Monday Night Football at Jerryworld capped off a great week of football in a great way. Just as people were beginning to proclaim the Dallas Cowboys as the best team in the NFL, America’s Team got upset by none other than Native America’s Team. But before you go hastily adding Colt McCoy to your fantasy team, here are some better options off the waiver wire this week.
If Carson Palmer has not been re-added in your league yet, he needs to be immediately. The Cardinals—not the Cowboys—are the best team in the NFC, and Carson Palmer is on fire. He is not lighting up the stat sheet like Luck, Rivers, Manning, or Rodgers, but he consistently throws two touchdowns per game, and does not turn the ball over. His yardage totals are a little less consistent, but he could drop 400 in any given game. He is a very solid QB2.
The job turnover rate among NFL running backs this season is astounding—so many injuries. The season-ending knee injuries sustained by Patriots running back Stevan Ridley, for instance, have opened the door for Jonas Gray, a rookie power back who led New England in carries against the Bears, racking up 86 rushing yards in the process. Gray will henceforth be taking over the carries once intended for Ridley, making him a good flex or even RB2 play.
Meanwhile, we are waiting to see what becomes of Buccaneers one-season wonder Doug Martin. He has had injury trouble in his young career, but even when healthy, Martin has been terribly ineffective. Part of this could be due to Tampa’s woeful offensive line. Whatever the cause, Lovie Smith’s coaching regime has no use for Martin, and I am expecting him to be traded before today’s deadline. When/if this happens, Charles Sims needs to be added to your fantasy roster, as he will immediately become the Bucs’ No. 1 back coming off of short-term IR.
I’ve got a couple of rookie wide receivers for you. First, Martavis Bryant of Pittsburgh. Bryant has pretty much supplanted the awful Markus Wheaton as Pittsburgh’s starting wideout opposite Antonio Brown. In two games, he has hauled in seven passes for 123 yards and three touchdowns. With the way Pittsburgh is suddenly passing the ball, Bryant’s skill set makes him impossible to ignore for fantasy purposes.
To a lesser extent, I also like the Colts’ Donte Moncrief. Leading up to Week 8, Moncrief’s sparse use had increased proportionately to the decreasing usage of Hakeem Nicks, then, with Reggie Wayne out with an elbow injury against Pittsburgh, Moncrief finally assumed a starring role. In that role, Moncrief exploded for 7-113-1. After a performance like that, he is bound to factor into the Colts’ prolific passing game even when Wayne returns.
At tight end, you can do no better than a couple shot-in-the-dark bye-week replacements.
First is Tim Wright, who finally got a full serving of targets against Chicago this past Sunday. This came on the heels of a big, fat goose egg against New York in Week 7, so it goes without saying that Wright’s production is unpredictable—or, as they say in Fantasyland, “boom or bust.” Wright has drawn an intriguing amount of red-zone targets since being added to the offensive gameplan a few weeks ago, but he is still way behind Rob Gronkowski in most situations. It is also notable that Tim Wright’s best game came in garbage time against Chicago. Like I said, boom or bust.
Heath Miller is another boom-or-bust bye-week replacement at tight end. Miller has mostly been a bust this whole season, but has had two “booms” at totally unpredictable intervals: against Tampa Bay and then last week against Indianapolis. Analyze that. Miller’s status transcends “boom-or-bust”; Miller is an “add-and-pray.”
Kicker streamer of the week: Shayne Graham of New Orleans. He has had three big games in a row and it appears that the Saints offense is finally starting to click. That’s enough for me.
Your defense streamer is the Washington Redskins. Washington’s next game is against Minnesota. Minnesota managed only 13 points on offense against Tampa Bay! Tampa Bay cannot do anything right! The Redskins are coming off of arguably their finest defensive performance of the season. Allowing only 17 points to DeMarco Murray, Dez Bryant, and the Cowboys offense is a spectacular feat, indeed.
I’ve got to give a shoutout to Bashaud Breeland for his shutdown performance against Bryant. That was truly amazing to watch, as Breeland had Bryant on an island for most of the night, and more than held his own against the all pro. Another guy deserving of mention is inside ‘backer Keenan Robinson, not because he almost broke Tony Romo, but because he has been a sideline-to-sideline beast in recent weeks. If these guys play half as well against Minnesota as they did versus Dallas, they will be a great fantasy D for Week 9.
Jordan Jackson is a writer for Scouts Alley. You can follow him on Twitter @JordanJackson1.
Will Muschamp isn’t out yet. He probably will be soon, but not yet.
The University of Florida released a statement following the Gators’ 42-13 home loss to Missouri, which—and this won’t surprise you—fans didn’t really love. The statement essentially said the administration will wait until the end of the season before making a decision on Muschamp’s future, which doesn’t look promising.
If a team or university makes a statement like that, it often means someone is about to lose their job. So that’s not great. If last year’s 4-8 campaign didn’t signal the end of Muschamp’s reign, Saturday’s loss probably did.
Of course, if Florida wins out and finishes 8-3, which would include wins against Georgia and Florida State, Muschamp might stick around. But I’ve watched this Florida team play football, and while there are no guarantees in sports, I can nearly guarantee you that Florida won’t win out.
I can do that because—again—I’ve watched the Gators play.
So the question is starting to become about who Florida will hire next. And I’ve got two tips for the group that will pick the new head football coach.
Get an offensive-minded coach
Florida has won three national championships in school history—in 1996, 2006 and 2008. Steve Spurrier was the coach in ’96, and Urban Meyer was the head man in 2006 and 2008. Both of them are or were considered strong offensive minds, as far as coaching goes. And the Gators were ranked every year one of those two guys were coaching, with the exception of 2010—Meyer’s last year.
But the idea here is that Florida has had sustained success when an offensive-minded coach has been at the helm. Meyer brought the spread offense into the SEC, and Spurrier just had his team throw the ball all the time, and it worked. I’m not sure if there is a great offense-oriented coach out there willing to come to Florida right now, but athletic director Jeremy Foley should at least give it a look.
Florida also had some success from 1909-11 with George Pyle at the helm, and I can only assume he was a mastermind as well. Charley Pell was successful for a few years in the early ‘80s, and he was a defensive-minded guy—an outlier, in a sense.
And having a coach who can run an offense that scores touchdowns would be a nice change of pace. Sure, defense wins a lot of games, but it’s asking a lot out of the defense to pitch shutouts every week.
