2008 season kicks off in minutes

by | Aug 3, 2008 | Fantasy Football, NFL Breaking News

I was hoping to do a bit more specific write-up on the Hall of Fame inductions from Saturday but the day got away from me a bit. I’ll let the NFL Hall of Fame Web site profiles and induction speeches speak for themselves. Please see attached.

Congratulations to the six inductees, five of whom I grew up watching – I’m not ready to say I’m getting old, but the fact that guys I watched when I was in college are now making the Hall is … eye opening.

But we’ll get past that pretty easily tonight. The 2008 season is about to kick off. I don’t think there’s a ton to be learned about the Indianapolis Colts from tonight’s tilt. Perhaps it’ll be worth paying attention to what Jim Sorgi does in case Peyton Manning misses a game or two of the real season, but Marvin Harrison and several of the other Colts veterans aren’t expected to play much if at all.

The early minutes of the Redskins season, on the other hand, could be telling. Jason Campbell is learning something like his 23rd offense in the last eight seasons going back to his college years. How is he picking it up? Will Jim Zorn’s version of the West Coast offense succeed? What is it going to mean for Clinton Portis? Chris Cooley? Both are guys who could improve their numbers and thus their fantasy statuses this year – but only if Campbell proves capable.

In reality this game is probably only going to be interesting for a quarter – if that. But the big picture for me is that the games are starting – that means the true countdown can begin. Just a month and a day until the Regular Season begins – woo hoo!!! To borrow a line from Monday nights, “Are you ready for some football?”

Charchian chimes in on Fantasy Football 08

by | Aug 1, 2008 | Fantasy Football

I consider myself a fairly capable fantasy football player and I’ll put my history up against that of nearly anyone else. But a couple seasons ago I was stumped. I entered the championship game on a roll, having won seven of nine matchups including my semifinal game a week earlier.

But during that game my running backs were decimated with injuries and I was left with little more than waiver-wire options to stock my lineup with for Championship Sunday.

I had a couple ideas but thought I could use some additional guidance – so for the first time ever I emailed the guys at Fantasy Football Weekly, billed as the longest-running show on KFAN-AM radio in the Twin Cities (the show starts up again this Saturday, Aug. 2, at 10 a.m. central time and is podcast-able shortly afterward by clicking “Fan on Demand” at www.KFAN.com).

Paul Charchian, co-host of Fantasy Football Weekly and now founder of LeagueSafe®, and his colleagues recommended I pick up and start both Ron Dayne and Michael Pittman, one at running back and the other in a flex-position. They scored 18 and 9 points respectively helping me to a 64-63 win that netted a nice championship check and bragging rights over a group of east coasters wondering why a country bumpkin from the midwest was even in their league.

A few weeks ago Charchian noticed a post on this site and when contacted by Zoneblitz he graciously agreed to answer some questions and share his thoughts on what to expect during the season ahead.

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49ers a Fantasy Force?

by | Jul 31, 2008 | Fantasy Football

Matthew J. Darnell writes a blog for Yahoo! called The Shutdown Corner, which has made it to my RSS list due to his take on covering the NFL, and the fact that Redskins TE Chris Cooley regularly posts there, and actually seems to often have some interesting insights into the life of an NFL player (Cooley famously reported that he knocked himself out of his fantasy football league playoffs a couple years back with a 3 TD performance late in the season).

One of his regular features of late has been a love/hate review of each team as training camp opens.  Yesterday, he reviewed the San Francisco 49ers…and I almost cancelled my subscription.

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Not everyone is abandoning RB-RB

by | Jul 30, 2008 | Fantasy Football

A few weeks ago Zoneblitz published a post suggesting that the strategy of stacking your fantasy football team with running backs the first two rounds is falling out of style. The post was linked to by a couple other blogs and earned a comment from Minneapolis fantasy guru Paul Charchian, who provided a more detailed version of his “do the opposite” strategy.

Zoneblitz stands by its “let the draft come to you” strategy. But in fairness to loyal traditionalists not everyone has decided to eschew that philosophy. In fact the folks at Fanhouse say the more people do the opposite by drafting wide receivers and quarterbacks first, the stronger the running back options that will be available in the second round.

He may have a point. And for the record, Zoneblitz isn’t suggesting that you automatically draft wideouts and quarterbacks first. If there are two players of equal skill available by all means, take the running back. But if the best running back available is the sixth or seventh ranked back and the top one or two wideouts or quarterbacks are still on the board, don’t be afraid to take a chance.

Now, back to our program.

Thomas Jones launches record label

by | Jul 30, 2008 | Business of Football, Fantasy Football

New York Jets running back Thomas Jones has launched a new, independent record label called Outta Pocket Entertainment.

Jones, who told, well, he told someone that he listens to all different varieties of music, wants the label to tackle all the genres as well. The company has signed its first act, pop/R&B singer Myko.

“We met three years ago in Miami and I knew instantly that I wanted to invest time and finances into his singing career,” Jones told AllHeadlineNews.com. “He has great charisma, personality, and is a natural singer and songwriter.”

AllHeadlineNews.com cites an interview with Jones in Allhiphop.com where the back says, “I want to put out classic music that individuals will appreciate for years to come.”

Good for Jones. After his career got off to a slow start he kept his mouth shut, worked hard and managed to make good out of his career, and is now amidst a three-year run of 1,100-plus yard rushing seasons.

I don’t have the foggiest idea what Jones’ music tastes are or whether or not I’ll ever buy an album put out under his label. But it’s nice to hear stories of athletes with plans for their lives beyond their sport of choice. Don’t count Jones out on the field this year either.

The Jets overspent on some free agents this offseason, but in doing so they added aging-but-still-good guard Alan Faneca and tackle Damien Woody to an offensive line that was, well, fairly offensive at times last season. They also added fullback Tony Richardson who is close to done, but still should be able to open a hole or two for Jones.

Jones still managed 1,119 yards behind that group last year. He should put up at least similar yardage this year and improve greatly on his single touchdown effort. He may not have sleeper written all over him, but it scribbled in erasable ink somewhere.

Jordan to New England hurts Maroney’s status

by | Jul 27, 2008 | Fantasy Football

Does it seem to anyone else that New England coach Bill Belichick just doesn’t trust Laurence Maroney?

During the 2007 season’s last seven games and the playoffs, Maroney seemed to come into his own. He had four 100 yard rushing games the second half of the season and generally established himself as a solid threat, as long as two factors are in play: he has to be healthy and Belichick has to want to run the ball.

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