Player Snapshot: Mat Latos

Well ladies and gentlemen, its that time again. I am emerging from my mancave hibernation/ Packer Super Bowl Stupor to bring out the big stick. And this one has yet to be photographed by Brett Favre's cell phone. No, this big stick is made of maple or oak or cork... thanks to good ole Sammy Sosa. It's that beautiful time of year again, fantasy baseball season! No longer do we have to wait until Sunday to see how many points we will crush the competition by. We get to tally up a homer or two EVERY DAY. I mean, who doesn't love watching a longball on Sportscenter and saying to yourself, "yeah that's one for me baby!"

Unfortunately, this article isn't going to focus on homers. Instead, lets turn our attention to the land where home runs go to die, Petco Park. The only true offensive threat from 2010 is dawning new Sahx, but one man still stands tall in San Diego. Literally. Mat Latos is a 6'6", 225 pound man-beast. I saw him at a restaurant one time, and I instinctively cowered a little. And I'm 6'5". Imagine what it would feel like to be staring him down knowing that he is aiming a 95 MPH projectile in your general direction. I guess that's why you only need to succeed 3 out of 10 times as a hitter to be a Hall-of-Famer.

But I digress, sure the guy is an imposing figure on the mound, but what makes him such a contender for all of my fantasy teams this year? His potential. I mean, Mat probably still has to get carded to buy cigars but he set an MLB record with 15 straight starts with 5+ innings and 2 or less earned runs. In other words, barring an incredible collapse, this dude should be a stud.

Don't believe me? Let's look back at last year's campaign and delve into the numbers a bit:

184 IP:
Normally you have to worry about young arms being held back. However, given the firesale Jed Hoyer is putting on, who stands in Latos' way of 200+ innings?

2.92 ERA:
If it hadn't been the "Year of the Pitcher" this type of figure would have set off major alarms across the country. Playing in Petco with either an improved or somewhat similar defense behind him almost assuredly keeps it in the sub- to low-3.00 territory.

189 Ks:
More innings should mean more Ks. Plus, a major rule to follow when drafting pitchers is, "they can always fall back on strikeouts". Even if his ERA were to float up a little, you can undoubtedly hang your hat on 190 Ks.

9.21 Ks/9:
Just in case you needed more proof.

.78 HRs/9:
Do you hear that? That's all of us Padre fans weeping with joy... and a little bit weeping because we have a ballpark that results in zero fun.

 Those are some eye-popping digits. Sure his BABIP of .273 might signal a bit of luck falling on Mr. Latos' side, but with the ballpark and defense he has behind him its not out of the picture that his BABIP will naturally be lower than the league average. Either way, I see Latos as being a high-quality pick in upcoming fantasy drafts, and he will certainly have a 6'6" star next to his name on my draft sheet.

The Recent Lack of Posts

I apologize to the readers of FSC for this long break in posts. School has gotten the best of me these past few weeks and unfortunately that comes first. I should get back into the swing of things in the upcoming weeks and will be providing tons of quality info for the approaching MLB season.

Thanks for the continued support,
Ben

Top 5 Picks for 2011

As I type this, it is still technically 2010 across the United States. But in a mere 4 hours, the continental US will be in a completely new year. So you can forget about how Randy Moss screwed you this year and erase the memory of trading Greg Jennings for Terrell Owens before his latest diva breakdown. Hopefully 2011 won't be so cruel.

So with that, let's take a look forward to who should be the top 5 players taken in next years' drafts:

1. Adrian Peterson RB, Vikings-

Arian Foster was by far the best runningback this year, but All Day is the definition of consistency. Let's take a look at 2010 as an example. If you had a choice to redraft, would you rather have taken Chris Johnson, MJD, Ray Rice, Andre Johnson or Adrian Peterson. My point exactly.

2. Arian Foster RB, Texans-

This was the year of surprises, and Arian was one of the biggest ones. He never looked back after his spectacular Week 1. Sure Gary Kubiak might be out, but as long as Foster is the feature back, his numbers should continue to be out of this world.

3. Chris Johnson RB, Titans-

CJ2K will have to find a new nickname next year, but his monstrous TD total following up a 2000 yard season makes Johnson a major target in all leagues.

