Fantasy Football Maniaxs

Fantasy Football Week 14 Start / Sit

2011-12-05T14:47:34Z

There were two games this weekend that illustrated why good fantasy football performances are not necessarily good NFL performances. The first example was the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots.

The Colts were down 31-3 in that game halfway through the fourth quarter. Suddenly, the Colts caught fire and score three touchdowns and made the score 31-24 with less than a minute to play. The Colts did not recover the onside kick and New England was never really in any danger of losing that game.

That did not stop RB Donald Brown from salvaging his fantasy day with 14 carries for 41 yards and a touchdown. Colts QB Dan Orlovsky had a big fantasy day with 353 yards passing, two touchdowns and an interception. WR Pierre Garcon salvaged his day with nine receptions for 150 yards and two touchdowns. The Colts offense put up some good fantasy numbers, even though most of the scoring production was too little too late.

The same goes for the Dolphins and the Raiders. The Dolphins led that game 34-0 heading into the fourth quarter. Raiders QB Carson Palmer was able to save an otherwise miserable fantasy day by throwing two meaningless touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to finish with 273 yards passing and two touchdowns. Fantasy Owners rejoiced and Raiders fans yawned. The game had long since been decided.

While fantasy owners have nothing to apologize for, it is a perfect illustration of why you cannot look at your fantasy scoring to determine if players are doing a good job. Just because players help our teams win does not mean they are doing the same for their actual employer.

Who to start or sit in Week 14?...

Fantasy Football Week 14 Waiver Wire

2011-12-05T14:42:32Z

Fantasy Football playoffs are here for a lot of us this week. For others, we're in what seems to be a 5-way tie for second place looking for the edge that gives us a playoff spot. Personally, I'm in both of those positions, so I have a team in need of some waiver assistance.

If you have question marks or need help at some positions, the waiver wire can make or break your season at this point, so add and drop wisely. Based upon statistical trends, remaining schedules and player availability, the guys on this list could help your fantasy team if it has a need...

Continue reading>>>

Fantasy Football Week 13 Start / Sit

2011-11-28T13:31:29Z

Image by Jeffrey Beall via Flickr

Most fantasy teams are going to be entering the playoffs in three weeks, which means only two games left for teams to either clinch a playoff spot or jockey for playoff position. Players that were off the fantasy radar at the beginning of the season, such as Denver Broncos QB Tim Tebow are helping fantasy owners that have been struck by injuries.

Players like Tennessee Titans RB Chris Johnson, who had been struggling are rushing for 190 yards and may finally be able to salvage seasons for disappointed fantasy owners. Other players, such as San Diego Chargers QB Philip Rivers wish that the season would be over so they can start 2012 with a clean slate.

My advice at this point in the season is that you go with your big horses that have won games for you the first 11 weeks and use the matchups to maximize your WR3 and flex positions. Also, use them to find injury replacements for those weak positions on your roster that have been struck by injuries or star players that have been ineffective to date. Now is not the time to sit a star player with a tough matchup to take a flyer on a guy that had a hot week in Week 11.

Here are my recommendations to Start and Sit in Week 13.

Fantasy Football Week 5 Waiver Wire

2011-10-03T15:52:42Z

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

With the bye weeks approaching in the NFL and Fantasy Football, now more than ever it is important to have the right depth on your bench. Who are some players that might surprise in Week 5?

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

I have been really impressed with this rookie out of TCU. Dalton threw for just shy of 300 yards and a TD this week in the Bengals victory over the Buffalo Bills.

More importantly, it seems that fellow rookie A.J. Green and Dalton have developed a solid rapport. Dalton is available in 90 percent of leagues, and it is important to remember the matchups from week to week. In Week 5 the Bengals play the league's worst pass defense when they travel to Jacksonville to face the reeling Jaguars...

Which other players to pick up this week?

Fantasy Football Week 4 Start/Sit

2011-09-28T14:20:28Z

Image via Wikipedia

The surprise of the season so far has been the 3-0 Buffalo Bills who have not made the playoffs since the 1999 season. This is a team that people expect to lose a lot of games. Instead, the Bills are one of only three teams in the league with an undefeated record.

There are two ways to look at this. According to Stats LLC, there are only six teams in the history of the league that have won twice in the same season in games they trailed by 18 points or more. The Bills have done that in back-to-back weeks.

