Front Row Fantasy Sports

We Moved!

2009-10-06T13:27:00.000-07:00

Our domain is not fully set up as of right now, but we have moved our blog into the Fan Huddle network. To access our blog, you can go to www.fanhuddle.com, hover over the fantasy tab, and select our blog, or you can go directly to http://fanhuddle.com/frontrowfantasysports. That second URL will become www.frontrowfantasy.com as soon as everything is set up with it.

See you there.

Top 5 Quarterbacks: Week 1

2009-09-09T18:01:00.000-07:00

The football season is finally here. Many of us die-hard fantasy football players have waited months for this, and have done our best to build a great team. With the season less than 24 hours away it's time to check out the best week one match-ups for quarterbacks.

My No.1 quarterback for week one is Drew Brees.

He was the number one quarterback last season, and should get off to a great start again this season. He will face off against a weak Lions defense week one. Last season the Lions defense gave up an average of 15.6 points to the other teams quarterback. That was third worst in the league las season.

Another plus for Brees is that it's a home game. Last season he threw for 300 or more yards in all but one home game. He also had an astounding three or more touchdowns in six of those eight games.

Drew Brees is good enough on his own that he doesn't need to be facing a weak defense. The fact that he's facing the Lions makes him a lock as the number one quarterback for week one.

My No.2 quarterback for the week is Kurt Warner.

Kurt Warner will face the San Francisco 49ers week one and should have a pretty good week. Last season he had 46 points against the 49ers defense for an average of 23 points per game.

With the game being played in Arizona's dome it should be optimal passing conditions which should lead to a big week out of Warner. In the dome last season Warner had 33 points against San Francisco and could put up numbers similar to that this season.

Overall the 49ers defense was 12th worst in points allowed to quarterbacks with an average of 13.4. Warner has above average wide receivers and should have a really strong start to the season.

My No.3 quarterback is Aaron Rodgers.

He starts off the season against the rival Chicago bears in prime time on Sunday Night Football. Now the Bears were tied for 14th best against quarterbacks last season with a 12.5 average, but nobody told Rodgers that.

He put up 39 fantasy points against the Bears last season. If he sticks to that he should have 19 or 20 points in week 1. I think that it's possible he does even better than last season. Green Bay's offense looked great in the preseason and will look to carry that over to the regular season.

I expect big things out of Aaron Rodgers this season, and I expect him to start off his season in a big way.

My No.4 quarterback is Phillip Rivers.
Last season Rivers threw for 43 fantasy points against the Raiders. He only threw for 11 in Oakland, but I expect him to do better than that this time around.

The Raiders were tied for the 13th best against quarterbacks this season and shouldn't be much worse this year. One key for the Raiders is that Nnamdi Asomugha will play the game with a "club" on his hand. This could slow him down a little, and could hurt his range. With him not at 100 percent the Raiders secondary takes a huge hit.

Rivers will look to take advantage of the beat up Raiders secondary and should put up pretty good numbers in prime time on the west coast.

My No.5 quarterback is Tom Brady.

The Bills were tied with the Raiders for 13th best against quarterbacks last season. That probably won't affect Brady too much in week one.

Playing on Monday Night Football in his first game back should boost his numbers. He will probably be determined to show everybody that he is healthy. Brady will have numerous weapons to sling the ball to on Monday and should put up great numbers.

He easily could be higher up, but I'm going to say he starts off a little rusty. There is no reason to sit Brady, and if you drafted him you better use him.

Well, there you have it. My top five quarterbacks for week one. Nothing too out of the ordinary here. Good luck to all fantasy footballers and thank God, football is finally here.

Waiver Wire Lineup

2009-08-26T20:19:00.000-07:00

With the success of my pitching version of Waiver Wire help, I felt compelled to publish a hitting piece.

Looking for a little something extra in your daily or weekly lineups? The guy you need just might be sitting on the waiver wire in your league. With the trade deadline having passed in most leagues, the wire waiver is your only option for help at this point of the season.

Time to get rid of some bigger names who aren't producing in favor of some less-owned players who will give you results.

The fantasy playoffs are approaching rapidly, and if your team is on the verge of making the postseason then you might want to give these 6 guys a second look.

1) Rajai Davis-A's

Since being promoted to an everyday player on a struggling Oakland team, Davis has done nothing but put up fantasy-worthy numbers.

His speed threat alone makes him roster worthy is most formats, but especially in roto leagues where you are lacking in steals.

Rajai won't blow you away with the power numbers, but his 27 steals and .289 average are nothing to laugh at, especially if you are trying to make up ground in those categories. His 39 runs scored won't hurt your cause either.

Davis is owned in only 26.2 percent of ESPN leagues, so he is available to help your team if you need his services.

2) Mike Lowell-Red Sox

Lowell has always been a great hitter in his career, and this year has been no exception to that trend.

Lowell has really picked up his game of late, and has two HR and six RBI in the past week. In a Red Sox line-up that seems to be finding its stride, the RBI opportunities should continue to present themselves for Lowell.

He is hitting .302 with 16 HR and 65 RBI on the season. Those are pretty solid stats across the board. Why not use him at this point, even if it's just as a fill in? With guys like Pablo Sandoval DTD with minor injuries, you can plug Lowell in for a few days and make up for the lost production.

Lowell is owned in 61.2 percent of ESPN leagues, so he is still out there in a good chunk of leagues. I'm by no means saying to drop your regular 3B if they have produced for you all year, but only to utilize Lowell as a fill-in while your guy is out for a few days.

3) Travis Snider-Blue Jays

With the loss of Alex Rios to the White Sox, the young Snider has been entrenched into an everyday role for Toronto.

Since being called up on August 18th, Snider has gone deep three times in his first nine games as a big league starter. The most impressive part to me is that those 9 games have been against the Red Sox, Angels and Rays, all of which are postseason contenders.

If you are looking for a power surge or a temporary OF fill-in, Snider might be the guy to fill that void for you. No guarantee that the power will continue, but I see no reason why the AB's should decline at this point.

Snider is owned in only 8.8 percent of ESPN leagues, and classifies as a deep flier with huge upside. Why not take a chance that the upside will pull through for the rest of the year?

4) Josh Willingham-Nationals

Willingham had a torrid month of July, which prompted a large increase in his ownership. He has since cooled off some, but looks poised to go on another streak.

What makes me say that? Try a 4-4 performance with two HR and six RBI on Tuesday.

Willingham is hitting .301 with 21 HR and 56 RBI on the season, yet he is only owned in 32.7 percent of ESPN leagues.

If you are in need of OF help and power production, take a chance that Willingham goes on another tear. If you wait until it happens he might not still be sitting there.

5) Andrew McCutchen-Pirates

The Pirates have traded away every good player this season, or at least it seems that way sometimes. Well, that statement is not completely true.

Andrew McCutchen is a rising star, and one of the only bright spots on an otherwise dim team at this point.

McCutchen's biggest asset is his speed, but he will flash the occasional pop that is just icing on the cake. Since being given the green light to steal whenever he likes, McCutchen has been running more often.

He has stolen 15 bases this year in 16 attempts. Since August 11th, around the time he was given the green light, Andrew has six SB. His .287 average, eight HR, 38 RBI and 50 runs scored are all helpful stats as well.

Andrew is owned in 42.7 percent of ESPN leagues, but his overall numbers suggest that he should be owned in more. If you are a victim of underachieving big-name OF's, why not give the future star a chance to bolster your categories?

6) Gordon Beckham-White Sox

The White Sox are postseason contenders, and Beckham's play, both offensively and defensively, is one of the reasons why.

Beckham is eligible at 3B and SS, and his numbers make him roster worthy in all formats in my opinion.

Beckham is hitting .284 with eight HR and 47 RBI. He has also added 38 runs and five SB. Keep in mind that he hasn't been in the big leagues all season either.

Gordon is owned in 47.9 percent of ESPN leagues. Surely some teams on the verge of the postseason could slot the youngster into the 2B/SS hole in your lineup.

These guys aren't the only jewels sitting on the waiver wire, but they are six players that caught my eye. If you are struggling to make up ground in your league with some big name underachievers, maybe giving these guys a go could solve your problems.

NFL Rookie Rankings Part Three: The Wide Receivers

2009-08-24T22:51:00.001-07:00

While most people consider this year’s rookie wide receiver class one of the deepest positions in terms of fantasy, I completely disagree. There is a good amount of potential in this class, but there are a lot of questions that need to be answered.

I feel that all of the receivers have questions, and that is why I only did my top five. I feel that a lot of guys could switch by one to four positions very easily.

My No.1 rookie wide receiver is Brian Robiskie of the Cleveland Browns.

Robiskie is considered the most pro-ready wide receiver from this year's draft class. He has very good hands and is a great route-runner.

He is in a great position to make an impact this season. He has very little competition and will most likely start alongside Braylon Edwards.

Last season the Browns were 31st in the league in passing yards, but don't let that prevent you from believing in Robiskie. In 2007 the Browns were 12th in the league in passing yards.

This past season the Browns were a mess. I'd expect something closer to the 2007 passing game than last season's. If that's the case Robiskie could be a great pickup in fantasy leagues.

He will also be helped by the lack of other talent. The Browns second leading receiver last season was Kellen Winslow. He has since moved on to Tampa Bay, and that leaves a lot of passes that someone will get. A decent amount of those passes will go to Robiskie.

During his career at Ohio State, he had 127 receptions and 1, 866 yards. He also had a very impressive 24 touchdowns during his collegiate career.

His best season was in his junior year. He had 55 catches for 935 yards and 11 touchdowns. His senior year was not as impressive due to the Buckeyes changing their offensive system to accommodate Terrelle Pryor.

With Edwards taking the pressure off the rookie, Robiskie has a great opportunity to put up some big numbers. He’s definitely a rookie to keep an eye on, and is a great pick in the later rounds.

My No.2 rookie wide receiver is Hakeem Nicks of the New York Giants.

Nicks is a guy who was drafted in the right place at the right time. When Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg he opened up the Giants number one wide receiver spot.

With no true number one wide receiver on the roster, the Giants tried to find one through the draft. Nicks is the early favorite to step into the role which would make him a great fantasy option.

I am by no means saying Nicks will put up Plaxico type numbers, but he should make an impact from day one. He is much smaller than Plaxico so the biggest difference between the two will be red zone touchdowns.

The Giants also lost Amani Toomer this off-season, which opens up more receptions and yards for the taking. Without a doubt Hakeem Nicks will take advantage of these losses.

He had a good 2007 with 986 yards and five touchdowns, but he exploded in 2008. He had over 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns. His best game of the season was North Carolina’s Bowl Game against West Virginia. He had eight receptions for 217 yards and 3 touchdowns. This really helped his draft stock and made everybody keep an eye out for him.

While we all know college success does not equal NFL success, Nicks has excellent potential. He could end up as the number one rookie wide receiver if he steps up and gets the Giants number one wide receiver job. Either way Nicks should produce this season.

My No.3 rookie wide receiver is Percy Harvin of the Minnesota Vikings.

Harvin was one of the best college players in the nation last season. His main question coming into the draft was whether he was a running back or a wide receiver.

Last season at Florida, Harvin led the team in receptions and was second in receiving yards. He was also fourth on the team in carries and second in rushing yards.

His upside on the field is huge, but he does have some problems off the field. He tested positive for marijuana at the combine. Knowing he would be tested at the combine he still did it anyways, which really makes a lot of people question his character. If he can keep his head on straight he should have a great year.

One thing Harvin does have going for him is versatility. He can line up at as many as three offensive positions. Wide receiver will be his main position, but he may also play some quarterback and running back. If he plays quarterback it will be in a wild cat formation.

After testing positive for drugs at the combine, his value has risen. The addition of Brett Favre could really help him as a wide receiver. Favre has no problem going downfield which will work great with Harvin’s speed.

With Harvin’s versatility, he should have no problem making an impact in his rookie season.

My No.4rookie wide receiver is Jeremy Maclin of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles traded up in the draft to get Maclin with the 19^th overall pick. This shows that they believe in him and like something about him.

Maclin will most likely see time as the kick returner and as a wide receiver. He will be used as the returner so that DeSean Jackson can focus on his wide receiver role.

I personally think Maclin will start the season as the third wide receiver behind both Jackson and Kevin Curtis. Others think Maclin will be ahead of Curtis. Either way Maclin will have pretty good value.

Maclin has great speed and is very quick in the open field. He will have plenty of weapons around him taking all of the pressure off of him.

Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy will take the pressure off through the ground game. With a successful ground game the Eagles wide receivers will be able to get open easier.

Maclin will also be helped by his fellow wide receivers taking the pressure off of him. DeSean Jackson will be the receiver the defenses pay the most attention to, and if Maclin is the number three, Curtis will also be watched closer than him. This could make it very easy for Maclin to become a relevant fantasy option.

Maclin is almost like a bigger version of DeSean Jackson and is definitely a guy worth risking a pick on.

My No.5 rookie wide receiver is Darrius Heyward-Bey of the Oakland Raiders.

Heyward-Bey is a very intriguing prospect. He was the first wide receiver taken in the draft, but was not the number one wide receiver in most people’s minds.

As everybody knows Al Davis loves speed, and that’s exactly why his Oakland Raiders drafted Darrius. He is the most likely candidate to be a bust, but he has just as much upside.