4.Jamaal Charles RB, Chiefs-

Last year when I did this exercise, Charles was one of my top picks. My confidence started to fade with the emergence of Thomas Jones, but I should have stuck with my gut. The Chiefs' young star has excelled during the last 2 fantasy playoffs, and showed that he can produce despite limited carries. If the ball starts to find Charles in favor of Jones, he will be a definite RB1.

5. Michael Vick QB, Eagles-

As Kevin Kolb took the opening snap against Green Bay this year, it looked like Michael Vick was destined for bench duty in 2010. But boy did he prove the skeptics horribly wrong. Vick was absolutely explosive down the stretch, and if your league values rushing TDs more than passing ones, he could have very well been the highest scoring QB despite missing a handful of games. Durability issues will continue to haunt him considering how often he gets hit, but if Michael Vick isn't the first quarterback picked in your 2011 draft, I would seriously examine your competition's mental state.

Well that's all I've got for now. Be sure to check back for a hefty amount of fantasy baseball info as the season approaches. We have big things in store. Good luck if your fantasy season is still going, and most importantly, have a great new year!

Rashad Jennings Could Be a Savior this Sunday

I can slowly feel guilt creeping up on me after that title. Almost as much as I can hear the "Keep the Christ in Christmas" crew tapping at their keyboards. But I'm serious right now, if your fantasy hopes were dashed by a Big Ben- Mike Wallace tandem, allow Rashad Jennings to help resurrect them.

I'm sure you've seen the news that MJD is listed as doubtful against a deteriorating Redskins defense, and most of the time doubtful is not a good sign (unless your last name rhymes with Marv). If MJD rests this weekend, it opens a major door for Jennings, who hs been a tremendous goal line TD poacher and has shown some explosiveness over the past few weeks. I mean, the guy had 100 yards on 4 carries a couple weeks ago. If that's not a reason for your mouth to water, I don't know what is. Hand the ball to Jennings 20+ times a game, and it could lead to some dangerous numbers.

So if you are still alive for some prize in your fantasy league -- including the $5 bounty from the toilet bowl-- you should snag up Jennings (especially if you are an MJD owner or playing against one). If the little ball of Jacksonville lightning can't go, it could be a great day for this backup running back.

If Aaron Rodgers Should Sit...

With Green Bay's A-Rod most likely resting while nursing a concussion this week, the Packers' championship chances are fading fast. And as a fantasy titan falls, shockwaves radiate through our community. So let's analyze the impact a Rodges-less week 15 could have:

Matt Flynn becomes a last-ditch effort for those fighting for consolation prizes, or are Rodgers owners in very deep leagues. But facing a menacing Giants pass rush could cause major problems.

Brandon Jackson should see a few more carries since the aerial attack should be less of a threat.

Greg Jennings might not see the dropoff many pundits foresee. Flynn seemed to develop a minor dependence on him last week, plus he is by far his best option.

Donald Driver gets a small downgrade in my books. He obviously still has the goods after he juked out the entire 49ers squad, but with a mediocre QB his age might show.

Andrew Quarless could be a sleeper play this week. Flynn looked the TE's way early and often after relieving Rodgers last week. It could turn out to be a fluke provided by the porous Lions' D, but I'm willing to bet Flynn and Quarless could have the rapport Rodgers could never seem to find following Jermichael Finley's surgery.

So don't automatically discount all of Green Bay's fantasy contributors if Rodgers is a no go. Capitalizing on this stud's injury could propel you to a championship.

2010 Week 15 PPR Rankings: QB

Remember, if you have any lineup questions, check out the Personal Fantasy Help tab above!

Other Rankings: QB RB WR TE

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Phillip Rivers	SD	vs SF
2	Michael Vick	PHI	at NYG
3	Peyton Manning	IND	vs JAX
4	Drew Brees	NO	at BAL
5	Kyle Orton	DEN	at OAK
6	Matt Ryan	ATL	at SEA
7	Jay Cutler	CHI	vs MIN
8	Tom Brady	NE	vs GB
9	Joe Flacco	BAL	vs NO
10	Eli Manning	NYG	vs PHI
11	Jon Kitna	DAL	vs WAS
12	Matt Schaub	HOU	at TEN
13	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	vs NYJ
14	David Garrard	JAX	at IND
15	Matt Cassel	KC	at STL
16	Ryan Fitzpatrick	BUF	at MIA
17	Donovan McNabb	WAS	at DAL
18	Carson Palmer	CIN	vs CLE
19	Sam Bradford	STL	vs KC
20	Jason Campbell	OAK	vs DEN

2010 Week 15 PPR Rankings: RB

Remember, if you have any lineup questions, check out the Personal Fantasy Help tab above!

