Footballguys Daily Email - Volume 10, Issue 91 (Sunday, July 19th)
|
Sign Up For Free Newsletter
85,000+ Mailing List |
* Our Format – The FFPC was specifically designed to offer a format that is most player-friendly in terms of rules, scoring and league structure. Whether it's more teams making the league playoffs, or the Dual-Flex roster, or the 1.5 PPR for TE scoring, the FFPC players love the total package that's been put together. * Our Payouts – We have three simple rules: 1) The entire FFPC Main Event prize pool is secured in an Escrow account overseen by an independent attorney and 2) Keep operating costs low and never let payout go below 80% and 3) Send prize monies as soon as possible, preferably before Christmas :-) * Our Customer Service – Whether by email, phone or message board, Alex & Dave, the owner/operators of the FFPC are always around to respond to questions and solve problems. High stakes players deserve it and get it with the FFPC. * Our Community – Introduced only last year, the FFPC Message Board has become THE place to gather and talk about all issues which are important to high stakes players. But don't take out word for it, see for yourself.. Early Draft Slot Announcement deadline is Monday, August 3rd. Register for the Main Event by August 3rd and receive your draft slot by August 8th. |
Hi Folks,
Good Monday to you. The NFL is just about ready to kick into high gear with Training Camps and we're right there with it. Thanks as always to our Cecil Lammey and Sigmund Bloom for the help with these news items. Let's get to it.
J
SITE NEWS
A.
Official Ultimate Survivor 2 - Compete Against FBG Staff
Check out the thread in the headline link as we're bringing back our Ultimate Survivor contest again where you compete against our Footballguys Staff. Show them what you can do.
B.
Footballguys Subscription - Money Back Guarantee
I hope you're enjoying these email updates. But this information is just a tiny bit of what we offer. If you haven't already subscribed to our Premium Subscription service, I hope you'll take a look. The signup page is in the headline link. From now up to the Super Bowl, we give our Premium Subscribers everything we possibly can so they can dominate their league. And we put our money where our mouth is offering a money back guarantee. Please give it a look and give us a shot.
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1. BUF - WR Josh Reed 'locked in' as third receiver2. TEN - TE Jared Cook could be 'a hit right off the bat'
3. PHI - TE Brent Celek lighter and stronger than last year
4. NFL - Commissioner Goodell to decide QB Vick's fate 'within a couple of weeks'
5. CLE - Team wants to get RB Jerome Harrison more touches
6. NFL - DET OT Jon Jansen says NFL strike in 2011 is unlikely
7. BAL - Team will be patient with WR Derrick Mason
8. NFL - Six teams that make sense for Vick
9. OAK - WR Darrius Heyward-Bey misses Russell's passing camp
10. HOU - QB Matt Schaub hits woman on the head at celebrity golf tourney
11. BUF - WR James Hardy could begin season on the PUP
12. TEN - WR Kenny Britt unlikely to make immediate impact
13. WAS - WR Marko Mitchell a rookie standout in OTAs
14. WAS - WR Devin Thomas ahead of Malcolm Kelly
BUF - WR Josh Reed 'locked in' as third receiver
Source: Allen Wilson, The Buffalo News
Allen Wilson, of the Buffalo News, reports that WR Josh Reed is "locked in" as the third receiver behind Terrell Owens and Lee Evans.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Reed was miscast as a starter and should be a lot more effective as a slot receiver, although it will hurt his already negligible fantasy value.
TEN - TE Jared Cook could be 'a hit right off the bat'
Source: Jim Wyatt, The Nashville Tennessean
Jim Wyatt, of the Nashville Tennessean, reports that Titans third-round pick TE Jared Cook has been impressive this offseason and could make the biggest impact immediately of any Tennessee rookie.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
The only tight end in the NFL more athletic than Cook is Vernon Davis, and the margin isn't as big as you would think. Even if Cook gets on the field early, he'll still have to compete for targets with Bo Scaife, so don't draft him in redraft. In dynasty leagues, Cook is looking like he might be the best of this talented crop of rookie pass-catching TEs.
