Sean Lalley Posts

Big news out of Big "D" at this hour. It only seemed like a matter of time. He's notorious for burning bridges and ripping apart franchises, but it would appear Terrell Owens time has ended with the Dallas Cowboys. Initially the Cowboys were merely flirting with the topic of releasing Terrell Owens, but that's now a reality. Several sources have indeed indicated that Terrell Owens will in fact join the list of those recently out of work.

Where will he land? Does anybody really trust the guy anymore? So who else is impacted? One thing is certain the release of T.O is "huge" news in the fantasy world. He's betrayed many an owner's trust in recent years, but he's come up huge when motivated. Will he in fact be motivated with this upcoming chance, most likely being his last shot? Well, let's take a look at the stock market post T.O release and also take a guess at a few potential suitors.

For all those secretly coveting and projecting Derrick Ward as the 2009 version of Michael Turner (you know the capable back-up who signs with a new team to be the man) you just might wanna pay attention. Ward just signed with the Tampa Bay Bucs with aspirations of finally being the man.

If another season plagued by knee injuries wasn't the signal of the end for Carnell Williams, this should be. Ward had other suitors in the fold, but chose the re-vamped Tampa Bay offense that is beginning to take on a new shape in the early going of this new regime. You may recall Ward was quite the steady contributor the past few seasons in New York and he caught the eye of many in the fantasy football world after he blistered the Carolina Panthers for 215 yards on National TV. So who else is impacted?

Well, not only is fantasy football long over, but, sadly, now too is the NFL season. However, that sure doesn't mean us diehards have nothing left to do but wait for next season. Nope, now more than ever, it's time to fine-tune those skills that got you a fantasy football trophy, or brought you darn near close to one. Yes, let your opponents settle into comfort, while you do your homework all offseason.

A bit drastic? Quite possibly, but during the slow stretch (a.k.a. the waiting game) we'll be here to give you little tidbits to take to heart and make note of for next season. The first order of business is evaluating the players who "elevated" their games in the NFL playoffs. Year in and year out, there are always guys who breakout in a way you could dream of, had it been the regular "fantasy" football season.

Let's face it, this year was all about the Rookie RB when talking about fantasy football. Depending on the scoring system for your league, three rookies most likely finished in the Top 10 RB producers. This made for arguably the single greatest rookie RB class in recent memory, not only from a realistic perspective, but also for fantasy purposes.

Is this the new trend and will we lust over the rookie class next season as we prepare for our drafts? Well, let's not jump the gun just yet. However, what we can depend on will be the spiked draft day values of the returning sophomore class. Many of these talents have already become mainstays on the fantasy football horizon.

And so today, we take a quick look back at the season that was, but more importantly gage the values of this heralded class moving forward. Follow along and in order...

You know this job ain't easy. It's sure a lot of fun to toss around opinions, eat, sleep and breathe fantasy football, but when the day is done...it's still not easy. We've gotta be on top of the game at all times, take the criticism when we're wrong and still somehow manage our own fantasy teams and hope to win our own fantasy titles.

The hard part is always dropping a post about a potential sleeper we like and then having a buddy in our league read that very post and beating us to the punch. Well, that's just life and I'm hardly complaining. And not that we like to brag or boast all too much, but when we get it right, we gotta let people know. When it comes to fantasy football, cockiness is all part of the game.

With that said I'm holding myself accountable today for some of the things I nailed this season and some of the others I completely whiffed on.

It's playoff time! In what should be championship week, FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled in order to provide answers to your possible lineup dilemmas. If you need further assistance, please feel free to shoot us an email question.

Far too often we look at certain matchups and let it dictate how we implement our starting lineups. My theory has always been that great players make great plays. OK, I didn't really come up with that slogan, but what I do mean to suggest is that you always start your studs in fantasy football.

Case in point the Johnson boys; Calvin and Andre. Both faced difficult tests last week and both rose above and beyond the occasion. So, you might take notice as to where they sit in the ranks for this weekend. Yes, it's time to pay dues and respect to Johnson and Johnson. A couple of beasts on the field, yet mild-mannered off it, are going to help gift wrap a few fantasy titles this weekend.

Steve Smith is moving up this week, because he too is simply a marvel at times. Not much else to shake up in the Top 10, but keep an eye out for big, big games out of the Wes Welker-Randy Moss combo. My sleeper for the weekend is - gulp - Chad Johnson. Look, the matchup fits and he's due for one of those "where did that come from games." Of course, if you have better options...don't gamble.

And now let's tap into the rest of the field.

1. Calvin Johnson, NO
2. Andre Johnson, @ OAK
3. Steve Smith, @ NYG
4. Greg Jennings, @ CHI
5. Larry Fitzgerald, @ NE

It's playoff time! In what should be championship week, FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled in order to provide answers to your possible lineup dilemmas. If you need further assistance, please feel free to shoot us an email question.

