My Wes Welker Blog

The NFL playoffs are here, and fans rejoice at the prospect of competitive football games on the gridiron like the ones we're about to witness.

One of the more exciting matchups during the first week of the playoffs will be the Ravens and Patriots, who meet in Boston on Sunday at 1pm ET.

What do people like so much about this matchup? Well, the Ravens, who made last year's AFC conference championship game, have a legitimate shot at upsetting the Patriots, seen by many as a favorite to make the Super Bowl given their past experience.

The Ravens fell short of a win in New England when the two teams met in week 4 of the 2009 NFL season on October 4th. At the time, the Ravens were undefeated at 3-0 and marched into New England with all the confidence a team could have.

Unfortunately for their sake, they lost a nail biter, going down by the score of 27-21 due to a dropped ball by Mark Clayton that would have given them a one point lead with 28 seconds to go. Baltimore was left wondering what could have been all season.

Now, the team has a shot at revenge. Not only do they get another go at it, but this time around the Pats will be without Wes Welker, the team's best and most consistent wide receiver.

The Baltimore secondary will rejoice at the opportunity defend the ball without Welker in tow, and should take full advantage of New England's vulnerability by attacking Brady early and often.

If the team can play aggressive defense, they'll take the Patriots out of their element, putting the pressure back on New England. This, combined with some solid contributions from standout running back Ray Rice and his backup in Willis McGahee, could easily result in an upset that would have the football world buzzing.

Ken McCormick also writes about rabbit cage concepts at http://rabbitcage.org.

Predictions:

1. New England Patriots

2. New York Jets

3. Miami Dolphins

4. Buffalo Bills

New England:

Bill Belichick has proved he is a true coaching genius in the past, but perhaps last season was the ultimate proof. In the offseason he somehow extracted a 1st Round Pick from Seattle for Deion Branch, which was an utter sin that anyone paid that high a price. And then he managed to get to the AFC Championship Game, and 8 minutes from another Super Bowl, with a receiving corps that contained three guys who might not start on most NFL teams. He somehow managed to pull off an upset of the leagues number one team, San Diego on their home turf, with Reche Caldwell and Jabar Gaffney, and without Rodney Harrison, Junior Seau, and a vast number of their other starting defense.

This offseason was a vast change over last year. And while they still have to worry about the holdout of Asante Samuel, who should have been a Pro Bowl cornerback last year, the team has been completely reshaped and ready to dominate an inferior division this season. The Patriots decided that they didn't want to make another march to the Super Bowl with three no-name, minimal talent wideouts... so they bought 4 new ones. They added Dante Stallworth, Kelly Washington, and Wes Welker in the same week. And then just after draft day the Pats acquired superstar Randy Moss, for a fourth round pick. Moss hadn't really performed in Oakland, but under the tutelage of Belichick, Brady, Bruschi, Seymour and all the others who have been there and won Championships, Randy Moss will be fine. Look what the Pats did to Corey Dillon, who was a headcase before coming to Foxboro. The Pats also added outside Linebacker Adalius Thomas from the Baltimore Ravens who should play a huge pass rushing role in the Patriots ferocious 3-4 Defense this season. He is also very versatile, playing 5 different positions in the same game several times for Baltimore last season. Junior Seau and Rodney Harrison will both return for another campaign in full health. And finally another side note, Laurence Maroney is finally going to get 30+ touches a game, and after last season I am salivating just thinking about it.

Prediction: 14-2

New York Jets:

The question is this for the Jets in 2007. When will Chad Pennington suffer his season ending injury? Without Pennington I don't see the Jets going very far with Kellen Clemens at the helm. Who is Clemens you ask? Your guess is as good as mine.

Let's not completely overlook the Jets. They had a great year in 2006. They have a very formidable defense with stars like Jonathon Vilma, Shaun Ellis, and Dewayne Robertson. Their receivers are quick, and possess great hands. They can really make things happen after the catch the ball. Laverneus Coles was back to his old tricks last season, and Jericho Cotchery burst onto the scene, showing all that he is worthy of a starting job on most NFL teams. Running Back is another big question mark for the Jets, as Curtis Martin has announced his retirement. Will Thomas Jones coming over from the Bears, be able to have the kind of season he had in 2006? The team ranked 20th in Rushing Offense last year, as their offensive line was not stellar, so I personally wouldn't count on a Pro Bowl year from Jones. One things for sure you can't fall asleep on the Jets, they may not "Wow" you every time they take the field but Eric Mangini did a lot in his first season, and I expect another playoff appearance from them in 2007.

Prediction: 10-6

Miami Dolphins:

What is this team's obsession with bringing in aging, injury prone, washed up Quarterbacks? The Daunte Culpepper incident of 2006 was apparently just the beginning. Anytime you have to turn to Joey Harrington to "turn the season around" you really cant like your chances. The Dolphins were a miserable team to watch last year, and I don't see it getting much better for the Fish this season. They brought in Trent Green from the Chiefs, who really made a name for himself last year. But after his injury he just didn't look the same. It could be argued that Green was the reason the Chiefs didn't advance in the Divisional round against the Colts, and that they should have stuck with replacement Damon Huard. Another big question that could be asked to the Dolphins scouts and management is "WHY on Earth did you draft Ted Ginn, Jr. with the 10th overall pick????" I don't think that made any sense to very many people, as he won't be starting and whats more funny is, he still hasn't signed or reported to camp! Well done Wayne Huizenga! Look for another monotonous season for the Fins.

Prediction: 7-9 (being generous)

Buffalo Bills:

I can't wait to see what kind of campaign JP Losssssman can put together this year. I wonder if he can set the single season interception record, only time will tell. The one bright spot however is that at this point it looks like they are going to let rookie Marshawn Lynch carry most of the load at tailback which could really provide a spark. But in order to run the ball effectively they need to throw the ball effectively. And when JP isn't getting picked off who is he going to throw the ball too. Peerless price is nothing without Eric Moulds. We saw that when he was traded to Atlanta and again after returning to the Bills last season. And lets be honest, Lee Evans is no Eric Moulds. I don't really know what else to say about this team. They are a walking advertisement for mediocrity. Look for a big season out of Paul Posluszny however; this former Nittany Lion can really get after it. I saw him live twice in college and he comes as advertised. He is fearless, and a leader, but much too young I think to solidify an aging defense that won't have much to play for except pride by Week 5.

Prediction: 5-11

Chris King is a graduate of Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts, and an avid New England sports fan.

The NFL's regular season is over, but the fantasy football season continues. Hopefully your fantasy football team was successful this season, but if not, one more chance for redemption awaits you. And even if you tasted success, and won your league, the playoffs allow you one more opportunity for fantasy football glory. And to help you achieve that exaltation, here are our player rankings.

Player 1
1) Peyton Manning: Despite playing less than a full game in each of his final two contests, Manning was second in the NFL in completions, completion percentage, passing yards and passing touchdowns (tied with Brett Favre). All that and his team was working on an undefeated season before essentially forfeiting their final two games.

2) Drew Brees: Brees set the NFL record for single-season completion percentage and led the NFL with 34 touchdown passes despite sitting out Week 17. If you believe the Saints' late-season struggles were just a blip on the radar, Brees is an excellent option.

3) Philip Rivers: Rivers never seems to get mentioned when the top quarterbacks in the league are mentioned, but fantasy football enthusiasts know plenty about him. His 104.4 quarterback rating for the season was third in the league, and he was in the top-10 in both passing yards and touchdown throws.

4) Tony Romo: Romo had a great season, coming in third in the NFL in passing yards, and he happens to be playing his best football right now. Dallas is the No. 3 seed in the NFC, and many pundits like them to make a run at the Super Bowl.

5) Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers was fourth in passing yards, passing scores and quarterback rating for this season, so there's no doubt he is one of the best in the game. Green Bay is the fifth seed as well, which means it's unlikely they'd be playing any home games. He's the ultimate boom-or-bust candidate in this group.

6) Brett Favre: Favre had a remarkable year in every way, and he ended the regular season with a flourish. You have to wonder, however, if the Vikings will gear up the running game more in the playoffs than they did towards the end of the regular season.

Player 2
1) Kurt Warner: We all saw what Warner could do last season if he got hot in the playoffs, and despite the Cards getting waxed by the Packers last week, it didn't seem like they gave their full effort, did it?

2) Donovan McNabb: McNabb was worse than his pedestrian numbers (20-of-36, no touchdowns, no interceptions) indicated last week against the Cowboys, as he missed a number of open receivers. That and the fact that Philly is the No. 6 seed in the NFC will lead some to be pessimistic about him for a postseason fantasy football run, but remember that Philly had won six in a row, and McNabb has led his team on a number of deep playoff runs.

3) Tom Brady: While we certainly believe the Patriots can make an extended playoff run, Brady is dealing with a plethora of problems. First and foremost are his busted bones - he reportedly has three cracked ribs and a broken index finger on his right (throwing) hand. Not to mention the fact that Brady has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in three of his last four games, and his leading pass-catcher, Wes Welker, tore up his knee and will miss the playoffs.

4) Joe Flacco: If you're looking for a sleeper candidate, Flacco may be your man. He doesn't put up huge numbers, but the Ravens have the running game and defense necessary to allow them to make an extended push in the playoffs, with Flacco doing enough to give you decent fantasy points along the way.

