Fbkid's Week 3 Fantasy Studs

Last week was a great one for my fantasy studs as Trent Edwards, Brent Celek, Ryan Longwell and the Broncos defense all had very good games. In terms of fantasy numbers, this appears that it will be the year of the quarterback. Already seven quarterbacks have four touchdowns or more while 11 have thrown for over 500 yards. Here are my week three fantasy studs.

QB: Eli Manning vs Buccaneers: This could be a huge game for Manning as his chemistry with his receivers is improving by the week and the Bucs secondary has continued to struggle. Expect around 260 yards and three touchdowns.

RB: Ray Rice vs Browns: Even though he isn't getting touchdowns, Rice has put up solid numbers the first two weeks. Now he plays a Browns defense that is 31st in the league against the run. Rice has history against the Browns as well as he ran for over 150 yards in one game against them last year. Expect around 130 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Mario Manningham vs Buccaneers: If you have noticed a trend, this is the second week in a row I have picked a quarterback receiver tandem going against the Bucs. That is because they have proven to be very vulnerable to the big play. Manningham who was one of the hottest waiver wire pickups this week, is the Giants biggest deep threat. Expect around 90 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Dustin Keller vs Titans: Keller has already proven that he is one of Mark Sanchez's favorite targets and should have a big game against the struggling Titans pass defense. Expect around 80 yards and a touchdown.

K: David Akers vs Chiefs: The Chiefs defense has really struggled this year which should equal a good amount of attempts for Akers. Expect around two field goals and three extra points.

Def: Texans vs Jaguars: The Texans defense hasn't been very strong so far this year, but they could have a pretty good game against a young Jaguars offensive line. Look for Mario Williams to be around David Garrard early and often. Expect around 3 sacks and an interception.

Fbkid's Week 3 Predictions

Last week was a tough one to predict as there were a few upsets and teams started to have people having second thoughts about them. In one week the Packers went from being one of the elite teams in the NFC to a team with a shaky defense and a poor offensive line. Here are my week three picks.

Game of the weak: Redskins vs Lions: Could this finally be the week the Lions win a game? The Redskins are inconsistent enough for them the Lions to pull it off. Other then that, there isn't much to look for in this game.

Game of the week: Colts vs Cardinals: This game should be a very entertaining one and this is a game that could determine the rest of the season for the Cardinals.

Last week: 9-7
Season: 22-10

Browns 13 Ravens 28
Redskins 17 Lions 21
Jaguars 20 Texans 27
Falcons 30 Patriots 26
Packers 24 Rams 16
Giants 26 Bucs 14
Titans 14 Jets 21
Chiefs 17 Eagles 23
49ers 20 Vikings 24
Saints 31 Bills 23
Bears 21 Seahawks 13
Steelers 17 Bengals 20
Broncos 14 Raiders 20
Dolphins 17 Chargers 28
Colts 24 Cardinals 28
Panthers 17 Cowboys 28

Fbkid's Week 2 Extra Points

This week, I am starting a new series that will continue through out the year called extra points. Every monday, I will be sharing my thoughts on what occured in the games the day before. Here are my thoughts on this week in the NFL.

Going into the season as the one thing that could hold the team back, the Giants receivers looked very good yesterday against the Cowboys. Steve Smith emerged as a receiver who could be an excellent number two with 10 catches for a 134 yards and a touchdown. Mario Manningham who struggled to get on the field his rookie year had 10 catches for 150 yards and a touchdown. This is all while first round pick Hakeem Nicks is hurt. Look out for the Giants receivers as they are only going to improve over the course of the year.

Is it possible that a New York player might be the most underrated player in the league? That could be the case with Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis as he hasn't received much attention nationally but has been shutting down elite receivers since his rookie year. So far this year he has held Andre Johnson to four catches for 35 yards and Randy Moss to four catches 24 yards. Revis made his first Pro Bowl last year, but he should be a fixture for years to come.

How much are the Titans missing Albert Haynesworth and Jim Schwartz right now? Going into the year, the Titans had a very strong secondary with two Pro Bowlers in Cortland Finnegan and Michael Griffin. Through two games, they have allowed 678 passing yards and already have two losses coming off a year where they went 13-3. In the past if the Titans score 31 points they are a sure lock to win the game. As proven yesterday by the Texans, that isn't the case anymore.

If it wasn't for Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson would be the toast of the league at the running back position. Based on yesterday's performance, his self appointed nickname "Every coach's dream" isn't far off. His performance consisted of 284 total yards and three touchdowns including a 91 yarder. With his game yesterday, Johnson showed everyone that he is one of the game's elite backs along with a special place in his fantasy owners' hearts.

Considering Philip Rivers threw for over 400 yards, it's very surprising that the Chargers decided to run on 4th and two at the very end of the game. Ray Lewis made a play that showed exactly why he will be in Canton one day and he saw the play develop a mile away.

In my ten shocking predictions article a few months back, I predicted that Joe Flacco would have a "sophomore slump". Granted I said that when Derrick Mason was retired, but it doesn't look like it will happen. Flacco looks very cool in the pocket and like Ben Roethlisberger in his second year, it wouldn't be surprising if the Ravens make a deep playoff run.

Like Eddie Royal last year, it wouldn't be surprising if Johnny Knox becomes one of Jay Cutler's favorite targets. He has excellent speed and through two games he leads the team in receiving yards and already showed big play ability. Knox has a very good chance of becoming a dark horse candidate for rookie of the year honors.

Fbkid's Week 2 Fantasy Studs

Last week was a solid one for my fantasy studs as Cedric Benson and John Carlson had big games while the Seahawks defense pitched a shutout. After week one games, it is important to be patient with your star players. If you drafted a guy like Matt Forte or Steve Slaton who had bad games, they will bounce back as everybody has off games. Here are week two fantasy studs.

QB: Trent Edwards vs Buccaneers: Edwards looked solid against the Patriots in week one and the Buccaneers without Tanard Jackson had major struggles in the secondary allowing three long touchdowns. Look for Edwards to build off his solid start and throw for around 240 yards with two touchdowns.

