10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (3/28-3/30)

10. Eagles Release DeSean Jackson
            Whether the rumors of DeSean Jackson’s alleged gang involvement are true, kudos to the Eagles for putting character over performance. Jackson was coming off a career year during his first season playing for Chip Kelly, and stands to be a valuable addition for whichever team picks him up.

9. Philadelphia 76ers Win an NBA Basketball Game

            This is only notable because they lost their previous 26 contests.

8. Angels Lock up Mike Trout
            Call me crazy, but the contracts given to Mike Trout and Miguel Cabrera over the past few days feel like they should’ve been reversed.

7. Kentucky Peaks at the Perfect Time, Takes Down Louisville in Sweet 16
            We thought this would be Kentucky’s only appearance in this weekend review, but like the majority of our March Madness predictions, we were wrong.

6. Rick Grimes Bites A Dude’s Jugular on “The Walking Dead”

            Big news, Rick isn’t a pansy anymore!

5. Connecticut Stifles Spartans in Second Half, Advances to Final 4

            I thought Michigan State fell apart after the halftime recess, which is very strange for a team coached by Tom Izzo. At least we can feel happy for Connecticut now that Jim Calhoun is no longer their Head Coach.

4. Dayton’s Run Ends, Gators Reach Final 4

            Florida got to play one of the softer a slates a #1 seed has had to face in a long time, and in terms of seeding it stays easy when they face #7 Connecticut. The Huskies were the last team to beat the Gators all the way back in December.
         
3. The Outlaw Returns to Victory Lane
            For those not in the know, The Outlaw is Kurt Busch, who after two seasons racing for under-funded teams, showed he is still championship caliber with a pass of Jimmie Johnson with 10 laps to go.
         
2. Clutch 3 Puts Kentucky Into Final 4
            The Harrison twins have been a dynamic force the entire tournament, and an Aaron Harrison bomb with two seconds left doomed Michigan. They have more raw talent than any of the other Final 4 participants.

1. Wisconsin Takes Down #1 Seed Arizona in Overtime

            Wisconsin is normally known for an offense that sort of runs like a clogged toilet, but thanks to some talented big men, this isn’t your grandfather’s Badgers. They are in there first Final Four in 14 years, and they are my pick to win the whole thing, which probably means you should wager a shit load of money on Kentucky next Saturday.

2011 NFC East Preview

4. Washington Redskins

2010 Record = 6-10 (4^th in Division)

Key Additions = DT Barry Cofield, CB Josh Wilson, DE Stephen Bowen, G Sean Locklear, RB Tim Hightower
Key Losses = QB Donovan McNabb, CB Carlos Rogers

Schedule = Giants, Cardinals, @ Cowboys, @ Rams, BYE, Eagles, @ Panthers, @ Bills, 49ers, @ Dolphins, Cowboys, @ Seahawks, Jets, Patriots, @ Giants, Vikings, @ Eagles

Real-Life Outlook = I don’t feel like wasting too much time on this crummy team, so I’ll keep this real brief…the Redskins stink.

Fantasy Outlook = If you have John Beck or Rex Grossman starting for you at some point this season, than something must’ve gone terribly wrong for your fantasy team. Santana Moss is the most reliable fantasy asset Washington employs. You won’t be very excited to draft him, but he’s a very solid third wide receiver option. Mike Shanahan is notorious for constantly swapping out runningbacks. While Tim Hightower has been announced as the starter, rookie Roy Helu should be drafted in the final third of your draft. Eventually Shanahan will figure out the that Tim Hightower is limited to doing Tim Hightower sort of things, so he will eventually go with the player with more upside.

