ffdh win championships

Week Three Update

Wow! Merriman is proving once again that a single player can make all the difference on a defensive unit. I hope you have them.

They are the class of their division. The Broncos will be tough and Kansas City will also be tough at home, but, aside from all that Oakland is lost and San Diego is awesome.

I notice Whitehurst came in and called his own number for his first touchdown. I had to point that out as he was my guy for the future. Now that Volek is in town the position seems solid. We may never know the real story as to why Volek was made available, but, if rivers goes down and he's starting in the Superbowl, then you heard it here first.

McCardell will give you the seven or eight touchdowns he has every year and Eric Parker is still worth watching, but, Antonio Gates and the running game are still the stars here.

Michael Turner is worth a roster spot on the outside chance LaDainian goes down, but, also for those blow-out games when Tomlinson is on the bench.

I admit here and now that Tomlinson is the only #1 draft pick of the three. Just keep an eye on his late season touchdowns.

93. Antonio Gates

OK, does Gates deserve to be taken earlier in the draft?

I've taken defenses early in past years. They can be very seductive. Every time has been a failure.

Chicago leads the list this year. Almost 100% returning starters from the #1 fantasy scoring defense last year. A very soft schedule. An improved and deeper offense. Wow. Third pick, fourth pick? How soon will someone else step up and take them?

Most pundits will beg you to take them last. Yes, I've been burned, but, if you get the right one the point differential from 1st to 5th or 10th is the widest gap of any other position.

Late in the draft it starts to make sense to be the first to grab a position.

Gates is the clear first in his position. He will outscore all other tight ends, maybe by double!

To pick him will give you more points in one position each week over your opponents. But, his point total will only be about 50 - 60 and that puts him in the middle of the receivers.

The tight end position is like having another, weaker receiver and you will not win a championship if you are depending on receivers. They do not score every week. They do not score on a regular basis. Only four or five of all of them are dependable in this way the rest will give you spotty production.

So, how important is that tight end? Do you really want to give up on a 1st through 4th round pick?

A 50-60 season point producer instead of a Marquee runningback, quarterback or even wide receiver?

Chicago would be a better choice for they score every week, and their situation is awesome, and their point total will be over a hundred, and they will outclass most of the defenses you play against, week after week, giving you a distinct advantage.

You won't have either, without picking them high; for someone else always will.

Make the entire tight end position, cannon fodder, and get a solid one late in the draft. Practically no team will carry two and every team (32) has one and some, like Tennessee or New England, will have two who will score.

If you have to work the waiver wire, week to week, to strengthen the position you're weakest in, then; choose your battles, and, choose the tight end position to work on.

That said; Gates has only the Rivers inexperience and increased double teams to worry about but he is a huge target and will get open with his basketball blocking out skills. He's a great choice.

85. Keenan McCardell

An aged warrior, McCardell continues to earn respect around the league.

Fifteen years, 10680 yards, 62 T.D.s.

In 1991, as McCardell carried veterans' bags into the Redskin's training camp facility, Kevin Costner won an Oscar for best picture, Phil Collins had the album of the year, while under house arrest Aung San Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize (She's still under house arrest), George Bush had soldiers in Iraq, Boris Yeltsin was elected President of Russia, the last three U.S. hostages are freed from Lebanon, the Soviet Union was dissolved, Kirby Puckett and the Twins win the 7th game of the World Series 1-0 in the 10th, and, the Giants sustained a ten minute drive after halftime to help Bill Parcells to a Superbowl victory; thanks to Scott Norwood, who became the most well known Bills player in history. Chris Simms was in the stands, that day, having been excused from his fifth grade class.

McCardell will be a big help to Rivers with his experience and professionalism. He gets open, makes the tough catch, and can still break the home-run.

Grandpa with teeth!

He is the primary receiver on a good team and is worth an eighth round pick. If he gets nine touchdowns again, he'll be worth even more.

Teams will stack the box and force Rivers to win the game. McCardell will stand out from a bunch of journeymen receivers and the double team will be over on Gates.

Hmm, Maybe seventh round would be better.

He'll be an excellent third receiver and will be overlooked by most owners. He may even be a productive second and help you to victories.

Keep in mind he had only one touchdown in 2004, a year that Tomlinson ran wild and Gates emerged.

This year looks to stack up a little differently.

