Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Week One Waivers and Trades

Round 1-Dexter McCluster WR
Dexter was targeted 10 times in the Chiefs week one loss. I'm betting on this not being a fluke since he was also used a lot in the preseason. His small size limits his upside, but he could a solid PPR producer on my WR thin team. Other options I could've had were WR's D. Jones, A. Roberts, A. Hawkins, B. Edwards, or TE D. Pitta.

Round 2-Billy Cundiff K
Dropped Hartley who only netted me 6 points in week 1. Needed a different kicker since Hartley conflicted with my plan to drop CIN DEF after week 6 for a new kicker since the NO BYE was also week 6. Cundiff and the 'skins face the Rams in the dome in week 2 so if I don't get double digits from the kicker position I will be pissed.

Trades
In an attempt to "fix" my mistake of drafting C. Johnson, I traded him to meeesta along with TE M. Bennett in return for C.J. Spiller and FJax. When FJax went down to an injury, Spiller put up the most fantasy points by a RB in week one. He should be a stud while FJax is out and may solidify the number 1 job if he can prove to be too dynamic a weapon for the Bills to continue to underutilize.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Preseason Waivers

Round 1-Jonathan Dwyer RB
Dwyer was on my radar as a late round flier possibility during the draft. Opted for Ballard, Royster and Pierce that paid off in different ways. Dwyer has had a great preseason, is young, and the Steelers could have an opportunity for him to step into the "feature" back role with Redman nursing an injury and Mendenhall coming back for a major one and a free agent after 2012. Was really hoping WR Josh Gordon would fall to me but he was the first waiver selection off the board to Arian.

Round 2-Garret Hartley K
Didn't pick a kicker in the draft so I had to get one. Disappointed that I couldn't use this selection on a WR since I feel very weak at that position. If Miles Austin's hamstring issues continue, I am in big trouble there. Could've had S. Smith, R. Streater, L. Brazill, with my round 1 pick, but opted for the RB because of the larger injury risk there and always seem to be more WR options available from the waiver wire during the season.

Monday, August 20, 2012

College Player Schedules

QB Tyler Wilson, Arkansas Razorbacks
http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/130384/tyler-wilson
http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/8/arkansas-razorbacks
Sat, Sept 1- Jacksonville State (19/27 367yds 3td 0int)
Sat, Sept 8- Louisiana-Monroe
Sat, Sept 15-Alabama (3pm CBS)
Sat, Sept 22-Rutgers http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=918Kg5KYW3w
Sat, Sept 29-Texas A&M
Sat, Oct 6-Auburn
Sat, Oct 13-Kentucky
Sat, Oct 27-Ole Miss
Sat, Nov 3-Tulsa
Sat, Nov 10-South Carolina
Sat, Nov 17-Mississippi State
Fri, Nov 23-LSU

RB Giovani Bernard, North Carolina Tar Heels
http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/130815/giovani-bernard
http://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2013gbernard.php
http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/153/north-carolina-tar-heels
Sat, Sept 1- Elon (93ru 1td, 2rec 10yds 1td, punt ret td)
Sat, Sept 8- Wake Forest
Sat, Sept 15-Louisville (2:30 ABC)
Sat, Sept 22-East Carolina
Sat, Sept 29-Idaho
Sat, Oct 6- Virginia Tech
Sat, Oct 13-Miami
Sat, Oct 20-Duke
Sat, Oct 27-North Carolina State
Sat, Nov 10-Georgia Tech
Thu, Nov 15-Virginia (6:30 ESPN)
Sat, Nov 24-Maryland

WR Keenan Allen, California Golden Bears
http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/130835/keenan-allen
http://espn.go.com/college-football/team/schedule/_/id/25/california-golden-bears
Sat, Sept 1- Nevada (5rec 69yds 0td, 33ru 1td)
Sat, Sept 8- Southern Utah
Sat, Sept 15-Ohio State (1:00 ABC)
Sat, Sept 22-USC
Sat, Sept 29-Arizona State
Sat, Oct 6-UCLA
Sat, Oct 13-Washington State
Sat, Oct 20-Stanford
Sat, Oct 27-Utah
Fri, Nov 2-Washington
Sat, Nov 10-Oregon
Sat, Nov 17-Oregon State

