New York Mets refinancing Citi Field, ruining return on Johan Santana
The discomforts of home?
The New York Mets haven't officially announced their intentions to change the dimensions of Citi Field, but, unofficially, work has already begun. The club is shrinking the distance between home plate and the outfield wall to create a neutral setting. A little more than a month ago, general manager Sandy Alderson all but confirmed that these alterations would take place.
The focus has been the improvements with respect to offense. It's no secret that multiple Metropolitans were unhappy with the distance to the fence (as well, no doubt, the height of said fence). As a result of this project, fantasy baseball gamers might - might - renew their interest in players like the formerly displeased David Wright (if he sticks around) and Jason Bay.
Did anybody ask Johan Santana - or any Mets pitcher, for that matter - for some input?
Increasing interest, passing principle Tap your mouse here for more »
Matt Kemp’s 2012 fantasy baseball value already doubtable
Counting on Kemp as a cash crop?
Last week, Baseball America revealed its 2011 Major League Player of the Year: Matt Kemp.
Seven months ago, scorned fantasy baseball players were still cursing the son of a benchwarmer's .249 batting average, 82 runs, 28 ding dongs, 89 RBIs and 19 stolen bases (in 34 attempts!) of 2010. They'd paid damn good money for or spent too valuable a pick on the Los Angeles Dodgers' center fielder, and they weren't about to repeat that mistake.
Members of the rotisserie rejected hurled obscenities at him (for a different reason) all season. They had some not-so-nice words for his 2011 owners, too, while they were at it. But, as the two factions put the past aside, they must have similar feelings about one thing: their price point for Kemp in 2012.
Are you in the Kemp kamp? Tap your mouse here for more »
Brandon Stokley could quickly become fantasy football asset
Stoked to grab Stokley?
Initially, the news that the New York Giants signed Brandon Stokley may not have struck you as all that important. The 13-year veteran wideout has caught 50 or more passes and has scored more than five times in a season only once, in 2004 with the Indianapolis Colts. He certainly didn't make you scramble to your fantasy football league's waiver wire once you heard about his deal.
Stokley, 35, is joining his fifth team. He's no longer a speedy, occasionally difference-making wide receiver. But he's still deft and heady. He may still have something to offer fantasy football players, too, particularly those in point-per-reception leagues - probably a good bit more than they realize.
Manning his post Tap your mouse here for more »
Appreciating the flexible fantasy football player who backs that tight end up
Davis part of new wave
A couple of years ago, fantasy football gamers in a typical 12-team, 16-man league didn't have much of a reason to carry a second tight end. You might've drafted one, but one of your TEs would be among your first cuts so that you could supplement your unstable nucleus of running backs or bring aboard a bye-week play at another position.
If you ever played a tight end in your flex spot, it was probably because you put yourself in a real pickle. Fantasy managers who frequently employed that tactic existed, but they were members of an endangered species or played in leagues with atypical scoring rules. Some leagues didn't (and still don't, for some odd reason) allow it. A tight end? There? That's sooo gross.
It's beyond cliche to refer to the depth of the position anymore, however. In fact, tight end is so deep that it offers more than one possibility every week - if you're willing to go there.
Who does No. 2 work for? Tap your mouse here for more »
I still feel the same way, 10 weeks later, fantasy football gamers
Itsy bitsy teenie Beanie love
On June 29, I jotted down some answers - which weren't going to be published - to a long series of fantasy football poll questions.
On Sept. 7, I was curious about what I'd forecasted for the 2011 season that long ago, so I read them.
The escalated uncertainty that was destined to spring forth from the aftermath of the NFL's labor dispute was bound to render some of them irrelevant, and others just don't sit well anymore. But the responses that still rang true with me - my unwavering suppositions - struck me.
Fantasy football, at 1.21 jigawatts Tap your mouse here for more »
Fantasy football wide receivers yielding in Year 2: Eric Decker, Denver Broncos
The new Easy Ed?
He was still recovering from a pretty serious foot injury, but Eric Decker was one of the more underrated prospects in the 2010 NFL Draft class. The 2009 Biletnikoff Award finalist was perhaps the University of Minnesota's only legitimate weapon on offense. Unfortunately, near the end of his senior season, he suffered a Lisfranc sprain in his left foot.
The Denver Broncos drafted the 6-foot-3, 218-pound wide receiver in the third round and were patient as he gradually increased his workload in OTAs, training camp and preseason practices. Regardless, Decker's slow indoctrination, despite a couple of thrilling exhibition games, and the team's depth put him at a disadvantage in Josh McDaniels' offense.
One year later, the big pass catcher is turning headsets and beggin' for a bit of a fantasy football love.
Double Decker dare deal Tap your mouse here for more »
Fantasy football wide receivers yielding in Year 2: Taylor Price, New England Patriots
Price goes up, comes down with ball
When a receiver is buried on the depth chart behind Wes Welker, Chad Ochocinco and Deion Branch and competing with Brandon Tate and Julian Edelman for attention, he might seem like a hopeless case. But the most talented wideout on the New England Patriots' roster may be moving ahead of those last two names and into Tom Brady's circle of trust.
Still, in that scenario, why fantasy football players would take an interest in 2010 third-round pick Taylor Price, who was active for only one 2010 game - in Week 17 - isn't immediately obvious. To those who haven't seen the 6-foot, 205-pounder play, that is.
Limited time only, reduced Price Tap your mouse here for more »
Fantasy football wide receivers yielding in Year 2: Dezmon Briscoe, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Briscoe beginning to stand out
Last season, Dezmon Briscoe didn't sniff a fantasy football roster. In fact, he barely got a whiff of an NFL roster. The Cincinnati Bengals drafted him in the sixth round in 2010 and cut him after their final preseason game. Tampa Bay Buccaneers GM Mark Dominik, like Briscoe a product of Kansas, apparently tracked the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder after the draft and signed the receiver soon after he became available.
Briscoe bided his time on the Bucs' practice squad before debuting in Week 16, the same week that Arrelious Benn tore his ACL. The former Jayhawk caught two passes in that tilt plus four more balls for 65 yards and a TD in the final regular season contest. That seems to have been enough to whet his whistle.
Law and average draft order Tap your mouse here for more »
Fantasy football wide receivers yielding in Year 2: Golden Tate, Seattle Seahawks
Tate trudges forth
Fantasy football players fell in love with Golden Tate (5-foot-10, 202 pounds) far too quickly after the Seattle Seahawks drafted him in 2010.
Assuredly, the disappointment that many sleeper-seeking fantasy owners felt last year is fueling the lack of attention that Tate, 23, receives in drafts in 2011. The Seattle sophomore has made a different impression in his second NFL training camp.
Golden opportunity Tap your mouse here for more »
The carefree forecasts for Josh Freeman
Freeman drafters look forward - only
Honestly, I didn't expect to see Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman's name so high in the quarterback section of Mock Draft Central's ADP data awhile back. Some fantasy football players are willing to take this Adonis-like passer in the first 60 to 80 picks. His ADP is about 100th overall, which places him 10th among QBs for the average drafter.
Freeman made remarkable advances in 2010. He threw a mere six picks, one-third the number he tossed in his rookie campaign, in 184 more attempts. That Tom Brady-like total, combined with his 25 TD tosses - 11 of them to stud pass-catcher Mike Williams - helped him fashion a No. 8 finish among signal callers in total fantasy points.
What was I thinking? Of course he'll be drafted that early. Everybody loves a young stud. And he'll only get better, right?
These points ain't free, man Tap your mouse here for more »
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