The Most Confusing, Awful, Good Team in the NFL…The New York Jets
Eric Huberman
Heading into the 2013 regular season, some thought Mark Sanchez might still be the quarterback for the New York Jets. Some thought the Jets might be winless. Some people thought Rex Ryan would be fired by now. Well, none of those things have happened, in fact the Jets are in solid shape to compete for a playoff spot as we enter the second half of the regular season. The Jets have showed signs of being a true contending football team as well as signs of why many picked them to win at most four games this year. They are easily the most confusing team to understand and can’t be relied upon to give you a consistent performance, whether good or bad, week in and week out. Nevertheless, here are the Jets at 5-4 after nine weeks and currently slotted in 6th and final spot in the playoffs. It’s been a wild ride this point, let’s try to make some sense of it…
Week 1:
New York Jets 18 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 17
Team Headline: Better to be lucky than not!
Coming into their season opener the Jets were considered to be a laughing stock. Well, in their first game of the season, New York showed how good of a defense they really have. The Jets really didn’t deserve to win this game; in fact they shouldn’t have if not for a stupid unnecessary roughness penalty by a Buccaneer defender which set up Nick Folk for a game winning 48-yard field goal. Geno Smith showed he could lead this time as he initiated a last minute drive to put the Jets in position to win the football game. Granted, they needed a little bit of luck to win the game, but a win is a win.
Week 2: New England Patriots 13 New York Jets 10
Team Headline: Geno Sucks!
Working on a short week, the Jets traveled to Foxboro for Thursday Night Football and played well once again defensively as they limited Tom Brady to only 185 yards through the air. Bilal Powell and Chris Ivory combined to run for 100 yards on the ground and showed what type of game the Jets would need to play in order to win football games this year. Unfortunately, that recipe does not include turning the football over four times, three times from Geno Smith interceptions. Geno lost the Jets this football game, and after looking good the previous week, Jets fans were back on the hater bandwagon in regards to their new quarterback.
Week 3: New York Jets 27 Buffalo Bills 20
Team Headline: Hey! Geno isn’t too bad!
Despite looking so bad the previous week, Geno Smith silenced the critics as he took down a tough divisional opponent on the road. He threw for over 300 yards for the first time in his career and also tossed two touchdowns. The Jets ran the ball effectively for 182 yards, mostly from Bilal Powell who racked up 149 yards on 27 carries. Despite losing the turnover battle again and committing a team record 20 penalties, the Jets got the win and moved to 2-1 on the year.
It’s been quite the roller coaster ride, but Geno Smith has led the Jets to 5-4 (Via AP)
Week 4: Tennessee Titans 38 New York Jets 13
Team Headline: I need a drink!
Oh boy. After week three, the Jets were feeling great about themselves as they were 2-1 coming off a big road win. The Titans were 2-1 also, but not viewed as a good football team, until week four came around. That’s when the Titans put a beating on the Jets 38-13. Geno was horrendous and threw two more interceptions to put his four-game total at eight! The Jets fell down 10-0 after the first quarter and never had a chance after that. Jake Locker and Ryan Fitzpatrick combined to throw for four touchdowns and zero interceptions as they torched the Jets secondary. This was a huge step backwards for a team that was really showing signs of life.
Week 5: New York Jets 30 Atlanta Falcons 28
Team Headline: What just happened?
So the Jets get embarrassed by the Titans the previous week and in week five they faced the Falcons, bitter off of a home loss to New England, who are usually unbeatable at home. Here is where the un-predictableness of the Jets started to kick in. Somehow the Jets led in the fourth quarter 27-14, but the Falcons stormed back as expected to take a 28-27 lead. Geno got the ball with 1:54 left in the game down two points on the road own his own 20-yard line. From there Smith would engineer a magnificent seven play drive to set up Nick Folk for a 43-yard time-expiring kick to give the Jets the win. In a game where Vegas dubbed the Jets as ten point under-dogs, Gang Green shocked the world. No one saw this coming, especially after week four’s embarrassing loss to Tennessee.
Week 6: Pittsburgh Steelers 19 New York Jets 6
Team Headline: Well, it was a nice season!
After a big road win on Monday Night Football, Geno Smith and the Jets let it be known throughout the league that they are no joke. In week six they returned home to face the Steelers and dropped the ball. Geno played his worst game as a Jet so far as he threw for only 201 yards on 34 attempts and two interceptions. They were shut out in the second half while Pittsburgh put the game away, as they fell to 3-3. It was a classic Jets let down after a huge win the previous week and another step back as the Steelers won their first football of the season.
