2014 NFC East Preview

4. New York Giants

2013 Record = 7-9, Third in NFC East, Missed Playoffs
2014 Schedule = @ Lions, Cardinals, Texans, @ Redskins, Falcons, @ Eagles, @ Cowboys, BYE, Colts, @ Seahawks, 49ers, Cowboys, @ Jaguars, @ Titans, Redskins, @ Rams, Eagles

Blue Chippers = None

High Quality Players = FB John Conner, LG Geoff Schwartz, CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
Solid Contributors = QB Eli Manning, RB Rashad Jennings, WR Victor Cruz, DE Jason Pierre-Paul, DT Cullen Jenkins, CB Walt Thurmond, SS Antrel Rolle
Impact Rookies = WR Odell Beckham Jr. (1-12, LSU)

Good News = Kevin Gilbride and his “Turd Sandwich Offense” were finally sent out of town.
Bad New = New York’s shaky offensive line has to face off against the fearsome defenses of the NFC West.

Outlook = For my money (what little there is of it), the Giants are the hardest team to forecast. Any win total between 3 and 13 is plausible. Realistically they could be 6-1 or 1-6 before their bye week. Most people will point to Eli Manning’s ridiculous interception total from a year ago, or their shockingly low defensive sack rate, as reasons to believe a market correction is in order. Even after surrendering 30+ points in each of their first five games last year, the defense still ranked eighth in total yards allowed at the end of the season. Jason Pierre-Paul is the key to the Giants reaching elite defensive status, as he’s now three years removed from his dominant 2011 campaign.

            Offensively, I’m not buying a return to past glory for Eli Manning, but the reason has nothing to do with him. Despite adding Geoff Schwartz from the Chiefs, New York still has one of the shakiest offensive lines in THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. The majority of Manning’s turnovers last season were pressure based, and it was truly astonishing that he didn’t get hurt until Week 17. It was foolish for New York to take Odell Beckham Jr. (a Victor Cruz clone, which is something you don’t need when you already employ Victor Cruz) instead of a lineman in the first round.

Prediction = Eli gets the crap kicked out of him again, and forced to defend too many short fields, the Giants defense won’t hold up. 6-10

3. Dallas Cowboys

2013 Record = 8-8, Second in NFC East, Missed Playoffs
2014 Schedule = 49ers, @ Titans, @ Rams, Saints, Texans, @ Seahawks, Giants, Redskins, Cardinals, Jaguars (London), BYE, @ Giants, Eagles, @ Bears, @ Eagles, Colts, @ Redskins

Blue Chippers = None

High Quality Players = HB DeMarco Murray, WR Dez Bryant, TE Jason Witten, LT Tyron Smith
Solid Contributors = QB Tony Romo, C Travis Frederick, RT Doug Free, DT Henry Melton
Impact Rookies = G/T Zack Martin (1-16, Notre Dame), DE Demarcus Lawrence (2-34, Boise State)

Good News = Against all odds, Dallas is on it's way to building their best offensive line since the glory days of the 1990s.
Bad News = Division II Schools could hang 40 points on their defense.

Outlook = Just for grins and giggles, here’s where I predicted Dallas would finish in the NFC East in each of the last three seasons.

2013 = 11-5, first in NFC East

2012 = 9-7, second in NFC East (surprisingly realistic prediction by me, except for the part where I thought they’d finish over .500)
2011 = 11-5, first in NFC East

            I’m just here to say…I can’t be optimistic anymore. Three mediocre seasons that have ended with Dallas losing a winner takes all season finale have sapped me of any hope. Unfortunately, Jerry Jones is encouraged by perpetual mediocrity, and hasn’t made wholesale changes in the structure of the team.

