Laurence Maroney was a great back to have last year in Fantasy, especially if your league allowed return yards in its scores. His 939 yards rushing and receiving, along with 7 touchdowns, proved that he was able to get things done. The 783 return yards he added to that total turned him into a viable starter, but mainly for leagues utilizing return yards. Should we expect more of the same for Maroney this year?   

One of the bigger issues with Maroney is that New England seems to have shifted their offensive philosophy slightly away from the running attack of the past few years. With Corey Dillon gone and the new receivers coming in, it’s pretty clear that Maroney will have a tougher time getting the ball. Dillon was a great compliment to Maroney’s quick, shifty running style, and it often kept defenses off balance. You also have to worry about injury, as Maroney started to break down at the end of the season.  

The addition of the new receivers (Randy Moss, Donte Stallworth, Wes Welker and Kelley Washington) will both help and hurt him. For one, the better passing game will force teams pay more attention to the pass, which should open up more room for Maroney. But, on the flip side, more passes will be thrown, and that might mean fewer carries for him. The passing game may also be used much more in the red zone, taking away touchdowns from Maroney.   

Perhaps the biggest blow to his value, however, might be the addition of Welker. Maroney will be losing his role as the teams returner, partly because of Welker’s arrival, but also to alleviate the punishment his body took. This means a significant loss of yards, and thus points, for Maroney. Too, Welker is expected to be the third receiver, meaning Maroney very well may see even less receptions than he did last year. 

 So, what’s the prognosis? Maroney will not be the productive back he was last year in leagues counting returns. But even for leagues with standard rules and scoring, he’s still a tough pick that’s better left on the bench until we can see how Belichick utilizes him – which we won’t see until game 1. He’s definitely worth a mid-round pick, but you can find better players with more upside in rounds 1-4, and possibly in the next few rounds.

Comparable backs with better value: DeAngelo Williams, Jamal Lewis, LaDel Betts, Marshawn Lynch.

 It’s time again to post the NFL2007 Power Rankings now that we’ve gotten camp started and one game under our belt. Last time, we created quite a buzz with some fans, and I doubt this time will be any different. So, without any further ado, here are the ranks:

New England – Precious little has happened to force me to change my opinion on the Patriots’ ranking. I still believe they have the best coaching staff, best players and best chances of any team in the league.

Denver – Again, not much new. If anything, my thoughts on Denver are becoming more solidified. I’ve seen and heard more great things about where this team is going, how it’s really gelling and how far it has improved from last year. Gerard Warren, should he be moved, won’t be missed that much.

San Diego – I swear I’m not doing this because I got reamed last time. Really. But I do think more of the staff than I did previously. I don’t think they should be put above Denver yet, but they’re going in the right direction. I’ve heard great things about Craig Davis in camp, so they may have even less attention on Gates and Tomlinson – which is scary.

Baltimore – I didn’t get scared off by Baltimore, I just saw better things coming from the Chargers. Still, in my opinion, a more complete team than Indy or Cincinnati. Almost here by default again.

Chicago – Here’s our first surprise. Chicago’s D has been helped by Lance Briggs coming back, and by the trade for Darwin Walker. There’s no reason to think last year’s dominance won’t return. As for the Offense, I really liked what I saw from Greg Olsen the other night. He gives the team a much needed shot in the arm as far as talent goes. Grossman looked good, but he looked good at times last year, too, so nothing to report there. Benson, Peterson and Wolfe should easily handle the running game, and the entire unit as a whole looked more intent on getting things done.

Indianapolis – They sunk because of their recent losses. Tony Ugoh may handle the transition to starting NFL left tackle well, but we can’t be certain until he does it. Anthony McFarland was huge in the middle for them, and he will be sorely missed. If they can’t stop the run, they’ll be susceptible to over the top passes, and suddenly all 5 teams above look capable of hitting them hard. The offense as a whole, however, can still beat anyone.

Cincinnati – I don’t know that Chris Henry will be too large a loss for Cincy to overcome in the early part of the year. The loss of Kenny Irons may put a damper on things a bit, but his impact wasn’t yet felt. The rest of the offense will be exciting to watch, and, like the Colts, will carry the team. It’s the D you have to worry about, with very young corners and suspect safeties. Again, this might be what dooms the Bengals.