Thursday, August 16, 2012

2012 College Player Draft

1-Robert Woods, WR
2-Marcus Lattimore, RB
3-Justin Hunter, WR
4-Keenan Allen, WR-Very pleased with this pick! My 2nd ranked player at the 4 spot.
5-Montee Ball, RB
6-Matt Barkley, QB
7-Giovani Bernard, RB-Got my guy! Gio don't let me down! 2 trades went into this pick.
Trade One-Bernard Pierce and 23.09 for 23.05- Gave HoneyBDC Ray Rice's handcuff to move up 4 spots, which may have made trade 2 more palatable.
Trade Two-Evan Royster and 23.05 for 22.07-Traded to Damona who days earlier had rejected a trade of Royster and the 23.09 pick for 22.07. Maybe not having to drop back so far did the trick or maybe a few days passed and Damona grew more worried about his RB's with MJD holding out, Mathews injured, SJax on the edge of RB cliff, and Greene almost irrelevant in PPR.
Glad to get a targeted pick and turn picks 215 and 226 into the 7th pick of the first college draft.
8-Knile Davis, RB
9-Eddie Lacy, RB
10-Terrance Williams, WR
11-Marquise Lee, WR
12-Sammy Watkins, WR
13-Kenny Stills, WR
14-Logan Thomas, QB
15-Joseph Randle, RB
16-Ricky Seals-Jones, WR
17-Da'Rick Rogers, WR
18-De'Anthony Thomas, RB
19-Tyler Wilson, QB-Traded Jake Locker for this pick. Locker's last preseason game he was horribly inaccurate, a problem many scouts are worried about. That combined with Wilson dropping prompted me to make the move. Time will tell if this was bone-headed on my part as Locker is in a great situation. Big "plus" is that I like Wilson's intangibles and should be able to watch several of his games this season.
20-Dorial Green-Beckham, WR
21-Kenjon Barner, RB
22-Cobi Hamilton, WR
23-Landry Jones, QB
24-Jake Stoneburner, TE
Best Available That Went Undrafted
Marquess Wilson,WR
Ray Graham,RB
Christine Michael,RB
Tyler Eifert,TE

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Some thoughts...

-Mario Fannin was lost for the season today due to a torn achilles. This follows not long after news about Greg Childs going down to knee injury. Fannin was my final pick and an upside longshot, but still disappointing to see two guys with lots of talent/ability see their seasons go up in smoke in an instant.
-RGIII buyers remorse has already set in. Not because I've lost faith that he could be a #1QB, but because his development could keep me from competing this year. In retrospect, if I was going to let my team develop over time along with RGIII, then I should have went very young with my picks at WR/RB as well. As it is, right when RGIII is hopefully entering his prime fantasy years, CJ2K, Bradshaw, and M. Austin will be on the downslope and almost untradeable. To make matters worse, read this morning that Austin is having problems with his hamstring again, so he may not have any "prime" seasons left to be wasted if he continues to be undurable.
-On the bright side some of my longshot RB picks aren't looking so bad. V. Ballard and Evan Royster seem to be in the lead amoung their committees, but preseason games haven't even started so I can't let my hopes get too high.


Friday, June 8, 2012

College Scouting...

The wrinkle that made this particular dynasty league irresistable is the fact that it has a college draft every August where you can pick 2 college players to reserve on a taxi squad. You can then follow these players through the college season and hope they develop into future high NFL draft picks who you get to keep without using a rookie draft pick on them in the spring. I have pick #4 and #21, so in this post I will rank players #1-21 along with notes and links to video. I will also keep a list of prospects that just missed the cut so I can track them for future consideration.

