FSH NOTEBOOK: DAVID'S DAILY DIGEST

Tuesday Edition

August 21st, 2012 

David’s Daily Digest

Looking At the 2012 Fantasy Season

Previewing the Big Arms

With several of my own fantasy drafts approaching it’s time to start looking at this season’s studs and talking some serious fantasy football. And there’s no better place to start than right under center.

When we are talking about the quarterback spot, there are no better field generals than the Three Kings of the Gridiron; Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady. These guys do it big and have been consistently over the past several seasons; Rodgers has averaged nearly 33 passing touchdowns per season since 2008, Brady has averaged over 34 touchdowns the past three seasons, and Brees has at least 33 passing touchdowns in each of his last four seasons, including 46 last year. Quite simply, these guys are better than good.

If these three are the Kings, than we have to anoint the Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford as one of the league’s top princes. He’s not quite at the elite level yet, but after his 5,000 yards in 2011 with 41 touchdowns he is very close. Eli Manning is another prince in the league flirty with the next level, but his touchdown-interception will need to improve a bit, before he can get real consideration.

Cam Newton and Michael Vick certainly deserve strong consideration as a starting fantasy quarterback, but with their reward and great mobility will come lots of risk. At least Cam has size, but even with his build you’d rather he use his arm more and legs less. Enough can’t be said about Vick when talking about protecting yourself. His mobility has been one of his greatest assets, but also one of his biggest nemeses; staying healthy will be his greatest task in 2012.

A couple of names that could emerge as solid fantasy starters will include Matt Schaub, who should bounce back nicely this season from his injuries of a year ago. Ben Roethlisberger is like Vick, he needs to stay healthy to pay-off for owners. If he can avoid the big hits, with studs like Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown to throw the ball deep to, Big Ben could have a solid 2012 campaign.

Peyton Manning is going to fall on most boards, but as a late QB1, he could prove to be a great value and steal in most drafts. He’s still got a little rust to shake off, but once the regular season gets going he’d going to find his old form; and the weather in Denver won’t make a difference.

Philip Rivers and Tony Romo may both fall a bit this season in fantasy drafts after the disappointing performances from their respective teams last season, but don’t be fooled. These two have plenty left in their tanks and are still surrounded with enough talent to finish as Top 10 fantasy quarterbacks.

On Your Radar 

We've heard the talk before in the past, but this could actually be the season we see the pay off with quarterback Matt Ryan. The Falcon’s starter has some new toys and reliable weapons in his arsenal and could be in line for a big 2012 season.

A couple of names that could really breakout in 2012 with big seasons and peak into the Top 10 include; Andy Dalton, Ryan Fitzpatrick, and Jay Cutler. I like Dalton, because with a great receiver like AJ Green (and we’ll get to him in due time), how can you not get better. Fitzpatrick has continually improved and he should greatly improve upon his 23 picks last season; I expect good things from Ryan this season. It’s hard not to like Cutler’s big arm and add that he has his old favorite target in Brandon Marshall back, his 2012 looks too good.

These guys are more than just after thoughts, or roster fillers, they could be a great replacement and starter because of injuries or should any of the big names struggle. Keep them on your radar.

By David Ortega

FSH NOTEBOOK: FANTASY FOOTBALL NOTES

September 4TH, 2011 Sunday

FANTASY FOOTBALL NOTES

The 2011 Fantasy football season is set to start in less than a week and while I have not had an extensive amount of time to really take an in-depth look at all the positions, I have managed to catch quite a few preseason matchups make many notes. I am not going to offer my opinion as anything more than just that, but I will however add as an adamant fan of the NFL and the game of fantasy football, I pay attention.

As with most anything in life there is usually a beginning and when we start looking at fantasy football players, we need to start with the top; the Quarterback position.

QUICK TAKES

When you draft (if your draft has yet to take place) or when looking back at your just completed draft, it’s no surprise to see the familiar names like Brees, Brady, and Rivers at the top of the list; as they should be. When we take a moment to look a little deeper into this year’s fantasy drafts there are several quarterback names that should garnish some attention, and by mid-season they will.

Signal-callers

After having a chance to watch a considerable amount of preseason I was able to catch quick a bit of action between the Lions and Patriots. And while I was impressed with Detriot’s first string’s defensive effort in the 1st half, I have to say that the young Mr. Stafford caught my attention as well. The Lion’s third year quarterback has looked stellar this preseason and seems to be the subject of a lot of preseason hype.

Stafford wasn’t necessarily given a whole lot of love on most pre-draft fantasy rankings, but with his impressive play this preseason (154.7 passer rating) folks are taking notice and his stock is definitely on the rise. In limited action this preseason Stafford has completed 25 of 33 passes (75.8% completions) and thrown five touchdowns. He’s an injury risk, yes, but I like his upside which could be big this season.

