2012 Fantasy Baseball Rankings, Advice & Analysis
 
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Diehl/Pilar/Ferrell (credit David S. Rubin)
The 2nd annual SiriusXM Celebrity Fantasy Football Draft was held this past Thursday at the Hard Rock Café in New York City. Celebrities in attendance included a New York Giants’ offensive tackle, David Diehl, former NFL quarterback and MVP, Rich Gannon, former New York Mets General Manager, Steve Phillips, and Emmy award-winning actor and SiriusXM radio host, Jay Thomas. Luckily for you, The Fantasy Fix was in attendance for the Pre-Draft Red Carpet festivity, asking the celebrities about draft strategies, eye-grabbing news stories, and their own fantasy forecasts for the 2011-2012 season.



David Diehl, offensive lineman for the New York Giants 

TFF: What are your thoughts on the lockout? How did you feel when you heard it was over?

DD: “There was way too much free time on my hands!” Diehl joked. “But in the end we’re going back to what we love and what we do best. Tomorrow I’ll head to work looking to immediately start playing with a Super Bowl contending team, and to us, last season’s 10-6 record was a bit disappointing, so looking ahead we have to focus and set our sights high. The lockout was truly the nature of the beast in the NFL.”

TFF: What will your role be with the team entering the season? How are you feeling as you prepare for the preseason?

DD: “I really don’t know what my exact role will be. I’m the longest tenured Giant, going into my 9th year on the team, so I’m really one of the veterans on the roster. Pat Flaherty does a great job putting the best players on the field, and Coach Coughlin allows the older, experienced guys take charge and help out the younger players on the team. Basically, I think I’ll be able to lead vocally and by example, so experience is definitely helpful in determining my role.”

TFF: Any thoughts on Plaxico Burress? Would you like to have him as a teammate again?

DD: “Without a doubt I’d want Plax on the team. He got us to the Super Bowl in 2008, he opens up the run game and really makes any team he’s on better on offense. He never caused any drama in the locker room too, and ultimately his decisions affect him the most, and not the team.”

Rich Gannon, former NFL quarterback, 2002 NFL MVP 

TFF: Which New York team do you see going further this season?

RG: “Wow… tough question! Honestly, I will say the Jets. With that defense on the field each game it’s going to be really hard for opposing offenses to get points on the board. Their offense as well is great. Tom Moore is a good addition to the Jets staff, but one area the offense needs to develop is 3rd downs and red-zone action. If Sanchez can find his groove in those two areas, they’ll be dangerous.”

TFF: What quarterback could you see having a really nice breakout year this season?

RG: “I think Josh Freeman on Tampa Bay has a real nice shot of building off of his stellar season. He almost reminds me of a young Big Ben Roethlisberger, and there seems to be a trend in the NFL with strong QB’s really progressing from year one to year two. And his numbers last season, 25 touchdowns and six picks, that’s hard to ignore.”



Steve Phillips, former General Manager of the New York Mets

TFF: Do you have any draft strategies for this year? Any first round guys you are targeting?

SP: “Well I have the 4th overall pick, and I’m planning on going running backs early. Unfortunately, I probably won’t be able to select Mike Vick or Aaron Rodgers on the turnaround, so running backs early is my initial plan.”

TFF: What recent news of player signings and trades has really caught your attention so far?

SP: “First, Santonio Holmes re-signing with the Jets is huge. He’s just a dynamic receiver that can make game-changing plays every week. Another story that popped out was Sidney Rice and Seattle. Here’s a guy that scored a bunch of TD’s for the team, but an iffy QB situation may hold him back a bit. And third, maybe one of the biggest, is Reggie Bush’s move to Miami. In terms of fantasy, Bush can be a real nice mid-to-late pick. Miami will probably use him in several different ways, so Bush has great potential to get yards and score too.”



Jay Thomas, Emmy Award-winning actor, SiriusXM radio host

TFF: What players who have changed teams interest you the most?