1-RB Marcus Lattimore http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/130700/marcus-lattimore
knee injury, special talent/gamebreaker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiIn13MkfCs&feature=fvwrel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=JRigxZAbz1I&NR=1
2-WR Keenan Allen http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/130835/keenan-allen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z700g-sndZ4
3-WR Da'Rick Rogers http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/130993/darick-rogers
behavior issues
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BHOXRyDLuw&feature=related
http://www.nfldraftbible.com/Players/List/2014-Big-Board/Da-Rick-Rogers.html
4-RB Giovanni Bernard http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/130815/giovani-bernard
torn ACL freshman year, may not come out early, could be another LeSean McCoy/Ray Rice
2011vsGeorgia Tech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUJznCYDeyk&feature=related
2011vsMiami http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gCUHbM_3cA
Interviews http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cl8cfwm6ChA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=BGQIFKNRAGA&NR=1
5-WR Robert Woods  not elite size/ thin, body type Bruce/Holt esque
6-WR Justin Hunter  knee injury, Moss-like ability
7-WR Sammy Watkins
8-WR Marqise Lee
9-QB Tyler Wilson http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/130384/tyler-wilson
intelligent, composed, lost a lot of WR talent
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL091693B4C449E5B7&feature=plcp
10-QB Logan Thomas http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/130739/logan-thomas
tall and mobile, reminds me of Daunte Culpepper
h?v=gEsoBW8DZJg&feature=related
11-RB Ray Graham http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/130757/ray-graham
elite type-moves, solid personality, needs to improve size, knee injury
12-RB Christine Michael http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/130793/christine-michael
solid with intangibles, could be first senior RB taken, late season ACL, short recovery
13-WR Marquess Wilson
doesn't seperate, re-David Nelson
14-RB Knile Davis
3 ankle injuries!, fumbling issues, last feature type back
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8Suk_YFD1g
15-RB Malcolm Brown  http://www.rotoworld.com/player/cfb/130810/malcolm-brown
the next AP?te
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td6DDCTnfcw&feature=related
16-WR Aaron Mellette
small school, non-elite competition, no leaping ability?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swnBirD6HR4
17-WR Terrence Williams
product of RGIII?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXcPv4qzwOA&feature=related
18-RB Montee Ball
heavy workload, intelligence with "it" factor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPe7T3mP-_c
19-TE Tyler Eifert
top te prospect, not a priority with Jimmy Graham locked in
20-RB Andre Ellington
intelligence a minus, durablility
21-???????
WR Cobi Hamilton (Arkansas)
RB Zac Stacy (Vanderbilt)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNlTPFnmVz4
RB Cameron Marshall (Ariz. St.)
RB Joseph Randle (Oklahoma State) scat back? intelligence (-)
RB Stepfan Taylor (Stanford) no stand out traits, future solid backup?
RB Cierre Wood (Notre Dame) no stand out traits, future backup?

Monday, May 28, 2012

The Draft...

I have the 9th pick in the first round after randomizing.
I will track trades and picks in this post as the draft unfolds, plus comments about each selection and what my alternatives were.
Let the fun begin!
PickSelectionComments
1.09
Jimmy Graham TEAfter trying to trade the pick for 2 hours, I gave in and selected the #1 PPR TE. With RB's full of question marks and several QB/WR options left. I locked up the best player at his position. The one option that may haunt me is RB Trent Richardson, who was selected with the next pick.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRsYNFQOwl4
2.04
Chris
Johnson
RB
I'm settling on this pick after Brees and Stafford were taken. It actually may end up being a good thing with Brees having contract issues and Stafford's injury history. CJ2K is a "buy low" bounceback candidate who could win me some money this year with a return to PPR stardom. Hakeem Nicks (broken foot) was also considered. We will see if my concerns about his health are overblown.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_aIX7j0d6o
2.11
Robert
Griffin III
QB
TRADE- I got 2.11 and two 20 rounders for my 6.04_7.09_8.04
Time will tell if this trade was worth it, but I got the QB I wanted and still have my 3rd 4th and 5th to add another RB and two solid WR's.
We will see what gold I can mine in rounds 9+. Barring injury, I think Griffin is going to have a Steve Young/Aaron Rodgers type career because of his combo of ability and intelligence.
3.09
Percy
Harvin
WR
This may be a serendipitous pick. In a rush to prerank a few RB's (Doug Martin, DeMarco Murray) before leaving for work, I stuck Harvin on the backend. The RB's got picked and I ended up with Harvin when past studs like Roddy White/Andre Johnson/Brandon Marshall were still available. Harvin also comes with annoying injury concerns, but is a producer when healthy and still only 24. Time will tell how he compares to the older studs I could have selected and to fellow 24 year old Jeremy Maclin who I also could've had instead.
4.04
Miles
Austin
WR

