Real Fantasy

Who Will LaDainian Tomlinson Play For Next Year?

The Chargers did the predictable and released the aging running back, LaDainian Tomlinson, earlier this week. Tomlinson's stats have been decreasing over the last few years as he has been fighting off foot injuries. However, the NFL would be foolish to believe that his days of impact are over. The fact of the matter is LT still has big play ability and would be a solid option at runningback for most teams in the NFL. The question is, who is going to land this solid back in 2010?

New England Patriots: The Patriots seem to be in the same breath of every veteran on the market. It seems like the Pats are always trying to give some lonely fingers one more chance at a ring. The fact is, LT would not have too heavy of a responsibility if he was in the same offense as Tom Brady and Randy Moss, and the Patriots would give him as good of a shot as any at finally hoisting that Lombardi trophy before his career passes him by.

Houston Texans: The Texans proved that they can throw the ball all day and that Andre Johnson is a stud, but they lost a lot of games in the final grinding seconds of the game. The reason is, because they did not have a solid running game to fall back on, their offense was too easy to figure out. Tomlinson would give them the variable that would make their offense more of a threat.

Green Bay Packers: This is a stretch, but it is essentially the NFC version of the Patriots idea. The Packers are not afraid of a crowded backfield, because they don't really need a backfield. While Tomlinson would rest easy knowing he is giving himself a good shot at playing Dallas for his last game. The problem is, Tomlinson would definitely not be the feature back in Green Bay and would have to be content sharing carries with Ryan Grant. If everyone can have peace with that, than maybe the Packers make sense for #21.

Brett Favre Coming Back Next Season?

I know I know, it is way too early to even start asking these questions. We probably won't find out about Favre's status before week 6 of next year. However, a recent personal encounter leads me to believe that Favre may be coming back next year to play out the last half of his 2-year contract with the Vikings.

A friend of mine spent the weekend at a conference where he interacted with a close friend of Mike Holmgren's. Coach Holmgren, as we all know, was an old coach of Favres and remains a close friend to the aging quarterback.

It was reported that Favre and Holmgren were in close contact during the decisive days of his comeback signing with the Vikings last year. Anyways, Holmgren apparently told this friend of his that Favre is planning on coming back this year. This information made its way all the way back to me through my friend.

So there it is, the spreading disease of word of mouth. Whether or not it is valid or reliable is up to you. Here are some other factors to consider while you weigh whether or not you believe the Vikings will have #4 under center next year.

Pros

The Vikings need Favre back next year in order to be a contender at all within the next decade. As soon as the Vikings are at square one again at the quarterback position, their whole team might as well reset. However, if Favre comes back next year, the Vikings have one more year to build on the obvious chemistry Favre had with the Vikings offense, and one more year to put off and all together ignore Adrian Peterson's fumbling problem. The Vikings would obviously be in a group of favorites for next years playoffs if Favre returned. While Favre would give himself yet one more chance to go out on top, and put more legend behind the name that will be in Canton the second he steps away from the game for good.

Cons

The Vikings need to find a young quarterback to build their team on. It is becoming more and more obvious that they won't be able to build on Adrian Peterson. While the talented receiving corps provides a great learning ground for a young gun to come in and build up confidence. If Favre were to stay away from the game, he would be walking away on the top of his career, albeit not the top of the NFL. Favre had one of his personal best years ever, and it would be hard to top such an effort. He would be able to eventually find a personal peace with how the season played out, even though he yet again sealed his teams defeat with a final throw of the season resulting in an interception. Favre walking away now gives himself credibility and the Vikings an immediate future to start building.

Tim Tebow's Fantasy Stock Rising In Spite Of Focus On The Family

The day after the Super Bowl may as well be doomsday for every NFL fan. For all we care, the world is over. Another 7 months till we can even think about watching an NFL game. However, if you are a true NFL fan, you have your sights set much closer; on the NFL draft in April. This is the time when you can find out if your team will finally have a chance, or if those morons in the front office are going to select yet ANOTHER running back they are going to release in 3 years. One of the most talked about players this year will no doubt be Tim Tebow. If you had an ear to the world at all this past week, you probably heard about the "PR Crisis" that was to be Tebow's commercial with his mom making an anit-abortion stand. Would this cause teams to shy away from taking Tebow? Would the potential for a church boy in the locker room put the so-called ax in every GM's hand? Well, the commercial came and went and we were all left scratching our heads wondering what all the fuss was about. Cheesy? Yes. Offensive to extreme left-wingers? not even close. So now that the "media risk" is cleared from Tebow's name, what other risks are looking a littler more sunny and giving 'ol Timmy a shot at a high draft pick and a promising start on your fantasy roster?

1. Improved Mechanics

Like any other rookie quarterback, scouts are over analyzing the heck out of Tebow's throwing mechanics, especially his long throwing motion which leads to a slow release. The good news is though, Tebow is getting better. After working with coaches during Senior Bowl practices, scouts say that Tebow's throw is looking better. If he can quicken up that release, that alone will make him a much more valuable asset. D-backs won't have near the field day they were planning on, and rolling out that big athletic body outside of the pocket will not lead to the disaster it make have earlier with the blazing athleticism of NFL linebackers.

2. Indestructible Frame

Coaches hate watching their prized quarterbacks take off down field. The threat of an easy fumble, or worse, a season ending injury is always on the mind of anyone wearing a headset. Tebow could be different though. At 6'3" and 240 pounds, it is as if he was bio-genetically engineered to be a quarterback. We all know that he won't have a problem seeing over the line (Not that that is a valid excuse anymore, thank you Drew Brees). However, the most notable part of his build is the fact that he has the body to absorb a few hits. Think Daunte Culpepper, only good. Tebow will be able to take those hard knocks that are promised for all rookies, and be able to get back up and keep on learning.

3. You Can't Teach Leadership

As much as I hate Phillip Rivers (I'm not going to take the time to emphasize the meaning of that word "hate") no one can deny his ability to lead a team. The emotion and fire he plays with is unmatched. I believe Tim Tebow is coming out of the gates with that kind of potential. He has the ability to draw from his emotion and make plays while inspiring his teammates to do the same thing. Even though we can all have a good laugh at the tears he shed during the Alabama game, we certainly can't question his desire. Coaches will definitely weigh the pros of that kind of leadership under center for their team.

So with all of that in mind, keep Tebow on your radar for upcoming fantasy leagues. If you are apart of a dynasty league, it definitely would not hurt to have taken Tebow in a prospect draft. If you are in just regular single season leagues, keep an eye on the free agency pool early. Tebow might be bound for more success than we have been imagining up to this point.

