ffdh win championships

Week Three Update

What is going on here?

Can a receiver be a whole team?

Can a team be so full of its own hype that they lose sense of focus?

Some injuries have hit this team hard and there isn't an easy answer for keeper owners as they hang on to Steve Smith and wonder what happened.

Watch DeAngelo Williams take control of this ground game. He's awesome and the tonic this team needs to resurrect their season.

I'm praying the defense comes around and this weekend could be the time. They have too much talent to be bad.

Tampa Bay, New Orleans, Cleveland could be just what the doctor ordered.

Keep an eye on Tim Carter as Keyshawn Johnson has always been best as a #2 possession receiver and Carter is a third year guy who needs to step up and quickly. Every other owner is quickly writing this team of as a pundit propped up scarecrow but they are solid and John Fox is a great coach.

As for Jake Delhomme, well, his unexciting presence should probably be replaced with Grossman as soon as possible.

40. DeShaun Foster

I don't have faith in his ability to make it through the season.

At this point there are not many choices left, and he can be very effective if healthy, so it's a great shot at a potential stud.

If he makes it through the entire season without missing a game, then his numbers will warrant a first round pick. He should be available through the seventh and eighth rounds and that's when you take him.

If your in the fifth or sixth with one runningback then he's perfect there.

To take him higher would be to gamble your stack on a gut shot straight draw with only the river left to hit the board.

He can do the job, but, will his body let him. Veteran fantasy players already have painful memories of early round picks going down. The waiver-wire for running backs is an ugly orgy of lottery politics and a miracle card is all that saves you.

Trying to get a runningback in the fifth or sixth week when the emerger's are gone, and Williams is on another team, is a constant parade of who-will-score this week decisions, then the agonizing, who to keep when the wire is cut off after the byes are through?

Fox may use both backs all year, which in the R.B.B.C. would normally dilute your points.

In the West Coast league we allow our third wide receiver to be a utility player, W.R., T.E. or R.B. This flexibility allowed me to play both Anderson and Bell together in many weeks last year.

If you shrewdly get both Carolina backs, and Fox runs them both, the R.B.B.C. combined numbers could be like fielding a first overall pick, as Anderson/Bell were last year. Carolina will be that prolific.

O-line, soft schedule, winning team; when the stars align, I pay attention.

32. DeAngelo Williams

After my J.J. Arrington fiasco last year, and, my swearing off rookies for life, (remember Connery:"Never say, never again!") it is truly amazing that I would pick another this high.

Keep in mind that this is not the draft but a prognosticators list of the best performers by the end of the year. In the draft he should be available in the seventh or eighth round.

Carolina is being touted as the best team in the N.F.L.

On paper this is true. In action, few teams will be able to go toe to toe with them.

John Fox is a defensive coach first and has crafted an awesome one. The return of injured studs as well as their previously battle tested replacements, and quality backups that the injuries forced him to acquire has left them very talented and very deep.

Because of his defensive orientation he did not fall under the spell of the offensive gurus, the West Coast, wild west attitudes, and, built a conservative offense based on the tried and true tenets of football success. He created a solid rushing attack that can rival any in the league.

Carolina's O-line is talented and strong. They defensively protect the quarterback as good as any, and run block with the best of them. It helps to scrimmage with one of the best defensive lines in football. Quality feeds off itself and grows stronger.

They developed an excellent quarterback from the home state of Brett Favre.

As with other injury woes they have been snake-bitten by injuries at the runningback position. Stephen Davis was an aged warhorse and put up great numbers in their system. DeShaun foster was supposed to be the future, but his body just doesn't seem up to the task.

Now, with Williams on board, Carolina may have their champion that will lead them for years to come.

He is a great pick-up in keeper leagues and really does have a better situation for success then Bush.

DeShaun Foster may be the great, late round pick-up that wins a championship. But, his likelihood of staying healthy all year is not high. In fact injury seems inevitable.

Remember the Tatum Bell post?

Here is truly another Buddy System. I think that Fox will play Williams in early to get him experience, spell Foster and hopefully keep Foster healthy by seeing less carries.

With Smith and Johnson to stretch the defense, the box will practically never be stacked.

The dreaded R.B.B.C. theory is that multiple use backs will dilute the stats of each and neither will be valuable as the two will break up the performance of one.

In Carolina's case, I think there will be massive scoring available for everyone.

I'm not sure I'd play both yet, but handcuffing Foster with Williams is absolutely to be done.

You cannot ignore the excellence and potency of Carolina's rushing attack. It is one of the best in the league. Last year Davis helped his owners win an early lead.

I've ranked Williams first, because I think his second half will be excellent. It's important to have a first and second half strategy to the fantasy season. Last year I drafted Johnson with this in mind and now carry the #1 pick in my keeper league.