RB: Darren McFadden vs Chiefs: The Chiefs defense had a hard time stopping the Ravens three headed monster at running back and that should continue against the Raiders with McFadden carrying the load. Last year in Arrowhead, McFadden ran for over 160 yards which was easily his best game of his rookie year. Expect around 130 yards and a touchdown.

WR: Lee Evans vs Buccaneers: Considering the Bucs secondary struggles last week, Evans should be a very good play as he is one of the best deep ball receivers in the league. With the presence of Terrell Owens, he will also be in single coverage. Expect around 120 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Brent Celek vs Saints: One of the quarterback's best friends is the tight end who is a big target that has reliable hands. Kevin Kolb is going to make his first career start and should look to Celek early and often. He has soft hands and with his size can make an impact in the red zone. Expect around 60 yards and a touchdown.

K: Ryan Longwell vs Lions: Considering the way the Lions defense looked last week, Longwell should get plenty of opportunities. Considering there isn't that big of a difference between the best fantasy kicker and the 10th, that's all you can ask for. Expect around 3 extra points and two field goals.

DEF: Broncos vs Browns: More surprising then the finish to their game against the Bengals was the emergence of the Broncos defense. For a unit that was so bad last year, they did a very good job of stopping an explosive Bengals offense. Now they play the Browns who struggled with a young quarterback in Brady Quinn under center. Look for the Broncos to pressure him early and often. Expect around 4 sacks, 1 fumble recovery and two interceptions.

Fbkid's Week 2 Predictions

The first week of the NFL season was an eventful one and it gave us the opportunity to see what teams look for real and what ones seem to be all preseason hype. The Packers became a trendy team to win the NFC and they showed why winning a rivalry game at home against the Bears and playing very solid defense. On the other hand, the Texans who were supposed to be this year's Cardinals, looked bad on both sides of the ball and weren't able to get either Andre Johnson or Steve Slaton going. Here are my week two picks.

Game of the weak: Browns vs Broncos: If last week was any indication, this game won't be very entertaining. Who would have thought that the Broncos could start off the year 2-0?

Game of the week: Patriots vs Jets: This is the first of what should be many Tom Brady vs Mark Sanchez matchups. This game could be a real turning point in both of their seasons.

Last week: 13-3
Season: 13-3

Panthers 13 Falcons 24
Vikings 27 Lions 17
Bengals 14 Packers 23
Cardinals 20 Jaguars 24
Raiders 21 Chiefs 17
Patriots 26 Jets 20
Saints 28 Eagles 14
Texans 14 Titans 20
Rams 10 Redskins 21
Bucs 17 Bills 23
Seahawks 24 49ers 20
Steelers 20 Bears 14
Browns 13 Broncos 17
Ravens 20 Chargers 23
Giants 26 Cowboys 21
Colts 27 Dolphins 14

Fbkid's Week 1 Fantasy Studs

Fantasy football is more popular then ever so it is only fitting that I carry on my positional fantasy stud rankings. The catch is that unlike some things you may read, the players I will be mentioning won't be ones who you took in the first three rounds of the draft. So if you are expecting me to go out on a limb and say that you should start Adrian Peterson this week, this isn't for you. Here are my week one fantasy studs and I hope everyone does well in their leagues this year.

QB: Matthew Stafford vs Saints: As crazy as it sounds to mention a rookie quarterback in his first career start, Stafford could put up big numbers against the Saints in his pro debut. This game will have lots of scoring and considering how explosive the Saints offense is, they will probably be playing from behind. Again, he is unproven and would be best used if your quarterback has a bad week one matchup (ex: Matt Cassel vs Ravens). Don't be surprised if Stafford throws for around 200 yards and two touchdowns.

RB: Cedric Benson vs Broncos: Many people heading into the year weren't very high on Benson, but he has an excellent week one matchup. He goes against a Broncos defense that allowed almost 150 yards a game on the ground last year. If the Bengals play up to their potential and the Broncos are as bad as they seem to be, he will get a lot of touches. Expect around 120 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Anthony Gonzalez vs Jaguars: The Jaguars are an interesting team to figure out for fantasy owners. They usually shut down the opposing team's top receiver but another player always steps up and has a big game. This week it should be Gonzalez. He is now the Colts number two receiver and will be going against the talented but inexperienced rookie Derek Cox. Knowing Peyton Manning, look for him to pick on the rookie and find Gonzalez early and often. Expect around 80 yards and a touchdown.

TE: John Carlson vs Rams: Carlson was very impressive as a rookie and he did most of his damage without Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback. Now Hasselbeck is healthy and the Seahawks are going against a young, rebuilding defense in the Rams. Expect around 60 yards and a touchdown.

K: Nate Kaeding vs Raiders: If we learned anything this offseason, it's that the Raiders are very dysfunctional and they don't play much defense. They now open the season against one of the league's best offenses in the Chargers. Kaeding should get plenty of attempts and even if they are extra points, they start to add up. Expect around four extra points, and two field goals.

D: Seahawks vs Rams: Like the defense, the Rams offense needs to improve. The Seahawks defense is now healthy and should take advantage of an offense that is relatively inexperienced. Expect around 4 sacks and two interceptions.

Fbkid's Week 1 Predictions

The 2009 season got off to a very good start the other night with the physical Titans Steelers game. Week one is the hardest to predict as your not sure what teams will come out strong and which ones will come out flat. Here are my week one picks and it's good to have football back.

Game of the weak: Rams vs Seahawks: I have the Seahawks as a playoff team, but this could be a pretty ugly game.

Game of the week: Bears vs Packers: This is as big as it gets for a week one game. One of the league's best rivalries and Jay Cutler's Bears debut should only add fuel to the fire.