Super Bowl Quarterback Breakdown: Peyton Manning & Drew Brees

Beyond the storyline of the two #1 seeds facing off in the Super Bowl, there is also the underlying power of two of the leagues top quarterbacks in Peyton Manning and Drew Brees. The comparison of their stats will be over-analyzed all week, but at the end of the game on Sunday, nothing will be of more importance.

Peyton Manning: The Leagues reigning MVP is more than worthy of the award. Manning is making a case for being considered the best quarterback to ever step between the hash-marks. The key factor that sets Manning apart from every quarterback to ever play the game is his mind. As fans, we have been entertained by Manning barking out signals and audibles every time he steps under center. However, the fact of the matter is, Manning is an absolute terrorist to every defense in the NFL. It is almost as if after a the first half, he knows his opponents defensive scheme better than they do. This makes Manning a second half quarterback, and the Saints will be well aware of that on Sunday. No matter how well the defense plays in the first half on Sunday, they will have to alter their scheme for the second half in order to prevent Manning from tearing them apart; flaw by tiny flaw.

Drew Brees: Without sounding like a Judd Apatow film, there is something very big about Drew Brees, and it isn't his stature. Standing only 6 feet tall, Brees has a rocket-launcher hanging from his right shoulder. Every time Brees takes a 5-step drop, Chris Berman starts drooling at the highlight possibilities. Brees has had more success taking shots down field over the past 5 years than any other quarterback. Even though his receivers might not sell a lot of jerseys from the pro shop, Brees still knows how to make them look good. Any safety has the potential to fall into the trap that Brees sets by looking them off short. This story will be no different on Sunday. Not to sell Brees short game short, but if the Saints are to win on Sunday, it will be on the wave of a few 40-plus yard passing plays. Brees will need to be spot on all day in this case in order to keep up with Manning this Sunday.

Edge: Peyton Manning. No matter how good of a season Brees and the Saints have had this season, the "Who Dat?" cheers will stop here. After Sunday, Manning will leave no question unanswered.

The Pro Bowl Sucks

I am not going to sit here and say that all the other sports have better all star games than the NFL does, because they don't. The idea of an all star game sounds cool, except for the minor fact that no one cares.

Fans of the NFL don't care because their favorite team will not be affected by the outcome of the game. The players don't care because their career is already basically set once they have made it to a pro bowl.

Now the NFL proved they don't care after they switched the game to a week before the Super Bowl, basically stating that the Pro Bowl wasn't worth making America's most popular sport one week longer. The fact is though, the Pro Bowl is a tradition that will never go away and will continue to make the rich man richer.

With the Pro Bowl happening a week before the Super Bowl, it has essentially defeated it's own purpose. Let's break this down, shall we?

The Pro Bowl is a game consisting of the NFL's best players. In order to be considered one of the best players in the NFL, you have to win games. With that in mind, it could be said that the best players will win the most games during the season. So the two teams who win the most games in the season and make it to the Super Bowl would consist of the best players. However, if these players knew that the most important game of their lives was in one week, they would be crazy to engage in an exhibition, full contact game. The NFL knows this, the fans know it, I know it, You know it, My 18-year old sister who can't even spell N-F-L knows it. So therefore, the NFL has knowingly robbed its all-star game of its best players.

So how can the Pro Bowl be improved? Make it mean something, put pride on the line. Go back to the old format of the NFL all-star team (not the AFC or the NFC) playing against the Super Bowl winners. This means that the Super Bowl winners are out to prove that they are worthy of "Dynasty Status" and the all-stars would be trying to prove that their respective teams have a shot at being there next year. Plus, who wouldn't want to watch Peyton Manning destroy the entire NFL Secondary at once, just because he can...

Lost Theories Trying To Explain The Questions With Answers

So, the fantasy football season is essentially over. I'll have to wait until NFL draft rumors kick in until I can start being wrong again. The NBA still tastes blah and as long as UNC is unranked, college basketball just breaks my heart. However, there is one thing coming up that should peak everyones interests, sports fan or not...the final season premiere of the TV phenomenon Lost. I am as devoted a fan as anybody, so I thought I would continue my streak of wrong and take a few stabs at what the final season will have in store for us.

Who Is The Man In Black?

At the end of season 5, we saw Jacob (wearing a white shirt) sitting on a beach talking to a man wearing a black shirt. This man in black is apparently Jacob's nemesis as most people have come to realize. I would guess that this Man in Black (MIB) is also the black smoke monster as well as all of the dead people we have seen on the island (Walt, Christian Shepherd, Crazy Dave, and now John Locke). This would appear that everything on the island has been manipulated by MIB in order to eventually kill Jacob via John Locke. Season 6 will hopefully include the Islands inhabitants realizing that they have all been played as pawns in this game between two gods. The question is, why did Jacob apparently bring these specific individuals to the island. Because as we saw in the last episodes of season 5, Jacob interacted with a lot of the main characters before they came to the island and was apparently trying to control fate and bring them to the island, only to have one of them kill him. John Locke (Possessed by MIB). Speaking of the gods taking human form, is there a chance that Richard...is actually Jacob in a different human form?

Why does time not make sense on the Island?

From time travel to the helicopter leaving the island in season 4 and arriving on the freight ship 30 minutes later, and yet on the Island it seems like a full day. Nothing on the Island makes sense with time. Most of this can be attributed to "The Incident" and the weird magnetic flow on the Island. Still though, why is it that time is what is affected? People like Charles Widmore and those associated with him apparently know something is different about the Island, ergo the Dharma project. There is also the case of Desmond, how could he see Charlie's death before it happened and why was he switching back and forth between present time and his past life when he was on the freight? Whatever it is that is in the Island that causes it to travel time must be connected to Jacob and his nemesis somehow, it is just hard to tell how it is going to be explained.

Did the atomic bomb really go off?

The last thing we saw on Lost was Juliet detonating the atomic bomb by hitting it with a rock. The bomb apparently went off as the screen flashed to white and the black lettering of "Lost" popped up (inverted from the usual black background and white lettering). The real question is, the bomb actually go off? If it did, did it in-fact reset all of the events that happened that led to Jack and company coming to the Island? However, if it was Jacob who brought everyone to the Island (or his nemesis) won't they just find another way to bring everyone together? Chances are the bomb did go off, and we are going to see Jacob and his nemesis work around that event which will hopefully explain more of who they are and what they are doing on the island. And why that statue with 4 toes was ever on the Island...

4 8 15 16 23 42

NFL Playoff Picks 2010: Ravens At Colts, Cardinals At Saints

Baltimore Ravens @ Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning will need to stay at the top of his MVP season to secure a win against the Ravens this week. Ray Lewis and the daunting Ravens defense were outrageous last week and I would expect them to be just as good this week. Joe Flaaco was far from special, but with Ray Rice carrying the offense, there was no need for anything else. I think this game will come down to experience though, and that is where I think the Colts will shine. It will be a close, hard fought battle. However, in the end, The Colts will take away the win 30-26.

