Wally's World: Traveling down that 'Holiday Road' of Fantasy Football fantasysharks.com Mon 8/11/14 7:15 AM
After a week spent vacationing in western Kentucky (translation; lots of swimming and fishing) we are back with another preseason edition of Wally's World. We don't need a map or high tech GPS system to navigate this trip because we are going whatever direction the fantasy road may lead us.
So after a long Sunday spent binge watching as much preseason football as humanly possible these are a few of the things I found intriguing. Fasten your seatbelt because we will be jumping around the world of fantasy football from standard formats as well as some thoughts regarding Individual Defensive Player (IDP) leagues.
It's hard not to like Giants rookie RB Andre Williams. He looked good in the Hall of Fame game and is in a perfect position to contribute right away.
Starting RB Rashad Jennings looked pretty good himself in the G-Men's second preseason game and it looks like a ground and pound type of season in New York.
Do not fret the zero catch total for WR Sammy Watkins last week as the kid will still be a valuable weapon for Buffalo. If skittish owners decide to pass him up on draft day then go ahead and jump on him. Watkins is a special talent and water always finds it level.
Color me skeptical regarding all the training camp praise that Denver RB Ronnie Hillman is receiving. Injuries to Montee Ball and C.J. Anderson will give Hillman every chance to shine, but I don't think he will. Been there, done that and know how this movie ends.
The Giants are happy to see Damontre Moore rack up a sack, as they will need the second year DE to step up this season with the departure of Justin Tuck in free agency.
So the Jets are planning a three-headed RBBC monster this season? Thanks Rex. Let's see how injuries and preseason performances shake out before avoiding this situation like the plague.
Call it a ‘sneaky premonition' or ‘gut feeling' but I love Green Bay WR Jarrett Boykin this season. Here's hoping that he has a quiet preseason so he remains a nice value pick in drafts moving forward.
Have to love rookie LBs Ryan Shazier of the Steelers and Christian Kirksey in Cleveland, as both are poised for big roles on their defenses. In a division that will run the ball as much as any in the league these two youngsters should rack up very nice tackle numbers.
Hate to see Lions DE Ziggy Ansah miss so much of training camp. Reports are that he's close to returning and he'll need all the reps he can get moving forward. It's hard to see where Detroit is going to ...
On Second Thought - Week 13 fantasysharks.com Tue 11/26/13 7:45 AM
You have got 12 weeks invested into this season as do all of the actual players. There is a lot of information to be able to reflect on in order to make proper decisions. Do not get wrapped up in last minute flash-in-the-pans when you still have solid players on your roster that have produced for you all season.
The following is a list of the most added players this week in fantasy football. Now, this is not to say that if you have the roster space or a player who is just not performing for you that I would recommend passing on this list of players, but I am saying, buyer beware.
The first group of players to beware of are the quarterbacks, with injuries to many starters around the league there is opportunity for young gunslingers to make a name for themselves. Just be mindful of young QBs facing tough defenses in late season games.
Mike Glennon is first on this list with the next four games being against Carolina, Buffalo, San Francisco and then St. Louis. This may be the toughest end of the year schedule of any QB in the NFL. Glennon has been great this season, but beware moving forward, as this is a formidable end of the season schedule for any QB, yet alone a rookie.
Carson Palmer has been very good as of late. The Arizona Cardinals are tied for second place in the NFC West and they play Philadelphia next week. So why in the world would I tell you not to bother rostering him? Because he finishes off his year and your playoffs with St. Louis and Tennessee and then for your championship game, should you make it, he gets the Seattle Seahawks.
Palmer has been averaging 325 yards and two touchdowns over his last three games. He will give you a great game next week but after that he is a must drop. If you need him for next week, then pick him up, but he will hurt your team after that, guaranteed.
Scott Tolzien. Unlike Glennon and Palmer, Tolzien actually has a great schedule with Atlanta and Dallas in the first two weeks of the fantasy playoffs. Unfortunately, it sounds as if Aaron Rodgers will be back by then. Reports out of Cheesetown have Rodgers possibly playing this week. If the reports have him "possibly" playing this week, then he will most definitely be in the week after, so the best you can hope for with Tolzien is one more week.
For the record, Tolzien will be going up against the Detroit Lions and that front line featuring Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley. I really think you should look elsewhere as it seems that for this year ...
