Fantasy Football 2011 Discussion

[BFH]

I'm in a PPR league. Otherwise, standard scoring, I guess. 10 yards rushing/receiving per point, 25 passing per point. Pass TD is 4 points, rush/receiving TD is 6. Team defense instead of IDP. Instead of 3 receivers, there's two starters and a W/R/T spot.

QB - Tony Romo
WR - Miles Austin
WR - Brandon Lloyd
RB - Ray Rice
RB - Reggie Bush
TE - Owen Daniels
W/R/T - Mario Manningham
K - Alex Henery
DEF - Cleveland (I'm gonna be mix & matching this one weekly, it seems)

Bench
QB - Matt Cassel
WR - Santana Moss, Davone Bess
RB - Mike Tolbert, Jonathan Stewart
TE - Brent Celek

Will probably need some help at running back like I did last year, but feel Bush and Rice will carry the load for me since it's a PPR league. Tolbert may be a nice fill in for the backs since he's likely to get the goal line work in San Diego.

Not expecting Moss to repeat his 90 catches and 1,000 yards. Kind of hoping he puts up 75 catches and 900, though. The problem with my roster is that a lot of folks have a week 5 bye (Romo, Austin, Bess, Rice, Bush). My bench will be maxed out that week and I'm going to be fielding a crap roster unless my bench guys take off early.

Otherwise, went with the rookie kicker whose likely won't ever be shutout on any given week. We'll see if I make a change early on him. Also drinking the Kool-Aid that Owen Daniels can stay healthy and rank in the top 5 of tight ends by season's end.

[bravos4evr]

I'm in 3 leagues this year (2 free and one pay league) One of my free leagues is a 6 team league. We lost a lot of teams from last year so decided to try it and see how it goes. One odd thing is everybodies teams are STACKED! It's going to make gametime decisions all the more important.
My pay league team is pretty good here's my list:

QB Matt Stafford - Det(got him cuz I have Calvin Johnson)
RB- Frank Gore- SF
RB- Deangelo Williams-Car
WR- Calvin Johnson-Det
WR- Mike Williams -TB
WR- Steve Smith-Car
TE- Jermichael Finley- GB
K-Nate Kaeding- SD
D- NE Patriots


Bench
QB- Matt Cassel
RB- Johnathon Stewart
RB- Ronnie Brown
WR- Lee Evans
WR-Braylon Edwards
TE- Heath Evans

It's not a team full of huge names, but I think it's nice and solid especially as our league scores defense to an equivalent of a RB or WR...

[bravos4evr]

Oh and just to show what a difference the quality of teams is from a 12 team to a 6 team, here's my 6 team league draft: It's amazing (and everybodies team looks like this)

QB- Drew Brees
RB- Arian Foster
RB- Frank Gore
WR- Hakeem Nicks
WR- Mike Wallace
WR/RB- Fred Jackson
WR/TE- Dallas Clark
K-Mason crosby
D- NY jets

Bench-
QB- Matt Schaub

RB's- Jahvid Best, lagerette Blount, Mark Ingram
WR's-Dwayne Bowe, Austin Collie

[luvdembravos]

I'm in a FFL for the first time this year. It has 14 teams so my roster is really going to be watered down. The draft is going to be this Wednesday because the commissioner had a hard time getting all 14 owners together at one time.

[Dreamscape]

Just had my first draft with a bunch of guys I've been playing with since the late 90's. I picked fourth and it's an individual-defensive-player league, which I much prefer because I find it so much harder. 10 team league, traditional stats...

QB T. Romo
WR R. White
WR D. Bowe
WR S. Moss
RB C. Johnson
RB A. Bradshaw
TE D. Clark

K A. Henery

D P. Willis
D J. Mayo
D P. Posluszny
D D. Johnson
DB R. Harper
DB Y. Bell
DB Ty. Branch
DB D. McCourty

Bench
QB M. Stafford
RB T. Hightower
WR A.J. Green
WR H. Ward
D N. Suh
DB E. Weddle

Overall, I am very happy with my defense. I took the first defensive player and got my top two targets on defense. My offense has some question marks. Outside of Johnson, it lacks star power, but I think it will be pretty consistent. I was pretty happy with some of my value picks, especially Santana Moss in the tenth round and 97th overall. Only problem is my depth, though, to me, that's why you have waivers and that's why you strike when something develops. I kept drafting defense until I had selected enough to fill out the starting eight before filling in my depth.