Week 7: New York Jets 30 New England Patriots 27 OT
Team Headline: Referees 1 Patriots 0
With Rob Gronkowski returning to the field, the Patriots came into week seven feeling pretty good about themselves. They left the field scratching their heads. After getting completely shut down offensively versus the Steelers, Geno Smith played much better this week and led his team to victory in overtime despite throwing a pick six. Tom Brady was held out of the end zone and completed less than half of his passes, while also throwing a pick six. A controversial call in overtime negated a missed field goal by Nick Folk, and set up a much closer kick later in the drive which gave the Jets the victory. Once again, the Jets bounced back from mediocrity the previous week to win in improbable fashion.
Week 8: Cincinnati Bengals 49 New York Jets 9
Team Headline: Is Sanchez healthy? What about Sims?
The Jets just beat Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, so with the way their season is going it just made sense for them to go out and lose by 40 to the Bengals the following week. When Andy Dalton throws five touchdowns against your defense that usually is an issue. When Geno Smith throws two picks and only 159 yards you probably aren’t going to win football games. The Jets were shelled in every phase of the game and received a decimating blow to their confidence going forward.
Week 9: New York Jets 26 New Orleans Saints 20
Team Headline: We just beat the Saints in a game that wasn’t in Madden?
This one still confuses me. After losing as bad as you can to the Bengals, the Jets came right out of the gate defensively and made Drew Brees feel uncomfortable. Throughout the football game the Saints just felt out of sync, well except for Jimmy Graham because he’s well…not human. Geno Smith didn’t do much to win this football game, but he certainly didn’t lose it for the Jets. For once, the Jets won the turnover battle after getting Drew Brees to throw two uncharacteristic picks. Chris Ivory was a tank as he rushed for 139 yards on only 18 carries and found the end zone. He ran very hard throughout the game and was definitely the x factor. It was a game that was won by the Jets very good defense and their ground and pound offensive attack. Get embarrassed by the Bengals one week, and then beat the Super Bowl contending the Saints the following week. Yeah, I got nothing.
It’s absolutely incredible how on and off the Jets are each and every week. They have alternated wins and losses every single week even though some weeks have looked great and some have looked abysmal. After nine week the Jets head into their bye week in the sixth spot for the playoffs. They will face the Bills in week 11 where, if their prior games this season are indicators, they will probably get the doors blown off themselves and lose by 30 to the Buffalo Bills. The combined record of their remaining opponents is 26-30 so to imagine the Jets winning four to five more games is not so far-fetched. They are a run first team that can sometimes rely on the arm of Geno Smith to make a big play every now and then. The Jets would prefer to not have Geno decide the outcomes of games and instead just manage them while their ground and pound attack moves the offense. Their back bone has become their defense which is top ten in the league. They specialize against stopping the run as they have allowed the fewest rushing yards in the NFL, 77.9. As bad as the Jets were supposed to be, they have shocked many by winning five games already, including beating the Falcons, Patriots, and Saints. Their losses have been ugly, but they will gladly take a 5-4 record right now although this roller coaster has a long way to go until it has reached its end.
From Zero To Hero: Nick Foles Puts Up Seven TD’s
Nick Foles has stepped in as the starting Quarterback during Michael Vick’s injury (Via AP)
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Doug Tyburski is a graduate of Nassau Community College & Suny Stony Brook. He has always been a huge sports fan and his favorite team’s include the NY Islanders, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Eagles, and Brooklyn Nets. You can follow him on twitter at @dtybur
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Stay Tuned: Week of November 4th
By Brett Malamud
This is the first of a weekly article that will provide you with the most intriguing games in sports for the upcoming week. If yesterday’s football games proved anything, it was that this is going to be an exciting week in sports. So let’s get to it! Here is the first installment of Stay Tuned:
NBA:
With the first week in the books, the second week of the NBA season looks to be just as exciting.
Chicago Bulls vs. Indiana Pacers, Wednesday November 6th 7:00 PM EST, ESPN
Two of the top teams in the Eastern Conference square off in a showdown in Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Derek Rose goes head to head against Paul George and the undefeated Indiana Pacers. This one is a must watch.
LA Clippers vs. Miami Heat, Thursday November 7th 7:00 PM EST, TNT and TSN
The Clippers head into South Beach after the Heat’s rough week last week. The Heat opened up the season going 2-2, and they’ll try to pick up the pace moving forward.
The Heat will try to stop Blake Griffin and the Clippers on Thursday (Via The Smoking Section)
NHL:
Division standings are starting to take form, as we are now one month into the season.
