Today’s episode featured a Colts fan, an Eagles fan, a Broncos fan, a Steelers fan (my co-host), and yours truly (Bears fan). We discussed fantasy football, season headlines, expectations, and Week 1 matchups of the NFL season. Watch us have a blast as I’m getting ready for 4 fantasy football drafts today. Podcast info below:
I’m ranking the projected 32 starting quarterbacks entering the 2017 season. Obviously, parts of this list are debatable, but (I believe) this is the most accurate list to date.
Bottom of the Barrel
Bryce Petty
32) Bryce Petty – NY Jets
You have to start somewhere.
31) Jared Goff – LA Rams
Can’t wait to see what he’s made of.
30) Cody Kessler – Cleveland
It’s the Browns (future starting to look bright though).
29) Brian Hoyer – San Francisco
Somehow he finds his way on the field.
28) Tom Savage – Houston
We’ll see. He has a lot of weapons around him though.
27) Trevor Siemian – Denver
Not sure how long this will last, but he had some good moments last season.
26) Mike Glennon – Chicago
Hopefully, he’s mentally tough. He’s in a lose-lose situation.
Hot Seat
Blake Bortles
25) Blake Bortles – Jacksonville
He has more career pick-6’s (11) than career wins (10). Let that sink in.
24) Alex Smith – Kansas City
It’s not his first time on the hot season and won’t be the last.
23) Ryan Tannehill – Miami
Something has to give. He’s getting paid too much money to be this inconsistent.
22) Sam Bradford – Minnesota
Even though Teddy Bridgewater is still recovering from his injury, the Vikings gave up way too much to not make the playoffs.
21) Tyrod Taylor – Buffalo
The Bills Organization may not believe in Tyrod, but he has enough talent to keep them in games.
20) Joe Flacco – Baltimore
That Super Bowl win seems so far away…
Decent
Carson Wentz
19) Carson Wentz – Philadelphia
He should be higher on this list when the season is over.
18) Kirk Cousins – Washington
It’s Kirk Cousins or bust for Kirk Cousins. He won’t be back next year.
17) Eli Manning – NY Giants
Good Eli. Bad Eli. Ugly Eli. Which one will show up this year?
16) Carson Palmer – Arizona
Even though the offense is talent, the end may be near for him.
Promising
Dak Prescott
15) Dak Prescott – Dallas
Dak has given Dallas “hope” to end their two-decade Super Bowl drought.
14) Marcus Mariota – Tennessee
This offense should be fun to watch. He continues to get better.
13) Jameis Winston – Tampa Bay
He may end up in the top 10 by the end of the season. He has the potential to lead the Bucs into contention.
12) Andy Dalton – Cincinnati
Just needs to get it done in the playoffs.
Very Good
Andrew Luck
11) Andrew Luck – Indianapolis
He has the talent to be an elite quarterback (just needs an offensive line). He just needs to get it done.
10) Philip Rivers – LA Chargers
He has been consistent over his career but has yet to get over the hump.
9) Russell Wilson – Seattle
Russell has championship-pedigree. Will he be able to put it all together again is the question.
8) Cam Newton – Carolina
Overall, he’s possibly the hardest quarterback to bring down (even with that bad offensive line). He still has accuracy issues (misses high) but he’s still dangerous.
7) Matthew Stafford – Detroit
He proved that didn’t need Calvin Johnson to put up big time numbers. Just need the organization to change its culture.
6) Derek Carr – Oakland
He’s knocking on the door of elite status. He was having an MVP-caliber season before the season-ending leg injury. Expect big things from him and the Raiders.
Elite
Drew Brees
5) Drew Brees – New Orleans
He’s been so good for so long. Just wished their defense would’ve been better over the years.
4) Ben Roethlisberger – Pittsburgh
His window is closing to get his 3rd Super Bowl title with his elite offense. Super Bowl or bust right now.
3) Matt Ryan – Atlanta
He finally put his skills and potential together last season and lead the Falcons to the Super Bowl. Will they get back to the big stage?
Crème De La Crème
Aaron Rodgers
2) Aaron Rodgers – Green Bay
“The human cheat code” is way too talented to only have one Super Bowl ring in his career. The window will be closed sooner than later.
1) Tom Brady – New England
I don’t know how much more he has in the tank at age 40, but until we show signs of him coming down to Earth, he’s the best.
This is one of my favorite times of the year. From now until February, the NFL will be on every Sunday. With preseason starting up, fantasy football is just around the corner. With that being said, here are some tips that should help you on your draft day.