5) Carson Palmer: Really, Palmer and Mark Sanchez should be 6A and 6B, as neither is much of an option. Palmer was horrendous against the Jets last week, completing one of his 11 throws, for zero yards. New York is No. 1 in the NFL against the pass, but even if Cincy does beat them, Palmer won't give you much.

6) Mark Sanchez: Sanchez is the poorest passer among quarterbacks whose teams made it to the playoffs, and he should be treated as such here. Even a Super Bowl run for him may not produce equal numbers equal to two games from other quarterbacks in the playoffs.

Player 3
1) Adrian Peterson: Peterson led the NFL in rushing scores, and despite the fact he didn't have a 100-yard rushing game in the playoffs, his fantasy football value is beyond doubt, and there's reason to think that if the Vikings advance to the Super Bowl, he'll have a lot to do with it.

2) Ray Rice: Rice has huge value in this scoring format due to his pass-catching acumen, and if you believe that the Ravens can win at least one game, he may be worth choosing.

3) Joseph Addai: Addai doesn't rack up huge yards, but he was tied for ninth in the league with 10 rushing scores, catches the ball quite a bit, and also is on a team many think is the favorite to win the Super Bowl.

4) Thomas Jones: Jones has a tough go of it in the first round, against the Bengals' seventh-ranked run defense, and though he ran for two scores against them last week, he gained just 78 yards on 27 carries.

5) Ryan Grant: Grant is an excellent runner, and the Packers blew away the Cardinals last week, but his lack of receptions really hurts his value.

6) Cedric Benson: Benson will have to be most of the offense if Cincinnati is to advance in the postseason, but the Jets are a tough defense and there is no frame of reference for how he'll do against them because he sat out last week in their contest.

Player 4
1) LaDainian Tomlinson: Tomlinson has the advantage of being the lead back on a team that very well could wind up in the Super Bowl. Still, he had just one game with at least 75 rushing yards this season and two games with more than two receptions.

2) Pierre Thomas: Thomas had a bruised rib which was part of the reason he didn't suit up last week, but it's not a serious injury. He's a do-it-all back whose only question mark is how many carries he'll get.

3) Marion Barber: Barber had a solid season, though he carried the ball 20 times just once, and not more than 17 in any of his last six games. On a positive note, he did manage 91 yards last week against the Eagles.

4) Reggie Bush: Bush is more of a slot receiver than a running back, but the Saints clearly have the ability to make the Super Bowl, and he could catch enough passes to make him a worthwhile option.

5) Beanie Wells: Wells is now the lead back on a Cardinals team that we all know is dangerous considering what they did last season, and that was without a running game that Wells now provides them.

6) Brian Westbrook: Westbrook is a real wild card, and though we're not high on him due to what could be limited usage, if the Eagles wind up making a solid postseason run, Westbrook could be a big part of that, especially catching the ball.

Player 5
1) Felix Jones: Jones' explosiveness is what makes him an attractive option in this group. He averaged 5.9 yards per carry this season, tying Jamaal Charles for the highest average of any back with at least 100 carries. He also catches a decent amount of passes and received at least 10 carries in each of his last four games.

2) Darren Sproles: Speaking of explosive, Sproles fits right into that category, and he's also a very good receiver out of the backfield, but he doesn't receive the amount of carries Jones gets.

3) Chester Taylor: Taylor is a solid player who totes the rock between 5-10 times per game with 2-4 catches per. He could have good value if you think the Vikings are Super Bowl-bound.

4) Willis McGahee: We all saw what McGahee could do in Baltimore's last game of the season, and it may surprise you to know that he tied for fifth in the NFL with 12 touchdown runs.

5) Donald Brown: If the Colts weren't as good as they were, Brown would be last on this list, but he can pick up points based simply on the fact he may play more games. But he's clearly second fiddle to Joseph Addai, and has battled injuries all year.

6) Tim Hightower: Hightower received double-digit carries just once in his final five games, and he isn't explosive with the ball in his hands. What he does bring is potential fantasy points due to his ability to catch the ball.

Player 6
1) Dallas Clark: Clark was fifth in the NFL in receptions this season, tying teammate Reggie Wayne with 100 passes caught. He also tied Wayne for seventh in the league in touchdown grabs with 10, and is the most reliable pass-catching tight end in football.

2) Reggie Wayne: Wayne's numbers nearly mirrored Clark's in every way but receiving yards, where he picked up 158 more. Yet he's behind Clark due to his slow end to the year. He had fewer than 50 receiving yards in five of his final six games.

3) Sidney Rice: Rice broke out this season to place fourth in the NFL in receiving yards with 1,312 on 83 receptions for a robust average of 15.8 yards per catch. But with receptions so valuable in this fantasy football scoring format, he ranks behind both Indy players.

4) Antonio Gates: Gates is one of the best pass-catching tight end in the game, and arguably number one. He ended the season on a great note, catching a touchdown in each of his final four contests.

5) Vincent Jackson: Jackson started hot, slowed down, then got hot again, racking up 100 yards in two of his final three games. His inconsistency is a concern, especially with so few games in the postseason to make his mark.

6) Marques Colston: There's nothing wrong with selecting Colston, it's just that the Saints have so many weapons, you never can tell who will be the player Drew Brees goes to in any specific game.

Player 7
1) Randy Moss: Moss tied for the league lead in touchdown catches with 13, and without Wes Welker, the onus to do big things in the New England passing game falls squarely on him.

2) Miles Austin: No receiver is currently playing better than Austin right now, who is physically dominating his opponents. He gained 90 or more receiving yards in five of his last six games, and wound up third in the league in that statistic.

3) Larry Fitzgerald: One of the players tied with Moss for the most touchdown catches in the NFL was Fitzgerald, though all things considered, he had a bit of a disappointing season, especially where receiving yards are concerned - he ranked 17th in the NFL with 1,092.

4) DeSean Jackson: Jackson is capable of pretty much anything, but he ended the season with two games of fewer than 50 receiving yards, and plays a Cowboys team that held him in check in Week 17.

5) Greg Jennings: Jennings' four touchdowns on the season was a huge disappointment to fantasy football owners across the land, though he still gained over 1,100 yards. But it's hard to ignore his lack of trips to the end zone and the fact that he caught fewer than 70 passes on the year.

6) Chad Ochocinco: Ochocinco will have to go up against Darrelle Revis in the Bengals' opening playoff game, and Revis, combined with a knee bruise, held Ochocinco to zero catches and zero yards in Week 17.

Player 8
1) Jason Witten: Witten's 94 catches this season were ninth in the NFL, though he only scored twice - once in Week 2, and again in Week 17 - against the very same Eagles team he'll be facing this week.

2) Brent Celek: Celek has become a trusted option for Donovan McNabb, and has proven that all season, but especially in the final weeks. He's the only one that didn't seem to have the dropsies in Week 17 against the Cowboys, a game in which he had seven receptions for 97 yards.

3) Percy Harvin: Harvin is a home run hitter who can find the end zone any time he touches the ball. He'll also run the ball at least once per game, giving him further value. By no means is he a bad option, it's just that he may not get as many looks as some other players in this group. Unless you think the Vikings are headed to the Super Bowl; then, by all means, insert him in your lineup.

4) Anquan Boldin: Boldin is suffering from injuries to both his knee and ankle, and may not suit up for Arizona's initial playoff game, so check his status before employing him in your fantasy football lineup.

5) Donald Driver: Driver had six receptions for 65 yards in Week 17 against Arizona, but he hasn't had a big game since Thanksgiving, and ended the season with fewer than 80 receiving yards in nine of his last 10 games

6) Derrick Mason: Mason is as reliable as they come, but Baltimore will win by running the ball, and their prospects for going deep into the playoffs seem remote.

Player 9
1) Julian Edelman: Edelman takes over the Wes Welker role in the New England offense, and that means big things in this scoring format. For example, in Week 17 he was targeted a whopping 15 times and came up with 10 catches for 103 yards.

2) Jermichael Finley: Finley is on his way to becoming one of the league's elite tight ends, and he finished the season with a bang, gaining 80 receiving yards or scoring a touchdown (or both) in each of his final five games.

3) Pierre Garcon: Garcon battled a hand injury late in the year that stunted what was seemingly excellent growth throughout the season. He was really playing well in the middle of the year before this injury caught up to him, and he can be effective on a team that has Super Bowl aspirations.

4) Robert Meachem: Meachem was extremely hot in the middle of the year, catching a touchdown in five straight games from Weeks 9-13. He's only scored once since then, however, and gained at least 70 yards just once in his final seven contests.

5) Jeremy Maclin: Maclin, Philly's first-round pick this year, has had a very good rookie season, but he's behind both Brent Celek and DeSean Jackson on the depth chart, and had fewer than 50 yards in both of his meetings with Dallas this season, the team the Eagles will face in the first round of the playoffs.

6) Jerricho Cotchery: The Jets pound the rock on the ground to win their games, and despite the fact that Cotchery and Mark Sanchez clearly have a solid chemistry, he's really not worth using.

Player 10
1) Devery Henderson: It's a gamble placing Henderson here, but one that could really pay off. He gained 804 yards this season on 51 receptions, and is always a threat to make one or two huge plays per game.

