Aug 13 (RB's in action)

It’s August 13, 2007… 8 days until my fantasy football 12-man draft…

My first three picks: 1.8, 2.1, and 2.5

In the back of my head I know that since I will spend my 1st pick on my RB1 (pick 1.8) and my 2nd (2.1) and 3rd (2.5) picks on high-end WR’s, I’m starting to look for possible RB2’s that hopefully I can draft in the later rounds.

There were a number of pre-season NFL games this weekend. I took a look at the various runningbacks who were somewhat active.

Behind the numbers:

Marion Barber (Dallas):
Attempts: 12
Yards: 48
TD: 0
Longest Run: 16

Julius Jones (Dallas):
Attempts: 6
Yards: 22
TD: 0
Longest Run: 7

Jamal Lewis (Cle):
Attempts: 4
Yards: 20
TD: 0
Longest Run: 15

Deshaun Foster (Caro):
Attempts: 5
Yards: 62
TD: 0
Longest Run: 31

M. Lynch (Buff):
Attempts: 2
Yards: 3
TD: 0
Longest Run: 2

Adrian Peterson (Minn):
Attempts: 11
Yards: 33
TD: 0
Longest Run: 7

Tatum Bell (Det):
Attempts: 6
Yards: 19
TD: 0
Longest Run: 11

Brandon Jacobs (NYG):
Attempts: 4
Yards: 15
TD: 0
Longest Run: 7

Brandon Jackson (GB):
Attempts: 16
Yards: 57
TD: 0
Longest Run: 15

*One set of numbers that jumped out at me were the number of carries for both Brandon Jackson of Green Bay and Adrian Peterson of Minnesota. This bodes keeping an eye on. It almost seems like an auditioning of some sort… but why didn’t Lynch get more attempts for Buffalo?

*The second set of numbers are from Deshaun Foster in Carolina. There’s a lot of hype for D. Williams this year, but Foster is currently the starting rb and he showed why this weekend. Who will be the handcuff? Foster or Williams? This also bodes keeping an eye on.

Talk to you again tomorrow!

Aug. 12 (Quarterbacks)

It’s August 12, 2007… 9 days until my fantasy football draft…

Having picks 1.8, 2.1, and 2.5 in my 12-man draft affords me to draft Peyton Manning. I’ve never drafted Peyton before so I’m extremely tempted right now… but… is Peyton worth it?

Behind the numbers:

According to 5 popular Fantasy Football Magazines, here is an average ranking of the top 10 quarterbacks as of June:

*ESPN Fantasy Football 2007
*Fanball.com magazine
*FFIndex
*CBS Sportsline
*Sporting News Fantasy magazine

1. Peyton Manning Consensus #1
2. Carson Palmer FFIndex had him at #4
3. Tom Brady FFIndex had him at #2
4. Drew Brees CBS Sportsline had him at #5
5. Marc Bulger
6. Donovan McNabb FFIndex had him at #10
7. Matt Hasselbeck
8. Phillip Rivers
9. Vince Young
10. John Kitna

According to Antsports.com, “live” money drafts running since Aug. 1 had this current ranking:

1. Peyton Manning ADP: 1.09 (9th pick in the 1st round)
2. Carson Palmer ADP: 2.10 (10th pick in the 2nd round)
3. Tom Brady ADP: 3.06 (6th pick in the 3rd round)
4. Drew Brees ADP: 3.10 (10th pick in the 3rd round)
5. Marc Bulger ADP: 3.11 (11th pick in the 3rd round)
6. Donovan McNabb ADP: 4.12 (12th pick in the 4th round)
7. Jon Kitna ADP: 6.01 (1st pick in the 6th round)
8. Tony Romo ADP: 6.05 (5th pick in the 6th round)
9. Vince Young ADP: 6.12 (12th pick in the 6th round)
10. Phillip Rivers ADP: 7.12 (12th pick in the 7th round)

Behind more numbers:

1. Guess who had the highest points/per game average last year (2006)?
*1st Donovan McNabb 24.4 points/game
*2nd Peyton Manning 23.2 points/game
*3rd Drew Brees 20.5 points/game




(Are McNabb’s injury tendencies THAT concerning that it's justifiable he’s being picked as the 6th ranked quarterback DESPITE producing the highest pts/game average? You make that choice... if he's available in the 5th round, he's mine...)

2. Byron Leftwich is being picked as the 28th ranked QB… behind Culpepper, Jason Campbell, McNair, Trend Green, and countless others. There ARE weapons that he can pass to on that Jacksonville team. It's easy to pick him up after the 10th round as your 2nd QB... no real risk here, only upside.

Talk to you tomorrow