This next person needs head coaching experience
The idea of Will Muschamp as a head coach is a great one. He has a ton of energy, which is super exciting to watch. And he takes a defense-first mentality, which isn’t so much fun to watch, but it can lead to wins, which are fun.
The issue—I think—with Muschamp right now is that he takes a little too much control of all aspects of his team. I also think he does this because he’s never been a head coach before. By doing that, if the ship sinks, it’s because of him and he’s fine with that, probably. In short, he’s trying to control his destiny all by himself.
But he’s had Brent Pease from Boise State—where there was a ton of offense—and Kurt Roper—who helped Duke (Duke) set a bunch of ACC records—the last two years. With them, Florida should be able to score. If they had a little more control of things, the Gators probably would.
And it seems like coaches learn from their past mistakes and successes, so Muschamp might give up a little control on offense for his next team. I hope he does, because I like Will Muschamp an awful lot. Of course, he could just do that now and stick with Florida. But that probably won’t happen.
I think Will Muschamp will probably be a really good head coach somewhere down the line, and it will probably be because he relinquishes a little control on offense and lets his coordinators do what they’re supposed to do.
For that reason, Florida needs someone with head coaching experience. The Gators need someone who has learned from their prior mistakes and successes. Hopefully that leads to more than four wins.
Murphy Powell is a creator of Scouts Alley. You can follow him on Twitter if you want to.
MVP Race: Andrew Luck, DeMarco Murray, Philip Rivers, Aaron Rodgers, J.J. Watt. Am I forgetting someone?
Ah, yes! The quarterback for the Denver Broncos, Peyton Manning. You know, the guy who came after Tebow.
As he races by the all-time touchdown mark set by Brett Favre—a mark they said would never be surpassed when Dan Marino set it in 1984—Manning continues to not only survive past his athletic prime, but thrive; he continues to school men 10 and 15 years younger than he.
Before Thursday’s game, I would have said Philip Rivers was the frontrunner in the 2014 MVP race. Even if Manning did not straight-up pass him, Rivers’ two good-not-great performances in a row set him back a little.
Moving on to the rest of Week 8:
Sure Bet: This is a bad week for survivor pools. The number of lopsided matchups is few. After looking at the odds and over the schedule several times, the best I can come up with for a “sure bet” is the Cleveland Browns in Oakland. I know I choose Oakland’s opponent almost every week (hey, it’s worked so far, hasn’t it?), but there simply are not better options. Seriously, what are the chances that Cleveland allows Jacksonville and Oakland their first wins in consecutive weeks? Pretty low, I would say.
I understand, however, if you are not comfortable putting your survival hopes in the Browns after their atrocious outing a week ago. Maybe you would prefer the Texans in Tennessee, or the Patriots at home against the Bears. We don’t know what to expect from Zach Mettenberger, or when/if the Bears will show up, but otherwise the Texans and Pats are probably pretty safe bets.
Not So Fast: I am not bold enough to choose the Bears in their aforementioned matchup, but I will take Zach Mettenberger and the Titans to win in the rookie QB’s first career start. They are playing the Texans, who are riding a three-game losing streak, in which their turnover-proneness has reared its ugly head. The Texans seem to looooove fumbling the ball, and Ryan Fitzpatrick’s inability to win close games is all the more apparent in recent weeks. The Texans simply aren’t good enough to have a game-manager as their quarterback; they need a hero with a square chin, not Grizzly Adams with a bearded one.
Whereas I struggled to uncover a “sure bet,” upsets abound this week.
I like the Panthers to hand the defending champs their third-straight loss. Carolina’s defense is eventually going to get it together, and Seattle is clearly fallible on not only offense and defense, but perhaps more so than either, special teams, as proved by Tavon Austin, Stedman Bailey, and Johnny Hekker.
I also like Jacksonville to win a second game in a row. They host Miami. I like Pittsburgh at home against the Colts. And, finally, if it can even be considered a true “upset,” the Ravens to win in Cincinnati.
Surprise Performer: Larry Fitzgerald has come a long way from the glory days of 2008 and 2009, in which he could be a shoo-in for a score every week. In 2014, the future Hall of Famer has found the end zone only once and been largely underwhelming most weeks, including last week against Oakland’s porous secondary, against whom Fitzgerald recorded only 21 receiving yards.
The thing is, Arizona had little need for Fitzgerald’s pass-catching abilities as Andre Ellington and Stepfan Taylor found a lot of success via the ground. That won’t happen this week against Philadelphia, as the Eagles look to get their starting middle linebacker, Mychal Kendrick, back on the field. This game could be a shootout, which would greatly benefit Fitzgerald and his fantasy owners. Carson Palmer (as opposed to Drew Stanton and Logan Thomas), seems to be more inclined to getting Fitzgerald involved. I like Fitz to finally put a good game together this weekend
Disaster Waiting to Happen: My “disaster” comes from the same game and team as my surprise performer, and that is Andre Ellington. I expect the Cards/Eagles game to be a shootout, and for the return of Mychal Kendricks to give the Eagles run defense a boost. But, hey, you knew that already.
Furthermore, we saw last week that Ellington has a touchdown vulture over his head in Stepfan Taylor. Ellington claims that he voluntarily exited the game against Oakland in red-zone situations because he felt Taylor “deserved” the reps. I don’t buy it. Even if there is some truth to that, Taylor was great in the red zone, and it might establish a longstanding trend, much to the chagrin of Ellington’s fantasy owners.
Best of luck in all your football endeavors, and enjoy the games.
Jordan Jackson is a writer for Scouts Alley. You can follow him on Twitter @JordanJackson1
Bochy. Bumgarner. Posey. Pence. Pablo. Petit. Romo. These are the names that could lead the San Francisco Giants to a World Series Title. You know most of them.
Yost. Cain. Gordon. Moustakas. Holland. Shields. Infante. These are the names that could lead the Kansas City Royals to World Series Title. You might recognize some of them.
By the end of October all of these names, from these two wild-card teams, will be household names for one reason or another, and that starts tonight.
Bruce Bochy and his Giants have been the kings of the postseason, especially in even-numbered years. They haven’t lost a postseason series since 2010 when they won the World Series. They did it again in 2012. Bochy is likely headed to the Hall of Fame one day. Bochy knows how to manage games and has led the Giants through a rocky season and back to the a place they are comfortable. And it happens to be 2014, another even-numbered year.