Last year: 159-97-1

Dolphins 16 Falcons 24
Chiefs 10 Ravens 21
Eagles 24 Panthers 20
Broncos 14 Bengals 23
Vikings 20 Browns 13
Jets 17 Texans 28
Jaguars 14 Colts 20
Lions 21 Saints 31
Cowboys 23 Bucs 13
49ers 17 Cardinals 20
Redskins 14 Giants 21
Rams 10 Seahawks 24
Bears 20 Packers 28
Bills 14 Patriots 35
Chargers 35 Raiders 14

Titans vs Steelers Prediction

Before the game started, I wanted to post my prediction for tonight's game. Usually I post all the games at once, but my predictions for the other games along with my fantasy studs will be posted in the next day or two. My prediction for the game is Titans 13 Steelers 24.

Fbkid's 2009 NFL Predictions

It has been a seven month wait, but the NFL season is finally here. Every team now starts off with a clean slate and they all think this is the year they will finally make the Super Bowl. Here are my predictions for the 2009 NFL season.

AFC East:
Patriots 13-3
Jets 7-9
Bills 6-10
Dolphins 5-11

AFC North
Steelers 11-5
Ravens 10-6
Bengals 7-9
Browns 3-13

AFC South
Colts 11-5
Texans 10-6
Titans 8-8
Jaguars 6-10

AFC West
Chargers 12-4
Raiders 6-10
Chiefs 5-11
Broncos 4-12

NFC East
Giants 11-5
Eagles 10-6
Cowboys 8-8
Redskins 7-9

NFC North
Packers 12-4
Vikings 10-6
Bears 8-8
Lions 5-11

NFC South
Saints 11-5
Falcons 9-7
Panthers 7-9
Bucs 5-11

NFC West
Seahawks 10-6
Cardinals 8-8
49ers 7-9
Rams 4-12

Regular Season Awards:

MVP: Tom Brady QB Patriots
Offensive rookie of the year: Mark Sanchez QB Jets
Defensive rookie of the year: Aaron Curry LB Seahawks
Offensive player of the year: Drew Brees QB Saints
Defensive player of the year: DeMarcus Ware LB Cowboys
Comeback player of the year: Chris Henry WR Bengals

Playoffs:

Wildcard weekend:
NFC: Vikings 17 Saints 27, Eagles 26 Seahawks 20
AFC: Texans 21 Colts 28, Steelers 23 Ravens 14

Divisonal Playoffs:
NFC: Saints 20 Giants 24, Eagles 14 Packers 27
AFC: Colts 31 Patriots 35, Steelers 21 Chargers 27

Conference Championship:
Giants 24 Packers 21
Chargers 26 Patriots 35

Super Bowl:
Giants 20 Patriots 28

Fbkid's Fantasy Football Cheat Sheet: Quarterbacks

As the preseason comes to an end, more and more people are having their fantasy drafts which is why I am releasing my cheat sheets for every position. The first installment is quarterback and the rest will be posted later today. Hopefully these help you at your drafts.




Quarterbacks:
1. Drew Brees Saints 5
2. Tom Brady Patriots 8
3. Peyton Manning Colts 6
4. Philip Rivers Chargers 5
5. Aaron Rodgers Packers 5
6. Matt Ryan Falcons 4
7. Kurt Warner Cardinals 4
8. Carson Palmer Bengals 8
9. Donovan McNabb Eagles 4
10. Tony Romo Cowboys 6
11. Jay Cutler Bears 5
12. Ben Roethlisberger Steelers 8
13. Matt Hasselbeck Seahawks 7
14. Matt Schaub Texans 10
15. Matt Cassel Chiefs 8
16. Eli Manning Giants 10
17. Trent Edwards Bills 9
18. Joe Flacco Ravens 7
19. Brett Favre Vikings 9
20. David Garrard Jaguars 7
21. Chad Pennington Dolphins 6
22. Kyle Orton Broncos 7
23. Jason Campbell Redskins 8
24. JaMarcus Russell Raiders 9
25. Shaun Hill 49ers 6
26. Mark Sanchez Jets 9
27. Marc Bulger Rams 9
28. Jake Delhomme Panthers 4
29. Kerry Collins Titans 7
30. Brady Quinn Browns 9

Fbkid's All Twitter Team

When people look back on the 2009 NFL season and the year in general, one thing that people will remember is Twitter. It has become a world wide phenomenon and in the NFL teams have started fining players if they "tweet" during meetings or from the sidelines.


I finally took the plunge this past week and joined Twitter (username is fbkid if you care to follow). With all the NFL players on Twitter I decided to come up with the first "All Twitter" team with players at every position. I am also putting all the players Twitter usernames in parenthesis so you can follow your favorite player if your not already. Here is my all Twitter team and let me know what players you feel are missing.


QB: Matt Hasselbeck Seahawks: Hasselbeck (MatthewHass008) is one of the few quarterback's on Twitter. He is a frequent poster who responds to fans, talks about football and also talks about his family as well.

RB: Chris Johnson Titans: Johnson (ChrisJohnson28) is a frequent poster who also connects with fans on his Ustream channel. He is one of the more entertaining NFL Tweeters.

RB: Steven Jackson Rams: Jackson (sj39) has compiled almost 2,300 tweets as of now and is very good at answering questions from fans along with telling everyone what is going on around the team.

WR: Chad Ochocinco Bengals: Ochocinco (OGOchocinco) is one of if not the most active NFL player on Twitter. He has compiled over 5,000 tweets and broadcasts almost nightly on his Ustream channel. Ochocinco has also brought fame to the term "child please" which has been made into a shirt by Reebok and will be released soon.

WR: Terrell Owens Bills: Owens (terrellowens) tweets frequently and is one of the most followed athletes on the site with almost 125 thousand followers. He is very good at responding to fans questions and should be one of the more entertaining players on the site during the course of the year.

TE: Martellus Bennett Cowboys: Bennett (MartyBTV)is one of the funniest NFL players on Twitter. He has over 8 thousand tweets along with responding to his fans, talks about football and his random thoughts.

OL: Marcus McNeill Chargers: McNeill (MarcusMcNeill73) is one of the many active Chargers on Twitter. He regularly posts about his thoughts on and off the field which gives you a look inside one of the more underrated players in the game.