            Offensively, the Cowboys do boast top-5 talent across the board. Dallas finished fifth in total scoring despite running fewer offensive plays than any other team last year (that’s a weird stat, but we’ll cover it when we discuss the defense). Tony Romo delivered his strongest statistical season last year, chucking 31 touchdowns against only 10 interceptions. His lower rate of turnovers can largely be attributed to a vastly revamped offensive line. Zach Martin became the third offensive lineman taken by the Cowboys in the first round in the last five years, which before Tyron Smith was taken in 2010, hadn’t happened in 29 years. Keeping Romo upright has been a priority, and it has paid dividends. Improved blocking was also a key factor for DeMarco Murray averaging over five yards per carry. One could only wonder what Murray could produce if he could stay healthy for an entire season. The receiving corps is solid with Dez Bryant and Jason Witten leading the way. If Terrance Williams makes improvements after a promising rookie campaign, Romo will have the best receiving core he’s ever had.
            Defensively is where this team goes to hell. It was the worst defense in the league last season, and consistently had issues getting off the field on third down. Perhaps replacing 248-year old Monte Kiffin with Rod Marinelli as defensive coordinator will help, but that isn’t a guarantee. Sean Lee is already out for the season (stunner!), and their secondary is a complete mess.

Prediction = There are going to be plenty of shoot-outs, and plenty of fantasy football goodness, but unfortunately not plenty of wins for the Dallas Cowboys. In fact, we don’t even think they finish .500 this year. 7-9

2. Washington Redskins

2013 Record = 3-13, Last in NFC East, Missed Playoffs
2014 Schedule = @ Texans, Jaguars, @ Eagles, Giants, Seahawks, @ Cardinals, Titans, @ Cowboys, @ Vikings, BYE, Buccaneers, @ 49ers, @ Colts, Rams, @ Giants, Eagles, Cowboys

Blue Chippers = None

High Quality Players = HB Alfred Morris, WR DeSean Jackson, WR Pierre Garcon, LT Trent Williams, DE Jason Hatcher, OLB Brian Orakpo
Solid Contributors = QB Robert Griffin III, TE Jordan Reed, DT Barry Cofield, OLB Ryan Kerrigan, FS Ryan Clark
Impact Rookies = T Morgan Moses (3-66, Virginia)

Good News = They don’t have to send any more draft picks to the Rams.

Bad News = Washington did very little to improve a porous offensive line.

Outlook = We’ve taken plenty of pot shots at RGIII and the Redskins over the past few years, but the removal of eternally tan Mike Shanahan finally gives Washington some hope. New Head Coach Jay Gruden has vowed to not use Griffin like a change of pace runningback, and he shouldn’t come anywhere near the 120 carries he logged as a rookie. Griffin has the strongest set of skill players he’s had during his short pro career, which will also minimize the need to run. Snagging DeSean Jackson in free agency was a major coup, as he’s a perfect compliment for possession receiver Pierre Garcon. Garcon led the league in receptions, and posted his first injury free season since his rookie year with the Colts. Jordan Reed established himself as a dynamic tight end during his rookie campaign before having it cut short by a concussion. He’s the best red zone target on the team, and also is a fine target on third down. Alfred Morris figures to be the workhorse again, but Roy Helu Jr. is also poised to make a run at PPR-League relevance. The only thing that will hold the offense back is the offensive line, which if Trent Williams wasn’t manning left tackle, would rank as the worst line in football. Morgan Moses was a great get for the Redskins in the third round, as has a chance to solidify the right tackle position.

            Defensively, coordinator Jim Haslett will once again have the green light to blitz the hell out of the quarterback (the tan man restricted Haslett from pulling the blitz trigger on numerous occasions last year). This is a sound strategy, as the secondary is still extremely weak and could use help from a top-flight pass rush. Brian Orakpo delivered double-digit sacks last season, but needs to raise his play another level to make the Redskins a competent defensive team.

