AFC Midseason Recap and Predictions (2 of 4)

By Dan Lagnado

In part one of the midseason recap and predictions, the AFC East was covered. Now we will move on to the AFC West:

Division winner: Denver Broncos

This prediction may seem controversial given the current standings of the division. The battle for the top spot really is a two horse race at this point. The Broncos and the Chiefs seem poised to battle it out until the end. However, I give the edge to Denver for reasons to be explained later in this article.

The Broncos have far and away the NFL’s best offense: first in points scored, first in total yards per game and first in passing yards per game all thanks to MVP candidate Peyton Manning. This is a team that made the AFC Championship last season and has come back even better, with even more weapons both offensively and defensively. In addition to Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, Manning now has Wes Welker and rookie tight end Julius Thomas. The defense gained Shaun Phillips to help the pass rush along with Von Miller, who recently returned from suspension. This has helped the defense compile 22 sacks on the year. The Broncos currently have a 7-1 record heading into their bye week.

Peyton Manning hopes to walk off as a Super Bowl champion at the end of the season. (Via US Presswire)

The Kansas City Chiefs on the other hand boast a very powerful defense. They rank first in the NFL in points allowed, fifth in total yards allowed and fourth in pass yards allowed. They are arguably the biggest surprise team of this season after coming off a two win year. With a new quarterback in Alex Smith and a new coach in Andy Reid, the Chiefs now sit in first place at 8-0. Justin Houston and Tamba Hali have 20 sacks combined along with five forced fumbles. Smith, Jamaal Charles and Dwayne Bowe lead the offense. Smith has continued his consistent play from last season with nine touchdown passes and only four interceptions. However, despite the undefeated start, this is a team with some flaws. Their last two games, against disappointing Browns and Texans teams, were won by only a combined six points. Jason Campbell and Case Keenum nearly led their teams to giving KC their first loss. How can we expect them to keep Peyton Manning in check two times in the next four weeks if Campbell and Keenum give this defense trouble? That said, look for KC to easily lock up a Wild Card birth and a potential third matchup with Denver in the postseason.

The San Diego Chargers have comeback from a disappointing season with a very impressive first seven games. Their 4-3 record would be good enough for better than third place in almost all other divisions. Yet, because of the two powerhouses at the top, that’s where they find themselves. Quarterback Phillip Rivers is an early Comeback Player of the Year candidate and has thrown for 15 touchdowns and only five interceptions after a 2012 season that saw him account for 30 total turnovers. Rivers and tight end Antonio Gates have reestablished the connection that they have had for many years and Gates leads the team in receiving yards. The defense, though allowing yards, is still sixth in the NFL in points allowed. If the Chargers continue their strong play, they can find themselves in a position for a Wild Card position as well.

The Oakland Raiders have seen quite a bit of disappointment in the past few seasons. Though they currently sit in last place with a sub-.500 record (3-4), there are many reasons to have high hopes for the future. One of these reasons is Terrelle Pryor. In his first season starting, Pryor has shown that he is capable of being a dual threat quarterback and can lead this team to many wins as he matures. Pryor is supported by a corps of young, fast wide receivers including Denarius Moore and Rod Streater. If the Raiders can manage to get Darren McFadden running in the way that he did last year, look for them to be competitive in the second half of the season, and potentially play spoiler for other teams’ playoff chances.

The AFC West has emerged this season as potentially the best in the AFC. Both the Chiefs and Broncos seem primed for a playoff run, with the chance of being joined by the Chargers. The two upcoming matchups between Kansas City and Denver might prove to be the key to the tight race for first place and San Diego’s consistency will be key for their Wild Card push. It’s important not to count out Oakland as Terrelle Pryor continues to develop as a quarterback who can win with his arm or his legs.

11/01/13

Fantasy Basketball Waiver Wire Pickups

By Josh Wicker

Even though the season is just starting, the NBA still has many surprises and uncertainties. Fantasy owners are still unsure if players’ performances are the real deal or just a fluke. Here are some must adds for the Fantasy Basketball 2013-14 season:

Standard League Finds:

Michael Carter Williams (78.8% owned in ESPN Leagues)- Almost a quadruple double in his first career game. That was an incredible performance and if he is still available in your league, he is a must add. He is on a team that has potential but lack depth at the point guard position. It appears that the 76ers are giving him a main role with the team and as a result, fantasy owners should take notice.