Hines Ward was my final selection...Typically, I take a kicker second to last and best all-around player with my last pick. Ward was more of the best WR out of a weak list, though, in case Green falls on his face. I missed out on Plax as my fourth wideout and Jason Witten was my hope at tight end, but Dallas Clark is a nice consolation prize.

I finished fifth last year and fourth the previous year. That followed my perfect year of 2008 when my team went 14-0-1. I had Romo, White, and Willis on that team so hoping for some magic.

[luvdembravos]

Just had my first draft with a bunch of guys I've been playing with since the late 90's. I picked fourth and it's an individual-defensive-player league, which I much prefer because I find it so much harder. 10 team league, traditional stats...

QB T. Romo
WR R. White
WR D. Bowe
WR S. Moss
RB C. Johnson
RB A. Bradshaw
TE D. Clark

K A. Henery

D P. Willis
D J. Mayo
D P. Posluszny
D D. Johnson
DB R. Harper
DB Y. Bell
DB Ty. Branch
DB D. McCourty

Bench
QB M. Stafford
RB T. Hightower
WR A.J. Green
WR H. Ward
D N. Suh
DB E. Weddle

Overall, I am very happy with my defense. I took the first defensive player and got my top two targets on defense. My offense has some question marks. Outside of Johnson, it lacks star power, but I think it will be pretty consistent. I was pretty happy with some of my value picks, especially Santana Moss in the tenth round and 97th overall. Only problem is my depth, though, to me, that's why you have waivers and that's why you strike when something develops. I kept drafting defense until I had selected enough to fill out the starting eight before filling in my depth.

Hines Ward was my final selection...Typically, I take a kicker second to last and best all-around player with my last pick. Ward was more of the best WR out of a weak list, though, in case Green falls on his face. I missed out on Plax as my fourth wideout and Jason Witten was my hope at tight end, but Dallas Clark is a nice consolation prize.

I finished fifth last year and fourth the previous year. That followed my perfect year of 2008 when my team went 14-0-1. I had Romo, White, and Willis on that team so hoping for some magic.


I really like Stafford's "potential" and I wouldn't be surprise if Hightower cracks your starting line-up very soon.

[bravos4evr]

I think Stafford could have a breakout year with Calvin Johnson, like a top 5 duets in football kinda year. (hence I picked em both!)

[BFH]

I think Stafford could have a breakout year with Calvin Johnson, like a top 5 duets in football kinda year. (hence I picked em both!)

They certainly could be a top 5 QB/WR combo. I was hoping Johnson would've made it around to me in the turn, but he went WAY before my 2nd round pick.

[Wahoo]

Here is my squad:

Starting:

Schaub
McCoy
Hightower
J. Stewart (tentative)
Fitzgerald
Nicks
Witten
Ravens D
R. Gould

Bench:
Garçon
McGahee
J. Harrison
J. Simpson (Cincy)
Snelling
Branch
Ringer

[BFH]

Sit/Start questions for week 1...

Do you consider sitting out Ray Rice against a Steelers team that has dominated him in the past?

Making matters more complicated, my other backs are Reggie Bush, Mike Tolbert and Jonathan Stewart (Bush currently starting in my lineup). Really trying not to overthink it and leave Rice in there because that's what I drafted him for...but it really is disconcerting how poorly he's performed against Pittsburgh.

Because my other options are the handcuffs to other backs, I'm inclined just to leave Rice in there since it's a PPR league.

I mean...I'm already considering benching Miles Austin in favor or Santana Moss or Davone Bess this week because of the potential Revis Island matchup. If I get good faith that Revis will be on Dez Bryant, I'll be more inclined to put Austin backin the lineup.


