For you history buffs, we will archive every article penned by the Shark Team in 2008. As each week is finished, we will move the content to this page so you can reminisce about the good old days ... like week 1.
Welcome, everyone, to the sixth and final preseason installment to the 2008 Rookie Report. Each week during the regular season, the report will cover trends, news items and analysis of notable performances by the NFL’s 2008 Rookie Class to assist in your pursuit of dynasty championship gold.
Side Lines Tom Braun and Chris Dolfi, Fantasy Football Staff Writers Sep 3, 2008
Braun and Dolfi try and put a smile on your face with a new 'sport-toon' every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - only on FantasySharks.com !!
What is the true definition of a Fantasy Virgin? Welcome to my world and you will see. The draft is over and the Fantasy Football season is upon us. Oh, by the way, the NFL season begins with a Thursday battle featuring the Redskins of Washington at The Champion Giants of New York!
QB Couplets Matt Price, Fantasy Football Staff Writer Aug 29, 2008
If you don't land one of the top quarterbacks in your draft, don't fret. You can find good QB value in the later rounds. However, if you do grab a 'lesser' quarterback, you might want to be careful when you select your QB2. Or you could run into trouble.
Donovan McNabb will be missing his No. 1 WR, Kevin Curtis, for probably the next 6-8 weeks. Reggie Brown
(Phili's No. 2 receiver) may also miss some time. This is a big blow to
a receiving core that was weak to begin with. When you consider that
Philadelphia plays
Dallas,
Pittsburgh and
Chicago in Weeks 2-4, you should expect a bumpy ride.
This past Sunday, I drafted a stellar team in my second of two live drafts of that weekend. I am not breaking out the bubbly quite yet, but I have never felt as good about a team as I do about that one -- including my championship winning squad from last season. Here are some of my favorite picks from the draft and where I nabbed them:
I'd been the biggest proponent on this website when it comes to talking about drafting runningbacks early and often. Even going so far as to advising that using the first three, even four selections in the draft on the position. My Friends, those days are over. Using some early draft picks on wide receivers is where it is at in 2008.
Preseason is coming to a close, and we are gearing up for the start of the 2008 season. In this edition we will take a glance at some of the top performers so far in the preseason.
In this latest installment of the Commissioner’s Perspective, I want to delve into an overlooked subject that many fantasy football managers and commissioners alike might not think much about. Today we’re talking about scheduling within your fantasy league, how NFL schedules are determined, and then I want to expose a huge flaw in the way schedules are determined with one of the most popular league providers.
2008 Draft Plan Tony Holm, "The Prognosticator" Aug 27, 2008
Welcome one and all to the Progno's
2008 draft battle plan. Each year I draft in many experts leagues,
trying different strategies, just so I can develop a 2008 draft plan.
I do not prescribe to a particular draft theory because year over
year, there isn't one-size that fits all. You need to study the
available talent, the ADP data to see where talent is going and then
come up with strategies to draft a winning team. Some years it's
vital to get a QB early, some years not. Some years you can let RB's
go a little since there'll be plenty later, some years you need to
bulk up and open your draft RB-RB-RB to gain the biggest competitive
advantage. Read on for the 2008 Draft Plan..
The preseason's important contests are coming to a close and even though not much about the 2008 season has been revealed, some clues into what will happen have been put on display. I am here to tell you what I have observed over the first three weeks of the preseason and what to expect going forward. Plus, the most accurate bold predictions on the internet today are in this article!
A good fantasy owner is a well-prepared fantasy owner, and part of being well-prepared includes knowing your lines. No, I'm not talking about those betting lines. I'm talking about those lines that are "Bulldog Tough" --- the ones that create the offense. Who's Mack enough to be in the elite? Find out inside and get one step closer to being well-prepared as I give a quick breakdown of the front fives of '08.
IsMarion Barber primed for a big season? Who will fill-in for Kevin Curtis in Philly? Will Aaron Rodgers shed his Hulk Hogan look? What will Chris Perry and Chris Henry do with their new opportunities? Who can the Panthers turn to without Steve Smith? Who's making headlines in the Shark News? Plus, a few preseason quotes, including one from the commissioner himself about the late Gene Upshaw. And did I mention there's a new feature? See all of it in this week's edition of Fantasy News.
