FSH: ON THE TICKER

April 4th, 2009 9:07pm PST

21 DAYS TO THE NFL DRAFT

NFL Draft Preview:
On The Ticker

On the Board: Cleveland Browns....
The Cleveland Browns like many teams on the board early in this year's draft have many needs to address, but no other will be more pressing than their current deficiencies at the wide receiver position. The team has already lost its’ starting tight end and two receivers from last year's squad (although Jurevicius missed all of 2008).

Sitting at number five on the draft board, the Browns will have a legitimate shot at taking one of the top two draft prospects at the receiver position with possibly Michael Crabtree or Missouri's Jeremy Maclin. It's possible that both could be available, but definitely one should be looming when Cleveland is on the clock. If Crabtree is there, touted as a supreme talent, the Browns may not be able to pass this pick up on principle alone.

If Crabtree is taken (not likely if the Broncos make a move with Seattle for Sanchez), the team is going to have to take a long look and consider Maclin with their number five pick. The team ranked at the bottom in passing (31st) and they lost their second leading receiver from last year in the offseason. With two young strong arms competing at the quarterback position, the team has to add some playmakers on the outside. Edwards is still in town at the moment, but beyond that the team does not have any proven talent and may need to start stocking the cupboards.

(Photo by L.G. Patterson/AP)

Some think Maclin could slide because of the number of talented wideouts in this year's draft like Percy Harvin, Darrius Heyward-Bey, and Hakeem Nicks all of which could be first round considerations. The Browns will have a tough time passing over Maclin due to his great acceleration and nice hands. Maclin is being defined as a game-breaker and with the Browns offense only averaging 14.5-points per game, the team could not do worse with this selection. While Crabtree seems like the more likely, Maclin could be a choice that makes sense as well.

Defense is always a consideration when you finish at the bottom of the barrel in defense and at number five in the draft, the Browns will have several looks to ponder. Taking into consideration some possible major shake-ups in the draft and what some mock drafts sites are seeing, the Browns could be eying University of Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo. Orakpo would make sense as a talented pass rusher, but if things do get shaken up and linebacker Aaron Curry should happen to fall in their lap, he's considered a no-brainer.

I happen to believe in the unexpected on draft day, but I don't see Curry getting this far and even if the Broncos move up the draft, they will likely do so to grab Sanchez. Crabtree or Maclin figure to be a Brown come draft day.


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FSH: FANTASY FIXX

April 7th, 2009 9:47pm PST

Fantasy Fixx

FF Radar

We haven't hit the 2009 NFL draft and already we have major shake-ups in the fantasy world with the blockbuster trade just completed by the Broncos and Bears. And if you think it will end there, you will surely be mistaken, for this is just the beginning my friends. It's what we call a prelude of things to come. While the trade will seem to have some immediate impact in both towns, one position that will be directly affected in this deal will be the tight end position.

The Men over the middle....

In Denver, tight end Tony Scheffler did very well with Cutler throwing him the pill, but with the arrival of Kyle Orton could he do even better? With Brandon Marshall expected to miss extended time, Scheffler because of size and athleticism could be featured more the team's new "Patriots" style offense, much more so than the team's other option Daniel Graham. Last season Orton developed very good chemistry with his tight ends in Chicago (they caught 95 balls in 2008), so fantasy owners could see the same in Denver.

(Photo by John Leyba/Denver Post)

Cutler's arrival to the windy city will only mean good things for the Bear's tight end Greg Olsen. Olsen considered a very good pass catching tight end has yet to scratch the surface of his potential as a playmaker in the passing game. With Cutler under center to deliver the rock, 2009 could be a very big year for the former Miami Hurricane, who caught 54 passes and scored five touchdowns last season.

While Olsen and Scheffler figure to be ever more relevant in fantasy in 2009, check out a few more names that could add their resume's to the list.

In Philly, the Eagles passing game struggled at times to get off the ground last season with inconsistency at the tight end position and injuries to starter L.J. Smith (now in Baltimore). It wasn't until late in the season when the team turned to then backup tight end Brent Celek. In the team's final game of the 2008 season, Celek only caught three passes, one for a score. This was just the beginning of an impressive run into the playoffs for the backup tight end. In the team's three post season contests, Celek caught 19 passes for 151-yards and three touchdowns. In 2009 he's expected to be McNabb's primary target over the middle and could be a nice sleeper pick in the coming fantasy drafts.