Prediction = We think the coaching change is worth 3 wins, DeSean is worth another one, and a healthy RGIII will push Washington over .500 in a successful bounce back campaign. 9-7

1. Philadelphia Eagles

2013 Record = 10-6, NFC East Champions, Lost NFC Wildcard Game
2014 Schedule = Jaguars, @ Colts, Redskins, @ 49ers, Rams, Giants, BYE, @ Cardinals, @ Texans, Panthers, @ Packers, Titans, @ Cowboys, Seahawks, Cowboys, @ Redskins, @ Giants

Blue Chippers = HB LeSean McCoy, LT Jason Peters, LG Evan Mathis

High Quality Players = C Jason Kelce, DE Fletcher Cox, OLB Trent Cole, CB Brandon Boykin
Solid Contributors = QB Nick Foles, HB Darren Sproles, WR Riley Cooper, TE Brent Celek, RG Todd Herremans, RT Lane Johnson, DE Cedric Thornton
Impact Rookies = WR Jordan Matthews (2-42, Vanderbilt)

Good News = Philadelphia has the strongest offensive line in the league.

Bad News = They didn’t sign anyone with a fraction of the skill set DeSean Jackson possessed.

Outlook = Chip Kelly is my favorite coach in the league, and it pains me that my beloved Cowboys have to face off against him twice a year. It’s hard to tell which is the more impressive feat, turning Nick “The Pizza Man” Foles into a franchise quarterback or rehabbing an offensive line that nearly got Michael Vick killed in 2012 into the best unit in football. Using a bullpen by committee like approach, we expect the Eagles to replace DeSean Jackson’s value without trouble. Jeremy Maclin could be a NFL Comeback Player of the Year candidate, and Jordan Matthews has the raw talent to make an impact in his rookie campaign. Defensively is where the Eagles still have issues, as the secondary is still weak, and the front seven still isn’t fully suited to play in a 3-4 alignment. Philadelphia gave up the most passing yardage in the league last year (even more than the Cowboys!), and it’s unlikely that they are significantly improved this year.

Prediction = The defense isn’t Super Bowl caliber yet, so while they should handle the NFC East, they are at least a year away from serious championship contention. 10-6

Click here to read about the AFC East
Click here to read about the AFC South
Click here to read about the NFC South
Click here to read about the AFC North
Click here to read about the NFC North
Click here to read about the AFC West

2013 NFC East Preview

         Our second division preview discusses the division closest to the heart of No Credentials. Each team has a division title in each of the last four years, a fact no other division can claim.


4. Philadelphia Eagles

 

2012 Record = 4-12, fourth in NFC East

2013 Schedule = @ Redskins, Chargers, Chiefs, @ Broncos, @ Giants, @ Buccaneers, Cowboys, Giants, @ Raiders, @ Packers, Redskins, BYE, Cardinals, Lions, @ Vikings, Bears, @ Cowboys

Franchise Players = RB LeSean McCoy, LG Evan Mathis

Supporting Cast = QB Michael Vick, WR DeSean Jackson, WR Jeremy Maclin (out for year, torn ACL), TE Brent Celek, LT Jason Peters, RG Todd Herremans, DT Fletcher Cox, OLB Conner Barwin, OLB Brandon Graham, MLB DeMeco Ryans, OLB Trent Cole
Notable Rookies = RT Lane Johnson (Oklahoma, 1-4), TE Zach Ertz (Stanford, 2-35), QB Matt Barkley (USC, 4-98)

Offensive Outlook = I’d like to make this the 52,928,393^rd page on the Internet that says the Philadelphia Eagles will play fast. If that translates to victories or not is questionable. A quick hitting offense will go along way in keeping Michael Vick (No Credentials has been wrong before, but we don’t see Nick “the Pizza Delivery Man” Foles or Matt Barkley winning the starting gig) on the field, as will the return of a healthy Jason Peters. If Lane Johnson catches on quickly, Philadelphia will have its best pair of offensive tackles since Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas. Regardless of the offense’s effectiveness, LeSean McCoy should make a return to his elite 2011 form after a concussion-riddled season last year. Chip Kelly ran the ball a ton at Oregon, so there’s no reason to expect he’ll abandon it in THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. Bryce Brown also has a chance to provide value if Philly commits to 30 carries a game. The passing attack took a huge hit with the loss of Maclin. DeSean Jackson is still around, and could set a career high in receptions if he is utilized on quick screens. Arrelious Benn has the size and speed to fill Maclin’s shoes, but never produced at an elite level during his time in Tampa Bay.  
Defensive Outlook = The Eagles are making a switch to a 3-4 base defense, which unfortunately they do not have the personal for. DeMeco Ryans played in the 3-4 at Houston, but other than that there’s a bunch of square pegs that need to fit into round holes. Asking Trent Cole to play linebacker is similar to signing Adam Sandler up to play Gandhi, as he brings virtually no coverage or run stopping skills to the table. Philadelphia blew up their secondary, which if new safeties Kenny Phillips and Patrick Chung stay healthy, will be an improvement.  