Ned Yost is an interesting manager. He loves small ball and gets his Royals to bunt at odd times, but it has paid off so far. He has had a great bench and one of the best bullpens in baseball to work with this year and even though he has made questionable calls, he has made the necessary adjustments when it matters. This is the best team he has ever managed and the baseball gods might still be shining down on Yost and his Royals.
Madison Bumgarner is the name to know out of all the starting pitchers in the 2014 World Series. Bumgarner continued his postseason dominance this year in getting the Giants to the World Series, but the World Series is where he really gets to work. With a 2-0 record and a 0.00 ERA in 15 innings of World Series pitching, Madison Bumgarner might be the best postseason pitcher of this decade.
Now while his delivery is slow, meaning Kansas City’s speedsters will be off and running on the basepaths, Bumgarner has worked to develop a slide-step delivery that he uses to deceive baserunners, and it has helped him lower their success rate against him. But it is still a slow delivery. Buster Posey will be able to help him manage the basepaths and will do a great job calling the game from behind home plate, but he is no Caleb Joseph when it comes to stopping base-runners (30 percent caught stealing rate for Posey, 40 percent for Joseph).
Joseph managed to hold the Royals in check in the ALCS with some help from Orioles pitchers with fast deliveries, but Kansas City still won. The Royals are likely excited to get back to doing what they do best, steal bases, after successfully stealing just one in the ALCS and they have a great opportunity against the Giants. But don’t think for a second Madison Bumgarner and Buster Posey will just stand there and watch.
Bumgarner is the ace of a solid Giants rotation. The great competitor Jake Peavy will pitch in Game 2 and hope to continue a successful 2014 postseason. Tim Hudson will likely pitch Game 3 and is nothing to slouch at either. Game 4 could be interesting. Ryan Vogelsong got beat around by the St. Louis Cardinals, and Yusmeiro Petit has been lights out for Bochy out of the bullpen this postseason, so it will be interesting to see who gets the ball for San Francisco in Game 4.
Petit is the long reliever for a very good and dynamic San Francisco bullpen. While probably the least well-known, Petit has been practically unbeatable in the playoffs. Sergio Romo has been here with the Giants before but is now Bochy’s eighth-inning pitcher. Romo is still a dominant pitcher.
After him comes Santiago Casilla in the ninth, who took over the closer role and has yet to allow a run this postseason. Jeremy Affeldt and Javier Lopez have yet to give up a run, as well, and give the Giants two more great bullpen pitchers. Jean Machi can help out as well and Hunter Strickland has a 100 mph fastball, but don’t expect to see much of it as Strickland has struggled in these playoffs. Nevertheless, this is a dominant and dynamic bullpen with plenty of experience, runs will be hard to come by in the late innings for Kansas City.
But if scoring in the late innings will be tough for Kansas City, it could be nearly impossible for the Giants. Thanks to the seventh-, eighth- and ninth-inning efforts of Kelvin Herrera, Wade Davis and Greg Holland, Royals pitchers only really need to last six innings. They have combined to allow three earned runs in 25-and-two-thirds innings this October. These three might be the best back end to a bullpen in baseball. They also have depth behind these three, in case Yost needs to get a lefty out or one of the starters struggles before the seventh, so Kansas City has plenty to work with.
But getting to the seventh inning hasn’t always been easy. As you can tell, Herrera, Davis and Holland have had to pitch a lot of innings. James Shields has struggled so far in the playoffs (although he did pass a kidney stone during the ALCS, so we’ll see if getting that out of his system helps). He’ll face Bumgarner tonight in Game 1 and then Yordano Ventura will take Game 2. The Dominican rookie has been solid but not spectacular so far, but he has all the pitches to fool any hitter he faces. Jason Vargas and Jeremy Guthrie anchor the Royals playoff rotation and these four have done enough to get the ball to the bullpen and led their team to a so-far undefeated postseason.
But the Royals pitching gets a big boost from the best defense in baseball. Lorenzo Cain, Alex Gordon and Norichika Aoki fly around the field and can get to just about anything that is put into the air. Then Jarrod Dyson gets switched for Aoki and Kansas City’s outfielders give pitchers a security blanket for anything not on the ground. The infield is great as well with Omar Infante, Alcides Escobar and Mike Moustakas leading the way. Scoring runs is hard to do on the Royals and this San Francisco team has struggled to produce at times.
While Buster Posey, Pablo Sandoval and Hunter Pence can each dominate a game at the plate, the Giants will need everyone to hit with consistency to score runs. Travis Ishikawa and Brandon Belt have shown that they can contribute in big moments and San Fran may need that. It really comes down to the DH. The Royals have Billy Butler and they know all about the designated hitter as the American League team. Many people think the Giants have a great National League DH in Mike Morse, but he hit .267 with no home runs, no RBIs and no extra base hits as a DH in inter-league play in 2014. For his career Morse hits .220 as a DH, with no home-runs and just ten RBIs in 132 plate appearances. Mike Morse will not be a good DH and the Giants have to hope the rest of their bats can cover for a potential hole in their lineup.
Kansas City’s hitting is unconventional small ball aided by great baserunning. That is, until the ALCS when the big bats came out. The loss of Angel Pagan has been tough for the Giants, but they have managed. Kansas City is not a team that typically scores a lot of runs and should not be too difficult a challenge for the Giants fielders to manage. But the fact of the matter is the Royals’ fielders are in another league.
The Royals are in the playoffs—and the World Series—for the first time since 1985. They’ve had a somewhat long layoff since sweeping the Baltimore Orioles and could have trouble under the pressures of the World Series. The real question is, are the baseball gods still watching over Kansas City, or did they fall asleep during the wait between series?
San Francisco has been here before. Just like KC, they were not expected to be here, but they are no strangers to being counted out. Bruce Bochy knows how to win this time of year. So do Madison Bumgarner, Buster Posey and Pablo Sandoval. But will they be able to handle the at times peculiar and at times devastating play of the Royals?
The Royals have home-field advantage, and I’ll take their defense over the Giants’ every time. Nothing can stop Bumgarner in the playoffs, and San Francisco’s rotation seems more reliable than the Royals’. So while the Kansas City bullpen is better, they have to hope their team can make it through the first seven innings with a lead. The Giants have an underrated and dynamic bullpen and their starters will get the job done. I’ll take San Fran’s pitching over the Royals’.
