Game Time!! Intriguing Stories for the ’09 Season

The day is upon us. All of the work, all of the research, it is all behind us now. Time to settle in an see if we are as good as we think. Every season there are a few stories that we cannot wait to see how they play out. This season is no different.

In the NFL the quarterback is unquestionably the player with the most impact, both positively and negatively. There are some QB stories unfolding that have great drama written all over them.

Brady Quinn over Derek Anderson: Coach Eric Mangini has finally made his decision, Brady Quinn is his guy. This dilemma has been brewing since Anderson went to the pro-bowl the same season the Browns drafted Quinn in the first round. When you draft a QB in round 1 there is always pressure to get him in the game. There is money tied up in him, people have there careers wrapped up in that pick, eventually you have to put him on the field or trade him. This is his year. Will he prove to be the next Bernie Kosar? or Tim Couch?

Two Rookie quarterbacks starting again this year: Last year, the highly touted Matt Ryan out of BC and the little known Joe Flacco out of Delaware, took to the field immediately out of college and took their respective teams to the playoffs. Flacco even became the first rookie Quarterback to win a playoff game. This year, the 0-16 Detroit Lions and Favre-less New York Jets are hoping that history can be repeated. Both the Lions and the Jets drafted QBs in the first half of the first round and have hung their hopes and careers on the new face of the franchise. Matthew Stafford was taken by the Lions with the first overall pick. He has all the tools to be a big time playmaker in the NFL, huge arm, great vision, patience and from all accounts, the right attitude. Remember though, for every Matt Ryan, there are 5 Akili Smiths. The Big difference between Stafford and Ryan is that Stafford is leading a team that has a lot of work ahead of it. The Lions were bad in every area of the game last season, when Matt Ryan took the reigns in Atlanta, the Falcons we not nearly as far from greatness as a team as the Lions are. This does not mean that Stafford will not have success in the NFL. Peyton Manning and Troy Aikman both led really bad teams as rookies and both will be in Canton eventually. Mark Sanchez appears to have a much more likely chance of first year success. He is joining a Jets team that went 9-7 last year and has a fantastic offensive line, running game and defense. If you are looking for a fantasy football longshot, go with Sanchez.

Gray Beard Ressurgence: Last season both Kurt Warner and Kerry Collins had amazing comeback seasons. Warner lead a high flying Arizona offense to the superbowl. In the process he looked like the Kurt Warner of 2002 rewarding many fantasy football owners with a MVP type season that people dream about. He had 3 one thousand yard receivers, I mean seriously! Kerry Collins did not have the same statistical year that Warner had but he did play very efficiently down the stretch leading the Titans to the best record in football and recapturing a seat at the capable QB2 table in the world of fantasy. The question is, can they do it again??? Arizona had a dream season and the Titans made a respectable run as well, but in football years, both Warner and Collins are so old they fart dust!! Can they hold up? We will see. Neither of them can move real well and they don’t take hits like they once did.

JaMarcus Russell’s time has come: Need I say more? Russell was Matthew Stafford before Stafford was Stafford. Huge arm, big, strong, great college career, drafted first overall. The difference is that Russell decide to hold out for most of his rookie year, setting him back 2 football years. When he finally did join the team, it took him forever to learn the offense and catch up to the speed of the NFL. He did show some flashes of brilliance at the end of last season but they were only flashes. This year he has a new coach and a new toy in Darrius Heyward-Bey. It is his time to show the world if he is John Elway or Ryan Leaf.

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Fantasy Players Moving Up & Down Your Draft Board Week 2

Well the teams have broken camp and are in the swing of the preseason. One thing that is becoming abundantly clear is that players are continuing to slide up and down the depth chart as well as on our UberRank Fantasy Cheat Sheet.

