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2008 NFL Rookie Values Redux

Ok, I did this right after the NFL draft in April but following OTA's & mini-camps, and the stupidity of veterans (such as Cedric Benson) a lot has changed since then.  So I wanted to take another pass at this.             

RB Share Situations - New Blood from the 2008 NFL Draft

The NFL draft always brings some surprises but one guarantee you can always count on is new blood, an infusion of 250+ players who are young, healthy and hungry to make it in the NFL.  In a professional sport that carries a career expectancy of approximately 3.2 years for a drafted player, many joke that NFL stands for 'Not For Long'.  For fantasy leaguers, particularly dynasty league participants (where you keep players for longer than a single year), the NFL draft represents new blood, players who shift current player's values and new opportunities for fantasy success.  One trend that people will start talking about a lot more, and expect to see this all over the 2008 fantasy football guides that get published in June, is the NFL shift to Two Back systems where one running back maybe gets a majority of the carries between the 20's and then another one comes in for the goal line work, short yardage or third down opportunities.  The NY Giants won the super bowl with this strategy, and New England has employed it during their reign the past eight years to great success. So while having competent backups has always been the goal, the NFL is moving towards a trend of literally have two guys who could be considered the starter.  For fantasy this means fewer true 'featured backs' and more ambiguity as to who is the 'right' guy to start week to week.

QB Gods?

I came across this slightly funny joke between Tony Romo, Peyton Manning & Tom Brady.

2007 Fantasy Football All-PAFFL Team

The 2007 regular season is finalized and its time to recognize the studs that made this regular season sizzle and led to the Ron Jeremy Fanclub being the leading PAFFL team throughout the regular season.  You'll notice some trends as QB-WR tandems in New England & Dallas have exploded this year to dominant their respective positions unlike any other tandems in NFL history.

Terrell Owens Fun

Last night's Packers-Cowboys game was a good one and there was one constant entertainer, Terrell Owens, otherwise known as TO, who was a highlight maker all night long.  If he wasn't making plays for the Cowboys, he was making them for the Packers, playing a kind of two way ball to ensure the Packers stayed in the game and the Cowboys couldn't get conservative on offense.  Fantasy leaguers worldwide will be satisfied with his final statistics (156 yards receiving & 1 TD) but he just as easily could have been the root cause of a Cowboys loss. 

Thanksgiving Day Football

With all the holiday planning, don't forget that there are 3 NFL games this year on Thanksgiving.  The traditional two with Detroit playing Green Bay in the day's most interesting game, then Dallas hosting the New York Jets in what likely will be a blow out and the NFL Network showcasing a night game between the Indy Colts and Atlanta Falcons.  For all of you with fantasy players on those teams (ok, you shouldn't need to worry about Atlanta or Jets but the Colts, Packers, Cowboys and Lions have plenty of fantasy talent to go around), don't forget to set your respective lineup. 

Does Randy Moss & Terrell Owens make Tom Brady & Tony Romo?

The question was posed today, do the stud fantasy WR's Terrell Owens & Randy Moss make fantasy stud QB's Tony Romo & Tom Brady?  Or vice versa?   It's an interesting question and one you could argue either way but I think the answer is a pretty easy one.  The quarterback makes the receiver, always has and always will.  Tom Brady has been a top 5 fantasy quarterback for five consecutive years prior to Randy Moss' arrival in New England.  And for those that don't remember, Moss is the same receiver who struggled to be even relevant to fantasy leaguers the past two years in Oakland. 

Looking to make deals

I know I always believe I have an obscene amount of talent but sense I scout and spend more time on this than most people, in the PAFFL and in general, I typically end up having success both with players I keep and deal.  This year I've been very quiet (I suspect just about all of you know since I've gone from sending emails about deal ideas weekly, sometimes daily, to eerily silent) due to workload on both my primary job and side passions like FFCollective, TheWino.net and this site. 

Is Tony Romo pulling a Rex Grossman?

Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo's first half stat line in tonight's Monday Night Football game is 8 for 16 for 99 passing yards 1 TD but 4 interceptions, 2 of which were returned for TD's.  That's Rex Grossman in his prime.  Now clearly there has been some bad luck but in the PAFFL league its actually made a game that appeared to be done into, well, a game.  East Bay Funk entered tonights' game with the Dallas K NIck Folk and Buffalo WR Lee Evans down 11 against Ron Jeremy Fanclub who had the Dallas QB Romo, take the negative 2 points for each pick returned for a TD and it's actually a tied game at half time - with no contribution from Evans and little from Folk.    

I Love Jason Witten!

