Category: Featured NFL

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Is LeSean McCoy Still Elite?

The addition of Ronnie Brown to the Eagle backfield leaves some interesting questions concerning LeSean McCoy’s fantasy value in standard leagues.

Analysis: LeSean McCoy is still being taken as the sixth back off the board in standard league mock drafts as if Ronnie Brown signed up for five carries a game. Ronnie Brown is a quality back who may get injured often but is still just twenty-nine years old. Brown has averaged 4.3 yards per carry for his career despite never having the threat of a passing attack in Miami. The 230 pound Brown will take away goal line carries from McCoy who only had nine total touchdowns of his own last year. McCoy as a top six back is questionable in standard leagues at this point when considering he barely hit 1,000 yards on the ground last year despite averaging an unsustainable 5.2 yards per carry. McCoy was on the end of 207 carries last year and if Brown stays healthy do not expect “Shady” to sniff 185 carries this year. In PPR leagues it may be a different story but in standard leagues McCoy cannot be relied upon for double digit touchdowns or 200 carries in the pass happy Philly offense. He’s still a RB1 but he certainly isn’t a top eight back in standard leagues anymore.

Improved Fantasy Defenses

With all the chaos of free agency a few solid NFL defenses look to be very good heading into the 2011 season.

Analysis: Whether your strategy is drafting one of the elite defenses(PIT/NYJ) or to stream all year depending on match ups, free agency has made things even more interesting. The addition of Albert Haynesworth alongside Vince Wilfork to a young and athletic New England defense may make them a top seven fantasy defense. Mayo, McCourty, Meriweather are all near elite defenders and Haynesworth just make take the Pats D to the next level. Consider they play Buffalo and Miami twice as well as Washington and Denver in the first round of the fantasy playoffs and you have a defense with much potential.

The New Orleans Saints’ signing of the 320 pound Aubrayo Franklin gives the Saints one of the most talented front four rotations in the NFL this year. Franklin will join Shaun Rogers and Sedrick Ellis in the interior of the Saints’ front four, making life easier for the weakest part of the Saints defense- their linebackers. The Saints may return to their 2009 form where they led the NFL in turnovers forced. At the worst they remain a second tier, top eight defense with the potential for elite production deep into a fantasy draft.

NFL: Free Agency can’t come soon enough

 

 

The NFL draft filled some clubs needs, but not all teams, and not all holes. Once the labor talks have ended, Free Agency will be fast and furious. To be eligible for unrestricted free agency, a player must have six years of playing experience.

Limited free agency in early March included San Diego signing safety Bob Sanders, Washington picking up safety O.J. Atogwe, the Panthers adding tight end Jeremy Shockey, New Orleans coming to terms with defensive lineman Shaun Rogers and the Patriots trying to fill the Richard Seymour vacancy from a year ago with his college teammate at Georgia, Marcus Stroud.

Many teams are in need of a quarterback and there’s not exactly a deep pool of signal callers. Teams like Washington, Miami, Buffalo, Seattle and Arizona failed to address the need in the draft.  Baltimore’s Marc Bulger, Houston’s Matt Leinart, Tennessee’s  Vince Young and Seattle’s’ Matt Hasselbeck are expected to garner the most interest. Veteran Redskins QB Donovan McNabb and Cincinnati’s Carson Palmer are not expected to return to their current teams and may end up being the most sought after. When all is said and done, it may resemble the movie Trading Places.

There is no shortage of running backs, with Miami’s duo of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, San Diego specialist Darren Sproles and Cincinnati workhorse Cedric Benson possibly on the move.

A real mixed bag at wide receiver led by veterans Terrell Owens, Steve Smith and Randy Moss. The younger set of former high draft picks; the Jets tandem of  Braylon Edwards and Santonio Holmes along with my favorite, Minnesota’s Sidney Rice. How about Plaxico Burress? Who will give the troubled former Giants star a second chance.

Three offensive tackles with a solid pedigree, Baltimore’s Jared Gaither, Washington’s Jamaal Brown and Matt Light of the Patriots will be heavily pursued as immediate starters.

The premiere defensive lineman in free agency is Green Bay end Cullen Jenkins. Those looking for linebackers will be taking a long look at Washington’s Rocky McIntosh and San Francisco veteran Takeo Spikes.

The most sought after free agency will undoubtedly be Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. The entire NFC East is said to be lining up to bid on Oakland’s shut down cover man. Other corners certain to attract interest include Washington’s Carlos Rogers and the Jets Antonio Cromartie.

Free Agency will not be limited to veterans. Clubs have had time to review and analyze top college talent that slipped through the draft. We will visit that another day.

NFL Draft Review: AFC West

 

 

The Denver Broncos landed Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller with the 2nd pick of the 1st round. Miller was without question the top linebacker in the draft, but may be smallish to play defensive end. As the Broncos move from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense, look for Miller at outside linebacker, perhaps at end on passing downs. Miller and Elvis Dumervil should help Denver improve on an NFL low 23 sacks a year ago. The Broncos picked up a pair of potential starters in the 2nd round in UCLA safety Rahim Moore and guard Orlando Franklin from the U. Moore fills a position of need and like Miller was the top player at his position in the draft. Franklin is 6’6″ 320 with versatility to play either inside or outside. Franklin may not have the athleticism to play tackle, but is expected to get a look at right tackle and left guard.

