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      Industry Insiders Fantasy League: Round 8

      August 26, 2009 /

      To start with Round 1 (and see the scoring system and roster requirements), click here.

      My team so far: 1) Chris Johnson, 2) Steve Smith, 3) Ronnie Brown, 4) Marshawn Lynch, 5) Santana Moss, 6) Tony Romo, 7) Greg Olsen

      My starting lineup is almost complete. Knowing that I have to start three WR, I was definitely looking to shore up that position as my 8th round pick approached.

      Here’s how the first part of Round 8 went: 85) Owen Daniels, 86) Cedric Benson, 87) Chris Wells, 88) Torry Holt

      I strongly considered drafting Jerricho Cotchery in the previous round, but I was worried about one of the TEs that I liked not falling to me in the 8th. Luckily, Cotchery fell to me here. The only other player I really considered was Donnie Avery, but he’s coming off an injury and I think Cotchery is the better receiver at this point in time. I’m not thrilled about Mark Sanchez being named the starter, because Cotchery and Kellen Clemens have proven to have a pretty nice rapport at times.

      Cotchery was WR23 in 2007 and WR25 in 2008, so he’s not going to set the world on fire, but with Laveranues Coles in Cincinnati, he should see a big increase in targets. He may not convert those opportunities with as much efficiency as in years past, but the extra targets should help his numbers. And with the up-and-coming Dustin Keller roaming the middle and Leon Washington in the flat, defenses will have a tough time focusing on Cotchery.

      I wouldn’t feel great about Cotch as my WR2, but as my WR3 on a team that is RB-heavy and already has a solid QB and TE, I feel great about nabbing him here. He is the #35 WR off the board, so if he plays a full season, he is almost guaranteed to outplay his draft position.

      Just like in baseball, it’s not always about swinging for the fences. Sometimes you just need a single. And this pick is a single.

      Round 8, Pick 5: Jerricho Cotchery, WR

      The rest of Round 8 went like this: 90) Visanthe Shiancoe, 91) Matt Cassel, 92) Steve Breaston, 93) Earnest Graham, 94) Donnie Avery, 95) Jamal Lewis, 96) LeSean McCoy

      Click here to see all of my round-by-round picks.

      Fantasy Football

      Did the Falcons give up too soon on Robinson?

      August 26, 2009 /

      When the Atlanta Falcons selected receiver Laurent Robinson out of Illinois State in the third round of the 2007 draft, they envisioned the 6’2, 194-pound receiver becoming either a solid No. 2, or possibly even a No. 1 if Roddy White (who struggled in his first two years) failed to develop.

      But after caching 37 passes for 437 yards and a touchdown his rookie year, knee and hamstring injuries limited Robinson to just five receptions in six games last season. With the emergence of second-year receiver Harry Douglas, Atlanta GM Thomas Dimitroff traded Robinson to the Rams this past April. In exchange, the Falcons and Rams swapped fifth and sixth round picks in the ’09 draft.

      It’s hard to criticize anything Dimitroff has done in his first two offseasons in Atlanta. After all, he hired a solid head coach in Mike Smith, signed free agent Michael Turner, drafted franchise quarterback Matt Ryan, and traded for future Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez. It’s no wonder why Dimitroff was named the 2008 NFL Executive of the Year.

      But a couple of years down the road (or possibly much, much sooner), I have a feeling that Dimitroff will look back on the Robinson deal as one of his bigger goof ups. And I don’t say that only because Douglas suffered a season-ending injury in camp this year and Atlanta is in a bit of a bind at slot receiver; I say it because Robinson could emerge as a quality playmaker very soon.

      Continue reading »

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Jets name Mark Sanchez starting quarterback

      August 26, 2009 /

      Even following his rough outing in the Jets’ second preseason game on Monday night, head coach Rex Ryan named rookie Mark Sanchez the team’s starting quarterback.

      From FoxSports.com:

      Despite a rough start against the Ravens in his last preseason game, Sanchez never lost his cool and battled back. The team has been impressed with his command of the huddle and the offense. Sources say the team has been impressed with how much he has not looked like a rookie. Drafted out of USC, Sanchez has gone 6-of-12 in two preseason games, with one touchdown pass and one interception.