OL: Eric Winston Texans: Winston (ericwinston) gives insight to his thoughts about topics ranging from football to music along with interacting with his fans. It should be interesting reading his thoughts during the season as the Texans are a trendy surprise pick in the AFC.

OL: Nick Mangold Jets: Mangold (nickmangold) may take a few days between tweets, but he is good at responding to fans and has also had contests. He tweets about his thoughts on football and other things.

OL: Bryant McKinnie Vikings: McKinnie (bigmacvikings) hasn't been on Twitter as long as some of the other players, but he tweets frequently and is good at responding to fans questions.

OL: Jared Gaither Ravens: Gaither (jaredgaither) also tweets frequently and it should be interesting reading his thoughts as he is an up and coming player who has Pro Bowl potential.

Defense:

DL: Tank Johnson Bengals: Johnson (TankJohnson99) is another Bengal who tweets frequently. To say the least, the Bengals should be a very entertaining team this year.

DL: Darnell Dockett Cardinals: Dockett (ddockett) along with his twitter account also does a show on ustream where he displays his thoughts to fans. He is now selling shirts on his site where part of the proceeds go towards getting gifts for less fortunate kids during the holiday season.

DL: John Thornton Bengals: Thornton (JohnThornton) is another frequent Twitter user on the Bengals. He tweets frequently and is good at responding to fans questions.

LB: Shawne Merriman Chargers: Merriman (shawnemerriman) posts frequently and along with talking to fans, banters back and forth with Chad Ochocinco.

LB: Kawika Mitchell Bills: Mitchell (Ka_Mitchell55) has been tweeting frequently throughout training camp. He brings lots of insight in his posts and considering that the Bills will be one of the most followed team's this season, it will be interesting to see what he says.

LB: Nick Barnett Packers: Barnett (NickBarnett) is one of the league's most active players on Twitter with almost 2000 tweets. He is good at responding to fans and also has contests.

LB: Shaun Phillips Chargers: Phillips (ShaunPhillips95) is another Chargers defender who is active on Twitter. He posts frequently and has also had contests where he gives away tickets to Chargers home games.

CB: Antonio Cromartie Chargers: Cromartie (crimetime31) like his teammate Phillip's has also given away tickets to games on Twitter. He is one of the more entertaining player's to follow on the site.

CB: Fabian Washington Ravens: Washington (FABEWASH31) has posted almost 3 thousand tweets and it doesn't seem like he will stop anytime soon. He is one of the best as far as responding to fans.

S: Kerry Rhodes Jets: Rhodes (kerryrhodes)is another one of the more active players on the site. With over 12 thousand followers, Rhodes has posted almost 3 thousand tweets and is very good at responding to fans.

S: Roy Williams Bengals: Williams (Datboyie) is another Bengal who is very active on Twitter. He has almost 2,700 tweets and posts frequently throughout the day.

Gerald Alexander Interview

Yesterday, I had the opportunity of a lifetime as I had a media pass for the morning Jaguars practice. This was made available to me through my participation with the Sportz Ventures program at my school. My thanks go out to Jennifer Corace, Development Director at Sportz Ventures and Jaguars’ Communications Manager Ryan Robinson who helped coordinate the program.
As part of my “all-access” pass I was able to interview Jaguar safety, Gerald Alexander. He discussed his recent trade to the Jaguars, his experience with the Lions, playing in one of the greatest college football games ever and the Boise State football program.


Fbkid: What is the biggest transition coming from the Lions to the Jaguars?

Gerald Alexander: The way things are done here as far as different plays and things on defense and getting used to the schedule and things like that. Football is football but generally speaking teams do things differently.

FB: What was it like being hurt last season and going through what the Lions did last year?

GA: It was painful both physically and emotionally as far as physically being hurt and then not being able to help my teammates and given what I saw my team go through last year, it was painful to watch and be a part of. It motivates me and I never want it to happen again.

FB:How did you feel about getting traded?

GA: I didn’t know how to feel at first rather if Detroit didn’t want me or that Jacksonville did. Eventually things worked out and I’m happy to be here now.

FB: How was it to be a part of one of the greatest games in college football history?

GA: It’s great now that I look back on it. When your in the emotion of the game you never really think about it but when you look back at it you can see it was one of the greatest games in the history in college football.
Did you ever talk to Adrian Peterson about the game when you played him?
No I never said anything since he’s making a name for himself in the NFL right now but if we ever got together and talk about college, I have one up on him.

FB: What does it feel like for you watching Boise State play now when they get so much national attention?

GA: It’s like being a proud father looking at a son as you were there to help bring the program to where it is now and they are continuing the success that you laid the foundation for and now they are ranked 16th in the country.

FB: What safeties do you watch and try and take things from their game?

GA: Guys that everybody knows about like Ed Reed, Troy Polamalu and Brian Dawkins those guys three of the best safeties playing in the NFL right now try to pick apart the good things they do and try to emulate them in your game.

FB: You’re a big shoe fan, what’s your favorite make of Jordan’s?

GA: I have to say the 11’s because of the patent leather.

FB: How many pairs of shoes do you have?

GA: I have probably over 100 pairs and I gave a lot away. If you look at my closet, it’s ridiculous. It’s like foot locker.


FB: What do you think of your Madden rating?

GA: I don’t even know my madden rating but I was hurt last year so it’s out of sight out of mind so I’m not going to be as good as I think I am but I’m a Madden player and it doesn’t matter. If you go up against me on the controller, you might run into a loss.

Fbkid's Breakout Players: Defensive Backs

Last year Cortland Finnegan and Darrelle Revis emerged as all pro caliber corners and should be Pro Bowl frequenters for years to come. Just like the linemen up front, defensive backs are becoming even more important as the quality of the passing game around the league increases. Here are some defensive backs that I think will breakout this year.


Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Cardinals: Rodgers-Cromartie showed tons of potential in his first season. He has excellent range and speed along with very good instincts. If Rodgers-Cromartie continues to improve on his performance he should be a Pro Bowl caliber corner for years to come.