Top 5 Rookie DL Prospects for 2013 fantasysharks.com Fri 5/17/13 2:30 PM
As any Individual Defensive Player (IDP) fantasy owner can attest, the defensive lineman position has become quite the fickle mistress. With the proliferation of hybrid 3-4 defensive schemes leading to the position designations of players once deemed to be a defensive end being switched to outside linebacker, it is becoming harder and harder to secure high-scoring defensive lineman talent in IDP formats.
Even more difficult to find are rookie defensive lineman prospects that have a relevant fantasy impact on their IDP squads.
Adjusting to the speed of the NFL game as well as getting the number of snaps to put up decent numbers is a difficult task for most rookies and it generally takes a year or two for them to develop and blossom into viable fantasy options. While each of the players on this list is a dynasty draft selection for certain, some may be avoidable in redraft formats depending on the size of the league and roster limits.
1. Dion Jordan, DE, Miami: The Dolphins traded up to the third position to land the athletic 6-foot-6, 250-pound Jordan and will be able to utilize him in a number of ways. First and foremost, he can be the edge rusher lining up opposite defensive end Cameron Wake that the Miami defense has lacked the past few seasons.
Jordan already possesses excellent edge rush skills, and, while he needs to add some bulk to his frame, he has also shown the versatility to be able to drop into coverage. The ability to hold his own in coverage will serve him Jordan well in both Miami's 4-3 base defense as well as a hybrid 3-4 should the Dolphins employ it. He will see a lot of snaps as a rookie and holds solid DL4 fantasy value with the definite upside to reach high-end DL2 numbers.
2. Ezekiel "Ziggy" Ansah, DE, Detroit: Ansah fills an immediate need on the Detroit defensive line, as the Lions are desperate for an edge rushing threat from the defensive end position. With his limited exposure to football having been well documented (dare I say, beat to death), Ansah does know one thing already and that is how to get up the field.
He is freakishly athletic at 6-foot-5 and 271 pounds with an explosive burst off the snap and will have little competition from Jason Jones, Willie Young and Ronnell Lewis in landing a starting job for Detroit. The duo of Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley at the defensive tackle position will force offensive lines to focus attention on the interior, freeing up Ansah to do what he does best in 2013 - get after the ...
IDP Sleepers - Week 15 fantasysharks.com Fri 12/14/12 11:00 AM
Week one of the fantasy football playoffs is in the books and owners of victorious teams are knee deep in week two lineup preparations. There is no rest for the weary at this point in the season and the level of opposition rises from one week to the next.
There were plenty of surprises last week with some big name players coming up short (I'm looking at you Daryl Washington and Chad Greenway) of expectation while others stepped up and flourished (Hello Ziggy Hood and Joselio Hanson) from out of nowhere.
For the IDP owners who have managed to survive and advance despite some of the aforementioned names disappointing as they did last week it is time to swing for the fences. Matchups and momentum are as important as season stats and it is a ‘what have you done for me lately' world.
With that in mind we have skewed this week's sleepers towards players that may have more big play potential than impressive season to date numbers. What players have done up until now is irrelevant and is all about what will they do moving forward.
Let's take a look at the top sleeper candidates heading into week 15...
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN:
Frostee Rucker, DE, CLEVELAND vs. WASHINGTON: The Browns had a rare blowout victory and Rucker enjoyed a very productive day with seven total tackles and a sack. In his last three games Rucker has posted 12 total tackles, a sack and one pass batted down. He is an excellent option this week as the Redskins will continue to ride rookie running back Alfred Morris and that will equal tackle opportunities. There will also chances to get to the quarterback, as it will be either the much less mobile Kirk Cousins or a limited Robert Griffin III under center for the Redskins.
Michael Brockers, DT, ST LOUIS, vs. MINNESOTA: Brockers is hitting his stride for the Rams after battling through an early season ankle injury that cost him a few games. Over the past month he has amassed 21 total tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. Surprisingly, the Vikings are not really very fantasy friendly to the defensive line position despite pounding the rock with Adrian Peterson as much as they do. That being said, Brockers has been playing so well of late that he is borderline matchup proof and look for nice fantasy totals this week.
Lawrence Jackson, DE, DETROIT, at ARIZONA: The Lions defensive line has taken some hits on the injury front lately with tackle Nick Fairley suffering a shoulder injury last week and Corey Williams being placed on IR with his knee problem...
IDP Sleepers - Week 12 fantasysharks.com Fri 11/23/12 9:06 AM
Week 12 is here, and if you are still in the playoff hunt, it is indeed crunch time. If you are not, take the time and show the pride to play spoiler as the fantasy regular season winds down.
First off, I must apologize for breaking one of my personal fantasy rules last week. Just minutes before submitting my article I made a rookie fantasy mistake and decided to change my mind at the last minute.