Ahhh, yes indeed it is a new year here at Fantasy Sharks, and my second article is always about back-to-work shopping for my lovely wife, Jill, followed by the way I use the Fantasy Sharks Web site to my advantage.
Welcome everyone to the fifth installment to the 2008 Rookie Report. Each week during the regular season, the report will cover trends, news items and analysis of notable performances by the NFL’s 2008 Rookie Class to assist in your pursuit of dynasty championship gold.
The trade that shipped Brett Favre
to the New York Jets mercifully closed the book on one of the most
intriguing, yet bizarre soap operas in National Football League history
- “The Favre Un-Retirement Saga” or whatever you want to call it - and
etched in stone the status of quarterback Aaron Rodgers
as the new starter for the Green Bay Packers. The fascination that many
fantasy owners have with Rodgers as a potential sleeper arguably may
border on intriguing, yet bizarre. Why is there such fanfare about a
fourth-year pro who has never started a regular-season NFL game and now
faces the unenviable task of replacing a living legend?
Oh yea, the joy of draft day is here. If you’re like me, you are running around like a chicken with its head cut off. As you count down the hours, you are checking all the latest injury news and last-minute tips you can find. You’re getting all your snacks and refreshments ready for the trip to the draft room.
It's go time, folks -- the final preparation for auction draft battle. We wrap up the draft guide with do's and don'ts on strategy to make sure your game plan is better than the guy sitting next to you. Except for me, since my competitors are probably reading this. Way to plan ahead, genius.
AFC East Preview Mike Rumsey, Fantasy Football Senior Staff Writer Aug 21, 2008
FantasySharks.com breaks down every impact player across every NFL division. Our final installment is the AFC East.
In Part IV of the strength of schedule analysis, we will look closer at the WR position and identify 60 players facing SOS' that are favorable or unfavorable to start the season.
Handcuffing is the best way to ensure your team in case your fantasy starters get injured. The ideal handcuff is the player who will step right in and produce at a level similar to that of your starter. Without any further ado, here are my top five running back handcuffs heading into the season …
The Doctor Is In Scott Pachman, Fantasy Football Staff Writer Aug 21, 2008
Draft day can bring boundless joy and excitement; but, for some, draft day causes less desirable symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue and insomnia. It could be the jitters, or it could be something more serious. Luckily, if the following 10 afflictions are caught early and treated, they should not hinder your ability to draft your fantasy dream team
Welcome everyone to the fourth installment to the 2008 Rookie Report. Each week during the regular season, the report will cover trends, news items and analysis of notable performances by the NFL’s 2008 Rookie Class to assist in your pursuit of dynasty championship gold.
Your main back goes down with a knee injury. Were you smart enough to handcuff his backup?
The idea of a handcuff is simple. Your prized back goes out for a week or two with an injury, but you foreshadowed this coming and drafted his backup, a worthwhile backup from whom you will get production. Most teams have more than one back that can have value given the starting role. The value of the backup is not realized until he makes the starting lineup, however. Let's examine two potential handcuffs and situations to monitor closely.
Tired of vanilla IDP analysis on other fantasy sites? Does your league go deeper at IDP than Willis, Ryans, Urlacher and Harris? You are in the right place, The Hive returns with the in depth IDP vision you need to dominate your draft. Come on in!
NFC East Preview Matt Crouchet, Fantasy Football Staff Writer Aug 19, 2008
FantasySharks.com breaks down every impact player across every NFL division. Our seventh installment is the NFC East.
Flyin High Matt Price, Fantasy Football Staff Writer Aug 19, 2008
Ahhh, those last few rounds of the draft. There are no running backs available. There are no decent quarterbacks available. There's basically nothing left at tight end. Time for defenses and kickers, right? Well, not quite. There is one position that seems well suited to confer late-round value: wide receiver. This week I'm gonna take a look at five WR fliers that have a good chance to be productive in 2008.
Plax and his brittle ankle, JaMarcus and his strong developing arm, Johnson and his blazing speed, Garcia and Galloway and their aging muscles, Brown and his fragile label, the Steelers and their porous defense and Cutler and Marshall with their new, strong relationship all headline this week's fantasy news. Plus, find out the latest on Jonathan Stewart, camp/preseason quotes, and a little insight on a few sleepers.