PHI - TE Brent Celek lighter and stronger than last year
Source: Reuben Frank, The Philadelphia Inquirer
Reuben Frank, of the Philadelphia Inquirer, reports that Eagles TE Brent Celek says he is lighter and stronger than last year. Frank also writes that Celek had the third highest catch total in a single postseason of any tight end in the history of the league.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
We had our doubts about Celek because he is one of the least athletic starting TEs in the league, but he showed that he can be an excellent fantasy producer in the playoffs. He's not even being drafted as a starter in fantasy leagues, but he could easily finish in the top 10, especially in PPR leagues.
NFL - Commissioner Goodell to decide QB Vick's fate 'within a couple of weeks'
Source: Chris Mortensen, ESPN
Chris Mortensen, of ESPN, reports that he expects commissioner Roger Goodell to make a ruling on Michael Vick's NFL future "within a couple of weeks."
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Vick will be released from home confinement on Monday, and he is expected to apply for reinstatement to the NFL soon after. Goodell made it seem like the decision wouldn't come down before September earlier, but Mortensen thinks Goodell will "expedite the process". Vick will almost certainly have to miss some training camp of any team that would sign him no matter how fast Goodell moves.
CLE - Team wants to get RB Jerome Harrison more touches
Source: Terry Pluto, the Cleveland Plain Dealer
Terry Pluto, of the Cleveland Plain Dealer, reports that the Browns are looking at RB Jerome Harrison as a punt returner, and that "they want to find ways to get Harrison the ball more". The team believes using Harrison as a punt returner can also help save WR/KR Josh Cribbs some wear and tear if they use him more on offense.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
We've always thought Harrison looked good when he got to touch the ball, we just didn't understand why that happened so seldomly under Romeo Crennel. Harrison seems to have endeared himself to the new coaching staff, so that should change this year. We would consider him a great sneaky sleeper to take late in your drafts if he wasn't in such a limited offense.
NFL - DET OT Jon Jansen says NFL strike in 2011 is unlikely
Source: Carlos Monarrez, The Detroit Free Press
Carlos Monarrez, of the Detroit Free Press, reports Detroit Lions OT Jon Jansen does not think there will be a work stoppage in 2011. "I don't think we're heading for anything like that. Yeah, we're going to threaten it, they're going to threaten. At some point everybody's going to be like, 'Oh, my gosh. This is going to happen.' But when it comes down to it, if there's a strike, the owners are in this, obviously they're in it for winning, but they're all also in it to make money. And if we're not on the field, no one's making money. ... If we're not on the field, we're not making money. We don't want that. When it comes down to it, we'll figure it out."
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
We can only hope that the owners and player reps will have Jansen's attitude when the time comes to negotiate a new CBA.
BAL - Team will be patient with WR Derrick Mason
Source: Michael Lombardi, The National Football Post
Michael Lombardi, of the National Football Post, reports that the Ravens will wait to bring in another veteran receiver to replace Derrick Mason. Lombardi writes, "with Head Coach John Harbaugh due to talk to Mason sometime this week, there is still hope for him to reconsider."
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
There is a chance that this was a ploy to get one last payday. Mason was making noise about his contract in the offseason, and he did have shoulder surgery, which indicates he was planning on playing this year at least at that point. Don't drop him in dynasty leagues just yet, and take him in the last round of early start 3 WR, PPR league drafts.
NFL - Six teams that make sense for Vick
Source:
Vinnie Iyer, of the Sporting News, reports that San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, Jacksonville Jaguars, Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins, and Seattle Seahawks would all be favorable destinations for QB Michael Vick.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
This just underscores what we have believed for a while now, that Vick will get another chance in the NFL. He was the most dangerous open-field runner in the league in his first incarnation, and with the revival of the wildcat formation, he could be valuable even in a limited role.
