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Hi Folks,
Welcome to Sunday and I hope it's been a good weekend for you. These years are always weird with the 4th being right in the middle - hope you get a little bit of the Holiday weekend on this weekend and next one too. In the meantime, we've got a TON of new updated apps ready for you plus the news and notes. Let's get to it.
J
Don't have the few minutes it takes to create a custom cheatsheet with us? No worries. Our Clayton Gray's gone through and run 160 different league and scoring scenarios through our projections and generated a ton of cheatsheets. One of them will likely be very close if not exactly matched to your league. Enjoy.
For folks that love the tried and true Value Based Drafting (VBD) Excel App, a new version is loaded and ready for you.
The best drafting software on the planet is our Draft Dominator. And a new version for Windows is ready and loaded with new projections.
And of course we don't forget our Mac friends on the Draft Dominator...
Work our Detailed Stat Projections like a Boss with the Projections Dominator.
Chicago Bears RB Matt Forte made it clear Friday, June 29, that he will play for the team this season. 'I don't think I really have a choice, do I?,' Forte said. 'Yeah, I'll be here.' It is uncertain if that means he'll report to training camp when it starts, and he was evasive when asked if he would be on time. If Forte signs the franchise tender, he would make $7.749 million this season. Forte and the Bears have until July 16 to work out a multi-year deal.
Footballguys' view: Forte doesn't have any leverage in this situation. He'd like a long-term deal, but the Bears have concerns about his durability. If he misses time in the regular season due to this holdout then the Bears will turn to Michael Bush as their starting RB.
Buffalo Bills RB C.J. Spiller believes the team should be considered Super Bowl contenders this upcoming season. 'We split with New England (last year). We had the Giants on the ropes. We are close to being a Super Bowl team,' Spiller said. 'Every year we expect to win and make the playoffs and make a run, but we don't just want to make the playoffs, we're trying to get to the Super Bowl. Why get to the playoffs if you're not trying to win the Super Bowl? That's the ultimate and that's what we talk about is being champions.'
Footballguys' view: We love this mindset from Spiller, and have zero problem with him stating his opinion on the team's chances. Players are supposed to believe they're a Super Bowl contender, and with the Bills revamped defense (featuring Mario Williams) they could earn a playoff spot in 2012.
Washington Redskins WR Santana Moss has an early jump on the team's No. 2 wide receiver spot, and there also have been whispers he could compete with WR Pierre Garcon for the No. 1 role.
Footballguys' view: Fantasy owners need to make a note of this. The Redskins should have a strong passing game with rookie QB Robert Griffin III. Moss lost 15 pounds this offseason and has really impressed in minicamp this offseason. Originally thought to be competing with Josh Morgan for the team's slot WR position, it sounds like Moss may in fact be higher on the depth chart. He makes for a nice veteran WR sleeper pick near round 10 in your fantasy draft.
Oakland Raiders RB Darren McFadden said he is fully recovered from his foot injury suffered last season and is looking forward to carry his strong 2011 performance into this upcoming season.
Footballguys' view: No question McFadden is one of the best RBs in the game today. However, he's yet to play through a full 16 game season. If he can stay healthy all season long then it wouldn't surprise us to see him finish the year as a top 5 fantasy RB. His current ADP has him going off the board with the 7th pick in the first-round.
New England Patriots RB Stevan Ridley said Friday, June 29, that he knows the opportunity in front of his this season, and he will try to move up the depth chart to become the featured back. 'Everything I could have asked for is right in front of me,' Ridley said. 'I want to get to that No. 1 spot. And to this day that is still what I'm doing with the Patriots. I'm fighting for that No. 1 spot.'
Footballguys' view: Ridley is competing with fellow second-year RB Shane Vereen to be the team's leading runner. The RB situation in New England is a tricky one for fantasy owners. Even if Ridley wins the starting job he'll still split touches with Vereen, Danny Woodhead, and Joseph Addai.
Detroit Lions RB Jahvid Best (concussion) is expected to be ready for the start of the regular season. Barring any setbacks, he is expected to see a majority of the carries early on while RB Mikel Leshoure (knee) serves a two-game suspension. General manager Martin Mayhew recently said he expects a breakthrough season for Best.