Regardless...here's what my intended lineup looks like.


QB - Tony Romo @ NYJ
WR - Brandon Lloyd vs. Oak
WR - Davone Bess vs. NE
RB - Ray Rice vs. Pit
RB - Reggie Bush vs. NE
TE - Owen Daniels vs. Ind
W/R/T - Mario Manningham @ Was

K - Alex Henery @ StL

DEF - Cleveland D vs. Cin


Bench consisting of...

QB - Matt Cassel vs. Buf
WR - Miles Austin @ NYJ
WR - Santana Moss vs. NYG
RB - Mike Tolbert vs. Min
RB - Jonathan Stewart @ Ari
TE - Brent Celek @ StL


Any guys I probably should have in there instead of what I'm planning?

[bravos4evr]

Miles Austin is better than Bess against NE ,IMO

[Wahoo]

Whomever has Peyton is effed.

[Dreamscape]

Whomever has Peyton is effed.
That's me. I rolled the dice in keeping Peyton in the chopnation league and now am reduced to Joe Flacco. It's a rebuilding year in the chopnation league, it would seem.

[BFH]

Miles Austin is better than Bess against NE ,IMO

Thanks for the opinion. I can't help but feel you've rated it based on potential for big plays and TD's and not based on the PPR, but I do have that itching feeling about it that wants to agree since I drafted Austin as a reach at the end of the second round.

That said, I do have a feeling the Dolphins throw all day trying to keep up with the Pats this week. I definitely can imagine a 6 catch, 60 yard type effort from Davone Bess and that's a solid performance for a PPR league.

On the other hand, I really can imagine the Cowboys throwing up a stinker on offense against the Jets--Austin coming away with a 2 or 3 catch, 30 yard performance.

Just wary sticking with my big guns when I know they have a bad matchup and I know I have a decent option waiting. Just my reasoning.

[bravos4evr]

I just think that the Boys are going to air it out as much as possible and I think Austin could have an 8 catch 100+ yrd game with a TD or 2.... I don't see Bess getting that....

[BFH]

Thankfully, an injury to Steven Jackson kept my opponent's team from going off.

He's got just Dustin Keller left for the week and he's sitting on 78.16 points.

Luckily, made the call last night to stick Mike Tolbert into my lineup for today's game and benefited from that. I'm at 89.30 points and I've got Tony Romo, Brandon Lloyd and I'm still going to go with Davone Bess and the Dolphins playing from behind all day, especially now that the decision appears like it won't matter much in the outcome of my week 1 decision.

Still wary of Revis Island...especially with Miles Austin having a hamstring issue.

[bravos4evr]

I got lucky as I sat Steve Smith assuming Cam would struggle in his debut (and lost over 30 points ) but I still have a lead ....

[Dreamscape]

I got lucky as I sat Steve Smith assuming Cam would struggle in his debut (and lost over 30 points ) but I still have a lead ....
On the flipside, because Sydney Rice was out, I got lucky because it forced me to start Steve Smith.

[luvdembravos]

Fielded my first fantasy team ever on Sunday and only managed three points from my RBs (one point from L. Blount and two points from Shonn Green). Still, somehow, I have a 17 point lead going into tonight's game but my opponent has Brady and I have DMC...my bad luck with RBs this week tells me I'm doomed.

[Wahoo]

Fielded my first fantasy team ever on Sunday and only managed three points from my RBs (one point from L. Blount and two points from Shonn Green). Still, somehow, I have a 17 point lead going into tonight's game but my opponent has Brady and I have DMC...my bad luck with RBs this week tells me I'm doomed.

Yeah Brady has gone off tonight. 400+ with 3 TDs.

[Wahoo]

Check that. Brady just threw a 99 yard TD pass and run to Welker, lol. Brady over 500 for the night.

