Fantasy Football Tonight 7/23
My training camp preview continues with the...
AFC WEST
DENVER BRONCOS
Please stop it with the Knowshon Moreno love everybody. The Broncos are no longer a team built on the running game. New head coach Josh McDaniels runs the closest thing to a spread offense that the NFL has to offer. The Broncos will probably throw 40+ times a game despite not have a QB skilled enough to do so. Also, it has not been McDaniels nature to use a single back in a feature role. There will be multiple RB's rotating in and out of the Broncos offensive sets all season long. Moreno is the most talented and will produce the best fantasy numbers of all these players but that does not mean he should be taken in the early rounds come draft day.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
The story of Chiefs camp will no doubt be Matt Cassel. I have no idea why they decided to make him their franchise QB and go ahead and give him a huge guaranteed contract but that is exactly what the Chiefs did. Cassel won't be awful, but his numbers with the Patriots last season were a direct result of the talent around him and the system they were running. The Chiefs just don't have that kind of talent especially on the offensive line. Furthermore, I am not sold on Todd Haley as an NFL head coach either. He is a solid offensive mind but when it comes to personnel decisions and the design and implementation of a system he just doesn't have what it takes.
OAKLAND RAIDERS
Many people are interested in seeing how JaMarcus Russell plays this preseason but not me. I already know he is a bust and thus I will make no room for him on any fantasy roster I draft this season. But, the Raiders are going to have a splendid running game I believe this season and I am primed to get my paws on a Darren McFadden this year. McFadden was slowed by injuries and inexperience last year but running behind an improved offensive line and with Lorenzo Neal leading the way should be enough for a breakout season from McFadden. Justin Fargas is another player worth watching during training camp as many believe he will be able to hold McFadden off from the starting job for awhile. I think that a good idea would be to draft both of these guys and do so before wasting a pick on Jamal Lewis or Tim Hightower. Whoever carries the ball in Oakland this year will be a very good sleeper in '09.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS
I just cannot get over how fast everybody has forgotten about LaDanian Tomlinson. I see him as low as 12th overall in mock drafts and in other sites rankings. Right now, I take LT with the #2 overall pick if I got it and I will tell you why. Even in a down season, cluttered with nagging injuries, poor offensive line play and early deficits LT managed to put together a nice little run and once again break double digits in TD's. The top picks in your draft do not need to turn out to be your highest scoring players that season. But what they should be are your safest players. The ones you can count on week in and week out to perform in yards, TD's and receptions. LT will do that even at the grandfather like age of 30. Watch him during camp. The Chargers always take it easy on him during training camp and he rarely plays during the preseason. But in the small time he does get, watch to make sure his turf toe has cleared up. You will notice when he is running if the toe has fully healed or not. I love LT this year and if you guys want to spend a first round pick on guys like Ronnie Brown and Larry Johnson go right ahead. I'll take LT and have all the confidence in the world that my team won't fall apart anytime soon.
TOMORROW: NFC NORTH
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posted by Jeff Mans at
8:26 PM
4 Comments:
GO CHARGERS! Here's my LT rant:
HE RUSHED FOR OVER 1100 YARDS! HE CAUGHT 50 PASSES FOR 420 YARDS! HE TOOK THE BALL ALMOST 300 TIMES! HE SCORED 12 TIMES! Even in a "down" year, he scored double-digit TDs, eclipsed 1500 running + passing yards, AND was tied for the most pass targets among RBs. WHERE'S all this doom coming from? He's a lock for 50 catches, 1500+ total yards, double-digit TDs, and might even throw for some with their "Frog" package (the Wildcat named after his alma mater TCU Horned Frogs). Reports out of camp is that he looks fully healthy and agile. I totally agree with you that I would take him above everyone not named AP, and I'd take him 1st overall in a PPR. Rant over!
CB, I again agree with you. My worry is, LT is cleary declining, so what can we expect from him this year? He is still a first round draft pick, but he is no longer the top pick like he wass years ago. Great post!
Oh I agree that he's declining, but people are avoiding him like the plague and treating him like the red-headed stepchild. If there's anyone that can beat the 30-year-old curse, it's LT. Plus, let's not forget about the O-Line; Marcus McNeil is a franchise tackle, Kris Dielman is a mauler, and Nick Hardwick is a good center. The right side is where we have problems. AND Phillip Rivers has established the passing game, and Sproles can spell LT. I know he's not the 27-TD LT anymore, but he still as consistent as it gets.
Great points CB! I understand that people fall in love with the Michael Turner's and with good reason. But LT is just one of the most secure players you can take and I like to guarantee myself of quality with top picks as opposed to speculating.
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