Arizona Cardinals @ New Orleans Saints

The Cardinals put up a ridiculous amount of points last week against the Packers. Unfortunately, the Packers nearly put up the same amount of points. If it wasn't for a last second fumble return for a touchdown, the Cardinals may have had one of the biggest meltdowns in recent playoff memory. The thing is, the Saints defense will play better than the Packers defense did last week. However, Kurt Warner might play just as well. This whole game will come down to the quarterbacks then. I think Warner is too hot to handle and the Saints have just been skidding too much last time we saw them. So here it is, a huge upset, and I am calling it. Cards steal it 42-35

2009 NFL Fantasy Football Awards

We all know how the NFL chose to award it's players. Peyton Manning took home the MVP, Percy Harvin was the Offensive Rookie of the Year, and on and on. However, the world of Fantasy Football is sometimes farther from the gridiron than we realize. Because we care more about touchdowns and multiples of tens than we care about that players record at the end of the year. So, without further ado, I present to you the Real Fantasy 2009 NFL Fantasy Football Awards!

MVP: Aaron Rodgers

Lucky for us, most of our seasons were over before last weeks season killing fumble. Because that would have been at least -2 points for our team. However, Rodgers was more than consistent for the whole year. 30 touchdowns and only 7 interceptions meant that Rodgers was always giving more points than he was taking away. The 4,434 yards were also nice averaging out to 277 yards per game. Obviously he went over 300 in more than a few games which always equaled out to a nice bonus for his owners. The real clinching stat for Rodgers MVP award was his quarterback-leading 5 rushing touchdowns. Rodgers versatility provided multiple ways of point scoring all year for him as well as those in fantasy leagues who hit the jackpot with this young signal caller.

Defense of the Year: New Orleans Saints

Now granted, they did not necessarily allow the fewest amount of points, and we all know Drew Brees won the Saints their #1 seed, not the stifling D. However, the Saints D racked up a ton of points. This fantasy defense scored a whopping 8 touchdowns this year. The number of turnovers was also off the charts. The Saints finished the season with 26 interceptions and 13 fumble recoveries. They also did a decent job at getting to the quarterback with 35.0 sacks. So in review, the Saints D maybe didn't win New Orleans any games, but there were plenty of weeks where they saved the team that owned them from slumping offensive stars.

Individual Defensive Player of the Year: Patrick Willis

Willis had a groundbreaking year for all IDPs. His outrageous amount of fantasy points made him a viable draft option over even some mid-grade offensive players. Willis made his fantasy paycheck from his consistent amount of tackles. He racked up 114 solo and 38 assisted. Willis's nose for the ball kept him in every play, and every play usually led to more points for those who owned him.

Quarterback of the Year: Aaron Rodgers

See "MVP" above

Runningback of the Year: Chris Johnson

This is an absolute no brainier. His 16 total touchdowns can make about anyone jealous, but the real story here is of course the amount of rushing yards he racked up. Joining the 2,000 yard club, Johnson forever immortalized his name in the NFL history books. While no one was more thankful for his records than those who chose to draft him back in August.

Receiver of the Year: Andre Johnson

What made Johnson so good this year was the fact that there really wasn't anyone else for quarterback Matt Shaub to throw to. Johnson was targeted constantly and his sure hands never failed those which threw to him. Johnson went crazy on yards, totaling 1,569 during this season. He got all of that on 101 catches which led to 9 touchdowns for #80. Even with the injuries that seemed to nag him all year, Johnson still shone bright and rewarded all of those who took a chance on him.

Sleeper of the Year: Brett Favre

Oh it pains me to say this, but if we all remember Favre's status during the time when fantasy drafts were happening, his stats have been nothing short of shocking. I was on the Favre-hating bandwagon, and to be fair I am still on that bandwagon. Except now I have to bow to the fact that his reward this year for those who drafted him was something I never saw coming. By crossing over the Wisconsin/Minnesota border, Favre somehow turned into one of the NFL's most accurate passers this year. Throwing only 7 interceptions compared to 33 touchdowns. He was also almost always good for more than 250 yards a game because teams had a hard time shutting him down. This is due to the fact that he made all-stars out of guys like Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin. Favre became the Vikings main offensive threat, and for a team that boasts Adrian Peterson, that makes him some a heck of a threat, on the field or the computer.

Bust of the Year: Brian Westbrook

Now before you jump down my throat, be aware that I do feel sorry for Westbrook. Watching any athlete lose his season to injuries is never something to feel good about. However, Westbrook was a top 5 pick in most drafts, and he scored 2 touchdowns this year. He rushed for under 300 yards and caught for even less. The Eagles offense moved past Westbrook and on to guys like Desean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Lesean McCoy. With Westbrook being basically worked out of the Offense this year, this season should make fantasy owners wary about drafting him in any future leagues. Unfortunately, it would appear that the Westbrook era in Philly has come to an end on a very unimpressive season.

Maybe NFL Players Don't Get Paid Enough

With all of the money professional athletes make in modern day sports, you probably just clicked on this article in sheer disbelief, but hold on baby birds...I'll feed you. The question is not a matter of if they can survive off of what they get paid, but rather if they get paid in a fair proportion for how much money they make the team they play for. Sure the kid bagging groceries only makes $8.50 an hour, but how much money is the grocery store really making from his "Paper or plastic?". Meanwhile, guys like Eli Manning and Julius Peppers are making over 15 million a year, but they are also working for multi-billion dollar franchises who have to make their money somewhere.
The average team can make up to about 10 million dollars during one home game. To save you some time, I crunched the numbers my self. Since paid NFL players will usually play 60 minutes in a game, that comes out to the team making $2,777.78 a second during the game. Now lets consider a franchise player like the Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers. Peppers made the most money playing in the 2009 season, making a cool 16.683 million dollars. Again, allow me to go on a bit of a math binge. That means that Peppers, the highest paid player for the season, made $1,042,687 a game. Which comes out to "only" $289.64 a second during the games (keeping in mind that most NFL players will practice 4-5 days a week as well).
Again, I am not going to sit here and say that we should pity the NFL players or vouch for them to be paid anymore. However, I think we should think twice before we complain about how much money they are making. If we really hated their salaries so much, then we would quit signing their paycheck by buying that ticket or turning on that TV every Sunday. The NFL is a money making business, and one that has continued to thrive in this struggling economy of ours. So my suggestions to the common man? Instead of Cash for Clunkers or Health Care plans, we need to tell President Barack Obama to start funding expansion teams in the NFL. It is the only investment that won't leave you heart broken, unless you are a Broncos fan...