      Clemens, in his fourth season, is 9-of-14 for 84 yards in the preseason. He also has one score and one pick. Entering his fourth season with the Jets after being a second-round pick in 2006, Clemens also had a solid but unspectacular camp, but threw 12 interceptions compared to the rookie’s five.

      I’m sure Ryan would have wanted a better performance out of Sanchez on Monday night before he made his decision official, but it’s not like Clemens did anything this summer to merit the job, so why delay the announcement?

      The good news for Sanchez is that the Jets offensive line is solid. They also have a trio of backs in Leon Washington, Thomas Jones and rookie Shonn Greene that are more than capable of taking some of the pressure off Sanchez in his first year.

      The bad news is that the Jets aren’t giving Sanchez a lot to work with in terms of receivers. Jerricho Cotchery is underrated and has been a consistent, productive receiver throughout his career. But he’s not a player that will keep defensive coordinators up at night and after him, the Jets will rely heavily on the inexperienced crop of Chansi Stuckey, David Clowney and Brad Smith.

      If Sanchez continues to show the poise he did on Monday night when things weren’t going his way, he should do fine. That’s not to say that he’ll have a Matt Ryan or Joe Flacco-type rookie year and lead the Jets to the playoffs, but success can’t always measured in whether or not a quarterback can get his team to the postseason. (Especially if said quarterback is a rookie.)

      Don’t go crazy on draft day and pick Sanchez in the middle rounds. He’s a rookie QB, and they’re notoriously undependable in fantasy circles, especially with all the depth available in leagues that only start one QB. It probably would have been better for the Jets WRs (especially Cotchery) if Clemens had won the job, as the two had shown a nice rapport in the past. Sanchez will no doubt have his ups and downs, so that means the Jets receivers are likely to as well.

      Fantasy Football, NFL

      Injuries cost Giants, Marlins their trade deadline players

      August 26, 2009 /

      The Giants and Marlins were hopeful that the acquisitions of second baseman Freddy Sanchez and first baseman Nick Johnson at the trade deadline would help propel them to a postseason berth. But due to injuries, those hopes are fading fast.

      San Fran placed Sanchez on the 15-day disabled list with a right shoulder strain Tuesday, an injury that has kept him out of the Giants’ last six games. He’ll be eligible to return from the DL in eight days and should be ready to play by then, but there are no guarantees.

      Also on Tuesday, Florida placed Johnson on the 15-day DL, retroactive to August 17, with a strained right hamstring. As with Sanchez, the Marlins hope Johnson can return sometime in early September and continue to give their lineup the boost that he was supplying before his injury.

      The Giants and Marlins desperately need these players if they’re going to stay in the NL Wild Card hunt. Thanks to a heartbreaking series in Colorado in which they lost three of four games to the Wild Card-leading Rockies, San Fran is now four games back in the standings. The Marlins are currently 5.5 games back of the Rockies.

      Before the injury, Sanchez supplied the Giants with a consistent, patient hitter at the top of their lineup. He gave San Fran’s offense a needed spark and since his absence, the team has gone back to their woeful offensive ways.

      Johnson was highly productive too, hitting 12-for-39 before his injury. He provides more pop than Ross Gload and Gaby Sanchez, who will be his replacements while he’s on the DL.

      Both of these clubs need these players back soon, or else the season will undoubtedly be lost over the course of the next month.

      MLB

      Why Michael Beasley entered rehab

      August 26, 2009 /

      Per the Sun-Sentinel…

      A day after it was confirmed that Michael Beasley had entered a Houston rehab facility, a clearer picture regarding the status of the Miami Heat forward has come into focus.

      Sources familiar with the case said Beasley’s stay at the facility is primarily related to the NBA’s substance-abuse program, with this visit planned in advance.

      In addition, while concerns have been raised about Beasley’s mental well-being in the wake of web postings by the 20-year-old and comments from those close to him, those concerns have been overstated, according to a source familiar with the situation.

      Under league rules, neither those affiliated with individual teams nor those in the league office are allowed to comment on individual cases regarding the NBA’s substance-abuse policy.

      However Tuesday, a source familiar with the situation said Beasley is expected to be back with the team by the Sept. 28 start of training camp at AmericanAirlines Arena.

      That doesn’t really clear things up, but it paints a better picture. Let’s hope he’s getting the help he needs.

      News, Rumors & Gossip

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