Some of my Fantasy Football Lineup Decisions I face this week, and where I'm leaning as of Wednesday.
1) FLEX, Standard Scoring: Cecil Shorts, Dwayne Bowe, Donald Brown, Vick Ballard
I'd really like to play an Indy running back if I had any idea one of them would get the majority of the touches. With no such clarity forthcoming, I'm currently ruling out both. Shorts has a rough matchup against a very strong Texans unit, so Bowe, despite having a balky thigh, seems the obvious choice, here.
2) FLEX, PPR: Mike Wallace, Jeremy Maclin, Antonio Gates
Mike Wallace was a weekly starter for me, but the injury to Ben Roethlisberger will likely lead to Wallace finding a spot on my bench this week. Maclin, meanwhile, showed a nice early rapport with Nick Foles and has a cushy matchup with the Redskins. For all the Broncos-love I just extolled, they certainly can't guard the tight-end, giving up a league-worst 11.7 ppg to the position in standard scoring. Still, I'm leaning toward Maclin, who has greater home-run potential. My other starter WR's are Eric Decker and Reggie Wayne.
3) WR, Standard Scoring: Titus Young, Danario Alexander, Jeremy Kerley
I know. Yuck, right? Well, Pierre Garcon never did a thing, Hakeem Nicks and Kenny Britt are on a bye, and, well, it's a 12-team league. At the moment, I'm playing Young and Alexander. Young goes up against a Green Bay defense who is bottom-10 against WRs in fantasy scoring, while I simply don't trust Mark Sanchez to get the ball to Kerley.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Monday, November 12, 2012
The Scariest Team in the NFL
I woke up this morning after watching the Houston-Chicago game a bit depressed. My Bears lost at their own game, namely: the turnover battle. In slippery "Bear-weather" (quoted for absurdity), it was Chicago, not the visiting Texans, who couldn't hold onto the football.
But this game did answer a few questions, most notably among them being this: neither of these teams are that scary. The Texans have a mauler offensive line and arguably the best running back in football, but their offense is very one-dimensional. I don't see the Texans keeping up with other teams in a shootout. I just don't. Their defense was just good enough and benefited from some very sloppy Bears ball security and another Jay Cutler concussion.
So, if not the Texans and if not the Bears (and their terrific defense), who is it? Who is the team that no one wants to play right now? Who is thebest scariest team in the NFL? The Giants looked very November-y last week, the 49ers couldn't even put away a divisional opponent they have recently dominated in the Rams, and the Packers have certainly seemed vulnerable at times but also are dealing with injuries to key players on both sides of the ball.
No, it's not the bruising 49ers. It's not the Aaron Rodgers show. It's not the one-dimensional Texans or the Bears, with all of their question marks. It's not the under-performing Giants or the off-and-on Ravens.
None of the above.
The scariest team in the NFL right now, the team that nobody wants to face by a wide margin, is the Denver Broncos. That's right. With the recent acquisition of Trindon Holliday, who has scored two return TDs in the past two weeks, the Broncos are now clicking in all three phases of the game. Peyton Manning is playing at an MVP level and has really brought out the talent in Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas. Defensively, the Broncos have also been amazing, ranking in the top-10 in all four major categories: points against, total yards against, pass yards against, and rush yards against. Remember all those years of the Peyton Colts? Everyone always wondered what it would be like if those Indianapolis teams had a defense to back up Manning. Now, we get to see that. Admittedly, it's not the Peyton of his prime, but nonetheless he is still clearly capable of playing at a high level. This may be the best overall team that Peyton has ever been a part of, and in a league with no clear favorites in either conference, the Broncos are certainly making the case to become one.
And even if their not a favorite team just yet, they remain the scariest.
But this game did answer a few questions, most notably among them being this: neither of these teams are that scary. The Texans have a mauler offensive line and arguably the best running back in football, but their offense is very one-dimensional. I don't see the Texans keeping up with other teams in a shootout. I just don't. Their defense was just good enough and benefited from some very sloppy Bears ball security and another Jay Cutler concussion.
So, if not the Texans and if not the Bears (and their terrific defense), who is it? Who is the team that no one wants to play right now? Who is the
No, it's not the bruising 49ers. It's not the Aaron Rodgers show. It's not the one-dimensional Texans or the Bears, with all of their question marks. It's not the under-performing Giants or the off-and-on Ravens.
None of the above.
