NFL Preseason: Week 3 fantasy football thoughts
The third week of NFL preseason action has been put to bed.
This past week of preseason play is always the most important because starters see far more playing time than they do in any of the other weeks. It gives us an opportunity to see if the players are who we thought they were. If you're like me, the eyeball test means more than anything else when preparing for my fantasy football league drafts. I want to see the passes, runs and throws in real game action. The third week of the preseason did not disappoint.
Are you getting High off the Washington backfield?
For the third consecutive year, each week I'll be sharing random fantasy football thoughts and tidbits based off of the preseason games. I break it down in a variety of categories based on what I'm seeing on the field and how it is making me feel about their value in fantasy football this year. This series won the Best Fantasy Football Series last year by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association in 2010.
Drinking the Kool Aid
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is poised to push for the No. 1 fantasy football quarterback this year. He had another strong outing, hitting 19 of his 23 attempts for 204 yards and a touchdown. If I have my choice of all of the quarterbacks this year, Rodgers is my pick. Tight end Jermichael Finley was a target of plenty of those passes, hauling in four balls for 41 yards and a touchdown. I still feel Finley is overvalued, but he is going to have a fine season if he can stay healthy.
Tim Hightower has looked awesome in the preseason. He beat up the Baltimore "D" to the tune of 56 yards and a touchdown on just nine rushing attempts. I'm still really high on Roy Helu Jr. (13-44-0), but Hightower has played so well in the preseason it cannot be ignored. I'd handcuff Helu to him later, but as long as Hightower doesn't revert to his fumbling ways it should be a very productive season for him. While I'm buying the hype right now, I would still have a hard time taking him higher than my No. 3 fantasy back. Tap your mouse here for more »
NFL Preseason: Week 2 fantasy football thoughts
For the third consecutive year, each week I'll be sharing random fantasy football thoughts and tidbits based off of the preseason games. I break it down in a variety of categories based on what I'm seeing on the field and how it is making me feel about their value in fantasy football this year. This series won the Best Fantasy Football Series last year by the Fantasy Sports Writers Association in 2010.
Arian Foster made the Saints' defense look silly
The second week of preseason play is in the books. If there is such a thing as watching too much football, I've done that in the last couple of days. I'm not complaining.
There were some interesting preseason games; some of the teams/players are looking pretty close to what we thought they were a few weeks ago. Others, however, are turning heads for the wrong reasons and some are just simply disappointing (Kansas City, I'm talking to you).
Drinking the Kool Aid
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford graced this space a week ago. He had another solid outing (without wide receiver Calvin Johnson playing due to a shoulder ailment), hitting six of 10 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown to receiver Nate Burleson (his second of the preseason). If Stafford can stay healthy, he is very capable of being a top-10 fantasy quarterback this year. Look for his low 100s ADP to start climbing. I'm also digging Burleson as a late-round option as a No. 5 receiver. Tap your mouse here for more »
NFL Preseason: Week 1 fantasy football thoughts
Welcome to football season. After a volatile offseason that left many of us wondering if the NFL lockout would ever be resolved, it's nice to have training camps open around the country and preseason games in action.
Lion King: Is Stafford ready to lead the Lions and fantasy football teams?
For the third consecutive year, I'll be sharing random fantasy football thoughts and tidbits based off of the preseason games. I break it down in a variety of categories based on what I'm seeing on the field in conjunction with how it is making me feel about their value in fantasy football leagues this year. This series won the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Best Fantasy Football Series last year, which was an honor and another awesome achievement for team KFFL.
As with every year, the first week of preseason action doesn't give us a ton to work with. Most starters only see a series or two, and it doesn't help that a lot of others are simply held out as precautionary measures. With the lockout stealing time this summer, the first week of preseason play was also riddled with sloppy play. That should not come as a surprise, and I fully anticipate many teams not firing on all cylinders when the regular season begins. Rust is rust, and missing all of the summer is going to be felt with timing, communication and general chemistry amongst teams.
Drinking the Kool Aid
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford has been a sleeper favorite for many the past two preseasons. Injuries robbed him of his potential a year ago. Will injuries force him to miss the majority of three seasons in a row? Stafford opened the preseason hitting six of seven passes for 71 yards passing and two touchdowns (one to Calvin Johnson and a questionable one to Nate Burleson). He made quick decisions, had pretty passes and was on the money with most of them. I don't think you can enter the season comfortably with Stafford as your No. 1 fantasy quarterback, but I'm targeting him as my No. 2 in almost every league format. The Lions have a lot of weapons and Stafford looks like he gets it ... now he just has to stay upright and off of the injury report. It's worth noting that both of Stafford's touchdowns went against Bengals cornerback Leon Hall, too, so it's not like he was picking on a third-string defender. Tap your mouse here for more »
Use caution with Mark Ingram’s fantasy football value
The fantasy football value of New Orleans Saints rookie running back Mark Ingram was tossed about recently on our new Big Lead Sports on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio show (catch us every Wednesday from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. ET).
Will the Saints give Mark Ingram the rock enough?
I'm in the camp that believes Ingram will not have a season that makes him any better than a No. 3 back in fantasy football circles. Tap your mouse here for more »