Don't have a shot at drafting the top talent in your dynasty rookie draft? No problem. Find out who you could steal in your draft to make your team a contender for the long run.
In the latest installment of Digging Deeper, we’re going to discuss
a few strategies that aren’t mentioned very often and don’t involve any
individual player advice or projections.
I’m also not here to discuss beginner strategies like watching out for bye
weeks or playing matchups with your starting lineup. The strategies are divided between draft
strategies and in-season strategies.
Rules to Live By Scott Pachman, Fantasy Football Staff Writer Aug 15, 2008
Procrastinators,
your time has come!
If you have not
finalized your league rules yet, it’s about time to make that final push to the
end zone and finish your preparations for the big draft.
As a bonus for those of you who have
patiently waited this long to put the finishing touches on your league, here
are five rules to consider (or re-consider) to make your league the best it can
be:
In colonial Salem Massachusetts, if you were weird, you were probably a witch. In modern Foxboro Massachusetts, if you’re Tom Brady or one of the New England Patriots, you’re about to suffer the inexplicable, inescapable and insatiable wrath of the Curse of the Super Bowl Loser. Well, not really, but let's take a brisk walk through Super Bowl history anyway. It beats just refreshing your draft page, and it's not like you're getting any work done this week.
NFC North Preview Doug Coutts, Fantasy Football Senior Staff Writer Aug 14, 2008
What a mess this division has turned into. You had a team that made sure that its starting quarterback didn't come to camp, while they couldn't get their starting running back to attend. You had another team that was desperate to acquire said quarterback, but now they say they are happy with what they've got. There is a team that can't decide on starters, so they list players as "co-starters". And lastly, there was yet another coaching change for the other team in the division. And above all that for the fantasy player, there are so many positions within this division up for grabs, and even if clear-cut winners are declared, will the players involved have a fantasy impact? My friends, the NFC North, a fantasy wasteland!
NFC South Preview Ben Ice, Fantasy Football Senior Staff Writer Aug 13, 2008
FantasySharks.com breaks down every impact player across every NFL division. Our fourth installment is the NFC South.
Now that you've found out all the information you can from your favorite Web sites, message boards, forums, etc., you are ready to jump into the water with the Sharks. You are chomping at the bit to get in a league, or several leagues, show that you have done your homework and are ready to compete with the big fish. Before taking the plunge, let me give you a few tips that will at least get you heading for the right pond, lake, ocean or sea. If you listen closely, you might even give the appearance of being armed and dangerous when you take that dive into those murky waters.
I'm not just sick of the Brett Favre saga. I'm sick of hearing how sick people are of it. But I couldn't resist - I had to write one article about the situation. I'm not going to tell you that Favre will be a solid low-end starter. I'm not going to tell you that he'll be a solid backup. In fact, I'm not going to tell you that he'll be solid at all.
Back in July, I made my case for declaring The Rise of the Running Back by Committee a myth. Long-time writer and friend of the site
Greg Kellogg joins me in the Stat Lab this week for an independent take on the subject, while I look deeper into recent backfield trends, including injuries in recent years and how experience translates into opportunity.
NFC West preview Ben Doughty, Fantasy Football Staff Writer Aug 12, 2008
FantasySharks.com breaks down every impact player across every NFL division. Our third installment is the NFC West.
Welcome everyone to the third installment to the 2008 Rookie Report. Each week during the regular season, the report will cover trends, news items and analysis of notable performances by the NFL’s 2008 Rookie Class to assist in your pursuit of dynasty championship gold.
Fantasy football drafting is all about value. In this edition of Digging Deeper, we’re going to look at guys who are going too low in drafts or will provide excellent value for where they’re being drafted all things considered. Because of this, they should be reasonably easy to obtain if you really want them, regardless of your draft position. This is slightly different than a sleeper list in that we’ll talk about early round guys as well as mid- to late-round prospects.
AFC North Preview Nate Benzin, Fantasy Football Staff Writer Aug 11, 2008
FantasySharks.com breaks down every impact player across every NFL division. Our second installment is the AFC North.