Ceiling = 7-9

Floor = 1-15
No Credentials Prediction = 2-14

3. New York Giants

2010 Record = 10-6 (2^nd in Division)

Key Additions = C David Baas
Key Losses = DT Barry Cofield, WR Steve Smith, TE Kevin Boss

Schedule = @ Redskins, Rams, @ Eagles, @ Cardinals, Seahawks, Bills, BYE, Dolphins, @ Patriots, @ 49ers, Eagles, @ Saints, Packers, @ Cowboys, Redskins, @ Jets, Cowboys

Real-Life Outlook = There wasn’t a more accident-prone team in the NFC last season than the New York Giants (San Diego was their counterpart in the AFC). Eli Manning set a career high in passing yards, but also tossed a career high 25 interceptions. Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs were productive in terms of yardage, but killed too many drives with critical fumbles. Special teams were the silent killer, with DeSean Jackson’s punt return last December delivering the finishing blow to the Giants season. Throw in a slew of injuries to their secondary during the preseason (no team has lost more key contributors in exhibition games), and I just don’t like New York’s chances this season. This feels like a team that will have an uneven season that will result in Head Coach Tom Coughlin finally getting canned (I know he won a Super Bowl, but Coughlin lost the locker room two years ago. It’s time for a change).    

Fantasy Outlook = When you think of high flying offenses, the New York Giants don’t immediately come to mind, but all the pieces are there. As mentioned before, Eli Manning broke the 4,000-yard barrier last season. He’s a great option to use if you plan on having a quarterback platoon. Sure he turns the ball over a ton, but depending on your league scoring settings, that may not be a huge issue in the fantasy game. Ahmad Bradshaw resigned with New York after briefly flirting with other teams. As long as he hangs on to the ball, I expect him to take on even more of the workload as Brandon Jacobs continues to slow down. Hakeem Nicks is a great option to add in the third round at wide receiver. If he stays healthy, a line of 95-1400-12 is not out of the question. No Credentials is also all-in on Mario Manningham. Expect him to fill the role that the other Steve Smith filled brilliantly before blowing out his knee last season (a role that led to the other Steve Smith catching over 100 passes in 2009).

Ceiling = 12-4

Floor = 6-10
No Credentials Prediction = 7-9

2. Philadelphia Eagles

2010 Record = 10-6 (1^st in Division, Lost in Wildcard Round vs. Packers)
Key Additions = CB Nnamdi Asomugha, CB Domonic Rodgers-Cromartie, DE Cullen Jenkins, DE Jason Babin, WR Steve Smith, T Ryan Harris, RB Ronnie Brown
Key Losses = S Quintin Mikell, LB Stewart Bradley, K David Akers

Schedule = @ Rams, @ Falcons, Giants, 49ers, @ Bills, @ Redskins, BYE, Cowboys, Bears, Cardinals, @ Giants, Patriots, @ Seahawks, @ Dolphins, Jets, @ Cowboys, Redskins

Real-Life Outlook = For those of you who have anointed the Eagles as the Miami Heat of the NFL, sit down for a second. Take a deep breath. Relax. This team is not going to be the ’85 Bears. Philadelphia is bringing back an entire offense that for other than the fourth quarter against the Giants, was shut down during the final month of the season and their home playoff game against Green Bay. Certainly their off-season moves were huge, but this is still a team with holes. The Eagles have put together the best trio of cornerbacks the NFL has seen in a long time, but safety is a major issue with Quintin Mikell going to St. Louis. Philadelphia will be able to bottle up most wide receivers, but they’ll have a tough time defending players like Jason Witten. The offensive line is average (Vick has been running for his life so far in the pre-season, which is the same thing he was doing during the final month of last season). This will inevitably lead to Michael Vick missing a few games at some point during the season. As long as Vick is healthy enough to start 12 games, this team will make the playoffs (and still be one of the favorites to win the NFC), but No Credentials is boldly predicting that Vick’s future injury issues will keep Philadelphia from winning the division.

Fantasy Outlook = Some of you might look at the previous paragraph and think that I’m down on Vick for fantasy, but that isn’t the case. Vick went fourth in the No Credentials mock draft. You need to invest in a solid second-string if you draft him, but Vick’s per-game output is enough value that even 12 games of Vick will be better than 16 games of any other fantasy QB.
            The fantasy discussion does not end at quarterback for Philadelphia. LeSean McCoy appears to be poised for a monster season. If you are in a PPR league, feel free to take him as high as 5^th. DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin should both be drafted as #2 fantasy receivers. Jackson is more explosive (upgrade him if you are in a league that gives bonuses for going over 100 yards, 150 yards, ect.), but Maclin is steadier and generally more consistent. Jason Avant should also be drafted in the event that one of those two suffers an injury. Brent Celek is a solid tight end, but didn’t click with Vick (hey that rhymed) during 2010. If those two figure it out, Celek represents a great buy later in the draft if you miss out on the elite tight ends. 