Ceiling = 10-6 – Vick needs to stay on the field for ten games and not suck. 0.002% chance this happens.

Floor = 2-14 – “Barkley drops back to pass, fires…INTERCEPTED!”
Prediction = 3-13
            They will be entertaining, and two of their wins will probably come against the Cowboys, but the lack of defensive talent will be the undoing of the Eagles. Sucking probably isn’t a terrible thing, as they’ll have a great chance to land a franchise quarterback in next year’s draft.
 

3. Washington Redskins

 

2012 Record = 10-6, first in NFC East

2013 Schedule = Eagles, @ Packers, Lions, @ Raiders, BYE, @ Cowboys, Bears, @ Broncos, Chargers, @ Vikings, @ Eagles, 49ers, Giants, Chiefs, @ Falcons, Cowboys, @ Giants

Franchise Players = QB Robert Griffin III, RB Alfred Morris, LT Trent Williams, OLB Brian Orakpo

Supporting Cast = TE Fred Davis, C Will Montgomery, MLB London Fletcher, OLB Ryan Kerrigan, CB DeAngelo Hall, K Kai Forbath
Notable Rookies = CB David Amerson (N.C. State, 2-51), TE Jordan Reed (Florida, 3-85)

Offensive Outlook = We could talk about how awesome Alfred Morris is, or how good Pierre Garcon and Fred Davis could be if they could stay on the field, but everything for the Redskins boils down to Robert Griffin III. Off-hand, here’s the questions surrounding RGIII as we enter the season.

Is he healthy?

Will he have his mobility?

Can he dial back his scrambling to avoid serious hits?

            If the answer to those three questions is yes, you can pencil in the Redskins for a second straight division title.

Defensive Outlook = Defensive coordinator Jim Haslett ran the same defense I normally run in Madden, which meant he blitzed six or seven guys 50% of the time. The return of Brian Orakpo and Adam Carriker hopefully means they can dial back the blitz, as it often left their mediocre secondary in one-on-one coverage. Orakpo in particular is capable of single-handedly dominating games. The linebacker core is solid, led by 96-year-old London Fletcher.

Ceiling = 12-4 – Robert Griffin III will be hoisting an MVP trophy if Washington wins 12 games.

Floor = 3-13 – Kirk Cousins looked good when pressed into action, but he’s not that good.
Prediction = 7-9
            I’m a logic driven person, and logically, I can’t see RGIII holding up. It won’t be shocking if they come out of the gate 3-1, but they are one big hit on their franchise quarterback away from becoming a team that can’t overcome it’s defensive deficiencies. Kirk Cousins getting a four game cameo might not be the worst thing long term, as he could be a tool to reacquire some draft picks (remember, there 2014 first rounder is going to St. Louis).
 

2. New York Giants

 

 

2012 Record = 9-7, second in NFC East

2013 Schedule = @ Cowboys, Broncos, @ Panthers, @ Chiefs, Eagles, @ Bears, Vikings, @ Eagles, BYE, Raiders, Packers, Cowboys, @ Redskins, @ Chargers, Seahawks, @ Lions, Redskins

Franchise Players = QB Eli Manning, WR Victor Cruz, DE Jason Pierre-Paul

Supporting Cast = RB David Wilson, WR Hakeem Nicks, TE Brandon Myers, LT Will Beatty, RG David Snee, DE Justin Tuck, DT Cullen Jenkins, FS Antrel Rolle
Notable Rookies = RT Justin Pugh (Syracuse, 1-19), DT Johnathan Hankins (Ohio St., 2-49)

Offensive Outlook = For proof of how mind-numbingly inconsistent the Giants were on offense last year, here’s the amount of points they scored in each game last season.