The scariest team in the NFL right now, the team that nobody wants to face by a wide margin, is the Denver Broncos. That's right. With the recent acquisition of Trindon Holliday, who has scored two return TDs in the past two weeks, the Broncos are now clicking in all three phases of the game. Peyton Manning is playing at an MVP level and has really brought out the talent in Eric Decker and Demaryius Thomas. Defensively, the Broncos have also been amazing, ranking in the top-10 in all four major categories: points against, total yards against, pass yards against, and rush yards against. Remember all those years of the Peyton Colts? Everyone always wondered what it would be like if those Indianapolis teams had a defense to back up Manning. Now, we get to see that. Admittedly, it's not the Peyton of his prime, but nonetheless he is still clearly capable of playing at a high level. This may be the best overall team that Peyton has ever been a part of, and in a league with no clear favorites in either conference, the Broncos are certainly making the case to become one.
And even if their not a favorite team just yet, they remain the scariest.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Week 10 Fantasy Lineup Choices
Each week, I plan to examine my lineup choices in my three most competitive leagues. I will explain my rationale for the selection and then review them independently after the week has concluded to see where I can improve.
League 1: PPR Experts League (fantasyknuckleheads.com)
With Darren Sproles hand injury, my lineup decision became much easier. I'm using Mike Wallace in the Flex over Jeremy Maclin and Antonio Gates, while starting Eric Decker and Reggie Wayne, who already netted me 17 points.
League 2: 12-team .25 PPR
I used Vick Ballard over Jamaal Charles at RB2 due to matchup and already regret the choice. I think the logic was wise, but Andrew Luck vultured the rushing TDs. In my remaining decisions I am going with:
1) Vernon Davis over Dustin Keller at tight end. This seems like a no-brainer, but Davis has been unproductive of late due to opposing defenses scheming for him, among other problems. I think the 49ers figures out how to get him involved over the bye and Saint Louis has been bad against the tight end thus far, giving up over 60 yards/game.
2) Reggie Wayne and Marques Colston over Dwayne Bowe at WR. Wayne already put up a solid performance, and I like Colston in a likely shootout. Kansas City has been awful this season, and while I do think they could be throwing a lot from behind, I'm not taking the gamble.
3) Jamaal Charles over Dwayne Bowe at Flex. I may change this decision before Monday night, but as of now I'm going with Charles' talent to win out, despite his frustrating usage. This is my most difficult decision of the week.
League 3: 12-team standard scoring
Pick Three for 2 WR spots and a flex: Hakeem Nicks, Kenny Britt, Jeremy Kerley, Titus Young, Brandon Myers. That's more or less my decision. My wide receivers have underperformed all season, with Pierre Garcon my desired WR2 suffering an early foot injury and never really making it back.
Perhaps foolishly, I'm sticking with Nicks. He and the Giants HAVE to turn things around after last week's disaster against Pittsburgh... at least I hope so.
I'm also using Britt. Miami is to be beaten through the air, and the return of Jake Locker is likely a boon to Britt's value.
That leaves a choice between Kerley, Young, and Myers for my final Flex spot. At the moment, I'm sticking with Kerley, but I'm not sold on the choice. He seems to have become the Jets de facto number one receiver, but the matchup is terrible. Young doesn't have a much better matchup, with the Vikings only allowing 1.4 more points per game to receivers. Moreover, Young has been battling an injury all week. I think Myers is an interesting gamble in a game where the Raiders will have to throw, but I'm using the receiver with higher upside.
League 1: PPR Experts League (fantasyknuckleheads.com)
With Darren Sproles hand injury, my lineup decision became much easier. I'm using Mike Wallace in the Flex over Jeremy Maclin and Antonio Gates, while starting Eric Decker and Reggie Wayne, who already netted me 17 points.
League 2: 12-team .25 PPR
I used Vick Ballard over Jamaal Charles at RB2 due to matchup and already regret the choice. I think the logic was wise, but Andrew Luck vultured the rushing TDs. In my remaining decisions I am going with:
1) Vernon Davis over Dustin Keller at tight end. This seems like a no-brainer, but Davis has been unproductive of late due to opposing defenses scheming for him, among other problems. I think the 49ers figures out how to get him involved over the bye and Saint Louis has been bad against the tight end thus far, giving up over 60 yards/game.
2) Reggie Wayne and Marques Colston over Dwayne Bowe at WR. Wayne already put up a solid performance, and I like Colston in a likely shootout. Kansas City has been awful this season, and while I do think they could be throwing a lot from behind, I'm not taking the gamble.
3) Jamaal Charles over Dwayne Bowe at Flex. I may change this decision before Monday night, but as of now I'm going with Charles' talent to win out, despite his frustrating usage. This is my most difficult decision of the week.