[BFH]

My team finished off the week with a 40+ point win. Ended up with 137 and some fractions of a point and I'm in second place after week 1. Needless to say, I should have a tougher week this week even though I'm facing the last place team. This joker has both Rodgers and Brees, though. Can only start one of them. hahaha

For the moment, my week 2 lineup is going to look like this.

QB - Tony Romo @ San Fran
WR - Miles Austin @ San Fran
WR - Mario Manningham vs. StL
RB - Ray Rice @ Ten
RB - Reggie Bush vs. Hou
TE - Jermaine Gresham @ Den
W/R/T - Brandon Lloyd vs Cin
K - Alex Henery @ Atl
DEF - Cleveland Defense @ Indy


Bench

QB - Matt Cassel @ Det
WR - Santana Moss vs. Ari
WR - Davone Bess vs. Hou
RB - Mike Tolbert @ NE
TE - Owen Daniels @ Mia
WR/RB - Dexter McCluster @ Det


Made some changes to my roster and decided not to wait on guys like Brent Celek and Jonathan Stewart. Not liking the outlook on either after down week 1's. I know week 1 doesn't say much about an entire season's production, but I'll swoop back in and grab either if things change.

In the meantime, grabbed Gresham and McCluster for some roster flexibility. I'm rostering McCluster mainly for the bye weeks so I can slot in a running back that has a decent shot at 5 or 6 catches and an off-chance to turn one of those into a big yardage TD. As for Gresham, I nabbed him as the league was scuffling for TE's. He was out there, so I swapped Celek out for him.

No doubts about my running backs this week, as I don't expect Tolbert to repeat his 9-catch performance against New England this week, so Bush gets the start this week.

My only real tough call right now is the receivers. Definitely starting Austin, but I want to get Moss in there. Manningham is looking like a must start if Nicks is really banged up and misses, but I'm monitoring Brandon Lloyd's groin injury. If the week goes on and Lloyd sits out practice, I think I'll start Moss over him. I may just do it as a precaution to begin with...

[BFH]

After doing more reading on matchups, I put Owen Daniels back into the lineup against the Dolphins. Pats tightends torched them and despite Schaub being in a lower tier of QB, I think Daniels and the Texans TE's will tear them up as well.

Also going to sit Lloyd and start Santana Moss. Otherwise, the rest of my lineup remains the same.

[BFH]

Made a last minute change to my lineup and will decide to start Mike Tolbert instead of Mario Manningham. Potentially big mistake, but I'll stick with my backs over my receivers this week.


QB - Tony Romo @ San Fran
WR - Miles Austin @ San Fran
WR - Santana Moss vs. Ariz
RB - Ray Rice @ Tenn
RB - Reggie Bush vs Hous
TE - Owen Daniels @ Mia
W/R/T - Mike Tolbert @ NE
K - Alex Henery @ Atl
DEF - Cleveland D @ Indy


My opposition has a solid QB, but some shaky starts at receivers.

QB - Aaron Rodgers @ Car
WR - Julio Jones vs. Phil
WR - Randall Cobb @ Car
RB - Felix Jones @ San Fran
RB - Earnest Graham @ Minn
TE - Vernon Davis vs. Dal
W/R/T - Ed Dickson @ Tenn
K - Shaun Suisham vs. Sea
DEF - Dallas @ San Fran


Overall, I'm feeling pretty confident that the decision between Tolbert/Manningham will mean little. My fear is that Nicks will be deemed healthy and he will garner the majority of targets and the Rams may not have Jackson and will be unable to keep it close enough to warrant the Giants to throw it. Lots of experts predicting big days from Manningham, but I'm not as confident. As compared to the shootout between Chargers/Patriots and Mike Tolbert's strong role as a receiver out of the backfield for them.

[BFH]

Like I envisioned, matchup last week was really a squash. I won by nearly 80 points over my opposition. Unfortunately I slipped to third based on another team's hugemangous week. I'm still proud to be hanging around, though.

Injuries to Romo and Austin are going to suck and I was the beneficiary of picking up Dexter McCluster early last week. Not that he'll get a big bump in value, but he figures to get more touches with Jamaal Charles out for the year now.