After having written up Detroit defensive lineman Nick Fairley as a prime sleeper candidate and then hearing the news that Cliff Avril was cleared to play, I decided to roll with Avril over Fairley.
The rest, as they say, is history. I went against my gut feeling (and plenty of research) and missed out on providing IDP owners what turned out to be one of the week's top defensive performances. Trust me, it will not happen again.
Let's get to it!
LINEBACKERS
Koa Misi, SLB, Miami vs. Seattle: Misi is coming off a nice game against Buffalo in which he posted four total tackles with a sack while playing only 28 defensive snaps. He is purely a matchup type player for fantasy purposes, and this week's game against Seattle should allow him to shine, as he is solid against the run. His snap count will be higher as Seattle pounds the ball on the ground, and with 2½ sacks on the season, Misi does bring some big play potential.
Erin Henderson, WLB, Minnesota at Chicago: Henderson has worked his way into the rotation in the Vikings' sub-packages again and should see more playing time moving forward. This is a great match up for him, as the Bears will be looking to establish the running game to help keep their quarterback upright. Henderson has put up 11 total tackles in his last two games, and while that is not all that impressive, he's averaged 46 snaps per game and with an increase in playing time likely, he is an excellent sleeper this week.
Jonathan Vilma, WLB, New Orleans vs. San Francisco: New Orleans interim head coach Joe Vitt has stated that Vilma will see more playing time moving forward, and this is a great week for that to happen. The 49ers are a Top 3 matchup in allowing points to linebackers, and Vilma is in line for a big day. He posted his first sack of the season last week and will be very active in containing Frank Gore on the ground as well as having to worry about the running ability of newly crowned starting quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
James Harrison, OLB, Pittsburgh at Cleveland : Harrison looked the Harrison of old, rather than an old ...
IDP Sleepers - Week 3 fantasysharks.com Fri 9/21/12 8:00 AM
Week 3 is upon us and the IDP landscape is still in an uncertain state. The defensive line position is a topsy-turvy mess, as some very big name players have yet to appear on the fantasy landscape. For example, Nick Fairley has more sacks right now, than Jared Allen and Mario Williams COMBINED. That's all we need to say about that.
Injured and suspended players will begin to make their way back on to the field in the coming weeks, further muddling the situation, but we'll keep rolling out the hot sleepers each week.
Week 3 brings some very nice matchups in which our lower ranked gems will shine. So, without further ado...
DEFENSIVE LINEMEN
Andre Branch, DE, JACKSONVILLE, at INDIANAPOLIS: The rookie has yet to record a sack and has amassed five total tackles through the first two weeks of the season. The Jaguars head to Indianapolis in week three and Branch is due to break the ice on getting to the quarterback. Look for Branch to have a solid fantasy outing in week three as he has shown better push to the quarterback week-by-week and it pays off against the Colts.
Shea McClellin, DE, CHICAGO, vs. ST LOUIS: After swinging and missing with McClellin as a week one sleeper, when he managed only a couple of quarterback hurries, we return the rookie to the list. In week two against the Packers he managed to post 1½ sacks and four total tackles. Week three brings the Rams and their shaky offensive line to the Windy City. The rookie looks have adjusted to the speed of the NFL and will be chasing down Sam Bradford all day.
Frostee Rucker, DE, CLEVELAND, vs. BUFFALO: Rucker has posted seven overall tackles in the first two weeks of the season and is a solid run defender. Against the Bengals in week two he added a sack and that is what the Browns were looking for when they signed him this off-season. The week three match up with Buffalo should see Rucker post solid tackle numbers, as well as have the chance to get to Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Tommy Kelly, DT, OAKLAND, vs. PITTSBURGH: Kelly is solid against the run and the Steelers will show a commitment to pounding the rock in week three. To date in 2012, Kelly has put up six solo tackles and will be a sure bet to add to that total this week. Pittsburgh has allowed eight sacks of Ben Roethlisberger in two games, the offensive line is struggling and that will give Kelly the chance to garner his first sack of 2012.
Jonathan Babineaux, DT, ATLANTA, at SAN DIEGO: ‘Babs' has already notched two sacks in 2012 but is lacking ...
Late-Round Defensive Linemen Options for 2012 fantasysharks.com Mon 8/20/12 6:00 AM
The defensive line position offers a variety of options to consider when looking for late-round value to bolster an Individual Defensive Player (IDP) fantasy squad. First and foremost, it is again vital to have a firm grasp of the league scoring format and then formulate a draft strategy accordingly. Sack production is invariably going to be rewarded with higher points in nearly every league, but also knowing what the actual point totals are for solo tackles and assists can help to move certain players into a position of value fantasy wise.