Ned Yost is new to the World Series and his creative decisions could cause problems for the Giants. They could also cause problems for his own team. I’ll take Bochy. At the plate, San Francisco has players who have been here before, wily veterans and some scraped-together fill-ins. They have been inconsistent at times, but they still made it here. The Royals have speed, some power that surprises everyone when it shows up and bunting. But it works. The Royals have Royals have the DH and San Francisco plays in the National League. As much as I despise the DH, it is a big advantage for KC and their home field advantage. I’ll take Kansas City’s bats over the Giants (I didn’t even see that one coming).
Many people are concerned about the layoff the Royals had between the ALCS and the World Series. Does too much time cause the magic to wear off? Don’t worry KC fans, Yost has a cauldron to brew his own magic. The Royals had to play extra innings games very often to make it to the World Series, and the rest will suit them well. They might be a bit tired against Bumgarner tonight, and will lose Game 1 anyway, but they will come around.
The playoffs have been San Francisco’s fall getaway since 2010, and they are happy to be back. They are not afraid of Kansas City. Kansas City should be afraid of itself as Ned Yost may overthink some easy managing decisions and everyone’s nerves could take over on the biggest stage in baseball. If that happens, the Giants will be waiting to take over.
But it won’t. The Royals’ magic will counteract any mistakes Yost may make. James Shields will finally come around and the rest of the starters will rally behind him. Lorenzo Cain and Alex Gordon will become fielding legends (if they haven’t already) and Kansas City will taste victory once again. The Giants had a good run, but it ends in an even-numbered year. It’s time for some new October heroes. Royals in 7.
Moshe Kravitz is a writer for Scouts Alley and a host of Temple Talks Philly on Temple University’s WHIP Radio. Follow him on Twitter: @MosheKravitz
This edition of “Waivering” Hope is going to feature some familiar names, as most of the following players have been featured on the series before but somehow have still not been picked up in most fantasy leagues.
Beginning, as usual, with the quarterbacks, the usual names still float around the top of the free agent list: Eli Manning and Joe Flacco, notably. Then there is Mike Glennon. I really like Glennon because of his immediate schedule: Minnesota, Cleveland, Atlanta, Washington, Chicago, Cincinnati—six weeks in which you can expect reasonably good fantasy numbers from the Bucs QB—especially since they will often be playing from behind (that is, passing).
At running back, again, I advise you to pick up Jerick McKinnon of the Vikings. He dropped 100 rushing yards on a top-five run defense this past Sunday in Buffalo, and has firmly overtaken Matt Asiata as Minnesota’s No. 1 tailback.
Also keep an eye on the Bills’ running back situation. In a matter of minutes, the Bills lost Fred Jackson for up to four weeks with a groin injury, and C.J. Spiller with a broken clavicle on Sunday.
The third back in the rotation was Anthony Dixon, a bruiser of 49ers fame, who said in light of the injuries that he will now be in the “workhorse” role in Buffalo. That might be a little bit hasty. Though he has been a weekly scratch so far this season, it is possible that Bryce Brown could get early-down work with Dixon in more of a big-back role a la LeGarrette Blount in Pittsburgh. Wait for clarity on the situation before you add either.
Before you wonder why I haven’t said anything about Tre Mason, the Rams have a brutal schedule coming up, Mason is in a three-way committee, and, if I know Jeff Fisher, Mason’s almost game-losing fumble might cost him some carries going forward. It’s too soon, and the schedule is too tough. He is a trendy add, but I say stay away for now.
Add Odell Beckham right now. Don’t make me tell you again. Right now, Beckham is touchdown-dependent, as he still has a hard-time getting open between the 20s, but he has been Eli Manning’s favorite red-zone target for the past three weeks with Victor Cruz lost to injury and Larry Donnell suddenly declining. He has three touchdowns in three weeks to show for it, and a better touchdown celebration than Victor Cruz.
Keep an eye on Doug Baldwin and Steve Johnson. I am not sold on either yet. At first glance, one would expect Baldwin’s looks to go up after the trade of Percy Harvin, but the fact is that Harvin was only playing on something like 60 percent of snaps anyway, with Baldwin (and Jermaine Kearse) firmly ahead of him on the depth chart. I attribute Baldwin’s suddenly stellar performance against the Rams on Sunday not to the Harvin trade, but to the fact that, for once, Seattle was playing from behind, forcing Russell Wilson to throw rather than rely on the ground game. I don’t expect Seattle to be playing from behind all that much going forward, so I am still hesitant to add Baldwin.
As for Steve Johnson, he has scored in three of four weeks, but had not really done much in terms of yardage until Sunday night against Denver—in garbage time. The scores are promising, yes, but as long as San Francisco is still competitive in their games, Johnson will be behind Michael Crabtree, Anquan Boldin, and Vernon Davis in the passing game. It is unusual for the 49ers to get beat so drastically so early (as they did in Denver), so to expect similar performances from Johnson in the future would be foolish. Hold off on adding him for now, too.
Finally, I have another great strategy at kicker. See, no one wants to carry two kickers, so a lot of really good kickers get released when their bye weeks come around. Case in point: Cody Parkey. His bye is behind him now, and he is still a top-ten fantasy kicker. Playing behind a good offense, Parkey is an awesome add. Snatch him up while/if you can.
Jordan Jackson is a writer for Scouts Alley. You can follow him on Twitter @jordanrjackson1
For the second time in five days, an upset bid in the NFL was denied by a blocked field-goal attempt in the waning seconds of the contest. The ends of the Jaguars/Titans and Jets/Patriots games were strikingly similar, but in the end, the favored team won in both instances.
If you chose New England in your survivor pool this week (which I would have certainly said was a sure bet), you’re safe—by the skin of your teeth.
Sure Bet: If you’ve yet to make your selection, I suggest going with the Cardinals over the Raiders.
Both of these teams came to life on offense this past week, but Oakland proved that, even on good days, they are still prone to committing crucial errors. Judging by their performance against the Chargers last week, it appears that Oakland has put the worst days of this season behind them, but they are still perhaps the worst team in the NFL.
Carson Palmer is back for the Redbirds, and with him comes a very timely wake-up slap for the Arizona offense. Palmer showed no ill effects from the nerve injury that cost him three games, as he lit up the Washington secondary in Week 6, and Oakland allows the highest completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks in the NFL. This one should be a cakewalk for AZ.
Another decent option is Seattle. The Seahawks visit the Edward Jones Dome to take on the Rams in Week 7. St. Louis has flashed promise with Austin Davis at quarterback, but against a truly formidable defense (San Francisco), the Rams’ inexperience showed. Things aren’t going to get easier against the Legion of Boom—even if they have looked more like the Legion of Bum recently.
