Ok, so it's not "pros" that I'm up against but a good friend of mine formed a fantasy football league this year to compete against friends and family and asked me to join, so I did. While I'm certainly no where near as knowledgeable about the NFL as they are, I threw my hat in the ring and jumped into the draft with little preparation at all. I'm somewhat happy with my team, though I'd love opinions from more knowledgeable people, but I'll be the first to admit that I took some chances that maybe I shouldn't have.
The draft was fun and interesting, and there was plenty of chatter going on, so I have high hopes for a very entertaining season as I get my rear kicked by those who actually follow the NFL unlike myself. I was disappointed when I jumped in and found that I would be drafting 9th as that ruled out a couple of players that I had wanted to grab such as Vick and Foster, but I made do. Without further ado though, here are my draft selections this year.
The Random thoughts of an Avalanche fan in Nebraska...
Showing posts with label NFL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NFL. Show all posts
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Thursday, June 9, 2011
No NFL? No Problem...
There's not many people in the US that haven't at least heard about the possibility of the NFL not playing next season, and certainly fans of the game are watching the CBA talks drawn through the mud and courts very closely right now. It has even been recently reported that the NFL is prepared to go with an 8 game season if it comes to that but the new CBA would have to be signed by early November for even that to happen. For those not sure what is going on, in short the players and the league have a "Collective Bargaining Agreement" or a set of rules that both sides abide by in determining contracts and many other things, and this past year that agreement expired and the two sides were miles apart on agreeing upon another one. Without that agreement in place the league basically shuts down.
Now for many this is a horrible thing, and I certainly hated every second of the lost season the NHL suffered when they were in a similar situation several years back and hockey fans lost an entire year of NHL hockey, but for me personally I really don't mind. In fact other than missing out on Yahoo's fantasy football league if the season isn't played I am kind of rooting for a season long lockout for pro football.
Now for many this is a horrible thing, and I certainly hated every second of the lost season the NHL suffered when they were in a similar situation several years back and hockey fans lost an entire year of NHL hockey, but for me personally I really don't mind. In fact other than missing out on Yahoo's fantasy football league if the season isn't played I am kind of rooting for a season long lockout for pro football.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Huskers in the Draft
It was a pretty decent draft for the Huskers this year. With no real star power on offense, and a defense that has some good players but few true stars as well, having 7 players taken is a pretty good day.
The first of the group, and highly rated cornerback, was Prince Amukamara. Being a shutdown corner I was hoping he would go to Detroit who could use his skills. Despite being a 49ers fan growing up I have rooted for the Detroit Lions for a while (despite the bad years or maybe because of them) and then when Suh went there last year Detroit actually got much more of my attention than the '9ers. Having another Husker on the team would have been nice but Detroit instead got another defensive tackle who is supposed to make that defensive line one of the best in the league. Instead though Prince fell to the Giants at 19th. Unfortunately I will wish him the best but can't root for the Giants.
The first of the group, and highly rated cornerback, was Prince Amukamara. Being a shutdown corner I was hoping he would go to Detroit who could use his skills. Despite being a 49ers fan growing up I have rooted for the Detroit Lions for a while (despite the bad years or maybe because of them) and then when Suh went there last year Detroit actually got much more of my attention than the '9ers. Having another Husker on the team would have been nice but Detroit instead got another defensive tackle who is supposed to make that defensive line one of the best in the league. Instead though Prince fell to the Giants at 19th. Unfortunately I will wish him the best but can't root for the Giants.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Fantasy Football ... My First Year
Having declined the invite to a co-worker's annual fantasy football league for the past several years I finally caved-in this season. I didn't do much prep work or anything and for the most part (other than moving a couple players around and removing a few from my draft list) I didn't do much before the automatic draft. I ended up with a pretty decent team, getting Drew Brees, Reggie Wayne, and a number of others that I thought would do me well. For the most part they did really well though my Wide Receivers who I thought would do great for me were just average for the most part and my running backs (Charles, Bradshaw, McFadden) which I thought would be average were great most weeks.
Overall I have to be very happy with my first ever fantasy football league. I scored the most points in the entire league during the regular season ... but unfortunately I also had the most points scored against me by nearly 100 points. Despite having so many points scored against me I finished 2nd in the regular season with a 10-4 record just a game back on the league leader.
I ended the season in 6th place after a first round loss in the playoffs to the second highest scoring team that week (and only second because of a nearly 150 point performance from the highest scoring team). That's certainly not how I hoped to finish given the strong regular season but should have been what to expect given that everyone seemed to have some of their best weeks against me.
I did enjoy it quite a bit and learned some things along the way. It also increased my interest in the league as I became more interested in how teams and players were doing because they had a direct effect on my match ups. I watched more football this year than in past years though I don't know that I enjoyed it any more than usual, it was just that I had a bigger interest in what was going on. I think next year I'll definitely join again and may even get into a second league for fun.
Some things that I learned or discovered this season...
Overall I have to be very happy with my first ever fantasy football league. I scored the most points in the entire league during the regular season ... but unfortunately I also had the most points scored against me by nearly 100 points. Despite having so many points scored against me I finished 2nd in the regular season with a 10-4 record just a game back on the league leader.
I ended the season in 6th place after a first round loss in the playoffs to the second highest scoring team that week (and only second because of a nearly 150 point performance from the highest scoring team). That's certainly not how I hoped to finish given the strong regular season but should have been what to expect given that everyone seemed to have some of their best weeks against me.