JT: “I think Kevin Kolb in Arizona is quite interesting. Now, Larry Fitzgerald has a legitimate quarterback to work with, but it’s definitely going to take time to develop that chemistry between them. He has to learn all the new Cardinal terminology, and a new quarterback does in fact take time to learn the style of each of his offensive counterparts.”

TFF: What kind of impact do you think the lockout will have on the season, if any?
JT: “You know one thing I predict is that we’re going to have a lot more guys playing with a lot more, new people. The strike is going to force all these players to give their best in the first few weeks. I mean getting this late of a start to working out and practicing is certainly different than the typical off-season, so not only is the learning process different, especially for rookies, but guys will need to be mentally ready to go out there and play as well.”

There were truly some amazing fantasy football discussions buzzing around the Hard Rock Café last week. With David Diehl’s inside information on the Giants and Plaxico Burress’ future in the league, and fanatic radio hosts like Jay Thomas and Steve Phillips, it is certainly safe to say that everyone is excited and getting ready for another year of football.

Stay tuned for The Fantasy Fix draft guide with rankings, scouting reports, forecasts and more!



1st Pick: Scott Ferrall

A. Foster (1), P. Manning (24), DeSean Jackson (25), Shonn Green (48), D. Clark (49)

2nd Pick: The Miz

A. Peterson (2), T. Brady (23), M. Wallace (26), M. Colston (47), V. Davis (50)

3rd Pick: Gary “Baba Booey” Dell’Abate

C. Johnson (3), G. Jennings (22), R. Wayne (27), DeAng Williams (46), B. Roethlisberger (51)

4th Pick: Steve Phillips

J. Charles (4), P. Hillis (21), P. Rivers (28), W. Welker (45), B. Lloyd (52)

5th Pick: David Diehl

M. Jones-Drew (5), H. Nicks (20), Miles Austin (29), T. Romo (44), M. Ingram (53)

6th Pick: Steve Kovino and Rich Davis

M. Vick (6), L. Fitzgerald (19), L. Blount (30), B. Marshall (43), P. Harvin (54)

7th Pick: Scott Engel

L. McCoy (7), R. White (18), R. Matthews (31), D. Bryant (42), Steve Johnson (55)

8th Pick: Jerry Cantrell

R. Rice (8), M. Turner (17), D. Bowe (32), J. Maclin (41), A. Boldin (56)

9th Pick: Chris “Mad Dog” Russo

R. Mendenhall (9), S. Jackson (16), M. Schaub (33), V. Jackson (40), J. Finley (57)

10th Pick: Jay Thomas

D. Brees (10), D. McFadden (15), M. Forte (34), S. Holmes (39), B.J. Green-Ellis (58)

11th Pick: John Hansen

Calvin Johnson (11), A. Rodgers (14), A. Gates (35), Mike Williams (38), Daniel Thomas (59)

12th Pick: Pilar Lastra-

Andre Johnson (12), F. Gore (13), J. Witten (36), A. Bradshaw (37), E. Manning (60)



Steal of the draft: DeAngelo Williams (46) in the 4th round by Gary Dell’Abate

Reach of the draft: Ryan Matthews (31) in the 3rd round by Scott Engel

Fan favorite of the draft: David Diehl’s 3rd and 4th round picks of division rivals Miles Austin and Tony Romo consecutively



Written by Tyler Becker exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. 

Follow The Fantasy Fix on Twitter @thefantasyfix

or  for Free Fantasy Sports Advice use our Quick Fix to get help with your team!

TAGS:  2011 Fantasy Football, Fantasy Football Draft, Sirius XM, Hard Rock Cafe, Mock Draft, 2011 Rankings
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With the first week of the NFL season approaching, fantasy football geeks across the nation are gearing up to take on their opponents. Whether or not your league has drafted yet, here you will find insight and analysis of Detroit Lions’ quarterback, Matt Stafford, and the argument for why he should not be in your starting lineup… (with a few exceptions).