Not So Fast: This, as always, is a tough one, but I’m going to take the Giants to upset the NFL’s hottest team, the Dallas Cowboys.
The way to beat Dallas is simply to stop the run; get DeMarco Murray off the field, wear out the defense, and make Tony Romo beat you through the air. So it’s a tall order, but it is one that the G-Men can accomplish.
The Cowboys have won the past five games on the strength of their offensive line. Until now, the unit has stayed completely healthy; now, right tackle Doug Free is set to miss a few weeks, and left tackle Tyron Smith will be playing on a suspect ankle. The absence of Free, especially, will play into Dallas’ ability to run the ball effectively, as he is one of the best run-blocking tackles in football.
Yes, New York got shutout in embarrassing fashion this past Sunday night. Yes, they lost their No. 1 wideout for the season. But remember: After the Patriots got stomped on primetime by Kansas City, they responded to resounding effect by slaughtering a hot Cincinnati team the very next week. The Giants, too, are capable of such a turnaround.
Surprise Performer: All this week, I listened to the “experts” on ESPN and NFL Network announce that it was time to drop C.J. Spiller from fantasy rosters. Spiller, in most leagues, turned in negative points last week against New England, rushing for 19 yards and losing a fumble on only six carries. It was the latest in a series of worsening fantasy performances. So if Spiller turns in a good performance this week, it will unquestionably be a surprise.
The reason I like Spiller this week is solely because of his opponent: the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are currently ranking 19th against the run, but they have had that statistic aided by facing toothless ground games like Detroit and Atlanta. Against teams with decent backs, the Vikings have routinely been gashed. Think back to the New England and Green Bay games in particular.
If Minnesota linebacker Chad Greenway returns to the lineup this week, Spiller’s chances of “surprising” anyone decrease a bit, but, even in the timeshare he occupies with Fred Jackson and Anthony Dixon, Spiller will get big-play opportunities against Minnesota’s susceptible defense. Look for him to break a big one. He ain’t dead yet, folks.
Disaster Waiting to Happen: Last week, I bet against the 49ers defense and I was totally RIGHT… for one quarter. After the first quarter, San Francisco’s defense shut down St. Louis for the remainder of the game. This week, I am justly rolling with the Niners.
Everybody is just assuming that this will be the week that Peyton Manning breaks Brett Favre’s career touchdown passes record. Hello? Have you people considered Manning’s opponent? This ain’t the Raiders or the Jets. This is San Francisco. If there is a team in the league that can hold Manning under three touchdowns it is the 49ers.
San Francisco is second in the league in total defense, and second in defending the pass. They have allowed fewer than three touchdown passes in every game this season. Therefore, the Denver receiving corps is my “Disaster Waiting to Happen.” You cannot possibly sit Demaryius Thomas or Julius Thomas, I know, but if you can replace Emmanuel Sanders, I suggest you do it. Wes Welker should not even be a consideration this week.
I also think the Colts offense is in for a letdown this week. That is, I like Cincinnati’s ravaged defense to finally bounce back to its former formidable self. You cannot sit Andrew Luck, but bench his receivers if you can afford to do so.
Jordan Jackson is a writer for Scouts Alley. You can follow him on Twitter @JordanJackson1.
Who’s been getting it done out West? Part 3 of our trimester review.
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals
Stud: Andre Ellington is finally healthy, and he’s beginning to really produce for fantasy owners. He’s getting the vast majority of the team’s carries, including in the red zone, and his involvement in the passing game makes him a deadly dual-threat, especially in PPR leagues.
Dud: In what’s becoming a theme in these reviews, Larry Fitzgerald is yet another former stud receiver who seems to be on a bit of a decline. He finally had a strong outing last week against the Redskins (another theme), but he’s more of a WR3 or flex at this point, and the emergence of Ellington means the Cardinals will likely throw a bit less than before.
Sleeper: John Brown has cooled off after a solid start, but he still has more fantasy points then Fitzgerald so far, and the return of Carson Palmer should improve the team’s passing attack.
Seattle Seahawks
Stud: Marshawn Lynch has been getting it done in the receiving game as of late, with 3 TDs in his last four games, adding another facet to his game to complement his typically solid rushing stats. He’s by far the Seahawks’ most reliable producer.
Dud: Percy Harvin hasn’t been the versatile weapons that the Seahawks were hoping for, and his fantasy value has plummeted despite solid efforts to get him the ball. The big plays just aren’t happening.
Sleeper: Ricardo Lockette won’t get a lot of targets in this offense, but he does have a couple of touchdowns, and he’s arguably been the teams best deep threat so far, with big plays in wins against the Packers and Seahawks.
San Francisco 49ers
Stud: Colin Kaepernick isn’t the most consistent fantasy option at QB, but his 343-yard, 3-TD performance against the Rams was yet another example of his tantalizing potential. He has weapons in Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree, Stevie Johnson and Brandon Lloyd, and he’s one of the best dual-threats at his position.
Dud: Vernon Davis has been a non-factor aside from a two-TD performance in the team’s opener. With questionable health and inconsistent production, he’s a risky tight end option at this point.
Sleeper: Carlos Hyde is behind Frank Gore on the depth chart, but Gore is hardly injury-proof. Hyde has been solid when given carries and is one of the better handcuffs at RB.
St. Louis Rams
Stud: Brian Quick has quietly put together a productive season, with 22 catches and 3 TDs in five games. He’s Austin Davis’ favorite receiver, so the targets will be there.
Dud: Zac Stacy is ceding a lot of carries to Benny Cunningham and has struggled with nagging injuries throughout the season. With Tre Mason starting to emerge in the backfield, he’s not in a great fantasy situation.
Sleeper: Mason looked like the Rams’ best back against the 49ers, with 62 yards on 7 touches in only 9 snaps. The former Heisman finalist has the talent to surpass Stacy and Cunningham eventually.
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos
Stud: Julius Thomas has been historically great this season, and he’s on pace to shatter Randy Moss’ single-season receiving TD record. Whether he’ll get there or not remains to be seen, but as Peyton Manning’s go-to guy in the red zone, he’s one of the best players in fantasy football, regardless of position.
Dud: Montee Ball was disappointing even before his groin injury forced him out for a few weeks, as he didn’t look like the top-5 fantasy back owners were hoping he could become.
Sleeper: The Broncos like Juwan Thompson a lot, and he’s a good fit for their offense. Look for him to get more work alongside Ronnie Hilman with Ball Out.
