The best thing about the build up to the next NFL season is the exact same thing as the worst. If that makes sense. It's fun to dissect every aspect of everything, but it can also be maddening when you consider we're still just under three months until an actual, real NFL game is played. Regardless, things constantly change in terms of fantasy football draft value.
What I'll do in On Second Thought is take a look at the rankings we compiled as a staff and point out which players I believe we collectively ranked too high and vice versa. This isn't a slap in the face to my colleagues, as some of the rankings I didn't like were my fault (you'll see one here). Plus, we started working on them a month ago. Things change.
FanHouse's crack squad of savvy fantasy football personnel put our five heads together and amassed consensus rankings for non-keeper, standard scoring leagues. We'll update as the season gets closer, but this is our "incredibly early yet still fun" version.
Was last season the year of the quarterback or what? You still had the old reliables like Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Kurt Warner and Donovan McNabb doing their thing, but a whole new crop of passers have elevated themselves. Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers and Jay Cutler led the way for the youth movement. You could have even waited toward the end of your draft and landed stud QBs in Matt Ryan and Tyler Thigpen (who would have been waiver-wire fodder). Team all that with Tom Brady's Week 1 injury, and we had a really interesting season. Let's see how they fall out presently for 2009.
First things first: Depending on how many keepers you have, I really don't recommend holding onto your quarterback. I could see keeping one of the top guys if you don't have good running back or receiving options, but there are going to be plenty of quality options available in the redraft.
I'll explain more after the rankings, because I'll be able to better illustrate my point with the crop of quality quarterbacks who don't make the top 10. You'll see what I mean ...
Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around with his finger in the air while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's Studs and Duds. Here's Week 17 at a glance, where we point out the horses destined for the Kentucky Derby and jeer those headed to the glue factory.
Studs
Michael Bush, RB Oakland (27 carries, 177 yards, 2 TDs) -- This is the other running back in Oakland, and boy did he have a pretty nice coming out party. In his first game with more than 16 carries, Bush rolled a Tampa Bay defense in search of a playoff spot and carried the Raiders to their second consecutive win. Sure, the team went 5-11, but the last two games were something to build on, and Michael looked like a capable backfield option.
I'm just gonna be real right now: Your fantasy league should be over. It's one of those things about which we've all pretty much made an unwritten pact. When people like Peyton Manning will likely not be playing because their teams want them to rest, you shouldn't have a fantasy relevant game. That's why we don't play in the preseason.
All that being said, there are leagues out there with a championship game this week. Since we are committed to helping you win your league title no matter what, we'll still be helping you out. In lieu of positional rankings -- due to a limited audience -- we'll sift through each position and give some pointers. We'll also examine guys who need to play well, as well as those who won't factor at all.
Feel free to leave specific lineup questions in the comments section, and we'll answer. We'll also be having a shortened -- yet quite effective -- Tailgate Sunday morning.
Again, we want you to win ... even if that means supporting you when your league is mishandled.
Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around with his finger in the air while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's Studs and Duds. Here's Week 16 at a glance, where we point out the horses destined for the Kentucky Derby and jeer those headed to the glue factory. (Disclaimer: This will only be for the Sunday games, since you probably can't even remember the Thursday gaes at this point.)
Studs
Matt Cassel, QB New England (20-for-36, 345 yards, 3 TDs) -- If you had to grade Cassel's performance this season after being tossed to the wolves, I'd say it is an "AAAAAA+++++++." Sure, he has looked mediocre at times, but when Tom Brady went down in the first week of the season, every Patriots fan I know mailed in their playoff or Super Bowl hopes. His game against the Cardinals in the snow was his second straight with three touchdowns or more and his fourth in the last six games with a passer rating of 103 or more. Whatever happens next week with the Jets-Dolphins, one thing is quickly being a certainty -- Cassel could make Washington/Chicago/Minnesota a pretty scary team next season.
With attention spans dwindling, we forego full game-by-game previews to give you the essentials you need to know about every contest this glorious NFL weekend. Click here to go back in time.
Saturday
Baltimore (9-5) at Dallas (9-5): This is just the start of what should be now called "The Best Week 15 Slate of Games of All Time." Both these teams desperately need a win for playoff implications, with the Steelers, Eagles, and Falcons all watching verrrry intently in their own regard. Tony Romo and company are averaging 23.7 points per game while Ray Lewis and his revived wrecking crew are giving up a stingy 15.2. In the famous words of Jack Nicholson, "Something's gotta give." I think the Dallas defense, who has locked down the last three games and is allowing just over 12 points in those games, rattles Joe Flacco and the 'Boys move a step closer to becoming the 2007 New York Giants of the playoffs.
