Matt Mullin, Sports Editor
On Thursday I gave you some bargains and busts this weekend, mainly geared towards FanDuel leagues.
Yesterday, I had some advice on who to start and who to sit.
However, the one thing that can guarantee you a win is having a "difference maker" on your roster. By that, I mean a guy who will have a huge game, making it nearly impossible for your opponent to over come. Last year, we saw those kind of performances from Arian Foster, Mike Vick, and Darren McFadden, among others.
Here is a look at some players who have that potential in Week 1:
Darren McFadden (RB - OAK): McFadden's ability to be a difference maker was never more evident in 2010 than when the young running back out of Arkansas played the Broncos at Mile High. He racked up three rushing touchdowns to go with his 165 yards. He also had 31 receiving yards and a touchdown. And that was only one game. When he played the Broncos the second time around, he added another 119 yards on the ground and 39 in the air, but was unable to find the endzone. That's a total of four touchdowns and 354 yards in two games. That's how you get onto my list of difference makers.
Philip Rivers (QB - SD): Last season, Rivers had 18 of his 30 touchdowns at home. He also thew at 70% completion percentage and posted a 110.5 quarterback rating at Qualcomm Stadium. Whenever two teams from opposing conferences square off, I tend to give the advantage to the offense, especially when a guy like Rivers is running it. The Vikings defense doesn't impress me. Look for Rivers to have a big game Sunday.
Matt Mullin, Sports Editor
Earlier, I introduced you to the Fantasy Football Diary, but now it's time to get down to business.
Sunday is rapidly approaching, and no matter how confident you are in your drafting abilities, you will inevitably face a tough coaching decision right out of the gate. Mainly because there is so much unproven potential out there, and partially because you have to decide whether guys like Jamaal Charles were just a flash in the pan, setting your lineup for Week 1 is almost always the most difficult.
Here is a look at 10 players on the bubble, and whether or not you should start them this weekend:
Arian Foster (RB - HOU): If you have a solid running back on your bench, you should probably give him the start over Foster. If Ben Tate and/or Derrick Ward are available in your league, pick one (or both) up. While I was in the middle of writing this, John Clayton of ESPN tweeted that Foster missed practice again today, and Ward will get the start if Foster can't go tomorrow. Things are not looking good for Foster owners. VERDICT: SIT
Kevin Kolb (QB - ARI): Now, if Kolb was a free agent in my league...well, he wouldn't be - I'd own him. He has Larry Fitzgerald as a key target, and he's playing the Panthers. What's not to like here? I think Kolb could put up some big numbers this weekend. VERDICT: START
Steve Smith (WR - PHI): Smith said after practice today that he will play Week 1 for the Eagles. For a guy most wrote off as a PUP player for the first half of the season, Smith could be ready to make an impact. I'm not ready to commit to him for this week, but as an owner who drafted him late, I'm as happy as anyone (except maybe Michael Vick) to see Smith make an early return. VERDICT: SIT
Matt Mullin, Sports Editor
Last night marked the return of meaningful NFL football with a stellar, down-to-the-wire opener between the Packers and Saints.
Not only was this an excellent game, but it also displayed the fantasy excellence of Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers. Both quarterback threw for three touchdowns, zero interceptions, and 300+ yards.
Disclaimer: I didn't stay up for the end, since I had to be in work early, but if that game didn't get you excited for football, I don't know what will.
Something I wanted to start this season was a league in which I played against you guys, the readers. It would give me, and you, a chance to test my skills. Most importantly, I wanted the players to contribute to my blog offering some advice and tips.
I don't think there is any such thing as a fantasy football "expert." Sure, that term gets thrown around a lot, but it usually refers to someone who knows a lot about the game, players' stats, etc. I just like to say that "I know what I'm talking about," but there is more than one right way to build a winning team.
Therefore, each week I am going to give my opponent a chance to offer his strategy, advice, whatever. This way, you get more than just one man's humble opinion about who to start and who to sit. First up is my Week 1 opponent, Feather Nutz. I hold a slim 4-0 lead over him after last night's action. Here is more on him and his strategy:
Matt Mullin, Sports Editor
Tonight marks the return of real NFL football, as well as fantasy football.
Although there is only one game being played tonight, there are a ton of impact fantasy players involved. As I wrote about a week or so ago, the Saints and Packers were the two teams with the most players selected in both of my leagues.
That being said, it seems appropriate that this game would kick off fantasy football as well.
For those of you that have already signed up for, or would like to sign up for, FanDuel's free $300 Beat-the-Expert game, make sure to get your picks in before kickoff tonight.