17

41
36
17
41
26
27
29
20
13
38
16
52
0
14
42

            For those not interested in counting, there were six games they scored more than 35 points, and six games they scored under 20. I guess that’s the price you pay for employing Eli Manning as your starting quarterback. Manning can be as clutch as any quarterback in the NFL, but also is capable of delivering a slew of stinkers (see his week 8 through 10 stats last year for proof of this). Ahmad Bradshaw is gone, but that opens the door for electrifying second year pro David Wilson. Wilson spent some time in Tom Coughlin’s doghouse last year, but has the big play ability that the Giants have been lacking in the running game since Tiki Barber was in town. Victor Cruz was effective last year, but he needs a healthy Hakeem Nicks to free up opposing defenses’ focus on him. Nicks is playing for a new contract next year, and if his health doesn’t fail him, he’ll be motivated. Reuben Randle was raw as a rookie, but has the physical ability to make an impact in his second season. Brandon Myers productivity in Oakland was noticed by roughly 600 people, but Giants fans should be sure that they have an upgrade over Martellus Bennett.

Defensive Outlook = The hallmark of the New York’s two Super Bowl victories over New England was it’s devastating pass rush. Unfortunately, their rush was absent in 2012. The Giants sack total dropped to 33 (down from 48 in 2011), and most of that can be attributed to an out-of-shape Jason Pierre-Paul. An entire defense whose success was predicated on pressuring the quarterback collapsed. It’s reasonable to expect J.P.P. to rebound (he admitted he wasn’t physically prepared for last season), but expecting Justin Tuck to return to his past level of performance is asking too much. Cullen Jenkins was their big free agent acquisition, and he’s the best defensive tackle they’ve had since Tom Coughlin has been the head coach. It’s incredible that Corey Webster still has a job in the NFL after his abysmal 2012 campaign, but New York is banking on a rebound by their embattled starting cornerback. Aaron Ross does return after a year in Jacksonville, and will provide solid play in the nickel package.   

Ceiling = 14-2 – Eli Manning is due for a consistent 16-game campaign.

Floor = 6-10 – He’s also due for a 28-interception disaster.
Prediction = 9-7
            Is there any other win total you can forecast for the Giants other than nine games? Their first six games will go along way in determining what their season looks like, as they have to navigate four interesting road games. My money is on them starting 3-3, setting them up for a wildcard berth.
 

1. Dallas Cowboys

 

2012 Record = 8-8, third in NFC East

2013 Schedule = Giants, @ Chiefs, Rams, @ Chargers, Broncos, Redskins, @ Eagles, @ Lions, Vikings, @ Saints, BYE, @ Giants, Raiders, @ Bears, Packers, @ Redskins, Eagles

Franchise Players = QB Tony Romo, WR Dez Bryant, TE Jason Witten, DE DeMarcus Ware, DE Anthony Spencer

Supporting Cast = RB DeMarco Murray, WR Miles Austin, LT Tyron Smith, DT Jay Ratliff, MLB Sean Lee, OLB Bruce Carter, CB Brandon Carr
Notable Rookies = C Travis Frederick (Wisconsin, 1-31), RB Joseph Randle (Oklahoma St., 5-151)

Offensive Outlook = Everyone knows the book on Tony Romo. We’ve written about it in this space before. The team we just discussed has proven that you can win with a quarterback who isn’t consistent. All of the skill players are there for the Cowboys to succeed. DeMarco Murray has shown flashes of brilliance, but he’s injury prone and can’t stay on the field. Rookie Joseph Randle could be able to fill in if needed at an adequate level. Dez Bryant finally broke out last season, and is firmly entrenched as a top-5 receiver in THE NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE. If Miles Austin could replace his balky hamstrings, he’d be right there with Bryant as an elite receiver. Jason Witten caught a career high 110 passes this year, and barring an improbable reoccurrence, will not start the season playing with a ruptured spleen. Tyron Smith made a relatively smooth transition to left tackle, but the rest of the line was a disaster. First round pick Travis Frederick should provide some stability to the interior of the line, and Dallas is betting an awful lot on Doug Free returning to his 2009 form.

