Archive for the ‘Predicting’ Category

Shane Vereen could be the next Danny Woodhead

Posted by Sean Tomlinson under New England Patriots, Predicting on May 14, 2013

shane-vereen2

No, he’s not a real-life Benjamin Button too, although it’s possible. We’ll await confirmation.

The Patriots like to pass the football a fair bit. You may have noticed this, and it’s a product of their quarterback being named Tom Brady. While no one was near Matthew Stafford in pass attempts during the 2012 season because the concept of running was entirely foreign to the Lions (he finished with 727 attempts), Brady was one of only three other quarterbacks to attempt at least 630 passes (he finished at 637).

That means anyone in the Patriots’ offense who gets targeted with any degree of frequency will have some fantasy value. Clearly on the high end of that right now are Danny Amendola, and the fearsome tight end duo of Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. But there’s value to be had further down both the Patriots’ depth chart, and your draft board.

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Can Titus Young be productive in St. Louis?

Posted by Sean Tomlinson under Predicting on Feb 05, 2013

Let’s forget about the fact that Titus Young has the personality of a freshly sharpened ice pick for a second, and just assume that he behaves in St. Louis, his new football home after the Rams claimed him off waivers earlier this afternoon. I know, this exercise is going to require some serious imagination skills. Summon your inner Reading Raindow child.

Will we reach a time early next fall when he provides quality fantasy waiver wire value, just as he did for a brief time this year (201 receiving yards between weeks seven and nine, with two touchdowns)?

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Sunday Decision: Don’t start Ahmad Bradshaw

Posted by Sean Tomlinson under Ahmad Bradshaw, Predicting on Dec 23, 2012

I’m writing these words with the full knowledge that they could blow up all over my face. I mean that literally, too. Around 4:30 p.m. ET this afternoon when Ahmad Bradshaw already has like 42 yards on six carries in just the first quarter of the Giants’ game against the Ravens, the words here will attack in tornado formation (you know, sort of those wild and super cray tornado fish) and beat me down. This happens every Sunday. Don’t worry, I’ll be fine.

I don’t own Bradshaw on any of my teams, but as I often do while dissecting fantasy questions and strategy, I tried to insert myself into the mind of a Bradshaw owner during this fateful hour or so before today’s 11 early games kick off. It’s a dark and scary place where dreams go to die.

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Follow Sam Bradford to your fantasy championship

Posted by Oliver Macklem under Marshawn Lynch, Matthew Stafford, Predicting, Sam Bradford on Dec 19, 2012

To win your fantasy league, you’re going to have to make some aggressive decisions. One or two points could be the difference between a first-place cash prize and a money-back second place finish. If you honestly believe Brandon Weeden will put up more points than Peyton Manning, you should absolutely start Weeden. You should also quit fantasy forever.

This week, I’m giving one first overall draft pick the red light to stay on your bench, while another first overall pick gets the green light to be started in all formats. We also examine the “problem” facing Marshawn Lynch this Sunday – otherwise known as the 49ers. Read the rest of this entry »

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T.Y. Hilton vs. Torrey Smith…who ya got?

Posted by Sean Tomlinson under Predicting on Dec 16, 2012

Last minute fantasy decisions usually lead to the mass consumption of Advil, and in the festive season, perhaps even chocolate brandy beans (hey, it’s noon on the east coast, so drink it in ya’ll). Thankfully, we’re here to help and/or confuse.

Just as we did last week when we debated your noontime difficult roster decision between Pierre Garcon and Josh Gordon rapid fire stylez, this week we’ll do the same with another set of booming and busting wideouts: Torrey Smith and T.Y. Hilton.

At first glance this may not seem like a tough decision, but then remember that our gaggle of fantasy ranking experts slotted Hilton and Smith right next to each other this week, with Hilton ranked 28th, and Smith at 30th.

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Sunday Decision: Don’t worry about Kaepernick in his matchup against the hoody

Posted by Sean Tomlinson under Colin Kaepernick, Predicting on Dec 16, 2012

When Bill Belichick stares deep into the soul of a young quarterback, he often extracts the very core of his enemy’s being. He starts with his subject’s nervous system, making him crumble on command. He focuses hard, closing his eyes and imagining that time he lost in Red Rover as a child. He calls this the pray mantis technique, and it usually works on standard, less nimble young arms (see: Andrew Luck and Jake Locker earlier this year).

But he has a nemesis, because every villain does. It is the leggy, long-striding and powerful quarterback. He who runs, or even gallops.

Colin Kaepernick is Belichick’s Bane today. So set aside whatever apprehension you may have with a rookie QB playing in a major primetime game with playoff implications, and start him. If the Patriots’ recent history against running quarterbacks repeats itself, this could be a highly profitable day.

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Matchup Mining: Brandon Weeden seeks to cure your RG3 replacement desperation

Posted by Sean Tomlinson under Predicting on Dec 14, 2012

Yep, Brandon Weeden. It’s all happening.

Together we — the fantasy football community — are about to face the toughest decision of our lives Sunday. Tougher than the decision to, say, get married, and tougher than the decision to move out of your parents’ place and take on the responsibility of dressing yourself every day.

Do you start a likely hobbled Robert Griffin III Sunday, or do you play with fire first, and then let fire win while going with a more conservative option? I’m still leaning heavily towards the former, because despite his minimal practice time this week, if the Redskins are confident enough to put their playoff fate in Griffin’s hands then you should be too. Griffin at 75 or so percent is a better fantasy option than at least half the league, and therefore he’ll definitely be a more attractive option than most of the potential backup QBs on your bench.

But what if he doesn’t play? In the second playoff edition of our matchup mining we found an appealing desperate replacement who will be on the same field.

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