Texas Tops Kansas As NCAA Basketball #1

After #15 Tennessee shocked and upset then #1 Kansas on Sunday, the AP and Coaches poll has a different flavor to it. The two remaining undefeated teams in D1 NCAA Basketball known as Texas and Kentucky lead the rest of the pack respectively. The rest of the AP poll goes as follows:
1. Texas
2. Kentucky
3. Texas
4. Villanova
5. Syracuse
6. Purdue
7. Michigan St.
8. Duke
9. Tennessee
10. West Virginia
11. Georgetown
12. North Carolina
13. Kansas State
14. Wisconsin
15. Connecticut
16. Pittsburgh
17. Gonzaga
18. Brigham Young
19. Temple
20. Georgia Tech
21. Mississippi
22. Baylor
23. Miami (FL)
24. Clemson
25. Florida State

Ravens Fast Start Runs Over The Patriots

Final Score: Baltimore Ravens- 33 New England Patriots- 14

Why The Ravens Won
Rushing attack. How does a team win a playoff game when their quarterback goes 4 for 10 with only 34 yards, an interception and a 10.0 passer rating? Have 4 rushing touchdowns by three different runners. Ray Rice did not get touched racking up 159 yards with a 7.2 yards per carry average and a pair of touchdowns. While Willis McGahee and LeRon McClain also played their parts. The Ravens had a perfect game plan for the Patriots and sent them home for another year.

Why The Patriots Lost
Tom Brady. The all-pro, future hall of fame quarterback will have a hard time digesting this loss. Throwing for 3 picks and only 2 touchdowns. Brady was out of sync all day. He never threw a touchdown to his favorite receiver, Randy Moss, and he only averaged 3.7 yards per pass. A 49.1 passer rating is bad for Brady on any day, but today it was bad enough to end the Patriots season.

Cardinals Out Score Packers In Overtime Game

Final Score: Cardinals- 51 Packers- 45

Why The Cardinals Won
Kurt Warner. Completing 29 out of 33 passes for 379 yards and 5 touchdowns, Warner's 154.1 passer rating was a nightmare for the Packers all day. Warner never seemed out of his groove, even with the Packers storming back in the 4th quarter, Warner kept his cool. Sources recently said that Warner is looking to retire after these playoffs. If that is true, then he is opting to go out in the best possible fashion.

Why The Packers Lost
Failure to control the clock. The Packers offense was almost as untouchable as the Cardinal's offense. The problem was, the Packers did not take advantage of how good Ryan Grant was running. Instead, they got into a shoot out with the Cardinals and let them have the ball just as much as they did. With Grant averaging over 5 yards a carry, he should have had more than 11 touches. That, along with the 3 turnovers inevitably doomed the Packers in the end.

Poor Defense Dooms Eagles As Cowboys Coast To Easy Win

Final Score: Dallas Cowboys- 34 Philadelphia Eagles- 14

Why the Cowboys won:
Stellar Offense. The Cowboys simply could not be stopped on any level. Romo was spot on for 244 yards and 2 touchdowns. Meanwhile the running game was in cruise control all day. Felix Jones led the pack with 148 yards and a touchdown while Tashard Choice tacked on another six. 8 different Cowboys caught a pass which had the Eagles secondary spinning the whole game. The Cowboys defense was also able to cause 4 turnovers which kept the Eagles offensive attack ice cold.

Why the Eagles lost:
Mental errors. Turning the ball over 4 times and the secondary tripping all over themselves led to Andy Reid's first Wild Card lost. All though quarterback Donovan McNabb played a solid game, and Michael Vick contributed with a big 76 yard touchdown pass, the Eagles offense could never establish something consistent enough to get them in the game. Jeremy Maclin did have a good day for the Eagles though, with 146 yards on 7 catches for a touchdown. It just couldn't be enough to give the Eagles a prayer in this game though.

Jets Strong Rushing Attack Overwhelms Bengals In Wild Card Win

Final Score: New York Jets- 24 Cincinnati Bengals- 14

Why the Jets won:
Running backs. Starting back Thomas Jones and backup Shonn Greene had a touchdown each. While Greene amassed 135 yards on 21 carries. The Jets running game had the Bengals on their toes the whole game. After the Bengals got out to a quick 7-0 lead, the Jets fired back with a quick 14 and never looked back. This is a very good sign for the Jets. With the defense having a strong showing, the running game only adds fuel to the fire of their slim (but growing) championship hopes.

Why the Bengals lost:
Lack of Chemistry. The passing game just never got in a rhythm for Carson Palmer and the Bengals receivers. Laveranues Coles led the team with 6 catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. While the usual all star Chad Ochocinco was held to only 2 catches for 28 yards. Even though Cedric Benson ran all over the Jets with 8 yards a carry for 169 yards and a touchdown. He couldn't get help all day as the Bengals offense stalled time after time.

Peyton Manning Wins Record Fourth MVP Award

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning won the MVP for the 2009-2010 NFL season. Manning won in a landslide with 39 1/2 votes. Saints quarterback Drew Brees came second in voting with 7 1/2 votes. Chargers quarterback Phillip Rivers took third with 2 votes. While Vikings quarterback Brett Favre rounded out the bottom with a single vote. Manning was a pretty obvious choice for the award, leading the Indianapolis Colts off to a red-hot start of 14-0 and finishing 14-2. The 33-year old quarterback set the NFL record for MVP awards with this being his fourth one. He threw for 33 touchdowns, 16 interceptions, and 4,500 yards for a quarterback rating of 99.9. Now Manning has his sights set on adding another trophy to his resume. With home field advantage locked up throughout the playoffs, Manning's Colts are one on of the favorites coming out of the AFC.

NFC Wild Card Preview: Green Bay Packers At Arizona Cardinals

Turns out the Packers don't miss Brett Favre that much after all. No matter how much success #4 has had with the Purple this year, no on can deny the promise that #12 is showing in Green. Aaron Rodgers has lived up to every expectation this year and is all but out of Mr. Favre gigantic shadow in Lambeau. No it is time for Rodgers to win some games. With his first real shot at doing some damage in the playoffs, Rodgers has the Packers looking poised and ready to go. However, they will have to beat "The Patriots of the NFC" in the Arizona Cardinals. This group of players knows all about winning playoff games, and their expert happens to be under center. Kurt Warner does not know how to give up, and with home field advantage for the first round, he looks as ready as ever to take a good run at things.

Arizona Cardinals

Key to the Offense: Beanie Wells & Tim Hightower. The Cardinals have been known for their passing attack ever since their dominance began. However, if they are going to continue their quest for a Super Bowl, the Cardinals are going to have to become less predictable. That all starts with their running game. Wells and Hightower have enough talent, they just need to get it all together before kickoff on Sunday. A strong running game will equal a win for the Cardinals.