Finally the Brett Favre circus has performed its last act,
but where do fantasy owners go from here? What kind of backlash is Aaron
Rodgers seeing due to Favre’s move to a less greener broadway-esque state?
And finally, what kind of effect has it had
on the former Jets quarterback?
Find out
all this plus more, including camp quotes and the Shark News Rundown in this
week’s edition of Fantasy News.
Throughout his entire career he’s been more talk and name than actual game. However, not enough people seemed to have noticed as he is still routinely drafted toward the end of round one in many '08 drafts. I’m here to make sure you don’t make the same mistake, and tell you why.
The Virgin is back! This means I get to relive another Fantasy Football season as a newbie, a literal Fantasy Football Virgin. For all of those who new to the site, welcome to the best Fantasy Football site on the web.
There were backs who toted the rock 30 times per game. They were every
down players, only needing to leave the field when they needed a blow. Now the 30 carry backs are all but extinct. RBBC have fallen over teams like the plague.
AFC West preview Joshua Simmons, Fantasy Football Staff Writer Aug 8, 2008
FantasySharks.com breaks down every impact player across every NFL division. Our first installment is the AFC West.
We’re back – and this year Tony added auction values to the site projections! Rejoice! Wait, they’re based on a $200 salary cap? Oh, for the love of… sigh. You people with your cheese, it never ends.
If you are the kind of fantasy football owner who has been preparing for months, you may be bored to death waiting an eternity while your fellow league members brood over their next pick. Don’t let that sharp fantasy football mind go to waste! Instead, use that time to spot these 10 “animated” characters in your league.
Ok, so you are not willing to spend a top pick to get one of the “Big Four” Tight Ends this year. I probably will not spend a fifth round or better pick to get one either, and that is what it will take. If that is the case, just wait until after the 10th round and get a guy that has just as much a chance at finishing in the Top 5-10 range as the TE’s taken in rounds 6-10.
The Shark owner has a big advantage in early redraft leagues. Use that advantage well, and the whole season will be a feeding frenzy on the rest your league.
In Part III of the strength of schedule analysis, we will look closer at the RB position and identify 20 players facing SOS that are favorable or unfavorable to start the season.
Just in time for your draft, two of the top wideouts went and got themselves in trouble. Their bad behavior means
Carolina’s
Steve Smith is to be sidelined for two games, while Denver’s
Brandon Marshall looks to serve two-to-three. In this edition of the Stat Lab, we look at what this means for them and your draft plans.
Everyone would like to grab one of the Tier One quarterbacks but at what price? They will likely cost a 1st or 2nd round pick and, depending on the scoring system, greater value may be had later.
Bad in '07, Better in '08? Several running backs underperformed in 2007, much to the dismay of their fantasy owners, who may have wasted high picks on them. However, with new surroundings and strong offseasons, are these players primed for a standout 2008 campaign? And the bigger question is, are you able to forgive them?
Welcome everyone to the second edition of the 2008 Rookie Report. Each week during the regular season, the report will cover trends, news items and analysis of notable performances by the NFL’s 2008 Rookie Class to assist in your pursuit of dynasty championship gold.
What good is a supposed expert if he can’t pull off a few amazing feats of prognostication every once in a while? That’s the reason I started writing my preseason
Big Fat Claims a few years ago. While for the most part I draft for safety, each year I try to pick apart the status quo and find a few gems before anyone else has an inkling of what they might do. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it fails miserably, but it sure is a lot more fun than cranking out the same analysis that a thousand other Web sites do each year.
The 2008 shark leagues are ready. Do you have what it takes to swim with the sharks? Once again FantasySharks.com teams up with MyFantasyLeague.com to bring you the most competitive free public leagues out there! Where can you play with this level of competition? Where your skills are rewarded with advancement to higher level leagues that are made up of only consistent winners? Here is where.
It'll feel like you're at the movies this week as Megatron, and Rudi are the leading headliners. Others that made the news this past week and are highlighted inside include John Lynch, Tony Scheffler, Ryan Grant, Edgerrin James, Adrian Wilson, Steve Smith and of course ... well you'll have to read on...
Why would anyone in their right mind draft a kicker ahead of Ryan Torain? I can't give you an answer to that question, but according to Mock Draft Central there are, on average, 11 chumps, I mean owners, who are doing just that. Remember, you can't spell CHUMP without C-H-U-M.