I entered this evening's Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants Sunday night football game up 1 point (it says 3 but actually there is a negative 2 not accounted for from Reggie Wayne's fumble returned for a TD on Thursday) on the East Bay Funk with our respective TE's left.  He has Vernon Davis going tomorrow and I had Jason Witten tonight. 

Steven Jackson & TO for Marc Bulger, Lee Evans & Michel Turner...

South Whore Jibbers and East Bay Funk announced a seven player trade this morning. 

South Whore Jibbers deal WR Lee Evans ($21, 2008), RB Michael Turner ($1, 2008), QB Marc Bulger ($55, 2009*), the rights to QB Gus Frerotte and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick ($1, 2008) to East Bay Funk for RB Stephen Jackson ($55, 2007) & the rights to WR Terrell Owens. 

South Whore Jibbers deal WR Lee Evans ($21, 2008), RB Michael Turner ($1, 2008), QB Marc Bulger ($55, 2009*), the rights to QB Gus Frerotte and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick ($1, 2008) to East Bay Funk for RB Stephen Jackson ($55, 2007) & the rights to WR Terrell Owens. 

NFL QB Team by Team Analysis

NFL.com's Michael Fabiano analyzed all 32 NFL team's Quarterback position for fantasy production.  He didn't go into as much detail as some may like but for the majority (AKA no keeper leagues) of fantasy leaguers it'll be a good overview by team. 

NFL.com's NFC East Team's Fantasy Overview...

NFL.com's Michael Fabiano is publishing overviews of each division by team of their fantasy value including schedule strength (against run & pass) and listing of each team's top 5 fantasy performers.  I've listed the top 5 for each team below and the overall summaries are good.  Some of this is academic but for fantasy nuts, its worth diving into the details.  This is for the NFC East.

QB Isaiah Stanback, #103 Overall Pick, Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys selected Washington QB Isaiah Stanback with the #103 overall selection (#4 in the 4th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Stanback has tremendous athletic ability and the potential to develop into an outstanding player.  However with all his mobility, speed and arm strength, he hasn't shown the consistency that would predict success on the NFL level.

Dallas Cowboys selected Washington QB Isaiah Stanback with the #103 overall selection (#4 in the 4th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Stanback has tremendous athletic ability and the potential to develop into an outstanding player.  However with all his mobility, speed and arm strength, he hasn't shown the consistency that would predict success on the NFL level.

Dallas Cowboys selected Washington QB Isaiah Stanback with the #103 overall selection (#4 in the 4th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Stanback has tremendous athletic ability and the potential to develop into an outstanding player.  However with all his mobility, speed and arm strength, he hasn't shown the consistency that would predict success on the NFL level.

Dallas Cowboys selected Washington QB Isaiah Stanback with the #103 overall selection (#4 in the 4th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Stanback has tremendous athletic ability and the potential to develop into an outstanding player.  However with all his mobility, speed and arm strength, he hasn't shown the consistency that would predict success on the NFL level.

Dallas Cowboys selected Washington QB Isaiah Stanback with the #103 overall selection (#4 in the 4th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Stanback has tremendous athletic ability and the potential to develop into an outstanding player.  However with all his mobility, speed and arm strength, he hasn't shown the consistency that would predict success on the NFL level.

Dallas Cowboys selected Washington QB Isaiah Stanback with the #103 overall selection (#4 in the 4th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Stanback has tremendous athletic ability and the potential to develop into an outstanding player.  However with all his mobility, speed and arm strength, he hasn't shown the consistency that would predict success on the NFL level.

Dallas Cowboys selected Washington QB Isaiah Stanback with the #103 overall selection (#4 in the 4th round) in the 2007 NFL draft. Stanback has tremendous athletic ability and the potential to develop into an outstanding player.  However with all his mobility, speed and arm strength, he hasn't shown the consistency that would predict success on the NFL level.

Drew Bledsoe retires after 14 seasons

AP reports QB Drew Bledsoe retired Wednesday, ending a 14-season career in which he made two Super Bowls. The top overall pick by New England in the 1993 draft out of Washington State, the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback played for the Patriots, Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys. He was a starter for all three teams, but ended up as a backup with the Cowboys.

Brad Johnson signs with Dallas

ESPN is reporting that veteran QB Brad Johnson has signed a 3 year agreement with the Dallas Cowboys that pays him $3.5 million in the first year.  Johnson was the primary starter for the Minnesota Vikings the past two seasons, he will backup QB Tony Romo in Dallas. 

Cowboys pay WR Glenn's $5 million bonus

Dallas Cowboys WR Terry Glenn received a $5 million roster bonus today, ensuring he'll return for the 2007 season.  The veteran Glenn scored 6 TD's and exceeded 1000 yards in 2006 and continued to demonstrate that he's one of the better receivers in the NFL.  Glenn will enter a top 25 fantasy WR but could be even more valuable if the Cowboys drop fellow starting receiver Terrell Owens who is due a $3 million roster bonus in June. 