League 3: 12-team standard scoring
Pick Three for 2 WR spots and a flex: Hakeem Nicks, Kenny Britt, Jeremy Kerley, Titus Young, Brandon Myers. That's more or less my decision. My wide receivers have underperformed all season, with Pierre Garcon my desired WR2 suffering an early foot injury and never really making it back.
Perhaps foolishly, I'm sticking with Nicks. He and the Giants HAVE to turn things around after last week's disaster against Pittsburgh... at least I hope so.
I'm also using Britt. Miami is to be beaten through the air, and the return of Jake Locker is likely a boon to Britt's value.
That leaves a choice between Kerley, Young, and Myers for my final Flex spot. At the moment, I'm sticking with Kerley, but I'm not sold on the choice. He seems to have become the Jets de facto number one receiver, but the matchup is terrible. Young doesn't have a much better matchup, with the Vikings only allowing 1.4 more points per game to receivers. Moreover, Young has been battling an injury all week. I think Myers is an interesting gamble in a game where the Raiders will have to throw, but I'm using the receiver with higher upside.
Saturday, November 10, 2012
How I'd Run the Lakers
How I'd Run The Lakers
also: NBA Exec of the Year
The race is over. There is no need to vote. Sports writers everywhere can save the ink or blank stares at a computer screen. The box has been checked for them: GM of the Year, 2012-2013, Mitch Kupchak.
Executive of the Year: executive vice president of player personnel Jim Buss.
It doesn't take balls to fire your head coach five games into the season, it takes brains. Anyone with a lone eyeball could tell that Mike Brown was a terrible fit for the Lakers. I, for one, am surprised he was ever hired in the first place. LA is simply the wrong town for Brown, who couldn't even effectively handle the spotlight Lebron carried with him to Cleveland before he famously took hissize power athleticism talents to South Beach. But, handling the stars and the spotlight is one thing... and a hard to quantify "thing" at that. Brown's failure was a basketball one, both in scheme and rotation. Many analysts, commentators, and other professionals have said as much, but I will take it a step further. I won't just critique Mike Brown, I'll offer suggestions as to what I'd have done differently.
I'll admit, when I first considered developing an offensive game plan for the Lakers, I thought it would be simple. In the frontcourt, you've got the league's best "true" center paired with one of the greatest finesse big men of all time. In the backcourt, you have one of the greatest scorers of all time paired with Mr. Floor General, Steve Nash. Simple. Just give one of them the basketball and watch it work.
Then I thought about actually diagramming a play. Where does Dwight go so he doesn't eat up the lane for Kobe or Nash? What about Kobe? How does he do without the ball in his hands? And Gasol? How do he and Dwight share post looks? Does Pau just become a rich man's Bill Wennington?
The problem became a tangled mess in my mind... and I hadn't even recalled the need to include Metta World Peace.
Let's call it a moment of clarity, but then it came to me simply. Here's your base offense for the 2012-2013 Lakers, Phil, or Mike, or whatever coach Jim and Mitch bring in... you're welcome.
Nash Brings the ball up and tries to find Gasol on the left block. Howard is at the right top of the key with Kobe at the right hash and Metta World Peace in the far corner. The first option is Gasol on the left block. If it isn't there, or we want a different look, Nash runs a high pick and roll with Howard at the top of the key while Kobe drifts more right. As Howard sets the pick, Gasol moves out to the left hash. As Nash drives off the screen, Metta World Peace waits in the corner or cuts baseline. If nothing is there, Nash maintains possession and resets or kicks it out to Kobe.
The same set can be run with 1) Kobe on the left block, Gasol/Howard at high post, Metta World Peace at right Hash, Gasol/Howard in right corner. 2) Howard on block, Gasol at high post, Kobe in corner, Metta World Peace at Hash. It's versatile, it uses the strengths of the players involved, and can be run with an entirely different look by the second unit with Ebanks and shooters. It's mind-numbingly simple and obvious.
Yeah, I know, it's one damn play. Then again, so is the triangle system, essentially. So is the pick and roll, so is any iso.
Why couldn't Mike Brown figure this out? Why did he insist on using the Princeton offense with big, athletic super-stars?
That's why he deserved the firing. And he should forfeit the $11 million he's owed to save face.
Now, on to Exec of the Year...