San Diego Chargers
Stud: Philip Rivers is orchestrating the Chargers passing attack to perfection, spreading the ball around and playing with a rare blend of production and efficiency. He’s proven to be a top-5 QB regardless of the matchup, as evidenced by his performance against the vaunted Seahawks secondary.
Dud: Keenan Allen has failed to build on his Rookie of the Year campaign, as he’s only had one great game so far. He isn’t getting as many targets as last year and he’s been bothered by a bum quad, but there’s a good chance he can turn things around.
Sleeper: A popular preseason breakout candidate, Ladarius Green hasn’t really gotten his shot with Antonio Gates playing so well, but he has freakish speed and athleticism for his position, and with the way Rivers is playing, anyone on the team seems capable of a breakout.
Kansas City Chiefs
Stud: Now that he’s healthy, Jamaal Charles is staring to remind fans of the ridiculous talent that made him a top-5 fantasy pick. He has legitimate big-play ability, he’s a big factor in the passing game, and it doesn’t look like Knile Davis will cut into his carries.
Dud: Dwayne Bowe is getting targets, he’s just not getting any big plays or touchdowns. He’ll get you a few catches but not much else, and he doesn’t seem a likely breakout candidate due to the Chiefs’ conservative passing game.
Sleeper: DeAnthony Thomas won’t get more than a couple of touches in any given game, but if your league gives points for kick or punt returns, then this dangerous return man is worth consideration for desperate owners.
Oakland Raiders
Stud: Derek Carr has probably been the most impressive rookie signal caller this season, and he’s coming off a four-TD performance. He seems more confident now, and more importantly, the team seems more confident in him, so he should have plenty of opportunities to air it out.
Dud: Maurice Jones-Drew has been virtually nonexistent so far and is well behind Darren McFadden in terms of carries and production. He’s not worth owning at this point.
Sleeper: He may not qualify as a true sleeper at this point, but if Andre Holmes is still out their in your league, he’s definitely worth a look. His size and big-play ability give him massive upside.
Matt Graber is a writer for Scouts Alley and Air Alamo and an editor at Wizards 101. Follow him on Twitter @Matt14Graber
We head East for part two of our Fantasy Football Trimester Review.
AFC EAST
New England Patriots
Stud: It appears that reports of Tom Brady’s demise have been greatly exaggerated. Back-to-back strong performances against the Bengals and Bills have pushed Brady back into fantasy relevancy. The Patriots offense is still a question mark, but Brady has proven in the past that he doesn’t need top-shelf receivers to produce.
Dud: It’s not entirely his fault, but Shane Vereen hasn’t produced like his owners have hoped he would this season. He’ll get more carries with Stevan Ridley injured, but don’t expect him to be a 20-carries-a-game bell cow all of the sudden.
Sleeper: Brian Tyms has one reception this season, but it was an impressive 43-yard touchdown grab. He has the speed to become the team’s premier deep threat.
Buffalo Bills
Stud: Fred Jackson has outperformed backfield mate C.J Spiller and has been the best and most consistent fantasy performer for the Bills this season. His reliability and receiving skills make him a solid RB2.
Dud: E.J Manuel has gone from fantasy sleeper to benchwarmer, replaced by Kyle Orton despite the team’s strong start. He has talent but he just hasn’t looked like a starting NFL QB. If he doesn’t start for his NFL team, there’s no way he can start for your fantasy team.
Sleeper: Robert Woods had a strong outing against the Pats last week, with 78 yards and a touchdown. He’s a good route runner and could develop into a nice complement to Sammy Watkins.
Miami Dolphins
Stud: Lamar Miller has impressed after a disappointing start to his career. He’s averaging over 5 yards per carry, and with Knowshon Moreno out for the year, he seems to have the starting running back job locked up.
Dud: Charles Clay has been seemingly nonexistent this season after a strong 2013 campaign where he caught 69 balls. With zero touchdowns and no 50-yard games so far, he’s no longer a starting option, and he’s really not even a great backup.
Sleeper: Jarvis Landry is a playmaker, and after last week’s performance he could surpass Brian Hartline in the pecking order. He’s worth keeping an eye on.
New York Jets
Stud: There isn’t really a fantasy stud on this roster, but Jace Amaro had a nice breakout game last week, and if he keeps getting targets, he could quickly become a starting option at a thin position.
Dud: Chris Johnson has seen his carries steadily decline in recent weeks, to the point where he’s no longer a significant factor in the Jets running came. He’s a far cry from the player that once had a 2,000-yard season.
Sleeper: Again, hard to find a true sleeper on this team. If Johnson keeps losing carries and Chris Ivory continues to underwhelm, Bilal Powell could start getting more carries.
NFC EAST
Philadephia Eagles
Stud: This may seem like a weird pick on a team with so much offensive talent, but the Eagles D/ST has been the rare defense that can actually swing a fantasy game. They keep finding ways to score touchdowns, and their pass rush looked great against the Giants, so they should provide plenty of sacks.
Dud: McCoy finally broke out against the Giants, but he’s not forgiven for the preceding weeks. He did have to work with a patchwork offensive line, but weeks with 1, 2 and 6 points are hard to stomach from a top-5 fantasy pick.
Sleeper: Jordan Matthews has cooled down since his two-TD performance against the Redskins, but he does have at least 4 catches in his last 4 games. He gets targets and he has the size to become a red-zone threat.
Dallas Cowboys
Stud: This one is a no-brainer. DeMarco Murray has been dominant this season, with at least 100 yards in every game he’s played, plus 6 TDs. He’s running behind a monster offensive line in an offense that seems committed to the run. The only concern is that he may wear down from so many carries.
Dud: With Tony Romo throwing less, and with Dez Bryant and Terrence Williams entrenched as his top two receivers, Jason Witten doesn’t see a lot of targets these days, and he’s no longer a good source of touchdowns.
Sleeper: Murray probably can’t run the ball 25 times a game all year, and if Joesph Randle falls out of favor due to his arrest, Lance Dunbar could be used to spell Murray when needed. He can also contribute in the passing game.
New York Giants
Stud: Outside of duds in Weeks 1 and 6, Eli Manning has been solid, with at least two touchdowns in the other four games, including a 5-TD performance against the Redskins. He looks more comfortable in Ben McAdoo’s offense, and even without Victor Cruz, he has weapons.
Dud: It seems unfair to givethis to a guy who just suffered a serious injury, but Cruz wasn’t having a great season before his injury, with four games of 6 or less fantasy points. Here’s hoping he has a full and speedy recovery, as he’s one of the game’s most exciting players.