Antonio Brown Is Special
The golden rule in fantasy football is that you always take a running back in the first round. However, Antonio Brown has become an exception to this rule the past 2 seasons. In 2015, he scored 243 fantasy points in standard play by racking up 1834 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. Brown has been the “go-to guy” for Big Ben and the number go to guy in fantasy football. It is okay to draft him with the first pick.
Don’t Waste Your First Round Pick On…
O’Dell Beckham Jr, Ezekiel Elliott, and Rob Gronkowski. As talented as ODB is, I rather draft Julio Jones. Atlanta’s only weapon in the passing game is Jones (He led the league in targets last season with 136). Eli Manning has the return of Victor Cruz and rookie Sterling Shepard to utilize as well. Please be cautious if you do decide to pick him in the first round.
I have nothing against Ezekiel Elliott’s ability, but I’m not drafting a player who hasn’t played a signal down in the NFL in the first round. The Dallas Cowboys has the best offensive line in football so it does seem enticing to draft Elliott early. However, in the famous words of Stephen A Smith, “The Cowboys are an accident waiting to happen”.
Last year was my first time taking Rob Gronkowski and it happened to be in the first round. By week 4, I’ve learned that tight ends are becoming a deep position. Plus, Tom Brady will miss the first 4 games. Taking Gronk in the second round is okay.
My Sleepers Consist Of…
Lamar Miller, Donte Moncrief, Kevin White, and Markus Wheaton. In my opinion, Lamar Miller was underutilized in Miami. The last season and a half, Miller showed he can produce when he touches the ball. He’ll have his chance to shine in Houston.
With Andre Johnson departure and Andrew Luck, finally healthy, Donte Moncrief has a high ceiling to be productive this season. TY Hilton will see double coverage far more times than not. This will enable Moncrief for one on one match-ups in a pass heavy offense. Let that sink in.
We will finally see what Kevin White can do on the gridiron. After missing his first season with a shin injury, White looks to fill the void of what the Chicago Bears offense was missing last season. White is 6’3″ and runs under a 4.4 in the 40-yard dash. With the attention on Alshon Jeffrey, the Bears first round pick in 2015 could be a playmaker.
When Martavis Bryant missed the first 4 games last season due to a suspension, Markus Wheaton didn’t take advantage of the opportunity. Now that Bryant is suspended all of the 2016 NFL Season, Wheaton will have all season to prove his value and explode on the fantasy football scene.
Just Stop
Matthew Stafford, Demaryius Thomas, and the San Francisco 49’ers. Stafford has talent, but he primarily benefited from having Calvin “Megatron” Johnson. Now that Johnson is retired, Matthew Stafford has lost his security blanket. With the lack of talent on offense, he might consistently struggle. I rather draft Ryan Tannehill.
Demaryius Thomas has the ability to be a top 5 wide receiver in the league. He has exceptional hands and speed. The problem with him in fantasy football this year is his new quarterback, Mark Sanchez. Sanchez hasn’t been the most accurate quarterback and is known for his “Butt Fumble” (CLICK HERE TO WATCH). Unless Sanchez gets him the ball consistently, Thomas may be a flex option at best.
Last year, the Cleveland Browns was the team I said to avoid drafting any players from. Now, I wouldn’t advise drafting anybody from San Francisco. Carlos Hyde has some potential but the way their offense is presently constructed, teams might give him the “Adrian Peterson treatment” (putting 8 players in the “box” on defense to stop the run). We’re not sure if Blaine Gabbert or Colin Kaepernick will start, but neither is worth starting in fantasy football. Torrey Smith is a deep threat but the quarterback play is insufficient for Smith to be productive. At least Cleveland has Josh Gordon coming back week 5, pending reinstatement.
Always Remember
Simple but important tips:
Running backs are scarce (get them while you can)
Draft your quarterback between round 6 and 8 (they are a dime a dozen)
Do not draft a kicker until last 2 rounds (this should be a given)
Don’t reach for a player unless you think it’s absolutely necessary
Note: This list is who is the best wide receiver right now. Past accolades and accomplishments alone will not move you higher on the list. This list is based on skill, talent, age, and the ability to perform.
Honorable Mentions:
Andrew Luck (Colts), Carson Palmer(Cardinals), Drew Brees (Saints)
5) Ben Roethlisburger, Steelers
When Jerome Bettis retired “Big Ben” was given the keys to the offense. Roethlisburger’s passing numbers have gotten better every season. When Pittsburgh added weapons Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell, Roethlisburger numbers started to excel. Now the team is a contender again despite a subpar defense.