All Mitch Kupchak did this offseason was bring in a (sorely needed) (hall of fame) point guard and the league's most irreplacable (big man) (player) center. He moved an injur(ed)y-prone Andrew Bynum to make way for Howard. Those two moves alone were enough to win him the award, but when you add on his ability and willingness to let go of an obvious square peg in a round hole and then (perhaps) convince the great Zen Master himself to return like the NBA is some bad kung fu movie, you have an absolute master performance.
In some very overlooked moves, Kupchak also brought in Antawn Jamison to provide more veteran bench leadership and made, in my opinion, a very underrated draft choice that no one is talking about when he picked up Robert Sacre. Sacre is raw but huge and played well enough to make the Lakers 15-man regular season roster (instead of being relegated to the D-League). He needs to develop and may never do so, but what greater mentors than Howard and Gasol?
My hat is off to you, Mitch, and my playbook is open to all. Until D-Rose finishes up with #thereturn I think I need to find a yellow no. 24 jersey.
also: NBA Exec of the Year
The race is over. There is no need to vote. Sports writers everywhere can save the ink or blank stares at a computer screen. The box has been checked for them: GM of the Year, 2012-2013, Mitch Kupchak.
Executive of the Year: executive vice president of player personnel Jim Buss.
It doesn't take balls to fire your head coach five games into the season, it takes brains. Anyone with a lone eyeball could tell that Mike Brown was a terrible fit for the Lakers. I, for one, am surprised he was ever hired in the first place. LA is simply the wrong town for Brown, who couldn't even effectively handle the spotlight Lebron carried with him to Cleveland before he famously took his
I'll admit, when I first considered developing an offensive game plan for the Lakers, I thought it would be simple. In the frontcourt, you've got the league's best "true" center paired with one of the greatest finesse big men of all time. In the backcourt, you have one of the greatest scorers of all time paired with Mr. Floor General, Steve Nash. Simple. Just give one of them the basketball and watch it work.
Then I thought about actually diagramming a play. Where does Dwight go so he doesn't eat up the lane for Kobe or Nash? What about Kobe? How does he do without the ball in his hands? And Gasol? How do he and Dwight share post looks? Does Pau just become a rich man's Bill Wennington?
The problem became a tangled mess in my mind... and I hadn't even recalled the need to include Metta World Peace.
Let's call it a moment of clarity, but then it came to me simply. Here's your base offense for the 2012-2013 Lakers, Phil, or Mike, or whatever coach Jim and Mitch bring in... you're welcome.
Nash Brings the ball up and tries to find Gasol on the left block. Howard is at the right top of the key with Kobe at the right hash and Metta World Peace in the far corner. The first option is Gasol on the left block. If it isn't there, or we want a different look, Nash runs a high pick and roll with Howard at the top of the key while Kobe drifts more right. As Howard sets the pick, Gasol moves out to the left hash. As Nash drives off the screen, Metta World Peace waits in the corner or cuts baseline. If nothing is there, Nash maintains possession and resets or kicks it out to Kobe.
The same set can be run with 1) Kobe on the left block, Gasol/Howard at high post, Metta World Peace at right Hash, Gasol/Howard in right corner. 2) Howard on block, Gasol at high post, Kobe in corner, Metta World Peace at Hash. It's versatile, it uses the strengths of the players involved, and can be run with an entirely different look by the second unit with Ebanks and shooters. It's mind-numbingly simple and obvious.
Yeah, I know, it's one damn play. Then again, so is the triangle system, essentially. So is the pick and roll, so is any iso.
Why couldn't Mike Brown figure this out? Why did he insist on using the Princeton offense with big, athletic super-stars?
That's why he deserved the firing. And he should forfeit the $11 million he's owed to save face.
Now, on to Exec of the Year...
All Mitch Kupchak did this offseason was bring in a (sorely needed) (hall of fame) point guard and the league's most irreplacable (big man) (player) center. He moved an injur(ed)y-prone Andrew Bynum to make way for Howard. Those two moves alone were enough to win him the award, but when you add on his ability and willingness to let go of an obvious square peg in a round hole and then (perhaps) convince the great Zen Master himself to return like the NBA is some bad kung fu movie, you have an absolute master performance.
In some very overlooked moves, Kupchak also brought in Antawn Jamison to provide more veteran bench leadership and made, in my opinion, a very underrated draft choice that no one is talking about when he picked up Robert Sacre. Sacre is raw but huge and played well enough to make the Lakers 15-man regular season roster (instead of being relegated to the D-League). He needs to develop and may never do so, but what greater mentors than Howard and Gasol?
My hat is off to you, Mitch, and my playbook is open to all. Until D-Rose finishes up with #thereturn I think I need to find a yellow no. 24 jersey.
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