Heyward-Bey was the fastest wide receiver at the combine with a 4.3 in the 40 yard dash. It takes more than speed to be a good wide receiver, but that won’t hurt his chances of succeeding.

His size will also help him in the NFL. At 6’2” Heyward-Bey has great size to go with his speed. He will have a height advantage over anyone who will be covering him.

He has great speed and height, but he does have some negatives. He has never really used his size and speed effectively. Last season he had 609 receiving yards and only five touchdowns. He struggles with route running and isn’t as effective on “jump balls” as a receiver of his stature should be.

Heyward-Bey is far from reaching his potential, and will need very good coaching to get remotely close to his potential. With his size and speed he could be an excellent receiver, but someone has to help him get to his potential. He is a risky pick that could pay huge dividends for your fantasy team.

As I said before I don’t have a lot of confidence in this class of rookie wide receivers. Maybe you do, and if so feel free to share your opinions. I would be more than glad to hear them.

Not only does this conclude my wide receivers, but this is the end of my rookie rankings series. It took a lot of research, but it is finally complete. Thanks to everyone for reading it and hope you enjoyed it.

Waiver Wire Rotation

2009-08-23T21:38:00.000-07:00

As the new kid on the block, pun intended, I thought this would make for a good first piece. Fantasy baseball, and baseball in general, is one of the things I love most in this life. The 2009 season is winding down, especially fantasy-wise, and I thought this articles might help make or break a few teams out there.

Pitching is important, both in real life and in fantasy. Like all baseball teams, your fantasy squad can live or die by the arm, especially in head to head points leagues. But have no fear, there is help out there, even in the place you would least expect it.

That's right, there are guys on your league's waiver wire that can bolster your fantasy team. With the trade deadline having passed in most leagues, where else are you gonna find help?

Desperate times call for desperate measures, and if you are desperate, you might give these guys a go. Here's five waiver wire prospects to consider for this week, and possibly beyond.

1) Bronson Arroyo-Reds

He is red hot, giving up only one earned run over his last 17 innings. Two games ago he threw a complete game shutout versus the Nationals. I know what you're thinking, but the Nats had actually been one of the hottest teams around at the time.

In his last outing, Bronson went 8 strong innings against the Giants, giving up one earned run. The kicker was that he faced off against Barry Zito, who held the Reds in check for 6 innings, and whose bullpen finished off the job.

Sure he got the L, but it's hard to say that these kind of outings wouldn't help your fantasy squad. And to make things even better, he starts twice this coming week.

Luckily for you, he is owned in only 21.5 percent of ESPN leagues at the moment. Arroyo warrants a try in all formats at this point, especially if you have guys like Mark Buerlhe who are killing your staff with their recent struggles.

2) Randy Wells-Cubs

Who does number 2 work for? Unfortunately it's the Cubs, who have been struggling badly lately. But Wells has been doing his part, so why not take advantage of it?

Apart from one little hiccup against red hot Colorado, Wells has been solid over the past month. His win-loss record isn't great, but his stats are pretty dang good, especially for someone on most leagues' waiver wires.

He tossed 6.2 strong innings against the Dodgers on Friday, but was done in by two unearned runs. Again, not his fault. Despite the unfortunate loss, coupled with the hiccup against the Rockies, Wells has won 5 of his last 7 starts.

His ERA is 2.84, and his WHIP is 1.20 for the season, yet he is only owned in 35.6 percent of ESPN leagues. He gets the Nationals on Thursday, which makes him a great add in my book. Hot or not, it's ultimately still the Nats.

The Cubs desperately need wins at this point. A young pitcher, and the increased urgency of his teammates, equals fantasy success for you. Give him a shot.

3) John Smoltz-Cardinals

Smoltz was mediocre at best in his recent stint with the Red Sox, and I can't really blame them for letting him go. The truth is, maybe they pulled the plug a little too soon. But as they say, hindsight is always 20-20.

Johnny boy probably had Theo Epstein checking his vision on Sunday. Smoltz fanned nine Padres in five shutout innings. He struck out seven in a row at one point, which was both a personal best and a Cardinal record.

Okay, it was against the Padres, I totally agree. But what happens if he goes out and does it again in his next start? Do you think he will still be sitting on your waiver wire then? I would think not, as owners will probably be scrambling to pick him up.

Personally, I would rather pick the guy up and watch him fail then sit back, pass him up, and watch him do well for some other lucky owner. It could backfire, but it could also be the move that pushes your team right into the postseason, and gives you a shot at the coveted prize that is fantasy sport glory.

He is owned in only 12.4 percent of ESPN leagues as of now, but expect that number to go up here in the coming week, especially if he does well next time out.

Hey, the move to St. Louis rejuvenated Matt Holliday, so who's to say it won't work for the 42 year old future hall of famer? Make your move now before it's too late.

4) Scott Feldman-Rangers

The Rangers are having a great year. Quietly, so is Scott Feldman.

He picked up his 13th win of the season on Sunday, throwing 7 shutout innings against the Rays. He struck out 11 Tampa hitters on the way. Oh yeah, and he looked a lot better than David Price, who is currently not on the waiver wire in many leagues.

Tired of trotting Price out there, why not try Feldman? There are some Price-lovers out there who are gonna boo me for this one, but in reality it wouldn't be a bad move at all, especially if you are still in contention in your league. Sure Price might be good someday, but the truth is if you aren't planning on keeping him in your league, it might be time to cut him loose.

The Rangers open up a series with the Yankees on Tuesday, which means that Feldman will dodge that bullet, and not have to face the red hot evil empire. If all goes as planned, he should face the Twins this coming weekend, which isn't a bad match-up at all.

Feldman is owned in only 13.6 percent of ESPN leagues. So, if you're looking for pitching help, it's right in front of your eyes. Take a chance that this youngster isn't a fluke. He's been great since the All-star break, and has a great offense behind him, so it's really not that big of a risk in my opinion.

5) Brett Anderson- A's

Anderson got lit up by the White Sox on August 14th, but apart from that outing, has been surprisingly solid over the past month or so. He also suffered the loss against the Yankees on August 19th, but didn't pitch bad at all in that game. He limited the Yankees to six hits and three earned runs over seven innings.

Before those 2 outings, Anderson had pitched extremely well, and did so against some of the powerhouses of the American league.

He faces the Mariners on Tuesday, and I love that match-up for him. Seattle has faded, and I look for Anderson to build off of that solid performance against the Yankees.

He is owned in only 7.6 percent of ESPN leagues, and warrants consideration as a spot-starter this week if you are in need of strikeouts and wins.

That concludes this week's version of Waiver Wire rotation, tune in next week for more prospects to help your team find it's way into the postseason. I hope this information allows you to taste fantasy glory. Good luck to all.

Fantasy Football Injury Updates

2009-08-23T10:40:00.000-07:00

From the moment NFL training camps opened last month, the injuries took their toll. Now, with the preseason in full swing, the abundance of injuries continues to grow. Whether it's a minor bruise, a nagging strain, or a severe pull, players are finding themselves on the bench and in the training room more often than not. This happens every year, and every year players fight through camp to make it to the official season.

Sometimes, though, these injuries become worrisome. Key contributors like Stewart Bradley for the Eagles are lost for the season, while others suffer less serious but still harmful injuries. Today, I'm going to take a look at some of the fantasy football impact players whose stock may have fallen due to their time on the shelf. Players gone for the season will not be included.

Jonathan Stewart, RB Carolina Panthers
Stewart's injury didn't seem too concerning at first, but after missing ten consecutive days of practice, some believe his health come Week 1 may be in jeopardy. His Achilles has been bothering him for some time now. He considers it an "ongoing pain", referring to it as a nagging injury. Although he did not play against Miami on Saturday, he did participate in warm-ups.

Stewart shouldn't be forced to miss much of the regular season, if any. As of right now, it's likely he will open the season with DeAngelo Williams. If you are a Stewart or Williams owner, and don't already own both of the two, attempt to do so.

Antonio Bryant, WR Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Bryant suffered from a torn meniscus in his left knee two weeks ago, and has been out since. After getting his knee scoped, he appears to be ready for the regular season. He will likely sit out the rest of the preseason, just to keep it safe. A setback isn't likely, but is always a possibility. Fortunately for him, the damage was not terrible.

I own Bryant in two of my leagues, and this injury doesn't help my thoughts about keeping him. I remain skeptical about not just his knee, but his situation as well. Hopefully we see the Bryant of 2008 rather than the younger, less consistent Bryant.

Steve Smith, WR Carolina Panthers
Unfortunately for Carolina fans, two of the Panthers' playmakers are on this list. On the bright side, Smith's shoulder injury is less serious than originally thought. His agent first reported the fantasy-stud would miss two weeks, at the least. A few days after that, the report changed to day-to-day, and Smith returned to practice just four days after injuring his shoulder. He has yet to play in a preseason game, but is expected to play next week against Baltimore.

He may be a bit rusty to open the season, depending on if and how much he plays against the Ravens. Other than that, his shoulder shouldn't concern you.

Fantasy Football Sleepers Pt. 3: Runningbacks

2009-08-20T01:05:00.000-07:00

First off, before writing this article, I think I should define the term sleeper. I have a few definitions that I would use.

I would define a sleeper as an undrafted player that obtains unexpected success, or a player that is drafted in the later rounds of a fantasy draft and outperforms his draft position significantly.

The key to winning your fantasy league is finding several of these sleepers late in your draft. I have constructed a list of a couple wide receiver sleepers for the upcoming fantasy football season that will help you in your search for one of those gems.

Oh, and just for the record, this list will not include rookies.

Felix Jones

I know what you're thinking, Felix isn't much of a sleeper pick. He is expected to do good. For this choice I'm kind of breaking my rules with this pick, but I do think he outperforms his ADP significantly.

Had Felix not gotten injured last year I believe he would've been among the top rookie RB's. In six games last season he carried the ball 30 times, for 266 yards, and three touchdowns. Not to mention he averaged an amazing 8.9 yards per carry, or what he did in the return game.

With the loss of T.O. the Cowboys should be more of a run oriented team. Felix Jones should get a lot more carries this year as the Cowboys save up Barber to close out games.

Jones is a great number three fantasy option and a great flex play in all formats.

Tashard Choice

Wait, what? Two Cowboys?

Yes, I expect all three of the Cowboys RB's to be featured in the offense. Choice should also be on your team if you own either MB3 or Felix. You all should know what happened after both were injured last year.

In ten games last year (really only five, the other five he had six carries or less) Choice ran the ball 90 times, for 472 yards, and two touchdowns, and 5.5 yards per carry average. He's a nice receiving threat out of the backfield too, last year he caught 21 passes, for 185 yards (8.8 yards per catch) including a 50 yard catch.

Choice is a nice handcuff and sleeper candidate for your fantasy team, especially in PPR leagues. If you own Barber or Jones and this guy is on the waiver wire, pick him up now.

Jamaal Charles

I would actually prefer having Charles on my team over have LJ on my team, but it you're an LJ owner you must have Charles. Johnson is about to turn 30, and is on the decline. I expect Todd Haley to eventually bench LJ in favor of Charles. Something like he did last year with Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower.

Last year Charles had 629 total yards and one touchdown as a backup, 357 of those yards were rushing, while the remaining 272 were from receiving yards.

If Charles stays in the same role he was in last season this season I expect slightly better numbers. However if he takes over for LJ and you have him on your team, you've struck fantasy gold, especially in PPR leagues.

Ahmad Bradshaw

Same story here for Bradshaw as I said for Felix Jones. He's not much of a sleeper, but I do expect some big things from Bradshaw this year.

Bradshaw is a must have if you're a Brandon Jacobs owner. With the pounding a runner like Jacobs goes through he's bound to get injured sometime.

Bradshaw should also be a solid fantasy option, last years backup to Jacobs, Derrick Ward still managed to get enough carries to rush for over 1,000 yards. Bradshaw as the third RB even managed to get 355 rush yards and two total touchdowns last year as a third stringer.

With the loss of Plaxico Burress, the Giants don't really have that number one receiver. Until one of their receivers can solidify themselves as a number one, I expect the Giants to be a run oriented team. Making Bradshaw a good flex play in all formats.

This is it for RB's. Next up: Kickers, kidding of course. Look out for my QB post next.

Fantasy Football Sleepers Pt. 2: Tight Ends

2009-08-20T00:10:00.000-07:00

If any of you read part one, you noticed at the end of the article I said that RB's would be next. Well guess what? I lied.

First off, before writing this article, I think I should define the term sleeper. I have a few definitions that I would use. I would define a sleeper as an undrafted player that obtains unexpected success, or a player that is drafted in the later rounds of a fantasy draft and outperforms his draft position significantly.

The key to winning your fantasy league is finding several of these sleepers late in your draft. I have constructed a list of a couple tight end sleepers for the upcoming fantasy football season that will help you in your search for one of those gems.

When drafting I usually find myself waiting on a tight end, there is a lot of talented tight ends outside of the first few tiers. Some of these guys go very late, or even undrafted.

I don't classify rookies as sleepers anymore. It seems like every draft I am in people just go rookie crazy. That being said, this list will not include rookies.

Visanthe Shiancoe

If you've already drafted and settled for Shiancoe as your tight end you've made a great pick. With the recent signing of Brett Favre, Shiancoe fantasy value skyrockets.