Key to the Defense: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The Cardinals play maker on defense unfortunately tends to make big plays both ways. He gives up as many big plays as he makes. Rodgers-Cromartie is going to have to play smart against the clever Aaron Rodgers in order to make sure the Packer offense doesn't get off to any fast starts.

Green Bay Packers

Key to the Offense: Aaron Rodgers. This is the same story as every other week. The Packers go as Rodgers goes. Fortunately Rodgers has been pretty consistent all year as long as he gets time in the pocket. If Rodgers gets the chance, he will pick apart the Cardinals D. However, if the Pack gets down early, it is very important that Rodgers doesn't get too nervous and just stays calm and remembers how long the game is. If Rodgers stays in control, the Packers have a great chance at seeing round 2.

Key to the Defense: Clay Matthews. The Packers seem to have found a gem in the chip off the 'ol block called Clay Matthews. Matthews has been a terror all season because of his ability to fly around the field and run into the ball. The Cardinals will be moving the ball fast, but Matthews will have to move even faster. If Clay makes big plays, the Cardinals could have a bigger headache on their hands than they are ready for.

Prediction: Packers 27 Cardinals 20

AFC Wild Card Preview: Baltimore Ravens At New England Patriots

Ahhh finally! A breath of fresh air. This AFC Wild Card match up between the Patriots and Ravens brings us our only Wild Card game that we didn't just see last week. The NFL will turn all of its attention to Foxboro on Sunday afternoon to see if it's fading dynasty can defend its honor against the up and coming Ravens. The fact of the matter is, the Patriots have all the experience in the world coming into the playoffs. They can only beat themselves in this match up, and the absence of Wes Welker might be a big enough catalyst to stir up and upset. With their less than impressive run defense, the Patriots are going to have to put points on the board as well as figure out a way to shut down Joe Flacco and the Ravens offense.

New England Patriots

Key to the Offense: Tom Brady. The year has been less than average for the leagues golden boy. With a "meager" 28 touchdowns under his belt for the season, Brady enters a playoff season where he is not favored to run the tables. In fact, no one has given the Patriots much attention at all. Brady will have to make everyone look stupid for overlooking him and his Patriots, and it will all start against the Ravens scary defense.

Key to the Defense: Tully Banta-Cain. The Patriots leader in sacks for the season will have to run on all cylinders come Sunday afternoon. The Ravens offense isn't great by any stretch of the imagination. However, if you let Cool Joe Flacco get in a rhythm, the possibilities are endless. Banta-Cain needs to get in the Ravens backfield fast and often.

Baltimore Ravens

Key to the Offense: Ray Rice. As far as how much a player means to their teams offense, no player is more valuable than Rice. The young start out of Rutgers has been the shining star of the Ravens attack. Rice can be used on the ground or through the air, and the Ravens are going to stick with their bread-winner in order to give themselves the best shot at a win.

Key to the Defense: Ray Lewis. This is no surprise and never will be. Lewis is the motor that makes the Ravens defense go. With the emotion and intensity he brings to the field, Lewis makes everyone around him better. Lewis cannot back down from the high-octane offense of the Patriots and let everyone on their coaching staff know that he is going to be around the ball all day.

Prediction: Patriots 42 Ravens 21

AFC Wild Card Preview: New York Jets At Cincinnati Bengals

The Jets did what they needed to do to make the playoffs. After beating the Bengals in Week 17, they look even better coming into the game this week to kick off the playoffs. The Jets defense is the real story here, and in order to keep their Super Bowl hopes alive, it is going to need to stay that way. Now we have a team with a good defense, a solid running game, this team is starting to sound real and all to familiar to the NFL Playoffs.

Cincinnati Bengals

Injuries: None

Key to the Offense: Carson Palmer. Last time Palmer set foot on a playoff field, it was his last for a while. We all remember the blown ACL that ended Palmers playoffs and began the magical Super Bowl run of the Steelers. This time Palmer is all the wiser and is playing with a solid running back behind him. He is going to need to manage a good game to win this one.

Key to the Defense: Robert Geathers. With a young Mark Sanchez on the other side of the line under center. Geathers has all the fresh meat he can handle. As long as he can keep Sanchez frustrated, the Jets offense should stall.

New York Jets

Injuries: None

Key to the Offense: Thomas Jones. The blood that runs through the veins of the Jets offense needs to keep those legs running right through the heart of the Bengals defense. It will be up to coach Rex Ryan to call the right plays, and as long as they are varied up, Jones should have a fair shot at a big game.

Key to the Defense: David Harris. The Jets middle linebacker needs to bring every bit of his best game to slow down the Bengals rushing attack. If Harris is able to pile up a good amount of tackles it will force the Bengals to switch up their gameplan and hopefully look to second and third options.

Prediction: Bengals 24 Jets 10

NFC Wild Card Preview: Philadelpia Eagles At Dallas Cowboys.

This whole NFL Wild Card round feels like a broken record. Luckily for us fans, its a good CD. With the 3 out of the 4 Wild Card matchups being repeats, one has to wonder how gameplans will be altered. I can guarantee you with minds like Andy Reid, and puppets like Wade Phillips, we are sure to be left scratching our heads after many a call. However, out of all of the Wild Card repeat matchup, this game draws the most intrigue. With Philly failing to show up for the Week 17 NFC East Championship games, the city of brotherly love is holding their collective breath to see if the mean green will show up this time. Here is a preview of this weeks game between the Dallas Cowboys and the visiting division rival Philadelphia Eagles.

Dallas Cowboys

Injuries: None

Key to the Offense: Miles Austin. Austin needs to have a big game against the turnover hungry Eagles secondary. With how good the Eagles are at being ballhawks, you can expect Romo to look underneath often to Austin, almost like the way the Denver Broncos used to use Brandon Marshall. The offense will rely on Austin's ability to make yards after the catch happen.

Key to the Defense: Demarcus Ware. This Defense lives and breathes with Ware. He is what keeps their hearts beating and they will rely on him to take care of business with McNabb and keep his check down options on lock down.

Philadelphia Eagles

Injuries: None

Key to Offense: Donovan McNabb. McNabb realizes that this is one of his few remaining years to make a run at a ring. With all of the weapons he has, the timing couldn't be better. It will be up to McNabb to take advantage of the NFL's fastest offense and expose the weaknesses in the Cowboys secondary.

Key to Defense: Asante Samuel. Tony Romo has been a question mark all season. Samuel needs to play cat and mouse games with him all day and lull him into a making mistake.