Leodis McKelvin Bills: When quarterbacks go up against the Bills, they are going to have to pick their poison. The Bills have one of the league's most underrated and fastest cornerback tandems in McKelvin alongside Terrance McGee. McKelvin got better as the year went on and should continue to improve on his rookie performance. Don't be surprised if he makes the Pro Bowl in the next year or two.

Brandon Flowers Chiefs: Coming out of Virginia Tech, some scouts were doubting how Flowers could transition to the pro game. He is off to a good start in proving them wrong. Flowers was one of the bright spots on a defense that struggled last year and along with Brandon Carr forms one of the league's up and coming cornerback tandems.

Aqib Talib Buccaneers: Talib only started two games in his rookie season, but he was very impressive recording four interceptions and showing a never back down attitude that teams want to see in corners. With the departure of Phillip Buchanon, Talib will be starting opposite Ronde Barber and should learn many tips that could help develop into one of the top young corners in the game.

Leon Hall Bengals: The Bengals defense is improving and Hall is one of the main reasons. Hall and Johnathan Joseph are a very good pair of corners who are both very good in coverage and have good instincts. Hall is also a very good tackler and if the Bengals show that they are a sleeper team, he should start getting the attention he deserves.

Brandon Meriweather Patriots: Meriweather had a huge impact in his second season recording 83 tackles along with four interceptions and two sacks. Now that Rodney Harrison is retired, Meriweather can now take over the starting role and show what he has learned from one of the best to ever play the position. The Patriots defense is mainly consisted of older players so when they start going for a youth movement, look for Meriweather and Jerod Mayo to be two of the building blocks.

Fbkid's Breakout Players: Linebackers

Last year linebackers such as LaMarr Woodley and D'Qwell Jackson emerged as some of the better young linebackers in the league. Woodley was one of the key components of a strong Steelers defense that went on to win the Super Bowl while Jackson had an excellent year and was one of the biggest Pro Bowl snubs. Here are some linebackers that I think will breakout this year.


Lawrence Timmons Steelers: Like his teammate Woodley last year, Timmons has the chance to really breakout into the national spotlight. He only started two games last year and was very effective with 65 tackles and five sacks. Timmons should start this season after the departure of Larry Foote and it wouldn't be surprising if he had double digit sacks on the year.

Keith Rivers Bengals: Rivers is best known for being the receipent of a Hines Ward block that broke his jaw but if it didn't happen, there is a very good chance he could have won rookie of the year. Rivers has great range and is very instinctive and should be one of the building blocks for a Bengals defense that is silently becoming a very good unit.

Anthony Spencer Cowboys: With the departure of Greg Ellis, Spencer now gets to show everybody why the Cowboys took him with a first round pick in 2007. He is very fast off the edge and has learned a lot playing alongside the vetran Ellis. Don't be surprised if he has a season similar to what Woodley did last year.

Tavares Gooden Ravens: Gooden only played in four games last season before suffering a season ending injury, but he now has an excellent opportunity. He has the opportunity to start alongside another former Miami Hurricane who will go down as one of the all time greats in Ray Lewis. Along side Lewis, Gooden should really learn many key tips in how to succeed at the position in the NFL. In other words, this could only be the beginning for him.

Omar Gaither Eagles: Last year Gaither played outside linebacker and was solid with 59 tackles and 2.5 sacks in ten starts. He will now move to the middle as Stewart Bradley suffered a season ending injury and has the opportunity to show everybody his talents. The departure of Bradley for the Eagles defense is a huge one and if Gaither can fill in without any problems, the Eagles have the potential to make a deep run into the playoffs.

Fbkid's Breakout Players: Defensive Linemen

Last year defensive linemen such as Jay Ratliff and Mathias Kiwanuka emerged and showed that they could be disruptive forces up front. As the league continues to become more passing oriented, it is very important to get young talent to rush the quarterback. Here are some defensive linemen that I think could breakout this year.


Derrick Harvey Jaguars: Due to the long holdout through training camp, Harvey didn't get to show all of his talent in his rookie season. He showed lots of potential but it was very hard to makeup all of the lost practice time. Harvey now has a year of the playbook under his belt and will be depended on to give the Jaguars a consistent pass rusher off the edge. Don't be surprised if he has around 8 sacks this year.

Chris Long Rams: Long played well in his rookie season but should make great strides under Steve Spagnuolo this year. Spagnuolo during his time as defensive coordinator for the Giants was surrounded by great pass rushers such as Michael Strahan, Osi Umenyiora and Justin Tuck. Look for this to only be the beginning for Long as he will become one of the premiere defensive ends in the league.

Cliff Avril Lions: The Lions defense wasn't very good last year, but Avril's second half performance was a bright spot. In his last six games, Avril had four of his five sacks and showed some of his potential. He is very fast off the edge and should be one of the building blocks as the Lions defense improves.

Jason Jones Titans: After drawing heavy criticism after being drafted in the second round, Jones is showing how he could prove them all wrong. He will be needed to fill the very large shoes that Albert Haynesworth left as the Titans are a team that is dedicated to stopping the run. Jones showed that he can also rush the passer and could become one of the league's better young player's upfront.

Sedrick Ellis Saints: Ellis showed lots of potential in his rookie year and is one of the key component's on an improving Saints defense. He has a very big frame and showed that he can stop the run and rush the passer. Now that Ellis is fully healthy from his arthroscopic surgery, look for him to emerge into one of the top run stoppers in the league.

Fbkid's Breakout Players: Tight Ends

Last year tight ends such as Vishante Shiancoe and Anthony Fasano broke out and became key targets in the passing game. Both Shiancoe and Fasano emerged on teams that weren't very deep at receiver and should continue to contribute. Here are some tight ends that I think will breakout this year.

John Carlson Seahawks: Carlson had a very impressive rookie season recording 627 yards and five touchdowns. Those numbers should improve this year as the Seahawks receiving corps is finally healthy and got stronger with the addition of TJ Houshmandzadeh. Don't be surprised if Carlson has around 800 yards and seven touchdowns this season.

