilities. Koren Robinson is a good example. He's a former 1st round pick of the Seahawks, and while he had a couple of solid seasons with them (78 for 1240 yards and 5 TD's in 2002), he was let go at the end of 2004 because of off-field and poor behavior issues. He latched on to the Vikings as their top return man and part time WR. During the off-season they hired new head coach Brad Childress, who brings with him his West Coast offense, and they traded Nate Burleson, leaving the spot of #1 WR open. With those and many other changes the Vikings made on offense, they go into the season looking for players to step up and be leaders. Robinson has a good chance of doing that because he is a step ahead of most of the other WR's because he played in the West Coast offense while in Seattle. He could be in for a very big season. While all this looks good and could very well happen, many times it doesn't, and guys like Robinson will always be picked up for his potential, but might never realize it, because he can't control his other issues. These are just a couple of the many ways to find a sleeper. So, make sure to always pay attention to injury situations, and follow closely what players are doing at training camp. Doing this can help you find many sleepers. Lastly, don't forget that you can still find sleepers after the draft in the first couple of weeks of the season. If you see a player break out and do better then expected, don't sit on the sidelines and watch - make an effort to pick them up and see if they can sustain that output. Or if you know that a starting player has any injury at all, make sure you're the one to get anyone who might back that player up, because once a player goes down, whoever takes over can be a real steal.

If you don't know,now you know.

Sun, 13 Jul 2008 20:01:59 -0500

My love for sport has lead me to the yard.Ladies and gentleman James has arrived,so lets go have some fun.

Amazing Victories in Jaguars History (#4 - #1)

Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:50:38 -0500

Today we conclude with our five-part series where we identify the 20 most thrilling wins in Jaguars history. Check back every day this week as we revisit 4 amazing victories per day. Be sure to leave us comments about what you remember about those games. Enjoy! #4 | 1/15/00 vs. Miami Dolphins (Divisional Round) / 62-7: The Jaguars had the best record in the league at 14-2 in 1999, and they were awarded the #1 seed and home field advantage. The first order of business was to welcome the Miami Dolphins to Jacksonville in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. It turned into a fish fry really quick. The Jaguars led 24-0 after one quarter, 41-7 at the half, and eventually had 62 points by the end, which are the second-most points scored in NFL postseason history and the most scored in an AFC playoff game. The 55-point margin of victory is the second-largest for an NFL postseason game, second only to the Chicago Bears' 73-0 victory over the Washington Redskins in 1940. RB Fred Taylor also provided a highlight 90-yard touchdown run that remains the longest touchdown in playoff history. It was a sad exit for one of the NFL's all-time great quarterbacks as QB Dan Marino was only 11-for-25 for 95 yards. #3 | 12/28/96 vs. Buffalo Bills (Wild Card Round) / 30-27: The Jaguars had made the improbable happen by winning the last 5 regular season games and clinching a wild card berth. The first destination? A date with the Bills where Buffalo had never lost a playoff game at Rich Stadium. The Bills players did not take the Jaguars seriously. According to excerpts from "Jags to Riches" by Pete Prisco and John Oehser, RB Thurman Thomas commented, "Jacksonville who?" QB Jim Kelly said on his television show that the Bills had a huge edge over the Jaguars because they had not seen the K-Gun no-huddle offense before, even though the Ravens ran the same offense and lost twice in '96 to the Jaguars. LB Sam Rogers told the Buffalo News that the Jaguars would be shell-shocked by the Rich Stadium crowd. The Jaguars did not blink, and it was the Bills who got shell-shocked. The "no-name" Jaguars LT Tony Boselli completely shut down All-World DE Bruce Smith. RB Natrone Means pounded the rock for 31 carries and 175 rushing yards. QB Jim Kelly was knocked out of the game late, and backup QB Todd Collins was not a factor as the Jaguars upset the Bills 30-27. Jacksonville who? They knew after that December day. #2 | 1/4/97 vs. Denver Broncos (Divisional Round) / 30-27: Even with beating the Bills on the road in the Wild Card round the week before, the Jaguars did not earn many believers heading into Denver for the Divisional Round game versus the 13-3 Broncos. The Jaguars (or "JagWads" as Denver columnist Woody Paige dubbed the team) were 13.5 point underdogs to John Elway and company. It started off like maybe the Jaguars did not belong on this stage after all, as the Broncos got out to a 12-0 lead after the 1st quarter. But the Jaguars would tack on 23 unanswered points to quietly take a 23-12 lead. The Broncos were stifled by the Jaguars defense. RB Natrone Means continued his bruising running attack, carrying the rock 21 times for 140 yards. Elway refused to give up, and he pulled the Broncos to within 23-20 with about 7 minutes left in the game. The ensuing drive solidified QB Mark Brunell's nickname as "Miracle Mark" as he had a legendary 29-yard scramble deep into Broncos territory. A few plays, Brunell threaded a beautiful touchdown pass to WR Jimmy Smith to give the "JagWads" a 30-20 lead with just over 3 minutes remaining. Elway got a quick Broncos touchdown in typical two-minute fashion that has always made Elway a legend. But an onside kick was recovered by the Jaguars, and David truly slayed Goliath. The miracle train that was the '96 season kept on rolling right to the AFC Championship Game. #1 | 12/22/96 vs. Atlanta Falcons / 19-17: The 8-7 Jaguars were riding a 4-game winning streak as they prepared for the season finale with the dismal 3-12 Atlanta Falcons. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to get the first playoff berth in franchise history, and things started out great as Jacksonville took a 13-3 lead at halftime. The Jaguars were already getting help from Buffalo as they were rolling over Kansas City. The stars were aligning for something special. The Jaguars tacked on another field goal 16-3, and the playoff fever was starting to spread through the Jacksonville crowd. But by the end of the 3rd quarter the Falcons were making things interesting, pulling to within 16-10. K Mike Hollis would nail a 42-yard field goal off the upright to pad the lead 19-10. The Jaguars defense seemed lackadaisical as they allowed the Falcons right back into the game. Atlanta completed a 12-play, 77-yard drive that resulted in a touchdown run by RB Craig "Ironhead" Heyward. The lead suddenly was only two points with just less than 6 minutes to play, and the Jacksonville crowd was getting worried. The Jaguars' next drive stalled, and the Falcons got the ball back. Just like the previous drive, Atlanta moved with ease through the Jaguars' defense. The Falcons made it all the way down to the Jaguars' 13-yard line, called timeout with just seconds on the clock, and sent in one of the most sure-footed kickers in the history of the game: Morten Andersen. The snap was good. But Andersen planted his foot and slipped! The kick sailed wide left, and the Jaguars miraculously escaped 19-17 to begin their first trip into the playoffs.