Tony, remember this -- even Phil Mickelson can win a major championship every now and again.
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 often write about the topsy-turvy fantasy football world. It's a love/hate relationship. You love it when it works out for you, and hate it when it doesn't.
This week's twist of fate? A New England quarterback is going to lead teams to their fantasy championship, and it's Matt Cassel. There have been ups and downs, but Cassel has shown himself plenty able to exploit poor defenses and turn that into monstrous fantasy points. The Arizona Cardinals are a terrible defense on the road, and they just allowed four touchdown passes to Tarvaris Jackson at home.
That post-Week 1 waiver priority move is going to pay big dividends if you are still playing this week and own Cassel.
Jared Allen plays the game of football in a pretty intense fashion. Therefore, I tend to think it's fairly unsurprising to find out that he's pretty outspoken. Of course, that doesn't mean I thought he would get on Sporting News Radio and unleash on Carl Peterson. But he did! (Translation props to SbB.)
Tim Montemayor: "What are your thoughts about Carl Peterson leaving the Chiefs organization?"
Jared Allen: "(laughing) Later!"
TM: "Come on, is there no love loss there?"
JA: "Absolutely not, you know what I'm saying? I believe in karma. Good things happen to good people. I'll leave it at that."
I can't tell you just how freaking awesome that "karma" chatter is (although Matt Schaub can probably say better than I ...) considering that Allen nearly lost his leg against the Lions shortly after taking what some would call cheap shots at Schaub, when Gosder Cherilus went after him on one of the biggest low blows I've seen in a while. But if Allen had his way, no one would have held him back after the play and there would have a rumble.
"I guess everybody's telling me I should thank Ray Edwards for holding me back. I wish nobody would have held me back and we could have settled this thing right then and there."
Now, I'm not judge of fighting ability, but if there's one guy in the NFL (other than Ray Lewis) I don't want to tussle with, it's Allen. Still, you'd have to imagine that Cherlius won't let this go -- we are talking about football players here. It's not like they're bloggers who can just let stuff like this go.
Weeding through those unwieldy waiver wires requires a keen eye and a quick trigger. Thus, Waiver Wire Wonders provides a weekly snapshot of players worthy of consideration who should be available on a good portion of league waiver wires. Enjoy those pickups...
If you are like me and surrounded by a glass case of emotion after two lousy games that ended your championship hopes in two leagues, making waiver wire moves is not exactly your top priority. Instead, that honor goes to talking yourself off of the ledge and convincing yourself that fantasy basketball is actually sort of fun. Since we all know that is a lie, let's take it for the team and plow on for another round of waiver wire wonders for the lucky few who get to compete for the title next weekend -- and for the rest of us to go out with a bang in the lousy third-place game, or worse, the consolation bracket.
Matt Schaub (QB, Texans) – I'm guessing if you are still reading this column, you probably have a guy named Manning, Warner or Brees on your roster, so at this point, you probably are not scouring the waiver wire too much at your quarterback slot. In the event that you do want a little padding for your QB situation, Schaub is coming off two very formidable performances. He helped propel the vast majority of Andre Johnson owners to a victory and should continue the trend with Oakland this week. After seeing what Cassel did Sunday to the Raiders defense, Schaub looks like a mighty fine start against Arizona.
The best thing about the build up to the next NFL season is the exact same thing as the worst. If that makes sense. It's fun to dissect every aspect of everything, but it can also be maddening when you consider we're still just under three months until an actual, real NFL game is played. Regardless, things constantly change in terms of fantasy football draft value. 
FanHouse's crack squad of savvy fantasy football personnel put our five heads together and amassed consensus rankings for non-keeper, standard scoring leagues. We'll update as the season gets closer, but this is our "incredibly early yet still fun" version. 
First things first: Depending on how many keepers you have, I really don't recommend holding onto your quarterback. I could see keeping one of the top guys if you don't have good running back or receiving options, but there are going to be plenty of quality options available in the redraft. 
Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around with his finger in the air while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's 
I'm just gonna be real right now: Your fantasy league should be over. It's one of those things about which we've all pretty much made an unwritten pact. When people like 
Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around with his finger in the air while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's 
With attention spans dwindling, we forego full game-by-game previews to give you the essentials you need to know about every contest this glorious NFL weekend. 
It's playoff time!
Jared Allen
Weeding through those unwieldy waiver wires requires a keen eye and a quick trigger. Thus, Waiver Wire Wonders provides a weekly snapshot of players worthy of consideration who should be available on a good portion of league waiver wires. Enjoy those pickups...