New Orleans – This is where things become not so clear. I really don’t think that the Saints are better than the Bears right now, and I doubt they’re any better than Cincinnati. I just have a bad feeling that this year is a jinxed one. But, bringing it back to what I see, this is still a strong unit. Drew Brees will lead the offense, and if Robert Meachem can assimilate to the NFL properly, there will be another huge playmaker in the Delta. The Defense has made the most strides, though, and should be a much stronger unit. Whether or not that means being able to be tops in the NFC remains unseen.

Pittsburgh – Rejuvenation is what will characterize the Steelers this year. Their young coach will be tested in the tough conference, but he has the players and staff to pull it out. Everyone is much more focused than last year, and the players look ready to go.

Philadelphia – I’m just going to reiterate what I said last time, because I think it still says it all for me:  McNabb is back, and he’s the clear leader of the offense. Kevin Curtis will help with the receiver issues, and Spikes was brought in to help their linebacker situation. Everything else is intact. For the most part, this might be enough to get the team back in contention. On paper at least, they look they could tangle with the Bears and come out ahead (preview of the NFC title game in week 7?). I can’t let them go any higher than third in the conference, though, until they prove it.

Dallas – Yes, their receivers are worrying me right now, but there’s no reason to think they won’t be ready to go in the regular season. Teams tend to take it easy on players during camp – when they have injuries, that is – so I try not to see too much in TO and Glenn resting. Romo will have a much better year than last year, and the Defense seems primed. Additionally, New York seems to be falling apart, and Washington is, well, Washington.

NY Jets – I originally placed the Jets higher than Dallas, but a lot of that was based on Revis being at the entire camp. It was also based on a healthy Thomas Jones, but he’s several weeks away from being completely healthy. Still, this is a team that should be able to at least hang in there with the better teams of the AFC.

Seattle – I just can’t find a lot to like about this team, but they do have nice talent, so I have to list them this high. Shawn Alexander, Matt Hasselback and Deon Branch will try to carry the offense. That tandem should be enough to get them some wins.

Saint Louis – I’ve been watching a lot about this team, and have seen a lot of nice things from them. The off-season pickups they had seem to be all positives, and they’re in the perfect conference to make a huge improvement. I’ve been saying for a while now that this is a team that could challenge for the division crown if everyone stays healthy. Drew Bennett and Brian Leonard will open up the offense a lot. And Adam Carriker looks a lot better at tackle than most thought he would. There’s a lot of upside to this team.

Carolina – Another NFC team – this seems to be the NFC doldrums. Carolina, though, is a team that could easily sky rocket north. The biggest issue I have is Mike Minter’s retirement. That’s a lot of leadership and knowledge to lose, especially when there’s not much to replace him. The offense will be fine, though, and may be the biggest strength of the team – the first time in a while you could really say that about the Panthers.

San Francisco – I love what Mike Nolan has done to this team. It reminds me a lot of what Bill Walsh did when he came in – more respect, more responsibility, more class. There seems to be a nice core of players leading the upward trend on the team, and it will hopefully last for years to come. Alex Smith, Vernon Davis and Frank Gore lead the offence, with newcomers Ashley Lelie and Darel Jackson assisting. The defense is stronger, too, and should pose a nice challenge to opposing offenses. This is one of the few teams in the NFC that could really surprise this year.

Jacksonville –  I’m still not sure about this team. The offensive woes have to be fixed in order for this team to succeed. You have to place the blame on the shoulders of the quarterbacks first, and the receivers second. Lack of production has plagued them for the past few seasons. I don’t see a lot changing now. The defense, however, should be stronger, and will be able to carry the team when the offense isn’t right – but they can only go so far without scoring.

Miami – Miami gains the 18th spot by default. There’s a clear line below of teams that have too many issues to be ranked this highly. Trent Green will help the offense tremendously if he regains his pre-concussion form. Still, you have to wonder if the team helped itself enough in the off-season by shedding more players than it brought in. I feel another year of up and down play for Dolphins fans.