OAK - WR Darrius Heyward-Bey misses Russell's passing camp
Source: Dan Parr, Pro Football Weekly
Dan Parr, of Pro Football Weekly, reports that Oakland first-round pick WR Darrius Heyward-Bey missed QB JaMarcus Russell's voluntary passing camp because of a lingering hamstring injury.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Heyward-Bey's hamstring injury seems to be taking a long time to heal, and it's not like he had a great minicamp before the injury struck. It's looking like the chances of DHB having an early impact are getting more remote by the day.
HOU - QB Matt Schaub hits woman on the head at celebrity golf tourney
Source: Scott Sonner, The Associated Press
Scott Sonner, of the Associated Press, reports that Texans QB Matt Schaub hit a woman, Sally Capehart, in the head at a celebrity golf tourney in Lake Tahoe. She is okay now, but she was clearly in pain for several minutes and went to the hospital as a precaution.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Okay, it's a slow news day around the NFL. We posted this so we would have an excuse to share this comment from a reader at the Houston Chronicle: "The good thing out of all of this was that Schaub went through all of his reads and she was open on the play." (thanks to Chronicle reporter Joseph Duarte and his Twitter feed)
BUF - WR James Hardy could begin season on the PUP
Source: Allen Wilson, The Buffalo News
Allen Wilson, of the Buffalo News, reports that Bills 2008 second-round pick WR James Hardy is currently sixth on the depth chart, and he could begin the season on the PUP as he recovers from a torn ACL.
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Hardy has largely been a disappointment thus far in his short career. He didn't look like a natural receiver in his limited playing time before hurting his knee, and 2008 seventh-round pick Steve Johnson continues to distance himself from Hardy as he will challenge Roscoe Parrish to be the #4 wide receiver this year.
TEN - WR Kenny Britt unlikely to make immediate impact
Source: Jim Wyatt, The Nashville Tennessean
Jim Wyatt, of the Nashville Tennessean, reports that early signs do not point to first-round pick WR Kenny Britt making an immediate impact for the Titans. Wyatt writes that "Britt missed a significant amount of time in minicamps with a hamstring injury, and when he did practice he didn't stand out much."
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Tennessee isn't exactly a fantasy hotbed for wide receivers, so you probably weren't planning on drafting Britt in your redraft league anyway.
WAS - WR Marko Mitchell a rookie standout in OTAs
Source: Gary Fitzgerald, Redskins.com
Gary Fitzgerald, of Redskins.com, reports that seventh-round pick WR Marko Mitchell was among the standout rookies during mini-camp and OTAs. Fitzgerald writes, "At Nevada, he was a big play receiver, excelling in deep and downfield routes. Now he must learn the short routes of the West Coast offense."
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Mitchell is a big wide receiver who is fluid and fast for a player his size. We got to watch him at the Shrine Game practices, and his game was very inconsistent. If he is tightening up his technique, he could be a late-round surprise.
WAS - WR Devin Thomas ahead of Malcolm Kelly
Source: Gary Fitzgerald, Redskins.com
Gary Fitzgerald, of Redskins.com, reports that WR Devin Thomas is ahead of Malcolm Kelly on the depth chart by virtue of his having more playing time in the offense. Fitzgerald added, "Thomas was impressive in off-season work, so I expect him to step up in 2009."
[ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ [ OUR VIEW ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ] ]
Kelly is the better natural receiver, but as Fitzgerald alluded to, his knee problems have kept him from getting experience in the offense. We think Kelly has more upside, but his next knee surgery will probably mark the end of the need to track him in dynasty leagues. Thomas, on the other hand, was more than expected coming out of Michigan State, but his natural athleticism is undeniable. We wouldn't recommend drafting Thomas even in very deep leagues, but be ready to claim him on the waiver wire if he gets to start and comes out of the gate hot.
That'll do it for today, Folks.
And remember, if you want to keep up with Footballguys on our Facebook page, just click here.
If you'd like to keep up with all that I'm doing on Twitter, plus breaking news and Footballguys site info, just click here.
If you want to keep up with me on Facebook, click here.
And if you want to visit my Tumblog, click here.
Have a great Monday and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.
J