Other Rankings: QB RB WR TE

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Chris Johnson	TEN	vs HOU
2	Arian Foster	HOU	at TEN
3	LeSean McCoy	PHI	at NYG
4	Maurice Jones-Drew	JAX	at IND
5	Peyton Hillis	CLE	at CIN
6	Adrian Peterson	MIN	at CHI
7	Steven Jackson	STL	vs KC
8	Michael Turner	ATL	at SEA
9	Jamaal Charles	KC	at STL
10	Ray Rice	BAL	vs NO
11	Knowshon Moreno	DEN	at OAK
12	Ahmad Bradshaw	NYG	vs PHI
13	Felix Jones	DAL	vs WAS
14	Rashard Mendenhall	PIT	vs NYJ
15	Darren McFadden	OAK	vs DEN
16	Matt Forte	CHI	vs MIN
17	Fred Jackson	BUF	at MIA
18	LeGarrette Blount	TB	vs DET
19	Tim Hightower	ARI	at CAR
20	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	NE	vs GB
21	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	vs ATL
22	Brian Westbrook	SF	at SD
23	Cedric Benson	CIN	vs CLE
24	Jahvid Best	DET	at TB
25	Brandon Jacobs	NYG	vs PHI
26	Mike Tolbert	SD	vs SF
27	Keiland Williams	WAS	at DAL
28	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	vs ARI
29	LaDanian Tomlinson	NYJ	at PIT
30	Brandon Jackson	GB	at NE
31	Ronnie Brown	MIA	vs BUF
32	Mike Goodson	CAR	vs ARI
33	Ricky Williams	MIA	vs BUF
34	Shonn Greene	NYJ	at PIT
35	Danny Woodhead	NE	vs GB

2010 Week 15 PPR Rankings: TE

Remember, if you have any lineup questions, check out the Personal Fantasy Help tab above!

Other Rankings: QB RB WR TE

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Antonio Gates	SD	vs SF
2	Jacob Tamme	IND	vs JAX
3	Vernon Davis	SF	at SD
4	Jason Witten	DAL	vs WAS
5	Marcedes Lewis	JAX	at IND
6	Tony Gonzalez	ATL	at SEA
7	Chris Cooley	WAS	at DAL
8	Owen Daniels	HOU	at TEN
9	Kellen Winslow	TB	vs DET
10	Brandon Pettigrew	DET	at TB
11	Dustin Keller	NYJ	at PIT
12	Greg Olsen	CHI	vs MIN
13	Zach Miller	OAK	vs DEN
14	Brent Celek	PHI	at NYG
15	Andrew Quarless	GB	at NE
16	Heath Miller	PIT	vs NYJ
17	Rob Gronkowski	NE	vs GB
18	Aaron Hernandez	NE	vs GB
19	Tony Moeaki	KC	at STL
20	Jermaine Gresham	CIN	vs CLE

2010 Week 15 PPR Rankings: WR

Remember, if you have any lineup questions, check out the Personal Fantasy Help tab above!

Other Rankings: QB RB WR TE

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Reggie Wayne	IND	vs JAX
2	Roddy White	ATL	at SEA
3	Greg Jennings	GB	at NE
4	Andre Johnson	HOU	at TEN
5	Dwayne Bowe	KC	at STL
6	Calvin Johnson	DET	at TB
7	Miles Austin	DAL	vs WAS
8	Brandon Lloyd	DEN	at OAK
9	Anquan Boldin	BAL	vs NO
10	Brandon Marshall	MIA	vs BUF
11	Terrell Owens	CIN	vs CLE
12	Wes Welker	NE	vs GB
13	Desean Jackson	PHI	at NYG
14	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	at CAR
15	Marques Colston	NO	at BAL
16	Steve Johnson	BUF	at MIA
17	Hakeem Nicks	NYG	vs PHI
18	Santana Moss	WAS	at DAL
19	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	at NYG
20	Sidney Rice	MIN	at CHI
21	Mario Manningham	NYG	vs PHI
22	Johnny Knox	CHI	vs MIN
23	Michael Crabtree	SF	at SD
24	Vincent Jackson	SD	vs SF
25	Danny Amendola	STL	vs KC
26	Chad Ochocinco	CIN	vs CLE
27	Mike Wallace	PIT	vs NYJ
28	Donald Driver	GB	at NE
29	Pierre Garcon	IND	vs JAX
30	Malcom Floyd	SD	vs SF
31	Percy Harvin	MIN	at CHI
32	Hines Ward	PIT	vs NYJ
33	Steve Smith (CAR)	CAR	vs ARI
34	Mike Sims-Walker	JAX	at IND
35	Santonio Holmes	NYJ	at PIT