New York Giants – You have to admit that the Giants aren’t looking like a team on solid ground right now. Reports of backbiting still persist, their top receiver is hobbled by an ankle injury, nobody seems to like the coach, their quarterback can’t keep his mouth shut and their biggest defensive threat is sitting out while mulling retirement. They were almost ranked lower, and when writing the word preceding this sentence, I came close to moving them down. But, read on…

Tennessee – This team is completely different without Vince Young. And that should scare anyone. This team is mostly unproven, and distractions abound. Still, there’s a lot of talent to go around, and this team could again surprise people and make a run at the playoffs.

Tampa Bay – Tennessee moves up, Tampa moves down. It’s not so much a sign of Tampa getting worse, but more that Tennessee has answered questions. You have to wonder about the Simeon Rice release, even though he may still re-sign with them. Placing your pass rush squarely on Kevin Carter and rookie Gaines Adams isn’t exactly an easy choice. But, new playmakers are rising, and the staff is amazingly high on the additions from the off-season. They swear their offensive line issues have been solved, but they’ve said that for the past 8 years.

Washington – Here’s another NFC team in the quagmire of mediocrity. Clinton Portis is hurting again, but with Ladell Betts around, most people don’t really care. Jason Campbell does look good, but things change in the regular season. I’m actually really interested in seeing what the defense can do this year. They have the players around to be a solid unit, they just have to live up to their abilities. One thing that doesn’t work in the Redskins’ favor, though, is the decently tough division they play in.

Detroit – You can yell at me all you want, post bad things about and threaten me. I don’t care. Right now I truly believe the Lions are better than any of the teams below them. Huge strides have been made. This is a team on the upswing – how far the upswing travels, I don’t know. But, Jon Kitna, Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson and the rest of the Mike Martz led offense will be exciting this year. The defense lost some talent with Dre Bly moving to Denver, but here’s enough there to make things difficult on opposing teams. I’m not saying this team will make the playoffs, but in a weak division, they will win more games.

Atlanta – Atlanta’s problems start with Vick. This team was already on shaky ground with him, and you can imagine what it would be like without him. I have no issues with Joey Harrington being their quarterback, but I do question the ability of the offense to consistently move with him. That’s not to say that he’s the problem; rather, I worry about their receivers still. Joe Horn will help take pressure off Harrington, but it was Vick’s mobility that kept defenses closer to the line last year, allowing passes to exist. With that mobility gone, however, opponents can either stack the line, taking away the rush or opening up the blitz, or they can keep men off and force Harrington to throw it to covered receivers. And this is not a defense that can carry the team.

Arizona – It’s hard to rank this team, because I think on paper they look like a mid-teens squad. The problem is that they look that way every year, so I can’t justify putting them any higher. It’s too soon to say Matt Leinart is the real deal, but he’s always looked like an NFL quarterback to me. He’s surrounded by talent, and the coaching staff seems determined to bring a more professional approach to the game. One thing Arizona will have to contend with is their division. It’s not overly tough, but it is full of teams that hover just above Arizona’s skill level. A good thing, though, is that the Cardinals do have the easiest schedule in the league.

Buffalo – Everything about this team is starting to look really good. Watching their game last Friday, I really liked what I saw. And not that they were winning, throwing passes or things like that, but that there was hard running, good decisions, well-called plays and solid defensive effort. When a team loses because of poor play, you understand it. When a team loses and they’re playing well, you can honestly say it’s lack of talent. It takes a lot to correct the prior, but very little to do so for the latter. I think Buffalo looks like a team this year.

Kansas City – Larry Johnson’s contract should be fixed soon, but the bigger issue here is quarterback. Neither quarterback is particularly proven, Damon Huard’s success last year aside. I still think the defense is a little weak, but it should be respectable. There’s just a bad feeling about Kansas City, and I’d wager on the 26 teams above to take them any given week.

Green Bay – The more I see of the Packers, the lower they fall in my mind. They’ve done nothing to replace any of the talent they’ve lost in the past few years. Detroit has gotten stronger, Chicago looms at the top of the division, and even Minnesota looks stronger in a lot of areas than Green Bay.

Minnesota – You should have seen them coming next. I would be more hyped on this team if I believed more in Travaris Jackson, Adrian Peterson and any of the butterfingered receivers they’ve got. Their defense looks unspectacular, but solid enough to keep the team in contention for wins – if the offense could score.

