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Fantasy Football Q&A: Week 6

Wondering who to add/drop or whether or not a trade is fair?

I’m here to help.

After checking out our Waiver Wire Watch, you can post your questions here, and unless you say differently, I’m assuming your league has a standard (non-PPR) scoring system.

If you are wondering who to start in a standard scoring league, please wait until later today when I’ll release my official Week 6 rankings.

And if you’re a regular visitor, please take a moment to rate my advice at Fantasy Pros (under Member Rating). I’d appreciate it.

Defensive Team By Waiver Wire (DTBWW): Week 6

Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub grimaces as he is sacked by New York Giants defensive tackle Rocky Bernard during their NFL football game in Houston October 10, 2010.  REUTERS/Richard Carson  (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT FOOTBALL)

The strategy behind DTBWW is that each week you pick up a defense that is playing against a bad offense (preferably at home). And each week you get pretty good numbers out of your DT position.

Last season, my top pick averaged 9.8 fantasy points per game. My second pick averaged 9.1 and my third pick averaged 7.3. On the whole, DTBWW averaged 9.3 fantasy points per game, which equate to DT5 numbers — all for the price of a few waiver wire pickups. In 2008, my top two picks averaged DT6-type numbers. (Note: To calculate fantasy points, I use this scoring system.)

Unlike Defensive Team By Committee (DTBC), which is for those owners who prefer low maintenance teams, DTBWW strategy allows fantasy owners to virtually ignore DTs on draft day and focus on picking up an extra RB/WR flier instead.

To be eligible, defenses have to be available on the waiver wire in at least 50% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Let’s see how my Week 5 picks fared:

#1 Chargers: 3 SK = 3 fantasy points
#2 Panthers: 3 SK + 4 INT = 7 fp
#3 Rams: 1 SK = 1 fp

My original post had the Falcons (18 points) at #3, but I’m not going to include them because heading into the weekend I had them fourth overall. I’m not trying to sugarcoat this deal. On the season, my top pick is averaging 6.6 fantasy points, my #2 pick is averaging 10.8 and my #3 pick is averaging 5.2. On the whole, DTBWW is averaging 7.5 fantasy points. I’m not real happy with the performance of DTBWW over the last three weeks save for the Charger’s 24-point explosion in Week 4.

Let’s take a look at my Week 6 picks:

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Another Jenn Sterger Gallery

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Due to the overwhelming response to our first Jenn Sterger gallery, here are a few more photos of the now infamous Ms. Sterger, including some from our friends at Maxim.

For coverage of the Brett Favre scandal, click here.

2010 NFL Week 6 Odds

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 10: Ray Rice #27 of the Baltimore Ravens celebrates after he scored a 1-yard tochdown run in the first quarter against the New England Patriots during the 2010 AFC wild-card playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 10, 2010 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Ravens (4-1) at. Patriots (3-1), 1:00PM ET CBS
The last time these two teams met in Foxboro, the Ravens advanced to the Divisional playoff round after crushing the Patriots 33-14. In that postseason game, Baltimore only threw for 34 yards because it rushed for 234 thanks in large part to Ray Rice’s huge effort. The Pats, meanwhile, finished with just 196 total yards including 64 on the ground and 132 in through the air. This time around, New England won’t have Randy Moss after trading him to Minnesota for a third round pick last week. It’ll be interesting to see what New England’s offense looks like without their top receiving threat against a defense that is only allowing 12.7 points on the road this year.
Current Point Spread: Patriots –3

Falcons (4-1) at. Eagles (3-2), 1:00PM ET FOX
As of this writing, it doesn’t appear that Michael Vick will be healthy enough to face his former team. That means Kevin Kolb will once again start under center for the Eagles and he’s going to face a stiff challenge. The Falcons are allowing just 14 points a game this year and have already won two of their first three road games, which includes a victory at New Orleans. That said, Philadelphia has given Atlanta a ton of trouble over the last decade, winning seven of the last eight meetings between these two teams.
Current Point Spread: Eagles -3

Dolphins (2-2) at. Packers (3-2), 1:00PM ET CBS
No line has been given for this game yet because the Packers are still waiting to see whether or not Aaron Rodgers (concussion) will be healthy enough to play. The latest reports have been encouraging, although he’ll be closely monitored throughout the rest of the week. Even if he does play, Green Bay will still be without Ryan Grant, Morgan Burnett, Nick Barnett, Jermichael Finley and possibly even outstanding young pass rusher Clay Matthews. On the other side, the Dolphins are well rested coming off their bye and will be looking to rebound after their embarrassing loss to the Patriots on Monday night two weeks ago.