Ceiling = 15-1 (totally dependant on the health of Michael Vick)

Floor = 9-7 (totally dependant on Wonderlic legend Vince Young takes too many snaps)
No Credentials Prediction = 10-6

1. Dallas Cowboys

2010 Record = 6-10 (3^rd in Division)

Key Additions = S Abram Elam
Key Losses = RB Marion Barber, WR Roy Williams, DE Stephen Bowen, G Leonard Davis, C Andre Gurode

Schedule = @ Jets, @ 49ers, Redskins, Lions, BYE, @ Patriots, Rams, @ Eagles, Seahawks, Bills, @ Redskins, Dolphins, @ Cardinals, Giants, @ Buccaneers, Eagles, @ Giants

Real-Life Outlook = This is a homer pick, but I feel better about it because my Dad (who loathes the Cowboys) also predicts that they will win the division (this mostly has to do with the combined Wonderlic scores of Vick and Vince Young. Maybe one day I’ll let him post a rant about those two on this blog). It’s hard to tell who’s shed more dead weight in the last nine months, Snooki or the Dallas Cowboys. Jerry Jones finally admitted he was wrong by letting go of Roy Williams (keep in mind that Jerry traded away three draft picks for Williams, and then signed him to a $35 million extension). Marion Barber, who has been a warrior but also was vastly overpaid before having ankle issues, has also been released. Dallas even shed a couple of over-priced offensive linemen in Andre Gurode and Leonard Davis. There is a strong case to be made that Dallas will see significant addition by subtraction. Throw in a healthy Tony Romo playing under Head Coach Jason Garrett (Dallas went 5-3 under Garrett last season with Jon Kitna and Stephen McGee playing quarterback) with four games against the entire NFC West, and things are looking up for the Cowboys. I’m not signing off on them as a Super Bowl contender, but they have enough talent (and a favorable enough schedule) to steal a division win from Philadelphia.

Fantasy Outlook = Tony Romo is the last of the elite-7 fantasy quarterbacks, but with Peyton Manning’s neck concerns, he might end up as the sixth QB taken in your draft. He can be a little streaky (be prepared for a few games where he gives you eight points or less), but when he’s rolling there aren’t many more productive fantasy quarterbacks. Dez Bryant, Miles Austin, and Jason Witten are all elite receiving options that will be off the board between the third and fifth rounds. Bryant has the most touchdown potential, while Austin and Witten will be the steadiest in terms of receptions. I would not be shocked if all three went over 1,000 yards receiving. Kevin Ogletree shouldn’t be drafted, but keep an eye on him if one of the two starters suffers an injury. Felix Jones has gotten so much hype the past two weeks that his Yahoo rank has gone from 66 to 39. He’s looked sharp in the pre-season, and has the talent to deliver 1,300 rushing yards and another 500 through the air. You should feel very fortunate if you can grab him in the early part of the fourth round or later.

Ceiling = 13-3

Floor = 8-8
No Credentials Prediction = 11-5


the AFC North
the AFC South
the AFC West
the NFC North
the NFC South
the NFC West

Rounds 2-3 of the No Credentials Fantasy Football Mock Draft

     Here’s rounds two and three of our mock draft. My friend Ethan was again along for the ride to have the final say on odd numbered teams, while I handled the even-numbered squads. If you missed Round 1 of the mock, click here.

Team 12, aka “Just Win Baby”

Pick 13 = Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders – He probably should be trusted more based off of his breakout last season. If healthy, has top-5 RB potential in PPR leagues.

Team 11, aka “Wandering Bear”

Pick 14 = Phillip Rivers, QB, Chargers – No Credentials is all in on Philip Rivers this year. If somehow you are able to draft him in the third round, there’s a good chance you will win your league.