Many leagues also will break down the defensive line into the defensive end and defensive tackle designations, and a certain number of each are required in starting lineups. There will be a spattering of both defensive ends and tackles examined here and for the purposes of this article; the positions will be collapsed into one list. So keep that in mind when considering the names and how they can fit into your league's format.
Muhammad Wilkerson, DE, New York Jets: Wilkerson was a first-round draft selection by the Jets in 2011 (30th overall) and had a very nice rookie season. He was on the field for nearly 60 percent of the defensive snaps and accounted for 48 total tackles, forced a fumble and had three sacks. Reports are that he is fully recovered from a June car accident and is a full participant in training camp. Standing 6-foot-4, and weighing in at 315 pounds, Wilkerson is a physical beast that creates a mismatch along the defensive front. He has the size and physical strength to stand his ground, set the edge and offer run support while possessing surprising speed for a man his size. He is able to get past offensive linemen with a nice burst and has the opportunity to absolutely surpass the three-sack total he put up last season. If rookie Quinton Coples can fulfill on his potential and Aaron Maybin can continue his career resurgence, Wilkerson will benefit from the attention they warrant from opposing lineman as well. The New York coaching staff is talking about keeping him on the field for 80 percent of the snaps in 2012. That equals a nice jump in fantasy production. His current ranking fluctuates between the late 40s to as low as the 70s among defensive linemen, and he will outperform those rankings easily.
Nick Fairley, DT, Detroit: While Fairley has not been in the league very long, his name has been in the news so much that it seems like he's been around awhile. Unfortunately, the headlines have ...
Lions DT Fairley arrested on marijuana charge brunoboys.net Tue 4/3/12 7:55 PM 1 Comment
Detroit Lions defensive tackle Nick Fairley was arrested for second-degree possession of marijuana on Tuesday.
FREE AGENT FEEDING FRENZY: Defensive Linemen fantasysharks.com Sat 1/28/12 3:06 PM
The 2011 fantasy football campaign has concluded, and with only Super Bowl XLVI remaining to be played, soon the curtain will fall on another season of National Football League action as well.
However, for fantasy football fanatics in dynasty Individual Defensive Player (IDP) leagues or any owner looking to get an early edge on the competition, the offseason is basically non-existent, which means that no sooner does one season end than another begins.
Before we turn our eyes towards next month's NFL Scouting Combine and April's NFL Draft (which I'll be doing plenty of myself with the IDP Draft Preview Series at IDP Manor), we must first navigate the treacherous waters of the annual insanity that is free agency in the NFL.
Player movement can have a huge IDP impact not only on the players that join new teams but also their former and new teammates, so this article will be the first in a three-part series looking at some of the prominent free agents at each of the major IDP positions, where those players might be headed, and what it all could mean for their fantasy football value in 2012 and beyond.
Robert Mathis, DE, Indianapolis: Mathis is easily the biggest "name" set to hit the open market in 2012, and the 31-year-old was named to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl after racking up 43 tackles, 9.5 sacks, and three forced fumbles during the nightmare that was the Colts' 2011 season.
The Colts are a team brimming with uncertainty at this point, and with the team potentially looking at a full-on rebuild and new head coach Chuck Pagano set to move the team away from the Tampa-2 defense it has run for years and towards the "hybrid" defense he utilized with the Baltimore Ravens, it's very possible that the nine-year veteran will decide it's time to move on.
Should Mathis, who has finished in the Top 20 at his position in Default IDP Manor Scoring the past four years, decide to remain in Indianapolis, it's possible his IDP value could take a hit in the Colts new defense, dropping him into lower-end IDP DL2 territory, but if Mathis moves on and finds a new home with a team running the 4-3 he will most likely continue to be what he's been the past several seasons ... a solid, if unspectacular IDP DL1.
Cliff Avril, DE, Detroit: Fourth-year pro Cliff Avril finally put it all together in 2011, logging 36 tackles, 11 sacks, three forced fumbles and an interception while finishing as a Top 5 fantasy defensive lineman and helping to propel the Lions to their ...
Lions DT Fairley practices, questionable vs. Bears brunoboys.net Sat 10/8/11 6:05 PM
Detroit Lions rookie defensive tackle Nick Fairley practiced in full on Saturday and is listed as questionable to make his NFL debut in Monday's game against the NFC North rival Chicago Bears.