This year, I am anti-Stafford. However, if you are in a deep league and need to start two quarterbacks, he might be worth starting. But, you better be sure to own a top five quarterback as well, such as Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, or Tony Romo. It’s not so much that I despise Stafford, it’s just that I like so many other quarterbacks more than him. It’s not you Stafford… it’s me.

I fear Stafford’s fantasy ceiling is low and playing on an abysmal team doesn’t help. His 53.3 percent completion was ranked 30th last year, and he was tied for second most interceptions with 20 (in only 10 games). Stafford passed for 300+ yards in one game last year, and threw five of his 13 touchdowns in that same game.

Detroit’s offensive line isn’t getting any better either. In 2009, the Lions’ O-Line was ninth for sacks allowed with 43 (Green Bay was first with 51). They were also ranked sixth for QB hits with 95 (Jacksonville was first with 126). Stafford’s supporting cast did improve though with the addition of Nate Burleson and Jahvid Best, but I still cannot see a fantasy-relevant season for Stafford in 2010-11.

Unfortunately, CBS Fantasy Sports enthusiasts have been drafting him around 131st overall (ADP) and the 20th QB taken. Quarterbacks like Kyle Orton (150 ADP), David Garrard (153 ADP), Matt Moore (161 ADP), and Jason Campbell (152 ADP) all have a great chance and pieces in set to produce more than Stafford. Keep in mind, I do not think the before listed players are ideal top starters for your team, but in deeper leagues with two quarterback rosters, I’d rather own these guys than spoil my stats with Stafford.

If you disagree with me, and you’re confident that Stafford is in line for a stupendous sophomore season, go and get him. That’s what makes fantasy football so unique and exciting, the urge to go against the grain; the passion to win each week, the drive to impress your friends. Enjoy the season, and regardless of owning Stafford or not… there’s always next year.

Written by Tyler Becker exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Look for Tyler’s
weekly insight into MLB, NFL, & NHL. You can follow Tyler on Twitter @FantasyProdigy

What do you think about Matthew Stafford this year?
Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on twitter @TheFantasyFix

Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Sports Blog, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football, NFL, Bust, Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Tony Romo, Nate Burleson, Jahvid Best, Kyle Orton, David Garrard, Matt Moore, Jason Campbell
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Santana Moss
The Redskins and newcomer coach Mike Shanahan are hopeful for the new season. They’ve added Donovan McNabb at quarterback, and are ready to prove themselves as an offensive threat. Clinton Portis may have a bounce back year, but it’s Santana Moss who is in line to be a starting wide receiver on your fantasy team. 

The main reason I like Moss this year is his ability to put up good yardage numbers. Last year he had 902 yards, and the year before that he recorded 1,044 receiving yards. Now, with the addition of McNabb, Moss will see more red zone action from a veteran quarterback who knows how to put the ball in the end zone. We also know Moss has the potential for double digit touchdowns, ten TD in 2003, (also had nine TD in 2005). 

As I mentioned before, Clinton Portis may have a bounce back year as well. If Washington can find a productive running game, it should open the field for McNabb and Moss to connect nicely throughout the year. The Redskins were ranked 27th in rushing offense last season, but a healthy Portis and depth at running back should change that around. 

Signs are looking good already for the Washington passing game. They are ranked 4th in passing yards per game in the preseason with 262.3 yds/gm. Santana Moss has caught six balls for 121 yards (four catches, 79 yards against the Ravens, and two catches, 42 yards against the Jets), and shows promise breaking tackles and catching the long ball. 

However, a huge burden falls on the shoulders of Washington’s offensive line. They were ranked 29th last year giving up sacks (46) and 29th for QB hits (97). Ultimately, the Redskins’ O-Line needs to step it up and protect their quarterback much better in 2010 if they want a successful offense.

So far during the preseason, the Redskins have been favoring the pass on offense, passing the ball 57% of the time in three preseason games. McNabb and Grossman threw for a combined 401 yards against Ray Lewis and the Ravens. I have high hopes for Santana Moss this season, and my projections for him are 75 receptions, 920 yards, and eight touchdowns through a full 16 games. 