Sleeper: Everyone knows about Reuben Randle and Odell Beckham at this point, but don’t sleep on Corey Washington. The 6’4″ receiver caught four touchdowns this preseason.
Washington Redskins
Stud: The Redskins brought in DeSean Jackson to make big plays, and he’s done just that, with three games of 100 receiving yards and a TD. He’s a bit hit-or-miss, but his big-play potential is undeniable. He only needs one touch to change the complexion of a game.
Dud: Pierre Garcon hasn’t exactly been a dud, but he hasn’t come close to replicating last year’s numbers. There’s a lot of variance in the Redskins’ passing attack, so he’s not as reliable as he once was. He could catch 10 passes or 2 passes any given week.
Sleeper: Roy Helu isn’t going to replace Alfred Morris as the team’s go-to back barring injury, but he’s a skilled receiver out of the backfield, and he’s made some big plays this season. He’s worth consideration in PPR leagues.
Matt Graber is a writer for Scouts Alley and Air Alamo and an editor at Wizards 101. Follow him on Twitter @Matt14Graber
Oct 11, 2014; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears wide receiver KD Cannon (9) catches a touchdown pass as TCU Horned Frogs cornerback Nick Orr (18) chases during the first half at McLane Stadium.
Zany 100-plus-point shootouts. Come-from-behind victories within the last seconds of games. Shockwaves being sent through an entire region due to the resurgence of one state’s major programs. These are some of the many storylines within an exciting—and still fresh—college football season for 2014.
Week 6 saw Arizona State spoil USC’s ascension back to the upper room with their shocking 38-34 win in LA. In Week 7, we were blessed with a game straight from the annals of a Sony Playstation computer code; Baylor’s Bryce Petty put up 510 yards on 55 pass attempts and 6 touchdowns to bring the Bears back from a 21-point deficit in the fourth quarter. This weekend, we will witness the revival of a ’90s superpower rivalry, pitting Notre Dame against Florida State in Tallahassee.
There is plenty to come, but let’s review some of the headlines of what we have seen so far:
Football is back in the state of Mississippi
It was generally acknowledged that the Mississippi State Bulldogs and Ole Miss Rebels would be good this year, especially considering the latter was ranked 18th in the Associated Press Top-25 Poll when they opened their schedule in Atlanta versus Boise State. Even the Bulldogs’ upset win over LSU was not that surprising. And yet, one weekend in the beginning of October changed everything.
Saturday, October 4th will go down in infamy as the day all Magnolia State alums rejoiced; their flagship schools became serious players in college football again. In Starkville, Mississippi State simply out-gunned the Texas A&M offensive machine by a final of 48-31. Then, with all eyes on Oxford, the Rebels got past the proverbial bullies of the conference by defeating Alabama 23-17.
Both teams followed up their Week 6 upsets with strong showings in Week 7. Mississippi State took down the other big school from the Heart of Dixie, and the Rebels sidestepped past the Aggies with ease. Dak Prescott was unflappable versus Auburn despite a few turnovers, finishing with 246 yards passing and 121 yards rushing on the day. The 12th Man was no match for all the momentum Ole Miss carried into College Station; the Rebels forced a pick-six on Aggie quarterback Kenny Hill that put the contest out of reach before halftime.
Oct 4, 2014; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs defensive back Justin Cox (9) and Mississippi State Bulldogs running back Josh Robinson (13) celebrate their teams win against the Texas A&M Aggies at Davis Wade Stadium. The Bulldogs defeated the Aggies 48-31. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
Ole Miss now sits third in the AP Polls—and Mississippi State is No. 1 in the land. In fact, the Bulldogs are the fastest team to go from unranked to the top of the AP in its total history. The question is, can they stay there? Both schools still have plenty of tough opponents from the SEC West to play. If somehow they can remain in their current positions, this year’s Egg Bowl will have not only conference championship, but national championship implications. As impressive as both squads have performed to date, the notion of this still sounds a little odd.
Big Ten is earning its reputation for “toting the rock”
After Braxton Miller’s preseason injury and Week 2 loss by Michigan State to the Ducks of Oregon, your grandfather’s favorite college football conference looked insignificant in the broad scope of things. Alas, there is still something for him to stick that chin out on: the running game!
As of all games through October 14th, the Big Ten sports three of the top-10 rushing offenses in the country. Wisconsin sits at the top piling up on average 343 yards per game; Nebraska and Indiana are fifth and sixth respectively, each compiling over 300 yards on the ground per contest. You could even attribute Arkansas, the school that rounds out the top-10 within the category, and their success at running the ball to the Big Ten.
Their head coach Bret Bielema has basically taken the formula he learned while steering the ship that Barry Alvarez built with the Badgers to Fayetteville. If you listen in on a televised game featuring the Razorbacks, you’re almost certain to hear a commentator gush at how Arkansas’ O-Line is bigger than any college or pro team’s. Recruiting gargantuan bodies for the trenches has been a long-standing staple of Wisconsin football.
Individually, the conference is highlighted on the ground as well. The top rusher in the nation right now is running back Tevin Coleman of Indiana, but Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon is nipping at his heels. Both players have over 1,000 yards rushing on the season. Speedy all-purpose back Ameer Abdullah from Nebraska is fourth with 878 rushing yards; Minnesota’s David Cobb, piling up 819 yards on the ground, is seventh in the country.
Depending on the status of Todd Gurley’s eligibility for Georgia this year, and possible slips in public opinion on high-profile QBs already in contention, the Heisman Trophy winner could very well come from the Big Ten. What would be ironic is if at the same juncture the conference can’t place its eventual champion into a playoff slot.
CFB Playoff will be another case of ‘The Haves and the Have Nots’
The clamor for a solution to “settle it on the field” finally gained steam. Rudy’s proclamation notwithstanding, the powers that be surely assume there will be nothing but approval bestowed upon 2014’s postseason results. We all know that most (besides the athletes themselves) are winning financially, but will we truly crown a worthy champion?
There is little deviation between the AP and Coaches’ Polls so far this season—and both have shown an affinity for the SEC West. But have all of their teams deserved it? LSU, while still highly talented, doesn’t appear to be a team that should have been thought of as a top-10 contender. Alabama is prime for a disappointing multiple-loss campaign, to the chagrin of their iron maiden of a ballcoach.