Even without Favre, Shiancoe was a solid tight end last year. He caught 42 passes, for 596 yards, and seven touchdowns. Oh, and he did it all with QB's such as Gus Frerotte and Tavaris Jackson. Even with those QB's he set personal records in receptions, yards, touchdowns, and targets.

Shiancoe is still on the waiver wire in around 60 percent of ESPN Fantasy Football leagues, and his current ADP is 147.

Martellus Bennett

Call this a homer pick, but I really like Martellus Bennett this year. The Cowboys are set to use a two tight end set as their base offense, this obviously boosts Bennett's fantasy value.

As a rookie last year Bennett caught 20 passes, for 283 yards, and four touchdowns in limited action last year. In a two tight end set I can easily see him doubling those numbers from last year with T.O. out of town.

Right now, I will say he's worth a draft pick in deeper 14, 16, or even 20 team leagues. I can see him being a top 15 tight end by years end.

At 6'6" 256 pounds, Bennett could prove to be a good red zone threat. Bennett is only owned in 4.2 percent of ESPN Fantasy Football leagues, and is going undrafted in most.

Jeremey Shockey

I fully expect Shockey to rebound after a horrible fantasy season last year, and should be a nice late round value pick. In every mock draft I have participated in recently, I have noticed he is quite undervalued.

He has looked really good thus far in the preseason. In the Saints' opener he caught three passes, for 61 yards, and a touchdown. The good news is that his touchdown came off a 22 yard pass from Drew Brees, something the duo wasn't able to do last season.

With both Marques Colston and Lance Moore coming off surgery, Shockey has been getting more looks in practice and building up his chemistry with Drew Brees. I would expect around 60 catches, 600 yards, and five touchdowns from Shockey this season in a pass happy, Drew Brees led offense.

Shockey is available in around 30 percent of ESPN Fantasy Football league.

Brent Celek

Celek was solid last season with the Eagles. But now that L.J. Smith is gone and rookie Cornelius Ingram is out for the season, Celek really has no competition for the starting gig.

He is a consistent fantasy option, and goes undrafted in around 83 percent of ESPN leagues. In the ten games he was a starter last season (including playoffs) he caught 38 passes, for 347 yards, and four touchdowns.

For now he could be a nice waiver wire pickup as your number two tight end. But he does have huge sleeper potential.

That's it for the tight ends. Next up: RB's (I hope).

Fantasy Football Sleepers Pt. 1: Wide Receivers

2009-08-19T00:27:00.000-07:00

First off, before writing this article, I think I should define the term sleeper. I have a few definitions that I would use. I would define a sleeper as an undrafted player that obtains unexpected success, or a player that is drafted in the later rounds of a fantasy draft and outperforms his draft position significantly.

The key to winning your fantasy league is finding several of these sleepers late in your draft. I have constructed a list of a couple wide receiver sleepers for the upcoming fantasy football season that will help you in your search for one of those gems.

Oh, and just for the record, this list will not include rookies.

Earl Bennett

I'm actually pretty high on Earl Bennett this year. I know he's never caught an NFL pass, but he was very impressive in college when he played for Vanderbilt. Oh yeah, who played QB at Vanderbilt in 2005? None other than, Jay Cutler. Who now happens to play on the Bears along with Bennett.

Bennett had an impressive career at Vanderbilt too, in only three years he had set the SEC record for receptions. He could be huge in a PPR league.

Yet, it seems Bennett is going virtually unnoticed in most leagues while Devin Hester is getting majority of the love. I really have no clue why. I don't see Hester as a good fantasy option at WR. Honestly, I think he will be too inconsistent to be a solid fantasy option.

I would compare him to a guy like Eddie Royal last year. Wait who was Royal's QB?

Bennett is owned in around 17% of ESPN Fantasy Football leagues, definitely take a look at him if he is available in your league. I expect big things this year.

Chansi Stuckey or David Clowney

I like both of these guys, but one of them is going to be a #2 while the other will be the third option. Whoever wins the #2 job is going to be a nice pickup in most formats.

Stuckey is my pick to win the #2 role, so I'll start with him.

With the departure of Laverneous Coles, and the addition of Mark Sanchez (really big on him) Stuckey's fantasy value has skyrocketed, in my opinion.

Last year, Stuckey was a pleasant surprise for the first three weeks of the season. Through those three weeks, Stuckey had 12 catches, 122 yards, and three touchdown. After that, he was pretty much a non-factor, while Cotchery and Coles got most of the love.

Welcome to fantasy relevance, Stuckey. Clowney is really his only big competition, the Jets added no WR's via free agency. The reason I give Stuckey the nod is he has a better track record than Clowney (one catch last year).

Now, I'm not completely ruling Clowney out. He could easily win the #2 job, I just don't see that happening yet.

Although, Clowney has been very impressive in the preseason. In the opener he caught three passes, for 102 yards, and a touchdown. He seems to be building a connection with Sanchez, as his first pass was a 48 yarder caught by Clowney.

The preseason isn't over and injuries still happen, if anything happens to either Jerricho Cotchery or Chansi Stuckey (knock on wood), Clowney better be on your team.

Robert Meachem

It seems as if I've been saying this for a few years now but I think this is his year.

Obviously, he has my (and many others) number one fantasy QB throwing him the ball, in Drew Brees, that can only help him. Meachem has been working with the first team offense majority of OTA's with Marques Colston and Lance Moore coming off off-season surgery.

He's made the most of this opportunity, in the preseason opener he caught three passes for 77 yards, including a 64 yard catch.

Right now he is the teams number three wide receiver, I don't think it will be like that for long though. I'm not a Lance Moore believer, I don't see him doing anything like what he did last season. I see Meachem taking over the #2 roll at some point in the season.

Right now, he is a good pick-up for deeper leagues. Keep him in mind, I think he will be a great in-season pickup.

Chaz Schilens

I was extremely high on Chaz this year, until I learned that he broke a bone in his foot yesterday. I still really like him, although I'm unsure of the severity of the injury.

While watching the Cowboys-Raiders preseason game, Chaz really stood out. He was very impressive catching five passes for 52 yards in two quarters. He even drew a 47 yard pass interference penalty.

I would never invest in a Raiders WR, as there leading receiver last year has only 22 catches. Chaz is the exception, as I started to read up on the guy I realized why the Raiders made the right move and passed on Michael Crabtree. Schilens is taller (6'4") and faster (4.30 40 time).

It should also be noted that in the final two games last season he caught six passes, for 98 yards, and 2 touchdowns.

This list concludes part one of my fantasy sleeper series, next up: RB's.

This article is also featured at: Front Row Fantasy Sports

Fantasy Football Mock Draft Analysis

2009-08-16T21:22:00.000-07:00

Nearly a week ago, the Front Row Fantasy Sports (minus Nick Allen) team constructed a ten team fantasy football draft. The main focus for the two of us (Dalton and Christian) was to analyze each team after the conclusion of the draft. Unfortunately, Nick Allen was not able to partake due to being on vacation or something...lame excuse. But don't fret; Dalton Scantling and Christian Karcole have completed their personal thoughts their teams. Just note that they chose only to analyze each other's team, rather than examine every team in the league. Below are our respective teams and our thoughts on them.

Christian Karcole's Team:
QB: Philip Rivers, Jay Cutler
RB: Steve Slaton, Clinton Portis, Knowshon Moreno, Jamal Lewis, Jerious Norwood
WR: Dwayne Bowe, Marques Colston, Bernard Berrian, Vincent Jackson, Steve Breaston, Mark Clayton
TE: John Carlson
D/ST: Dolphins
K: Nick Folk

Dalton says:

Christian's team had the ninth pick and he did a great job from that position. This team has good depth all around, with his deepest being the QB slot. He have two quarterbacks that finished in the top 10 last season, but I don’t expect Cutler to be there again this season. Chicago doesn’t have the weapons Cutler had in Denver and I expect him to decline accordingly. I think Phillip will be about the same as last season making him a top five quarterback.

He drafted a great group of running backs, but I’m not as high on them as most people are. However I do like two of the choices. Those two are Jamal Lewis and Clinton Portis. Jamal won’t be top 20, but he will put up solid fantasy numbers. He consistently produces every year and I expect nothing different this season. Portis isn’t really looked at as a top running back (in fantasy terms), but continues to produce just like Jamal. You know exactly what you’re getting out of each of them.The running back I like the least here is Steve Slaton. He’s a great running back, and in my rankings I put him very high, but I have a gut feeling he might get hurt. If he doesn’t get hurt he could decline as he’s not used to a full workload two straight years. He will probably prove me wrong here, but I’m just not that high on him in the back of my mind. Knowshon is a good pick, but being a rookie, we don’t know what to expect out of him. He should be very good, but he is in an offense that will probably throw a lot.

This team has excellent wide receiver depth. With Matt Cassel throwing to Dwayne Bowe this season, Dwayne will be top 15 and could crack the top 10. Colston will also be in the top 10 if he can stay healthy which shouldn’t be too much of a concern. He also has Bernard Berrian, Vincent Jackson, and Steve Breaston on his bench. All three of them will be very good fantasy contributors, and excellent bye-week fill-ins.

At the tight end position he has a very solid starter. John Carlson finished seventh in the league as a rookie and will look to build on that this season. Like Team Scantling he will have to pick up a bye-week fill-in when that time comes.

Christian says:

Boy, am I great or what? I absolutely adore my team. To start, it's hard to find a team with two QB's with as much potential as mine. I'm a believer in Jay Cutler, unlike many others, so that may be why I love a Rivers/Cutler duo more than most. But wouldn't you love to have one of the best QB's of 2008 as your #2?

I, like Dalton, am concerned a bit about Slaton, but for different reasons. My concern is that he simply won't be able to produce as well as he did in '08 now that defenses know more about him. It's not like I think he will have a down year, it's that I have a feeling he might. Other than Slaton, I love my RB group. Clinton Portis continues to produce consistently, Moreno is a rookie with huge potential, Lewis is a serviceable #3 RB, and Norwood is the second most valuable back-up RB in the NFL (behind Chester Taylor, not including RB-timeshares).

My WR's aren't spectacular, but they are deep. On all but one of my teams, I have either Bowe or Colston on my squad. I found a way to acquire both in this draft. Personally, I just love their potential. On the bench, Jackson/Berrian/Clayton/Breaston provide me with an extremely solid bench. If Colston or Bowe are to miss time, I have a fine group of bench players to choose from to replace them.

John Carlson isn't the greatest pick at tight end, but it's not a terrible pick. I decided to wait on my TE choice until later in order to solidify my bench. I'd say it was worth it.

Dalton Scantling's Team:

QB: Kyle Orton, Trent Edwards

RB: Chris Johnson, Frank Gore, Derrick Ward, Ray Rice, Earnest Graham, Leon Washington

WR: Roddy White, Brandon Marshall, Braylon Edwards, Ted Ginn Jr., Brian Robiskie

TE: Owen Daniels

D/ST: Titans

K: Rob Bironas

Dalton says:

I will probably be a little biased as this is my team, but I will try my best to stay neutral. My team had the sixth overall pick in the draft, and I think it’s a pretty solid team.

The biggest question mark on this team would have to be the quarterback spot. While I personally love Kyle Orton with the Broncos, most people are not as high on him. This team does have a pretty solid backup which could pay off down the road.

This has to be one of the deepest running back cores in the league. They have two top 15 running backs and you could make a very good case that there are three top 15 running backs on the roster. I also like the pick of Earnest Graham as a backup. He’s a great handcuff for all Ward owners just in case Ward can’t take a heavy workload. I also like Ray Rice a lot this season and think he is an excellent sleeper candidate.

At the wide receiver position this team drafted two very good starters. They both have top 10 potential. One problem down the stretch for this team could be the lack of depth at wide receiver. After those two there isn’t much there. I think Brian Robiskie could be a great sleeper, but he could need some time to adjust to the NFL. I also think Ted Ginn Jr. could have a break out season, but he could be a disappointment.

At tight end there is no depth, but there is a very good starter. Last year Owen Daniels was the sixth ranked tight end, and will probably be around there this season as well. They will have to pick up a bye-week fill-in at some point, but for now that’s pretty good.

Christian says:

The QB position is sketchy, at best. I believe in Kyle Orton, but not to the extent where I would feel comfortable with him as my No. 1 starter. Edwards is a decent back-up, but so is Orton. If either pans out, then he will be fine. If not...

His RB group isn't stellar, but it is deep. Extremely deep. He has talent from top to bottom, with each player having potential to have a nice season. The best thing is the fact that he took both Graham and Ward, assuring himself of at least one good back. Past that, only Gore and Johnson have top tier potential. Yet, the rest have the chance to break out and contribute consistently.

The WR's are good, but not great. Marshall and White provide him with a solid set of starters, but the bench is iffy. I have no trust in Edwards, Ginn has yet to prove himself on a consistent basis, and Robiskie is just a rookie. There are too many "if's" and not enough definite producers. Yet, Owen Daniels helps at tight end. I'm not as high on him as others are, but he's better than most.

Breaking News: Michael Vick Signs Two-Year Deal With The Eagles

2009-08-13T21:55:00.000-07:00

Former Atlanta Falcons' QB Michael Vick has agreed to a two-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles. Vick is set to make $1.6 million in his first year with the Eagles with an option for the second year worth $5.2 million. Vick could also earn up to three million dollars in incentives over the two year deal according to ESPN.com.

