Get Young

Go pick up Selvin Young from your free agent pool. Mr. Young is Denver’s new backup to Travis Henry, who has missed 14 games in the last three seasons. Mike Shanahan loves this guy for some reason and he’s got good hands out of the backfield so he might be a 3rd down back.

The only way Shanahan would be raving about Young is if he’s a great fit for Denver’s running scheme, so go get him. Travis Henry owners, this is a must. Mike Bell owners, I would drop Bell and pick up Young. You’ve been warned.

In other news…Byron Leftwich will be released or traded according to several sources so it’s safe to drop Byron for Garrard. I see Garrard as an average No. 2 quarterback and an excellent option for anyone who has Maurice Jones-Drew or Fred Taylor.

Three notes

Some random notes from Thursday’s preseason games...

*LenDale White and Chris Brown distanced themselves from rookie Chris Henry in the race for carries, but they may have tightened the race with each other. Brown had two catches for 10 yards and seven carries for 42 yards. White had 58 yards on 15 carries, one catch for 19 yards, one devastating block and a 21-yard gain on fourth down. This should be good news for owners of both backs, but I’ll give the nod to White.

*Larry Johnson rushed for 12 yards on three carries. Big deal right? Well Johnson owners should be taking a sigh of relief now that their first-round pick has taken a few hits after holding out much of the summer.

*If Kevin Jones went on the Physically Unable to Perform list and you want a super sleeper... Remember T.J. Duckett? Pick him up in deeper leagues because Tatum Bell is rather inconsistent.

Overpriced

Whether name recognition or gullibility is to blame, some NFL players consistently get drafted way too early each year. This season I participated in four drafts and it seems people are falling in love with the same overrated players. Below are players who owners in your league probably overpaid for.

*Clinton Portis – The Redskins are supposed to split carries about 50-50 between Portis and Ladell Betts. Portis is more likely to be injured (again). Betts is a better goal line back in my opinion, and in limited time last season Betts notched more passes than Portis has in the last five seasons. So why is Portis getting drafted three rounds before Betts? Name recognition, silly fantasy magazines and owners who fall victim to both.

*DeShaun Foster – Foster is a perfect example of someone who is a solid running back, but a horrible fantasy back. The Panther has never played an entire season, penetrates like a butter knife at the goal line (only seven career touchdowns), and has only six 100 yards games in his career. Stay away.

*Warrick Dunn – Despite the fact that he’s injured, getting old and has only scored seven times in the past season Dunn was still drafted like it’s 1999. Like the Portis, Betts situation, Jerious Norwood will get the most out of this situation.

A couple random notes:

*I have changed the setting so that anyone can post responses and you don’t have to sign up. Sorry I didn’t do that sooner.

*If you’re lucky enough to be in southeastern Connecticut this Friday, be sure to get your copy of the Norwich Bulletin and grab the first Fantasy Football page of the 2007 season.

Trade winds

Adam Schefter (NFL Network) reported today that wide receivers Chris Chambers, Reggie Williams, and Michael Clayton are all being shopped by their current teams. Even though there’s a good chance no deals actually get done, you should be thinking about the implications of these trades. As I will explain, they involve more people than you may think.

First let’s examine the potential teams who could be looking to upgrade at wide receiver. Tennessee, Minnesota, and Houston are potential suitors because all three lack quality No. 2 receivers. This means if you own Bobby Wade/Troy Williamson, Roydell Williams/Brandon Jones or Kevin Walter/Jacoby Jones then a trade would make one of your wide receivers worth virtually nothing. If you want to play it safe it might be wise to trade these players while they are worth something.

If Williams were trade, this would be good news for Jaguars wide receivers Matt Jones and Ernest Wilford, who Williams has always shared the crowded position with. If Chambers is dealt, Marty Booker’s value would climb big time because he would be the new No. 1. Ted Ginn Jr. would likely be thrust into the starting lineup as well.