4) Russell Wilson, Seahawks
In the past, Seattle’s success came in the running game. However, with Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Rawls being banged up last season, Wilson was forced to win games with his arm. Doug Baldwin had a career year due to Wilson’s efficiency. You add that with his mobility and intangibles, the newlywed is hard to stop.
3) Aaron Rodgers, Packers
Rodgers is the most gifted passer in the NFL. As a Chicago Bears fan, I despise him, but he’s phenomenal. Last season, Rodgers struggled without his number one target, Jordy Nelson. With Nelson back, that offense joins the best in the league. We’ll probably see more discount double checks in the near future.
2) Tom Brady, Patriots
Brady has been elite for the past 12 seasons. System or no system, Brady continues to be consistent and dominate no matter what weapons he has around him. However, he does have a great weapon this year in Rob Gronkowski. Brady’s high football IQ and allows him to succeed no matter what obstacles.
1) Cam Newton, Panthers
Newton is the true definition of growth. It’s hard to find any flaws. Physically he is 6’5, 240 pounds. His running ability gives him leverage over the other quarterbacks on this list. Last season he took an big step with his passing despite not having his best wide receiver. He elevated the play for the wide receivers he did have. Wide receivers who would not be starters on any other team. Without Von Miller, the Carolina Panthers are more than likely your defending champs.
The Carolina Panthers (11 offense and 6 defense) will take on the Denver Broncos (16 offense and 1 defense) Sunday for Superbowl 50. Peyton Manning will attempt to possibly ride off into the sunset with a Superbowl win like Jerome Bettis, Ray Lewis, and even his boss John Elway. The Broncos are back in the Superbowl for their second time in the Manning era. Their last visit was a disaster, getting trampled by Seattle. This time their defense is up to the challenge, but their offense nothing similar of that Superbowl team. Can Peyton add another Superbowl Title to his legacy? Will Peyton retire after this game like so much has be speculating that he will? Only time will tell.
The Carolina Panthers will be making their 2nd Superbowl appearance in franchise history; their first in the Cam Newton era. This team was written off on majority’s Superbowl list when Kelvin Benjamin tore his ACL before the season. Newton became “Supercam”, and along with that stellar defense went on to only lose 1 game this season. The made the best of what they got and the presumed MVP of the season is looking to cap off this historic season with a Lombardi trophy.
This will be the first time 2 number one overall picks will be playing in the Superbowl (Manning and Newton), and the first time the number one and number two overall picks from the same draft class will playing as well (Newton and Von Miller). I expect this to be a close defensive game or Carolina to blow Denver out. Denver’s offense is not what it used to be but you never know what could happen.
Denver wins if:
They can run the ball and convert 3rd downs. To beat Carolina, you have to be able to effectively run the football. The problem is that generally the Panthers defense is dominant against opposing running backs. If you have make Peyton Manning consistently convert 3rd and longs against this elite defense, they’ll be in for a long game.
Carolina wins if:
They can keep the Broncos defense honest and stop the pass rush. In order to keep the defense honest, Carolina will have to run the ball effectively or have a balance play call between run and pass plays. Von Miller and DeMarcus Ware were playing extraordinary in their win against New England. If that can neutralize that and Cam Newton has time, the Panthers has a really good chance of winning.
What do you think will be the x-factor? Who will shine the brightest on the big stage? Will we see a “David Tyree-type-of-play”? Will one of the coaches pull a ” Pete Carroll”? What do you think will be the outcome of this game? Tell me your thoughts of the game.
Another week in the books! We are getting closer to that final playoff push. Carolina and New England remained undefeated, Thomas Rawls is making the best of his limited opportunities in Seattle, and Matt Hasselbeck is undefeated this season as the Indianapolis Colts starter. What else did we learn?