I dropped Matt Cassel for Andy Dalton and also grabbed Daniel Thomas off of waivers in exchange for Davone Bess. Swapped out the Cleveland D for the Atlanta defense for next week as well.

Early outlook has be sticking with Romo, mainly because I have to at this point.

QB - Tony Romo vs. Wash
WR - Brandon Lloyd @ Tenn
WR - Santana Moss @ Dall
RB - Ray Rice @ StL
RB - Mike Tolbert vs. KC
TE - Owen Daniels @ NO
W/R/T - Dexter McCluster @ SD
K - Alex Henery vs NYG
DEF - Atlanta Defense @ TB


I'm going to employ my waiver wire pick up McCluster against a shoddy San Diego special teams and try to exploit his increase in touches and hope for a homerun right now. I'm sitting on both Reggie Bush and Daniel Thomas and intrigued how they'll sort that out. I'm in no rush since I managed to get both of them heading into the weekend.

Salivating over the Tolbert and Rice matchups. If I win next week, it'll be on the power of my running backs.

Manningham slowed by a concussion versus the Eagles corners, I think I'll pass. Austin is out for a few weeks which hurts a lot.

I think I'll stick with Owen Daniels for now as well. Was nice to see him reel in a TD catch this past week against the Dolphins and I expect the Texans to have to throw to keep up with the Saints, so Owen Daniels may be active, even if it's not as an attractive matchup as Jermaine Greshman against the 49ers.

I'll also have to keep Tony Romo monitored all week. Not that I think he won't suit up and try to play...but I may want to start Dalton for the simple fact that Romo's more likely to be knocked out of the game again than Dalton's wrist acting up.

Barring any unforeseen stupidity from my leaguemates, this should be my roster heading into the weekend.

[BFH]

And I lied...

Final fantasy lineup will be the following...

QB Tony Romo
WR Brandon Lloyd
WR Santana Moss
RB Ray Rice
RB Mike Tolbert
TE Owen Daniels
W/R/T Dexter McCluster
K Alex Henery
DEF Cincinnati


Almost swapped out Alex Henery for Nick Novak, but decided to stick with Henery.

[BFH]

Made a few changes to the roster in light of all the injuries my guys are suffering, so this week's starting lineup is a little weaker than I had hoped heading into a matchup of undefeated fantasy teams.

I got the following going...

QB - Rex Grossman @ StL
WR - Brandon Lloyd @ GB
WR - Santana Moss @ StL
RB - Ray Rice vs NYJ
RB - Dexter McCluster vs MIN
TE - Owen Daniels vs PIT
W/R/T - Mario Manningham @ ARI
K - Dan Bailey vs DET
DEF - Tampa Bay DEF vs IND


I had to tap Tampa for the defense this week. Did it early on and having Curtis Painter at center has me hopeful that I'll have a big Monday.

Speaking of QB's, I didn't want to risk starting Tony Romo this week and wanted a stream option and just so happens Rex Grossman was dropped for Jason Campbell earlier this week (someone trying to stream in a high-scoring game against New England, I assume). So I dropped off Dalton for a week to grab Grossman to fill in for Romo.

Also wanted to make the switch to Dan Bailey. As last week showed, the Cowboys will move the ball this year but not necessarily score. Figure they'll finish fewer drives than the Eagles and Henery.

Continuing to stream McCluster in there at RB since it's a PPR and happy to get Manningham back from concussion. My bench is really hurting heading into the bye.

Opposition will counter with (tentatively, I'm sure)

QB - Cam Newton @ CHI
WR - Vincent Jackson vs MIA
WR - Dez Bryant vs DET
RB - Darren McFadden vs NE
RB - Beanie Wells vs. NYG
TE - Dallas Clark @ TB
W/R/T - Deion Branch @ OAK
K - Sebastian Janikowski vs NE
DEF - Detroit DEF @ DAL


And yeah...I think I'm getting my ass kicked. If he realizes Vick is a go this week, he may make the switch to get him in there versus the 49ers. That'd probably end me.