And, I can promise you that next year, Aung San Suu Kyi will still be under house arrest, George Bush will still have soldiers in Iraq, Hostages will still be in Lebanon, the Twins will be remembered for a hard run at the World Series, and Scott Norwood will still be the most well known Bills player (wide right) in history.

Oh, and you never know; Parcells might be in another Superbowl.

3. LaDainian Tomlinson

#3 on the over-all depth chart is probably #1 as well. If I get one of the first three picks this year there aren't any wrong choices. In fact, by getting the third pick the choice will have been made; except for the occasional early Manning pick. By choosing third there will be no anguish or regret, since you will get the one that's left, and you will have a #1 pick and get to chose your second two spots ahead.

I have traded out of the first spot, in the past, in order to get a middle position pick so I can have two quality picks.

I will not be doing that this year.

Rivers is the primary concern for all L.T. owners.

There is a lot of mileage on L.T. 7361 is a great career for most backs. 27 is still young, but the pounding he has taken has caused some analysts to think that he is losing a step, evidenced at the end of last season.

San Diego will run this horse into the ground and all indications are that he has a great off-season workout. L.T. has been decently durable and Turner is a great back-up.

San Diego's line has gotten stronger and more confident with L.T. behind them, and even though there are question's with Oben's health, Manumaleuna, Shea, and perhaps Gates and even Mercedes Lewis will help the O.T. rookie, McNeill.

Lorenzo Neal doesn't get enough love. In fact, the fullback position doesn't get the respect it deserves in fantasy discussions. In front of most great runners is a great fullback.

Richardson is elevating the Minnesota attack into respect, almost by himself. Neal is a twelve year veteran of the most unselfish position in football and a consummate professional.

So, the real question is quarterback.

San Diego will not threaten to win their division. I can't see them beating Denver or Kansas City for that distinction. They will probably be racing Oakland out of the A.F.C. West cellar.

However, they have a very soft schedule. After visiting Baltimore and hosting Pittsburgh, it looks good until  the Seattle game; and if all goes well Seattle will be sitting their stars for the playoffs.

If Rivers can be competent, then San Diego could be contending for a playoff spot.

If.

Years studying on the bench and allowing the layers of muscle to build since college have helped his coming out immensely. Aikman said he would have had a longer career had he not been pounded so much in his first year. Brees couldn't have had a great year last year without good protection. Maybe everything is in place for Rivers to be the rare experience-rookie quarterback to succeed.

He was a champion previously and had great success in college. Even with the shoulder injury Brees was still formidable, yet they released him. Schottenheimer is a great coach and knows what he's doing, and, if he believes in Rivers then can we do any less?

Why draft a good quarterback then?

I think that every player needs to prove himself in the heat of battle, especially the quarterback. You either have it like Brady, develop it like Palmer or slowly die like Harrington. Rivers will have every opportunity to succeed.

Feeley is not a competent enough back-up, let alone starter. Whitehurst could be a great quarterback and will have a few years to learn and grow. Already pundits say there is a lack of confidence in Rivers and a Q.B. controversy is brewing, but, i don't think so.

Who knows about injury and future contracts. Why pass up on a good talent that can only make you deeper and better prepared for the future.

Tomlinson will have a great year, and with the schedule favoring him, could easily justify a first overall pick.

I believe that the best players come from the best teams. San Diego still has too many questions in this area. Their division is brutal and every team has improved. The Receiver corps is not stellar but only adequate. Gates is a great weapon, but, defenses are resolving that he will not beat them and are game planning accordingly. He may be asked to block more to protect the new quarterback.

Teams will be allowed to tee up and tee off on Tomlinson and this could hurt his numbers.

L.T. is a punishing back, the opposite of Alexander, and even though that is to be respected and appreciated it, eventually, will take its toll on his body.

(Based on the usual fantasy pointing and a modest yardage scoring system.)

In '05, he finished #3 and had a terrible finish. Probably none of his owners got to appreciate the one touchdown he would have scored in fantasy's Superbowl.

In '04, at #2, he led his owner there and disappeared with zero points in week 17.

In '03, #3 after a slow start, he scored huge through the second half, playoffs and Superbowl. This was a great season.

But, in '02 he was #6 with a lousy finish.

His track record isn't consistent and this is why he is #3 on my depth chart.