For that matter, the SEC as a whole is probably overrated. The East Division is simply not good. Florida is lucky to have any wins this year besides a drubbing of Eastern Michigan. UGA is competent but flawed without Gurley. Kentucky and Tennessee are nice stories, but won’t be competing for much besides your typical middle-of-the-pack bowl game bid. Vanderbilt is, well, yeah…
Now compare all of the SEC to the Pac-12. Or perhaps the Big-12. You should notice a difference in that other conferences actually have better teams lower on the rung. Teams like Utah, Washington State, Oklahoma State and Kansas State. Maybe it’s time to start believing the Oregons and Baylors of the world have it tougher than we thought.
The problem is, when forecasting what the College Football Playoff rankings may look like come the middle of November, a prediction of the four coveted spots of interest seems log-jammed with usual suspects. The SEC really should only have one representative—their rightful conference champion after a brawl in the Georgia Dome. Yet, based on the current AP Polls placing half of the Top-10 as Southeastern Conference members, it appears that there could be at least two or more destined to make it in.
Marshall’s quarterback Rakeem Cato (12) looks for a receiver in the “Battle for the Bell” against the Ohio Bobcats at Joan C. Edwards Stadium. Charleston Daily Mail/Craig Cunningham 9/13/14
By the way, what about equal representation? After all, there is still Marshall who should be a bigger part of the equation. With a veteran quarterback in Rakeem Cato, the Thundering Herd are 6-0 and showing no signs of stopping. Conference USA doesn’t provide the best resume for the other team from West Virginia, which is why East Carolina is ranked ahead of Marshall despite having lost to South Carolina. But shouldn’t not losing count for something more than a simple nod in cracking the Top-25?
As we look towards the second portion of the college football season, here are three games in Week 9 that standout:
(21) Texas A&M vs (7) Alabama
The Aggies have suffered back-to-back division losses in as many weeks. They’re reeling. The defense looks lost, and the other side of the ball is showing signs of added pressure because of it. If Kenny Hill and the offense can play mistake-free football for four quarters, they can outscore the Crimson Tide. Alabama will be looking to provide a crippling body blow in this knockout match of a game, with the winner still on track for a potential late push into playoff contention.
(15) Oklahoma State vs (12) TCU
The Horned Frogs, coming off a wild-west showdown in Waco, will look to bounce back at home against the Cowboys. Oklahoma State has shown admirable resolve after losing QB J.W. Walsh to injury; Tyreek Hill has the world-class speed to change the outcome of any battle on one play (such as his 99-yard kickoff return TD against Kansas last week). Okie State would set up a huge game versus Baylor towards the end of November with a win over Texas Christian. TCU can stay in the conference title hunt if QB Trevone Boykin can provide a lead for his opportunistic defense.
(5) Notre Dame vs (2) Florida State
Nostalgia reigns supreme in this colossal clash of the titans. The Fighting Irish and Seminoles are similar in many respects—both have playmakers behind center and controversy surrounding their programs. Once you get past all the hoopla and extra chatter not dealing with what happens between the lines, there is a great matchup between the Notre Dame offense and ‘Noles’ defense to look forward to.
The Golden Domers may slow down Jameis Winston and Co. to some degree, but they won’t totally shut FSU down. The key will be if Everett Golson can match his counterpart on the scoreboard long enough for his troops to believe they can pull out a W in hostile territory. If RBs Mario Pender and Dalvin Cook gain around five yards per carry (as they did in the Carrier Dome for FSU), the Garnet and Gold will not make it a close affair.
Tons of change can occur in the next few weeks as we draw closer to the playoff selection committee’s first official rankings release. Look for two to three schools among the Big-12, Big Ten and/or Pac-12 to establish themselves as legit contenders too impressive to ignore by the end of October.
Featured Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Ariel Bedford writes for Scouts Alley. A freelancer from Florida, he also is a contributor for Bleacher Report. Check out his personal media profile page and follow him on Twitter @mpcmi.
Well I’m back. To no acclaim at all, I’m back. Nobody asked for it, so here I am.
But I’m good for something, folks. I brought back Touchdown Tom, that Jelly-bean, from the dead. I brought him back single-handedly.
What’d I do? Well I called him out, of course. Look: September 24, I call him a Jelly-bean. On September 29, he plays like the biggest damn Jelly-bean in the history of The Shield. I take a week off—well, two weeks off. Cabo isn’t too kind, not that that’s where I was or anything—and Brady plays the game of his life. Or just the game of the year. Either way, it was my belittling him the week before that allowed his success.
“Oh, you betcha, Tom. I’ll downtalk you anytime, pal. Just send me the check at the end of the year. Let’s call it 10 percent of your salary. Yeah, that should do it.”
Yep, those are my powers. But who to put down today… hmmm…
Well KC and N’Orleans are off, so those won’t work. Can’t do it to Touchdown Tom, not again. Not Bortles, not yet—but soon. Eli’s too much of a Jelly-bean, and damn it we don’t need to go down that road again.
Ohhh….
Haha.
Got it.
Flacco.
He’s playing the Falcons, and the Falcons pass defense plays as well as a pile of hot garbage. So there’s no pressure on Flacco to perform, because anyone could perform against those Falcons. But he won’t. Not now. I’ve never been a big Flacco guy, not that it really means anything, but I have no faith in him. None. Zilch.
I’m too excited now. I can’t wait til Sunday at one to watch Flacco do whatever it is he’ll do. Maybe he won’t play horribly this week, but I can guarantee he’ll be a stud in Cincinnati two weeks from now. Don’t ask how it works. I have no idea. But it works, and you can count on it.
I don’t talk about college football much because it’s not as fun. There’s less viciousness, fewer savages, fewer steroids than we see in The League. And the NCAA is made up of a bunch of nincompoops, in my estimation.
How does Todd Gurley—a future legend in the NFL, no doubt—get suspended for making $5 per autograph? What bunch of idiots would rule against him in that way? Just the NCAA, that’s who. It’s infuriating. Six months from now, when Gurley is destined for NFL stardom, he’ll be set. He can sign all the garbage he wants and get all the money in the world while he’s still in school… as long as he’s not a “student-athlete.” Balderdash. That’s right: Balderdash.
What stupidity. Just outrageous stupidity.
I want to rail against the system in favor of Jameis, too, but good God, does he keep making mistakes. That’s another column, though. Screw your head on straight, kid. You’ve got the whole world in your hands.
Ah, to be young and dumb again…
Jon.
Jon Vasco is a columnist for Scouts Alley. That’s all there is to it.
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