(Photo by Ross D Franklin / AP)

Another tight end worth mentioning as a possible sleeper pick in 2009 could the Cleveland Brown's Steve Heiden. With Kellen Winslow Jr traded to Tampa Bay, Heiden inherits the starting gig in the dawg-pound. In 2008 Heiden was relative irrelevant in a passing game that ranked near the bottom. Only the Raiders passing offense was worse. While Heiden was not spectacular, he did have flashes of being a capable receiving option over the middle. With the team having been decimated this offseason with the losses of Winslow(traded), Jeurevicius (released), and Stallworth (arrest), at this point Heiden could figure prominantly in the team's passing game plans this coming season (if he returns healthy from his late season ACL and MCL surgery).

It may be a bit early to make any bold predictions, but a couple of note-worthy tight ends to watch in 2009 could be the Cowboys Martellus Bennett (no T.O. will mean more balls to go around) and the Jets Dustin Keller (last season showed some flashes of brilliance, but could play a bigger role in a more conservative offense).


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FSH: ON THE TICKER

April 3rd, 2009 9:07pm PST

22 DAYS TO THE NFL DRAFT

NFL Draft Preview:
On The Ticker

On the Board: Seattle Seahawks....
The Seahawks are likely to be the first big twist in this year’s NFL draft. Sitting at number four, they’ll have some big decisions to make concerning their draft choice. Two weeks ago, this projection didn’t appear to be as complicated, but recent events may have changed this dramatically.

First the Sanchez ‘Pro day’ has to have the Seahawks coaching staff looking at an heir apparent to aging quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Second, with the Cutler trade going down, it would seem that Seattle would be a possible target for trade if the Broncos have any interest in Sanchez.

The dilemma for Seattle, although they have signed free agent wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the team still lacks quality depth on the outside. With Hasselbeck 34-years of age and coming off an injury riddled 2008 season, back up Seneca Wallace does not appear to be the team's future. The offense must also address some serious needs along the offensive line and it's conceivable they could use their number four pick to fill this area.

Perhaps the most intriguing scenario here is what the Broncos may do. While it's possible that the Lions could draft Sanchez, Stafford is a much better fit, so it figures that Sanchez (a good candidate for the west-coast system in Seattle) will be available at number four. The Seahawks could look at Texas Tech's wide receiver Michael Crabtree, but making a deal here could prove to be more valuable.

With two top twenty picks, the Broncos could entice the Seahawks into making a deal that could move Denver up to number four and still give Seattle a top twenty pick. With Kyle Orton signed and now in Denver, quarterback Chris Simms will be given the opportunity to compete, but in reality figures to play back-up. Simms now 28, has not had quite the career of his father (Phil Simms), but in Tampa (west-coast offense) he did start 10 games in 2005 winning six of those starts to lead the Bucs into the playoffs. Since that time, he's not had the same opportunities, but could be groomed to follow in the shoes of Hasselbeck.

With a young arm and a top twenty pick (No. 12) to snag one of this year's top wide receiver prospects, this possibility could surface at some point before the draft. Until it is actually conceived and pitched as a real idea, if Seattle holds onto their pick, I would expect the team to move in the direction that would have the most impact. Sanchez would be the future, but if Hasselbeck can return to health, selecting Crabtree could have an immediate impact.

(Photo by Bill Frakes / SI)

Don't put it past head coach Jim Mora to make a move for one of this year's top offensive lineman (whomever is available), like Jason Smith (Baylor), Eugene Monroe (Virginia), or Andre Smith (Alabama), but like many sites on the web are predicting Crabtree looks like the best pick in Seattle.


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FSH: ON THE TICKER

April 2nd, 2009 9:37pm PST

23 DAYS TO THE NFL DRAFT

NFL Draft Preview:
On The Ticker

On the Board: Kansas City Chiefs....
The Chiefs have made some huge strides in the offseason upgrading their offense with the acquisition of quarterback Matt Cassel, wide receiver Bobby Engram, and showing restraint by not trading Tony Gonzalez. There's no question with new head coach Todd Haley at the helm, Cassel and company are going to be fantasy relevant this season.