Footballguys' view: Best is arguably the most talented RB on the Lions roster, and if they want to advance in the postseason a more balanced offensive attack is needed. Fantasy owners are hesitant to pull the trigger on Best because of his long injury history. He's currently coming off the board at RB29 near the end of the 6th round.
Cleveland Browns QB Brandon Weeden is expected to report to training camp on time even though he has not signed his contract yet because he likely will be the No. 1 quarterback when camp begins.
Footballguys' view: Weeden is likely to win the Browns starting job and the team doesn't need him missing any portion of training camp.
Buffalo Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick said his accuracy during offseason practices was superior to that of any other time in his career. 'My accuracy this offseason is higher than it's been in my whole NFL career,' Fitzpatrick said. '(David Lee) charts everything. He charts when we're throwing one-on-one, team and even on air. He's making sure that I'm getting the most out of everything. You see it in the numbers now and hopefully it translates to one the field as well.'
Footballguys' view: Fitzpatrick makes an interesting QBBC fantasy pick this year. The Bills should run more four- and five-WR sets than anyone else in the league, and Fitzpatrick could make plays as a spot fantasy starter. You can add him at QB19 near the mid-12th round.
Cleveland Browns RB Trent Richardson said he thinks comments made by former NFL RB Jim Brown were meant as a motivational ploy. Brown criticized the Browns for selecting Richardson in the NFL Draft, calling him an average running back. 'I've got big shoes to fill. I don't dislike Jim Brown for his comments on me. He's just pushing me to the limit,' Richardson said. 'He's going to make sure I'm going to work and make sure he can get everything he can out of me as far as me being in Cleveland.'
Footballguys' view: We respectfully disagree with Jim Brown here. Richardson is a special back, and reminds us of the Vikings Adrian Peterson. Expect Richardson to perform like a low end RB1 in fantasy football.
The Oakland Raiders remain interested in free-agent RB Cedric Benson (Bengals) and could offer him a contract just before training camp, or soon after it opens.
Footballguys' view: That sounds about right. Benson has not gotten much interest on the open market, but that will change when training camp starts. Injuries at the RB position could make Benson's phone start to ring with offers. The Raiders have shown interest as they'd like better veteran depth behind injury prone starter Darren McFadden.
Cleveland Browns TE Jordan Cameron could earn more playing time this season if he is able to improve his play.
Footballguys' view: Cameron was a basketball star in college at USC and has raw football ability. He does a good job of 'boxing out' defenders and can consistently high point passes. If he can develop his route running then he'll be a downfield threat for the Browns where he can attack the deep middle seam. Dynasty owners make a low offer on Cameron as a 'lottery ticket' type of player.
Detroit Lions general manager Martin Mayhew said the team did not sign a veteran running back this offseason because they were happy with how RBs Keiland Williams and Joique Bell performed during offseason workouts. Williams and Bell are expected to compete for the No. 3 running back job during training camp.
Footballguys' view: Bell has a little more burst to his game, but Williams is the more natural runner. The backup RB situation in Detroit is one to monitor given the injury history of both Jahvid Best and Mikel LeShoure.
Philadelphia Eagles WR DeSean Jackson is primed to have the best season of his career. He is healthy, and he is happy after signing a lucrative contract during the offseason.
Footballguys' view: Nothing but a good sign for the Eagles here. Jackson and Jeremy Maclin give QB Michael Vick two big play options at WR. We like Jackson's current ADP at WR23 and see him as a decently valued late 5th round pick.
San Francisco 49ers LB Aldon Smith (undisclosed) was stabbed at a house party Saturday, June 30, but his injuries are not believed to be serious. The team said in a statement that Smith suffered minor injuries.
Footballguys' view: Good to know the injury is not serious. This is the second off field incident for Smith this offseason. Back in January he was arrested for DUI in Miami Beach.
Buffalo Bills CB Stephon Gilmore has a good chance of winning a starting job during training camp and likely would start at right cornerback if he earns a starting job.
Footballguys' view: Gilmore can be an impact player for the Bills this season. He's a shutdown corner with high football intelligence and the ability to get into the back pocket of WRs he covers. Gilmore (and the rest of the secondary) will benefit greatly from arguably the best D-Line in the game today. Mario Williams, Mark Anderson, Kyle Williams, and Marcel Dareus will make opposing QBs uncomfortable early and often in 2012.
That'll do it for today, Folks. Thanks for reading and I hope you have a great rest of your weekend.
Peace,
J