Sports Video Blog: Fantasy Draft 1

By Dan Rodgers

This video is of my first fantasy draft of the year which took place last night. We're using FoxSports.com and the breakdown and my roster are as follows:

Starters: 2 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 2TE 1 K, 2 DEF Bench 10 any position

Keeper 1: Andre Johnson, Hou
Keeper 2: Arian Foster, Hou
Keeper 3: Rashard Mendenhall, Pit
Round 1: Mike Wallace, Pit
Round 2: Ben Roethlisberger,Pit
Round 3: Vernon Davis, San Fran
Round 4: Dez Bryant, Dal
Round 5: Dustin Keller, NYJ
Round 6: Mark Sanchez, NYJ
Round 7: Detroit Defense
Round 8: Atlanta Defense
Round 9: DeAngelo Williams, Car
Round 10: Sidney Rice, Sea
Round 11: Heath Miller, Pit
Round 12: Hines Ward, Pit
Round 13: San Francisco Defense
Round 14: Alex Smith, San Fran
Round 15: Matt Bryant, Atl
Round 16: Ryan Grant, GB
Round 17: Visanthe Shiancoe, Min
Round 18: DeMarco Murray, Dal
Round 19: Jake Locker, Ten



I'll be posting other drafts I have later on as they come up, so let me know what you think and if there is someone else I should target, etc.

Rodgers That

Saturday Quickie

By Dan Rodgers

I got food poisoning two nights ago and I have to go to work in six minutes, so here we go:

I am going to make a bold prediction and say that both road underdogs are going to pull upsets today. The Ravens and Steelers always play close ones and today is when they turn the corner against Pittsburgh. Look for them to try to contain Mike Wallace from burning them, but I expect Wallace to have a decent game. If they can contain Mendenhall and tackle Big Ben when they first get their hands on them, they should be fine. Baltimore can ill-afford missed tackles against this team.

My Prediction: Ravens (+3) 16 Steelers 14


The Packers played the Falcons close in their regular season contest losing by a field goal. Green Bay did have plenty of opportunities and Aaron Rodgers will capitalize on them today. Rodgers is just a better QB than Matty Ice, and it will show today. I look for Clay Matthews to have a beast game coming off of the edge. Espect James Starks to have a big contribution today as well, similar to what he did against Philly. Atlanta continues to disappoint in the playoffs as Green Bay shuts down Michael Turner and forces Ryan to beat them. It's not going to happen.

My Prediction: Packers (+2.5) 27 Falcons 21

Enjoy day one of the NFL Divisional Round.

Rodgers That

Powerhouse matchup

By Dan Rodgers

So the game tonight is between two AFC powerhouse teams, Pittsburgh and New England.

This game for a share of the best record in the AFC, 7-2 would tie whoever wins with the New York Jets.

The Pats really need a win to stay pace with the Jets because they already lost the first matchup between the two teams. This game would put Pittsburgh ahead by one game in the AFC North because the Ravens lost on Thursday to Atlanta.

It will be interesting how New England approaches this game defensively after getting man-handled by Cleveland last week. They couldn't stop Peyton Hillis (over 180 yards), and they face another dangerous back this week in Rashard Mendenhall. Mendenhall could have a huge night if the Pats don't key in on him, but if they do it should open up passing lanes for Big Ben against their suspect secondary.

NOTE: Apparently Mendenhall is hurt, which I didn't know...he will have limited carries so it' up to Moore to do work tonight...not a good start though

I see the Pats fighting until the end because of their offense, and Tom Brady will be in "F-U mode*" after being held to 14 points last week against the Browns. However, Pittsburgh has a good defense and should being able to get a few stops.

I'm not sure whether Pittsburgh covers the spread, but I think they'll win at home.

My Prediction: Steelers (-4.5) 26 Pats 20

Rodgers That

Fantasy Football, crazy first week

By Dan Rodgers

So, I never told you how my primary fantasy team did in week one. It was a controversial, yet victorious start for my bunch.

As you probably know, Matt Schaub didn't play too much a factor in the Texans game. He only got me about eight points, however, Texans starting RB Arian Foster racked up over 230 rushing yards and three touchdowns. By the way, that was over 50 points sitting on my bench (I know, shoot me now? just wait...)

Jay Cutler did exactly what I expected by throwing for just over 370 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. My bench quarterback, Josh Freeman, did get 20 points, so I have to feel good about that.

Rashard Mendenhall also had about 20 points because of a 50-yard game-winning touchdown run in overtime, but hey, I'll take whatever I can get. I already told you Foster was on my bench, as was Shonn Green and C.J. Spiller (thank gosh). That means that Reggie Bush was starting. I know what you're thinking, but he was projected to do well, and he is a great receiving threat (whatever).

My receivers played like crap considering Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald and Devin Hester combined for only 18.8 points. I had Hakeem Nicks on my bench (27.5 points), but it's because I have Cutler starting and I wanted the combo. Cutler threw for a ton of yards like I said, but never threw to Hester.

Tightends, Jason Witten and Greg Olsen, had a combined 7.9 points. Cooley was on the bench because of Olsen, but once again, Cutler didn't throw to him!

Mason Crosby was a huge factor with two FGs over 40 yards and three extra points.