Defensive Outlook = I’m not sure if there’s a greater change you could make between defensive coordinators than going from Rob Ryan to 176-year-old Monte Kiffin. Unlike Philadelphia, the Cowboys have the personal to make the move from the 3-4 to the 4-3. DeMarcus Ware and Anthony Spencer will make the move to defensive end, but switching to full-time pass rushing roles isn’t a bad thing for this duo. Jay Ratliff also has a chance to rebound, as a 4-3 scheme gives defensive tackles a better chance to penetrate the offensive line. Jason Hatcher has performed well when called upon, and should thrive now that he has a full-time starting role. Sean Lee and Bruce Carter showed flashes of brilliance last year before having their seasons ended by injury. Brandon Carr brought some stability to the secondary, but Morris Claiborne had a mostly forgettable rookie year. A leap by him in his sophomore campaign would lift the Cowboys to a top-10 level defense.

Ceiling = 13-3 – If Dallas keeps all of its key players healthy, the talent is there for a 13 win campaign.

Floor = 6-10 – Most of Dallas players are injury prone, so this accounts for all of them getting hurt.
Prediction = 11-5
            Call me a homer, but when I look at the Cowboys schedule, I don’t see any un-winnable games. Their two toughest non-division opponents (Denver and Green Bay) they face at home. They could very easily go 4-4 or 5-3 on the road, which means if they take care of business at home, the Cowboys will win the NFC East.

Click here to read about the AFC East
Click here to read about the AFC South
Click here to read about the NFC South

Pre-Season Fantasy Football QB Ranks

           No Credentials is handling its fantasy football prep a little differently this year. Over the next ten days, we’ll be presenting our pre-pre-season fantasy ranks by position. We’ll group all ranked players by tiers, with an explanation of the value of each group, plus talk about whether or not the draft price is too high or low for each player. Sometime around the third week of pre-season, we’ll update our rankings (good chance an ACL or two explodes by then) to give you a clearer pre-draft preview (No Credentials fantasy rule #1…if you participate in a fantasy football draft in July, you’re an idiot). We start with the most important position in football (although not necessarily in fantasy football. We’ll have more on that in our next post).

Quarterback

            Last season, quarterbacks invaded the first round of most fantasy drafts, with Rodgers-Brees-Brady all going in the top 10. This year, with more stability at the runningback position, Rodgers is a fringe first round option, while everyone else falls to the second or later.

            Unless you’re playing a league that starts two quarterbacks, or is 14 teams or larger, there’s no reason to pick one too soon. Matthew Stafford threw the ball 724 times last year, and he’s the tenth quarterback off the board in average Yahoo drafts.

Tier 1 – The Sure Things

1	A.Rodgers, Packers
2	C.Newton, Panthers
3	D.Brees, Saints

            For my money, these are the three most reliable players in the game. Rodgers and Brees both will have the benefit of improved situations over a year ago (Green Bay actually employs talented runningbacks, and the Saints will actually have a real Head Coach), while Newton delivers the highest ceiling. Of the new bread of running quarterbacks, he’s the most durable.

            Rodgers sticker price will be too high for me, unless for some reason I find myself in a four-team league. He’s average price is 11.8 (early second round in ten team leagues, late first in 12), which is a tough place to not take a runningback. Brees is an option only if he falls into the third round, but his current 18.6 average selection is still to pricey. Newton is the best bargain of this group. He’s going in the third round, which if you’ve already solidified your runningbacks, is a great value.