Michael Carter-Williams enters his first season with high expectations, after a breakout debut game (Via Philly Sports Live)

Deandre Jordan (58.2%)- I cannot understand how he was not taken in most leagues as a mid to late round pick. He provides points, rebounds and blocks on a very good Clippers team. He is also getting a very high amount of minutes and of course, you cannot forget about the lobs. Even though Doc Rivers does not like the term, Lob City still exists and Jordan is one of the two main beneficiaries.

Reggie Jackson (46.8%)- KD can not do everything for the Thunder. He needs a Russell Westbrook to soften the load. But, since Westbrook is injured, the Thunder are looking at Jackson as a solid starter at the point. He might even play at the shooting guard position when Westbrook gets back. He can provide steals, points and assists and should be picked up.

Miles Plumlee (8%)- Since Marcin Gortat was traded to the Wizards, a spot has opened up at center,and it seems like Plumlee has got a good grasp on it. He performed very well (18 points, 15 rebounds) and the only competition is with unproven rookie Alex Len. The Suns organization plans on giving Plumlee a lot of playing time and fantasy owners need to capitalize on this.

Taj Gibson (3.16%)- He is clearly the first big man off the bench for the Chicago Bulls. The only reason that he is not starting is because the Bulls are very deep with big men. However, they have one of the better front courts in the league. He provides solid rebounding and points for the Bulls and also can for your fantasy team.

Deeper League Finds:

This section contains players who are owned in less than 2% of ESPN leagues, but can be high reward or should be owned by more people in larger sized leagues.

Andrew Nicholson (1.6%)- Even though he is not playing many minutes, Nicholson is still providing 30+ minute like stats. He is currently one of the first off the bench for the Magic, but could easily become a starter because of his stellar play.

Randy Foye (0.6%)- When you get this far down in percent owned, normally all of the players are backups. But Foye is the starting shooting guard for the Nuggets alongside Ty Lawson and will provide points and three pointers. He is a scoring threat and can even add a couple of rebounds.

Boris Diaw (0.4%)- One of my personal favorite players, Diaw will
normally be brought in for defense, but can also pass extremely well and nail the occasional three. He currently plays about 20-25 minutes a game but that can increase because of the old age of the Spurs. He is a scrappy player who will fight for rebounds and is a good add in deep 16 or more team leagues.

10/31/13

AFC Midseason Recap and Predictions (1 of 4)

By Dan Lagnado

Week 8 of the NFL season has come and gone. And so, as we have reached the halfway mark, it is naturally time to decide who wins what, all the way to the Super Bowl (though I wouldn’t recommend playing Vegas with what I have to say). This will be the first article in a series recapping and predicting about all divisions in the AFC.

Let’s begin with the AFC East:

Division winner: New England Patriots

Kind of an easy call here. Despite the “lack of chemistry” that Tom Brady has with his receivers, the Pats should easily take the division once again. They currently sit atop the division with a 6-2 record. The return of Rob Gronkowski will only help Brady, and as the game against New Orleans shows, that chemistry is getting much better. Bill Belichick also has managed to keep his defense competitive despite injuries to Vince Wilfork, Jerod Mayo and others.

The race for the AFC East will be close, but it’ll be hard to stop Tom Terrific and the Pats (Via USA Today)

The Miami Dolphins showed real promise in the first three weeks but have lost four straight since then to drop to 3-4. They may have made moves in the offseason such as adding Mike Wallace, as well as seen improvement in Ryan Tannehill off of a very solid rookie season, but they aren’t yet ready to take the next step in competing for a division title.

The Jets have literally been up and down the entire season, though they have fared better than many predicted at 4-4 (some people had only predicted four wins all season). They have dealt with many growing pains from rookie quarterback Geno Smith, but have also seen flashes of why many think he could have been drafted in the first round. The return of Santonio Holmes from injury will only help Smith, and Rex Ryan’s defense is once again one of the best in the league, led by third year defensive lineman Muhammad Wilkerson. This team will surprise people and contend for a Wild Card spot.