I gave up on John Carlson after Week 12. He was fresh off back-to-back clunkers and besides I had the emerging Dustin Keller waiting in the wings. Fast forward to today and now Keller has hit the skids, while Carlson has gone off for 19 catches, 250 yards and a TD over the past three weeks.

Yes, playing the tight end field in fantasy football is all about catching the hot hand. And Carlson along with Dallas Clark and Tony Gonzalez qualify as hot hands and surefire bets this weekend. If you're looking to gamble a lit bit this weekend (not always highly advised for the playoffs), give Jeremy Shockey another chance...it's the Lions. Also, look to Jerramy Stevens against the Chargers who frequently get torched by tight ends.

The usual suspects Antonio Gates and Jason Witten draw a couple of tough matchups, but you have to trust your studs. Gates got a little more involved last weekend and Witten put up decent numbers, considering the swirling controversy. You drafted these guys high for a reason and it happens to be this weekend.

And now for the rest of the ranks...

1. Tony Gonzalez, MIA
2. John Carlson, NYJ
3. Dallas Clark, @ JAC
4. Jason Witten, BAL
5. Antonio Gates, @ TB

Like we always do just after Monday Night Football, it's time to recap the week that was in fantasy football. Hey, it's go time folks. That's right, it's playoff time. There's very little time to prepare as the games start coming at you four days a week. You've gotta be on your toes -- there's no more gambling, no more getting cute. You roll the dice with what you've got and hope for the best.

Another week of fantasy football is in the books. And chances are you fit into one of few camps right now -- you're either really depressed and your season is over, or you're ecstatic and live to fight another day. Either way, it's the beginning of the end on a great season of fantasy football. The long journey was well worth the ride, win or lose.

However, let's not close the book just yet. Oh no, this coming weekend marks the championship/money round for many folks. And as you ignore Christmas shopping, work and family to quietly prepare for this all-important week ... be sure to follow the trends of Week 15.

It's playoff time! FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled in order to provide answers to lineup questions. These are assuming most leagues use Fleaflicker's standard scoring structure. If you need clarification, you need more players ranked, or have funky league rules, feel free to shoot us an email question.

Not much shakeup at the top, except for one surprise. Yes, it's time to bump Antonio Gates down just a peg. Let's face it, anytime your star tight end puts up a goose egg as he did against Oakland in a critical game, something must give.

The great Tony Gonzalez continues to ride out the hot streak, and he just loves playing the Chargers. Look for Jason Witten and Tony Romo to get back on the same page this weekend after they both took blame for the collapse in Pittsburgh last week.

Climbing up the tight end ladder this week is an old familiar face in Jeremy Shockey. Let me explain. Since he took the scolding from Drew Brees on the sideline against Atlanta, here are his averages in the past four games; five receptions per game and 53 yards per game. Yup, he hasn't scored a TD yet this season, but it could be coming Thursday night against Chicago.

Welcome back to earth Dustin Keller. You can thank your QB for the slippage this week. And now let's tap into the rest of the rankings.

1. Tony Gonzalez, SD
2. Jason Witten, NYG
3. Chris Cooley, @ CIN
4. Dallas Clark, DET
5. Tony Scheffler, @ CAR

It's playoff time! FanHouse fantasy positional rankings are compiled in order to provide answers to lineup questions. These are assuming most leagues use Fleaflicker's standard scoring structure. If you need clarification, you need more players ranked, or have funky league rules, feel free to shoot us an email question.

Diving right into this week's all-too-important receiver rankings, the clear choice was to keep Larry Fitzgerald on top. Yup, he has a history of sealing fantasy titles in the crucial weeks of the season. And this week he gets to go against a subpar Vikings pass defense that can be exploited.

This is it for Reggie Wayne. His owners (like myself) are at wits end, but we'll all rest easy as he's in line for a huge day against the laughingstock of the NFL Lions. Patience will once again pay off for all those who stuck with the Colts' struggling offense in the early part of the season, as I fully expect Peyton Manning to also reward Wayne's buddies Marvin Harrison and Anthony Gonzalez.

Not much shakeup in the Top 10, but there is one thing to note before you dismiss Terrell Owens this weekend. Since joining the Cowboys, in five games against the Giants he has 430 receiving yards and six TDs. So, you get my drift ... he's a "must" start. Lastly, you'll notice the Jets receivers plummeting in these rankings. Well, there's a reason, and that it is they both have been terrible lately. Seriously, you should find other options.

And now with the rest of the ranks.

1. Larry Fitzgerald, MIN
2. Steve Smith, DEN
3. Reggie Wayne, DET
4. Anquan Boldin, MIN
5. Brandon Marshall, @ CAR