This signing could have left a few fantasy owners with some questions, questions I will be answering today.

How does this effect Donovan McNabb?

It doesn't.

Vick is set to back-up Donovan McNabb while it seems Kevin Kolb will get pushed down to number three on the depth chart. I expect Andy Reid to develop an offense for Vick to run (like the wildcat). Vick could even play some WR, as he had done a few times in the past with the Falcons. I would be surprised if I don't see the Eagles run a few trick plays with him.

In no way do I see Vick stealing the starting job from McNabb.

Does Vick have fantasy value?

As of now, his fantasy value is minimal. Donovan McNabb will remain the starting QB. Vick's assumed role in the Eagles' offense isn't big enough to make him relevant to fantasy football as a QB in shallow leagues. I'm predicting a very inconsistent year from Vick. I'd say he's worth a draft pick in deep leagues to stash away on the IR while he is out until week six at the latest.

If you're a McNabb owner in a deep league you better be that guy. In the last seven years, McNabb has only played two full seasons. If anything happens to McNabb, Vick suddenly becomes fantasy relevant in all formats.

Until then, I would not recommend owning Vick in a 10 or even 12 team league, as you should have a serviceable back-up to McNabb already.

What have we been up to?

2009-08-13T21:33:00.000-07:00

It's been ten days since our last post, we understand that. We apologize to the few of you who even cared enough to notice. But don't worry. We're working on something at this exact moment, which should be posted in the next few days. After that, you can expect more posts. This project has simply slowed us a down a bit. Once we get into the fall, our posts will really pick-up.

A few other surprises are on the way this fall. It's unfortunate I'm unable to reveal exactly what those are just yet. Until then, stay classy.

NFL Rookie Rankings Part Two: The Running Backs

2009-08-03T08:01:00.000-07:00

After a couple of technical errors, and a short break from writing I finally finished the running back edition of the rookies. There are some obvious guys at the top, but some very good sleepers towards the bottom of the list.

The key to being a successful rookie running back is not necessarily skill, but playing time. There have been numerous running backs that have had the skill, but were buried on the depth chart to start their career. There were also some unknown guys who made an impact in their rookie season.

My No.1 rookie running back is Knowshon Moreno of the Denver Broncos.

There is not alot separating Moreno from Chris Wells, and I feel it could go either way. I went with Moreno due to the fact that he'll have a feature roll.

ESPN.com's Bill Williamson has stated that he expects Moreno to start and be the "focal point" of the Broncos offense. Numerous other sources have also said they expect Moreno to start week one.

Out of all of the rookie running backs he's the only one guaranteed to start week one. Just knowing this little bit helps his value.

Knowing he has job security and the confidence of his head coach should help him out. He is in a great position to succeed.

He has great speed, excellent vision, and is a "complete back". In 2007 he had 20 catches, and in 2008 he had 33 catches and two touchdowns. Being an every-down back will also help his fantasy impact.

With Kyle Orton under center, Knowshon could benefit from being a solid receiving back. Last season rookie Matt Forte had 63 receptions due to Orton liking to dump the ball off to his backs often. Little passes out of the backfield can really boost a rookie's confidence, and make him feel like his quarterback trust's him.

Last season the Broncos used seven running backs and finished 12th in the NFL with 1,862 rushing yards. With one running back getting the majority of the carries he should be able to get into a rhythm and put up some very good numbers.

Along with the 12^th most yards they had the third best rushing average. This is more important than yards, and bodes well for Moreno. The Broncos ran the ball just 387 times, the fifth fewest rushes in the league.

If they commit to the run more this season Knowshon can easily rush for 1,000 yards. Not only can he be a threat on the ground, but he should be able to do some damage catching passes out of the backfield.

Being a dual threat, that’s already been handed the starting job, Knowshon Moreno comes in at number one on my list.

My No.2 rookie running back is Chris Wells of the Arizona Cardinals.

Wells could end up as the number one, but he has more obstacles to overcome than Moreno does. He will have a little competition in Tim Hightower.

Hightower has reportedly lost some wait, and is determined to be the starting running back in Arizona. Even with determination I don’t think Hightower can hold off Wells, not for the entire season anyways.

The worst case scenario for Wells is a RBBC which is very possible for this season. Next season he should be the featured back. Regardless of his situation I have him at number two, but he could easily be first and just as easily be third.

He has the skills to be a very good running back. He is a great combination of power and speed, and has good vision. A lot of people say he has durability issues, and he’s already proving that to be right.

The Cardinals passing offense could either help or hurt his value. It all depends on how you think it will work out. The passing game could either keep defenses modest, and open up the run game or it could hurt them if they don’t run the ball enough.

It also could hurt due to the fact that the Cardinals have built a good offensive line for the passing game not the running game. They gave up the 11th fewest sacks last season, but they also had the second worst yards per attempt running the ball.

No running back can be really successful with blocking that bad. Some people will say it was the running backs not the line, but the running back can only make so many people miss.

One thing that should benefit Wells is Kurt Warner’s age. Coach Whisenhunt said that he wants to run more and throw less this season. He wants to save Kurt’s arm for later in the year, and he feels they ran the ball effectively in the playoffs and wants to carry that over to this season.

If they run the ball more this season they might be able to get into a better rhythm and improve their average. I think Wells is better than James so regardless; their average should increase a little.

If Wells is the feature back this season he could possibly outscore Moreno, but if it’s RBBC he might end up third behind Donald Brown. Due to the questions he comes in at number two.

My No.3 rookie running back is Donald Brown of the Indianapolis Colts.

Donald Brown is in an interesting situation. He will not be the starter, but will get a couple of carries each game. That’s not why he’s number three though.

The only person ahead of him on the depth chart is Joseph Addai. Addai is very injury proned and will probably miss some time this season. He has only played one full season in his three years in the league.

The most carries Addai has had in a season was 261 in 2007. He has never had more than 64% of the carries for the Colts. That leaves a lot of carries for someone else to take, and Donald Brown will gladly take them.

Another negative on Addai is that his average has gone down each season he’s been in the NFL. In 2006 he averaged 4.8 yards per carry, in 2007 he averaged 4.1 yards per carry, and in 2008 he averaged 3.5 yards per carry. That does not look good for Addai.

If he can’t break this decline, his career could be very short lived. At 26, he is declining at a very fast rate. Having someone to take some of the pressure off of Addai could save him.

This means even if Addai stays healthy Brown will get his fair share of touches. He should have atleast 100 carries regardless of Addai’s status. It will be up to him to make the most of those carries.

If Addai continues to slip, Brown might even be able to steal the starting job away from him. He might be a great steal in fantasy leagues, and is definitely someone to keep on your radar.

Brown’s worst case scenario would be a handcuff for Addai owners, which isn’t a bad thing with Addai’s durability problems. Like Wells, he does have some questions that need to be answered. Even with Addai preventing him from being a top pick, he still has potential and comes in at number three.

My No.4 rookie running back is LeSean McCoy of the Philadelphia Eagles.

McCoy is in a similar situation as Brown. Both guys have a running back in front of them with durability issues. Westbrook’s issues could be bigger than Addai’s though.

In Westbrook’s seven year career, he has never played a full season. That alone makes McCoy look like he will get a decent amount of playing time, but there’s more than just that. Westbrook had off-season ankle surgery and isn’t expected to start practicing until mid-August.

With that much time off of doing any real workouts, Westbrook will need to get back into football shape. This could take some time, and he might not be in ideal shape until a couple of weeks into the season.

It’s also possible he rushes back and could end up re-injuring it. If something drastic happens McCoy could end up getting the majority of the carries for a period of time.

When he gets his carries he will excel in the Eagles offense due to his slash running style and pass-catching ability. Numerous people have called him a Westbrook clone. If he turns out to be half the player Westbrook is, he will be a great back for years to come.

During McCoy’s two years at Pittsburgh, he played in every game. He was a dual threat while leading the team in rushing yards, and was their second leading receiver. Being able to do both will get him more playing time down the road.

With Westbrook turning 30 this season, McCoy will be used to keep him fresh and healthy. He is a great pick in dynasty leagues, and an excellent handcuff for Westbrook owners.

He has the potential to become an elite back in a couple of years, but will be a great backup for now.

My No.5 rookie running back is Shonn Greene of the New York Jets.

Shonn has one of the toughest roads to playing time, but it could all crumble and he could walk into a job. Thomas Jones has not been happy, and the Jets were considering trading him.

It seems like Jones is going to stick it out in New York, and be their starting running back. There is still a slim chance he gets traded, but I wouldn’t bet on it. Either way Greene will get some playing time.

If Jones would still get traded which is highly doubtful, Greene would become the starter. Leon Washington would be his only competition, and he’s too small to be an every down back.

If this would happen Greene would get a huge boost in fantasy value. He would have the potential to be a top three rookie running back behind a very good offensive line.

Here’s the more realistic situation, he splits carries with both Washington and Jones. It will probably be similar to the New York Giants running back situation of last season.

Jones will get the majority of the carries with Washington and Greene each getting their fair share of the carries. Regardless of the situation, Greene has pretty good value. He will make the most out of his carries.

If Jones doesn’t come out of the gate fast, he could lose playing time. This would lead to Greene getting the majority of the carries, with Leon getting the second most. No matter what it’s one of the better places for a rookie running back to be.

One reason they should have a successful ground game is the offensive line. The Jets were ninth in the league in rushing yards last season and averaged 4.7 yards per carry. The Jets put together a great offensive line, and should have success again this year.

Last season the Jets rushed the ball 422 times. I expect them to run the ball a lot more this season for two main reasons. The first reason is their quarterback situation.

If Kellen Clemens is the starter then they will run the ball because he’s not a great passer. If Mark Sanchez wins the starting gig, they will run the ball to take the pressure off of their rookie quarterback.

The second reason is the coaching staff. Their new head coach comes from a hard nosed, run first offense. He likes to run the ball to control the clock and let the defense win the game.

This will lead to all three backs getting a decent amount of carries, and making all three relevant in fantasy football this year.

My No.6 rookie running back is Arian Foster of the Houston Texans.

This is one of my sleeper running backs that are flying under the radar. He has a great shot to get on to the field this season with very little competition other than Slaton.

His main competition for the backup job will be Chris Brown, and he’s very injury proned. He will also compete against Ryan Moats and fellow rookie Jeremiah Johnson. Brown has the early advantage due to the fact he’s a veteran, but Foster should be able to pass him.

Foster had a terrible senior year at Tennessee, but that wasn’t his fault. The entire team had a disappointing season. Even in that season, he averaged 4.4 yards per carry. In 2007 he rushed for over 1,000 yards and had 12 touchdowns to go with a 4.9 yards per carry average.

He was overlooked in the draft due to a less than spectacular senior season, but he has the potential to be a good player in the NFL. If he can carry over the 2007 performance he will have been a great pick by the Texans.

The main reason I think Foster has potential is because of Slaton’s size. At just 5’9”, 215 pounds I don’t see Slaton being able to play the majority of every game. I know he pretty much did last season, but he’s just too small.

If Foster can win the backup job he will get on the field a respectable amount. Slaton will need some breathers to avoid getting injured, and to stay fresh. He could possibly be the goal-line back if Brown gets injured which is almost a guarantee.

With Foster there is a very big question. Will he win the backup job? If he can win the battle he will have some good value, and will be a solid late round pick. The Texans backup battle will be something to look out for during training camp.

My No.7 rookie running back is Rashad Jennings of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

This is the deepest sleeper of them all. I think he has great upside, but he has to get the backup job first. His only competition is Greg Jones which is really a fullback, with tons of power.

Now a lot of people don’t know much if anything about Jennings. He played his freshman season at Pittsburgh where he rushed for 411 yards on just 86 carries. He transferred to Liberty the next season to be closer to his ailing father.

When he arrived at Liberty he weighed 265 pounds, but was determined to be the starting running back. He lost over 35 pounds and eventually became the starter.

By moving closer to home to be with his father he showed he’s a good guy, and by losing the weight he shows he has determination. He has the heart to be a great running back in the NFL.

In his three seasons at Liberty he rushed for over 1,000 yards in each, and averaged over five yards per carry. Now I understand that’s at a small school, but it’s still pretty impressive.

At 6’1”, 231 pounds Jennings was one of the biggest backs in the draft. He has the potential to be a great goal line back, but don’t let his size full you. Jennings hard work continues to pay off as he reportedly improved his 40-yard dash time from 4.67 to a very good 4.4.

He has created a lot of upside for himself, and the Jaguars situation has also boosted his value a little bit. Maurice Jones-Drew has not had more than 197 carries in a season so it’s possible he gets injured in his first year as the featured back.

If he gets hurt, expect Jennings to make the most out of his opportunity. The more I read about this kid, the more I like him. He has great character, and has a great work ethic when he applies himself.

Rashad Jennings will be the steal of your draft I guarantee it. He makes a great late round pick, and should not disappoint anyone who drafts him.

My No.8 rookie running back is Andre Brown of the New York Giants.

Andre Brown has some big shoes to fill this season. His job will be to replace Derrick Ward in the Giants three headed monster.