NY Islanders vs. Washington Capitals Tuesday November 5th 7:00 PM EST, MSG+ and CSN-DC
Two of the brightest stars in the NHL will face off in this epic battle at the Verizon Center. John Tavares leads the Islanders into Washington, where Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals sit at .500 on the season. Only one point separates the teams in the standings, so it should be a good battle.
Pittsburgh Penguins vs. NY Rangers, Wednesday November 6th 7:30 PM EST, NBCSN, TSN2, and RDS2
The Rangers and the Penguins have had bad blood for a while now, and Wednesday night should be no different. Watch these division rivals square off and Madison Square Garden come alive in this week’s Wednesday Night Rivalry.
Evgeni Malkin hopes to put the puck past Henrik Lundqvist in a battle at the Garden on Wednesday (Via Last Word On Sports)
Montreal Canadians vs. Ottawa Senators, Thursday November 7th 7:00 PM EST, CBC and RDS
There’s nothing as wild as a Canadian clash. The Habs head to the capital city to take on Erik Karlsson and the Senators. A must watch game in Canada.
NCAA Basketball:
This Friday marks the start of the college basketball season and there are a few games to stay updated on.
(18) UConn vs. Maryland, Friday November 8th 6:30 PM EST, ESPN2
This is sure to be a good game at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. A small Maryland team took a hit, losing 7’1” center Alex Len. The Phoenix Suns selected Len fifth overall in this year’s NBA draft. Maryland will face a tough test though, going up against a much bigger UConn Huskies team.
Barclays Center will be the site for this Friday’s showdown between Maryland and UConn. (Via AP)
Georgetown vs. (19) Oregon, Friday November 8th 8:00 PM EST, ESPN
Coming off a first round loss to Cinderella story Florida Gulf Coast in last season’s NCAA tournament, it’ll be interesting to see Georgetown without Otto Porter, who was selected by the Washington Wizards as the third overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft. They face number 19 ranked Oregon in the Armed Forces Classic in South Korea
NCAA Football:
(3) Oregon vs. (5) Stanford, Thursday November 7th 9:00 PM EST, ESPN
Not much needs to be said here. The Ducks take on the Cardinal in a heated rivalry matchup.
No Chip Kelly for the Ducks here, but they’ll still step up and try to take down Stanford (Via AP)
(13) LSU vs. (1) Alabama, Saturday November 9th 8:00 PM EST, CBS
The Tigers head into Tuscaloosa to go up against the Crimson Tide what should be the college football game of the week
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Brett Malamud is a Computer Science Major at Binghamton University. He is the co-founder of dabuzzza.com. His favorite athletes are Derek Jeter and Todd Bertuzzi. You can follow him on twitter at @brettnyy
2014 NHL Predictions
By Mike Basile
The NHL season is officially underway and with the new conferences, there is much debate which teams will make it to the postseason this year. The new format this year is three teams from each conference and two wild card teams with the next best records.
East:
Metropolitan division:
1 seed– Pittsburgh Penguins- Personally I do not see much debate here. They have been the most dominant team in the east the past few years and with a fully healthy Crosby, this team is more dangerous than ever. Also with Letang just coming back from injury and Fleury playing at his best, this team could run away early this season.
2 seed- Washington Capitals– There are a few teams that I could see getting the 2 seed in this division, but the highly powered offense of the Caps wins them this 2 seed for me. Ovechkin is playing like the 50 goal scorer we know he is and the young defensemen have been stepping up and showing the Caps are no joke.
3 seed- New York Rangers– This team has struggled early, but wouldn’t most teams that started on a long road trip and had many injuries? This team relies on their defense and goaltending, and why wouldn’t you with a goalie like Lundqvist? With offensive threats like Stepan and Nash this team could be a danger.
Wild card: New York Islanders– I see this team only missing the top 3 by one or two points. This team is highly powered offensively with Vanek and Tavares leading the way. With some shaky goaltending and defense, they will find themselves out of the top 3 and getting in with a wild card spot.
The acquisition of Thomas Vanek helps, but the lack of defense and goaltending will hurt the Isles in the standings (Via Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Atlantic Division:
1 seed: Toronto Maple Leafs– Depth is the key here, and when I hear depth I think Maple Leafs. It is scary how many scoring options they have offensively . Their defense is no slouch either, and with Bernier and Reimer in net, this team is very dangerous.
2 seed: Detroit Red Wings– Veterans lead the way for this team. Backed behind Zetterberg, Datsyuk and Alfredsson, they are filled with leadership. If Jimmy Howard plays this whole season like he has so far, they will no doubt be the 2 seed in a very very good division.