I would be shocked if Clayton is dealt because I can’t see anyone paying a 7th rounder for him. His departure would have little impact on the Bucs’ passing game because he’s a non-factor at this point, but he could benefit from a fresh start on another roster.

Buyer beware

Here’s a list, in no particular order, of 10 players whose 2007 campaign will be much worse statistically than last season and the reason.

1. Isaac Bruce – Age, decreased role.
2. Joey Galloway – Age
3. Mike Furrey – Decreased role
4. Larry Johnson – Supporting cast
5. Chester Taylor – Decreased role
6. Tatum Bell – Schedule
7. Michael Vick – Stupidity
8. J.P. Losman – Schedule, desperation INTs
9. Willie Parker – Similar yards, but fewer TD opportunities
10. Jamal Lewis – Supporting cast, fewer opportunities

Mt. Vernon

I know I’m not the first to predict that 2007 will be a breakout season for Vernon Davis, but I also don’t know of any credible experts who are willing to say he is the second best fantasy tight end in the league.

Other than Antonio Gates, nobody in the NFL will put up better numbers than a healthy Davis who will problems all season long for opposing defenses who will quickly their linebackers are too slow and their safeties are too small to stop him.

Last season Davis showed flashes of brilliance, and that was during a season in which he was learning a new playbook, getting acclimated to the speed of the NFL, and recovering from injury. This season the 49ers have much better receiving threats (Ashley Leile and Darrell Jackson to replace Antonio Bryant), an improved offensive line, a young quarterback with another year of experience and a favorable schedule.

Despite what your fantasy magazine is telling you…Tony Gonzalez, Alge Crumpler and company are not better options than Davis.

Moss Factor

So many people have speculated about the impact a healthy and motivated Randy Moss could do for Tom Brady’s 2007 statistics. Add a deep threat like Donte Stallworth to the picture and it’s no wonder why Tom Brady is consistently being drafted in the first three rounds of most drafts.

While it’s true that Tom Brady now has more options than Brady Quinn on a Friday night, the true impact of Moss will show up in the stats of Laurence Maroney. With opposing safeties and linebackers having to drop into coverage to respect vertical threats like Moss, Stallworth and Ben Watson, the running lanes will open up wider than Michael Strahan’s gap.

New England’s schedule features cupcakes like Washington, Buffalo (x2), and Cleveland so early leads should amount to clock milking and extra carries for Maroney. At the age of 22, Maroney is a must-have for keeper league owners and is worthy of a top-8 pick this season.

BFFC draft results

Year two of the Bulletin’s Fantasy Football Challenge began today at MVP Sports Bar in Norwich. The 18-round, 12-team draft lasted two hours and was chuck full of steals and the occasional head scratcher.

For those interested, the first round results are below. In my defense, I knew I would draw criticism after taking Frank Gore over Shaun Alexander and Larry Johnson, but I still feel good about it. I think Larry Johnson is going to look human this season and Alexander isn’t the receiving threat that Gore is in a league that rewards for receptions.

FIRST ROUND:
1. LaDanian Tomlinson (Toby Stanley)
2. Steven Jackson (MVP Sports Bar)
3. Joseph Addai (Don Benjamin)
4. Reggie Bush (Laura Steinmeyer)
5. Frank Gore (The Coach)
6. Larry Johnson (Ned Higgins)
7. Shaun Alexander (Chris/Joe Truman)
8. Laurence Maroney (Chris Fabry)
9. Brian Westbrook (Team Bully)
10. Peyton Manning (Stan Sims Sr. & Jr.)
11. Willie Parker (Lee Elci)
12. Rudi Johnson (Aaron May)

It’s good to be back

I would just like to welcome everybody back to the best source of QUALITY fantasy football analysis on the internet. Other sites may have more content but as readers last year found out, this is the place to be for information that will help you get the edge you need to win.

Last season I warned you about eventual studs like Ladell Betts and Marques Colston while ripping apart and proving wrong national “experts.” You can expect more of the same this season so bookmark me and reap the benefits.