The Oakland Raiders brought in more quantity that quality, with six players capable of making a contribution. Penn State guard Stefen Wisnieski was considered a reach in the 2nd round but should start at either guard or center. Miami cornerback DeMarcus Van Dyke is a typical Oakland pick, more of a track athlete than football player. With Nnamdi Asomugha departing in free agency, corner is definitely a position of need. Ohio State corner Chimdi Chekwa is a man cover corner and was good value in the 4th round. LSU offensive tackle Joe Barksdale was a three-year starter and eventually projects as a bookend to left tackle Jared Veldheer. Oakland didn’t need a running back, but picked up small school start Taiwan Jones. Out of Eastern Washington, Jones has a blend of decent size and speed and should contribute on special teams as a rookie. Tennessee receiver Denarius Moore was very productive for the Vols and will run out of the slot.

Not an exciting draft for San Diego with a defensive tackle taken in the opening round. Illinois’ Corey Liguet figures to move outside in the Chargers 3-4 scheme, as they have a huge need at end. Clemson cornerback Marcus Gilchrist has versatility with the ability to cover slot receivers back at safety, early in his career. Home town start Vincent Brown put up excellent numbers at San Diego State and was good value given the Chargers uncertainty at wide out. Brown’s speed and size don’t jump out at you, but he runs excellent routes and should develop into a favorite of Philip Rivers. Connecticut running back Jordan Todman may turn out to be a steal in the 6th round. Todman doesn’t have the size to run between the tackles, but will be a nice spare to complement Ryan Matthews. Todman could also contribute on special teams.

The best draft in the AFC West, hands down, goes to the Kansas City Chiefs. Pittsburgh receiver Jonathan Baldwin has the chance to be as good as either A.J.Green or Julio Jones. Comparisons to Larry Fitzgerald are valid, at least potentially. Baldwin is 6’5″ 230, with a 42” vertical and excellent speed. KC should be able to count on he and Dwayne Bowe for years go come. Florida State’s Rodney Hudson was arguably the top interior offensive lineman in the draft. Hudson fills an area of need as the Chiefs are aging in the middle. Georgia’s Justin Houston was considered by some 1st round talent, so getting him in a 3rd round was a real coup.  Houston is huge, 6’3″ 270, with great athleticism and speed to rush on the edge. The Chiefs also picked up a pair of defensive line who should be in the rotation immediately Miami defensive end Allen Bailey and Jerrell Powe of Ole Miss are both very talented, and real value late in the draft. The Chiefs picked up their developmental quarterback getting  Iowa’s Ricky Stanzi in the 5th round.

NFL Draft Review: AFC South

 

 

Our review of the AFC South begins in Jacksonville, where the Jaguars identified the future face of their franchise and made a move to get him.  The Jags making a move for Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert. With David Garrard still on board, Gabbert will have the luxury of watching and learning without having to be force-fed. Gabbert will also benefit with a Pro Bowl running back along side and a serviceable offensive line. Lehigh guard Will Rackley, the Jags 3rd round pick, has versatility to play anywhere along the line. Jacksonville stayed small school in the 4th round with Mount Union wide receiver Cecil Shorts. A real area of need, Shorts will not only compete for a starting job at receiver, he is reliable on special teams.

The Houston Texans were pretty much guaranteed to be looking corner in the 1st round, but surprised many by taking Wisconsin defensive lineman J.J.Watt. The Texans like Watt so much they are exploring a move of All Pro defensive end Mario Williams from end to outside linebacker. Pass rush was the focus atop the draft with Arizona edge rusher Brooks Reed the selection in round two. An end in college, Reed projects as an OLB in the Texans new 3-4 alignment. Houston did get its cover corner, but waited until round two to do so, landing Miami’s Brandon Harris. Houston with great value and another corner in round 4 with Rashad Carmichael from Virginia Tech. A developmental quarterback in North Carolina’s T.J.Yates came in round five.

As Peyton Manning continues to age, it becomes more and more important for the Indianapolis Colts to provide excellent protection up front. Massive offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo, 6’7″ 315, comes via Boston College and will eventually be tasked with protecting Manning’s blind side. In the 2nd round, the Colts stayed with big uglies getting Villanova lineman Ben Ijalana. Ijalana has the versatility to play inside or outside. Indy with an absolute steal in the 3rd round, getting LSU defensive tackle Drake Nevis. Nevis is an ideal fit for the Colts one gap scheme. Nevis’ interior penetration reminds me of Nick Fairley lite. In the 4th round, the Colts added another running back to a very crowded, competitive situation. Delone Carter from Syracuse is a load at 5’9 225 pounds.

The biggest surprise of the first round was the Titans selection of Washington quarterback Jake Locker. It was no surprise that Tennessee selected a quarterback, just that Locker was selected with Gabbert still on the board. The Titans bolstered their defense in the 2nd and 3rd rounds with UCLA linebacker Akeem Ayers and  USC defensive tackle Jurrell Casey. It would have come to no surprise had both been selected much higher in the draft. Tennessee focused on selected productive players at big time programs, Miami linebacker Colin McCarthy, Clemson fullback Jamie Harper and Auburn defensive lineman Zach Clayton all fit the bill.

We wrap up our previews tomorrow with a look at the AFC West