Early 2011 Fantasy Baseball ADP Report

It's December and mock drafts are already taking place throughout the web. The other day, I decided I'd try my hand at one, and I caught myself thinking, "what is wrong with me?" What would possess me to devote my time to practicing for something 5 months down the road. I'm not playing at Carnegie Hall. It's fantasy baseball. But it's a passion of mine, so here I am, breaking down ADPs for all of you wonderful fantasy fans.

3 Musketeers:

You might catch youself thinking, "Hey, there's 5 guys on this list. Is this guy stupid?" Well yes and no. But I can count. These guys don't have much in common with Athos or Portos, but instead the candy bar. Three Musketeers bars are highly underrated in my mind. Let's just say this, nougat definitely deserves to be used more often than it is. Just like these players.

Carl Crawford OF, Red Sox (Average Pick: 18.72)- 
Crawford is on his way out of Tropicana and, it seems, in to Fenway. His power shouldn't go down very much -- it might even go up-- and as I wrote in the OF Rankings, it is shocking how little his speed paid off at home. Check out these numbers:
Home: 277 ABs, 17 SBs
Away: 323 ABs, 30 SBs
His power may go down a tick, but getting a .300, 50 steals, 15 homers, 100 runs and RBIs guy in the 2nd round is a steal.

Josh Hamilton OF, Rangers (41.64)-
History might signal a regression, but the world's batting champ is much better than his ADP indicates, mainly because he is heads above his peers. Let's run down the list:
Shin-Soo Choo- 20/20 sure, but neither of those compares to 32 homers and an average that can carry an entire team of Ryan Howards.
Jayson Werth- No support in the lineup, a fat new contract to sit and count.
Andrew McCutchen- A great talent, but let's face it how many times will the Pirates drive him in?
If those are my choices, I'm going Hamilton all day.

Chase Utley 2B, Phillies (60.51)-
This one is just absurd. Right now, Ian Kinsler is being picked 5 slots BEFORE Utley. Chase has a few injury problems, but I don't think Kinsler even knows how many games are in a season. I mean he's never been able to play in more than 140 of them. Utley is a 3rd round (or even better) talent, that is being selected in the 5th. That's like Black Friday all year round.

Josh Johnson SP, Marlins (91.48)-
Wins may never be a weapon in JJ's fantasy arsenal, that we all know. However, how in the world is a guy like Johnson being selected behind guys like John Danks and Trevor Cahill. Both are good talents, but Josh led the NL in ERA last year despite a relatively slow start. With his talents, Johnson is easily a top 15 starter, not the 25th best that he is being selected as.


Kevin Youkilis 1B (for now), Red Sox (139.91)-
Youk will probably see a spike in his value once Beltre inks his name on another team's dotted line. As a first baseman, Youkilis is a #1 option in most fantasy leagues, but once he earns 3B eligibility, he shoots up the positional rankings. With Adrian Gonzalez in town, not only will he have some great protection, but will get a slot at a very shallow position. That's something that is worth much more than a 11th round pick in 12 teamers.


The Nightclubs:

Don't worry, this is a baseball list, so Ben Roethlisberger and Plaxico Burress won't be anywhere near this Nightclub section. Now, I might be in the minority, but I just flat out don't get clubs. If you enjoy music that drowns out conversation, stuck up women and $12 drinks, that's good for you. I'm staying as far away from them, and these players as possible. Or at least until their prices go down.