As for the Buffalo Bills, there was some hope that brighter times were coming at the beginning of this season. A new quarterback in EJ Manuel, a new coach and some returning skill in Stevie Johnson and Mario Williams. That hope, however, was short lived. Injuries to Manuel and back-up Kevin Kolb left the Bills with Jeff Tuel and Thaddeus Lewis. Hardly the talent that’s needed to dethrone the Brady-Belichick Dynasty or even to turn this season around. They currently languish in the cellar of the division with a record of 3-5. That said, the future is bright for Buffalo’s offense, with the talent of Manuel, CJ Spiller and Stevie Johnson.

Expect New England to continue their recent dominance over the AFC East, though perhaps not for long. In the next few years this division should become hotly contested. But for now the Pats will gear up for another potentially deep playoff run. Both the Jets and the Dolphins both remain in the hunt for a Wild Card Spot, and even Buffalo’s chances do remain alive.

10/31/13

Jameis Winston: The Next Heisman Winner?

By: Matt Federbusch

It may be too early for Heisman talks but Florida State QB Jameis Winston seems like a good candidate. The true freshman from Bessemer, Alabama has been putting up videogame numbers for the Seminoles as of late and it doesn’t look like he’s going to cool down anytime soon. In every game so far, the Seminoles have scored more than 40 points and they practically routed every opponent. Winston is responsible for putting up most of these points and leading the Noles to 1^st place in the ACC. Jameis already has 23 touchdowns and an unbelievable passer rating of 207.0.

FSU’s Jameis Winston will try to join Johnny Manziel as the second ever freshman to win the Heisman Trophy. (Via Getty Images)

He is not a guy that shies away from a challenge either. Just ask the Clemson Tigers. Against #3 Clemson on October 19, the Seminoles destroyed the Tigers, winning 51-14. Winston had 444 yards (Yes, you read that correctly), 3 passing touchdowns, and 1 rushing touchdown. This is an unbelievably talented athlete and the scary thing is that he is only a freshman. Will he be the Heisman winner? I’m not sure, Mariota and Manziel look pretty good too. All I know is you should fear the spear because this guy is for real.

10/29/13

New York Knicks NBA Champions 2013-14?

By Sam Breiter

Yes, I said it. The New York Knicks will win the NBA Finals in 2013-2014 for a few simple reasons. While, it will not be easy for them as challenges and setbacks arise, I truly believe that at the end of the day, they are the best team in the NBA this year.

Starting Lineup

PG- Raymond Felton

SG- Iman Shumpert

SF- Carmelo Anthony

PF- Andrea Bargnani

C-Tyson Chandler

Second Unit (Bench)

PG- Beno Udrih

SG- J.R Smith

SF- Metta World Peace

PF- Kenyon Martin

C- Amar’e Stoudemire

Not only do the Knicks have a strong starting lineup full of big shooters, but they also have a core of rebounders, and defensive players that will trouble strong offenses. If we look at the squad from last year, Iman Shumpert, who was my pick for most improved player this year, wasn’t even healthy until the middle of the season. Shumpert is not only an explosive threat, but gives the Knicks the defense they’ve always lacked at the guard position. Additionally, with the acquisition of Andrea Bargnani, the Knicks will have help inside the paint on defense, and on offense. He also poses a threat from outside the paint and shot .399 last season. Last year, they had Ronnie Brewer who gave little to no production while part of the team, and Jason Kidd who had some good moments, but his age and shape factored into why he is now an NBA coach.

The Knicks will seek a way back to the finals, but they’ll have a tough road ahead (Via USA Today)

Overall, the Knicks were definitely a success last year. They came in second place in the conference, a large improvement from past years, but fell short to Indiana missing the conference finals. They had depth, but through no names like Chris Copeland, and players on the verge of retiring from the game, such as Jason Kidd, Rasheed Wallace, Kurt Thomas, and Marcus Camby. Now, I am not saying these players didn’t help. Copeland proved to be a huge offensive aid for the Knicks, and the rest helped mentor the younger players through their years of experience in the league. Although, I believe most people would be more comfortable with Kenyon Martin, and Stoudemire rather than Kurt Thomas and Marcus Camby coming off the bench to grab boards. Yes, Amar’e is always an injury threat, but last year he barely even played and the Knicks played well without him. If the Knicks get a little more Stoudemire than last year, which shouldn’t be difficult, they will see improvements in both their pick and roll game and post defense.

