Managing Editor and Director of Operations for Sports Grumblings LLC, is nationally published covering the National Football League, Major League Baseball, College Football and has been a FSWA Writer of the Year finalist. Involved with Fantasy Sports since 1973, Tony has hosted radio and internet broadcasts that include the 'Dog and Tony Show' with NFL draft analyst D.J Boyer, 'Football Central', 'Finn on Sports', 'Gridiron Gamblers', and is the Senior NFL analyst for the PBS broadcast of "NFL Intellect".
The Falcons' success rides on Vick's dog and pony show...
A new offense, offseason distractions and no impact receivers -- is Vick starter worthy?
IS VICK FANTASY WORTHY? Ravens favorites in AFC North; can Cutler skirt the dreaded sophomore jinx?; Colts have the offense but...; will Rhodes' absence return Jordan to his 2005 production?; Briggs and agent have new concept; Portis undervalued?; and more...
AMERICAN FOOTBALL CONFERENCE
BALTIMORE RAVENS The Ravens are by most accounts this early summer the favorites to repeat as the champs of the AFC North. Give me the Bengals and a substantial wager on the team winning more than nine games this season and call it a winner, an AFC North Division winner.
DENVER BRONCOS There are three stark reasons for fantasy owners to avoid the Broncos' player personnel this year. 1) No coach since Minnesota’s Mike Tice is more fickle and secretive about who will receive the bulk of the backfield work on any given Sunday than HC Mike Shanahan. 2) The offense will be led by quarterback Jay Cutler and the history of second-year signal callers in this league is difficult to ignore. 3) Newly acquired free-agent Travis Henry has an intimate relationship with the Sunday inactive list -- and over the last two years has suffered what some consider an injury that running backs never really recover from, turf toe.
That said it’s hard to discount the weapons that Denver has added this offseason in Henry, and WR Brandon Stokley. The 2007 campaign will be Javon Walker’s second Rocky Mountain beat and his first season fully removed from a serious ACL injury. Walker was a late addition to the Broncos last year and is now more comfortable after an offseason to fully grasp the offensive. Henry is a perfect fit for the Shanahan zone blocking scheme, Cutler is nearly one season smarter and has a compliment of players that will help him succeed. The addition of Stokley, who will draw coverage in spread formations, might be the most important player add-on in Denver. Stokley and Henry’s participation will allow Shanahan to once again be more creative offensively, something he wasn’t with retired quarterback Jake Plummer and first year signal-caller Cutler under center.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS After a long discussion with (SG CEO) John Georgopoulos about the ‘soon-to-be’ released FFRS rankings two things became very clear when examining the wide receiver list -- Indianapolis will once again be the poster child for offensive prowess. With All World signal caller Peyton Manning, a stellar offensive line, and two of the leagues Top-Five wide outs in Reggie Wayne and future Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, the unit will again challenge the Saints for most yards from scrimmage in 2007. It’s easy to point out the lack of depth at running back on this team. The Colts will depend on second-year tailback Joseph Addai and current backupDeDe Dorsey -- who is still a relative unknown -- but a must handcuff to Addai for those in early summer drafts. But even without a top-tiered running back OC Tom Moore will not be hindered. The Indy player personnel offers adequate evidence that the Moore offense will be good, but it might be the lack of defense in Indianapolis that forces the Colts into those fantasy-friendly Sunday shootouts.
After a poor regular season, the Colts' defense bounced back with unlikely postseason success. But that group has lost a handful of key players including cornerback Nick Harper and safety Mike Doss. The linebacker corps lost its only real playmaker, Cato June, and All Pro defensive end Dwight Freeney was slowed by injuries last season as defensive coordinators learned that neutralizing the undersized end could be done with consistent chips and chops.