With the offense showing an appearance of improvement with their recent offseason moves, this suggests that the team could address other needs in the NFL draft. There was only one team worse than the Chiefs on defense in 2008 and that was the Detroit Lions. Last season the Chiefs ranked 30th against the run and allowed 27.5 points per game (ranked 29th). With the number three pick in this year's draft, don't expect the Chiefs to sit on this pick without looking at the "other side" of the ball.

The Chiefs will be moving toward a 3-4 scheme this season and with the release of linebacker Donnie Edwards, this becomes of position of need and one that Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry should be able to move right in as a starter. Curry is a supreme talent at the linebacker position and according to many his arrival (if selected) will fill a huge need. At Wake, Curry started 37 games and set school records with 226-return yards in a season and 256-return yards for his career. The Wake Forest linebacker also led the team as a junior with 13.5 tackles for a loss and finished second with 99-total tackles. Curry is considered one, if not the top defensive prospect in the draft, so it's hard to imagine the Chiefs passing on clearly the best value sitting at number three.

According to some, Curry is the "complete package" and will be a difference maker at the next level. There's not been a lot said or written to indicate the Chiefs could be looking anywhere else, but at the former Demon Deacon. We can probably chalk this one up on the board. So let it be written, so let it be done.


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FSH: MONDAY MORNING HUDDLE

April 6th, 2009 8:47pm PST



[The Evening Edition]
Monday Morning Huddle

Talkin Sum (fantasy) Football

2009 Running Backs

When you look at the running back position for 2009, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of interest peaked in this year's NFL draft. There are only a couple of names that are expected to even be considered as first-round selections; Knowshon Moreno (Georgia), Chris Wells (Ohio State), and Donald Brown (Connecticut). Players like LeSean McCoy (Univ. of Pitt) and Rashad Jennings (Liberty) could also tease the first round or early second round of this year's draft.

With this year's draft appearing thin at running back, fantasy owners will remain stead with last year's performers. Leading the way will undoubtedly be the Vikings all-pro running back Adrian Peterson. With LaDanian Tomlinson falling from NFL supremacy at the running back position "All-Day" figures to be the unanimous number one running back selected in all fantasy drafts. Peterson led the NFL in rushing this past season and has led all running backs in rushing yards the past two seasons with 3,101-yards combined. Besides the knack for the big run with nine plays of 40-yards or more over the past two seasons, Peterson has a nose for the end-zone with 23 touchdowns in his first two seasons.

(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Once you get past the first pick, this is where the congestion starts. Last year was a bit of an enigma with some backs coming out of nowhere and others seeming to disappear into the abyss. When you start looking at the top five running back and in particular numbers two-through-five there's not much separation between each.

My projected number two running back at this moment heading into the 2009 season is Carolina's running back DeAngelo Williams. The Panthers figure to return much of the same talent and look to do much of the same as they did in 2008. Enter Mr. Williams who carried the ball some 270 times, ran for over 1,500-yards, and scored 20 touchdowns in 2008.

After a stunning season as the Falcons featured running back, Michael Turner will not have to worry about splitting too many carries in 2009. Clearly the team's number option on the ground, Turner figures to get plenty of touches in 2009 bettering his chances of repeating his 1,700-yards rushing and 17 touchdown 2008 season.

Rounding out my early top five that many will argue, but I like two running backs that if healthy in 2009 could have big seasons; Marion Barber (Cowboys) and Steven Jackson (Rams). Despite the loss of Terrell Owens, Tony Romo still has tight end Jason Witten, wide receiver Roy Williams, and an array of secondary options that should keep the field stretched. Last season Barber broke out of the gates on fire, but his in-season injuries took their tolls and definitely impacted his performance down the stretch. With some help in the backfield, the Cowboys main priority will be to keep Barber at full-strength and running hard, for fantasy owners this will transcend into more fantasy production.

The same could be said with Steven in St. Louis. The Rams are making changes on offense and figure to give the o-line a tweak a two in the offseason and through the draft. With Holt gone, the team is bringing in more speed on the outside with the recent signing of wide receiver Laurent Robinson (good size and speed). Add rookie standout receiver Donnie Avery and a possibly improved line and Jackson figures to be back in "Action" for 2009.

(Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)

There's still much to look at and debate as the draft approaches and teams continue to improve with free-agent signings and trades. For the moment, these are my top five, but we'll see what happens as the NFL offseason continues.


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