Cam Netwon and Tom Brady
MVP Race
Almost 3 quarters of the NFL regular season is completed, and the MVP race is basically coming down to two players: Tom Brady (the favorite) and Cam Newton (the underdog). Tom Brady’s main argument is his stats (3,320 passing yards, 25 TDs, 4 INTs, 28 rushing yards, 2 TDs) and their team’s record (10-0). Another claim is that their team has looked dominant for majority of the year. Over the past few weeks, New England has started to lose their weapons; first Dion Lewis, then Julian Edelman, and now Danny Amendola. If they were to finish the regular season undefeated, that will show how impressive Tom Brady and this well-oiled machine really is. On the other side, you have Cam Newton. His stats (2,283 passing yards, 20 TDs, 9 INTs, 382 rushing yards, 6 TDs) doesn’t tell the whole story. His best receiver, Kelvin Benjamin, hasn’t played a single snap this year due to a torn ACL. Besides Greg Olsen, I’m not sure anybody else on that offense that plays a skilled position would start on another team. He has done the most that he can with working with arguably the worst supporting cast on offense in the league…not mention that they are undefeated as well. Even though Tom Brady is still the favorite now, this race can get really close, really soon.
Brock Osweiler
The Brock Osweiler Era?
Brock Osweiler made his first start for the injured Peyton Manning this past Sunday against Chicago on the road. He didn’t look bad by any means. Actually, it was kind of impressive. He completed 20 out of 27 passes for 250 passing yards, 2 TDs, and 0 INTs. Osweiler is listed at 6 foot 7, with a cannon of an arm. Denver has announced they he will make his second consecutive start next Sunday against New England. Manning hasn’t looked like the Peyton Manning that we are accustomed to, and he hasn’t made the best decisions either. This may be the end of number 18 in the Mile High City.
Jameis Winston
Jameis Winston Ahead Of The Curve
For being the number 1 overall pick and being thrown into the fire, Jameis Winston has responded well based on the circumstances. Winston had his best game of his young career Sunday against Philadelphia (completed 19 of 29 pass attempts, 246 passing yards, 5 TDs, and 0 INTs). Over the past 4 games, he has 9 total TDs, 2 INTs, and most importantly 3 wins. Obviously, he still has PLENTY of room for improvement but compared to Luck’s Newton’s, and Manning’s rookies season (I won’t dare put JaMarcus Russell in that category), he’s in the mix, if not better. Fantasy football wise, he’s looked incredible during that span and moving forward.
Johnny Manziel
Notes
Baltimore has now without their top 4 players, with injuries to Justin Forsett (fractured arm) and Joe Flacco (torn ACL) this past Sunday against St. Louis. The other 2 players are Terrell Suggs and Steve Smith Sr.
Johnny Manziel allegedly partying over the bye week via video. His status on being the starter is now uncertain. UPDATE: Josh McCown is named the starter and Johnny Manziel is 3rd string.
Green Bay is now tied with Minnesota on top of the NFC North with Green Bay owning the tie breaker.
Tony Romo on Thanksgiving
Bonus: Thanksgiving Outlook
For the longest, Dallas and Detroit always host a team on Thanksgiving. Over the past few years, the NFL has added a 3rd game during the evening. First game is Philadelphia at Detroit. Sam Bradford has cleared the concussion protocol, but it has not been determined if he will start or not. Detroit hasn’t played up to expectations, but they have looked better the past couple of weeks. Second game is Carolina and Dallas. Dallas is actually favored to win this game (and I don’t understand why). Having Tony Romo back under center has given “America’s Team” hope to make a final push for a playoff spot. Cam Newton and the Panthers are looking to continue their perfect season. If Dallas can’t run the ball, things can get rough in Dallas. Third game is Chicago at Green Bay. The NFL’s Oldest Rivalry will face off again Thanksgiving night. Jay Cutler hasn’t won a game at Lambeau Field in Chicago, and he may have to give it try without Alshon Jeffrey (hamstring). Green Bay is looking to get on a roll again after losing 3 straight prior to winning this past Sunday.
Another week down, another week of excitement. New England barely stayed flawless, Green Bay lost to the horrific v Detroit Lions (3 in a row), and Tony Romo will be back next Sunday. What else did we learn?
Peyton Manning
The Ugly Great Peyton Manning
We probably all witnessed the greatest regular season quarterback to ever step foot on the gridiron. Peyton Manning has broken almost every statistical record that Brett Favre has set (wasn’t that long ago). The latest record of Favre’s to be broken was the 71,838 career passing yards. It was a monumental achievement, something we may never see happen again. The same day that Manning made history, is, unfortunately, the same day he played the worst game of his career. He completed 5 of 20 attempts for 35 yards with 0 touchdowns and 4 interceptions. Then he was uncharacteristically pulled from the game in the 3rd quarter. Peyton hasn’t looked like Peyton this year. Presumably, this may be his last year. Even though he is having a dismal season statistically, number 18’s legacy could never be tarnished (unless he was shaving points or something).