Greg Olsen Bears: Olsen was on my breakout list last season, but he should truly breakout in his third season. He now has a reliable quarterback who can get him the ball in Jay Cutler and the Bears don't have many receivers who will take opportunities away from him. It wouldn't be surprising if Olsen made his first Pro Bowl appearence this season.

Brent Celek Eagles: Celek showed flashes of potential last season catching ten passes along with two touchdowns in the NFC Championship. Now that LJ Smith is gone, Celek will be the starter and could have a very big impact. He is a large target with soft hands who will become one of Donovan McNabb's favorite weapons in the red zone.

Dustin Keller Jets: By the end of last year, Keller started showing the potential that could make him a great tight end. Regardless of who starts between Kellen Clemens and Mark Sanchez, a young quarterback will be throwing him the ball and Keller is an excellent safety option. Keller is already one of the better young tight ends in the game and it wouldn't be surprising if he goes to the Pro Bowl this year.

Kevin Boss Giants: Coming out of a school such as Western Oregon, not many fans know who Boss is. That's about to change this year. Even though the receiving corps was addressed this offseason through the draft, the position is still very weak going into the year. As hard as it is to believe, Boss led the team with six touchdown catches last season. Boss should get even more looks this year and will be Eli Manning's primary target until somebody else steps up.

Fbkid's Breakout Players: Wide Receivers

Last year, receivers such as Antonio Bryant, Lance Moore and Steve Breaston all had breakout seasons. Bryant stepped onto the national scene after he didn't even play football in the 2007 season while Moore and Breaston both came out of the shadows for high passing attacks. Here are some receivers who I think will breakout this year.


Donnie Avery Rams: Last year was a very rough one for the Rams but Avery was one of the bright spots. Avery showed during the later part of the season that he could emerge into one of the league's premiere deep threats. Now that Torry Holt is gone, Avery should be the number one receiver and considering the Rams will be playing from behind most of the time, he should put up numbers.

Earl Bennett Bears: Bennett didn't play much in his rookie season, but being reunited with his old college quarterback Jay Cutler has reason for optimism. Bennett and Cutler only played together for one season at Vanderbilt, but they hooked up for 876 yards and nine touchdowns. Considering the lack of depth the Bears have at receiver, it wouldn't be surprising if Bennett emerges as a reliable receiver opposite Devin Hester.

DeSean Jackson Eagles: Jackson had a very solid rookie campaign recording over 900 yards but he sould be an even bigger threat this year. Jackson now has a year under his belt with the offense and with the Eagles looking to throw the ball more, look for Jackson to emerge as a number one receiver. Don't be surprised if he has more then 1200 yards this year.

Mike Walker Jaguars: I am very high on Walker as he was on this list last year as well. If it weren't for injuries and other setbacks there is a very good chance that Walker could have had his breakout season last year. Now Walker should be the starting receiver opposite Torry Holt and doesn't have anyone in his way. Look for Walker's string of bad luck to end and start to emerge in his third season.

Mark Clayton Ravens: Up until last year, the Ravens had really struggled with the passing attack and Clayton showed signs he could be a vertical threat. One play that really stands out is his one handed catch against the Bengals where he went 70 yards for a touchdown. Now that Derrick Mason has retired, look for Clayton to become Joe Flacco's number one target and surpass 1000 yards for the first time in his career.

Chris Henry Bengals: Henry is best known for his trouble making antics, but he has turned the corner and is now ready to become a big time playmaker. He is currently getting rave reviews from everyone in the Bengals organization and is even being called "Randy Moss Jr" by Carson Palmer. With the loss of TJ Houshmandzadeh, look for Henry to possibly develop into the number two receiver and have a career year.

Nate Washington Titans: Washington never got to show his big play potential as a starter with the Steelers and now with the Titans, should get more balls thrown his way then ever. Even though the Titans will focus on running the ball, they will open up for play action and let Washington lose. Don't be surprised if he has over 800 yards and 6 touchdowns this season.

Fbkid's Breakout Players: Running Backs

Running back is a position where players breakout every year. Last year backs such as Michael Turner, Pierre Thomas and Derrick Ward brokeout and became names that were known by the common fan. Here are my predictions for running backs who will breakout this year and possibly make their first Pro Bowl.

Felix Jones Cowboys: Before his season ending injury, Jones showed the potential that could make him one of the game's most explosive backs. Now that Jones is healthy and the lack of depth in the Cowboys receiving corps, look for Jones to get lots of carries this year and considering that he will be doing kickoffs as well don't be surprised if he has over 2000 total yards.


Kevin Smith Lions: Smith had a very good rookie season but the thing that sticks out the most is that as the season went on and he earned more carries, he played better. Even though he played behind one of the worst offensive lines in the league, Smith still managed to have 938 yards and 8 touchdowns. Regardless of who starts at quarterback between Matthew Stafford and Daunte Culpepper, Smith should face less eight man fronts and improve on his rookie totals. Don't be surprised if he runs for over 1100 yards this year.


Ray Rice Ravens: Even though the Ravens have Willis McGahee, there is a very good chance that Rice will be the starting running back when the season starts. Rice has fresh legs and proved during his time at Rutgers that he is a very durable back. Now that Derrick Mason has retired, the Ravens will be looking to run more on offense and Rice who is also a good receiver out of the backfield, should get the majority of those carries. It wouldn't be surprising if Rice runs for over 1,000 yards this year.

Jerious Norwood Falcons: Considering he averages 5.8 yards a carry for his career, it's hard to believe the Falcons don't get Norwood the ball more. Even though the Falcons have Michael Turner ahead of Norwood, he should get lots of playing time this year. Turner had over 370 carries last year and most backs who have that heavy a workload either decline or get hurt the next year. Just ask Shaun Alexander or Larry Johnson. Considering that, Norwood should get plenty of opportunities this year and if he is as impressive as he has been with his chances so far, he should be fun to watch.