Tier 2 – The Next Best Things

4	C.Kaepernick, 49ers
5	M.Ryan, Falcons
6	P.Manning, Broncos

These guys aren’t far from the top tier, but they all have slight amounts of risk. We haven’t seen Kaepernick play for a full 16 games yet, but he’s capable of delivering production similar to Cam Newton. Manning will put up stats equal to Drew Brees if healthy, but his past neck issues knock him down a tier. Matt Ryan is reliable, but doesn’t provide the back breaking point scoring weeks that the top group does.3

           Manning will not be on any of my teams, because for where he’s going in the third round, I’d much rather have either Cam Newton, a wide receiver, or Jimmy Graham. Kaepernick and Ryan are the best values at the position. They are fourth or fifth round picks (depending on league size), which means you could have your skill positions covered before you draft your franchise quarterback. Snag Kaepernick if your searching for sky-high potential, while Ryan provides a reliable floor that will not doom your team.

Tier 3 – The Head Scratchers

7	T.Romo, Cowboys
8	M.Stafford, Lions
9	A.Luck, Colts

            Equally adept at scoring 35 or 5 points in a given week, these will be the most frustrating quarterbacks to own. Fortunately, if you wait to draft these guys, your team should be deep enough that it could withstand a clunker from your quarterback. You’ll find Stafford in the seventh, Luck in the ninth, and Romo in the tenth. If I miss out on the QBs I highlighted in the first two tiers, these are the guys I’m waiting for.

Tier 4 – What’s Around These Guys?

10	R.Wilson, Seahawks
11	T.Brady, Patriots
12	B.Roethlisberger, Steelers
13	E.Manning, Giants

For Brady, Roethlisberger, and Manning, the only reason they are this low is my lack of trust in the talent around them. Brady is without Wes Welker, Aaron Hernandez, and maybe Ron Gronkowski for the first six weeks of the season. Big Ben will not have the services of Mike Wallace, and will more than likely have a physically limited Heath Miller. Eli Manning can’t fully count on a productive Hakeem Nicks, and even with him, his erratic-ness (even worse than my boy Romo, look at Eli’s week 8 through 10 last year) makes him difficult to have own. Wilson has the best situation of any of these guys, but Seattle ran the ball more than anyone last year, and I’m not convinced that Wilson will air it out any more this season.

(EDITORS NOTE: I think I still have a subliminal bias against Wilson after all of the jokes I made about him last year, so this rank probably isn’t fair)

Tier 5 – Too Many Questions For Me

14	M.Vick, Eagles
15	R.Griffin III, Redskins
16	J.Freeman, Buccaneers

            Vick and Freeman’s placement on this list are a given, but most of you will question why Robert Griffin III is this low. The reason is simple…I don’t trust that his leg will hold up. He might come back opening day at the same all world level he was playing at last year, but how long will he stay upright? RGIII is going in the middle of the sixth round in ten team leagues, which is insane when you’re talking about a position as deep as quarterback (remember last year when Adrian Peterson was a draft day question mark, runningback wasn’t nearly as deep). If I get the chance to pair him up with a guy like Roethlisberger at a discount price, I’m all for rolling the dice on Griffin, but I will not ask him to be my starting fantasy quarterback.

Tier 6 – The Bye Week Subs

17	J.Flacco, Ravens
18	A.Dalton, Bengals
19	M.Schaub, Texans
20	C.Palmer, Cardinals
21	P.Rivers, Chargers
22	S.Bradford, Rams
23	J.Cutler, Bears

You probably shouldn’t draft any of these guys unless you’re in a 12-team league or larger, or a league that starts two quarterbacks, but keep them in mind for bye weeks. Of this group, Carson Palmer provides the greatest upside.

Tier 7 – The Second Tier Bye Week Subs

24	M.Flynn, Raiders
25	A.Smith, Chiefs
26	R.Tannehill, Dolphins
27	J.Locker, Titans
28	K.Kolb, Bills

You absolutely shouldn’t draft any of these dudes, but keep an eye on Tannehill and Locker to see if they can be productive. 

Tier 8 – I Only Ranked Them to End at a Multiple of Five

29	C.Ponder, Vikings
30	N.Foles, Eagles
31	B.Weeden, Browns
32	E.Manuel, Bills
33	C.Henne, Jaguars
34	R.Fitzpatrick, Titans
35	M.Sanchez, Jets

            Not surprisingly, Blaine Gabbert was still too shitty to make the eighth tier.