Many fantasy football commissioners (and managers) have different views on trading. Some view it as one of the most enjoyable and exciting aspects of fantasy football, even going as far as over-drafting a particular position (usually RB) with the intent to use some of the players at that position as trade bait.
With Mike Martz now running the offense in San Francisco, many think running back Frank Gore will explode and become the next Marshall Faulk. Don't fall for the Martz/Gore hoopla, and don't make Gore your No. 1 fantasy running back this year.
Welcome
everyone to the first installment to the 2008 Rookie Report. Each week during the regular season, the
report will cover trends, news items and analysis of notable performances by
the NFL’s 2008 Rookie Class to assist in your pursuit of dynasty championship
gold.
Show Me The Money Scott Pachman, Fantasy Football Staff Writer Aug 1, 2008
Playing
fantasy football for fun is like playing poker for peanuts. Unless money is on the line, it’s just not
going to be taken seriously. Sure,
bragging rights can be a somewhat valuable currency, but nothing keeps you
“invested” week after painful week like laying some of your cold, hard-earned
cash on the line. If this isn’t as
obvious to you as “the sky is blue,” please take this time to go count your
peanuts and savor those sweet bragging rights.
Serious fantasy football players, read on...
In 1776 Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence, and it's signing signaled a change in what a nation could be. Why not apply that concept to your fantasy team? Inspired by Jefferson himself, here is my Declaration.
Now that you have become addicted to fantasy football like the rest of us, you can't wait to hit the forums or message board areas of your favorite sites with new questions and opinions. Remember, it is fine to stick your toe in the water with all these Sharks floating around, just don't wrap a juicy steak around your ankle when you do it.
Most people assume that Tom Brady will fall well short of the 50 TD mark this year. It’s not hard to see why. It seems almost silly to think that Brady could put up those kinds of numbers again. There is something that's a bit unclear, though. What are the reasons, exactly, that Brady won’t pull off a repeat performance? Hmmm. You know, when you really think about it, there may not be any
reasons at all.
Last month in the Stat Lab we saw how opportunity does or doesn’t translate into success for rookie runningbacks. It’s getting near draft time, which means it’s time to put our ideas to work. In this edition of the Stat Lab, we’ll build on the facts, and offer my prescriptions for the rookie class in redrafts with an eye towards opportunity.
Bush's confidence, Harrison's return, Sorgi's takeover, Sheppard & Samuel's issues, Atlanta's quarterback battle, and a new feature called
Camp Quotes headline this week's fantasy news. Plus, one of the biggest Shark News Rundown yet! See it all in this week's edition.
Ahmad Bradshaw at #1, MJD at #2, Adrian Peterson #3, LT #4,
followed by Marion Barber and Brandon Jacobs at #5 and #6. Any guess as to what these rankings are based
on? An insane Giants fan’s draft board? Maybe the first six picks in the annual Southwest Virginia Regional Jail draft? Here
we’re having a look at RB production from 2005 to 2007, specifically,
fantasy
points per touch.
In Part II of the strength of schedule analysis, we will look closer at the QB position and identify 20 players facing SOS that are favorable or unfavorable to start the season.
In this article I will comb the bottom of the barrell in an attempt to dig up a few WR's that could play integral parts in your fantasy team's championship run. A few of these guys pop up every year, I've decided to do the work for you. You can thank me later.
Before we begin, let me just say that I hated the idea of talking about
defenses. Not because it is early, but just talking about defense in
general. Even on draft day, I'm the guy that waits until the last two
rounds of the draft to grab a couple of the remaining defenses...
Jump on board and get a great QB2 with QB1 upside. These three quarterbacks can be had fairly cheap, and they all three have the potential and opportunity to help you bring home the prize at the end of the season. If you decide to play the waiting game on your QB, these are the guys to target.
The "Big Names / New Homes" Podcast - a special pre-season edition of FantasySharks 'Week in Review' podcast!
During the season, the Week in Review Podcast is available here weekly for your listening enjoyment. In this special preason podcast, the guys run down the big name players that changed teams in the offseason and how they think they'll do in their new digs.