2) Bernard Berrian: Berrian had a highly disappointing season for his fantasy football owners, but he's on a Vikings team that isn't afraid to use all of their options, and one that could make a significant postseason run.

3) Jeremy Shockey: Shockey has been battling an injury, and hasn't caught a pass since Week 14. Still, it's possible he comes up with a solid postseason effort, because everyone on the Saints is capable of doing so considering how much they spread the ball around.

4) Braylon Edwards: Edwards gained less than 50 receiving yards in six of his final seven games, but he has the capability to deliver. Still, it's difficult to believe in him, especially considering the Jets are the lowest seed in the AFC, and win by running the ball and defense.

5) Roy Williams: If Williams gets the opportunity, he's shown he can make some things happen, but whether he does or not is anyone's guess. He's extremely frustrating to fantasy football owners, and can't be trusted, even if his talent says he can.

6) Steve Breaston: Breaston has ceded catches and yards to Early Doucet, so unless it's found out that Anquan Boldin's injury is a serious one, you should leave him be.

Player 11
1) Austin Collie: With Pierre Garcon out, Collie flourished, catching a touchdown in three consecutive games from Weeks 13-15. He also had nearly 100 yards in Week 16 and is a promising threat to, at the minimum, give you fantasy points with receptions, if not huge yards.

2) Malcolm Floyd: Floyd actually picked up 776 receiving yards on the season, which was more than players like Pierre Garcon, Jeremy Maclin and Robert Meachem. The problem was he did it on just 45 catches, which hurts in this scoring format, and he found the end zone only one time.

3) Patrick Crayton: Crayton is option three or four on the Dallas depth chart, depending on if Roy Williams actually shows up. But he had a big game against the Eagles in Week 17, and shouldn't be completely discounted because of his low spot on the pecking order.

4) James Jones: Jones did more than you might think by the Packers this season. He caught just 32 passes, but gained 440 yards, and more importantly, caught five touchdowns, which was one more than teammate Greg Jennings.

5) Todd Heap: Heap caught two touchdowns in each of his game during Week 15 and 16, and while that meant gold if you had the cajones to use him during your fantasy football playoffs, it was a rare feat for him, and he's just as likely to pick up 30 yards on two catches.

6) Dustin Keller: Keller is a middling option who didn't catch more than three passes or gain even 35 yards in any of his final five games.

Player 12
1) Nate Kaeding: Kaeding tied David Akers for the league lead in field goals, and was one of just two players who made 25 or more kicks to make at least 90 percent of his tries. He's the best kicker on a team with realistic Super Bowl expectations.

2) Ryan Longwell: Longwell has the benefit of kicking indoors until/if he reaches the Super Bowl, which is a nice bonus. He also plays on a high-scoring team and led the NFL in extra points made.

3) Garrett Hartley: Hartley only played five games this season, and though he was 9-for-11 in field goals, he only attempted one kick from 40 yards and beyond, and missed that kick. Still, he's on a team with a potent offense, and could be kicking in three games, which means plenty of points.

4) David Akers: As mentioned, Akers was tied for the league lead in field goals made. But he's on the sixth-seeded team in the NFC, and it may be difficult for the Eagles to advance deep into the postseason. Still, they very well could win a game or two, possibly making Akers a worthwhile selection.

5) Stephen Gostkowski: Gostkowski is on a team that can put up a lot of points, and has at least one home game, but his problem is long-distance kicking - he made only seven of his 11 kicks from 40 yards or beyond.

6) Jay Feely: Feely wasn't always accurate, making just over 83 percent of his field goal tries, but he was tied for third in the league in kicks made. Still, there are other options in this group that are better simply because they are on better teams.

7) Mason Crosby: Crosby made only 75 percent of his kicks this season, which is the worst percentage in this group. And he was only 6-of-13 from 40 yards or beyond.

8) Shaun Suisham: Suisham is a solid kicker, but he and Hartley are the only ones in this group not to have made a 50 yarder, and Suisham played nine more games than Hartley.

Player 13
1) Colts: The defensive group is the most subjective, and essentially boils down to which team you believe will go the furthest, thereby offering you the most opportunity to rack up points. For that reason, we've simply ranked the teams by their playoff seed.

2) Chargers:

3) Patriots:

4) Bengals:

5) Jets:

6) Ravens:

Player 14
1) Saints: The defensive group is the most subjective, and essentially boils down to which team you believe will go the furthest, thereby offering you the most opportunity to rack up points. For that reason, we've simply ranked the teams by their playoff seed.

2) Vikings:

3) Cowboys:

4) Cardinals:

5) Packers:

6) Eagles:

The following rankings are based on a fantasy football player's year to end season value. If a draft or auction were to occur today this is the rank and value we place on the players based on their past performance and predicted future production. The basis for the valuations is a 10 team league starting 1 QB 2 RB 2 WR 1 TE 1 K 1 Defense with a 50% yardage and 50% TD scoring system with no points awarded for receptions. The rankings are updated every Tuesday morning, allowing players to value their teams, analyze player values for trades and plan future moves to get the most return out of your Fantasy Football players.

1 Chris Johnson Titans, RB
The love child of Jar Jar Binks and Whoopi Goldberg keeps racking up points. Great playoff schedule. $43

2 Adrian Peterson
Vikings, RB He has racked up 1519 total yards and 14 tds (tied for rushing TD lead) and apparently can grow lizard skin at will. $38

3 Maurice Jones-Drew
Jaguars, RB What Would Jones Drew? Should bring home some fantasy hardware for teams. $37

4 Ray Rice Ravens, RB
He's a top 5 guy and we get the feeling he's only scratching the surface of his potential....if only he was featured more in their offense. $35

5 Cedric Benson Bengals, RB
With his hips healthy again he should be dancing back to early season form. Almost hung a hundo on the stout Vikes run D. $28

6 Ricky Williams Miami, RB
Ever since Crockett got hurt, Tubs has taken over. Look for Miami Vice solo act Ricky "Tubs" Williams to deliver the goods championship week, against the Texans. $28

7 Steven Jackson Rams, RB

4 TD's on the year is hard to forgive. But, with 2 good playoff matchups he could redeem himself. $25

8 Larry Fitzgerald Cardinals, WR
If old man Warner can keep it together his playoff matchups look incredible..... @DET then home vs STL. Pending results of Monday Night Injury. $25

9 Ryan Grant Packers, RB
Tough 1st playoff game vs PIT. He and Packers are surging though, we are believers. $24

10 DeAngelo Williams Panthers, RB
After last years fantasy playoff run, you gotta have him in your line up. $23

11 Andre Johnson Texans,WR
He and Schaub are clicking... Rams and Dolphins make for a good playoff schedule. $22

12 Thomas Jones Jets, RB
If you seek flashy highlight reel TD replays, go elsewhere, but if you like reliable production, you've come to the right place. $21

13 Aaron Rodgers Packers,QB
Now that he is getting the playground approved 5 banana count from his O-line, he is looking better than ever. Topping the charts in most scoring formats. $21

14 Drew Brees Saints, QB
If you're a Brees owner your rooting for one of two options; Saints try to go undefeated or the start losing.... either scenario keeps him on the field. $20

15 Anquan Boldin Cardinals,WR
This won't be the last time you hear this at this site, the Cardinals fantasy playoff schedule is as good as it gets. $20

16 Randy Moss Patriots, WR
Giving body language like he's starting to check out mentally for the season, on the other hand a strong finish would not surprise us. Tough read. $19

17 Rashard Mendenhall Steelers, RB
Despite killing owners with his recent performance against CLE, he remains a strong option going forward. $19

18 DeSean Jackson Eagles, WR
Seems to be clear of the concussion. He doesn't get a ton of receptions, but 18.9 yds/catch is tops in the league (of relevant WR's)....and he returns the occasional punt for 6 as well. $19

19 Frank Gore 49ers, RB
What happened to running 3 times and then punting? Obviously, the 49ers are better off with their new pass first offense, but that is not sitting well with Gore owners. $17

20 Jamaal Charles Chiefs, RB
He's been red hot since taking over the starting role. Chiefs are not a high powered an offense, but he is getting it done on his end. $17

21 Brandon Marshall Broncos, WR
Just set the single game NFL reception record (21) and looks to be hitting his stride, rewarding owners who stuck with him. $17

22 Joesph Addai Colts, RB
Quietly having a really nice season. He has pressed the pause button on the Donald Brown era for now. $17

23 LaDainian Tomlinson Chargers, RB
He's been surprisingly consistent since coming back from injury early in the year. $16

24 Wes Welker Patriots, WR
The league leader in Receptions (105) and second in yardage (1158) gives you week in week out consistent production, any TD's are just icing on the cake. $16

25 Vincent Jackson Chargers, WR
Is to San Diego WR's what MadMen is to AMC.....both have made something completely irrelevant worth watching now. $16

26 Kurt Warner Cardinals, QB
The old man has two great matchups to bring home fantasy championships; @DET then home vs STL. $15

27 Miles Austin Cowboys,WR
Blind Melon, The Proclaimers, Chumbawumba and Hanson want to know his secret for multiple hit success. $14

28 Sidney Rice Vikings, WR
Having the prototypical wide receiver 3rd year breakout season. Expecting even bigger things next year. $14

29 Chad Ochocinco Bengals,WR
Typical streaky season for Chad OchoTweets. Faces 10th (SD) and 24th (KC) ranked pass defenses weeks 15 & 16. $14