3 seed: Boston Bruins– The team I believe to be the most defensively sound in the NHL. They play strong defensively, make little to no mistakes and wait for their offensive breaks, which will come with players like Krecji and Iginla. It doesn’t hurt to have Rask between the pipes either.
Wildcard: Ottawa Senators– Yes, I know this team has struggled to begin the season, but a team with this much talent cannot stay down for 82 games. The newly acquired Bobby Ryan really gave this team a big boost offensively and if other players like Spezza and Turris can step up, this team will be golden. With my pick to win the Norris (Erik Karlsson) leading them defensively and a solid Anderson between the pipes, they should get in.
West:
Pacific:
1 seed: Anaheim Ducks– I have loved this Ducks team in the west for many years now, but now with more spread out scoring, I believe this team has finally found a way to get over the peak. With the best 1-2 punch in goal with Hiller and Fasth, lighting the lamp against this team is no easy task.
Fasth and Hiller will carry the Ducks far this season (Via Debora Robinson/Getty Images)
2 seed- San Jose Sharks– This team is always successful during the regular season, and with player like Thorton and Pavelski, it is no secret why. With young players like Couture and Hertl stepping up, this team could be great! The defense helping with the scoring is also a key to this team’s success.
3 seed: Los Angeles Kings– Quick has a save percentage under 90 percent and this team is still sticking around the top 3. The defense has also been shaky thus far, but when this team puts it all together, they are very dangerous.
Wild card: Phoenix Coyotes– When a team gets scoring all throughout their lineup, they are a tough team to beat. That is exactly what the Phoenix Coyotes do and that is why they have 22 points so far this year. Mike Smith is also a big key for this team, as he usually makes or breaks them.
Central
1 seed: Chicago Blackhawks– Have I said enough? Another team that I really do not think there is much debate about, as there’s too much talent all around. An offensive power house and a defensive lockdown, this team is awfully good! One minor weak spot in net, but Crawford has only been getting better.
2 seed- Dallas Stars– My dark horse pick. This pick may surprise many, but I love the Stars this year. My vezina pick Kari Lehtonen will be the back bone for this team. Having offensive threats like Seguin and Benn will give Kari a little support back between the pipes.
3 seed- St Louis Blues– This team is fundamentally sound all over the rink. They do not turn the puck over, and they make other teams pay for their mistakes. Another defensive based team that also has their d-men jump up and help the offense in the scoring category. With Halak in net, they are tough to beat.
Wild card: Colorado Avalanche– I am not buying this hot start from the Avs. I do believe they are a good team, but I do not see them winning this division. Behind superstar Matt Duchene and solid goaltending from Gigure, they will get a playoff spot.
Stanley Cup Finals- Ducks over Leafs in 6
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Mike Basile is a sophomore at York College Of Pennsylvania. He is a huge sports fan, and when it comes to hockey maybe considered a little obsessive. Giving insight on the Islanders and all things hockey. You can follow him on twitter at @mikeybasile1
Who Dat: Fantasy Basketball Week One
By: Sam Breiter
Welcome to “Who Dat”, a weekly guide to learning about fantasy basketball players who are seeing noticeable success. No household names here, but players who have shown huge fantasy value and should be considered being picked up if not already taken. Obviously you can’t expect the limited success will last all season, as these players have not yet proven themselves, but we’re not going to give you any reason as to why not. It doesn’t matter if you’re a category or a points league guy, these players have made a statement in both league formats. So without further a do, here’s Who Dat for week one.
Michael Carter Williams (PHI)– Two weeks ago if you were to walk around, and were to ask people if they ever heard of Michael Carter Williams most people wouldn’t have an answer. Today, people cant stop talking about the six foot six point guard from Syracuse. He was the 11th pick in the NBA draft, and has already outplayed and beaten Lebron James and Derrick Rose, two of the leagues best. He has proven to be quick, explosive, productive, and a great decision maker. In his debut he almost got a triple double, but don’t expect that to be the only time.
Week One Stats– 20.7PPG, 9.0APG, 4.4 Steals, 46.8FG%
Miles Plumlee (PHX)- After Marcin Gortat was traded from the Suns to the Wizards, the expectations for the Suns rebounding game diminished. Yet, maybe the Suns knew that Gortat would just get in the way of the leagues next rebounding machine. Plumlee wasn’t given a chance as part of the Pacers last year, not even averaging four minutes a game. Plumlee has shown that he is an animal inside the paint on defense and offense.