Finally, the moment all the Shark readers have been waiting for... the Grand Opening of the 2008 Observation Deck written by Yours Truly. It has been an extremely intriguing offseason to say the least. The opinions about certain players around the league differ from expert to expert in 2008 as much as they ever have. Once again I will save the average overwhelmed fantasy manager from the trouble of making crucial decisions in disarray, by telling them exactly what they need to know, and what they need to focus on. I will touch on such running backs as
Brandon Jacobs and
Jamal Lewis.
I will present my top 3 sleeper wide receivers for 2008, and tell you why they all are greatly undervalued.
I will also dispell the myth behind the almost ridiculous comparisons between
Adrian Peterson and
Darren McFadden.
Early Season Busts Doug Coutts, Fantasy Football Senior Staff Writer Jul 23, 2008
Though it is a bit early, we've already gone thru my top five at each
position (I know, I know, probably did not reveal much!), Sleepers and
Under Valued players at all positions, now we're ready to discuss the
Over Valued and Bust players. As always, your thoughts, comments, and
reaction is welcome!
Strength of Schedule is commonly used but is misused. It assumes, for example, that a team will put up gaudy passing numbers against the worst passing defenses, and the run will flop against strong rushing defenses. But is it really as simple as that? The short answer is no, but there's still some treasure to be dredged up from this shipwreck.
With LaDainian Tomlinson and Adrian Peterson getting all the press for being the top 2 running backs, the focus shifts to who should be drafted next. Here, I will take a look at 3 great choices in Steven Jackson, Joseph Addai, and Brian Westbrook, and give my thoughts on how they shake out.
Side Lines Tom Braun and Chris Dolfi, Fantasy Football Staff Writers Jul 22, 2008
Braun and Dolfi try and put a smile on your face with a new 'sport-toon' every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday - only on FantasySharks.com !!
If you've been hiding in the deep dark recesses of the tank afraid to test the waters of auction drafting, have no fear. Great White Shark and senior writer Ben Ice has the skinny on what it's all about and how to handle your first auction like a pro.
So sit back in your favorite chair, grab a cold one and leave the remote on the coffee table so you can absorb this massive tome of auction brilliance...or so you don't spit beer all over the remote.
Early Season Sleepers Doug Coutts, Fantasy Football Senior Staff Writer Jul 22, 2008
Though it is a bit early, we've already gone thru my top five at each
position (I know, I know, probably did not reveal much!), and now we're
ready to discuss Sleepers and Under Valued players at any position. As
always, your thoughts, comments, and reaction is welcome!
Your Number Is Up Scott Pachman, Fantasy Football Staff Writer Jul 22, 2008
Although quarterbacks tend to
stand out on the field, it can’t hurt to be familiar with their jersey numbers
when you’re trying to spot your star player in a crowd.
With Draft Day getting closer, stay sharp
with this quarterback sneak-y puzzle.
Solve
each riddle for a number in the first section, then match that number to its
quarterback in the second section.
Derek
who? After watching Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson come
out of nowhere to stun the fantasy football world with some outstanding
top-10 passer numbers last season, nobody is asking that question
nowadays.
Ricky Williams comeback, Peyton's return, Chris Henry's possible reinstatement, Long's contract talks, and Denver receiver's race headed up by Brandon Marshall, Darrell Jackson and Eddie Royal? headline this week's Fantasy News. Plus, find out who made the Shark News Rundown, and a little something
comical about number four. This week's edition is a must read!
Many self-proclaimed fantasy football gurus have
big egos when it comes to their game, but they shouldn’t let that get in the
way of a seemingly obvious, but often overlooked resource for live, online
drafts.
I’ve written a couple of articles that have pointed out some land mines in the 2008 quarterback pool. So now I’m going to discuss a real value pick at the QB position.
We continue our early season discussion, talking about rankings, sleepers, and busts. To review, I have been in quite a few drafts already, and I also had the opportunity to participate in a video draft guide talking about the current state of things. In order to expand a bit upon the short sound bites I provided, I thought it'd be a good idea to share and expand upon some of my thoughts here...
Camps are almost here. Can you feel it? I’m starting to get really excited about the upcoming season. Every year it feels like the best season yet and I’m my anticipation for the season grows stronger. In this edition of the
Brew Crew Corner, we look at Strength of Schedule at a glance.
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