Prediction: Eagles 34 Cowboys 28

McCoy Injury, Ingram Doom Texas As Alabama Wins BCS Championship

Alabama completed it's perfect season last night with a championship win over the then also perfect Texas Longhorns.

Star Longhorn quarterback Colt McCoy was knocked out of the game in the first quarter with a right shoulder injury and did not return for the rest of the game.

As McCoy walked off the field to the Longhorn locker room, he took the Texas championship dreams and hopes with him.

The Texas offense hit a wall and failed to get going again until the 4th quarter when they pulled within 3 points of the Crimson Tide. However, the top ranked rushing offense of Alabama was too much for Texas to handle down the stretch and the Tide rolled to a BCS title.

Citi BCS National Championship Game: McCoy Key To Longhorn Shot At Beating Crimson Tide

Tonight when the lights come on in Pasadena, California to light up the Rose Bowl Stadium, Colt McCoy will be stepping onto his biggest stage yet. The Texas Longhorns take on the Alabama Crimson Tide in tonight's BCS National Championship game, and the Crimson Tide couldn't be rolling into it any faster. The #1 team in the country is coming off of the biggest upset of the year after they crushed the repeat hopes of Tim Tebow and the Gators. The Longhorns almost look like a footnote to a championship story that seems to almost be written. However, Mac Brown and the state of Texas are used to winning their football games, so expect the Burnt Orange to give the Crimson Tide all they can handle in tonight's heavyweight match up.
The Longhorns are going to have to beat the Tide through the air. The Alabama defense will be the toughest yet that Texas has faced this season. So if the Longhorns try to establish a game on the ground, they are going to get punished and embarrassed. Instead the Longhorns need to turn to Heisman candidate, Colt McCoy and All-American Jordan Shipley to lead their offense. If Texas hits hard and fast through the air, then they will be able to keep the Crimson defense on their heels.
The other key to a Longhorn win is figuring out Mark Ingram. The Heisman winning running back made Florida look absolutely silly, and has the potential to do the same thing to Texas. The Longhorns need to throw plenty of blitz packages at Alabama and hope they get confused and start to audible out of their gameplan. This will put the pressure on Ingram to always look for a big play to jump start the offense. With Ingram trying to bust everything outside up the sideline, Texas will then have to rely on their speedy linebacker unit to contain #22 and keep the Crimson Tide at bay.

Week 14 Fantasy Football Questions: Who To Sit And Start.

Got questions about fantasy football this week?

If you are seeking a second opinion on some of your roster spots for this week, then look no further. Anything from who you should start and sit to which of your free agents are worth picking up for this week. Post your questions here and you will get a personal response from Real Fantasy to answer your burning questions. Fantasy Football Week 14 lives here!

Why You Should Still Start Tom Brady And The Patriots For Your Fantasy Football Team

Lets be honest, the New England Patriots just are not what they used to be. Belichick is blowing 4th down calls. Brady is getting jumpy in the pocket and throwing picks. And is it just me or did Randy Moss and Wes Welker kill the remaining Patriots receivers? Even though things are looking dark for the Patriots, they will still serve your team greatly as the season draws to a close, and here is why:
For the first time in a long time, the Patriots NEED to win. They should not feel comfortable with their division lead after last weeks loss to the Dolphins and the AFC Wildcard chase has been heating up over the last few weeks. Everyone on the Patriots knows that they need to start winning games. There is too much leadership on that team to allow them to miss the playoffs or to head into the postseason unprepared. So the star players on the Patriots offense are going to start to work overtime and your fantasy team will reap the benefits.
Tom Brady: Statistically, he is no Manning or Brees, but he's got enough jewelry to outweigh the both of them. The point is, Tom plays good when it counts, and from here on out, every game counts. His numbers have still been top 5 this season, but look for him to be competitive for the top QB spot every week from here to 17 and beyond. He knows he needs to play better, he knows his team needs to play better, and he knows he is the one who needs to make it happen.
Randy Moss: The NFL's leading receiver this year, count it. With 1,058 yards, no one has him beat. However, there have still been a few awkwardly quiet games for Moss this year. Don not count on that happening anymore this year. The Pats are going to look to capitalize on every one of Moss's skill sets. Look for the separation to start pumping into overdrive here within the next 4 games.
Wes Welker: And the NFL's second leading receiver, trailing Moss by 5 yards, is Wes Welker. He is going to be the Patriots money guy when they need to start sealing wins down the stretch. When the Patriots are done taking chances down field with Moss, they will look for Welker over the middle. This will continue to run out the late game clock, and run up the points for you and Belichick both

Berrian Joins Peterson As Vikings Speed Towards Playoffs

On Friday night, Bernard Berrian was pulled over on Minnesota Interstate 694 going 104 mph in a 60 mph zone.

This is the second outstanding speeding ticket given to a Minnesota Viking after star running back, Adrian Peterson, was pulled over going 109 mph in a 55 mph zone. The Minnesota State Patrol has been about the only thing to stop the Minnesota Vikings so far this year. However, this close to the playoffs, Viking fans are trying to deny what these speeding tickets might be implying. Sure, it might not be the Anderson Miss of '98 or the Cardinal Catch of '03, but it still could prove to be a bad omen for the Vikings dream team of '09.

The Vikings have been charging towards a strong playoff showing ever since they signed Brett Favre during the storyline of the season. The defense has been solid as it usually has been for the last few years, but the offense has been the real catalyst. The addition of Favre has led to the breakout of Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin, but the Vikings two biggest offensive weapons from last year, Peterson and Berrian, have been left out in the cold.

So maybe the lack of attention has finally gotten to the two veterans. Maybe they have finally decided that if Favre isn't going to give them attention, then they will get their attention by going fast without a football in their hands. The Vikings can only hope that the attention getting tactics will stop soon, and in order to do such a thing, the Vikings will alter their game plan, which brings us to this weeks fantasy impact.

The Vikings coaching staff sees that, just like neglected children, Peterson and Berrian are acting up to get attention. So in order to prevent more outrageous tickets or god-only-knows what else, the Vikings are going to throw last years studs a few bones. Look for Peterson to have a season high in carries on Sunday night against the Cardinals. While Berrian on the other hand, will be getting an abnormal amount of attention from Favre. Coach Brad Childress can only hope that this will quench the appetite of his attention starved athletes, and not continue to curse what has been an untouchable season so far....so far.

Fantasy Football Week 13

Got questions about fantasy football this week?

NFL Concussion Policy Fantasy Impact

The NFL's latest policy on concussions will make it harder for players to return to play after they have been diagnosed with a concussion. This means that some key players that you are used to starting on your fantasy team will be missing more time then they would have last year. Here are a few big names that you should maybe be a little careful about drafting in your future fantasy football leagues.