Cowboys (1-3) at Vikings (1-3), 4:15PM ET FOX
Something has to give between these two underachieving teams. The Vikings’ offense finally looked like it was getting in sync in the second half against the Jets on Monday night, but Brett Favre sealed their fate with a late interception. The Cowboys’ defense has been a mess of late and is now giving up an average of 21.8 points per game. Minnesota’s defense has been outstanding at home (12 points per game), but Favre has held them back in all three of their losses this season. It’s a long season, but the loser of this game might be able to waive goodbye to their playoff hopes.
Current Point Spread: Vikings –1

2010 NFL Week 6 Odds:

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2010 College Football Week 7 Odds

MADISON, WI - SEPTEMBER 26: A general view of the field taken during the game between the Wisconsin Badgers and the Michigan State Spartans on September 26, 2009 at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

No. 1 Ohio State at. No. 18 Wisconsin, 7:00PM ET
Thanks to Alabama’s collapse at South Carolina last Saturday, the Buckeyes have moved into the No. 1 spot in the top-25. But there’s no time to celebrate with a trip to Madison coming up this weekend and a clash with fellow Big Ten foe Wisconsin. The Badgers have been tough to beat at home, going 40-4 at Camp Randall Stadium since the start of the 2004 season. They’ve also won 25 of their last 28 night games and this contest takes on extra meaning because one more loss will likely knock them out of the Big Ten title race. (They suffered their first loss to weeks ago at Michigan State.)
Current Point Spread: Ohio State –3.5

No. 12 Arkansas at. No. 7 Auburn, 3:30PM ET
The Tigers have won three games this year by only three points, so obviously they’re accustomed to winning close games. That’s good, because they may have another tight one on their hands this Saturday when they host No. 12 Arkansas, who has beaten Auburn in three of the last four meetings. In October of last year, the Hogs crushed the Tigers 44-23 and they’ll be looking for a similar effort this Saturday in order to leapfrog into the top-10.
Current Point Spread: Auburn –4

No. 15 Iowa at. Michigan, 3:30PM ET
The Wolverines had a golden opportunity slip through their fingers last weekend when they lost to Michigan State at home. But they get another chance to prove that they’re legitimate Big Ten contenders if they can knock off a well-rested Iowa team with one of the best defenses in the nation. The Hawkeyes are allowing a nation’s best 10.2 points per game, although they’ll face a unique challenge this week in talented quarterback Denard Robinson. The Spartans limited Robinson to a season-low 86 yards on 21 carries and also intercepted him three times last Saturday. He was also only 6-of-14 passing in the second half and that’s not going to cut it against the Hawkeyes’ stingy defense.
Current Point Spread: Iowa –3.5

No. 10 South Carolina at. Kentucky, 6:00PM ET
All eyes will be on the Gamecocks this week after they knocked off previously No. 1 Alabama last Saturday. The Wildcats enter this weekend with a 3-3 record, but there’s no doubt they have enough talent to pull off an upset at home. That said, running back Derrick Locke is doubtful after he suffered a shoulder stinger against Auburn last week, so an upset will be harder to come by for Kentucky. South Carolina has lost six consecutive conference road games since it last beat the Wildcats in Lexington on October 11, 2008. Yet another road loss this weekend will certainly erase what the Gamecocks did last week at home against the Tide in terms of the top-25.
Current Posting Spread: South Carolina –4.5

2010 College Football Week 7 Opening Point Spreads:

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