30 Calvin Johnson Lions, WR
Looking more like a 'second tier' transforming machine to robot action figure of the 80's......Gobot in disguise! $13

31 Pierre Thomas Saints, RB
He plays Suzanne Summers in the Saints aggravating Three's Company sitcom. He is the hottest by far, yet Mike Bell in the role of the butch brunette gets far too much screen time $12

32 Matt Schaub Texans, QB
He has been a house of fire all season. Faces STL (19th) and MIA (22nd) next two weeks. $12

33 Phillip Rivers Chargers, QB
The main reason the Chargers have won 8 straight. Model of consistency; never scored more than 23 or less than 9. $11

34 Tom Brady Patriots, QB
Everyone in the AFC is rooting for a colicky Brady baby to hamper his production. $11

35 Brandon Jacobs Giants, RB
Like B Jacobs....as much as everyone likes the Cool Asian guy with the twirling kicks in Karate Kid, at the All Valley Tourney, maybe it's just time to admit he's not quite as good as we'd like him to be. $11

36 Steve Smith Giants, WR
Nothing too flashy here, just a consistent 75 yds/game and a TD mixed in every few. $10

37 Peyton Manning Colts, QB
Will you get more than 2 quarters of production out of him? If he's playing for the perfect season, we think so. $10

38 Mike Sims-Walker Jaguars, WR
Having a solid year for the Jaguar-Leopards. As long as he's healthy he could finish very strong. $9

39 Vernon Davis 49ers, TE
A monster who probably deserves to be higher. He'll be spending his off-season lobbying for equal treatment of Tight Ends. $9

40 Kevin Smith Lions, RB
Fairly consistent for such a bad offense. Hope for 8 points, anything more is gravy. $8

41 Roddy White Falcons, WR
247 yds and 2 scores in the last 4 games, not setting the world ablaze, but a strong #2 WR. $8

42 Michael Turner Falcons, RB
The Burner......if last year he was fueled by petroleum products......this year he's apparently switched to "easy bake oven" technology. $8

43 Antonio Gates Chargers, TE
Slow start, but coming on strong. He's delivered fantasy championships before, in Gates we trust. $8

44 Reggie Wayne Colts, WR
Hasn't gone over 50 yds in the last three weeks, cutting his owners deep......I'm talking like BJ Penn cutting Diego Sanchez's forehead with a head kick deep. $7

45 Marion Barber Cowboys, RB
716 yds and 4 TD's on the year....he's on the list based on potential, not for past performance. $7

46 Marques Colston Saints, WR
Marques, along with posse; Shonne, Toni, Geoff, and Alicks frequent the island of misfit name spellers. $7

47 Quinton Ganther Redskins, RB
Shined in his first start against the Raiders, now let's see how he does vs an NFL team. $7

48 Fred Jackson Bills, RB
Every other week streak means, bench next week, cash in on championship game pending your options. $7

49 Beanie Wells Cardinals, RB
Received the bulk of the carries in the Monday night game vs SF. If he continues to get the lion's share of the work, he has plenty of upside with the aforementioned AZ playoff schedule. $7

50 Greg Jennings Packers, WR
His reversal of fortune this season rivals only that of an amateur competitive eater; one minute focused and poised for a Coney Island Championship, the next he's got semi-digested wet hot dogs & buns all over his shoes. $7

http://www.FantasyFortunes.com A fantasy football site which does a weekly humor based top 50 ranking of year to end values for players in the nfl.

With 2:49 left in Super Bowl XLII it seemed to be yet another perfectly scripted comeback victory for the New England Patriots as Tom Brady connected with Randy Moss for a 7-yard TD completion. However, the Giants went off script as Eli Manning drove the Giants 83 yards for the game winning touchdown.

Super Bowl XLII MVP Eli Manning ended the 12 play 83 yard winning drive when he found Plaxico Burress (17) in the corner of the end zone with 35 seconds to play.

The catch of the drive and the game belonged to the Giant's David Tyree (85) a few plays earlier.
With 59 seconds left, Eli Manning amazingly escaped what appeared to be a definite sack and launched the ball down the field. Tyree lept into the air cathcing the ball high above his head thus winning the jump ball.

The Giants were at New England's 24 yard line and on the verge of doing what seemed impossible only a few minutes before.

Tyree's amazing leap was then followed by New York Giants rookie Steve Smith's (12) catch. The rookie showed the experience of a veteran as he was smart enough to find the first down marker and to get out of bounds and stop the play clock at 39 seconds. On the following play came the TD pass. It was only Plaxico Burress' second catch of the game but probably the biggest catch of his NFL career.

The Plays Belonged to the Giants Offense. But the Day and the Game Belonged to the Giants Defense

Right from the start it was the Giants defense that set the tone of the game. The Giants defense was in Brady's grill the entire night. The pressure defense of the Giants that bought home the
Lombardi trophy and the Super Bowl Championship. New England QB Tom Brady was sacked 4 times, hit 16 times and pressured 23 times.

At the end the Giants defense left Tom Brady and the New England Patriots with 10 seconds and a 4th down with 20 yards to go for the first down. Jay Alford's (93) sack for a 10 yard loss with 19 seconds to play left the Patriots hoping for a miracle. And that miracle never came as Corey Webster (23) broke up the long bomb to Randy Moss. The New England Patriots turned the ball over on posession to the New York Giants with 1 second left on the clock. With one snap and a kneee the Giants were Super Bowl XLII Champions.

Super Bowl XLII: First Quarter

The Giants won the toin coss and elected to receive. Eli Manning and the rest of the Giants
offense started the game on a crisp note putting together a time consuming 16 play drive. However, the Giants had to settle for a 32 yard Field Goal by Lawrence Tynes (9). The drive had started on the Giants own 23 Yard Line. The drive netted 63 yards and 4 first downs. The time of possession was 9 minutes and 59 seconds.

Giants 3 Patriots 0

With 5:01 left in the first quarter, New England Patriots Running Back Laurence Maroney (39) returned the Giants kickoff 43 yards to New England's 44 yard line. QB Tom Brady threw an incompletion on the first play of the drive. But Laurence Maroney came back with two rushes for 9 and 5 yards.

Brady's 2nd pass was incomplete as well. The Brady strung two completions together (Stallworth 7 yards/ Welker 8 yards) and the Patriots were on the Giants 35 yard line. The Patriots earned another 1st down as the drove the ball to the Giant's 17 yard line. Uncharacteristically, Tom Brady
had two incompletions in a row. With 3rd and 10 on the 17, it looked like the Giants had dodged the bullet. However, Giants Linebacker Antonio Pierce was penalized for defensive pass interference in the end zone.

The ball was spotted at the one yard line. Laurence Maroney was stopped for no gain on first down as the first quarter came to an end.

The two total possessions in the first quarter set a Super Bowl record for least posssessions in a Super Bowl quarter.

Super Bowl XLII: Second Quarter

On the first play of the second quarter, Maroney went off the right guard and scored on 1 yard run.
Gostkowski converted the PAT. New England's touchdown drive went 12 plays for 56 yards. Time of possession
was 5 minutes 4 seconds.

Gostkowski ensuing kick-off went out of bounds and the Giants were awarded the ball on the 40 yard line.
On 3rd and 7, Manning passed deep left to Amani Toomer (81) for 38 yards. Toomer's catch of Manning's
lob was amazing as he managed to keep both feet inbounds. Barndon Jacob's ability to pick up the blitz
and block was the key to the play. It seemed as if the Giants were ready for their second score.

However, on 3rd and 5 yards to go, Eli Manning's short pass to the left was
intercepted by Ellis Hobbs at the 10. The bullet pass was intended for Steve Smith.
The ball was catchable but went through Smith's hands. Hobbs returned the ball 23 yards.

The first 2 plays of the drive were to Maroney (reception 8 yards; rush 1 yard). With 3rd and 1
on their own 42, it looked like the Patriots were ready to put some serious space between themselves
and the Giants. But then Butler and Strahan combined to tackle Maroney for 2 yard loss. The Patriots
were forced to punt. At this point it was only the third 3-downs-and-out for the Patriots in the
entire playoffs.

The Giants did not do much on their next posession as they went 3-and-out as well. The Giants defense
came back on to the field and held the Patriots again on 3 downs. The Giants offense faired better on their next
posession, but were forced to punt the ball back.

With 1:47 left in the half, the Patriots had the ball on their own 11 yard line. Tom Brady and the Patriots
were putting together an impressive drive as they drove the ball to the Giants 44 Yard line. However,
with 22 seconds in the half and 1st an 10, pressure from Justin Tuck caused Brady to fumble the ball
which was recovered Osi Umenyiora.

The Patriots started with the ball at their own 21 yard line. It seemed like the Giants
had the ball back after New England's punt. However, New England Patriot's Coach Bill Belichick
challenged the play. Upon review, the Ginats were penalized 5 yards for too many players on the field.
The Giants Chase Blackburn (57) could not get off the field in time. The penalty gave the Patriots a first
down at the Giant 39 yard line.

The Giants defense kept it together and forced the New England Patriots with a 4th and 13 on the Giants
31. Instead of attempting a field goal (or punting), Coach Belichick decided to go for it. On the play,
Brady was pressured into an incompletion.

