March 13
ESPN.com
columnist Christopher Harris
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Mike Shanahan's first season in DC should be a lulu. Clinton Portis, whose interview antics contributed to a poisonous atmosphere under hapless former Redskins coach Jim Zorn, got an opinionated backfield partner Friday, as Larry Johnson signed with the team. Fantasy-wise, this doesn't matter, other than possibly indicating how privately concerned the Redskins seem to be about Portis. The incumbent Redskins starter will be 29 in September, a year before a typical running back's "Good Until …" date, but he also has a whopping 2,176 carries in his career, or 755 more than Johnson, whose legs look cooked. Certainly I'm not willing to dismiss Portis because of the concussion that caused him to ..."
March 13
Rotoworld.com
columnist Chris Wesseling
"
The onset of free agency served as a useful reminder that I've yet to lay out a list of offseason "buys" for Dynasty leaguers this year. With the no-brainer trade for Anquan Boldin, the re-signing of Derrick Mason, and the addition of situational deep-threat Donte' Stallworth, it's time to get excited about the Ravens' passing game for the first time since the franchise's inaugural season in 1996. Throw in Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, and a talented offensive line, and this unit is now Super Bowl caliber. In other words, it's high time to knock on the Joe Flacco owner's door. But the Ravens will always be a run-first, defense-heavy team, right? Wrong. For the first time in over a decade, the ..."
March 6
ESPN.com
columnist Christopher Harris
"
Given his salary demands and injury history, a third-round pick always seemed about right for Anquan Boldin, and the Baltimore Ravens ponied up, acquiring Boldin on Friday, league sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. So Boldin, long rumored to be upset with his contract situation as an Arizona Cardinal, will move to the AFC North to be Joe Flacco's No. 1 receiver. The nitty gritty: The Cardinals get Baltimore's third- and fourth-rounders in April's draft in exchange for Boldin and Arizona's fifth-rounder. What does this do to Boldin's fantasy value? Well, on the one hand, he's now the favorite to lead his team in receptions; he's an undisputed No. 1 receiver, out from under the ..."
March 6
ESPN.com
columnist Christopher Harris
"
Thoughts from the first morning and afternoon of NFL free agency: • The biggest loser in the opening moves is, without question, Matt Forte. With Chester Taylor signing with the Chicago Bears for $7 million guaranteed and Mike Martz coming on board as offensive coordinator, it's not hard to see a platoon coming, which might be a best-case scenario for Forte. As the bigger man (6-foot-2, 216 pounds, compared with Taylor's 5-foot-11, 213), he'll probably still get first crack at being the team's goal-line back, but remember: Taylor rushed for 1,216 yards in '06, his first year with the Minnesota Vikings before some guy named Adrian Peterson came along. Taylor has skills to be an every-down ..."
February 9
CBSSports.com
columnist Jamey Eisenberg
"
The Saints beat the Colts 31-17 to win Super Bowl XLIV, which officially ends the 2009 season. Drew Brees was named Super Bowl MVP as he outplayed Peyton Manning. And now you want to find out when each quarterback should be drafted. It's never too early to look ahead to next season, and we've got you covered heading into 2010. We've already done one mock draft, but that was before the big game. This one should wrap up the entire year, and there are more mock drafts to come. Plenty of things will change between now and your official Draft Day in the summer -- trades, free agent signings and players getting cut -- so keep that in mind when you consider the time frame of these results. But ..."
February 7
CBSSports.com
columnist Jamey Eisenberg
"
Anthony Gonzalez is excited the Colts are playing in Super Bowl XLIV against the Saints, but it's a bittersweet feeling. The wide receiver would rather be on the field instead of watching. Gonzalez, who was expected to be a significant part of the offense, injured his knee in Week 1 and missed the rest of the season. He said in an interview with CBSSports.com during media day his knee is "feeling good," and he's on track to return in 2010. But that doesn't take away the sting of missing the Super Bowl. "It's an exciting time for the team and everybody out there playing," Gonzalez said. "From that standpoint it's been a lot of fun watching. But obviously it pales in comparison to being able ..."
February 5
Rotoworld.com
columnist Gregg Rosenthal
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We gave you 13 reasons the Saints can win. Now the Colts get their turn. 1. No matchup for Clark Tight ends give the Saints problems and there are few tight ends better than Dallas Clark. Visanthe Shiancoe found a lot of holes in the Saints defense because the New Orleans linebackers on the outside struggle in coverage. (Middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma is great.) The safeties – Darren Sharper and Roman Harper – are boom or bust as pass defenders. Sharper is a ballhawk, but heady quarterbacks know how to use his aggressiveness to their advantage. Look for Clark to have a big night. 2. Overaggressive safeties The Saints defense is personified by Sharper and Harper. They force turnovers, ..."
January 30
Rotoworld.com
columnist Chris Wesseling
"
Tier One 1. Antonio Gates, Chargers | Age: 30.3 – After an injured-filled disappointing 2008, Gates returned to the elite same elite player he was from 2004 through 2007. Though 2009 wasn't his best fantasy season thanks to a mediocre touchdown total, it was Gates' best NFL season. He's earned the No. 1 spot going into 2010. 2. Jermichael Finley, Packers | Age: 23.6 – A physical mismatch for linebackers and safeties, the fast-rising Finley is drawing comparisons to a young Tony Gonzalez as the Packers' biggest matchup problem. His catch rate was behind only Jason Witten among tight ends, and he was flat-out uncoverable at times late in the season. An incredible athlete, the 23-year-old has ..."