I did enjoy it quite a bit and learned some things along the way. It also increased my interest in the league as I became more interested in how teams and players were doing because they had a direct effect on my match ups. I watched more football this year than in past years though I don't know that I enjoyed it any more than usual, it was just that I had a bigger interest in what was going on. I think next year I'll definitely join again and may even get into a second league for fun.
Some things that I learned or discovered this season...
- First off you can only control your own team. You can't stop your opponents from scoring however much they will so you just have to focus on having your team score as much as you can.
- Running backs are key and much more important than receivers. They will see regular action and get a bulk of activity in games. Receivers will be much more hit and miss depending on how much they are thrown to and can more easily let you down. Having solid reliable backs to start, then getting good receivers is a good plan but the more surefire receivers are still worth a look.
- A good quarterback can get you a lot of points, but if you draft late focus on your backs because outside a few that will get big points regularly there are plenty of QBs generally that you can get a good option after a good back or two.
- Don't draft defense until late unless you're getting one of the best in the league, and even then it can wait until later on. Kickers don't draft until the last round as they don't get a great deal of points generally anyway and can always be picked up later. It's not a bad idea to keep backups in the QB, RB, and WR position over having a second kicker or defense. Even if they don't play it keeps them out of the hands of your opponents.
- Watch trends. If someone becomes a starter that wasn't expected to be a starter they could end up getting big points later on and be available after the draft. Don't wait too long or someone else could snatch them up. Example this year, Vick ... who just happened to get 50 points against me the first week of the playoffs for the team that didn't hesitate and picked him up early on when he became starter.
- Players are streaky. They can get you 25 points one week and then get you 5 the next, especially receivers. Try to judge best who will perform and who won't but don't be surprised when those flip-flop and don't get down because you choose wrong one week because this will happen.
- Having too many playoff teams while extending the fun for more isn't a good way to go. Our 10 team league had 8 playoff teams allowing the 1st and 2nd place teams to finish 5th and 6th in the league. Six would have been a good number in a 10 team league and is probably the right number in a 12 team league as well. Allow the others to play in a consolation bracket to extend their season.
Friday, January 7, 2011
Predicting the NFL Playoffs
Sometimes it is fun to try to predict things. I enjoy doing this with sports, where teams will finish, who will win what, etc..., and given that the NFL playoffs begin tomorrow I thought I'd take a moment to throw out some predictions for who would win it all this year. What are yours???
AFC wild-card round
No. 6 New York Jets (11-5) at No. 3 Indianapolis Colts (10-6)The Jets finished with more regular season wins but this is the playoffs. Colts win this one in decisive fashion at home.
No. 5 Baltimore Ravens (12-4) at No. 4 Kansas City Chiefs (10-6)
A low scoring, defensive game in bad weather is what I’m expecting from this matchup. It is close but the Ravens hold the Chiefs off.
A low scoring, defensive game in bad weather is what I’m expecting from this matchup. It is close but the Ravens hold the Chiefs off.
AFC divisional round
No. 3 Indianapolis Colts (10-6) at No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4)
A good matchup and at first I want to go with Indy. In the end though I admit this isn’t the same Indy as in years past and in Pittsburgh the Steelers win a close one.
A good matchup and at first I want to go with Indy. In the end though I admit this isn’t the same Indy as in years past and in Pittsburgh the Steelers win a close one.
No. 5 Baltimore Ravens (12-4) at No. 1 New England Patriots (14-2)
New England is again playing well and Baltimore isn’t going to stop them enough or score enough to win. Patriots win easily.
New England is again playing well and Baltimore isn’t going to stop them enough or score enough to win. Patriots win easily.
AFC Championship Game
No. 2 Pittsburgh Steelers (12-4) at No. 1 New England Patriots (14-2)A battle of two good teams. In a back and forth game it could come down to who has the ball last. In the end of the game New England comes up big and advance.
NFC wild-card round
No. 5 New Orleans Saints (11-5) at No. 4 Seattle Seahawks (7-9)
The Saints have never won a road playoff game in their history … but the Seahawks have a losing record for a reason and that reason being they aren’t good. New Orleans wins but Seattle keeps it respectable.
No. 6 Green Bay Packers (10-6) at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)The Saints have never won a road playoff game in their history … but the Seahawks have a losing record for a reason and that reason being they aren’t good. New Orleans wins but Seattle keeps it respectable.
Perhaps the best game of the first round, both teams are capable of putting up big numbers. In the end, in Philadelphia, the edge goes to the Eagles in a close one.
NFC divisional round
No. 5 New Orleans Saints (11-5) at No. 1 Atlanta Falcons (13-3)Are the Falcons really as good as their record indicates? I hate to say it but I honestly don’t know. My gut tells me that the Saints win a close one though.
The Bears can’t get on track offensively and fall behind early never to catch up. Eagles win early then hold on.
NFC Championship Game
No. 5 New Orleans Saints (11-5) at No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)
Game is back and forth but Saints have been off and on all season and they are a bit too off in this one. Eagles win a close one.
Game is back and forth but Saints have been off and on all season and they are a bit too off in this one. Eagles win a close one.
SUPERBOWL XLV
No. 1 New England Patriots (14-2) vs. No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles (10-6)Offense galore in the Superbowl but the Patriots are a bit more consistant than the Eagles. Patriots again are crowned NFL Champions.
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