Fbkid's Week 5 Fantasy Studs

Last week wasn't a great one for my fantasy studs as only Mike Sims-Walker and the Bengals defense had a real impact. With that being said, I want to remind everyone that I won't be stating the obvious players in this column, but rather guys who have favorable matchups and players who you can find on the waiver wire. Here are my week five fantasy studs.

QB: Matt Cassel vs Cowboys: Cassel hasn't done as well as many would have thought but that is mainly due to the lack of supporting cast he has. This week he goes up against the Cowboys who have one of the worst pass defenses in the league and the Chiefs will be playing from behind. Expect around 240 yards and two touchdowns.

RB: Tim Hightower vs Texans: The Texans run defense has been terrible so far this season and now they go against Hightower who is a solid receiver and is a goalline threat. Expect around 100 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Sidney Rice vs Rams: Rice is starting to become one of Brett Favre's favorite targets and is showing the talent that led so many people to predict a breakout season last year. Now he goes up against a Rams defense that has allowed seven touchdowns and Rice's size makes him a very good red zone threat. Expect around 70 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Brandon Pettigrew vs Steelers: Pettigrew is becoming more involved in the offense each week and without Troy Polamalu, the middle of the field will be open. Look for Daunte Culpepper to find Pettigrew early and often. Expect around 60 yards and a touchdown.

K: Lawrence Tynes vs Raiders: The Giants offense has been explosive so far this season and against a struggling Raiders defense he should get his fair share of opportunities. Expect around two field goals and three extra points.

Def: Eagles vs Buccaneers: The Bucs offense really struggled last week and with an inexperienced quarterback in Josh Johnson starting, the Eagles will blitz him early and often which should lead to turnovers. Expect around 3 sacks, two interceptions and a fumble recovery.

Fbkid's Week 5 Predictions

A quarter through the season, only five undefeated teams remain. On the opposite side of the spectrum, it is hard to remember a year where so many teams were this bad out of the gate. There are six winless teams and an additional six only have one win. If you are in a survivor pool, there is a very good chance that their will be multiple winners at the end of the year. That is because there are at least six teams you can pick against each week and feel fairly confident. Here are my week five predictions.

Game of the weak: Browns vs Bills: Both of these teams have been disfunctional so far this year and it could be a very sloppy game.

Game of the week: Bengals vs Ravens: Most people would go with the Patriots Broncos game here, but this game is a rivalry. Two teams that don't like each other very much fighting for first place in the division. As hard as it is to believe considering the Ravens are involved, this could end up being a high scoring game as well.

Last week: 10-4
Season: 44-18

Bengals 21 Ravens 27
Browns 16 Bills 20
Redskins 17 Panthers 23
Steelers 35 Lions 23
Cowboys 27 Chiefs 17
Raiders 10 Giants 28
Bucs 14 Eagles 35
Vikings 31 Rams 13
Falcons 20 49ers 24
Texans 27 Cardinals 34
Patriots 23 Broncos 17
Jaguars 21 Seahawks 17
Colts 31 Titans 20
Jets 17 Dolphins 20

Fbkid's Week 4 Extra Points

With ¼ of the season on the books we’ve seen some surprising developments begin to emerge. Here are my week 4 extra points.

Before the year started, I thought Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels was in way over his head and the Broncos would have a miserable year. Instead, they are perfect through week four and after their win against the Cowboys I’m starting to believe. If McDaniels can lead the team to a victory over his mentor Bill Belichick and the Patriots, I'm sold.

It's hard to believe but the Saints won with defense last week against the Jets. Unlike last year in Jacksonville, Gregg Williams has the right personnel in place for his system and the unit is improving every week.

On another note regarding the Saints, many people feel that Drew Brees is the first quarter MVP, but his stats aren't nearly as impressive as they may seem. Take away his amazing 358 yards six touchdown week 1 game against the Lions and for the remaining three games he has a mere 700 yards passing and three touchdowns. His fantasy owners may be a little worried, but Brees is winning games for the Saints and in the league that's all that matters.

The other week I mentioned that Darrelle Revis could be the most underrated player in the league. Another candidate is Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield. An elite corner for quite some time; he’s now distinguished himself as a run-stopper. Winfield showed all the qualities that make him great against the Packers as he had ten tackles and an interception.

In my preseason predictions, I thought that the Packers could make a deep run in the NFC. They have lots of talent but their offensive line is a huge concern. Aaron Rodgers got a good look at the Metrodome roof as he was on his back almost the entire game. Jared Allen alone had 4.5 sacks. Keep in mind I said something similar about the Steelers last year and look how that turned out. The critical difference will turn out to be the Packers less-than-stout defense.

Braylon Edwards was traded to the Jets yesterday in what should be a good deal for all concerned. Edwards went to Honolulu in 2007 but due to inconsistent quarterback play and drops, he hasn't been the same since. Now he has a fresh start with rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez along with other targets in the passing game such as Jericho Cotchery and Dustin Keller.

This trade worked out well for the Browns too. They acquired two players who Eric Mangini is familiar with along with two draft picks. In so doing they rid themselves of a player that was losing support in the locker room and the community. Derek Anderson's number one target now should be Mohamed Massaquoi who he connected with last week for eight catches and 148 yards.

The Michael Crabtree holdout saga has finally come to an end, but don't expect him to make a huge contribution this rookie season. Crabtree still has to learn the playbook and has to form a connection with quarterback Shaun Hill. Considering the 49ers have a bye week six, look for Crabtree to make his NFL debut the following week against the Texans.