Cowboys release veteran QB Bledsoe

Dallas Cowboys released veteran QB Drew Bledsoe, who was due a $1 million bonus.  It's unclear whether Bledsoe will continue his career, most likely as a backup. 

Cowboys Sign Jason Garrett to be their next Offensive Coordinator?

Jerry Jones' Dallas Cowboys have an agreement in place to bring former Cowboy backup QB Jason Garrett into the fold as an offensive coordinator.  However reports are surfacing that Garrett could be named the head coach if Jones' feels he's ready to run the show.  Apparently Jones will interview the San Diego Chargers DC Wade Phillips and the San Francisco 49'ers OC Norv Turner before making a decision.  Never a peaceful day in big D. 

Bill Parcells Retires...

The Dallas Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells has decided to retire and won't return as the Cowboys coach in 2007.  Parcells went 34-32 with two playoff appearances in four seasons at the helm.  This will have a domino effect on the Cowboys who were run like a dictatorship under Parcells.

Jerry Jones: TO & Glenn will return; Bledsoe won't

Dallas Cowboys owner and GM Jerry Jones said it's 'not realistic' to think veteran QB Drew Bledsoe but he fully expects Terrell Owens & Terry Glenn to return to the team for the 2007 season.

Is Terry Glenn a HOF?

Listening to the Dallas Cowboys Atlanta Falcons game on the radio last night, the announcer referred to Terry Glenn as a hall of famer.   While I may let such hyperbole go unchallenged this was too much.  Glenn is a very good receiver, a guy I watched make fantastic plays at Ohio State in college.  His quickness and hands will always be strengths, and he if can remain healthy, post decent numbers over the next six to seven years then maybe he will have a chance.  But at this point he's not in the top 20 WR's in the past two decades which means he has NO chance of being selected for the HOF.

Terry Glenn out Sunday

The Dallas Morning News reported that WR Terry Glenn did NOT accompany the team to Arizona for tomorrow's game vs. the Cardinals.  Glenn will be inactive tomorrow, and likely #3 WR Patrick Crayton will get the start.  This will provide Terrell Owens & Jason Whitten a few more looks in the offensive set.

Cowboys Glenn aggravates knee injury

According to ESPN, the Dallas Cowboys WR Terry Glenn aggravated a knee injury in practice Friday that will make him unable to play on Sunday.  This would presumably increase the value of Terrell Owens & TE Jason Whitten as Tony Romo looks to spread the ball around to his weapons.

Owens; "It Was God's Will"

The Philadelphia Daily News, citing the Dallas Morning News, reports Cowboys WR Terrell Owens was encouraged to do do the electric slide on the Texas Stadium star by a chaplain with the 49ers when the receiver was playing for San Francisco several years back. Former 49ers receiver coach George Stewart said team chaplain Earl Smith "began talking about Roger Staubach and how the Cowboys were God's Team and America's Team. Then he asked Terrell if he knew why there was a hole in the roof. He didn't, so the chaplain told him that it was so God could look down on the Cowboys." Stewart added "He said, 'If you score, go to the star and let God see you. Look up to the sky and praise God.' If you'll look at a replay, you'll see that he runs to the star, looks right up, praises God and then leaves the field." Owens received a ton of publicity after this stunt. Perhaps feeding off this publicity, he sought other ways to satisfy an insatiable, needy ego. Destructive or not, it sure has worked.

Cowboys sign T.O....

In not as much as a surprise but a move nearly out of a Hollywood script, the Dallas Cowboys and their flamboyant owner Jerry Jones made big news by inking Terrell Owens to an agreement. The deal is for 3 years and $25 million, in includes a $5 million signing bonus and a 2006 base salary of $5 million. Essentially the Cowboys are paying him $10 million in guaranteed money since there were no personal conduct inclusions in the agreement.

Maybe a third chance will be the charm...then again this is the same player who danced on the Dallas star twice in a game in '00, the same player who has publicly called out his previous two pro bowl quarterbacks (Jeff Garcia & Donovan McNabb), has publicly fueded with his previous two franchises and sabotaged the Philadelphia Eagles 2005 season. Terrell Owens is the most dominanting WR in the NFL but he's also the most selfish player and its that contradiction which could doom the Cowboys 2006 season. Then again, as Cowboy great WR Michael Irvin has already said, 'This will put Dallas in the Super Bowl' - and it very well might. Owens is that type of playmaker and Bill Parcells just maybe the coach to get Owens to accept the team concept.