I have been hearing a lot of chatter from fellow fantasy football drafters about the second year quarterback in St. Louis, Sam Bradford. Even though I believe the Rams are still a team in rebuilding mode, I happen to agree with a lot of the fanfare surrounding the kid. With a solid ground game led by Steven Jackson to support the young passer, Bradford appears to be a star on the rise and could be nice mid-level quarterback in fantasy drafts, he definitely appears to be a keeper for dynasty owners.

A couple of other interesting names worthy of watching on your fantasy draft boards and early in the 2011 season are quarterbacks Donovan McNabb, Kyle Orton, Matt Hasselbeck, and Josh Freeman.

Last season the Buccaneers young arm Josh Freeman rose to the crop finishing with the league’s sixth highest passer rating; his 25 touchdowns also ranked in the top 10. With a returning core group of reliable hands, Freeman looks poised to put up another strong campaign.

In Minnesota, with the help of an elite ground attack, McNabb could possible have a bounce back season; something worth keeping an eye on. He did lose the Vikings best pass-catcher from two seasons ago in Sidney Rice, but already in the preseason we have seen hints that the cast (Harvin, Jenkins, and Berrian) he will be working with may be capable.

The Broncos’ quarterback Kyle Orton may be in a similar situation in Denver, being able to benefit from head coach John Fox’s influence in the running game. Success on the ground can only mean success in the vertical game with both Brandon Lloyd and Eddie Royal on the outside, Orton’s outlook could be promising.

When you have one of the league’s best ball carriers in Chris Johnson and a much improved line from his days in Seattle, Matt Hasselbeck has every reason to believe 2011 could be a much better campaign. The former Seahawk (now with Tennessee) was beat up pretty good last season, being sacked 29 times in 14 games; if he can stay vertical in 2011, it can only mean good things for fantasy owners.

The start of the NFL season is fastly approaching, but there’s still plenty of time to talk fantasy football and take a look at those players we like in the upcoming fantasy season.


By David Ortega

FSH: MONDAY MORNING HUDDLE

March 30th, 2009 10:47pm PST



[The Tuesday Edition]
Monday Morning Huddle

Talkin Sum (fantasy) Football

2009 Quarterbacks

So now that the NFL Draft is just 25 days away, it's never too early to start looking ahead to the upcoming fantasy season. One of the topics of discussion will not only be the top quarterbacks heading into the 2009 season, but also what rookie quarterbacks might emerge from this year's class.
Will there be any Matt Ryans or Joe Flaccos?

Well before I open that debate, let’s look at last year’s big arms. Drew Brees blew away the competition a year ago passing for over 5,000-yards and tossing a league high 34-touchdowns. While these numbers were far from Tom Brady's 2007 season, they were still quite very impressive. With Brady expected to return in 2009 healthy, but coming back from a severe knee injury, Brees has to be considered the favorite to go as the number fantasy quarterback. He'll have his normal array of weapons, with a healthy Marques Colston, Lance Moore, and healthy Reggie Bush, so fantasy owners can expect another big year from the former Boilermaker.

(Photo by Heinz Kluetmeier/SI)

The debate will open with who is number two. After the impressive run by Batman (Kurt Warner: over 4,500-yards w/30 touchdowns) and Robin (Larry Fitzgerald: 96 receptions for 1,431-yards) down the stretch and into the playoffs last season, Kurt has to be a favorite to go top five and as high as number two. Many will argue that Mr. Tom Brady could take his rightful spot back near the top at number two, especially with all of his tools; Randy Moss and Wes Welker. One never knows how a player will respond coming back from injury, but training camp will definitely be a great place to get a better read, so right now it may be a bit of stretch to put all your eggs in Brady's bunch.

Rounding out the top five should include the consumate professional Peyton Manning, who was dynamite during last season fantasy playoffs, averaging 319.6-yards passing with seven touchdowns and zero turnovers. Now that is money and why he'll be drafted in the top five quarterbacks taken once again in all 2009 fantasy drafts. Another money player down the stretch in 2008 was the Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. The Bolts leader completed 65 of 101 passes (64%) in his last three games averaging 282-yards per game with nine touchdowns to just one interception.

(Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Certainly this is an impressive list of quarterbacks with more than worthy credentials, but a few names to keep watch for that could make a run to crack the top five in 2009, Jay Cutler (wherever he lands), Aaron Rodgers (a second year at the helm will take him far), Donovan McNabb (if the Eagles get him help outside, he's a shoe in), and Matt Cassel (Brady's understudy ready to take lead role in a new show).

It's always nice to have high hopes for some of the up and coming kids, but there's just too much talent here for names like Ryan, Quinn, or Flacco to make a large enough splash to break in the top five in 2009. This year's crop of freshman like Stafford and Sanchez could find some early playing time, but none figure to have any relevance in fantasy this season.


Check back every Monday for more Monday Morning Huddle!