Are you convinced yet? I haven’t even mentioned Carmelo Anthony, and J.R Smith, their two biggest shooters. Anthony, and Smith both achieved their goals last year. Anthony won his scoring title, and JR received the NBA’s sixth man of the year award. If Carmelo, and J.R continue to take 30 shots a game, and are comfortable with hitting only two out of every five shots, the Knicks will not excel in the playoffs or during the regular season. These huge offensive weapons will need to find a way to hold back on some of their normal shots, and find the open man. Last year, it was tough because the Knicks didn’t really have anyone who could make their own shot besides Anthony and Smith. Now with Bargnani, Shumpert, and Metta World Peace, more passing options will be available. Carmelo Anthony averaging 25 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds and shooting 50 percent from the field per game seems possible, especially with the team surrounding him. This is Carmelo’s team, and he will always get to take the big shots he wants, but the Knicks will only win the finals if he keeps his head up, and notices the open man in the paint when being double-teamed.

To sum it up, the Knicks are faster, bigger, and younger than they were last year. With the old timers departing, some new key players joining the organization, and the health of the team improving, the Knicks will be unstoppable this year. Not only do they have one of the best offenses in the league, but now their defense will improve as well. Then, of course there are what ifs. What if Tim Hardaway Jr. has a break out rookie season? What if Amar’e stays healthy and goes back the 20 point 10 rebound guy he use to be? What if the Knicks find talent in a player like Chris Smith that they didn’t even know was possible? The possibilities for the Knicks are endless. This team is very underrated this year, and if it’s ever time for them to bring a championship back to New York it’s NOW!

10/29/13

2013- 2014 NBA Season Predictions

The time has finally come. The NBA season starts today, and we’d like to make some predictions on what we think the NBA will have in store for you this year. We’ve included our picks for the playoffs, as well as the end of season awards. Feel free to comment with your own opinions, as these are simply ours. Without further ado, we present our 2013- 2014 NBA Season Predictions:

	EAST
Place	Sam Breiter	Brett Malamud
1	Miami Heat	Miami Heat
2	New York Knicks	Chicago Bulls
3	Chicago Bulls	Indiana Pacers
4	Brooklyn Nets	Brooklyn Nets
5	Indiana Pacers	New York Knicks
6	Detroit Pistons	Washington Wizards
7	Cleveland Cavaliers	Cleveland Cavaliers
8	Toronto Raptors	Detroit Pistons
Bubble Team (9th)	Boston Celtics	Atlanta Hawks
ECF	Miami Heat vs New York Knicks	Miami Heat vs Indiana Pacers

	West
Place	Sam Breiter	Brett Malamud
1	L.A Clippers	L.A. Clippers
2	Oklahoma City Thunder	Oklahoma City Thunder
3	San Antonio Spurs	San Antonio Spurs
4	Houston Rockets	Golden State Warriors
5	Golden State Warriors	Houston Rockets
6	Dallas Mavericks	Minnesota Timberwolves
7	Portland Trail Blazers	Dallas Mavericks
8	New Orleans Pelicans	New Orleans Pelicans
Bubble Team (9th)	Denver Nuggets	Portland Trail Blazers
WCF	L.A Clippers vs. Golden State Warriors	L.A. Clippers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder

	Champion and Awards
	Sam Breiter	Brett Malamud
FINALS	New York Knicks vs LA Clippers	Miami Heat vs. L.A. Clippers
Champion	New York Knicks	L.A. Clippers
Defensive POY	Dwight Howard	Dwight Howard
Rookie of the Year	Victor Oladipo	Victor Oladipo
Coach of the Year	Doc Rivers	Doc Rivers
Most Improved	Iman Shumpert	Eric Bledsoe
MVP	LeBron James	LeBron James
Sixth Man of the Year	Tyreke Evans	Jamal Crawford