OAKLAND RAIDERS Oakland Raiders running back LaMont Jordan's fantasy stock spiked this past weekend when free-agent acquisition Dominic Rhodes was suspended Tuesday for the first four games of the season for violating the league's substance abuse policy. The league does not disclose reasons for substance abuse suspensions, but Rhodes pleaded guilty in the offseason to reckless driving charges in Indiana after prosecutors agreed to drop drunken driving charges against him. Rhodes, who was expendable in Indianapolis due to the production of rookie tailback Joseph Addai, started all 16 regular-season games last season, rushing for 641 yards and five touchdowns. After backing up Edgerrin James since entering the league, Rhodes was the starter in name, but played second-fiddle to rookie Joseph Addai. The Raiders have a large stable of capable runners, but Jordan will have four games to show new coach Lane Kiffin he is the featured running back the team paid a hefty price for in 2005.
ATLANTA FALCONS Never an apologist for Michael Vick and more often than not critical of his arm accuracy and decision making on game day -- one has to believe that there is a strong possibility that the Falcons signal caller, entering the prime of his career, will take yet another step back in the Petrino offense. In a season where Vick should be entering his skill peak -- his seventh season has more questions, holes -- and another talentless receiving corps with only aging veteran Joe Horn qualifying as a true supporting cast member.
CHICAGO BEARS Bears general manager Jerry Angelo continues to maintain that he is constantly in communication with LB Lance Briggs' agent Drew Rosenhaus. That claim was born-again when the two worked out a contract with Rosenhaus client and Bears' first-round NFL draft pick TE Greg Olsen. The two finalized a five-year contract that potentially could be worth up to $10.69 million and includes incentives as well as a creative bonus package on base salaries of $285,000 for 2007, $460,000 for 2008 and 2009, $550,000 in 2010 and $650,000 in 2011.
Olsen receives a signing bonus of $250,000 plus a roster bonus of $720,000 this year. He has incentives that will pay him an additional $575,700 in 2007 if he participates in 35 percent of the snaps. In subsequent years the incentive is triggered if he plays in 45 percent of the snaps. and the team has had a good working relationship with agent Rosenhaus.
The two are also discussing new concepts on how to approach the Lance Briggs franchise-tag impasse. "We presented some concepts that we think will work for the Bears and for Lance," Rosenhaus said, declining to elaborate on specifics. Adding urgency to Briggs' situation is that July 16 is the deadline to do long-term contracts with players having the franchise designation and fantasy owners in IDP leagues should know just how important Briggs is to teammate Brian Urlacher's season long production.
NEW YORK GIANTS With Tiki Barber now officially retired, third-year running back Brandon Jacobs becomes the Giants' featured back. Jacobs is a strong and physical runner who is a goal-line bruiser. He also has a chance to silence his critics and show off his good hands making him a dual threat and fantasy stud. Veteran RB Reuben Droughns was added in the offseason as insurance, nothing more.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS RB Shaun Alexander took part in the team's offseason conditioning program which is something he hasn't done in over five years. "I'm a lot stronger right now. I feel stronger, but my weight is exactly the same," Alexander said. Alexander believes that his 30-year old body can return to MVP form after missing six games last season with a broken foot. According to Alexander the reports during minicamp that his foot was still hindering him were not accurate. "Some people were pulling me over on the side, 'Should I pick you (for fantasy football)?'" Alexander said. "But I am good to go and this is going to be a great year for our whole team."
WASHINGTON REDSKINS Much was expected of veteran QB Mark Brunell and new offensive coordinator Al Saunders last year and if team record and on-field performance are the indicator of how well a coaching staff installs a scheme to match the player personnel, then 2006 was more than just a disappointment for head coach Joe Gibbs and his staff. OC Saunders discovered he didn't have the quarterback to run his up-tempo offense and he and Gibbs clashed in philosophy. Gibbs is a run-first coach, while Saunders has made his name in the league using the passing game to open up the running game. The two have decided that the system will have to change if they are going to depend on the inexperience and slow-release of Jason Campbell to lead this team to the playoffs. The Skins must become a run-first team and Gibbs will continue to have more gameday input on Sunday afternoons. Gibbs won't take over the play-calling duties but if Clinton Portis can stay healthy, his work load will increase and his current ADP (second round) will make him a fantasy steal.