At 6’0”, 224 pounds Brown is a perfect replacement for the 5’11” 228 pound Derrick Ward. Last season Ward rushed for over 1,000 yards for the Giants. Brown will not be expected to rush for 1,000 yards, but a couple of hundred yards seems very doable.

Last season the Giants led the league in rushing with over 2,500 yards. They also had the highest average per carry. With a very weak passing game this season, the Giants will be running the ball an awful lot. They will once again have success on the ground, and will do it with multiple running backs.

The carries will most likely be split up between Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Andre Brown. Brown will probably get about 100 carries this season and will be a solid running back to keep your eye on.

He has great skills and is an excellent pass catcher out of the backfield. Last season at North Carolina State, Brown rushed for 767 yards on just 175 carries. He also had the second most receptions on the team, and accumulated 309 receiving yards.

Brown would make a very good third down back with his catching abilities and his pass blocking abilities. He has had injury problems in the past and will have to stay healthy if he wants to make an impact.

Brown will be a nice compliment to Jacobs and Bradshaw. He is in a great position to succeed, and it’s up to him to take advantage of it. He makes a great late round pick and has great upside.

My No.9 rookie running back is James Davis of the Cleveland Browns.

James Davis has one of the toughest roads to get on to the field. Most likely he will start the season as the third running back. He will be behind Jamal Lewis and Jerome Harrison.

They are both solid running backs and it could take Davis some time to get on to the field. It might take an injury for him to get some carries, but no matter how he gets on the field, expect him to make some big plays.

He rushed for over 1,000 yards in both his sophomore and junior seasons, but had a disappointing senior season. In the two 1,000 yard seasons he averaged over five yards per carry, and during the lesser senior year he still averaged a respectable 4.4 yards per carry.

He slipped to the sixth round because of the weak senior season. This makes him a great candidate as a sleeper. He is very underrated due to being drafted so low, but the numbers show that he has potential.

Davis is not your typical running back, he is a play-maker. He’s a threat to take it to the house every time he touches the ball.

While he will most likely start out as the third running back, that could change quickly. Jamal Lewis is only 29, but he’s been in the league for 10 years already. At some point he’s bound to decline to some extent, and that might be this season.

I also don’t think Jerome Harrison can be an every down back in the NFL. If Lewis goes down, Davis could become the starter and see his value shoot through the roof.

If he can be the 2006 and 2007 James Davis he will be a great late round pick or possibly even a great waiver wire pick up. He is most certainly a guy to keep an eye on.

My No.10 rookie running back is Glen Coffee of the San Francisco 49ers.

Glen has an easy road to the backup job. The problem is San Francisco has no problem giving Frank Gore practically every carry.

Last season Gore had 72% of the 49ers carries and if you take out the carries from the two games he missed, he had 80% of carries. If he has that many of the carries, Coffee will have a tough time becoming relevant in fantasy football.

In Coffee’s only season as the starting running back for the Crimson Tide, he rushed for over 1,000 yards and averaged 5.9 yards per carry. He was a big contributor in there unexpected great season.

Last season San Francisco was one of the worst rushing teams in the league, but had a decent average of four yards per carry. Under new head coach Mike Singletary they will be committed to the run, and should have a better year on the ground.

The 49ers have a new offensive coordinator in Jimmy Raye as well. His philosophy relies on a physical, hard-nosed running game. It also focuses on utilizing each offensive position in the passing game. There are individual plays drawn up for each position from running back to tight end. This could be beneficial for Coffee with more touches for both him and Gore.

Coffee won’t get too many carries, but he should get anywhere from 50 to 100 carries. The 49ers have said they would like Coffee to weigh around 220 pounds. He is currently at 209 pounds, and his weight could determine how many carries he receives this season.

Coffee is a pretty solid running back. He can make defenders miss in the open field, and he can run over defenders. He has a lot of power for his size and can surprise defenders when he runs them over.

Even with Coffee’s skills he will probably struggle to find playing time. It’s going to be hard for him to take carries away from Gore. Gore is a great feature back, and the 49ers are going to want the ball in his hands as often as possible.

That wraps up my top 10 rookie running backs. Part three will be coming shortly with all of the top rookie wide receivers.

Front Row Fantasy Sports 2009 Fantasy Football Draft Kit

2009-08-02T23:34:00.000-07:00

Exactly two weeks from today, the Front Row Fantasy Sports team set forth on a mission to assemble the most in-depth and accurate Fantasy Football Draft Kit in the history of mankind.

While our efforts came nowhere near our lofty goals, we are thoroughly impressed on the job we did. We weren't able to complete the most in-depth draft kit in history, and only time will tell if we were all that accurate. All I can say is that we are proud of our valiant efforts.

Each of us devised individual rankings for QB's, RB's, WR's, and TE's, ranking the top 40 for each. We then compiled our own list of our overall top 100 players.

Once this was completed, Christian Karcole had the job of evaluating each player's average rank and sorting out the rankings based on those rankings. Much thanks goes out to Christian for volunteering to do the work nobody else wanted to do.

Eventually, Christian began to complain over having to do all of this work manually. Our good friend and fellow B/R columnist Zach Fein stepped in and completed the overall top 100 players and their averages in much less time than Christian ever would have. Hats off to him for doing so.

Finally, after two long weeks of putting this draft kit together, I present to you the official "Front Row Fantasy Sports 2009 Fantasy Football Draft Kit."

Since we completed this with Google Docs, we are unable to simply cut and paste our rankings into this article. Instead, we have chosen to resort to embedding the spreadsheet into this post.

If you would prefer to just visit the link, the draft kit can be found here. If you would rather view it in this post, scroll down to the bottom and it will appear there.

Under each of our initials (Christian Karcole, Nick Allen, Dalton Scantling), you will find where we ranked that individual player.

Any questions, comments, or suggestions are welcome. We appreciate you taking the time to take a peek at our draft kit.

Once again, just click here to open the link.

Fantasy Football Draft Guide: The Snake Draft

2009-08-01T19:58:00.000-07:00

The standard "snake" draft has been around for years. Until a few years ago, the snake was all that existed (for the most part). With the inception of the auction draft came an entirely new way to draft your fantasy football team. Yet, the original snake draft remains the most widely used way to construct a team.

So after I compiled my thoughts on the aforementioned auction draft, I figured that doing the same on the more popular style of draft would be necessary. Once again, I'll be pointing out hints to take note of while composing your fantasy football team. Without further adieu, here is my draft guide to snake drafts.

One more thing: To the three of you who magically land upon FRFS, you probably read that we would be releasing a draft kit within the near future. While that remains true, it's taking longer than expected. We've had, er, "technical" problems. Just wanted to clear that up to our throngs of fans anticipating our revolutionary kit.

1. Quarterback+First Round=Bad
A quarterback is a huge piece on a fantasy football team. That is an indisputable fact. Yet, remember that when you have only one starting QB and two/three starting runningbacks. While you take your one starting QB in the first round, the rest of your league-mates are already getting started on picking one of their 4-6 RB's. The difference between the top tier of RB's and the middle tier is quite large, so grabbing the best of the best early is key.

2. Find middle-round values
Matt Ryan will be available in the fifth round in most of your drafts. So will Donovan McNabb, Jay Cutler, Matt Cassel, and others. Instead of reaching for Aaron Rodgers in the third round, take a position player you need and grad a QB later on. If you can't live without Rodgers on your squad, take him and look for a Felix Jones type in later rounds. There are plenty of value picks in this year's player pool, you just have to search for them.

3. Stick to one defense and kicker
Don't be the guy who picks two defenses or two kickers. Oh please, do NOT be that guy. By selecting two defenses or two kickers, you're wasting a valuable bench spot. During your defenses bye week you can simply find the best available team with a decent matchup. Multiple kickers are even more embarrassing. Each week, there will be the kicker who racks up the points and the kicker who sits the bench. Each kicker fluctuates week-to-week, so picking two is pointless. The difference in value from one kicker to another is minimal, at most.

4. Don't be the trend-setter
Once the defenses start going, you keep picking your bench players. Kickers and defenses are meant to be taken in the last few rounds, so that's where you pick them. There will always be a few boneheads that reach for the Ravens or Steelers in the tenth round. All that tells you is that he is the guy to trade with after the draft.

5. Know when to and when not to reach
Having a team with an abundance of players you have faith in is key. The happier you are with your team, the more you will enjoy the season. But don't only try to draft your most beloved players. You aren't going to be able to have your pick at everyone you want, so know when to reach. If the player you have marked down as a must-have is also highly coveted by other owners, don't hesitate to reach 15 rankings to snag him. Any further than 15 picks, and you're stretching the limits. If your player is not a highly coveted player, don't reach as high as 15 rankings. You could pick a higher value at your current pick before selecting your mancrush in the following round.

Fantasy Baseball Roundtable: Looking Back at The Morgan-Hanrahan Trade

2009-07-29T21:19:00.000-07:00

On June 30th, the Bucs sent outfielder Nyjer Morgan and reliever Sean Burnett to the Nats in exchange for outfielder Lastings Milledge and reliever Joel Hanrahan.

Nearly one month later, the guys at Front Row Fantasy Sports (myself, Dalton Scantling, and Christian Karcole) look back at this deal (mainly because we have all have a man-crush on Nyjer Morgan) and briefly analyze the winner, and each player involved.

Nick Allen:

Well, the one player that really sticks out in this trade is Nyjer Morgan. Since getting traded to the Nationals, Morgan is batting .394 with one home run, and 13 stolen bases. He is now batting .304 on the season with 56 runs, three home runs, 34 RBI, and 31 stolen bases.

Morgan has been solid all year, and is on a tear with the Nationals, right now he is the most productive player in this deal.

Fantasy Spin: Morgan is a great addition to any fantasy team especially roto. He can hit for average and has very good speed. Morgan should be owned in all leagues while he is producing like this.

The other player that came to the Nationals, Sean Burnett, has been pretty impressive in his minor role with the club. In his first game with the team he allowed a home run, since then he has not allowed a single run. His stat line with the Nats looks like this: 10.1 innings pitched, with nine strikeouts, and an ERA of 0.87.

Fantasy Spin: Burnett has extremely small fantasy relevance, but could be worth a pick-up in a very deep NL only league.

Lastings Milledge has yet to make his Pirates debut, and is currently playing in Triple-A where he is 19 for 56 with a .339 batting clip, three stolen bases, and six RBI, in 16 games.

Whenever called up, Milledge could be a nice addition to the Pirates outfield, but I'm going to have to see him perform highly at the major league level before I'm buying into anything.

Fantasy Spin: Milledge has no fantasy value while playing in the minors, obviously, but if he keeps playing the way he is down their, it will be hard for the Bucs to not call him up. Keep an eye on his status.

Joel Hanrahan is in a similar position as Sean Burnett, they both encompass minor roles within their respective teams. Hanrahan has more upside though, if anything happens to Matt Capps, he has a good shot at taking over the closers role.

Fantasy Spin: Hanrahan should be owned in deep leagues at this point, but if Matt Capps struggles, gets injured, or even traded, Hanrahan has a good shot at taking over the closers role.

I think the Nationals got the better end of this deal for now, everything could change based solely on how Lastings Milledge performs in the MLB when given the opportunity.

Dalton Scantling:

The Pirates got Lastings Milledge and Joel Hanrahan from the Nationals.

Milledge started off the year terribly with the Nats and was sent down to Triple-A to try to fix his swing. Since being traded he seems to have found his stroke.

He’s hitting .339 for Indianapolis and it’s only a matter of time before he gets called up. His power numbers are down, but he’s making up for that with the very high average.

Whenever he gets called up he should make an impact for the Pirates.

The second player the Pirates got, Joel Hanrahan, is a good relief pitcher that’s a little inconsistent at times. He has an ERA of 6.70, but since coming over to Pittsburgh he has an ERA of just 3.00.

On the other side of the trade the Nationals got Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett.

Nyjer has been the best player in the deal so far. He is second in the NL with 31 stolen bases and is hitting over .300. Since coming over to Washington he is hitting an outstanding .394. He has also been caught stealing 31% of the time compared to 56% of the time while with the Pirates.

The other player the Nationals received in the deal was Sean Burnett. He has been great since coming over. He has given up just one run and sports a 0.87 ERA with the Nationals.

That one run he gave up did give him a blown save, but he has been rock solid since then. In his last nine innings pitched, he’s given up just three hits and no runs.

I think the Washington Nationals were the winners of this deal. Both Nyjer Morgan and Sean Burnett are doing more than what was expected of them. If Lastings Milledge doesn’t come up to the big leagues and produce the Pirates ownership will take a hit for this trade.

Christian Karcole:

Nearly one month ago, when Nyjer Morgan was traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Washington Nationals in a four-player deal, nobody expected him to produce like he has. After moving from a last place team (the Pirates), to the worst place team (the Nationals), Morgan has actually seen an upturn in production. A huge upturn, that is.

His .394 batting average with the lowly Nationals ranks fourth in the majors for the month of July, while his 13 stolen bases in the month ranks first. Also, Morgan's 35 hits this month rank sixth in the majors.

As a lead off hitter for the worst team in baseball, you can't expect much else from Morgan. His stellar average, stolen bases, and hits should be enough to prove how well the 29-year old is playing.