Andre Ethier OF, Dodgers (Average Pick: 27.09)- 
If you're an Ethier backer, I have one question for you: "What does he do that's so great?". 23 homers is nice, but you can find a lot more power than that in the early 3rd round. The 2 steals eliminates any hope for a 20/20 season, and 90/80 is not a very pretty number from the runs and RBI sectors. If he plays the entire season, he might reach 100/100, but I'm not willing to bet on that just yet. If I'm going to go outfield at this point, I'd much rather take an established force like Matt Holliday over Ethier. Plus, with the Dodgers stuck in financial limbo thanks to "The Divorce" who knows if good things are around the corner for the boys in blue.

Rickie Weeks 2B, Brewers (35.51)-
When I first saw this ADP, I assumed that there had to have only been like 3 drafts conducted. All of which were filled with only Milwaukee haters. Nonetheless, 87 drafts left Weeks going off the board as a late 3rd - early 4th round pick. Sure his power is nice, but who says 2010 wasn't a fluke, and if it is hitting .269 in a breakout year is nothing to write home about. I just can't justify the case for Weeks over potential studs like Uggla or even the aforementioned Utley.

Ryan Dempster SP, Cubs (80.51)-
I always felt bad for Dempster growing up, because I can only imagine life as a pitcher with a name so close to a trash receptacle. Of course, he is usually the one closing the lid, with 200+ punchouts. But, I just don't see the appeal here, with how many quality starters there are out there. The strikeouts are nice, but he will never be a truly complete pitcher. His ERA and WHIP are not terrible, but combined with a pathetic Chicago lineup behind him, the strikeouts are really the only value here.

Alfonso Soriano OF, Cubs (90.46)-
Really? Over Hunter Pence? Really? Both play for terrible teams, but who would ever side with the guy toeing the cliff of his career over the prized prospect who burst out the previous season. Flat out ridonkulous.


Ryan Ludwick OF, Padres (102.34)-
As a Padre fan, let me just say, with the departure of Adrian Gonzalez, STAY AWAY. Pitchers get a reprieve. But if their job is to swing a bat, like Ludwick, Petco will be the death of your fantasy team. With no protection from the big bang of Gonzo, the Padres' offense will sink even further (if that was possible). Ludwick might be talented, but anyone outside of Pujols will get eaten up hitting in the middle of this lineup.

Well my fingers are sure tired. If you like what you see here (or dare I say, disagree with me) feel free to contact me.

And make sure to bring all of your fantasy questions to the Personal Fantasy Help tab at the top!

2010 Week 14 PPR Rankings: TE

Got a sit/start problem or some other fantasy conundrum you need an answer for? Check out the Personal Fantasy Help page above!

Other Rankings: QB RB WR TE

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Antonio Gates	SD	vs KC
2	Jacob Tamme	IND	at TEN
3	Vernon Davis	SF	vs SEA
4	Jason Witten	DAL	vs PHI
5	Marcedes Lewis	JAX	vs OAK
6	Tony Gonzalez	ATL	at CAR
7	Chris Cooley	WAS	vs TB
8	Brandon Pettigrew	DET	vs GB
9	Dustin Keller	NYJ	vs MIA
10	Greg Olsen	CHI	vs NE
11	Andrew Quarless	GB	at DET
12	Joel Dreesen	HOU	vs BAL
13	Kellen Winslow	TB	at WAS
14	Brent Celek	PHI	at DAL
15	Zach Miller	OAK	at JAX
16	Heath Miller	PIT	vs CIN
17	Rob Gronkowski	NE	at CHI
18	Tony Moeaki	KC	at SD
19	Aaron Hernandez	NE	at CHI
20	Kevin Boss	NYG	at MIN

2010 Week 14 PPR Rankings: QB

Got a sit/start problem or some other fantasy conundrum you need an answer for? Check out the Personal Fantasy Help page above!

Other Rankings: QB RB WR TE

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Aaron Rodgers	GB	at DET
2	Michael Vick	PHI	at DAL
3	Phillip Rivers	SD	vs KC
4	Drew Brees	NO	vs STL
5	Peyton Manning	IND	at TEN
6	Kyle Orton	DEN	at ARI
7	Jay Cutler	CHI	vs NE
8	Joe Flacco	BAL	at HOU
9	Tom Brady	NE	at CHI
10	Matt Ryan	ATL	at CAR
11	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	vs CIN
12	Eli Manning	NYG	at MIN
13	Jon Kitna	DAL	vs PHI
14	Ryan Fitzpatrick	BUF	vs CLE
15	Matt Schaub	HOU	vs BAL
16	Matt Cassel	KC	at SD
17	David Garrard	JAX	vs OAK
18	Donovan McNabb	WAS	vs TB
19	Mark Sanchez	NYJ	vs MIA
20	Derek Anderson	ARI	vs DEN

2010 Week 14 PPR Rankings: RB

Got a sit/start problem or some other fantasy conundrum you need an answer for? Check out the Personal Fantasy Help page above!