For the Giants, this defensive stand despite the penalty and the ensuing offensive drive seemed to be the turning
moment of the game.

The Giants started their drive at their own 20 yard line. On the first play of the drive Eli Manning
connected Kevin Boss for a 45 yard gain to the New England 35. A couple of runs by Bradshaw and a 17 yard
pass play to Steve Smith had the Giants with a 1st and 10 on the New England 12. Ahmad Bradshaw's (44)
stong run for 7 yards gave the Giants a 2nd and 3 on the Patriots 5 yard line.

On the ensuing play, Eli Manning connected with WR David Tyree (85) over the middle for a touchdown.

Tyne's PAT gave the Giants a 10 to 7 lead with 11 minutes and 10 seconds remaining in Super Bowl XLII.

The Giants 80 Yard touchdown drive took 6 plays while consuming 3 minutes and 47 seconds.

A few more change of possesions between the Giants and the Patriots.

With 7:54 left, New England started with the ball at their own 20. This time the Patriots offense was in synch
and the Giants defense could not stop Tom Brady, Randy Moss and Wes Welker (83). The Patriots marched
80 yards down the field on 12 plays while taking a valuable 5 minutes and 12 seconds off the clock.

The dirve was capped by a Tom Brady to Randy Moss connection for 6 yards to the right. It was one of the few times
that the Giants secondary was in single coverage against Moss. On the drive Wes Welker set the Super Bowl record for most
receptions in the Super Bowl (11 recpetions in a single Super Bowl game).

With 2:42 remaining it looked as if the Patriots 19 - 0 destiny was well in hand. But their destiny
was disrupted.

Starting at their own 17, the Giants went into their no-huddle offense. The no-huddle had suited
Giants QB Eli Manning well throughout the year. Amani Toomer's catch for 11 yards was good for a first down
at the 28. On 3rd and 10, Amani Toomer caught another pass for 9 yards falling short of a first down.
It was 4th and one with 1:34 left to play and the Giants had no choice but to go for it.

Brandon Jacobs banged up the middle and stretched out his right arm and the ball for 2 yards
and the 1st down.

Tyree's amazing leap was then followed by New York Giants rookie Steve Smith's (12) catch. The rookie showed
the experience of a veteran as he was smart enough to find the first down marker and to get
out of bounds and stop the play clock at 39 seconds. On the following play came the TD pass. It was
only Plaxico Burress' second catch of the game but probably the biggest catch of his NFL career.

By Dean Mikelis of iHaveNet.com & iHaveSports.com

News Article Provided by iHaveNet.com & iHaveSports.com (http://www.ihavenet.com and http://www.ihavesports.com) Online Sports News Sections

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#22 - New England Patriots - Brandon Graham - Michigan

Plain and simple, the Patriots need more LBs. The team tied for 23rd in the league with 31 sacks last year. Adalius Thomas was a free agent bust, and the old LBs Bruschi, Vrabel, and Junior Seau are done. Jerod Mayo can be a great LB as long as he has a bounce back year from 2010. The team needs to replace Adalius Thomas with Brandon Graham as soon as possible. The offense is there even though Wes Welker is hurt. Julian Edelman can replace a lot of what Welker did, and there's a serious question on if Welker will be the same player in the future. The team needs to draft a WR to replace Randy Moss, but Moss seems like the type of player who would explode if the team drafted a deep threat WR like Demaryius Thomas. This will eventually hurt the team because they need to start drafting a #1 or #2 young receiver.

The team needs to improve to help keep up with the NY Jets. The Patriots did win the division last year, but the Jets are doing everything they can to improve. It seems inevitable that the Jets overtake the Patriots at some point in the next 3 years, and it could happen as soon as next year. For free agents, the team resigned Vince Wilfork, who was rated the second best free agent behind Julius Peppers. Their only big moves were resigning their own players like Tully Banta-Cain and Leigh Bodden.

The team can win the division next year, but more players need to step up if New England wants to be considered a serious Super Bowl contender again.

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The addition of WR Randy Moss by the New England Patriots was without a doubt the biggest offseason transaction in the league. With the Patriots being underminned by a struggling passing game in 2006, the New England front office made it a point to go out into the free agent market and address this need. The signings of WR's Wes Welker, Donte' Stallworth, and Kelly Washington surely brought a smile to the face of QB Tom Brady. The trade for Randy Moss from Oakland probably caused Brady to jum up and down on couches(a la Tom Cruise). All in all, the New England Patriots now have an incredible amount of weapons at their disposal for the passing game and has made the team the favorite to be Super Bowl champions. For their QB, 2007 could turn out to be a huge year for Tom Brady.

As far as fantasy is concerned, Brady has always been a solid tier 2 passer who owners could depend on week in and week out to put up solid all around numbers. The fact that he has made every start since replacing Drew Bledsoe four seasons ago gives Brady even more value due to the fact you never have to worry about injuries at a very injury-prone position. Tell that to Donovan McNabb owners how valuable that is. Now with all of the additions to the passing game, look for Brady to have a monster season in the TD and yardage department. Usually hovering between the 24-28 TD mark, expect Tom to stand more than a good chance of having his first 30 TD season. A 4,000 yard passing total is a given.

So when drafting a quarterback in your 2007 draft, it is suggested here that you let other owners grab Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer, and Drew Brees, while you wait until the third round to draft Brady. He may not be the most flashiest QB in the league, but Brady will put up numbers to rival anyone throwing a football in the 2007 campaign.

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Cofounder of http://www.yourwinningpicks.com in our tenth year of supplying sports handicapping and fantasy sports information.

The New England Patriots have been respected as one of the best teams in the league for much of the past decade. They have won three Super Bowls, they made another trip to a Super Bowl during an undefeated regular season campaign, and they have been consistently strong even when they haven't won. So what can be expected in 2010?

One of the major concerns for the club was the injury suffered late last year by star wide receiver Wes Welker. However, Welker has rehabbed his injury in amazing time, and is back to the lineup, in time to give quarterback Tom Brady another go-to option on the field.

As for Brady, he is trying to finalize a contract extension that will see him through the next three or four years of action. He obviously wants to stay with the club, but there have been rumors that he and the team are not exactly seeing eye to eye, and may end up parting ways sooner than most would have expected.

Randy Moss also has contract concerns. The dynamic wide receiver is in the last year of his deal as well, and there have been no signs that the team wants to sign him to another pricey contract. This may end up affecting his attitude and performance as the season drags on, something that the club definitely doesn't want to deal with.

Ultimately, the team has loads of talent on offense, but needs the defensive side of the ball to pick up the pace and return to their championship form. If they want to stay as one of the favorites in the conference, they will need big play on both sides of the ball, and a happy and healthy Brady, Moss and Welker on offense.

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Every year, a handful of teams vie for a shot at the playoffs as the football season nears an end. Typically, these teams will finish with anywhere between 7 and 10 wins, and while all of them are generally talented teams, only two will be able to break through.

The action usually comes down to the last week of the season, and the outcomes of certain games will determine who gets in and who doesn't. Some teams, like last year's 11-5 Patriots, suffer from tough luck and won't make it through. In other years, 8-8 has been good enough to make it happen.

This season, the two teams that were fortunate enough to get a shot at the post season were the Baltimore Ravens and the New York Jets. Let's take a quick look at the Ravens here, as I'll also provide some quick analysis regarding their chances.

First, there are the Baltimore Ravens. Having secured the #5 seed, this may be a team that no one wants to face come playoff time.

Why would this be the case if they were only 9-7? Well, for one, the team has experience. Having made the playoffs last year, Joe Flacco and the Ravens have been there, and they won a game last year as well. In fact, they came one game away from the Super Bowl before losing to the Steelers.

With one of the most potent running backs in the league in Ray Rice, defenses have a lot to fear. Willis McGahee isn't half bad either, and his 167 rush yards in week 17 may have very well been what put the team past the Raiders and into January play.

On top of this, Baltimore has some of the best defensive weapons in the game. Guys like Ed Reed and Ray Lewis are seasoned veterans who are ready to embrace the challenge.

With a round 1 matchup against the New England Patriots, most would favor the Pats to win here. Still, there are a few reasons that the Ravens may have a shot in addition to what was mentioned above.

Most notably, Wes Welker is out with injury for New England and this will hurt. Additionally, these two team met in week 3, and the Pats only won by 6 points. Can Baltimore build on their last experience and make it through this time?

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The New York Jets and New England Patriots have much to prove in their Week 2 matchup at the New Meadowlands Stadium. The Patriots have to prove they can again display the offensive firepower they showed against the Bengals. And suffice to say that the Jets need to get their offense going and show that the off-field issues swirling around the team aren't affecting their play on the field. These divisional rivals would like nothing more than to make a statement on Sunday and gain an upper hand in the competitive AFC East. Before we could even consider what the NFL predictions for this game would be let's take a closer look at both teams offense.

Patriots on Offense

The Patriots were extremely impressive on Sunday against the Bengals. New England's passing offense truly stood out as Tom Brady went 25-35 in the game with three touchdown passes and four receivers caught at least four balls. Most importantly for the Patriots, Wes Welker looked to already be on the same wavelength with Tom Terrific in his first game back from an ACL and MCL tear in his left knee.