Ben Roethlisberger: The latest injury sustained by Big Ben should serve as a warning, he is vulnerable. The problem with Big Ben is that his big body tricks him into believe that he can take bigger hits than he really can.

Kurt Warner: This might just be age catching up with him, but Warner latest concussion already has cost him some games. He may not be an option much longer in your future drafts, but consider passing before you take.

Desean Jackson: Jackson is fearless whenever he runs his quick routes over the middle, which has made him one of the most exciting players to watch and own. It also makes him breeding ground for concussions. Jackson's small frame will not absorb the impact he gets in the middle of the field as well as he might like. This has already led to a concussion this season, and if he continues to try to be a threat on a slants and posts, this could be a theme of his career.

Beyond these three players, it is also important to keep an eye on any small running backs who get a lot of carries on the goal line. This is commonly where teams get most desperate in the pile ups and shots to the head, whether dirty or accidental, will occur more often. With the small players trying to stay low, this will put their head at risk when running into a wall between the tackles. So keep your eyes on how this new ruling affects playing time on your roster and remember the lessons you learn once next years draft rolls around.

Also, if by some chance Tory Aikman or Steve Young make a comeback, don't even think about it.

Drew Brees Scores Big Fantasy Points In Week 12

Week 12 had many exciting things to keep it's viewers thrilled. There was the phenomenal Vince Young comeback over the Cardinals, there was the stellar performance by Brett Favre as he tore apart the Bears, but nothing came close to Monday night. Drew Brees put on a show that the NFL has not seen yet this year, or in the last few years for that matter. Obviously the 5 TD's without a pick and 371 yards are impressive. However, it is the style in which he did it which really made it memorable. All 5 TD's were to 5 different receivers. The game took place under the lights of the NFL on Monday night, and it was against the defensive mastermind of Bill Belichick. Brees proved that the Saints have what it takes to make this their season. It will be interesting to see how the other powerhouses in the league such as the Colts and Vikings respond. So beyond the masterful passing show that Brees put on, here are some other players who had impressive fantasy numbers in week 12 that you might still have a chance to pickup.

Vince Young (QB, Titans): The 99-yard drive will go down as one of the greatest this decade has ever seen. What was most impressive though was the fact that a year ago, everyone thought that Vince Young may never throw another completed pass. These days, he could make or break your fantasy team. He does not throw for many touchdowns due to the scoring machine known as "Chris Johnson", but he racks up a lot of yards with both his arm and legs. As a backup fantasy quarterback, he would get you points for everyone of those yards.
Alex Smith (QB, 49ers): All he does is play consistently well...lately. Consider him this years Jeff Garcia. Puts up 250 yard games, 2 touchdowns, no picks. That's it. Nothing more and nothing less. Of course he still comes with a high-risk warning. However, with the slumping of Frank Gore and the continual improvement of receivers Josh Morgan and Michael Crabtree, Smith could be of service to you.
Chester Taylor (RB, Vikings): So, we don't want to say that Adrian Peterson has a fumbling problem...but he has a problem. The fact of the matter is, the Vikings really haven't needed him so far this year, so they are choosing consistency over explosion more often than not so far. Taylor has excellent hands for a running back and gives Brett Favre the perfect check down option. He should be able to pull in more consistent points for your team as well.
Kenny Britt (WR, Titans): If you have read my fellow SPN blogger, Double G, articles recently then you may have already heard about Kenny Britt. The kid out of Rutgers is playing consistent ball right now and is the main man that Jeff Fischer wants to turn into a go-to-guy for Vince Young. It will be interesting to see how much he really gets used in such a run-heavy offense, but it is definitely something for you to keep your eyes on.
Mark Clayton (WR, Ravens): Derrick Mason is good, but by no means is he a solid #1 kind of player. This makes room for Joe Flacco to spread the ball around more and Clayton has made some impressive catches lately. Heading into the playoff stretch needing to win some games, Flacco may look Clayton's way more often late in the game to give him a chance to make some plays.

BEWARE OF BUSTS
Eli Manning (QB, Giants): The Broncos seemed to have the Giants offense figured out on Thanksgiving night, and the rest of the league took notice. Without a running game that is clicking, Manning is extremely vulnerable as team's continue to drop back into coverage and let him beat himself.
DeAngelo Williams (RB, Panters): A bum ankle and no quarterback. None of this adds up for many yards for Williams. The only thing he does have going for him is that he will be running against Tampa Bay this week, so obviously it is possible to have a big game, but not likely.
Vincent Jackson (WR, Chargers): His two catches in the bloodbath against KC continues to be a mystery. The Chargers were putting up plenty of points but for some reason, Jackson wasn't given his cut. Defense's know that he is the Chargers only deep threat and have been giving him special attention, this will continue to make it hard on him and Phillip Rivers.

Breaking News: Tiger Woods Accident Impacts Fantasy Football

This morning, legendary golfer Tiger Woods was in a car accident. Now before you go throwing your golf balls into the ocean, be reassured that he is just fine. He backed out of his home this morning and wound up hitting a fire hydrant and tree trunk. He was treated and released from the hospital with minor injuries. However, the impact this has on sports is not minor. This could be the biggest event to happen in the athletic realm since Jordan played baseball. Make sure your fantasy football team is ready feel the ripple effect.
First let's go over the basics. For the first time in his life, Tiger Woods misread something. Although the details are a little fuzzy, there is no way that the tree and fire hydrant jumped in the way of his SUV. The fact of the story is, Tiger Woods did something wrong. Now of course Tiger has lost tournaments and matches before (albeit, not many), there has always been an explanation. His knee was sore, his wrists were not snapping, his vision was blurred, the fairways were crooked. The thing is, Tiger Woods does not lose a fair match. He is not genetically engineered to be inferior...ever. However, today with a normal road, and a normal fire hydrant, and a normal tree, and a normal SUV. Tiger lost. Something is wrong in the world of sports, and Tiger will not be the only athlete affected. Just like in Space Jam when the NBA stars had their talent stolen by aliens. Tiger's misread on the road might as well have been a missed putt by a mile. So which other athletes will be affected by this strange string of events started by Tiger?
Peyton Manning: His power is no mystery to the defenses he has terrorized. Or to any fan annoyed by his constant audibles. Peyton can read a defense like book illustrated with color pictures. As soon as he steps up to the line, he knows each defensive players assignments better than they do. This allows Manning to put his passes in the weak spots of the zones and have led to his impressive hall of fame career thus far. However, this Sunday the "Tiger Flu" will impair Manning in the worst way. Look for Manning to throw more picks than usual, and if he looks a little pale...a certain golfer in an SUV is to blame.
Adrian Peterson: If Superman has any fear, it might just be AP. He is a freak of nature who will walk through a defense if he wants. His breakaway speed makes him a threat every time the ball is snapped. However, the real threat of AP in the open field is the 100% chance he is going to run right over or just through you. His strength combined with his speed make him a nightmare for any would-be-tackler below 500 pounds. The "Tiger Flu" fears no impact though. Sunday might be the day where Adrian Peterson receives the hit of his life from a prowling linebacker. A hit that could be big enough to even sit him out for a play or two.
Randy Moss: The fact he has Tom Brady throwing to him really does help. Most of us could at least put up one 100-yard game if we had Prince Charming tossing us presents through the skies. The reason Moss is still one of the best in the game though, is thanks to his hands...not #12. If Brady would ever throw a bad pass, you would never know it because Moss makes everything look good. He is not the fastest? No problem. He is not the strongest? Who cares. Moss could catch a bullet with his teeth. If a ball was set on fire and had a mind of it's own, Moss would still come down with it. Does the "Tiger Flu" care though? Not a bit. All though we may never see it again, Moss is going to drop an awkward amount of passes on Sunday. Brady will be frustrated, Belichik will be...himself, and fans all over will be utterly confused while the rest of you will know, the "Tiger Flu" has claimed another.