Cleveland – Brady Quinn’s holdout really killed my expectations for this team. But, they’ve got a nice young core to build off of, and next year they will probably have a nice new coach. I like Romeo Crennel, but I don’t see him getting anything done this year. Jamal Lewis will be a beast, and I think their offense will do well, but not until Quinn gets in. By then, it might be too late.

Houston – Matt Schaub, meet the turf. Get friendly with it – it’ll be your only friend this year.

Oakland – Daunte Culpepper’s knee will be huge for the Raiders, because JaMarcus Russell’s nonsensical holdout has killed his chances of starting this year. If Daunte is fine and can get back to his old self, this is a team that could shake up the Playoff hunt – particularly in the AFC West, where they could easily play spoiler. This team does have the talent, but it’s key issues are great: Weak line = poor passing and poor running = too few points to win. What Lane Kiffin does to boost morale will also be key.

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 It’s no secret that Tennessee has been looking hard at many of the available defensive lineman on the market today. Simeon Rice has been to visit the Titans, and the team is seriously mulling over their options for a trade with Denver that would include Gerard Warren. Another lineman on their radar, although considered a long shot, is Chicago’s Alex Brown.  

 The question that needs to be asked is whether or not Tennessee is looking in the wrong place for help. The line already includes ends Kyle Vanden Bosch, Travis LaBoy and Antwan Odom. The tackles are Albert Haynesworth, Rien Long and Randy Starks. These aren’t huge names, to say the least, but all have been known to get the job done.  

 This isn’t to say that any of the three would be poor additions, either. Indeed, Simeon Rice makes a lot of sense to me, because he’s a free agent and the Titans give nothing up for him. However, trading for a tackle or end doesn’t seem wise. Instead, maybe the Titans should look for receiving help to shore up the offense. The impact could easily be felt there, and wouldn’t make just a nominal difference.

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Apparently, those rumors about Kurt Warner heading to Minnesota are unfounded. Ken Wisenhunt is swearing that he wouldn’t trade their most seasoned backup, even if he were offered a trade.

 The transaction makes sense for Minnesota, as they would then have a fall back should Travaris Jackson fail to pan out. But Arizona would be left with only Shane Boyd and Toby Korrodi – not exactly two guys I’d want to base my season on should Matt Leinart go down.  

So, who would Minnesota turn to next? One never knows, but the market for proven backups isn’t exactly huge. Most teams that have one are unwilling to part. Although, you would have to think teams with several viable quarterbacks like Tampa – who has Chris Simms, Bruce Gradkowski and Luke McCown all on the bench – or even Philadelphia – with AJ Feeley looking expendable – might be willing to deal should the right offer be made.

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According to the Detroit Free Press, the Lions’ coaching staff is expecting Kevin Jones to be available for the September 9 opener in Oakland. Whether or not this happens remains to be seen, but even if he is available, don’t expect him to play. Tatum Bell and the bevy of other backs on the team can more than make up for Jones’ absence in the first game, if not the first few games. With the injury being as serious as it is, don’t expect the Lions to rush him back into action.

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What is going on my football friends? It’s been a while hearing from you, but I wanted you to know that I’m back, and I am getting excited about this season. My team is getting some good reviews this pre-season – especially with Travis Henry and this zone blocking scheme that he has at his feet. It should be a great year! 

Anyway, I thought I would write this quick post to say hi and let you know I can see us Broncos and the Chargers in the AFC Championship this year. Oh,  and the Eagles and Saints will make it to the NFC Championship game. This is my official pick so write it down, tell everyone or keep it to your self – I don’t care. This is the gospel, though, so remember where you saw it because when January comes I want credit! Yes, laugh all you want, but I still believe nobody will pass on us, and Travis Henry will have a career season.  

It’s football season, everyone! This is what I live for! 

PS: I meant to say that I got Madden yesterday, and my wife is not happy! She is trying to study for her CPA, and all she wants to do is play it! I can’t get her off of it. It is officially her new drug! (Editor’s Note: Bronco7 is not lying here – his wife actually plays more than him. If only all our wives were this way….)

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The Indianapolis Star is reporting that the Colts won’t hesitate to reinforce their roster at defensive tackle by acquiring a veteran – if the opportunity presents itself. The latest name to surface is Gerard Warren, has been put on the trading block by the Broncos.