The glass half full approach would be that the last team to accomplish the feat was the 1996 New England Patriots, who went on to lose the Super Bowl. Bad teams are not going to be able to comeback from 18 points down and the fact the Bills have done it twice shows they are for real. The glass half empty approach would be that the Bills have given up 66 points the last two weeks; there is no way they can sustain these late game heroics over 16 games.

I hope that your fantasy games have not been as down to the wire as the Buffalo Bills last two games have been.

Which players to start or sit this week?

Fantasy Football Week 4 Waiver Wire

2011-09-28T14:13:38Z

There were quite a few surprises in Week 3 of the NFL season. For one, the Bills upset the New England Patriots and remained unbeaten. The Green Bay Packers are also proving that they are not suffering from the notorious Super Bowl hangover. It appears that the lockout has benefited the offensive side of the ball much more this season as evidenced by big time numbers by several offenses.

The biggest story of the weekend is perhaps the play of the Philadelphia Eagles. With yet another injury to Michael Vick (contusion on non-throwing hand), the city of :Brotherly Love" will be desperately searching for answers in Week 4.

Fantasy owners will search for answers, or a waiver wire gem, as well this week. We have a few options we recommend if your team has been hit with injures too.

Which players to pick up this week?

College Football Week 5 Games Predictions/Pick'em

2011-09-28T14:10:03Z

Image via Wikipedia

Last week presented my first undefeated week of the season! A 10-0 record brings my total up to a comfortable 34-8 on the year. Hopefully this won't be my last week of not losing a game.

This past weekend, teams were able to prove how good they were with big wins over ranked teams. A lot of games were good from start to finish while some were dominated by one team. September is over and three things seem clearer;

(1) Yes, LSU and Alabama deserve to be fighting for No. 1 right now and not Oklahoma (SEC/Big 12);

(2) Robert Griffin III (Baylor) Kellen Moore (Boise State) and Russell Wilson (Wisconsin) are on the same step as Andrew Luck (Stanford) for Heisman favorite right now;

and (3) Florida, Michigan and Clemson do have good enough teams to make strong runs at their conference championship games. Last week presented my first undefeated week of the season

This is the time of year I believe that the top-25 polls should be released. You have seen all teams play at least three games with most of the top teams playing one major non-conference opponent. LSU in my mind has solidified themselves as the number one team regardless of what the polls say. Through one month they have beaten three ranked teams on the road (Oregon was a neutral site).

Week 5 is a make or break week for a lot of teams to either take that next step forward or potentially struggle the rest of the season. Texas A&M and Arkansas looks to be the most intriguing non-conference matchup, as both are coming off tough losses, but would like to add this win to their resumes. South Florida (vs. Pitt), Baylor (vs. Kansas State) and Illinois (vs. Northwestern) are all still surprisingly undefeated but face mediocre teams that have the capability of upsetting them if they look ahead of their schedules.

Which teams will win this week?

2011 NFL Week 4 Power Rankings

2011-09-28T14:06:39Z

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Week 3 in the NFL was one of the craziest weeks in recent memory. Nine games decided by a field goal or less.

A 15-game winning streak comes to an end, Cam Newton wins his first game, the Vikings blow another huge lead, Michael Vicks suffers another injury, the Colts come oh-so-close to their first win under Kerry Collins and Tony Romo plays through a broken rib and leads Dallas to... six field goals, but it was enough to win.

After three weeks, just three teams remain undefeated, two of them in the NFC North. If the Packers and Lions continue this pace, their Thanksgiving Day game could be one of the most watched games of the season.

If Week 4 is anything like Week 3, we are in for a hell of a week. So with that in mind, here are the power rankings heading into the first week of October.

Teams' previous ranking in ( ).

1. Green Bay Packers (1): Ryan Grant and Jermichael Finley absolutely had their way against Chicago. Green Bay won the Super Bowl last year without either of them.

2. Buffalo Bills (16): It's not often a team moves up 14 spots. However when you move to 3-0 and break a 15-game losing streak against a team, and do so by coming back from a 21-0 deficit against one of the best teams in all of football, it's possible.

Rest of rankings>>>

College Football Top 25: Week 5 Rankings

2011-09-28T14:03:21Z

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

This was one heck of a weekend in college football. There is a new No. 1 team in the land with LSU beating its third ranked opponent with their impressive win in Morgantown, West Virginia over the Mountaineers.