Jamaal Charles Chiefs: Charles is in a situation very similar to Norwood's. Both are very explosive and should get a lot of playing time this year as they are both behind backs who have had heavy workloads. In Charles' case, it is Larry Johnson who while he has still been productive, hasn't been the same since his 2006 season where he had 416 carries. With Todd Haley coming in as the new coach, the Chiefs will also be looking to pass the ball more and Charles is a better receiver out of the backfield. While Charles won't get tons of touches, don't be surprised if he breaks some highlight reel runs and has over 1000 total yards.

Fred Jackson Bills: Most fans don't know who Jackson is, but he is one of the league's best kept secrets. He is one of the best backup running backs in the league and is also a very good receiver out of the backfield. Due to Marshawn Lynch's three game suspension to start the season, Jackson should get lots of carries and will be able to showcase his skills in a starter's role. While the starting gig won't last the whole season, look for Jackson to still get 10-12 touches a game even when he resorts back to being Lynch's backup.

Fbkid's Top Ten Shocking Predictions for the 2009 Season

As some of you may remember, last year I made a post about my shocking predictions for the NFL season. While some were right on the mark, other's were way off. When the season is over, I will do a recap of my predictions to see how they played out. So now it's time to look in my crystal ball for my shocking predictions this upcoming football season.

1. Steve Slaton will win the rushing title: Most people would say that Adrian Peterson is a lock to win this honor but don't sleep on Slaton. Slaton ran for 1282 yards in his rookie season and that should only be the beginning. He is a perfect fit for the Texans zone blocking scheme and is going to get the ball even more this year. Don't be surprised if by the end of the year Slaton is regarded as one of the elite backs in the league.

2. The New Orleans Saints will win the NFC South: Since the division reallignment in 2002, up until last year the team that finishes last in the NFC South has always won the division the next year. With their explosive offense and improved defense, the Saints should continue the trend this year. Depending on the job Gregg Williams does as defensive coordinator, the team could be one of the last ones standing in the NFC.

3. Joe Flacco will be a victim of the "Sophomore Slump": Last year Flacco and Matt Ryan took the league by storm leading their teams as rookies into the playoffs. Both of these guys played so well because of their supporting cast. For Ryan, it consisted of playmakers like Michael Turner and Roddy White. In Flacco's case, it was the Ravens defense that is arguably the best in football. Due to the sudden retirement of Derrick Mason, Flacco has now lost his go to receiver and after Mason there is a big dropoff. If the season started today, the Ravens starting receivers would most likely be Mark Clayton and Demetrius Williams. Both guys have lots of potential but neither of them have shown many glimpses of being a number one receiver. With the defense, the Ravens still have a very good chance at making the playoffs but it could be another rough year at quarterback in Baltimore after last year's breath of fresh air.

4. The Miami Dolphins won't win 8 games: Going into the 2008 season, the Cleveland Browns were a trendy pick to win the AFC North. After going 10-6 the previous year many people including myself thought they were ready to take the next step. The same thing that stopped the Browns last year is what is going to hurt the Dolphins: strength of schedule. Since they went 1-15 in 2007, the Dolphins had one of the easier schedules in the league. This year, they have the hardest. Other factors play into consideration as well. The "Wildcat" or with the addition of Pat White through the draft "Wildpat" will now be something that defenses prepare for and it progressively got less effective last season as the year went on. Chad Pennington was one of the great comeback stories last season but the playoff game against the Ravens showed that while he is a very accurate passer, he doesn't have the arm strength to scare defenses. Look for the Chad Henne era to begin in Miami by the end of this year.


5. The Houston Texans will make the playoffs: For what seemed like forever, the Cardinals were everybody's trend pick to make the playoffs. Now that they have actually been there and ended up making the Super Bowl, a new team has to fill the void. That team is the Texans. The Texans are a young team with potential the only thing that could stop them is the quarterback position. Matt Schaub has showed signs of potential but has had a hard time staying on the field. After losing one of the best backups in the league in Sage Rosenfels, the Texans signed Rex Grossman to be the backup. Depending on what Grossman shows up, this could either be an excellent move or one that gives Texans fans nightmares. The defense is improving as well as they added Antonio Smith to rush the passer alongside Mario Williams and added Brian Cushing through the draft who should get a chance to start right away. If Schaub can play a full 16 game season alongside offensive weapons such as Steve Slaton and Andre Johnson, the Texans will be a very dangerous team come playoff time.


6. The Detroit Lions will win at least four games: In most cases, predicting four wins isn't much. But for a team, that went 0-16 last year, it's a very big first step. Jim Schwartz is bringing a new state of identity to a team that for the past 50 years has had a losing culture. Schwartz has already started building through the draft and it wouldn't be surprising if his first three picks Matthew Stafford, Brandon Pettigrew and Louis Delmas were all opening day starters. As hard as it is to believe, not all of Matt Millen's draft picks were failures as Calvin Johnson, Kevin Smith and Ernie Sims are all worth building around. Johnson is arguably the most talented receiver in the league and put up pro bowl type numbers with a very messy quarterback situation. The second half of Smith's rookie year was very impressive as he improved when his workload increased. Sims will be looked upon as the leader of the defense and has been one of the game's most consistent linebackers in his three year career. The offensive line is still a very weak spot but if Schwartz and new GM Martin Mayhew make good picks in the trenches, the team could be contending in the next three years.

7. The Seattle Seahawks will make the playoffs: Due to injuries at many key positions, the Seahawks were one of the league's biggest dissapointments last year. This year should be different. Matt Hasselbeck is fully healthy and has a new weapon in T.J. Houshmandzadeh along with John Carlson who proved last year to be one of the best young tight ends in the game. The defense should be strong as well with one of the league's top pass rushers in Patrick Kearney along with two very good young linebackers in Lofa Tatupu and Aaron Curry. If there are two things to remember about the Seahawks this season here they are: the NFC West is still extremely weak and they have the Broncos 1st round pick next year and considering how the Josh McDaniels era is going so far, it could be a very high one. Even though Hasselbeck is 34, it wouldn't be surprising if the Seahawks were contenders for two or three more years.