New England has the ability to score on the vaunted New York defense. Just as Baltimore went after Kyle Wilson and Antonio Cromartie for any offensive edge, Tom Brady will do the same the Jets. New York's cornerbacks must be more disciplined than they were on Monday night and resist the urge to go for the flashy play. If New York sticks to the same defensive scheme from Monday and blitz the Patriots and Brady almost constantly, New England has a veteran offense which can pick them apart in the middle of the field. I expect the Jets to put forth a fine defensive effort and to be more disciplined then last week, but it will take more than one game for New York to plan a working defensive scheme and to get players back in regular season form. As long as New England is able to successfully run the ball they will have a solid day on offense.

Jets on Offense

The Jets offense was pathetic on Monday night, making only six first downs and passing for a measly 60 yards. Brian Scottenheimer and Rex Ryan must be willing to take more risks on offense and to be more creative. All the Jets offense seemed to consist of in their first game were screen passes and runs up the middle. If Mark Sanchez takes shots in the middle of the field and deep when appropriate and avoids constantly going to his first option New York can slice and dice the Patriots, who lack depth in their secondary and were frequently burnt by the Bengals. As long as the passing offense has some success, Ladanian Tomlinson and Shonn Greene should be able to pull off the long runs that eluded them exhibited on offense in game one, and I expect it to display plenty of growing pains.

Prediction

The Jets cannot completely shut down Tom Brady and one of the NFL's best offenses on defense, and on offense they are too much in flux to take advantage of the Patriot's deficiencies. Sorry New York fans, Mark Sanchez is not the second coming just yet. Expect a low scoring game but for Brady to eventually put it out of reach.

NFL predictions: Patriots at Jets

NE 21
NY 14

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I know, I know. I must be crazy for even asking the question. How can a guy who is on pace to not only obliterate the single season mark for TD's but also possibly go undefeated not be the MVP? Only someone who has a personal grudge against the guy could think otherwise. Someone would have to be a die-hard Ohio State Buckeye fan, or hate QB's who appear in GQ magazines, or hate any player who plays for Darth Hoodie to even entertain the notion that Tom Brady does not deserve the MVP.

Well I stand here today (well, sit here really) as someone who is none of the above three. I happen to like the Wolverines and hold no grudges for the GQ club or anyone who plays for the despicable presence that is Bill Belichick. So now that we are on the same page, allow me to explain to you why Tom Brady is not the MVP of the NFL this season so far.

Yes, Tom Brady will statistically be the best player not only this season, but quite possibly ever. Yes, he will end the season at a minimum of 14-2, with the chance of perfection absolutely in sight. But do these two things mean he HAS to be the MVP. This type of debate arises every year in baseball. Does having the most insane stats imaginable mean you are the most VALUABLE player in all of your sport? A-Rod just won the American League MVP. Was it just because he put up Mantle and Ruth-like numbers? No. It was because he single handedly propelled the Yankees into the playoffs. Take A-Rod away, and the Yankees do not make the playoffs.

So this brings me back to my point. I will say it boldly. As of this moment in the NFL season, having just about completed week 12, Brett Favre is the NFL MVP. Just to endure some more ridicule, lets look at a brief side by side statistical comparison.

Touchdowns: Brady-39, Favre-22.

Yards: Brady-3,439, Favre-3,356.

Interceptions: Brady-4(are you kidding?), Favre- 8

Passer Rating: Brady-127.9, Favre-101.5

Why, after this near embarrassing statistical comparison, and knowing that Tom Brady is quite possibly going to be the quarterback who leads his team to a perfect season, do I think that old man river Brett Favre is the MVP? Thank you for asking. I'll tell you why. Lets look at some important factors that should not be overlooked. We'll start simple. Tom Brady actually has a team around him. Brett Favre has players around him. Brady has a team, and one hell of a team on that note. He has the most gifted receiver in the NFL, after the quietest steal in NFL history in terms of trades. His 2nd receiver could be the #1 on many teams. Wes Welker, the #3, could be #1 or #2 on many teams as well. The tandem of Maroney and Morris, although nothing amazing lately, has provided a sound running game. Add this to the fact that Brady is protected by the damn Great Wall of China with his offensive line, and you have all of the pieces for success. I'm not downgrading his success. He is an amazing quarterback. But keep in mind he is playing for an amazing team. He is a product of his own talent, but also of the incredible talent around him.

Brett Favre, on the other hand, is a product of nothing more than himself. Please name for me 4 starters on the Packers offense not named Brett Favre or Donald Driver. You can recite the Patriots wide receiver trio, their tight end, running backs, etc. Brett Favre is playing nearly by himself out there. He is creating a star in a kid named Greg Jennings and until the past few weeks had the equivalent of a high school running game behind him. Despite all of this, despite the lack of talent around him, despite the lack of running game around him until the recent emergence of Ryan Grant, you have an old quarterback doing absolutely incredible things.

And now onto the second reason why Brett Favre, and NOT Tom Brady is the MVP as of right now. Take the fact that the Patriots are the best team in the NFL and add onto that the fact that their schedule hasn't exactly been, let's say, daunting. Tell me if this line of opponents sounds scary to you. Buffalo Bills(twice), New York Jets, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals. Anyone else still shaking? Didn't think so. The only real defense they have played this season was Indy, and MAYBE San Diego (although lately they can't seem to defend anybody). The Packers, on the other hand, have played these teams: Eagles, Giants, Chargers, Vikings(twice), Bears, @Denver, @Kansas City, and Carolina. I said it in a previous post of mine, but I don't believe anyone in the league has had a tougher schedule defensively than that so far. And yet Brett Favre has nearly single-handedly led his team to a 9-1 record.

Add all of these factors together, and it spells one thing; MVP. Most VALUABLE Player. Brett Favre, in terms of value to his team, is the best player in the National Football League right now. Let the hate emails and comments proceed.

My name is Justin Beegel. I am currently an MBA student at Binghamton University. Sports have always played a huge role in my life, and because of this have created a blog that I update daily to talk about everything going on in the NFL. This has been very fulfilling for me because it allows me to write about something I love to be immersed in. The website is http://www.TheOnlyFootballBlog.com

In preparation for the NFL season, in addition to revising my power rankings almost constantly, I am taking a look around the league, team-by-team. While up to now, I have only been looking at the teams as a whole, I will now, here and in upcoming posts, take a look at each facet of the team. (Quarterbacks, O-Line, etc.)

Let's start at the top, with a division very close to my heart (I live in Massachusetts), the AFC East. Here are the most comprehensive rankings you can find on the World Wide Web:

(# = Last year's rankings)

1) New England Patriots 12-4
Quarterback: Tom Brady (#1)
Running Back: Laurence Maroney (#24)
Wide Receivers: Wes Welker (#3), Randy Moss (#5), Julian Edelman (#53)
Tight Ends: Alge Crumpler (#31)
QB Protection: #2
Rush Protection: #19
Sacks (on opponent): #22
Run Defense: #23
Pass Defense: #19
Key Additions: WR Torry Holt (#68), TE Alge Crumpler (#31)
Key Losses: TE Ben Watson (#10), DE/DT Jarvis Green, DE/OLB Adalius Thomas
Notes: The downgrade at tight end should be minimal, given the two TEs the Patriots have in the wings (Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez), and the fact that in the Belichick system, tight ends are used as blockers.... You may not think that a team with such a shoddy defensive line could be expected to go 12-4, but look at the New Orleans Saints (#26) last year... Laurence Maroney, entering a contract year, must put up or be eclipsed by Sammy Morris, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, or another back on the roster... With Welker looking like he's made a full recovery, the passing unit looks like it can shoulder the brunt of the responsibility for this team.

2) New York Jets 11-5
Quarterback: Mark Sanchez (#38)
Running Backs: Shonn Greene (#30), Ladanian Tomlinson (#42)
Wide Receivers: Santonio Holmes (#11), Jerricho Cotchery (#22), Laveranues Coles (#44), Braylon Edwards (#49)
Tight Ends: Dustin Keller (#28)
QB Protection: #24
Rush Protection: #6
Sacks (on opponent): #16
Run Defense: #4
Pass Defense: #1
Key Additions: RB Ladanian Tomlinson (#42), WR Santonio Holmes (#11) DE/OLB Jason Taylor, CB Antonio Cromartie
Key Losses: RB Thomas Jones (#23), FS Kelly Rhodes
Notes: No surprise that the Darrell Revis-led pass defense is ranked #1... The addition of Santonio Holmes gives QB Sanchez a strong core to mask his inexperience... Don't be surprised if the running game takes a hit this year; time will tell whether RB Greene can lead the staff... Jason Taylor will provide depth and experience to what is already a fantastic defensive line... For Mark Sanchez to mature, the O-line has to step up and prevent sacks.

3) Miami Dolphins 9-7
Quarterback: Chad Henne (#17)
Running Backs: Ricky Williams (#8), Ronnie Brown (#16)
Wide Receivers: Brandon Marshall (#24), Brian Hartline (#30), Greg Camarillo (#37), Davone Bess (#41),
Tight Ends: Anthony Fasano (#37)
QB Protection: #14
Rush Protection: #8
Sacks (on opponent): #1
Run Defense: #15
Pass Defense: #32
Key Additions: WR Brandon Marshall (#24)
Key Losses: DE/OLB Joey Porter, DE/OLB Jason Taylor
Notes: The only better one-two punch than RBs Williams and Brown are Carolina's Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams... Without DE/OLBs Porter and Taylor, look for Miami's defense to quickly deteriorate... Don't be surprised if Miami is the #1 offense next year; they have all the tools to make it happen: A young, able quarterback; a stable of running backs; and 4 (count 'em) wide-recievers on the edge of breaking out.