Out west, Arizona State picked up their second win over a ranked opponent with their win over USC.

Oklahoma State made a move into the top 5 with their comeback win over now SEC-bound Texas A&M.

This week College Game day will make an appearance in Madison, Wisconsin for when the Badgers (4-0) host the Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-0).

Let's now take a look at this week's top 25.

1) LSU Tigers - The Tigers have had, without question, the most difficult schedule to start the season, and Head Coach Les Miles had his team ready to play again this weekend. The Bayou Bengals were dominant in the fourth quarter against West Virginia and edged the Mountaineers 47-21 in a very hostile environment. Sophomore CB Tyrann Mathieu was all over the field in this one picking off one pass and also forcing a fumble. This week the Tigers continue SEC play against Kentucky.

2) Alabama Crimson Tide- Head Coach Nick Saban had his team well prepared for their matchup against Arkansas. The Tide was very impressive in this one scoring 21 points in the third quarter alone. Trent Richardson rushed for his third straight 100-yard game this season, running for 126 yards and also had 85 yards receiving with a score. Marquis Maze had the play of the game with his 83-yard punt return TD in the third quarter. After that play, "Bama" never looked back winning 38-14 over a then top 15 Razorback team. This week the Tide will travel into Gainesville, Florida to play an undefeated Gator team that has looked very impressive.

Rest of rankings>>>

Fantasy Football Week 3 Live Lineup Chat

2011-09-24T22:46:38Z

Have a last minute lineup question? Not sure who to start or sit?

Need to fill a flex position or pickup an emergency player? We answer IDP questions too.

Ask our expert Sean Haugh.

Every Sunday from 11 AM to 1 PM ET.

Join our Live Help Chat

Fantasy Football Week 3 Start/Sit

2011-09-22T13:10:15Z

It is hard to take away trends after two games, but the one impact the lockout appears to have had on the NFL game is that passing yards are through the roof. There are seven teams averaging over 300 yards passing per game and 12 teams averaging over 250 yards passing per game through the first two games. In 2010, the Indianapolis Colts led the NFL with 288.0 yards passing per game and only seven teams averaged over 250.0 yards per game for the season.

It is impossible to tell if that trend will carry over for the next 14 games, but the early returns say that 2011 is going to be a monster year for quarterbacks. New England Patriots QB Tom Brady is on pace 7,520 yards passing this year and Carolina Panthers rookie QB Cam Newton is on pace for 6,832 yards. Both marks would shatter Miami Dolphins QB Dan Marino's 1984 record of 5,084 passing yards.

Two games do not make a season and these players are certainly going to slow their pace as the season goes forward. Newton is only a rookie and Brady is going to have to play in some bad weather later in the season. My prediction is that Newton will not be within 1,500 yards of Marino's mark by the time the season ends and Brady is going to approach 5,000 yards passing, but will slow later in the year when the New England weather turns cold. Still, if you like passing yards, this is the season for you.

Here are the fantasy players to start or bench for week 3>>>

Week 3 Live Lineup Chat>>>

Fantasy Football Week 3 Waiver Wire

2011-09-22T13:03:56Z

The first two weeks of the NFL have produced many exciting games, as well as a lot of injuries and poor performances. No team has been hit worse than the Kansas City Chiefs. In the offseason, they lost offensive coordinator Charlie Weis, who took the same job with the University of Florida Gators.

In the final preseason game, they lost TE Tony Moeaki to a season-ending knee injury. In the first regular season game, they lost their best defender, S Eric Berry. Then in Week 2, they lost their best offensive player, RB Jamaal Charles.

QB Matt Cassel has struggled the first two games of the season producing just 252 yards passing, one touchdown, four interceptions and a QB rating of 50.4. Their only receiving threat has been WR Dwayne Bowe. He leads the team with 118 receiving yards. Steve Breaston is second with just 33 yards. As a result, they are 0-2 and been outscored 89-10. This team looks to be a prime candidate to finish with the worst record in the NFL.

I hope that your fantasy roster is not in as bad of shape as the Kansas City Chiefs. If you are having some problems fielding a quality roster, here are some players you could look at for Week 3.

