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Fantasy Football

2008 Fantasy Football Primer – Player Predictions

Fantasy Play

Another blessed year of Fantasy is upon us but this year is different. By the goodness of the NFL and graciousness of the league owners, I now write as the crowned Champion of the coveted and widely respected Buddha’s Belly Fantasy Football League.

Some of you may remember how last year my team was mocked from the outset and blasted with injuries but the football Gods smiled, deemed my penance paid and rewarded my team with a trophy. I should probably repeat this season after last Fridays nights draft results but you never can tell with injuries and, as the Giants proved last year, luck actually plays a big part of it too.

I am back though to give you the goods on who is the real deal and who was just faking us out last year. I will run through the deal-maker positions starting QB moving onto RB, WR and finally the TE’s. Kickers and defenses are not important and I almost always draft them next to last unless I can get a deal.

The quarterbacks are led by last year’s darling and many owners week 4 waiver wire pickup, Derek Anderson. Anderson who is a good athlete came out of nowhere to absolutely light up the NFL by running the Cleveland offense and leading them to be one of the highest scoring groups in the NFL. Sorry about your luck this year Derek because you aren’t sneaking up on anyone. It’s a lot tougher to stay on top of the NFL especially when you face the NFC East this year and not the defenseless NFC West. If you have a late draft make this guy a late pick.

The QB I like this year to return to form is Donovan McNabb. I think he will be back in a big way and be the monster he started out a couple years ago. He will be a mid-late round steal in most drafts this year much like Brett Favre a year ago. Mark my words Donovan is back with or without big name receivers to back him up, keep in mind Westbrook gets his 80 receptions. Keep an eye on Marc Bulger simply because he can’t be worse than last season and he will slip in almost every draft.

The most critical of all positions is the RB and there are a few guys I like this year and a couple I am deathly afraid of as fantasy foundations. Ryan Grant tops my list of dudes to shy away from until after the fourth or fifth rounds. Call me crazy but the combination of Aaron Rodgers and his holdout after seven strong games gives me cause for pause. Here is a guy the Giants gave away at the beginning of the season now playing behind an unproven QB added to the fact he is getting a late start on training and playing. The other guy really needs no explanation, he plays for the Chiefs and their starting QB is Brodie Croyle. LJ may see 11 men in the box unless Croyle is the QB sensation of the decade. Lets hope the Chefs can cook because LJ could look a lot like ground beef by week 6 with the pounding he will take behind that line.

The guys I like to be the men to line up for you every week and not worry about that you will get cheap like a certain Blue Ribbon beverage. Selvin Young for Denver is a guys to count on, the Broncos paid T.Henry a pile of money last year and they still had to play this guy. You know that Cutler’s big arm will give the Bronco backs space and even splitting carries with Hall (70-30%) won’t diminish his production in Shanahan’s run friendly offense. The other guy I like has been facing the same music year after year how he is not living up to the hype and all he does is go out and produce. MacGahee is the man for the Ravens, never mind what the coaching staff says about Rice, and starting a rookie QB has Willis primed for an even bigger season .

MacGahee faced 8 man fronts constantly in his tenure as both a Bill and now as a Raven because of weak passing games. Don’t think for a minute that Rice, another rookie, will be the guy in Baltimore when they have a proven workhorse in the stable and a rookie QB on the field. As a bonus I am here to tell you Rickey Williams is back too. He has been in a Bill Parcells camp and still hasn’t quit! Word is he is doing very well which gives the Phins time to get Brown back up to full health. Watch out because the 2002 rushing champ may not be finished in the NFL yet and could be the steal of any draft.

Words on Wides is that Randy Moss is pretty good. He is but I have 27 million reasons to say he ain’t going to do it again. That’s right, I am questioning his motivation and I have proof…see the Raiders and Vikings escapades. He took the money so fast in NE it should scare everyone. Bold I know and it may burn me but never let it be said I take the easy road. Unless Ocho Cinco moves on this season I think he may be a fantasy star of the past. Unfortunate because I love the guy and think he is a great character even if he sometimes goes a little too far, his talent sorta backs him up. I don’t think he can play urt and I am not sure he and Palmer have the kind of relationship they need to be great. Housh will likely suffer because of it too, so Bengals buyers beware.

On the upside was there any deal more curious or profitable for fantasy owners last season than the surprising trade of Chris Chambers? SD scored in a big way and Chambers could move into the fantasy elite as the 1A option, behind Gates’ 1, in a passing game that catapults out of the LT fear factor. Finally Chambers talent will be recognized and he will be one of your top options this year. Favre is going to make Jericho the man in New York ahead of Coles but this young talent will make good of the new QB scene. Hey the guy did pretty well with Pennington and Clemens throwing the ball and how many no-names has Brett Favre turned into Probowlers…that’s right…PRO-BOWL, Cotchery…got it? Special mention goes to Robert Meachem in NO because he is going to be a big reason why NO wins the division in the South. Imagine the NO offense with a serious deep threat who can catch, no offense Devery…or take offense, either way you are 5th option by the 3rd game

Anybody think Witten will be on the board past round 4? Never mind him he is good and pretty much unstoppable. The guys I want to talk about aren’t sure things, yet. Davis is SF and JTO’s hope to finish out of the bottom of the pathetic NFC West. He is better than any of the Niner WR’s and more than a match for the LB’s or SS’s trying to cover him. He could be the TE going for 75/1000 this season as an outlet for the JTO/Hill/Smith troika. Finally the last player, like moss growing on a rock Alge grows where no QB throws. Bad career move for Crumpler moving to a place where the QB rushes for more yards than his receivers have and all the excitement is about how many RB’s they have that can play. Moving to what is essentially a glorified wishbone offense is not a receiving TE’s best move.

That’s all I got to start the year…none of these guys should be on the waiver wire except Meachem and you have a game or two before he will be gone. If they are on the wire grab them and send my cut of your winnings to me or donate to a favorite charity. Before I go I will share with you my picks in our league draft this season where I am certain to repeat. Tell me the weakness you see in my team and I will tell you in at least three ways how you are wrong. Later and good luck, although you are all off to a great start because you don’t have to play in my league.

Picks in this order, 10 teams, QB, RB, RB/WR, WR, WR, TE, K, DEF and 7 reserves.
LT, Lynch, Colston, Boldin, MacGahee, Favre, Chambers, Cutler, Crayton, Davis, Ronnie Brown, GB DEF, Greg Olsen, JWalker, Rob Bironas

By Cappers Picks

Articles on CappersPicks.com are written by Q (the Head Honcho) at Cappers Picks or by our resident "in house" handicapper Razor Ray Monohan! Enjoy the free picks folks! "Pad that bankroll one day at a time!"