4) Buffallo Bills 8-8
Quarterback: Trent Edwards (#32), Ryan Fitzpatrick (#34)
Running Backs: Fred Jackson (#22), Marshawn Lynch (#45)
Wide Receivers: Lee Evans (#64), Steve Johnson (N/A), Chad Jackson (N/A)
Tight End: Johnathan Stupar (N/A)
QB Protection: #32
Rush Protection: #10
Sacks (on opponent): #19
Run Defense: #30
Pass Defense: #2
Key Additions: None
Key Losses: WR Terrell Owens (#70)
Notes: This team will flop no matter the quarterback behind the rudder... There is so much to dislike about this team, but let's start with the fact that they have just one capable wideout... There is only one way this team can win 8 games, and that is to run down their opponents' throats, and keep their pass defense as steady as it was last year.

More to come!

Si
http://nobiassportscenter.blogspot.com/

Great Sports Heroes and Great Growth Stocks, What they have in Common.

What do our greatest sports heroes and a high quality growth stock have in common? Our greatest sports heroes have statistical numbers that are always increasing; a high quality growth stock has fundamentals that are increasing. Our greatest sports heroes are leaders on their teams and at their positions. A high quality growth stock is a leader in its industry. Our greatest sports heroes are innovative and raise the standard of how their sport is played. A high quality growth stock usually has come up with some new product, new service, or new management that has become high in demand. In this article we are going to discuss how understanding your greatest sports heroes can make you a superstar of growth stock investing. To show you the similarities we will compare Tom Brady of the New England Patriots to Suntech Power Holdings.

Tom Brady is having the best year of his NFL career in the 2007-2008 season. Why is this? Three new products were brought in which has made his passing game high in demand. With the additions of Randy Moss, Wes Welker, and Donte' Stallworth, Tom Brady has an arsenal of new products to throw to.

With the addition of these three new products, Tom Brady is having a break out year. As of this writing the New England Patriots are 11-0. Let's look at Tom Brady's statistics over the first 6 years of his career since he became a full time starter from 2001-2006:

Passing 2001-06 6 Year Average 2007 Stats

Through 11 games

Quarterback Rating 88.48 127.9

Completion % 61.96 72.4

Interceptions 13.3 4

Touchdowns 24.5 39

The proof is in the statistics. In the year of 2007, Tom Brady had added three new products, wide receivers Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte' Stallworth. With these new products, Tom Brady's statistics have improved in every area, and he is currently the leader in the NFL at the quarterback position.

How does this all relate to a high quality growth stock? Well, just like Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, a high quality growth stock will have a new product or service that creates high demand. This in turn helps increase the stocks numbers or statistics, as the numbers and demand increase it shoots the company forward into a leading position among its industry.

So let us view Tom Brady's new product as Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Donte' Stallworth. Tom Brady's quarterback rating, completion%, and touchdowns are a growth stock companies earnings, sales, and profit margins. Tom Brady's quarterback position will represent a growth stock companies industry. Therefore to find a high quality growth stock, we need a company who has a new product or service that has become in demand. We need a company who shows a great increase in earnings, sales, and profit margin (statistics). And we need a company who is a leader in their industry. In our research we have come up with Suntech Power Holdings.

Suntech Power Holdings new product has become in high demand for 2 reasons 1. The growing Chinese economy and 2. The buzz about green energy. Specifically solar energy. You see Suntech Power designs, develops, and manufactures photovoltaic cells and modules. These cells are used in both on-grid and off-grid electricity generation such as; street lamps, telecommunication relay systems, and mobile phone networks. So Suntech Power can sell its products to solar distributors, engineering and design firms, energy product distributors, as well as to property developers and system integrators.

Now that we know Suntech Power has a product that is in high demand and it is focused in two areas that are booming right now; China and Solar energy, let's see if the numbers compare to Tom Brady's.

Annual Earnings Quarterly Earnings Quarterly Sales

2002 - -.01 Sep. 05 - .08 Sep. 05 - 56.6 Mil

2003 - .01 Dec.05 - .12 Dec.05 - 89 Mil

2004 - .13 Mar. 06 - .14 Mar. 06 - 89.9 Mil

2005 - .32 Jun.06 - .19 Jun.06 - 128.2 Mil

2006 - .77 Sep.06 - .21 Sep. 06 - 163 Mil

2007 - 1.02 est. Dec.06 - .23 Dec. 06 - 217.9 Mil

Mar. 07 - .20 Mar. 07 - 246.7 Mil

Jun. 07 - .29 Jun. 07 - 317.4 Mil

Suntech has Powerful products that are in demand, and now we can see that the numbers or statistics, or when looking at a stock, the fundamentals, are much like Tom Brady's. Every year and in every quarter we see solid improvements in Suntech Powers Annual earnings, quarterly earnings, and quarterly sales.

Now we have our new product or a product that is in high demand, we have fundamentals that are consistently increasing, but is Suntech Power an Industry leader? Yes, it is. If we look at the current leading industries for the Stock Market right now, on 12/04/07, according to the Investors Business Daily, Energy stocks are leading the way. Just as Tom Brady was leading in his Industry (quarterback), Suntech Power is leading in its Industry (Energy). When sports heroes and growth stocks show such superior numbers they become the envy of the league or stock market.

Tom Brady has shown his brilliance and has become the envy of the NFL. There is not a coach in the NFL that would not want Tom Brady playing Quarterback on their team. Alright, maybe a few would want that other superior growth stock named Peyton Manning. So now we must compare the NFL to the big institutional investors of the stock market. Just as every NFL team would want Tom Brady on their team because of his superior numbers and leadership, so would every big institutional investor want a growth stock like Suntech Power on their team. Why? Because of the superior numbers and leadership. What is nice about the stock market is we as investors can all share in Suntech Powers's great numbers and leadership. We can participate in owning part of Suntech Power as a company. Imagine if you owned 100 shares of Tom Brady or Peyton Manning or a new up and coming growth stock like Adrian Peterson of the Minnesota Vikings, you could easily begin building a nice nest egg for yourself.

Our greatest sports heroes have taught us how to persevere, how to be disciplined, how to lead, and how to have the heart of a champion, I just never new they could teach me how to invest. Understanding Tom Brady could very well help you become a growth stock investing superstar.

Steve Martin went from a tennis pro struggling to make ends meet, to a successful growth stock investor, and developed the F.I.T. Stock Investment System at http://www.fitstocks.com

Ever wondered how to watch New England Patriots football games over the Internet? I use too, until I discovered a good way to watch National League Football (NFL) games on my computer via live streaming feed. Many times I'm stuck at work when the Patriots are playing, so I started looking for a method to catch some football games on my pc because there is no television where I work.

I like the NFL, in general, but I love the New England Patriots. Their roster is loaded with players that I like to watch and cheer for, like Tom Brady, Wes Welker, Randy Moss, and even coach Bill Belichick. This year's team proves to provide an exciting season for fans to follow. It could be a great year for them to reclaim the AFC East division.

Last year, I had to miss a couple of early games until I figured out how to watch the New England Patriots online. It was really pretty easy. I just downloaded a software program that gave access to basically any football game on TV that I wanted to watch. The program I found is easy to use and provides a quality picture. Also, I get access to more sports, movies, TV shows, history, weather, news, kids channels, and much more.

There are a couple requirements necessary to be able to use the software. First, you must have a computer with a Windows operating system. It does have to be the latest and greatest, but it does need to be Windows. Second, your Internet connection needs to be DSL or cable. Dial-up connections are not fast enough to deliver a quality live streaming feed.

Watching the 2009 Patriots games online gives me a lot more flexibility because now I just need to be somewhere where I have access to the Internet. In other words, I can be in town or on the road and just pull up the game on my laptop. I'm just glad I never have to worry about missing a game.

Get instant online viewing access to any NFL game by visiting http://watchnfl-gamesonline.blogspot.com.

After missing practically all of the 2008 season with a knee injury, quarterback Tom Brady was back in 2009, and he helped lead the New England Patriots to another division title. The Patriots finished the regular season with a 10-6 record, and eight of those wins came at home, where the Pats ran the table. An injury to star wide receiver Wes Welker was certainly a factor in New England's embarrassing playoff loss, further emphasizing how valuable his presence is to this team. If Welker can return healthy, the Patriots have enough pieces to top the AFC East again, but it won't be easy with the emergence of the Jets and Dolphins.

Offense: Tom Terrific played well in his first season back following major knee surgery. He finished the year with 4,398 yards and 28 touchdowns with 13 interceptions while helping New England boast the third-best passing offense in the NFL. In all, the Patriots ranked No. 6 in the league in terms of scoring offense, averaging 26.7 points per game. Matching last season's offensive numbers will largely depend on Welker's health. Welker is expected to be ready to go in Week 1, but the Pats have added Torry Holt and David Patten for security. In just 14 games last season, Welker caught 123 passes for 1,348 yards. He flat out moves the sticks. Randy Moss may have lost a step of two, but I'm a firm believer in the saying "the numbers don't lie". Moss finished with 83 catches for 1,1264 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. There is room for improvement in the running game, and that improvement could come if Fred Taylor is able to stay healthy.