The rules are simple: Select a team of nine players (QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, TE, K, D), where each player is worth a predetermined amount of money. But make sure to keep your roster under the $60,000 salary cap. Once your picks are submitted, you will play against me and everyone else who signed up. The top 20 finishers will win cash. An additional $5 will be awarded to everyone who finishes above me.
For example, if I finish in 50th place, everyone who finished 49th and higher will receive $5, and those who placed in the top 20 will receive that $5 on top of whatever other money they won.
Matt Mullin, Sports Editor
As I sit here watching my beloved 'Canes take on Maryland (a school I nearly attended), I can't help but be upset at the fact that summer is all but over.
While that means the end of sitting on the beach, the end of the Phillies, and the end of wearing white, it also means the beginning of football.
The beginning of football means my life is about to get extremely busy.
I just wanted to take a second to let you know that I will be on RotoExperts tomorrow on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87) around 8:30 a.m. to talk fantasy draft, rankings, etc.
If you have a new car that still has a Sirius/XM subscription, or you still have one from when Howard Stern sold out, stop by and check it out.
We'll be talking rankings, draft strategies, and about the Fantasy Island Football League (the league in which I take on my readers).
Matt Mullin, Sports Editor
I have been obsessing over the fact the Tom Brady went second in my one league and 24th in the other.
Frank Gore went 11th in one and 26th in the other. Tony Romo went 37th in one and 54th in the other. And how about Knowshon Moreno? He went 24th in one...61st (!!!) in the other. But nothing stood out quite like Brady. From a top-two pick to the brink of the third round?
Then I started to wonder if one was too high, or was the other two low. Could they be both at the same time? Madness!
This led me to question who has more value at the top of the draft, running backs or quarterbacks. Based on the point projections I spell out below, a quarterback will yield you more point over the course of a season.
That doesn't mean they're more valuable. Makes sense, right?
Let's examine:
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Matt Mullin is a sports producer at philly.com. You can reach him by e-mail at mmullin@philly.com. Follow Matt on Twitter: @matt_mullin
Matt Mullin, Sports Editor
Yesterday, I posted on my Fantasy Island Football League draft, which took place on Tuesday night.
Today, I decided to take a look at some of the numbers behind the numbers of my two fantasy drafts this week. One league has 14 teams and the other has 12, so that will skew the results slightly, but the effect is the same.
Each draft is unique, but there are some themes that run consistent throughout. One of those things is where players are taken from. What team's players are the most popular? How does that correlate to a team's success?
It shouldn't surprise you that the teams with the most players were the Packers, Saints, Eagles, and Patriots. However there are plenty of shocking numbers, such as this: The Chargers and the LIONS had the same number of players taken.
Take a look for yourself...
Players taken, including kickers and defense, by team/division/conference:
| Philly.com* | Fantasy Island | |
Matt Mullin, Sports Editor
Adrian Peterson was the first pick in the Fantasy Island Football League. (AP File Photo/Seth Perlman)
Before I get into today's post, let me get some business out of the way first: - Don't forget to sign up for next week's free game on FanDuel. There is $300 in guaranteed prize money, plus a bonus if you can beat my score. And like I said, it's FREE to join. - You can also sign up for a chance to win a grand prize of $75,000 playing fantasy baseball. That's right, $75K, plus tons of other payouts (over $200,000) in FanDuel's Fantasy Football Championship. - Don't forget about fantasy baseball. There's still time to play, and you can actually still earn a seat in FanDuel's Daily Fantasy Baseball Championship, with a chance to play for $25,000. - Finally, I will be on The Broad Street Line podcast tonight at 7 pm with Kris Domingo and Roy Burton. We'll talk fantasy sports, from rankings to the impact of Peyton Manning's, Arian Foster's, and Jeremy Maclin's injuries. Now on to the good stuff.... Matt Mullin, Sports EditorOur friends over at Crashburn Alley put together a great chart showing Raul Ibanez's OPS month-by-month for the last two season. For a guy who has been as inconsistent has Ibanez, the numbers are shockingly consistent. Take a look:
A lot of you may be looking for a player to help you make that run at the title in yourr fantasy league. Using this graph as a guide, it looks like Ibanez could be the guy to do that (He is only owned in 40% of Yahoo! leagues). The only problem I see with that: John Mayberry Jr. He's been hot. All he does is get extra-base hits. Charlie Manuel seems to really like him. Ibanez could see his starts against lefties begin to disappear if Mayberry continues to rake.
About this blog
From football to baseball, Fantasy Island is your stop for all things fantasy, with a Philly spin.
Reach Matt at mmullin@philly.com.
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