Team 10, aka “Twinning”

Pick 15 = Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions – One of these years, Megatron is going to put up 120 receptions with 1,600 receiving yards. If Stafford stays healthy (admittedly, a huge if), 2011 could be the year.

Team 9, aka “Hair”

Pick 16 = Tom Brady, QB, Patriots – Ethan wanted to take Brady at 14 until I talked him into Rivers. Even 16 seems high to me, but ESPN’s Matthew Berry has Brady ranked at 11 on his big board.

Team 8, aka “YOU PLAY TO WIN THE GAME”

Pick 17 = Michael Turner, RB, Falcons – Ethan was about to have an aneurysm because Turner was still on the board, so we finally took him at 17. I’m really down on him this season. He’s had a decent three-year run, but excess weight is bound to get the best of him eventually. Turner’s stock is lowered considerably in PPR leagues, as his pass catching ability is somewhere between poor and horrendous.

FANTASY TIP 2.1 = KNOW WHAT YOUR LEAGUE’S SCORING RULES ARE – This sounds fairly straightforward, but you would be surprised how many people don’t know whether or not a passing touchdown is worth four or six points in their league. Understanding the scoring nuances of your league will allow you to adjust a player’s value accordingly going into the draft. Turner is a great example of this. He’s ranked in the top 10 right now on Yahoo!, but that ranking is based off of a non-PPR league. If you are playing in a PPR, don’t be the schmuck that drafts Michael Turner at #8.

Team 7, aka “Sponge Worthy”

Pick 18 = Drew Brees, QB, Saints – 22 interceptions last season was a major anomaly. New Orleans’ improved rushing attack should allow Brees to take better care of the ball.

Team 6, aka “F*** the Constitution”

Pick 19 = Frank Gore, RB, 49ers – Gore has this nasty habit of missing multiple games every year, but when he’s healthy there aren’t many runningbacks in PPR leagues. An improved offensive line gives Gore a shot at 2,000 total yards.

Team 5, aka “R.I.P. AIM”

Pick 20 = Steven Jackson, RB, Rams – Jackson is a solid back who has been the victim of being surrounded by shoddy talent the past three years. If Sam Bradford can take a step forward, Jackson could score double-digit touchdowns.

Team 4, aka “In My Time of Dying”

Pick 21 = Greg Jennings, WR, Packers – My favorite second tier wide receiver, Jennings will benefit greatly from the return of Jermichael Finley.

Team 3, aka “The Great White Hope”

Pick 22 = Peyton Hillis, RB, Browns – Ethan isn’t as scared of The Madden Curse as I am (check out my AFC North preview for more details).

Team 2, aka “We Support Your War on Terror”

Pick 23 = Peyton Manning, QB, Colts – Manning might be rusty the first game or two, but if he puts up numbers similar to his 2008 production (when he missed all of the preseason after having an infection in his knee), you’ll be happy at season’s end.

Team 1, aka “The Dark Knight”

Pick 24 = Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts – Wayne was a certified fantasy team assassin in 2009, but bounced back with over 100 catches last season.

Team 1, aka “The Butler”

Pick 25 = Miles Austin, WR, Cowboys – Miles managed to be productive even with Jon Kitna and Stephen McGee throwing him the ball last season, and Roy Williams lining up on the opposite side of the field. With a healthy Romo, and Dez Bryant as the full-time #2, expect big things. I should also note that I lobbied for my son to be named Miles, so you should take any No Credentials advice about him with a grain of salt.
Current Roster = RB Adrian Peterson, WR Reggie Wayne, WR Miles Austin

Team 2, aka “I Need a Post-Up Game”

Pick 26 = Hakeem Nicks, WR, Giants – I’m not all-in on the Nicks bandwagon, but he will have a chance to crack 90 receptions with the other Steve Smith out of town.
Current Roster = RB Jamaal Charles, QB Peyton Manning, WR Hakeem Nicks

Team 3, aka “The High Life”

Pick 27 = Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars – Ethan was adamant that this team should draft a third runningback at this point. I probably replaced him after this pick, but we’ll see how a team built around three backs will do.
Current Roster = RB Arian Foster, RB Peyton Hillis, RB Maurice Jones-Drew