NFL Thanksgiving Brings A Fantasy Feast

If you ask any real NFL fan, the most wonderful time of year is not Christmas, it is Thanksgiving. Because unlike Christmas, Thanksgiving gives us something to do when our stomachs are full and we are fed up with company. Thanksgiving gives us the gift that Christmas can not, the NFL. Tomorrow, we will get that gift three times. So make sure you set your fantasy rosters accordingly, and if your mind is too preoccupied with turkey to make sound decisions, then maybe these guidelines will leave you full on points by the end of the day tomorrow.

Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions

Injures: Ryan Grant (Probable), Matthew Stafford (Doubtful), Calvin Johnson (Questionable), Kevin Smith (Probable).

Packers: Aaron Rodgers should be solid as usual, however the passing game is not the one that should get your attention. Ryan Grant has been gradually gaining momentum the past couple of weeks and, assuming the Packers won't have to throw to win, he should see plenty of carries tomorrow.

Lions: This is going to be ugly. Last time the Lions played the Packers they failed to score a point. Thanksgiving will fail to give Detroit much more to be thankful about. Stafford will probably not play and even if he did, Calvin Johnson is also banged up. Don't expect much offense coming from the home team tomorrow.

Oakland Raiders @ Dallas Cowboys

Injuries: Jason Witten (Questionable), Marion Barber (Probable), Tony Romo (Probable)

Raiders: This could be interesting, for once Oakland could give us something good to talk about. Bruce Gradkowski has brought the most talent under center since Rich Gannon. Now coming off of a thrilling win over the heavily favored Bengals, the Raiders feel good about their chances against the stumbling Cowboys. Gradkowski could have decent numbers if you need a quick backup. Louis Murphy could also be of use to you if your flex spot is in a tough spot.

Cowboys: Quite possibly the most inconsistent team in the NFL. One day they can be putting up 30+ points, the next they can barely be scoring one touchdown against the Redskins. So which offense will show up against Oakland? Considering it's Thanksgiving and Tony Romo needs to start earning his paycheck, I think it is safe to bet on a good day for 'Boys. Miles Austin might finally start hauling in some yards again, and Tashard Choice could even hit pay dirt.

New York Giants @ Denver Broncos

Injuries: Ahmad Bradshaw (Out), Brandon Jacobs (Probable), Eli Manning (Probable), Kyle Orton (Probable)

Giants: The Broncos defense was impossible to get by for the first six games, but that defense has been seen in the last four weeks. Since going on a bye, the Broncos defense has been absolutely torched in the second half of every game, Eli Manning should be able to pick them apart. With the amount of weapons he has in the passing game, Denver's secondary will be tripping over themselves. Both Mario Manningham and Steve Smith have big game potential for Thursday night.

Broncos: At this point, any news is good news. The news this week is that Kyle Orton is finally practicing again and is planning on starting. This will help the over all flow of the Broncos offense and will help them get into a rhythm early on if they are to get in any rhythm at all. When Orton has played he has been solid so both Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal should be valuable to your team tomorrow. Knowshon Moreno on the other hand is a complicated case. All though talented, Coach Josh McDaniels still has not shown much trust in the rookie, and Moreno's goal line fumble last week does not give him much more credibility.

Week 10 Fantasy Football Recap

The whirlwind of week 10 is finally over. With Sunday peaking at the end with the Colts/Patriots game, I think we are all ready to breathe a sigh of relief. While we are sighing said relief, maybe we could also breathe out a prayer for Mr. Belichick. God knows the poor man has finally lost it. I'm not saying going for it on 4th and 2 on your own 29 is stupid. But doing that when playing against Peyton Manning, is basically writing the L in your own loss column. However, maybe a worse decision was me starting Terrell Owens over Jerricho Cotchery. That was a 10 point loss for me, fortunately I was still able to beat the 2nd place team in that league, and co-founder of SPN, in order to retain my #1 sport...so that was nice. Lets check out what the rest of the league did this week.

Winners
Marc Bulger (QB, St. Louis Rams): Bulger had an impressive day against the usually tough Saints secondary. Throwing for 298 yards and 2 touchdowns with only one interception. Bulger should be a decent sub for you at your quarterback position in case of any upcoming bye weeks.
Justin Forsett (RB, Seattle Seahawks): Forsett went for 123 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals. The Vikings will pose a bigger problem, but if Forsett can maintain a consistent YPC average, there is a chance he could continue to see carries once Julius Jones returns.
Jason Avant (WR, Philadelphia Eagles): 8 catches, 156 yards. Who on earth is this guy? Granted, Donovan McNabb threw 55 passes. But the Eagles have struggled all year to find consistent receivers. With Avant throwing his name into the hat, there is a chance Donovan could call his number again...whatever that number is.

Losers
Ben Roethlisberger (QB, Pittsburgh Steelers): Sure the Bengals are good, but when you claim to be one of the best, you have to play better. Especially against a division rival. Big Ben only threw 174 yards and one interception. As the Bengals swept the Steelers, your fantasy team wasn't the only one hurting.
Marion Barber (RB, Dallas Cowboys): Against the Packers, Barber had 26 yards on 5 carries. Guess which stat you should be worried about? If the Cowboys are only going to give Barber 5 carries even when Romo is struggling, that does not speak of a promising future.
Vincent Jackson (WR, San Diego Chargers): Jackson has been Phillip Rivers go-to-guy all season, and then for some reason he was only thrown to 3 times on Sunday while only catching one. It is hard to explain why he was given the blind eye, but keep an eye on this situation as it develops next week against the Broncos.