Continue reading>>>

College Football Week 4 Games Predictions/Pick'em

2011-09-22T12:59:21Z

Road Test Saturday proved to be a great day of football. There were many entertaining games, but the top headlines weren't even about the games that took place. Three things became clearer after we made it through a quarter of the season:

(1) The Big East and Big 12 as we see them will be no more come season's end and the landscape of College Football is about to look a lot different;

(2) Ohio State could be on the lower half of the standings this year in the Big 10 if they don't fix their offense;

and (3) Florida State is back with Jimbo Fisher as head coach.

I hope to bring my total up even more from 24-8 after I had a decent 7-3 week last week. Picked some upsets but lost some games that could have gone either way.

LSU still proved they have the best defense on Thursday night taking out a tough Mississippi State team. Auburn (@Clemson), Michigan State (@Notre Dame) and Ohio State (@Miami (Fla.)) are all teams that failed to add a good road win to their resumes against unranked teams, while Utah (@BYU), Florida (@Tennessee) and West Virginia (@Maryland) did the exact opposite with solid victories. The game of the week was Florida State against Oklahoma and for those of you that didn't have a chance to catch it; you missed a very well fought game. It is a shame that starting QB

Week 4 brings many ranked matchups to the table as well as a few games against teams that have surprised so far this season. Michigan Head Coach Brady Hoke gets to face off against his former team, the San Diego State Aztecs and Notre Dame looks to win its second in a row against a Pittsburgh team that failed to finish their game against Iowa last week. The Big 12 and SEC races provide us with some great early season conference games.

Continue to game predictions>>>

College Football Top 25: Week 4 Rankings

2011-09-22T12:53:28Z

With several exciting games over the weekend, college football fans had plenty to watch on Saturday. Perhaps the biggest was what has become a hot button in NCAA football: conference realignment. When news broke that Pittsburgh and Syracuse abruptly decided to join the ACC, the Big East joined the Big 12 as a conference that is reeling with losses of major programs.

It will be interesting to see what lies ahead for the league that had just added TCU to the fold.

Many will be anticipating what lies ahead in the future as teams such as West Virginia and it has been reported that WVU has reached out to both the SEC and ACC. This weekend college game day will make its first ever appearance in Morgantown, and WVU fans will be extra noisy for the arrival of the LSU Tigers.

Another big matchup to keep an eye on is a meeting of two top 10 teams with Texas A&M hosting Oklahoma State in what will be a terrific football game. With teams preparing to enter conference play, this weekend will be a big test for many programs across the country. Let's look at this week's rankings.

1) Oklahoma Sooners-The Sooners moved to 3-0 on the season with their victory over then ranked No. 5 Florida State 23-13 on the road. Heisman hopeful QB Landry Jones struggled in this one, throwing for just 199 yards and two INTs. This season much of the chatter has been surrounding all-world WR Ryan Broyles, even tough it was the play of sophomore Kenny Stills leading the Sooners to victory. This young WR had a huge game tallying seven catches for 125 yards and a score. This weekend Oklahoma begins conference play with a game vs. Missouri.

Rest of rankings>>>

NFL Week 3 Power Rankings

2011-09-22T12:49:14Z

Image via Wikipedia

Week 2 of the NFL season has come and gone and the injuries continue to pile up, especially to big name players on playoff caliber teams. The defending champions remain unbeaten, as do six other teams, while seven teams remain winless.

Week 2 stirred up the rankings. Typically, I will move teams up or down just a few spots after a win or a loss. However, this week four teams move up or down at least seven spots, including one team dropping nearly 20 spots.

The biggest story lines heading into Week 3 include the Packers and Bears squaring off for the first time since last season's playoff game, Michael Vick's concussion and Cam Newton seeking his first NFL win.

Teams' previous ranking in ( ).

1) Green Bay Packers (1): Losing Nick Collins for the year is a devastating blow. Especially after you consider the Packers have given up the most passing yards of any NFL team through two weeks.

2) New England Patriots (2): Tom Brady is on pace to throw for over 7,500 yards. Just in case you were wondering, that would obliterate the previous record. It's silly to think Brady will continue this dominance, but don't be surprised if he challenges Dan Marino's record of 5,084 yards in a season.

3) New Orleans Saints (5): The Saints rebounded nicely after a tough loss on opening night to thrash the Bears. If the Saints get a little more production from the running game, they could be unstoppable.

Rest of rankings>>>