8. Three rookie quarterbacks will be starting by week 12: Last year two rookie quarterbacks took the league by storm. This year, it wouldn't be surprising if there were three. Matthew Stafford, Mark Sanchez and Josh Freeman will all be starting by the end of this year. It is very possible that all three of these guys will be their team's opening day starters as Stafford and Sanchez are already signed. While Sanchez could be starting to give his team the best chance to win, Stafford and Freeman will most likely be starting to show their team's what's in store for the future as they both have veterans with years of starting experience ahead of them.

9. Mark Sanchez will win offensive rookie of the year: While running backs usually transition the fastest to the NFL, it is always a huge story when a rookie quarterback suceeds right away. With Sanchez being in New York, that story will be even bigger. Sanchez is in the best situation out of any rookie quarterback as he has an established offensive line, a very good defense and a rookie quarterback's best friend a good running game. It wouldn't be surprising if Sanchez put up big numbers in the big apple and if does expect him to ride the New York media train on the way to rookie of the year honors.

10. Louis Delmas will win defensive rookie of the year: Most people would have guys like Aaron Curry, Brian Cushing or Brian Orakpo here but none of them will be on the field as much as Delmas. Even though the Lions will improve this year, the offense will still struggle behind the poor offensive line and Delmas will have every opportunity to prove he is a tackling machine. The Lions are in love with him and there is a very good chance that he will be the starting safety when the year begins. Delmas is also very strong in run support and even if the defense continues to struggle, he will certainly be one of the bright spots.

Breakout Player Recap: Cornerbacks and Safeties

As passing attacks continue to thrive all around the league, it is important to have a good secondary. Some of the guys I predicted to breakout last year have worked their way into the conversation of the elite at their position. Here is a breakdown of how they did.

Cornerback:

Eric Wright Browns:

What I said: Wright had a very good rookie year as he had 76 tackles and one interception. By the end of the year, he was playing like a Pro Bowl caliber corner as teams were avoiding his side of the field. Look for Wright to continue his progress this year and possibly make his first trip to the Pro Bowl.

Now: Wright was very impressive in his second season recording 66 tackles and 3 interceptions. He also returned a interception on Monday Night Football 94 yards for a touchdown. Wright is getting better every year so it is only a matter of time before fans know who he is.

Hit or Miss: Push

Fred Bennett Texans:

What I said: With injuries in the secondary, Bennett came in and started as a rookie and showed that he has the potential to be one of the best corners in the league. Bennett only started 8 games but ended up with 62 tackles 2 forced fumbles and 3 interceptions. Look for him to have an even bigger impact this season.

Now: Bennett only started 6 games in his second year but was effective with 43 tackles two forced fumbles and two interceptions. He still showed lots of potential so look for him to breakout when he gets the chance to start for a whole year.

Hit or Miss: Miss


Darrelle Revis Jets:

What I said: Out of all the corners on the list, Revis has the best chance to be a premier corner for years to come. He showed great coverage skills as a rookie and ended up with 87 tackles and 3 interceptions. With that kind of play, Revis has a great chance of making the Pro Bowl in his second season.

Now: Revis played very well in his second season and as the year went on, teams threw at him less and less. For the year he had 58 tackles and five interceptions. The Jets defense should be one of the best in the league this year so look for him to make his second trip to the Pro Bowl this year.

Hit or Miss: Hit

Johnathan Joseph Bengals:

What I said: In his second season, Joseph had 62 tackles and 4 interceptions. Joseph has the potential to be a very good corner as he has good size and excellent speed. As Leon Hall develops, look for Joseph to have an even bigger impact this year as he and Hall have the potential to be a great cornerback tandem in a couple years.

Now: Joseph only played eight games but would have set a career high in tackles as he had 42 in the games played. It's hard to have a breakout season when your not playing so look for Joseph to play better this year.

Hit or Miss: Miss

Cortland Finnegan Titans:

What I said: Finnegan was very impressive in his second season as he had 95 tackles along with one interception. He was very impressive as he shut down many of the leagues top receivers last year. Look for him to develop into one of the leagues top corners this year.

Now: Finnegan broke out in a big way last year as he was one of the defensive stars for a Titans team that was the talk of the regular season. Finnegan made his first trip to the Pro Bowl last year and it certainly won't be his last.

Hit or Miss: Hit


Safeties:

Antrel Rolle Cardinals:

What I said: Rolle may have had 5 interceptions last year, but lots of people around the league say he didn't have the mechanics to play corner. So Rolle now moves to safety where he and Adrian Wilson are both rangy play makers who will strike fear into opposing offenses.

Now: Rolle was an impact player at safety notching 89 tackles and one interception. This was only his first year at the position so look for him to improve over time as the Cardinals defense emerges as one of the best in the NFC.

Hit or Miss: Push

LaRon Landry Redskins:

What I said: Landry had a very good rookie year as he had 95 tackles and showed that he can be one of the best safties in the game. Look for him to have an even better second season as he will have more opportunities with the Redskins improved pass rush.

Now: Landry was productive in his second year with 65 tackles two forced fumbles and two interceptions. He should continue to get better and considering that he is in a big market, could make his first Pro Bowl in a year or two.

Hit or Miss: Push



Chris Harris Panthers:

What I said: Everyone around the league knows who Harris is the only reason he is on the list is because, the majority of fans don't. Harris last year had 95 tackles and forced an incredible 8 fumbles. He also had 1 interception. Look for him to have another great season this year and if he puts up those kind of numbers, he should be headed for the Pro Bowl.

Now: For some reason, Harris didn't play as well as he did in 2007. He wasn't terrible in 2008 recording 70 tackles along with two forced fumbles and an interception but I was expecting him to take the next step. It is hard to determine what Harris will do this season but it will most likely be something in between his 2007 and 2008 campaigns.
Hit or Miss: Miss