The Good:
Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings- It is becoming a theme, let’s start the week off with a Vikings QB! Even though Brett has told us 4 different times that he is absolutely done playing football, he appears to be, yet again, not done playing football. Favre seems to be stepping into a perfect situation to put up a good fantasy season. He will be playing in a very familiar west coast offensive system, he is going to a team with an amazing defense and a ridiculous running game and to top it off, he is playing 8 games in a dome at home, and 7 either indoors or warmer weather states. For the first time in several years, Brett is not going to be asked to win games, he will a great supporting cast to help him along the way. Just keep in mind that Favre has had a recent history of not helping his fantasy owners come playoff time.

The Bad:
JaMarcus Russell, Oakland Raiders- Rumor has it that Russell threw three picks in a scrimmage with his own team. In case you have not watched many football practices, the quarterback wears a red jersey and in not allowed to be hit. When you know you will not be hit, you do not really feel too much real pressure…and he still threw three interceptions!!! I know that JaMarcus look respectable with moments of decent at the end of last season, but I am not buying what he is selling. Plus, with the coaches beating the hell out of each other and Jeff Garcia trying to poach his job, stay far away from anyone on the Raiders.

The Ugly:
Brandon Marshall, Denver Broncos- Marshall has been projected as a top 5 fantasy wide receiver for the last few seasons, that streak is going to end. Marshall’s issues started with his ongoing, off the field legal battles. It continued with the departure of his quarterback Jay Cutler. It has now culminated with Marshall thinking he can pitch the same childish fit that his buddy Cutler pulled and demand to be traded. This has not been very effective and he is now reported to be practicing with the scout team. In case you’re confused, it “is” what you think, one step up from the practice squad. The scout team is where Eric Crouch’s career went to die. If the once promising career of Brandon Marshall continues down this road, you could see him bagging groceries at an Albertson’s near you very soon.

Fantasy Players Moving Up & Down Your Draft Board

With the first week of camp behind us, there are some stories coming out that are having an impact on the team depth chart as well as on our UberRank Fantasy Cheat Sheet.

The Good:
Sage Rosenfels, Minnesota Vikings- With Brett Favre staying retired, for now and Tavaris Jackson seen hobbling off the practice field on several occasions, Sage Rosenfels looks to be in the driver’s seat for day one starter. Rosenfels showed some real heart (if not brains) in his support role for the injured Matt Schaub last season. As I have said on different posts, he would have been the early lock for the starting job in Minnesota from day one if he had not tried to stretch for extra yards and subsequently fumbled a bunch of times in a single game last year. Since Rosenfels is a pure pocket passer with a big arm, Bernard Berrian should be upgraded on you board. More good news for Rosenfels is that the Vikings signed their first round pick, playmaker Percy Harvin. Sage has cracked the top 25 on the UberRank, watch for him to crack the top 20 before week 1.

The Bad:
Chris Wells, Arizona Cardinals- After holding out due to contract negotiations Chris “Beanie” Wells finally made it on the field last weekend, only to be carried off on a cart in his first practice. Although the extent of this injury has been downplayed, it can’t be a good sign that he has been unable to get or stay on the field. This mild injury only knocked him down one spot on the UberRank, you can bet that his slide will be quick if next week is anything like last week.

The Ugly:
Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers- Crabtree has been a hold out since he was selected in the first round by the 49ers. Whether you like or dislike the current state of the NFL rookie salary scheme, the truth is, it operates pretty easily. You get paid, more than the guy that got picked in your spot last year and more than the guy who got picked after you this year…but less than the guy who got picked before you. Apparently Crabtree did not get the memo. Now he is saying he wants top 5 pick money, even though he is not a top 5 pick. To make things worse, there is a report that Crabtree’s cousin and advisor (that sounds like a good idea) is saying that Michael is willing to sit out the whole year and re-enter the draft next year if he does not get the money he wants. Michael Crabtree comes from a college program that has put up incredible offensive numbers but only produced one NFL starter (Wes Welker). He did not workout at the combine because of an injury and he is smaller than listed…and now he is holding out for more money. Michael, talk to Mike Williams and Cedric Benson and JaMarcus Russell and even Maurice Clarett to find out what happens to your career when you play games and don’t get into camp on time or worse, sit out a whole year.