Last but not least, a personal highlight for me occurred this past weekend at the Jaguars Titans game as I had the chance to meet Michael Lombardi before the game. I am a very big fan of his column on National Football Post and his work on NFL Network. He is one of the most knowledgeable football men out there and I learn more every time I read his work. I really appreciate that he took a few minutes out of his day to talk to me and provide encouragement.

Fbkid's Week 4 Fantasy Studs

Last week wasn't a very good one for my fantasy studs as all in all they didn't put up the numbers I expected. This is a key week for fantasy owners as it is the first week where teams are on bye so it is more important then ever to pay attention to your roster. Here are my week four fantasy studs.

QB: Mark Sanchez vs Saints: Sanchez has been excellent for the Jets through three games so far but his fantasy numbers haven't been great. The Saints should still be able to put up points against a tough Jets defense so Sanchez will need to throw the ball more then he has been. Expect around 240 yards and two touchdowns.

RB: Glenn Coffee vs Rams: Coffee was a hot fantasy pickup this week and his owners should get an immediate payoff against a poor Rams defense. Coffee was very good in the preseason and if that was any indication, it could be a long day. Expect around 130 total yards and a touchdown.

WR: Mike Sims-Walker vs Titans: Sims-Walker has been one of the biggest fantasy surprises so far but if it wasn't for injuries, the surprise would have ended by the end of last year. He is emerging as David Garrard's favorite target and against a poor Titans pass defense that will be missing Cortland Finnegan, Sims-Walker should have a big day. Expect around 90 yards and a touchdown.

TE: Anthony Fasano vs Bills: Fasano became a decent option for fantasy owners last year but has really struggled so far. This is Chad Henne's first career start and considering that the Dolphins receiving corps isn't that strong, Fasano should be his safety net. Expect around 60 yards and a touchdown.

K: Joe Nedney vs Rams: Nedney has been productive so far this season and that should continue against a weak Rams defense. Expect around 2 field goals and three extra points.

Def: Bengals vs Browns: The Bengals might have the most underrated defense and the league and could have a very big game against a Browns offense that is in complete disarray. Expect around 4 sacks and two interceptions.

Fbkid's Week 4 Predictions

Last week was another good one for picks as I went 12-4 and predicted big wins for both the Bengals and Lions. The real contenders are starting to establish themselves and it should be interesting to see what happens this week as their are some great matchups. Here are my week four predictions.

Game of the weak: Buccaneers vs Redskins: The Bucs are coming off a game where they had less then 100 yards total offense and the Redskins lost to a team who had lost the previous 19 games. This one could be ugly.

Game of the week: Packers vs Vikings: A Packers fan's worst nightmare is finally here. Favre playing in a Vikings uniform against them. This game isn't only here for that factor, but the winner is the leader in a competitive NFC North.

Last week: 12-4
Season: 34-14

Lions 14 Bears 21
Bengals 26 Browns 10
Raiders 17 Texans 27
Seahawks 16 Colts 28
Titans 23 Jaguars 17
Giants 24 Chiefs 13
Ravens 20 Patriots 24
Bucs 13 Redskins 17
Bills 20 Dolphins 14
Jets 20 Saints 26
Cowboys 23 Broncos 16
Rams 10 49ers 26
Chargers 17 Steelers 23
Packers 23 Vikings 27

Fbkid's Week 3 Extra Points

This past week was very entertaining with last second wins, upsets and many close games. Here are my thoughts on the past weeks games.

Congratulations go out to the Detroit Lions for winning their first game after 19 straight losses. Matthew Stafford played his best game of his very young career and the defense played well. Jim Schwartz has this team headed in the right direction.

On the other hand, the Redskins are in trouble. They are struggling on the defensive side of the ball and allowed two 90 plus yard scoring drives to the Lions. The offense has also been inconsistent so far this season and to say the least Jim Zorn will be on a short leash the rest of the season.

Byron Leftwich has been replaced as the Buccaneers starting quarterback by last year's 5th round pick Josh Johnson. While many people were expecting to see this year's 1st rounder Josh Freeman, this was a good move. While nobody doubted Leftwich's ability to throw the ball, Johnson unlike Leftwich is very mobile outside the pocket and can make things out of broken plays. The Bucs now get to see Johnson against a first team defense and will now be able to decide if he should be a part of the team as they are rebuilding. I was very high on Johnson coming out of San Diego last year so it will be interesting to see how he does.

While many people are crediting Carson Palmer for the Bengals early season success, one player to throw into the mix is Cedric Benson. Benson who was considered a major bust, is now third in the league and rushing yards and has provided the Bengals a solid rushing attack to go with their explosive passing game.

I know coach of the year is usually reserved for head coaches, but one guy who really deserves to be considered up to this point is Broncos defensive coordinator Mike Nolan. He has turned around a unit that was one of the worst in the league last year and through three games is allowing less then 10 points per game. Granted, they haven't played very tough opponents but regardless the turnaround Nolan has orchistrated is very impressive.

I would also like to say congratulations to Steelers rookie receiver Mike Wallace. This past sunday he had his first career 100 yard game and as some of you know he was my first ever player interview. He has all but locked up the role of being the Steelers number three receiver and it is impressive that he is already having such a big impact only three games into the season.

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.