Other Rankings: QB RB WR TE

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Chris Johnson	TEN	vs IND
2	Peyton Hillis	CLE	at BUF
3	Adrian Peterson	MIN	vs NYG
4	Arian Foster	HOU	vs BAL
5	LeSean McCoy	PHI	at DAL
6	Maurice Jones-Drew	JAX	vs OAK
7	Steven Jackson	STL	at NO
8	Jamaal Charles	KC	at SD
9	Michael Turner	ATL	at CAR
10	Ray Rice	BAL	at HOU
11	Rashard Mendenhall	PIT	vs CIN
12	Knowshon Moreno	DEN	at ARI
13	Ahmad Bradshaw	NYG	at MIN
14	Matt Forte	CHI	vs NE
15	Felix Jones	DAL	vs PHI
16	Fred Jackson	BUF	vs CLE
17	LaDanian Tomlinson	NYJ	vs MIA
18	LeGarrette Blount	TB	at WAS
19	Tim Hightower	ARI	vs DEN
20	Darren McFadden	OAK	at JAX
21	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	NE	at CHI
22	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	at SF
23	Brian Westbrook	SF	vs SEA
24	Cedric Benson	CIN	at PIT
25	Brandon Jackson	GB	at DET
26	Mike Tolbert	SD	vs KC
27	Brandon Jacobs	NYG	at MIN
28	Michael Bush	OAK	at JAX
29	Jahvid Best	DET	vs GB
30	Beanie Wells	ARI	vs DEN
31	Tyrell Sutton	CAR	vs ATL
32	Keiland Williams	WAS	vs TB
33	Shonn Greene	NYJ	vs MIA
34	Ricky Williams	MIA	at NYJ
35	Ronnie Brown	MIA	at NYJ

2010 Week 14 PPR Rankings: WR

Got a sit/start problem or some other fantasy conundrum you need an answer for? Check out the Personal Fantasy Help page above!

Other Rankings: QB RB WR TE

Rank	Player	Team	Opponent
1	Reggie Wayne	IND	at TEN
2	Roddy White	ATL	at CAR
3	Greg Jennings	GB	at DET
4	Miles Austin	DAL	vs PHI
5	Calvin Johnson	DET	vs GB
6	Dwayne Bowe	KC	at SD
7	Andre Johnson	HOU	vs BAL
8	Brandon Lloyd	DEN	at ARI
9	Anquan Boldin	BAL	at HOU
10	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	vs DEN
11	Marques Colston	NO	vs STL
12	Brandon Marshall	MIA	at NYJ
13	Terrell Owens	CIN	at PIT
14	Wes Welker	NE	at CHI
15	Desean Jackson	PHI	at DAL
16	Steve Johnson	BUF	vs CLE
17	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	at DAL
18	Santana Moss	WAS	vs TB
19	Johnny Knox	CHI	vs NE
20	Mario Manningham	NYG	at MIN
21	Sidney Rice	MIN	vs NYG
22	Danny Amendola	STL	at NO
23	Michael Crabtree	SF	vs SEA
24	Donald Driver	GB	at DET
25	Mike Williams (SEA)	SEA	at SF
26	Chad Ochocinco	CIN	at PIT
27	Santonio Holmes	NYJ	vs MIA
28	Steve Smith (NYG)	NYG	at MIN
29	Malcom Floyd	SD	vs KC
30	Mike Wallace	PIT	vs CIN
31	Braylon Edwards	NYJ	vs MIA
32	Hines Ward	PIT	vs CIN
33	Mike Williams (TB)	TB	at WAS
34	Steve Smith (CAR)	CAR	vs ATL
35	Percy Harvin	MIN	vs NYG

 

Fantasy Football Regular Season MVPs

The NFL season is just now starting to heat up, yet here I am giving out awards. What up with that? Well to us fantasy football players, the playoffs are already on our doorstep, or already upon some leagues. So, in honor of the approaching push for the championship, I figured it was a good time to list the best fantasy performers of the year. Plus, if you are still interested in your team there's a good chance you were smart enough to take one of these guys. And who doesn't like hearing praise for something that they did something right? Well here they are, the top 10 fantasy players (based on their preseason hype) of 2010:

10. Ryan Fitzpatrick QB, Bills-

Whoever said people in the NFL are dumb is, well, probably spot on. But not when it comes to the Bills' new savior. The Harvard grad has proven the skeptics wrong and taken control of a terrible offense and made it respectable. From relative obscurity, the former Crimson has amassed 2218 yards and 19 touchdowns. All this after sitting behind Trent Edwards for the first two weeks.