No Credentials Top-12 Ranks, Cost Adjusted

            Based on the current average draft position in Yahoo drafts, here’s the ranking of which quarterbacks I would want the most on my team. In parenthesis is the average draft spot.

C.Kaepernick, 49ers (41.7)

C.Newton, Panthers (26.2)

M.Ryan, Falcons (47.3)

T.Romo, Cowboys (89.1)

M.Stafford, Lions (62.4)

A.Luck, Colts (79.9)

D.Brees, Saints (18.3)

B.Roethlisberger, Steelers (107.6)

E.Manning, Giants (103.2)

A.Rodgers, Packers (11.6)

P.Manning, Broncos (25.6)

T.Brady, Patriots (31.8)

 

 

           

 

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (1/4-1/6)

10. Dwight Howard Rips Teammates
            Translation…Dwight thinks Kobe is a real asshole.

9. Browns Whiff in Attempt to Land Chip Kelly

            I can’t figure out how the hottest NFL coaching prospect would turn down the chance to coach a 29-year old second year pro quarterback.

8. Some Guy Named Alan Anderson Scores 27 Points For My Fantasy B-Ball Team

            You have to love it when you strike waiver wire gold.

7. United States Wins Gold at the World Junior Championships

            Incredibly, this wasn’t the best news of the weekend for American hockey fans.

6. Johnny Manziel Destroys Oklahoma

            Should we just cancel the 2013 college football season and give the national championship to Texas A&M right now?

5. Packers Dominate Ponder-less Vikings

            For a long time, I wondered what would happen if Joe Webb got to start in a big game. Sadly for Vikings’ fans, we found out.
          
4. Arian Foster Drags Texans Into Divisional Round
            Of the four bye week teams, none is more excited than the New England Patriots. They’ll deliver the knockout blow to the struggling Texans this weekend.

3. Holy Shit, the NHL is Back
            Like finding a $20 in the wash, hockey will return sometime after Martin Luther King Day. It’s hard to tell who’s more excited about it, Canada or the NBC Sports Network.

2. Mike Shanahan Tries to Sacrifice Robert Griffin III

            There’s no other way to put what happened Sunday afternoon in Washington. You can probably write off RGIII for at least half of the 2013 season.

1. Ray Lewis Wins Final Home Game

            Lewis delivered the goods, racking up 13 tackles in his final appearance in Baltimore. The Ravens will have to win two on the road to make it to the Super Bowl.

10 Awesome Things That Happened This Weekend (11/22-11/25)

10. Auburn Fires Gene Chizik
            Apparently, a national championship only buys you two years of job security.

9. Detroit Lions Get Screwed

            If it is any consolation for Detroit fans, at least they covered the point spread.

8. The Bengals Get Revenge on Carson Palmer

            One could argue that Carson Palmer got what he deserved for bailing out on the Bengals last year.

7. Jaguars Show Life, Knock Off Tennessee

            Want to know why No Credentials gave a shit about this game? Gambling on the Jaguars money line, that’s why.

6. No Credentials Goes 13-1-1 With Week 12 Picks

            No Credentials career best picks weekend is another sure sign that the world is going to explode on December 21, 2012.

5. Ray Rice Converts a Fourth and 29

            Getting a first down on fourth and 29 is hard to do in Madden, much less real life.
          
4. San Francisco Dominates New Orleans
            Colin Kaepernick’s efforts to save my fantasy football team’s season were greatly appreciated.

3. Notre Dame Knocks Off USC, Earns BCS Championship Game Appearance
            Congratulations to the Fighting Irish for earning the right to get slaughtered by the SEC Champions in the BCS title game.

2. RGIII Lights Up Dallas, Redskins Hold On Late

            It looks like Robert Griffin III is going to be tormenting me for years to come.

1. Patriots Rack Up 35 Second Quarter Points, Humiliate Jets

            The Thanksgiving night loss was so catastrophic, Fireman Ed was pushed to retire.