Week One Stats- 15.5PPG, 14.0RPG, 3.0BLK, 56FG%, 37.5 MIN
Miles Plumlee has put the NBA on notice (Via USA Today Sports)
Vitor Faverani (BOS)- His name may get confused for a famous pasta dish at your local Italian restaurant, but this 25-year-old Brazilian center has given the Celtics something to look forward to. Clearly he is no Kevin Garnett, but he has been putting up similar numbers to the future hall of famer, in just his first few games.
Week One Stats- 12.5PPG, 10.5RPG, 4.5BLK, 53.3FG%, 32 MIN
Alec Burks (UTA)- Burks faced two years of being a role-playing prospect for Utah, but now with an improved role the shooting guard for the Jazz is receiving real minutes. In the early goings of the year his shot looks better then ever, and on the defensive end he looks very motivated. Utah doesn’t look very competitive this year, but Burks will have a huge role in scoring buckets, and running the offense.
Week One Stats- 18.0 PPG, 3.7RPG, 3.0APG, 48.8FG%, 31 MIN
Jodie Meeks (LAL)- With no Kobe for now, and Steve Nash dealing with injury and old age, where do the Lakers go? Well, the answer is Jodie Meeks. The Lakers have no one to go to, and Meeks has been nothing, but ideal for the Lakers. The 26-year-old shooting guard has never been a clear-cut NBA starter, and his job is definitely not safe for this year. Yet, even if pulled out of the starting lineup when Black Mamba returns, expect him to be the number one guy taken off the bench if he continues the hot run he currently is on.
Week One Stats- 13.7PPG, 4.0RPG, 52FG%, 41.7PT%,
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Sam Breiter is a high school senior at Plainview- Old Bethpage JFK High School. Sam is looking to major in sports management, with a minor in communications next year. He is the co-founder of dabuzzza.com. His favorite teams are the Mets, Giants, and Knicks. You can follow him on twitter at @baseballbreiter @baseballbreiter
NHL Top Ten Players So Far This Season
By: Matt Federbusch
1. Steven Stamkos (TB) 20 points, 11 goals, 9 assists
Stamkos has been fantastic so far. He is second in goals this year and second in points. The reason I put him first on this list is because he is the most offensively balanced player in the league right now and has been a huge part in the Lightning’s success.
Steven Stamkos has been on fire this season, and has no plans of slowing down (Via Hockey World Blog)
2. Sidney Crosby (PIT) 23 points, 8 goals, 15 assists
Sidney Crosby, what can I say? As a Ranger fan, I despise the guy but I can’t say I don’t respect his talent. He leads the league in points but most of those points have surprisingly been assists, not goals. He still leads the Penguins with 8 goals but he has definitely shared the wealth with 15 assists.
3. Alexander Steen (STL) 18 points, 12 goals, 6 assists
Steen leads the league in goals right now and has been huge for the Blues so far. He currently has a point streak of seven games.
4. Phil Kessel (TOR) 18 points, 9 goals, 9 assists
The Toronto Maple Leafs are having a great year so far. They are first in the Atlantic division. Kessel is the main reason for their success, having a balanced 9 goals and 9 assists
5. Henrik Sedin (VAN) 19 points, 3 goals, 16 assists
Sedin hasn’t scored a lot of goals this far, but he has been a fantastic playmaker, leading the NHL with a jaw-dropping 16 assists.
6. Alex Ovechkin (WSH) 15 points, 10 goals, 5 assists
Ovechkin cooled down in the last few years, but he has been scorching so far with 10 goals early in the season.
7. Kyle Okposo (NYI) 17 points, 4 goals, 13 assists
The Islanders have been playing well so far and Okposo has helped a lot with 13 assists, 3rd most in the league right now.
8. Matt Duchene (COL) 14 points, 9 goals, 5 assists
Colorado is in first in the Central Division and Duchene has been huge, leading the team in points and goals.
9. Frans Nielsen (NYI) 16 points, 8 goals, 8 assists
Along with Okposo, Nielsen has been great for the Islanders as well, having a solid 16 points and 8 goals.
10. Joe Pavelski (SJ) 16 points, 6 goals, 10 assists
San Jose is first in the Pacific Division and Pavelski has been a terrific playmaker with 6 goals and 10 assists.
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Matt Federbusch is an avid sports fan and a Jets season ticket holder. Besides the Jets, He also supports the Knicks, Rangers, and Mets. His favorite all-time Jet is Curtis Martin.
NFL Predictions Week 9
By Matthew Wieselthier
Thursday Night Football:
Dolphins 22, Bengals 20 (OT)
A little late to preview this but still, this game looked evenly matched when the Bengals should have come out and dominated. However, this game turned very defensive and that showed as DE Cameron Wake came out in the extra period and sacked QB Andy Dalton in his own endzone and gave the Dolphins a much-needed victory.