Williams has an aura of glory already wreathed about him. I don't know if Bush is more talented, but, it may not be the best to be the highest hyped draft pick. Bush will wallow in the broken levees of New Orleans, while Williams will be the toast of Charlotte's boardwalks.

30. Jake Delhomme

Obviously it's going to be very hard for me to get the team I want. I'll probably have to draft everyone of my riskier choices way too early.

If you study Delhomme's fantasy production for the last three years, it has a remarkable consistency. Since you can draft him later, as this un-sexy pick seems to hang around, it makes him even more valuable.

He's set up to have an even better year in '05.

He has the top receiver, the top receiver's compliment, the top defense, one of the best O-lines, stable team personnel and coaching staff, a moderate to easy schedule, and a solid running game without a clear red-zone threat. Everything here, together with his good health and accurate, strong throws means he could even be better then his previous wonderful seasons.

He has already been to a Superbowl and knows the way.

Team injuries that have held them down in the past have mostly been backed up. The O-line, and linebackers are deep, and a solid, hungry rookie, looks more then competent to replace Foster when he, inevitably, goes down again.

If Steve Smith suffers a devastating injury, watch a star emerge, if not K.J. then Colbert or Carter; alla Muhsin Muhammad two years ago. And, if Delhomme goes down look for them to, eventually, be derailed.

What? Oh yea, Chris Weinke, who can actually take over these reigns and ride this horse; just not into the Superbowl.

It's possible, that this team could make anyone a star!

The likelihood of Delhomme's going down, however, is low.

He's young and well conditioned, and works behind a line that will keep most everyone off of him. He has deeply feared receivers and a respected running game. He won't be facing too many blitzes, and when he does, he'll eat them alive.

This is a great, stable pick, that is the safest pick for excellence at the position. If he's the #4 Q.B. at the end of the season, won't you be happy?

I doubt Fox will sit him in week 17, as he knows he needs his team sharp in the playoffs especially after a very possible first round bye. A quick visit to a battered and demoralized New Orleans, after a full season's brutal schedule, will be exactly what your Superbowl team will need.

7. Steve Smith

The first question here is why not before T.O.?

Smith was my predicted comeback player of the year in '05.

It always amazes me that the current crop of prognosticators can miss a sure thing like he was. Yet, that's why this blog was created. To give a fresh and imaginative viewpoint dedicated to winning fantasy football championships instead of regurgitation everyone else's ideas and simply looking at last year's N.F.L. to predict this year.

Smith had an injury that wasn't career threatening. He went down early in '04 and opened the door for a mediocre receiver in Muhammad.

In '03 he was a journeyman 15th in ranking, but showed a consistent nose for the end zone. His T.D.'s didn't come in bunches but all through the season.

Carolina has a very consistent team.

Solid, conservative defense crafted by a defensive minded head coach. One of the most consistent and talented emerging quarterbacks in the league; who has already led his team to a Superbowl. A great o-line that has excellent run blocking skills. And an aging, veteran runningback backed up by an injury-prone youngster and a 3rd stringer.

Perfect conditions for a receiver, especially in a conference with the weakest corners and new league wide rules to assist and protect the receivers.

Muhsin Muhammad gave his owner a championship with touchdowns coming in wonderful regularity. Why wouldn't the hungry, emerging, speedy, tough, precise-route-running Smith step into that breach.

Especially, since Muhammad was gone, and the runningbacks were as fragile as predicted.

111 total points, first of all receivers and 24th overall. 5th when you delete kickers and defenses!

8,0,23,0,16,10,Bye,10,8,0,3,1,7,2,13,0,10; a great 17 week performance.

For those in leagues that give more than 1 point for 50 yards and emphasize yardage he was even greater.

In '04, Muhammad at #1 WR scored: 7,0,DNP,2,Bye,6,0,14,1,22,14,1,9,7,8,14,13. 118 total, 18th overall, 7th position player; and this in the year of the quarterback!

Perhaps he should be chosen before T.O., but, the gambler prevails.

If you're looking for consistency then bump him up a spot.

Carolina is better then ever.

I have them losing only to Chicago in the playoffs, and that's a reach.

DeShaun Foster is fragile. If he lasts the season, I'll be shocked and his owners in love with him.

Behind him is a promising rookie who, under predictable circumstances, should be rookie-of-the-year. Yet, he's still an un-trustworthy rookie.

Keyshawn Johnson is the last piece to a Superbowl puzzle.

(I can't believe I wrote that line)

K.J. is the perfect foil for Smith. He will stretch the defense, take tough catches over the middle, attract attention and, if you ignore him, catch touchdowns. I don't see more then six, but, that's all that's needed.

Is Smith this year's Terry Glenn? (Ouch!)

Steve Smith is the go-to-goal-line-stud in Carolina, and, on your championship team.