Along with Morgan, the Pirates sent left-handed reliever Sean Burnett to the Nats. With his new club, Burnett has posted a 0.87 ERA with nine strikeouts in 10.1 innings. He could eventually make a case as the Nationals' future closer if Mike MacDougal proves himself unfit for the role.

In return, the Nationals sent troubled outfielder Lastings Milledge and inconsistent reliever Joel Hanrahan. Milledge, who has been up-and-down between the majors and the minors over the course of his career, has yet to appear in a game for the Pirates. Hanrahan has made a slight impact with the Pirates, as he has gone nine innings so far while striking out 10 batters. His ERA with the Pirates stands at a solid 3.00.

Overall, who ends up as the winner of the deal? Obviously, it has to be the Washington Nationals. They received a stud outfielder and a young, extremely solid reliever, and only gave up an above average reliever and an outfielder who has yet to make his mark on the field wherever he has played.

When this deal was completed, most questioned its intent and whether there was a point in either team trading who they did. Both teams exchanged an outfielder and a reliever. At the time, it appeared to be a toss-up who the winner would end up as. Now, just a month after the exchange took place, the Nationals are the clear winners (for a change).

Karcole's Top Ten: Wide Receivers

2009-07-26T20:15:00.000-07:00

Within the next week, the Front Row Fantasy Sports team will be releasing a much more expansive and organized player rankings list. Some might call it a draft kit. Until then, I will be previewing my own personal rankings, most of which will be filled with my unlimited supply of wisdom.

1. Larry Fitzgerald-Arizona Cardinals
This is basically a no-doubter pick. We finally see a year when the no. 1 players for QB's, RB's, and WR's are almost unanimous. Andre Johnson could make a run for the top spot, but his injuries, along with his QB's injuries, could harm those chances. Fitzgerald is consistent, and flat out talented.

2. Andre Johnson-Houston Texans
Even after he brought in just two and three receptions in weeks three and four, Johnson finished second in fantasy scoring for wide receivers. Add to that the fact that Matt Schaub, his quarterback, missed five games, and it's simply mind boggling to think how Johnson was able to put together such a strong season. Too bad it'll all likely happen again this year.

3. Roddy White-Atlanta Falcons
Matt Ryan is another year older, and Roddy White has another year of experience. The only problem? Defenses will have more knowledge on Ryan when they defend against him, and the same goes for White. The ultimate factor is whether Ryan is able to repeat his rookie season. I believe he can, but it's very possibly that defenses use their experience against him to their advantage.

4. Calvin Johnson-Detroit Lions
On a horrendous team, possibly the worst in history, Calvin was fantastic. He was their only receiving option, and had a few different quarterbacks throwing his way, none of which played all that well. Somehow, some way, Calvin Johnson was consistent and one of the most reliable receivers in the league. Matthew Stafford, if he plays, likely won't be extremely effective this year, so expect more of the same from Calvin.

5. Steve Smith-Carolina Panthers
Jake Delhomme is pretty lousy, but like both Johnson's (Andre and Calvin), he doesn't let that hold him back. He was able to finish 5th for receivers in 2008, even after missing the first two weeks due to a suspension. The running game may begin to take over in Carolina. Even so, Smith is not in jeopardy of losing all that much production.

6. Randy Moss-New England Patriots
Tom Brady is back, and Moss is certainly happy about that. Even with Matt Cassel, Moss posted top-ten numbers last season. With Tom Brady, he hopes to return to his record-breaking form from 2007. He shouldn't expected to produce in such enormous amounts like '07, but a more consistent season should be expected. Yet, if an injury to Tom Brady presents itself again, Moss' value drops a considerable amount due to the lack of a reliable back-up.

7. Greg Jennings-Green Bay Packers
Jennings has shown he can play over the past few seasons. He has been inconsistent at times, yet he flourished with Aaron Rodgers last year. He was much more consistent last season, and even when he began to see a decrease in numbers as the end of the season approached, Jennings was still bringing in touchdowns. He'll get you points one way or another.

8. Marques Colston-New Orleans Saints
Colston's missed time last season overshadowed his impressive return. After his injury, Colston had less than 10 points just twice (not including his first game back when he caught 2 passes). Although he didn't bring in many touchdown's in his first weeks after his injury, Colston caught four TD's in his last three games. Plus, having Drew Brees helps.

9. Reggie Wayne-Indianapolis Colts
With Marvin Harrison gone, Wayne should see more looks in 2009. The only downside for Wayne is that Anthony Gonzalez will be have a more important role in the offense this season than last. But I wouldn't be too worried about Gonzalez stealing too many passes. They have different roles, so his production should stay the same, at the least.

10. Dwayne Bowe-Kansas City Chiefs
Dwayne Bowe is my super-sleeper pick for 2009. He has Matt Cassel throwing to him, Todd Haley (the Offensive Coordinator for the Cardinals last season) as his head coach, and is Cassel's only option. The latter of the three is a positive point because Bowe has the talent to get away from double teams and into open space. He found a way to have a successful season in 2008 with Tyler Thigpen. He should only do better with Cassel.

Karcole's Top Ten: Runningbacks

2009-07-24T21:59:00.000-07:00

Within the next week, the Front Row Fantasy Sports team will be releasing a much more expansive and organized player rankings list. Some might call it a draft kit. Until then, I will be previewing my own personal rankings, most of which will be filled with my unlimited supply of wisdom.

1. Adrian Peterson-Minnesota Vikings
I know, I know...what am I thinking? Adrian Peterson...he's horrible. But don't worry, he'll be a stud. Oh, what? Not that AP? Phew.

2. Michael Turner-Atlanta Falcons
He's apart of a talented offense, so he won't be the main focus for the defense. He doesn't have a ton of mileage on him, so you can expect him to still have his legs. He had a terrific season last year in his first year as a starter. There's not much you can't like about Burner Turner.

3. Matt Forte-Chicago Bears
Fantasy analysts argue that Forte benefited from being the focal point of the Bears' offense last season, and showed his low YPC as a sign that he isn't all that great. If anyone can put up a top-five fantasy season with a sub-four YPC in his rookie year, then when he is able to up that YPC, he can only improve. Additionally, Jay Cutler is now behind center, throwing more focus off Forte.

4. Chris Johnson-Tennessee Titans
LenDale White faded from the offense late in the season, but even when his presence was felt in the early weeks, Johnson played well. He showed his big-play ability, which is key in the fantasy world, and proved he can get into the end zone just as efficient as LenDale. I'm not what you call a believer in the "Sophomore Slump", so I expect an almost identical season from CJ.

5. Maurice Jones-Drew-Jacksonville Jaguars
Fred Taylor is no longer sharing the load, David Garrard has Torry Holt, and Jones-Drew bulked up to around 210 pounds. So how in the world is MJD not higher than no. 5? It's simple. A wise man once advised me not to draft Joseph Addai last season. Thank you very much, sir. That same man hinted at his dislike of MJD this year. Is that enough of an explanation?

6. Steve Slaton-Houston Texans
Three sophomore running backs in the same top six, along with a back in his second season as a starter. This must be a record, and is likely too good to be true. Yet somehow, Turner, Johnson, Forte, and Slaton take up 66% of the top six. So why Slaton so high on my rankings? He isn't even the best player on his offense (which is a good thing), so defenses won't be stacking the box, and while he doesn't receive too many goal-line opportunities, he is able to prance into the end zone in other ways. There isn't much downside to his potential.

7. Steven Jackson-St. Louis Rams
Jackson has been poised to finally become the stud in the fantasy football world for two seasons now. Injuries and a horrible -- no, disastrous -- offense along with an even worse quarterback slowed him down. He bounced back decently the last five weeks of the season, but with the same terrible team surrounding him, can Jackson keep himself healthy and be productive? Well, yes. But health is the key.

8. Clinton Portis-Washington Redskins
My skepticism of Portis was at an all-time high earlier in the offseason, but I've eased up on him. He is reaching the age and years of experience that most running backs begin to see their play suffer, so Clinton does have that to worry about. But besides the age factor, he is still due for one or two more consistent seasons.

9. LaDanian Tomlinson-San Diego Chargers
I'm not too fond of LT these days. Injuries, a less important role in the offense, a contract dispute, and a threatening back-up all contributes to my dislike of the former guaranteed no. 1 pick. Philip Rivers is the new sheriff in town, so LT's work will decrease, and Darren Sproles should have his share of carries and receptions. Add to that a healthy Antonio Gates, and you've got yourself a crowded offense. A 30-year old running back with health issues doesn't have a lot of chances to rush with a whole lot of success. But since he's LT, he remains among the top ten.

10. DeAngelo Williams-Carolina Panthers
Rounding out the top ten is DeAngelo Williams, who finished 2008 in dramatic fashion. He achieved over 20 points in six of his last 12 games, didn't have less than 12 runs over his last ten games, and had over 30 points in three of his last six games, all three coming in a span of four weeks. But, Jonathan Stewart somehow managed to keep himself in the mix, as he also improved as the season went on. Stewart's best weeks also came when Williams' came. The talent he brings to the table is too impressive, so the coaching staff in Carolina cannot resist giving him an even bigger role in the offense. That, my friends, is why Williams is as low as ten in my rankings, and most other rankings.

Diggin' Deep: Fantasy Baseball Deep League Pick-Ups, Pitchers Edition

2009-07-23T20:06:00.000-07:00

Are you in a 14, 16, or even a 20 team league and need some good pitching options? Well I've put together a list of a couple of guys owned in less than two percent of ESPN Fantasy Baseball leagues that can help out your team.

They're all young, and can turn out to be very good pick-ups especially in deep dynasty leagues.

Craig Stammen

Yesterday, in 7.1 innings, Stammen held the Mets to one run and four hits, while striking out five, and walking four. He is now 3-5 on the season with 34 strikeouts, 15 walks, a 4.14 ERA, and 1.18 WHIP.

In his last four games he is 2-2, with 24 hits allowed, seven earned runs, and 12 strikeouts. One of his two wins included a complete game where he gave up two runs and struck out two.

Stammen doesn't strikeout a lot of batters, and he plays for the Nationals. Yet, he has an ERA slightly below league average, and he's young.

Stammen is worth a pick-up in deep leagues, he is only owned in 0.3 percent of ESPN Fantasy Baseball leagues.

Mat Latos

Latos pitched Sunday against the Rockies on a 75 pitch limit in his debut. He tossed four innings, and gave up three hits, two earned runs, while striking out four, and walking two.

In Double-A he had a 1.19 ERA, a 0.51 WHIP, and an impressive 9.00 K/BB.

Latos can provide you with strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP, as his pitch count increases.

His next start is the 24th against the Nationals, pick him up and start him in this favorable match-up. He is only owned in one percent of ESPN Fantasy Baseball leagues.

Tim Stauffer

In six innings of work Monday, Stauffer allowed one run, and three hits, while striking out four, although he got the no decision.

Both of his starts this season have been good, but he is still 0-1 on the season. In his first start he threw seven innings, allowed four hits, two earned runs, one walk, while striking out seven.

He has a 2.08 ERA, and a 0.77 WHIP on the season. Stauffer can be a decent source of strikeouts, and a good source of ERA, and WHIP.

His next start is the 25th against the Nationals, which I would consider a favorable match-up. He is only owned in 0.6 percent of ESPN Fantasy Baseball leagues and is worth a pick-up in deeper leagues.

Luke French

Today, against Seattle, French lasted 5.1 innings, giving up eight hits, and only two runs, while striking out six. He was awarded the loss after only getting one run of run support.

On the season he is 1-1 with a 2.63 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, and 17 strikeouts.

French is a cheap source of strikeouts, and a good source of ERA, he is worth a pick-up in deep leagues.

He is owned in 1.1 percent of ESPN Fantasy Baseball leagues.

Karcole's Top Ten: Quarterbacks

2009-07-22T18:29:00.000-07:00

Within the next week, the Front Row Fantasy Sports team will be releasing a much more expansive and organized player rankings list. Some might call it a draft kit. Until then, I will be previewing my own personal rankings, most of which will be filled with my unlimited supply of wisdom.

1. Drew Brees-New Orleans Saints
Not much to be made out of this pick. He's Drew Brees, the Tom Brady of 2008. Will he be able to construct another standout season like he put together in '08? Barring major injury in the offense, yes. Even with injuries to Maques Colston and Reggie Bush last year, Brees was able to roll through the season like a freight train with no intentions of letting up. The fantasy dominance shouldn't be expected to be as large as it was last season, but still expect great numbers.

2. Tom Brady-New England Patriots
I feel like I'm contradicting myself by saying this based on his ranking, but I wouldn't draft Brady if presented with the opportunity. I would feel more secure with Peyton Manning, simply because there isn't the slightest chance of a setback with an injury already in place. My thoughts with QB's is always too make a safe pick, because they often turn out to be your most important player. While I expect a very productive season from Brady, there's a voice in my head urging me not to go near him...

3. Peyton Manning-Indianapolis Colts
Marvin Harrison's absence shouldn't harm Manning's value at all. If anything, I find it more likely that his production increases now that Anthony Gonzalez will see more throws his way. A more consistently healthy Dallas Clark this season should help if that is to happen, but there are a few questions lingering around Manning. With all of the coaching changes, we will have to see what sort of effect it will have on his fantasy production. I don't seeing it making too big of a toll, but I could be wrong.