Sunday Football:
1:00 PM ET Games
Chiefs 28, Bills 10
The Chiefs and their lack of a difficult opponent streak is continuing, which will help them remain undefeated before their highlight matchup versus the Denver Broncos. The Chiefs should be able to play their average game and take care of business easily against an inconsistent and injury plagued Bills squad.
Panthers 38, Falcons 35
What was marked as an easy Atlanta victory in the preseason is now a game that they might not even be able to handle. The Panthers have been playing very strong football, led by QB Cam Newton who is having a fantastic season. With the Falcons as injury plagued as they are, it seems hopeless for them to take this must win game.
Cowboys 45, Vikings 17
No matter what you say, the Cowboys are still a very strong team. QB Tony Romo is having one of his best seasons so far and his supporting receiving cast is strong. The one question mark on that offense is the running game, which is dealing with an injured and inconsistent Demarco Murray. The defense has been decent for most for the year and it won’t matter with the atrocious Vikings offense, defense…everything. The only bright spot is of course last season’s MVP, RB Adrian Peterson. But that, like it has all season, will not save the Vikings atrocity of a season.
Geno Smith will try to lead the Jets to a win over the New Orleans Saints (Via USA Today Sports)
Jets 27, Saints 24
The Jets have followed a pattern. They look like a playoff caliber team on an odd week, and the worst team in the NFL on even weeks. According to the schedule, it’s an odd week. Rookie QB Geno Smith has looked fantastic on odd weeks and has showed great poise in the pocket throughout his brief career. The Jets defense needs to step up, but the front 3 for the Jets (Sheldon Richardson, Damon Harrison, and Mohammad Wilkerson) has been fantastic all season and if the secondary plays up to their expectations, this is a game that Gang Green can bring home before their bye week.
Rams 14, Titans 13
The Rams proved something last Monday night versus the Seahawks. They can play serious defense. With the Titans struggling, the Rams should be able to take advantage with their stellar defense and the increasingly better running game led by RBs Zac Stacy and Daryl Richardson, they should be able to take this win.
Chargers 34, Redskins 33
The Chargers are probably the biggest surprise this season so far, besides their division rival, the Kansas City Chiefs. QB Philip Rivers is having a comeback season this year, and RBs Ryan Matthews and Danny Woodhead have been playing their roles well. To add to that, the Redskins have looked generally terrible all season. Besides the heart stopping win last week versus Chicago Bears, QB Robert Griffin III and the Redskins are having a terrible season and the Chargers are not a team to help change that fact. Read More…
Fantasy Football First Half Awards and What to Expect in the Coming Weeks
By: Josh Halilej
So far this NFL season has been full of offensive firepower and high scoring games, which translates to BIG fantasy points. There have been standout individual performances (Calvin Johnson- 329 yards receiving, 1 TD or Peyton Manning- 462 yards passing, 7 TDs), and surprising seasons too (Andy Dalton ranked #6 in points among QBs, and Knowshon Moreno who has outscored every other RB/WR except Jamaal Charles.) This article is going to give you my opinion on who I think has performed the best comparative to their value so far, and who you can look out for in the future and during the playoff push. Remember, this is MY opinion, so you can take it or leave it as you wish. So here’s this season’s fantasy dream team:
Quarterback:
Best overall: Peyton Manning
Best value: Phillip Rivers
Worst value: Tom Brady
Let me explain, Peyton shouldn’t be anywhere else on the list of best fantasy QBs this season. He’s been consistent, he’s produced touchdowns and yards, and he hasn’t turned it over. He has exactly what you need to dominate a league and achieve ultimate bragging rights. Rivers has been sort of under the radar this season, because, well, that’s what happens when you’re on the Chargers. He’s quietly thrown for over 400 yards 3 times, and only has a total of 5 turnovers this year. In my league, where he went undrafted, he was the best pickup of the season so far at ANY position. Brady on the other hand, has been the opposite. He has had difficulty gaining chemistry with his new, rookie receivers Kenbrell Thompkins and Aaron Dobson, but he has his savior in Rob Gronkowski who is back from his surgery and adds a new threat and more receiver depth on this roster.