A pick I'm happy with because Austin offers value with a chance of rebounding to WR #1 status after an injury-plagued year. He is in his prime of 27, has a solid QB in Romo, and a good offense around him so he can't be doubled. He could be good for 3-5 years of top level production.
I predict 80+ catches, 1200+ yards, and double digit TD's, if he stays healthy all season.
5.05
Ahmad
Bradshaw
RB

TRADE- I got 5.05 for my 5.09 and trading down 4spots in each of my remaining even-numbered rounds.
After a run on the remaining #2 level RB's (Stewart, F.Jackson, Spiller, Sproles, Helu) I traded up to secure what I thought was the last RB with potential to have a top 12 level season. With Brandon Jacobs out of the picture, only health will prevent Bradshaw from putting up a solid PPR RB season. The rookie Wilson looms, but has this faults. I hope to acquire him in a trade as backup insurance.
9.09
Jonathan
Baldwin
WR

There were more proven options available at this pick-Floyd, Rice, M. Williams, but I went for the player with greater potential. I can always get a starting veteran later on. Baldwin was a first rounder who had a disaster of a rookie year. He seems to be a "head case" but some of the best WR's are. Reports say he is putting in the work and having a solid offseason, so the potential for breakout value is there this season or next.
10.08
Jake
Locker
QB

Too early for a pure backup QB, Locker was just too good to pass up.
He serves as insurance for RGIII who has had knee injuries in the past, and if he relies too much on his legs in the NFL he probably will be banged up repeatedly like Vick. If RGIII makes the adjustment like I think he has the intelligence to do, Locker becomes awesome trade bait for a team weak or old at QB. Locker looked good as a rookie and the Titans have lots of weapons to surround him with- CJ2K, Britt, Wright, Cook, etc.
12.03
Lestar
Jean
WR

TRADE- I moved back from 11.09 to 12.03. Moved up picks in rounds 14,16,18,20 up a round to 13,15,17,19.
The trade was a little too cute on my part. Thinking I could still land RB J. Starks or rookie WR's B. Quick or A. Jeffery, they all got picked. Still digging for upside, I selected Jean who is getting rave reviews and sitting behind the oft-injured A.J. and the underwhelming Kevin Walter. Being compared to when T.O. was behind Rice, I may have fallen for the hype. But you gotta take some cuts to hit a home run, just probably should have waited until round 13 for this one. Passed on TE Olsen, WR LaFell, RB P. Thomas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w3iWbKxEX4
12.08
Greg
Olsen
TE

I debated taking Olsen with the last pick, and he ended up making it back to me anyway. With several teams still needing TE's and the depth getting pretty thin, I felt now was the time. Since I can start 2 TE's with the flex position, he is not just a pure back-up. I think he can have a career year with Shockey out of the picture and Lafell underwhelming so far as a #2 WR. Unfortunately, my top two TE's have the same BYE. A #3 TE without a Week 6 BYE is now a must.
13.02
Mohamed
Sanu
WR

TRADE- I moved up 8 spots from 13.10 to 13.02. I sacrificed 2 picks in round 15 to do it trading them back to rounds 18 and 19.
If this pick does not pan out, then maybe I will finally learn my lesson about drafting rookie WR's who are viewed as purely possession receivers coming out of college. I've taken 2 in rookie dynasty drafts in the past who have been flat out busts (J. Iglesias, B. Robiskie). With visions of getting a WR who racks up PPR points galore like Houshmandzadeh at his peak, I'm hoping "Sanu comes through" and the trade up and gamble was worth it over taking a veteran like Moss, Collie, Lafell, Simpson or E. Sanders.
13.09
Willis
McGahee
RB