DeAndre Hopkins
Pretenders
Bengals: Until they win an actual playoff game, they will always be a pretender!
Falcons: They are starting to revert back to the Falcons that we are used to. These next 2 games will determine what we can expect from them, starting with the Colts.
Raiders: Just when you think the Raiders would take advantage of a rare opportunity, they couldn’t get it done against the Vikings. They are young and talented, but that’s about it for the moment. Oh, and Aldon Smith is suspended for a year (shaking my head).
Redskins: The Redskins won’t make the playoffs because Kirk Cousins is their quarterback.
St. Louis: The team has a lot of potential but only random spurts of promise to show for it. Benching Nick Foles isn’t a good sign either.
Larry Fitzgerald
Contenders
Cardinals: This is probably the most balanced team in the NFC with a veteran quarterback, a hall of fame wide receiver, and a stud cornerback. They are legit.
Panthers: It’s time to start believing if you haven’t already. The team consists of Cam Newton, Greg Olsen, and their defense. And they’re still undefeated.
Broncos: The game against the Chiefs was a wash but they are still a threat this year all Thanks to their defense. If or when that offense can become consistent again, be afraid.
Patriots: Despite losing Dion Lewis and Julian Edelman, the Patriots are still the Patriots.
Don’t Be Surprised If…
If the Seahawks or the Bears make the playoffs.
If the Jaguars win the division.
If the Giants or Steelers make it to the Super Bowl.
This past week, we watched the New Orleans Saints give their rival Atlanta Falcons their first loss, saw Philip Rivers throw for over 500 yards (and lose), the Detroit Lions earned their first win (not happy), and Johnny Manziel was caught drinking. What did we learn though?
It’s A Bird, It’s A Plane, It’s Supercam
Ladies and gentlemen, it’s time to actually notice what Cam Newton is doing in Carolina. The man is doing more than half the league while working with close to nothing. Outside of Greg Olsen and a somewhat Jonathon Stewart, the man doesn’t have anybody worth mentioning. To have the ability to go into Seattle and complete a game winning drive with seconds remaining in the game catches attention across the entire league. The Legion of Boom hasn’t played up to par at all this year but Seattle is still one of the toughest places to play on the road. Their defense gets a lot of credit. However, without Cam Newton, this team will probably bw worse than thw Detroit Lions.
Same Old Story 1a
It seems like it doesn’t matter how many weapons you put around Andrew Luck, the New England Patriots will find a way dominate the Indianapolis Colts. Even though the final score was 34-27, you felt that the Patriots was always up by two touchdowns at all times. New England’s defense is underrated and played really good defense. As for the Colts, the two main issues that have always held them back has been the offensive line and the run defense. Granted Matt Hasselbeck found success while starting in place of Andrew Luck the past couple of weeks, there’s no way your Right Tackle should be getting bullied consistently and your Guards get beat off thr edge on passing downs. The Colts was my prediction to make it to the Super Bowl. I’m not saying it’s not going to happen but they need to turn it around as soon as possible…OH and not to mention that fake punt/sneak debacle.
Same Old Story 1b
I’m pretty sure I mentioned how mediocre the San Diego Chargers are (about a week ago!), and the game against the Green Bay Packers proved my point. How does your star quarterback throw for 503 yards and lose the game? How are you stopped within 4 yards of the goal line with 2 time outs and 4 tries at the end zone? It’s things like this that I almost can’t comprehend because it’s inexcusable. That was only the 17th time in the history of the NFL that a quarterback has thrown for 500 yards in a single game. Somebody’s job has to be in jeopardy after that game. Even though it’s impermissible, I’m not surprised because after all, we are talking about the San Diego Chargers.
Contenders And Pretenders
Where to begin? I’m going on the record and saying that the Atlanta Falcons are a pretender for 3 reasons: the suspect defense, Matt Ryan, and Julio Jones. The Falcons are Julio Jones or bust because he’s a real game changer. The Falcons are also Matt Ryan or bust because he’ll lose you more games than win in meaningful games. I am prematurely throwing Seattle into the same category until their running game and secondary get their acts together. The same goes for Indy. Arizona is a contender even though they lost to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh will be a legitimate threat in the AFC when Big Ben comes back. The Denver Broncos are Peyton Manning or bust for the first time in the Manning era. Their defense is elite. New England and Green Bay are usually defense/quarterback or bust. The jury is still out on majority of the teams but time will tell like always.
JGoodWithSports 