Philip Rivers has surprised everyone and has proved to be a fantasy steal this year (Via Opinuns)
Running Back:
Best overall: Jamaal Charles
Best Value: Knowshon Moreno
Worst Value: CJ Spiller
Jamaal, oh Jamaal. He hasn’t done anything wrong this year consistently getting at least 16 carries and gaining at least 100 total yards of offense in each game so far, PLUS 8 total TDs. Moreno has had similar consistencies to Charles with 9 total TDs, and around 15 carries a week in support of Peyton. The disappointment in the running back spot comes from none other than CJ Spiller. Before the season I thought that he was going to excel in Buffalo and help push them to the playoffs, but I couldn’t grab him in my league, and now I’m thankful.
Wide Receiver:
Best Overall: Dez Bryant
Best Value: Josh Gordon
Worst Value: Randall Cobb
Why not Megatron? Because he had one game with 36 ESPN standard fantasy points that really influenced him in terms of points. I have to give the starting position to Dez because of his consistency so far, but for the rest of the season, expect more domination from Calvin. Josh Gordon, although he missed the first 2 games of the season with a suspension, has been proven to be any Browns QB’s favorite target excelling with all Hoyer, Weeden, and Campbell throwing him the ball. Cobb can’t help his injury, but he had high expectations coming into the season, and only played 2 full games.
Tight End:
Best overall: Jimmy Graham
Best Value: Jordan Cameron
Worst Value: Rob Gronkowski
Jimmy Graham has been simply exciting this season making catches look easy, and making his good buddy Drew Brees look good. On top of that, he had a 5 game stretch to open up the season where he had 93 points total (which would still lead the league now). Cameron has been a welcome sight for most fantasy owners who thought he would have no opportunities because of the Browns, but he has grabbed 6 TDs this year and is averaging 11.5 points per game, which isn’t too shabby for a free agent find. Now, Gronkowski is interesting because reports were saying that he could have came back week 5, but made his first appearance in week 7. Since then in his 2 games of action Gronk has 13 total points and no touchdowns which isn’t exactly comforting to owners who drafted him in high/mid rounds.
D/ST:
Best overall: Chiefs
Best Value: Chiefs
Worst Value: Broncos
The Chiefs have been unstoppable on defense causing turnovers, not allowing points or yards, and just wreaking havoc in the backfield with their premier edge rushers Justin Houston and Tamba Hali. Houston is second in the NFL in sacks with 11, and Hali is tops in the league with 4 forced fumbles. The Broncos haven’t lived up to their stellar defense from last year, and have taken part in quite a few shootouts of offense vs. offense. Expect Von Miller to be the main factor on their future success.
Kicker:
Best overall: Matt Prater
Best Value: Matt Prater
Worst Value: Sebastian Janikowski
When it doubt, Matt Prater it out. He has gotten an incredible amount of points from just PATs and is not going to stop if Peyton keeps it up. I have no idea why Sea bass isn’t performing like the machine he was last year, but with a paltry 36 points through 8 weeks, he is the worst kicker in the NFL who has maintained a starting job.
Who to watch out for:
QB: Matt Stafford- He doesn’t have a tough schedule ahead of him and has many weapons.
RB: Gio Bernard- A rookie on the rise has had a few good games this season that could potentially give him the full time job over the Law Firm in Cincinatti.
WR: Calvin Johnson- need I say more?
TE: Jordan Reed- RG3 has found a liking to this guy as a main target. Watch out.
D/ST: Panthers- Despite the trading of Jon Beason to the Giants, these guys are playing solid football and just might surprise a few people with a playoff push
K: Matt Prater- He’s just going to keep on kicking these extra points until the season is over
Let me hear what you guys think about my picks in the comments and leave any of your own if you want. Just remember that there’s still a lot of football left to play.
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Josh Halilej is a die hard fan of both the Jets and the Mets, and is an avid fantasy sports player. He participates in leagues for baseball, basketball and football. You can follow him on twitter at @Mrmet2323
Top Five MLB Teams That Need To Take Out Their Checkbook For 2014
By: Sam Breiter
Baseball in 2013 was a season to remember to say the least. Whether you are talking about the unbelievable breakout season from Chris Davis, who led major league baseball with 53 homeruns, or if you are discussing the legacy of a man named Mariano, you can clearly see how extraordinary this year in baseball was. Just three days ago, the Boston Red Sox organization gained the title of World Series Champions. For now, they will be noted as the best team in baseball, but April is just around the corner and now every team will have fair game to work on improving their team to become potential champions for 2014. Some teams may look at their 40-man roster today and feel a sense of comfort and confidence for next year, knowing that they may be one small signing or trade away from being contenders. Other teams may look and find that there are many holes that need to be covered, and they have a lot of work cut out for them this winter. Noting, there are some organizations that have more available money for the elite free agents than others. For example, the Houston Astros may need an outfielder, but do not expect them to spend $20 million on a five tool superstar, but rather a player with mediocre talent since they are many years away from being competitive. What I am about to review is the top five teams who need to make moves this offseason in order to have a fighting chance in 2014. I took into consideration the available funds the team has, what they need, and their desire to improve to stand a chance next year.