Team 4, aka “Good Times Bad Times”

Pick 28 = Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers – A full-year of Jackson (his first in the post-Tomlinson era) could be huge. I wouldn’t be shocked at all if he ends up as the most valuable receiver in fantasy. In retrospect, I would’ve signed off on him going at 21 instead of Jennings.
Current Roster = QB Michael Vick, WR Greg Jennings, WR Vincent Jackson

Team 5, aka “That’s My Quarterback (sniffle, sniffle)”

Pick 29 = Tony Romo, QB, Cowboys – The last of the elite fantasy quarterbacks (emphasis on fantasy) comes off the board.
Current Roster = RB Chris Johnson, RB Steven Jackson, QB Tony Romo

Team 6, aka “Job Security”

Pick 30 = Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers – When healthy, Gates is far and away the best tight end in the game. In retrospect, it would make more sense for a team with one of the elite seven QBs to draft him (as it’s much easier to come up with a runningback or wide receiver who emerges either late in the draft or off the waiver wire).
Current Roster = WR Andre Johnson, RB Frank Gore, TE Antonio Gates

Team 7, aka “60 Minutes”

Pick 31 = Mike Wallace, WR, Steelers – No Credentials hasn’t liked a Steelers’ wide receiver this much since Yancey Thigpen in 1995. I wrote during round 1 of the mock that I think Pittsburgh will run the ball more this season, but that won’t hurt Wallace at all. If anything, that will option up a few play-action fly patterns for Wallace to run.
Current Roster = RB Ray Rice, QB Drew Brees, WR Mike Wallace

Team 8, aka “Krayzee Eyez Killah”

Pick 32 = Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs – I’m not crazy about Bowe this season (mostly due to his quarterback, read the AFC West preview for more details), but Bowe will go sometime in the third round in all drafts. You shouldn’t expect him to duplicate 2010’s touchdown total, but he could increase his receptions.
Current Roster = QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Michael Turner, WR Dwayne Bowe

Team 9, aka “The Enigma”

Pick 33 = Dez Bryant, WR, Cowboys – The first risky/reckless/hardcore homer pick of the No Credentials mock. As long as Bryant stays away from malls, Bryant is a lock to score 10 touchdowns (or more) this season.
Current Roster = RB LeSean McCoy, QB Tom Brady, WR Dez Bryant

FANTASY TIP 2.2 = ONE HOMER PICK IS OKAY, TWO OR MORE IS A PROBLEM – Having one guy off of your fantasy team is fine in my book, but two or more can frustrate the hell out of you. A couple of years ago I had one team that had Romo, Marion Barber (who I traded for), Jason Witten (who I also traded for), and Miles Austin (who I picked up off the free agent list after he torched Kansas City for 250 yards). Things were going just fine with this set-up until Dallas traveled to Green Bay, and those four players scored a combined 13 fantasy points. It was brutal. Not only did my real life favorite football team embarrass itself, it also caused my fantasy team to be an embarrassment. From then forward I vowed not to invest too heavily into the Cowboys.

Team 10, aka “Herbal Frontier”

Pick 34 = Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants – I’m not crazy about Bradshaw, but he’s a solid PPR runningback who should continue to see the bulk of the carries as Brandon Jacobs continues to slow down.
Current Roster = WR Larry Fitzgerald, WR Calvin Johnson, RB Ahmad Bradshaw

Team 11, aka “Cougar Hunters”

Pick 35 = DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles – The best home run hitter in the NFL, Jackson will have monster games and dud games throughout the season. Just know that going in before you take him.
Current Roster = WR Roddy White, QB Philip Rivers, WR DeSean Jackson

Team 12, aka “Ward Burton”

Pick 36 = Brandon Marshall, WR, Dolphins – I talked myself and Ethan into reaching on Marshall because I really believe that his head will be in the right place know that he’s properly medicated, but quarterback situation in Miami (barring a miracle trade to bring in Carson Palmer) will hurt his production. Marshall probably should’ve gone ten or fifteen picks later.
Current Roster = RB Rashard Mendenhall, RB Darren McFadden, WR Brandon Marshall