4. Philip Rivers-San Diego Chargers
Rivers finally made himself a force to be reckoned with on the fantasy scene in 2008, finishing in the top five in nearly all ESPN.com leagues. His weaponry appears to be healthier and more experienced this season, and his late connection with Vincent Jackson should prove to help his game. With an offense composed with LT, Darren Sproles, Gates, Jackson, and Chris Chambers, you can't not expect great numbers.

5. Aaron Rodgers-Green Bay Packers
My faith in Rodgers going into last season was mocked in my league. I had traded for him after Brett Favre, previously my quarterback who I had traded for the day before he unexpectedly retired, decided to bail on me. Rodgers was my guy, and I stuck with him. Eventually, I ended up trading Rodgers in a deadline deal that gave me depth I badly needed. But I still love Rodgers and his ability. Expect the same sort of production as last season from him in '09.

6. Kurt Warner-Arizona Cardinals
If you had Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston on the receiving end of your passes you'd be at #6, too. Adding Chris "Beanie" Wells to the equation at RB doesn't hurt, either. Warner is another year older, but his loss in the Super Bowl should provide some motivation to repeat his 2008 statistics. Arizona's offense has been potent for a few years now, so it's no surprise that Warner's production rose when he became the full-time starter. As long as that remains to be true, Warner can be relied on for another better-than-solid campaign.

7. Matt Ryan-Atlanta Falcons
I absolutely love Ryan's ability this season. Last year was great for Ryan, who was a rookie, and '09 should only be better. Roddy White became a star because of Ryan, and Tony Gonzalez will be huge because he adds something Ryan didn't have last year. With White, Gonzalez, and Michael Turner, who wouldn't have a great year?

8. Jay Cutler-Chicago Bears
He goes from Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal to Devin Hester and...well, er, Juaqin Iglesias. It certainly is a big downgrade, but the improved running game with Matt Forte should help Cutler. Plus, Cutler has too much raw talent to be a disappointment. I rank him high here because I have faith that even though he won't put up huge numbers, he should be more consistent and shouldn't see a huge downturn in points.

9. Tony Romo-Dallas Cowboys
From September until November, Romo is gold. After that, you can expect him to be terrible. He is honestly horrible in the month of December, so if you plan on winning your league, don't have him as your playoff QB. Trade him at the deadline or as last in the season as possible when his value is high. T.O.'s departure shouldn't be too harsh on Romo's production. It's just that when the fantasy playoffs come, Romo implodes.

10. Donovan McNabb-Philadelphia Eagles
McNabb could honestly end up as the no. 1 fantasy QB by the end of the year, but that's asking for a lot. A healthy Brian Westbrook would have to be the case, along with the rookies, Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy, having the seasons they are expected to. Most importantly, McNabb would have to be healthy as well. It's all very possible, but unlikely as well.

Ranking The Rookies Part 1: The Quarterbacks

2009-07-21T17:59:00.000-07:00

Over the next few days I will be ranking the 2009 NFL rookies by their respective position for fantasy purposes. I figured there's no better way to start it than with the field general's.

This year's class is a rather weak one, but it has the potential to produce five or six QB's to keep on your fantasy radar.

My number one rookie QB is Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets. He will have a shot at starting from day one, especially since his head coach, Rex Ryan, watched a rookie QB excel last year while with the Ravens. He also doesn't have any really strong competition.

Kellen Clemens has been less than stellar when he sees the field. So far in his career he's played in fourteen games and has a fifty-two percent completion percentage to go with five touchdowns, eleven interceptions, and a QB rating of 59.3.

That's enough of bashing Clemens, now it's time to talk about what makes Sanchez have the potential to be a star.

He has proven he can play in a pro-style offense while at USC and should have no trouble with it in the NFL. He also will have a chance to put up big numbers due to the big men up front.

The Jets offensive line gave up thirty sacks last year which was good for fourteenth fewest in the league. He'll be able to sit in the pocket and find his receivers without worrying about getting sacked too much.

He will also have pressure taken off of him by the running game. The Jets rushed for the ninth most yards last year and will look to run the ball again this season. Running the ball early and often will open up the passing game and take tons of pressure off of Sanchez.

The final thing that will help him be successful is his skill set. He has all of the intangibles it takes to be a great QB in the NFL.

I'm not saying he's the next Tom Brady, but expect him to be a top-20 QB this season and continue to get better for the next couple of years.

With no true veteran QB in front of him, a great offensive line, and some experience in a pro-style offense I expect Mark Sanchez to easily lead the rookie QB's this season.

My number two rookie QB is Matthew Stafford of the Detroit Lions. I don't expect him to start week one, but I do expect him to see the field a decent amount in his rookie season.

Stafford has the physical tools to be a great NFL QB, but he doesn't have much around him in Detroit. Other than Calvin Johnson he has no other sure-thing WR's.

His only other weapon is Kevin Smith. He will be a nice option for Stafford to dump the ball to, and will be able to help open up the passing game by running the ball.

Not only does he have a lack of weapons, but he also has a lack of protection. The Lions gave up 52 sacks last season, which was good enough for second most in the NFL.

With a below average line and limited weapons, it will be difficult for Stafford to succeed in his first year with the Lions. Since he has the tools to be a great QB, and will get some playing time, he comes in at number two on my list.

My number three QB is Josh Freeman, Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Freeman has arguably the best tools out of any of the rookie QB's.

His big problem is playing time. Unlike the two guys ahead of him on the list, Freeman's not guaranteed any playing time. The front office has even said they'd prefer him to sit and learn in his first season.

If the Bucs struggle early on, he'll get a shot to show what he has. If he can be consistent he could end up being the best QB out of this class.

He will have plenty of weapons around which makes him a great late round pick, especially in dynasty leagues. He has two talented RB's in the backfield that will help take the pressure off of him.

He also has Antonio Bryant(finished seventh among WR's last year) and Michael Clayton leading the WR's and a very solid group of TE's led by Kellen Winslow.

To go along with the weapons, he also has a pretty solid offensive line. They aren't the best, but they are far from the worst. They gave up the 16th fewest sacks last season.

The big difference between Freeman and Sanchez is the fact that Freeman has real competition. Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown will battle it out to be the starter, and either one could do good enough to hold off Freeman until next season.

Due to talent, plenty of weapons, and a solid offensive line Josh Freeman comes in at number three. If he was guaranteed playing time this year he would be atleast number two, but he still makes a great late round pick to stash away and wait it out.

Number four on my list of rookie QB's is Patrick White of the Miami Dolphins. He won't really be much of a QB, but he'll probably score some fantasy points this season.

He will be a perfect fit in the Dolphins "Wildcat" offense. Having a guy with his arm strength and accuracy leading the "Wildcat" will bring a new aspect to it.

Being a specialist will hurt his value, but he should be able to help you out. Especially the first couple of weeks they run the new and improved "Wildcat".

His main value could be a bye-week fill-in in a deeper league where you can't get a QB off of waivers.

With Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams possibly in the backfield with White, they could really do some damage. The main question is will any defensive coordinators be able to draw something up to slow it down.

While he'll hardly be a "real" QB, he will produce some fantasy points out of the unpredictable "Wildcat" offense.

The fifth, and most underrated rookie QB, is Nate Davis of the San Francisco 49ers. The only thing that held him back from being a highly drafted QB was a learning disability.

The biggest concern for him is whether or not he can learn an NFL offense. He has the athletic ability and playmaking abilities to put up some great fantasy numbers.

He could be in a great situation with the Niners if they struggle early on. If they're struggling, there's no reason to keep Davis on the bench.

Another way he could get on the field early is injuries. San Francisco gave up 55 sacks last season, good enough for most in the league. Any QB can only take so many hits and with that many someone is bound to get hurt.

One thing that makes Nate Davis an interesting pick is the fact that he learned from a very good offensive coordinator in college. Ball State's offensive coordinator was the same one that was at Michigan when Tom Brady, Drew Henson, and Brian Griese each played there.

He will get his chance at some point, and expect him to make the most out of his opportunities.

The sixth and final candidate on my list is Tom Brandstater of the Denver Broncos. Most of the guys are on this list because I like their ability or they will get playing time.

Brandstater on the other hand doesn't fit into that at all. I know he has a strong arm, but that's about it.

The reason he's on the list is because of his head coach, Josh McDaniels. We all witnessed what he did with practically unknown Matt Cassell.

If McDaniels makes Brandstater into half of what he did with Cassell, he'll have some solid fantasy value. He does have one really big obstacle though.

It will take a huge collapse out of Kyle Orton for Brandstater to get a chance in the NFL. Unless of an injury, he will most likely be on the bench the entire season.

He's definitely a guy to keep an eye out for, as he could put up some serious numbers with Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal. In dynasty leagues he might be worth a later pick.

That wraps up my top rookie QB's to look out for. Some of these guys have value this year, others will have to wait until next year or even longer. Next up I'll look at the rookie RB's.

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Pitchers Edition

2009-07-21T12:58:00.000-07:00

Need some pitching?

This list consists of five pitchers with favorable match ups and/or guys that have just been tearing it up lately, most of which can be found on the waiver wire.

Joel Pineiro

Pineiro has been excellent in his last two performances. One of which he lasted nine innings giving up three hits, one earned run, while striking out five. In his other start, he tossed seven innings surrendering five hits, and one earned run, while striking out three.

Pineiro is now 8-9 on the season with a 3.09 ERA, 51 strikeouts, and 12 walks, in 122.1 innings, his 12 walks are lowest in the Majors among qualifiers. In his last seven starts he has an ERA below 2.00 and a WHIP below 1.00.

Did I mention he's in a contract year?

Although Pineiro won't provide your team with much strikeouts, he can help you out with his low ERA, and WHIP.

He is owned in 14.9 percent of ESPN Fantasy Baseball leagues, take a look at him if he's available in your league.

J.A. Happ

Happ added another win to his perfect 7-0 record on Sunday, after shutting out the Marlins in seven innings of work. That outing brings his season totals to 94 innings pitched, with 65 strikeouts, 33 walks, with an ERA of 2.68 and a WHIP of 1.15.

In his last six games, he has only allowed three runs once, in the rest he allowed two or fewer.

Happ is not a huge strikeout guy either, but he has a low ERA, WHIP, and he is undefeated on the season.

Happ is only owned in 30.9 percent of ESPN Fantasy Baseball leagues, if he continues to pitch like this, he should be owned in most formats.

Scott Baker

After starting off the season horribly, and disapointing fantasy owners that picked him as their third or fourth starter, it seems Baker has turned it around.

He is 4-1 in his last five starts, with his best of those performances being Friday against the Rangers. He pitched eight innings, gave up one run, and struck out eight, en route to his eigtht win of the season.

Baker is now 8-7 on the season, with 90 strikeouts, 23 walks, an ERA of 5.10 and a WHIP of 1.20.

Baker is starting to look like the guy we thought he would be this season, he can provide your team with strikeouts, WHIP, and his ERA will be down soon.

As a result of his early season struggles, Baker is available in around 15 percent of ESPN Fantasy Baseball leagues, pick him up now.

Ervin Santana

Coming off a breakout year, Santana has been plagued with injuries all season, and when he wasn't injured he was struggling on the mound.

Well, in his last start he lasted eight innings, gave up three hits, one earned run, he walked 2, and struck out four.

His season totals still aren't that great, 2-5, with a 6.70 ERA, 34 strikeouts, and 19 walks. He has only pitched 48.1 innings though.

He has a favorable start today against the Blue Jays, and he is available in 21 percent of ESPN Fantasy Baseball leagues, if you don't already own him, pick him up and start him.

I believe in Santana the rest of the way if he can stay healty and if he does, look out for an increase in his strikeouts, and decrease in his ERA.

Randy Wolf

Wolf has had some pretty solid numbers recently, in his last three starts he is 1-1 in 18.1 innings, in that span he has allowed 16 hits, six earned runs, and three walks, while striking out 17 batters. All three performances were quality starts, but he got the loss, and no decision due to poor run support.

Wolf has pretty solid seasonal statistics too, he is 4-4 with a 3.51 ERA, he has struck out 91 batters, and has walked 34, in 120.2 innings of work.

He has a favorable matchup in his start today against the Reds, he faces Homer Bailey who struggled in his last start.

Wolf is owned in 43.1 percent of ESPN Fantasy Baseball leagues, pick him up if you don't already have him, and get his start for today in.

Keys To Draft Success: The Auction

2009-07-20T17:48:00.000-07:00

Rapidly growing in popularity, the auction draft is the most difficult, and possibly the most confusing type of draft out there. Beginners throw themselves to the wolves with their eagerness to bet all their marbles on the top players, leaving them with zero depth. Veterans eventually learn better, but sometimes become too tentative, leaving them with a bench-heavy team without any proven fantasy contributors.

With this in mind, I decided to take action. Witnessing the countless suckers in the fantasy world spend $100 on their first two picks was eating me up inside. I threw out my fantasy values and created an extra account on ESPN.com in order to draft in as many live auction drafts as possible without having the responsibility of keeping up with the team (honestly, those leagues are ghost towns anyway).

While conducting these teams, I took mental notes, keeping track of who picked who and what they payed. After each draft, I congratulated myself for a job well done, waving my ultra-deep team in front of every owner's face.

Now that I've O.D.'d on auction drafts, it's time to reveal my Keys To Auction Draft Success.