Defense: While last year's defense wasn't as dominant as the ones from the past that featured Jarvis Green, Tedy Bruschi, Richard Seymour and Mike Vrable, it still finished No. 5 in the NFL in scoring defense, allowing only 17.8 points per game. However, it may be hard to duplicate last season's numbers with the additions division rivals New York and Miami have made to bolster their passing games. Big Vince Wilfork is back to hold down the fort up front, but pass rushers must emerge around him for New England to remain a top notch defensive team. Linebacker Tully Banta-Cain led the Patriots with 10 sacks last year, but no one else on the roster had more than five. Someone is going to have to aid Banta-Cain and Wilfork in the pass rush or New England could end up allowing more than the 209.7 yards per game it gave up through the air last season.

Prediction: 2nd AFC East - The Patriots have won the AFC East six of the last seven years, and they'll continue to be in the mix in 2010. In fact, as long as Tom Brady is on the field, and coach Bill Belichick is on the sideline, the Pats will be a threat to make the playoffs. However, I have them coming up short in the division this season. The Jets, who were the best defensive team in the NFL last year, have a lot of momentum on their side after advancing to the AFC title game last season. Check out my 2010 NFL predictions article to see who I have winning each of the eight NFL divisions.

If you want winning NFL picks to beat the NFL odds this fall, then get signed up for one of the premium packages on my site.

The New England Patriots are off to their usual hot start. They have not been challenged by any of their opponents. This year could signal the end of the round table of champions the last six years. The AFC and NFC could have avoided the possible domination if they would have opened the purse strings to the cherished salary caps.

How could any franchise allow a team to stockpile the talent the Patriots have on the 2007-2008 roster. The offensive arsenal that Tom Brady possesses with receivers: Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Kelly Washington and Donte' Stallworth. On the defensive side just the addition of Adalius Thomas to the outside next to Tedy Bruschi gives the linebacker corps a foot up in the AFC East. The aforementioned players with exception to Kelly Washington and Donte' Stallworth were sent over in trades. The subsequent teams: Oakland Raiders (2-3) and the Miami Dolphins (0-6) is just the tip of the crumble of the NFL.

There are several other teams with borderline records that could have picked up any of these players for a lot more money. The lure of draft picks and the riddance of a headache instigated the Randy Moss trade. It leaves to question why would the Raiders trade Moss to an AFC rival. The sixth round drafts pick and hampered offense were not worth the sixth round pick received. Now the question why did Green Bay have more of a consideration?

Stallworth on the other hand after a good playoff run with the Eagles was not brought back. With his talent and ability he should have been signed with the Titans, Chargers or Texans. Instead he took a short deal with the Patriots to win right now. Possibilities to strengthen a team is an effort that must be made in the off-season, the NFL trade line is not a possibility. The complexities of the offenses and defenses of today's teams a trade will not culminate till the following season.

To win in the NFL, money has to be spent to build your rosters. Drafts help invigorate the depth and learn the system. The inception of free agency can push a team over the top with the acquisitions of one to four players. The New England Patriots have picked the free agency and trade tree bare this season. The harvest of championships can be possible over at least the next three years.

Anthony Vernell Jones is a freelance writer residing in Alabama. A diehard Bears fan having a long season.

One of the most anticipated first round matchups in the 2010 NFL playoffs is the Patriots and the Ravens. People are really enjoying the prospects of this game for many different reasons. Let's take a look at some of those here.

First of all, everyone outside of New England loves to hate the Patriots. This franchise has become the nemesis of many teams during the course of the decade, as they coasted to three Super Bowl victories and became a dynasty of sorts.

Fans enjoy rooting against the team for this reason. They also admonish (or possibly envy) the picture perfect nature of Tom Brady, so they always enjoy seeing an underdog come in to upset them.

Here are the key points to keep in mind when it comes to Sunday's game. This will help to give you an idea as to what chances the Patriots have of winning.

First of all, it should be noted that the Patriots are 8-0 at home this season, one of only two teams (the Vikings were the other) to have finished the regular season with an undefeated home record.

This makes the task of beating New England at Foxboro an extremely daunting one for the Ravens. On the other hand, Baltimore nearly beat the Pats in New England when they played earlier this season, only to fall short in the 4th quarter.

Another factor that bodes well for Baltimore is the fact that New England just lost its star receiver, Wes Welker, to an injury that will keep him out of the entire playoffs.

Welker's 1348 receiving yards were second best in the NFL in 2009, and his 123 receptions were more than any other player in the league. Clearly, the loss of Welker to injury will be a major blow to the Patriots and could put their chances of winning at risk.

All in all, the competitive fire of Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, and the rest of this organization come through more often than not. Most fans would be surprised to see the Patriots come away with anything short of a victory.

Scott Maloney also writes about the vessel sink vanity at http://vesselsinkvanity.org.

1. New England Patriots

2. New York Jets

3. Miami Dolphins

4. Buffalo Bills

New England Patriots - 2007 Record 13-3

I have the New England Patriots winning the AFC East for the 2007 NFL season

with their only road losses coming at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys on October.14

and Indianapolis on November.4. I only have the Patriots losing 1 game at home

this season to the San Diego Chargers on September.16. The Patriots who had

one of the worst WR corps in the league might have the best this season with

some key additions. Some key additions to the Patriots team are WR Randy Moss,

WR Wes Walker, WR Donte Stallworth on offense and OLB Adalius Thomas on defense.

Some key losses for the Patriots include RB Corey Dillion and LB Junior Seau.

New York Jets - 2007 Record 11-5 or 10-6

I have the New York Jets finishing second in the AFC East for the 2007 season

with their only road losses coming at the hands of the Baltimore Ravens on September.16,

Cincinnati Bengals on October.21, Dallas Cowboys on November.22 and New England

Patriots on December.16. I only have the Jets losing 2 home games this season

to the New England Patriots on September.9 and possibly the Philadelphia Eagles

on October.19. This is going to be a very strong Jets team that will be in every

game this season since they are very strong on both sides of the ball. Some

key additions to the Jets Team are RB Thomas Jones and FB Darian Barnes on offense

and DE Kenyon Coleman, ILB David Harris and Darelle Revis on defense. Some key

losses for the New York Jets are FB B.J. Askew, RB Kevin Barlow and QB Patrick

Ramsey.

Miami Dolphins 2007 Record 5-11 or 4-12

I have the Miami Dolphins finishing third in the AFC East this season with

their road losses coming at the Washington Redskins on September.9, New York

Jets on September.23, Cleveland Browns on October.14, Philadelphia Eagles on

November.18, Pittsburgh Steelers on November.26, Buffalo Bills on December.9

and the New England Patriots on December.23. I have the Miami Dolphins losing

4 to 5 home games to the Dallas Cowboys on September.16, New England Patriots

on October.21, New York Jets on December.2 and Baltimore Ravens on December.16

and possibly the Cincinnati Bengals on December.30 if the Bengals are beaten

up by then. This is going to be another very tough season for the Miami Dolphins

who have a new coaching staff taking over the team since Saban left to coach

Alabama. The Dolphins defense should remain fairly strong this season if injuries

don't pile up and their offense will be their weak link. Some key additions

to the Miami Dolphins are K Jay Feely, G Chris Liwienski, TE David Martin and

FB Cory Schlesinger on offense and special teams. Some key losses to the Miami

Dolphins are QB Joey Harrington, P Donnie Jones, K Olindo Mare, T Damion McIntosh,

TE Randy McMichael and KR Wes Welker.

Buffalo Bills 2007 Record 3-13

I have the Buffalo Bills finishing dead last in the AFC East this season with

their road losses coming at the Pittsburgh Steelers on September.19, New England

Patriots on September.23, New York Jets on October.28, Miami Dolphins on November.11,

Jacksonville Jaguars on November.25, Washington Redskins on December.2 and Philadelphia

Eagles on December.30. I have the Buffalo Bills losing 6 home games this season

to the Denver Bronco's on September.9, New York Jets on September.30,

Dallas Cowboys on October.8, Baltimore Ravens on October.21, New England Patriots

on November.18 and New York Giants on December.23. Buffalo is in a lot of trouble

this season after losing too many key players and they are just too young to

make an impact this season with over a dozen starters that have played 3 years

or less in the NFL. The next 2 years will be building years for this team who

will likely start two rookies and four second year players. Some key additions

for the Buffalo Bills on offense are LG Derrick Dockery, RT Langston Walker

and Rookie RB Marshawn Lynch from the California Golden Bears. The key losses

for the Buffalo Bills are CB Nate Clements, LB London Flethcer, QB Kelly Holcomb,

RB Willis McGahee, FB Daimon Shelton, LB Takeo Spikes and G Chris Villarrial.

Vernon Croy is the Owner/CEO of http://www.VernonCroy.com and he is one of the most reputable and respected professional sports handicappers in the world. Vernon Croy has won numerous handicapping awards and he is ranked as one of the top 10 handicappers in the world 100% documented by the Professional Handicappers League. Vernon Croy provides Free and Premium college football picks with expert analysis. You will find live scores, live odds and exclusive sports betting information at http://www.VernonCroy.com for people that want an advantage over the sportsbooks.