9. Terrell Owens WR, Bengals-

Fitzpatrick and TO could have been teammates this year, but no one can stand Owens. Well, except for his fantasy owners this year. It has been a renaissance for TO, as he has finally looked like the explosive talent from San Francisco... and the Philadelphia... and then Dallas. After slipping down draft boards following a rough 2009, his 914 yards and 8 TDs have been a sight for sore eyes.

8. Kyle Orton QB, Broncos-

Watching Denver this year is like watching a Texas Tech college football game. You know they stand no chance at doing anything towards a championship, but boy do they hang some nasty passing numbers. Not much was expected out of Orton outside of a few handoffs in Denver's traditionally run-centric attack. However, the offensive changes have led to 3369 yards and 20 TDs, which have welcomed by fantasy owners everywhere.

Early 2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: RP

Other Positions: C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP | RP

It's fitting that this edition of FSC's baseball rankings comes just days after the most dominant closer of the last few seasons agreed to a new contract. It's good though, because I think a not-so-civil war might erupt in New England if Mariano Rivera were to close games out for the Sox. My mind was slowly melting just contemplating it. Thank goodness that's over though. Let's stop looking in the past and gaze into the fantasy future:

1. Mariano Rivera, Yankees- He's old by baseball standards, but he's damn good by all standards.
2. Brian Wilson, Giants- Not only does he put up incredible stats, but he actually has a good team behind him unlike these next two guys.
3. Joakim Soria, Royals- His stats are out of this world, but with Greinke perhaps on his way out, the number of wins for KC doesn't look so good.
4. Heath Bell, Padres- Take Soria's bit and substitute Greinke with Adrian Gonzalez. If he gets dealt instead, his future is up in the air.
5. Neftali Feliz, Rangers- It's hard to decide if he would have more value as a closer or as a starter with RP eligibility. Either way he's a talented young stud.
6. Rafael Soriano, Rays- If Soriano's WHIP (0.80) was money in his pocket, he wouldn't even be able to buy a pack of Tic-Tacs.
7. Jonathan Papelbon/Daniel Bard, Red Sox- This might seem like a cop out, but with the Red Sox bullpen up in the air, I'm going to put these two guys together. If Papelbon leaves town, both stay in the top 10. If the two share the bullpen, whoever ends up as closer gets the No. 6 slot and whoever is set up slips.
8. Carlos Marmol, Cubs- His strikeout numbers are out of this world by closer standards. If you lack Ks with your starters, Marmol should be a major target.
9. Andrew Bailey, Athletics- Another guy with great stats on a terrible team. But imagining what he can do over a full season makes me a little giddy.
10. Jonathan Broxton, Dodgers- He wouldn't be the first closer to come off of a terrible season and respond with a lights out performance. He can still bring the heat.
11. Chris Perez, Indians- He's got the goods. However, the Indians are flat out terrible.
12. Joe Nathan, Twins- A lot of question marks following missing all of 2010, but if he comes back at even 90% he could be a steal.
13. Huston Street, Rockies- It's tough to gamble on a Coors Field pitcher, but Street has shown he can handle the thin air.
14. Jose Valverde, Tigers- Has an ERA that leaves things to be desired, but things look up in Detroit.
15. Francisco Rodriguez, Mets- It doesn't appear that K-Rod will spend any time behind bars, but there doesn't seem to be much confidence in him in New York. If that changes, he moves up to 11 or 12.
16. Brad Lidge, Phillies- The definition of inconsistency, but can be as dominant as anyone on this list when he's on.
17. Francisco Cordero, Reds- If you desperately need saves, Cordero can bring you them in abundance. Of course, it will be at the expense of your ERA and WHIP.
18. Ryan Franklin, Cardinals- Not a tremendous talent, but is the man on a competitive team, and that means a lot.
19. Whoever replaces Billy Wagner, Braves- People are really hyping Johnny Venters. But whoever takes over the helm in Atlanta should have plenty of opportunities to rack up saves.
20. John Axford, Brewers- Axford was solid last year, I don't see why everyone is ready to give his closer slot away.
21. David Aardsma, Mariners-Very vanilla. A solid contributor across the board. But at this point, thats a very welcomed idea over guys who might not even be setup men by June.
22. Drew Storen, Nationals- I don't see why most people are so high on this guy. Washington can never seem to stick with a single closer.
23. Fernando Rodney, Angels- Great power pitcher. If the Angels pick up a big bat (say, Carl Crawford) it could be a big year for Rodney.
24. Kevin Gregg, Blue Jays- It looks like Gregg could stay in Toronto. If he doesn't, there aren't many places he can go and remain fantasy relevant.
25. Leo Nunez, Marlins- At this point, it will just be whoever looks like they have a slight chance at closing games. At least Nunez appears to have a job.