49ers defense was pathetic as they got destroyed by a pedestrian Seahawks offense, and Jets defense is what won it for me (1 INT, 10 points, 2 recoveries, 2 sacks).

The final score was: Me - 120.6 Opponent - 120.2

I snuck away with this one, as he had Jahvid Best and Steve Breaston on his bench. Next week I will have to look deeper into my matchups and take some advice from the "experts". Hopefully, it won't be so close.

Please make any suggestions about my team, players to add/drop, or players to start etc...

Rodgers That

Fantasy Football...is there anything better?

By Dan Rodgers

Besides my birthday, Fantasy Football could be the best time of the year (March Madness is up there also). As the season is only a few days away, most people have their teams drafted, and look to see who has the best match-ups in the first week.

I figured I would post on here my team, well the most important one that I drafted, and you all could either get jealous or tell me how stupid I am. I will put them down as follows, but a few things to remember: this is a PPR league, three player keeper, and I had the seventh of eight picks in the draft.

QB: Matt Schaub - Keeper from last season. He lit it up with Andre the Giant, leading the league in passing yards in 2009.

QB: Jay Cutler - Mid-round pick, has a lot of potential. Mike Martz is his O-Coordinator, so I expect decent stats.

RB: Rashard Mendenhall - First round pick (seventh overall) of draft (remember, kept three guys). Got him more for value than because I really wanted him.

RB: Shonn Greene - Second round pick, has a lot of upside considering the Jets run the ball more than anyone in the NFL (607 times last year).

WR: Andre Johnson - Keeper from last season. Best rated receiver in the league, combo with Schaub, need I say more?

WR: Larry Fitzgerald - Keeper from last season. No one was more pissed off about Kurt Warner retiring than me. Fitz loses some value, but great receivers find the way to get the ball. Hopefully, he'll prove how great he is with Derek Anderson at the helm.

WR: Devin Hester - This is where it gets fishy for me. Hester has the combo with Cutler, and a great matchup against Detroit in week one. My third receiver spot will be a week-to-week thing.

TE: Jason Witten - PPR makes Witten valuable. He is a great redzone target and should definitely have better stats than he did last year.

TE: Greg Olsen - Another combo with Cutler. I'm worried because Martz doesn't typically utilize the tightend in his system, but Olsen is one of the better pass-catchers on the Bears. Second tightend will also be looked at on a week-to-week basis.

K: Mason Crosby - The Packers score a lot. Mason Crosby will get an XP when they score a TD and he's got a hell of a leg to knock down the long FGs.

DEF: NYJ - The best defense in the NFL last year looks much improved (if Revis plays). Plus, it lets me root for my Jets.

DEF: San Fran - This is my "sleeper" defense. While big names were going off the board, I snagged them fairly late and I look for them to have a good year behind defensive-minded Mike Singletary.

BENCH:

QB: Josh Freeman - One of the "Draft Day Hail Mary's" in my fantasy magazine.
QB: Jason Campbell - Some say Oakland was the change he needed...haha.
RB: Arian Foster - Starting back in the Texans high-powered offense.
RB: C.J. Spiller - Electric rookie, worth a chance.
RB: Reggie Bush - See Spiller, take out rookie.
WR: Hakeem Nicks - Great size and strength, could emerge as Eli's #1 target.
TE: Chris Cooley - Still a top TE, McNabb loves to throw to his TE
DEF: Washington - My sleeper defense...

NFL Week 10: The Down and The Dirty

By Dan Rodgers

My sincerest apologies for this delayed post. However, it is going to published before the start of the Thursday game coming up: Miami @ Carolina

NFL Week Ten

“The Down”

Most football fans saw something this past Thursday night that we might not see ever again. Jay Cutler threw five interceptions. You might be asking why this is special? The reason it is special is because his five interceptions made it three consecutive weeks that a quarterback has thrown five picks. He did throw for just over 300 yards and the Bears actually did have an opportunity to win the game at the end. But, what do you know, that was when Cutler threw his fifth, final and game-ending interception.

Honorable Mentions:

QB Brady Quinn (CLE) – 13 of 31 for 99 yards and 2 INTs

WR Santana Moss (WAS) – 2 for 8 yards

RB Laurence Maroney (NE) – 10 for 31 yards 1 TD 1 FUM

RB Rashard Mendenhall (PIT) – 13 for 36 yards

“The Dirty”

This week’s “The Dirty” might be a little controversial if you look at the honorable mentions; however, it seems to me that the situation was enough to help the stats. Reggie Wayne had 10 receptions for 126 yards and 2 touchdowns. The reason he is the winner ahead of Moss is because Wayne’s second touchdown came with thirteen seconds left in the game. He dove to make the catch and there was a ton of contact between him and the defensive back. The game winning touchdown combined with stellar enough stats was enough for propel Wayne ahead of the players you see below.

Honorable Mentions:

RB Chris Johnson (TEN) – 26 for 132 yards and 2 TDs

QB Kurt Warner (ARI) – 29 of 38 for 340 yards and 2 TDs

WR Randy Moss (NE) – 9 for 179 yards and 2 TDs

WR Sidney Rice (MIN) –7 for 207 yards

Rodgers That