Please, if you happen to be one of the owners willing to sell their house for Adrian Peterson, read the following tips. I beg you.

1. Bring a pillow for the first 30 picks and take a nap.
While the rest of your counterparts spend all of their riches on Adrian Peterson and Michael Turner, relax and watch out for Pierre Thomas, Ryan Grant, Dwayne Bowe, and others. The average price for Adrian Peterson in my drafts were $65, while Turner was going for just as much. Thomas, Grant, and Bowe? Each went for around $25. Who would you rather have, Peterson alone or Thomas/Grant/Bowe for just ten dollars more? The trio for me, please.

2. Make a list of players you want.
This is an auction draft, where you can have whoever you want as long as you are willing to pay. You don't have to work around other owners. You have a shot at everyone. So take a fantasy draft kit, pick 15 names from the list who aren't in the top ten at their respective position that you want on your team, and write them down. There are going to be those spenders who want their guy for any price, so you won't be able to get all 15. It's more likely that you are able to draft five of your players. But just make sure that you buy players on your list. The happier you are with your team the more successful you will be.

3. Don't spend more than $35 on a player, and spend more than $30 just once.
Keep money for your bench! It is pivotal that you keep enough around so you have the ability to overpay for your sleeper picks. Personally, my huge sleeper was Zach Miller, the tight end for the Oakland Raiders. In one draft, another owner wanted him just as much as I did. Who had the money to overpay? I did, due to my early round savings. Because of that pick, I was happier and more satisfied with my team.

4. Don't put a player you want up for bidding.
Quick, if you could have Jay Cutler for $23 or $10, which would you take? The latter of the two amounts, of course. Why do I ask such an obvious question? Well, in one draft Cutler was put up for bid as one of the first QB's off the board. As a result, he went for $23. In another draft, he was nearly the last of the top 15 QB's to go, and instead went for $10. The reason for this is owners feel more confident and free-spending when they have more money. If you wait for Matt Cassel or Jay Cutler for $10-15, instead of buying Drew Brees for $35, you'll be in much better shape. This leads me to why you shall never nominate any favorite of yours for bidding. Just pray that he goes unnoticed and snatch him later when he is finally put up. The longer a player stays in the pool, the smaller his value becomes. If another owner decides to nominate him, get into the bidding only if his price is in a worthy range.

5. Stay out of the bidding until the final ten seconds, and don't raise by more than a dollar.
There is nothing I despise more than the owner who feels the need to up the ante by five, 10, or maybe even 15 dollars. While the player might be headed for that price anyway, don't increase his value so quickly. The player will inevitably sell for more if this is done, because owners feel like they didn't bid as much money due to their lack of actual times pressing the bid button. That's why I continuously remained dormant until the final ten seconds before entering the action. This way, I'm not involved the entire time the player is on the clock, and it doesn't appear that I really want this guy. If I give the impression that I am absolutely in love with this player, other owners are going to push the price knowing that I'll overpay. You don't want to fall into those traps.

6. Only raise the price three times, at maximum.
Now that it's the final ten seconds and you are in on the bidding, remember to keep yourself on a leash. Don't raise by more than a dollar per bid, and only raise three times. This way, the most money you end up adding on from when you started is $6, which will not kill your bank, especially if you saved early. Don't become too hesitant though. Just remember that if you were willing to spend $20 on a player, than you should be willing to spend $22 on that same player. It's only $2 more. But if you were willing to spend $20, you shouldn't be willing to spend more than $26. Three raises seems like a small amount, but in the end, anything more can deplete your cash amount.

So whether you plan on drafting in an auction style or not, I hope you found this helpful and informative. If you are a rookie at these drafts, sticking to these tips will prove to be beneficial to the outcome of your team.

The main point to remember is to save your money until players begin selling for under $30. You would be surprised how much value can come out of the middle of the draft. But please don't wait too long. You don't want to end up with Ahmad Bradshaw as your #2 RB, that's for sure.

Fantasy Spin: Felipe Lopez To The Brewers

2009-07-19T19:01:00.000-07:00

With the trade deadline quickly approaching, the Brewers and Diamondbacks reached a deal today. The Brewers acquired second baseman Felipe Lopez from Arizona for minor-leaguers Cole Gillespie and Roque Mercedes.

Felipe will most likely bat lead off for the Brewers. So far this season he has .355 batting average and four home runs from the lead off spot. He is sporting a .372 OBP from the lead off position and a .364 OBP overall. This should allow him to score tons of runs with Hardy, Braun, and Fielder hitting behind him.

So far this season Felipe is hitting .412 with one home run at Miller Park.The entire Brewers offense should see an improvement now that they have a true lead off man getting them started.

On the other side of the trade the Diamonbacks received two solid minor leaguers. Mercedes is just twenty-two years old and has a 1-1 record with a minuscule 1.08 ERA in twenty-nine relief appearances.

Gillespie is hitting .242 with seven home runs and twenty-seven runs batted in for the Brewers Triple-A team. While his numbers are a little lower than expected, he is ranked as the Brewers ninth best prospect.

While these two will be irrelevant for the Diamondbacks, this trade does boost Ryan Roberts and Augie Ojeda's fantasy relevance. The D-Backs official site reports that they are expected to call up Roberts.

The playing time at second will be split between Roberts and Ojeda, but it's unclear right now who will see the majority of the playing time. Neither one of them has great numbers, Roberts is hitting .257 with zero home runs and Ojeda is hitting .221 with one home run.

With consistent playing time those numbers could increase drastically giving either one of them fantasy relevance

As a second basemen Roberts is hitting .318, but has only twenty-two at-bats. His competitor, Ojeda, is hitting .250 while playing second base in just twenty-eight at-bats.

While Roberts has the second most at-bats from the lead off position on the team, it's unlikely he'll have a shot at that job since he's hitting just .212 from there. Augie is also not a strong option with a .243 average when leading off.

The most likely candidate to take over the lead off duties would be Stephen Drew. He's hitting .283 with one home run when leading off. If he does take over the job, expect him to continue to produce as a very solid fantasy contributor. A second candidate could be Chris Young.

While Young's hitting a very unimpressive .199 overall, he's hitting a very respectable .327 with three home runs when he leads off. This could be the resurgence of Chris Young that we have all been waiting for.

The third and final candidate to bat lead off would be twenty-two year old Gerardo Parra. He's hitting .292 with two home runs when leading off this season. Giving a twenty-two year old lead off duties in the MLB could do one of three things.

1. It could cause him to decline if he can't handle the pressure

2. It could lead to a huge increase by boosting his confidence or

3. It could not effect him at all, and he could continue to be a solid fantasy fill-in

The most likely to take the job is Stephen Drew since he is already contributing at the top of the lineup .

Fantasy Baseball Waiver Wire: Week 16

2009-07-18T19:57:00.000-07:00

Franklin Gutierrez

Gutierrez's fantasy value is continuously increasing as his 2009 season is much better than expected. His 2009 stat line thus far looks like this: .294 AVG (86 for 293) with 12 home runs, 40 RBI, 44 runs, and six stolen bases. He will easily surpass his career high in home runs (13), RBI (41), and runs (54).

He recently had a 13 game hitting streak snapped, over the span of that streak he was hitting .365 (24-52) with three home runs. Since his streak was snapped he is hitting .321 (5 for 16) with two home runs.

Today, he faces Aaron Laffey and the Cleveland Indians, this will be his first time facing Laffey, but so far this season against the Indians he is 2 for 9 with a home run, and against LHP's this season he is batting .324 (22 for 68) with five home runs.

Gutierrez is a decent source of power with a good average, he can get an occasional stolen base, but he's been caught stealing as many times as he's actually stolen a base (5).

Gutierrez is only owned in 22.5 percent of ESPN Fantasy Baseball leagues, if he's available in your league, I would recommend picking him up.

Martin Prado

The 25 year old righty from the Atlanta Braves kept his nine game hit streak alive yesterday against the Mets going 1 for 5 against Johan Santana. During his streak he is batting .358 (14 for 39) with one home run, four RBI, and six runs. He now is batting .330 (65 for 197) with five home runs, 19 RBI, and 29 runs.

Prado can help your team out at first base, second base, or third base, as he is eligible at each of those positions.

Today he faces Fernando Nieve and the Mets. This season against the Mets he is batting .350 (7 for 20) with two home runs, and against LHP's he is batting .372 (29 for 78) with three home runs.

Prado is a cheap source of power with a very good batting average, don't expect any speed from him though, he only has three in his short career.

If your in need of a 1B, 2B, or 3B, it would be wise to take a look at Prado, especially in deep keeper or dynasty leagues. He is only owned in 11.8 percent of ESPN Fantasy Baseball leagues.

Erick Aybar

Aybar has hit in each of his last eight games, during that streak he is batting .567 (17 for 30) and in seven of those eight games he has recorded more than one hit. He is now batting .304 on the season with three home runs, 32 RBI, 32 runs, and seven stolen bases.

Today, Aybar faces Brett Anderson and the Athletics. This season against the A's he's batting .409 (9 for 22), Aybar hasn't faced Anderson yet this season but against LHP's he is batting .284 (21 for 74) with two home runs.

Aybar isn't much for power and is only a cheap source of speed, for that reason I'd say he should be owned in mostly deeper leagues.

Aybar is owned in 3.5 percent of ESPN Fantasy Baseball leagues, give him a look if you're in a deep league.

Nyjer Morgan

Since joining the Nationals, Morgan is hitting .333 (17 for 51) with 8 stolen bases. He has collected a hit in each of his last six games mixed in with three three hit performances. On the season he is batting .290 (97 for 334) with two home runs, 30 RBI, 48 runs, and 26 stolen bases.

Today, Morgan faces Kevin Hart and the Cubs, against the Cubs this season he is batting .433 (13 for 30), and against RHP's he is batting .332 (83 for 250) with a home run.

Morgan is a very good source of stolen bases, he has a chance to reach 60 on the season. He also has a good average, don't expect much power though, he's never been much of a power hitter with only three home runs in his career.

If Morgan is available in your league pick him up, especially if you need steals. He is only owned in 48.7 percent of ESPN Fantasy Baseball leagues.

Mark Rzepczynski

Rzepczynski picked up his first win of the season yesterday against the Red Sox. He lasted six innings, struck out four, allowed four hits, and one run. He is now 1-1 on the season in 18 innings of work with 16 strikeouts, and a 2.50 ERA.

Rzepczynski's next scheduled start is Thursday against the Indians, he has yet to face them. Although, against LHB's he has a 1.93 ERA with four strikeouts, and against RHB's he has a 2.70 ERA with 12 strikeouts. The Indians' top hitters are left handed.

He is worth a pick up in deep leagues at this point, if he continues his success then he should be worth a pick up in most formats. Rzepczynski is owned in 0.9 percent of ESPN Fantasy Baseball leagues.

Potential Sleeper: Pierre Thomas

2009-07-18T19:35:00.000-07:00

In New Orleans, the backfield continues to boggle the minds of everyone. Reggie Bush has yet to impress fantasy owners, proving the naysayers right with his inability to rush between the tackles and make it in the NFL. Duece McAllister quickly faded into the abyss in 2008 and, after his release from the Saints a few months ago, is no longer a factor. Aaron Stecker caused some excitement out of owners in 2007, but '08 was just another less-than-average year for the back.

This leaves us with Pierre Thomas. In each of the last six weeks last season (did not play week 17), Thomas rushed the ball 11 times or more, gaining less than 77 yards just once, while scoring six touchdowns. He averaged 18.8 points per game during those six weeks, nearly two points higher than what overall RB leader DeAngelo Williams of the Carolina Panthers averaged over the entire season.

To say that Pierre Thomas is absolutely going to be a hit this season is a stretch. Frankly, it's a hit or miss. If the Saints are ready to give Reggie Bush a smaller role, Thomas has the ability to step up and produce big time.

He is entering his third season in the league, which means that he has a future. How successful he will be remains to be seen.

Where To Draft
On your fantasy roster, drafting Thomas as a #2 RB would be an ideal fit, but if you can snag him in the middle rounds for your bench, then go ahead and do it.

(Rankings and averages based on ESPN standard scoring)

Welcome To FRFS

2009-07-17T22:52:00.000-07:00

Let me be the first to introduce you readers to Front Row Fantasy Sports. On this brand new, exclusive blog, Nick Allen and I will be your main contributors of fantasy sports knowledge. For the Fantasy Basketball and Fantasy Hockey enthusiasts, FRFS is not for you. We will mainly be sharing our thoughts on football and baseball.

Nick Allen, an up-and-coming Bleacher Report writer, will be delivering both football and baseball posts, while I, Christian Karcole, will mainly focus on football. As you can see in the sidebar, Nick is a syndicated writer on B/R. At one point, Nick was ranked among the top five writers for the Fantasy Baseball section. Go check out his profile and his work, you will find it very informative.

As for myself, I am the Community Leader for the Philadelphia Phillies on B/R, and am ranked around 20th in the MLB Writer rankings (changes day-to-day). You can take a peek at my work from the link to my profile above.

If you have any inquiries, leave them as a comment. An email will be set up in the coming days.

Nick and I look forward to this opportunity and hope to make the most if it.

Our first official post will come Saturday, July 18th (today). Until then, stay classy.