Well thank you for sticking with me throughout these early rankings. If you have keeper questions, trade ideas or anything else you'd like a second opinion on, make sure to e-mail me at bglewis@fantasysportscircle.com.

Otherwise, make sure you check back! There are big things in store for the 2011 baseball season here at FSC.

Early 2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: SP

Other Positions: C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP

Last year was indisputably the year of the pitcher, and the fantasy world mirrored that. I have never seen so many dominant performances out of starters. If you managed to draft a staff along the lines of Roy Halladay, Jon Lester, Adam Wainwright and David Price it was game over. If this year is anything near a repeat of 2010, all 25 of these guys could have sub-3.00 ERAs.

1. Roy Halladay, Phillies-The undisputed #1 starter this year. Unless you get penalized for having dwarf nicknames.
2. Felix Hernandez, Mariners- So good that he will hereby be known as Emperor Felix.
3. Adam Wainwright, Cardinals- He gets to work with the world's best pitching coach in baseball and has the world's best hitter on his team.

Early 2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: OF

Other Positions: C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP |

Only in the outfield can you find numerous 20/20 candidates waiting you outside of the first few rounds. It is stacked like Pam Anderson. Circa 1995 of course. Here's the top 25 guys I'd want filling my outfield slots.

1. Carl Crawford, Rays- Only 17 of Crawford's steals came on the fake Tropicana Field. Imagining what he can do when he doesn't call it home, makes me all tingly inside.
2. Ryan Braun, Brewers- No one has been a more consistent all-around threat in the outfield than Braun. If he played third, he could make a run at #1 pick.
3. Carlos Gonzalez, Rockies- CarGo will be this year's hot pick. I don't think he will make it out of the first round in any roto draft (unless you play with 4 teams).
   

Early 2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: 3B

Other Positions: C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP |

Behind outfield and first, third base is where all the power is at. On the rare occasion, as seen with a few of the studs, there is speed to go with the bat. But, for the most part, the guys here swing a mean stick and can be major sources of homers and RBIs. With that in mind, let's look at the top 15 players at the hot corner:

1. Evan Longoria, Rays- Hopefully one of your leaguemates will think his divorce with Tony Parker will hurt his production. That way you can get your hands on the most talented 3B out there.
2. David Wright, Mets- One of those aforementioned speed/power rarities. A 25/15 season will be a down year for this Met.
3. Alex Rodriguez, Yankees- A-Rod's run production was suspiciously low last year. But his RBI and homer totals are outta this world.
   

Early 2011 Fantasy Baseball Rankings: SS

Other Positions: C | 1B | 2B | SS | 3B | OF | SP |

Remember the days when the young studs dominated the shortstop position? Nomar. A-Rod. Jeter. It was a beautiful time. Even thought the last 2 are still around, shortstop is still filled with young guys swinging big bats. The names may have changed, but you can still find some great hitters at what has traditionally been baseball's weakest hitting position.

1. Hanley Ramirez, Marlins- Han-Ram has been the only challenger to King Albert's reign as #1 pick. That's how good he is.
2. Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies- If you ran into the Tulo buzzsaw in October, I am genuinely sorry for you. He flat out went off.
3. Jose Reyes, Mets- Always a risk to spend a lot of time injured, but he can sure motor when he does play.