Written by Tyler Becker exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Look for Tyler’s
weekly insight into MLB, NFL, & NHL. You can follow Tyler on Twitter @FantasyProdigy

What do you think about Santana Moss this year?
Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on twitter @TheFantasyFix

Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Sports Blog, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football, NFL, Santana Moss, Washington Redskin, Donovan McNabb, Rex Grossman, Ray Lewis, Clinton Portis, Mike Shannahan

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The Dallas Cowboys are in the midst of running back woes, averaging around 13 rushing touchdowns each of the last three seasons. They have yet to find the perfect combination of running backs to prove Dallas is among the elite running threats.

However, whether or not it is the absolute best situation in 2010-2011, I feel Marion Barber will emerge as the Cowboy’s leading fantasy running back this year.

Excluding his rookie year, Barber has recorded his most touchdowns (rushing) during the two years with the least attempts (135 attempts for 14 TD in 06-07, and 204 attempts for 10 TD in 07-08). Also, his two best years came at the time when Julius Jones was still a Cowboy. Before you get ahead of yourself by saying Barber needs Good Ole’ Julius back, that is not my point. My point is, the Cowboys need to use Barber the way he should be used, a third down, red zone, and goal line back, which means he should not be starting the game. It seemed like Dallas’ experiment to have Barber as the starting back failed, because the last two years have been his worse. His two best seasons though, (2006-2008), were the years Barber started only once in 32 games played (In 08-09 he started 13 of 15, and in 09-10 he started in all 15 of his games).

Dallas’ current running back situation reminds me of the Julius Jones era, which is a good thing. Barber is in line to get third down carries while Felix Jones is healthy and ready to start in the backfield. The addition of Dez Bryant and emergence of top wide-out Miles Austin will also help the Dallas running backs spread the field, giving more room for Barber to gain extra yards and pound the ball in. I actually tend to believe the production of Felix Jones and Marion Barber has a direct correlation. When Felix’s rushing goes up, so does Barber’s. While Jones may rush for more yards and see more carries, that may mean Barber gets more at the goal line and less on routine 1st and 2nd down plays.

Currently, Barber is being drafted as a low-end RB2/high-end RB3, but I think he should produce high-end RB2 numbers. He has the potential to reach high-teen touchdowns and near the 1,000-yard mark. I like Barber more than Rashard Mendenhall, Jamaal Charles, Beanie Wells, and LeSean McCoy this year, (I know, call me bold… but it’s true), all of whom are being drafted ahead of Barber. However, I’m an upside and experience type of guy, both of which Barber has. So when it comes to snagging my second running in the draft, I’ll gladly wait a few rounds, sip my soda, and announce my selection to the room… Marion Barber.

2009- Dallas was ranked 7th in rushing with 14 TD’s (436 attempts)
2008- Dallas was ranked 21st in rushing with 12 TD’s (401 attempts)
2007- Dallas was ranked 17th in rushing with 14 TD’s (419 attempts)
2006- Dallas was ranked 13th in rushing with 21 TD’s (472 attempts)

Marion Barber:

2009- 214 at, 932 yd, 7 td (Felix Jones: 116-685-3, Tashard Choice: 64-349-3)
2008- 238 at, 885 yd, 7 td (Felix Jones: 30-266-3, Tashard Choice: 92-472-2)
2007- 204 at, 975 yd, 10 td (Julius Jones: 164-588-2)
2006- 135 at, 654 yd, 14 td (Julius Jones: 267-1084-4)

Pure rushing FP for MB3 (without fumbles):

2009- 135.2
2008- 130.5
2007- 157.5
2006- 149.4

Written by Tyler Becker exclusively for www.thefantasyfix.com. Look for Tyler’s
weekly insight into MLB, NFL, & NHL. You can follow Tyler on Twitter @FantasyProdigy

What do you think about Barber this year?
Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on twitter @TheFantasyFix

Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Sports Blog, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football, NFL, Marian Barber, Dallas Cowboys, Julius Jones, Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, Felix Jones
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