The Yankees hope that bringing in the top free agents will lead them back to the promised land and their 28th World Series Championship (Via New York Times)
#5 Kansas City Royals- After being regarded as one of the worst teams in baseball after their great run in the 70’s and 80’s, the Kansas City Royals in 2013 really found themselves as a team. Prior to the 2013 season, the Royals had not been over .500 since 2003, and before that 1993. After spending the last couple of years trading away talent to improve their farm system, the Royals have reached that essential milestone where they have developed a group of young prospects into MLB superstars. Billy Butler, Alex Gordon, and Eric Hosmer, to name off a few, had a key role in allowing the Royals to win their 86 games this year. The Royals were just seven games back of the division-winning Tigers, and missed a wild card spot by five and a half games. So what’s it going to take to get over that hump? What do the Royals need to do to go back to the glory days of when they were one of the most feared teams in baseball? I have one answer to that question and that is pitching. If we look at the pitching rotation for 2014, for the team right now you see the names James Shields, Jeremy Guthrie, Bruce Chen, and two question marks. Ervin Santana, who had an above average year, is now a free agent, and the Royals never really had a true number five guy. Shields and Guthrie provide a great one two punch, yet it is fair to note that Chen has always time after time proven himself to be unreliable with injuries and inconsistent success. With this said, the Royals, in order to get over that hump, need to sign two starting pitchers that will work long innings and keep the rotation intact. The best fit for the Royals would include pitchers who have shown their talent such as Ubaldo Jimenez, Dan Haren, A.J Burnett, Matt Garza, or Hiroki Kuroda. Additionally, they might want to try to get back Santana, and maybe go for some of the lower demand pitchers including Scott Baker, Mike Pelfrey, Ricky Nolasco, or even Jason Vargas. With this added pitching help, the Royals can easily run away with a wild card spot, or perhaps even be the American League Central Division champs.
#4 Texas Rangers- Ever since 2010, the Texas Rangers have always been looked upon as, if not the best, one of the best teams in all of Major League Baseball. Their dominance in hitting the long ball, getting on base, and sustaining an above average pitching rotation and bullpen has allowed their success to last. In 2010, the Rangers made the World Series and fell flat on their face against the San Francisco Giants. The following year, after one of the most dramatic World Series ever, the Rangers fell just short losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in a seven game series. The following year, they won the wild card and missed their shot of going anywhere in the playoffs, and this year they did not even get a wild card spot. Clearly it may look as if this team is declining, but do you really expect the Oakland Athletics to come up with another 96 win season considering their best player is not even considered a superstar. If the Rangers brought back the same team they had this year, next year it looks pretty likely they would be the favorite to win the division, but down in Texas these fans expect more than a division title. Matt Garza, Nelson Cruz, A.J Pierzynski, and David Murphy, to name a few, are players who will be free agents this year and may just not be a part of the team next year. With this said, pitching (both starting and relief), a left fielder, and a catcher need to be acquired if the Rangers do not want to fall short yet again. In terms of pitching, look for the Rangers to attempt to sign one big name pitcher. I believe Garza will return and they will look to bring Alexi Ogando into their rotation and maybe even sign Roy Holladay if the Phillies part ways with the old ace. In terms of the bullpen, whatever happened to Neftali Feliz? From 2010-2011 Feliz combined for 72 saves, but from injuries the past few years people tend to forget about him. Expect Feliz to be their number one closer in 2014, but do not be surprised if Chris Perez comes in to become either the setup man or closer assuming Feliz does not work to his expectations. Behind the plate, the Rangers have always had power, if we go back a few years to Mike Napoli, or the more current days of Pierzynski. Do not be surprised if either of these players are brought back to the organization, yet I predict Brian McCann will be wearing a Texas Rangers uniform in 2014 because he will get paid the money he deserves, and the Rangers have a better resume of getting deep in the playoffs compared to the Braves. The Rangers have always had big time sluggers in the outfield. The Josh Hamilton/Nelson Cruz combo was one of the best power hitting outfields ever seen on one team. With Hamilton enjoying his money in L.A, and Cruz doubtful to return, do not be surprised to see the Rangers spending huge on a new outfielder. Jacoby Ellsbury, Shin-Soo Choo, Curtis Granderson, Carlos Beltran, and Mike Morse are the best fits for the Rangers if they are willing to spend big on a new outfielder.
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