It was basically a toss up between McGahee, Pierre Thomas, and DeAngelo Williams to supply depth for my top 2 RB's who have the same bye week. The other two options were younger, but McGahee has the greatest potential as a starter with QB Peyton Manning now his QB. Just need him to stay healthy for 1 decent season, then replace him with a RB draft pick. I also passed on much younger backups with potential to be starters- J. Rodgers and K. Hunter. We will see if that was short-sighted of me.
17.09
Santana
Moss
WR
After drafting a lot of potential at WR with Baldwin, Jean, and Sanu, I decided to go with a veteran who according to several sites' projections should give me WR 3/4 level numbers. Almost went with D. Bess or N. Burleson, so we will see how things play out.
17.10
Martellus
Bennett
TE

I've wasted roster spots on this guy's "potential" in past leagues. It never showed itself with the Cowboys, but now he has a prime opportunity with the Giants. We will see if he makes the most of it or if he is just a talented body attached to a pea brain. If not him, this pick was almost Evan Royster who seemed to be the RB left with the most upside. If he doesn't last to my next pick, he could haunt me.
18.11
Evan
Royster
RB

Apparently no one wanted Royster as much as I did since he made it a full round to my next pick. He may be a longshot, but most picks are at this point. He showed in 2 strong games at the end of last season that he can produce given the chance. Just has to overcome his spot on the depth chart, either through injuries or Shanhan fickleness.
He reminds me a lot of Arian Foster who succeeded big time in this same blocking scheme.
19.02
Vick
Ballard
RB
Another upside running back pick since this my position of weakenss. Ballard was the pick of the new regime in Indy, and has D. Brown and D. Carter in front of him who where underwhelming last season. If he gets a chance he could run away with the job and be the back who grows up in the NFL along with QB Luck.
19.09
Chicago
Bears
DEF
I took a chance by picking a DEF with several picks still to go, a fantasy draft "no-no". But, I wanted a solid defense with a good
match-up to start the season. Chicago plays Indianapolis at home in week 1- a juicy matchup against a rookie QB on a rebuilding team. Matchups with STL and JAC in weeks 3 and 5 don't hurt either. Hope to pair them with the Bengals defense at a later pick.
19.10
Bernard
Pierce
RB
Not liking my RB position, I take another flier on a back-up. Ray Rice is holding out, increasing his chance of injury or under-performing. His new back-up is Pierce. Probably not a great PPR option. But if he fills in for a holding out or injured Rice plenty of rushing yards and TD's are sure to follow.
20.11
Cin.
Bengals
DEF
A solid compliment to the Bears pick. When the Bears face great offenses at Green Bay and at Dallas, the Bengals face Cleveland and Jacksonville. And then they face Cleveland again during the Bears BYE in week 6. After that I plan to drop them for a skill position player or a better playoff DEF. 
21.02
Matt
Cassel
QB
There is a reason Cassel lasted, but he isn't THIS bad. He won't throw for a ton of yards, but there is talent around him so 20+ TD's is realistic barring an injury. It was him or Hasselbeck to hedge my bet on Locker, but Hasselbeck has burned me multiple times as a backup for previous teams that I said no thanks.
21.09
Mario
Fannin
RB
A final flier on a running back. Fannin is big, fast, and behind an ancient McGahee and the rookie Hillman. Hillman is the better bet and went way back at pick 9.04. Fannin is the dark horse who flashed in last years' camp but then injured a knee. If he can regain his form, he has a shot to take over for McGahee as the main runner and keep Hillman in a change of pace role. When the August waiver period comes, I will have to choose between dropping Fannin, Pierce, Ballard, or Royster to pick up a kicker.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

The Beginning...

The Orange Dawgs have been established today!
This is the record of my last fantasy football team.
I tried to get away from this game, but I missed it too much, especially dynasty. It is my hobby and outlet. I hope to build a young solid team that doesn't change too much year to year so I can become a fan/follower of certain players instead of constantly trading. I am learning that it is not always about winning, but enjoying the journey.
Go! Dawgs! Go!