  Should the move actually occur, the Cots defense will immediately be upgraded, especially after the loss of Anthony McFarland. Indy is in a precarious situation right now, with Corey Simon in his downward spiral and only the very undersized Raheem Brock with extensive playing time. The soft center means Bob Sanders will have to play up more, leaving the secondary – complete with three new starters – open.

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 I’m really trying not to waste my breath on Michael Vick, but the recent developments in his case have superseded my own dislike of the media circus surrounding him.

With both of his co-defendants having flipped, Vick is in a very bad spot. Even worse is that the New York Times is reporting that Federal authorities are preparing an indictment for more serious charges against Vick, mostly concerning his readiness to gamble on the fights and finance other gambling rings related to dog fights. This could mean the end of Vick’s career, should the Feds actually make it through with the indictment.

 In preparation for this, Vick’s lawyers are pressing him to take a plea agreement. With the mounting evidence against Vick, it will be a longshot for him to be acquitted. Additionally, if he pleads guilty and takes the agreement, the Federal charges will disappear, meaning he could resume his career much more quickly, should the NFL invite him back. This highlights the complexity of the issue, because Vick and his lawyers must hold talks with all parties involved, including the NFL, which may be foremost on his mind. After all, if the NFL is unwilling to take him back after a guilty plea, Vick may wonder if it’s really worth it to plea out.

With the beginning of the pre-season, many people are scrambling to find information for their fantasy football leagues. Who’s going to be hot this year, who will be cold and who will surprise everyone. Of course, with fantasy football, it’s always hard to tell who will do what, but in this four part series I will give you my opinions of who will fare well, fare poorly and have breakout seasons. We’ll go through this based off the four main slots most fantasy leagues use: Quarterback, Running back, Receivers and Defense.

Today, though, we’ll take a look at the QB. 

Top Spots 

Obviously, your first look at quarterback has to be Peyton Manning. Anthony Gonzalez will only help his numbers, and even if one of his three main receivers should become injured, he’s going to have monstrous numbers. Other top scorers include Carson Palmer, whose great arm and outstanding receivers will have him scoring high all year. While Tom Brady wasn’t much more than an average fantasy quarterback last year, the additions of all that receiving talent should beckon you to consider drafting him higher than in most years. Drew Brees, too, should be considered a high pick, as his receiving corps should be even better, and his chances to score big points on a routine basis much more secure. The only other sure fire quarterback I can see is Philip Rivers. The addition of Craig Davis will allow the Chargers to stretch the field nicely, which will do as much to Rivers’ game as LaDainian Tomlinson’s. With the deep ball a more plausible threat, you may see him using his arm to grab large chunks of field more often. Others to think of: Donovan McNabb and Marc Bulger. 

Surprises  

A quarterback I’m dying to pick up is Jon Kitna. Say what you want, but in fantasy, all that matters is the points the player gets you. 4200 yards and 21 TDs equals points. Yes, he had 22 INTs, but he had no run support and a horrible line. Now he has Mike Furrey, Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson. He also has a legitimate runner in Tatum Bell. His numbers very well may go up, while his mistakes go down. While I wouldn’t put a first rounder on him, a second or third would be good value. Another pickup I’m looking at is Alex Smith, from San Francisco. I can’t say that he should be a high-round pick, but having him on the bench might be a nice thing. Vernon Davis should be healthy, and he does have receivers with talent around him, even though they all need to prove themselves. He has a solid running game and a pretty decent line behind him. I don’t think it’s going to take long for Smith to hit his stride and start producing. As for other young quarterbacks, Jay Cutler and Matt Leinart will be solid starters – they may not give you high, high points like some of those at the top, but they’ll give you consistent points where others might be streaky. Of the two, I prefer Leinart because of what is around him, but Cutler won’t be far behind. Others to note: JP Losman.  

Please Don’t Touch  

Now we get to the guys you don’t want to touch with a ten foot fantasy pole. First and foremost, leave Matt Schaub alone. If you want to pick him from waivers when he’s shown some poise, promise and ability to stay upright, that’s fine with me. Just don’t waste a draft pick on him. Also, Jeff Garcia. The Bucs will no afford him enough offensive leeway to make the plays he did last year in Philadelphia. That’s not to say he’ll have a poor year, but it remains to be seen whether or not his arm will get the ball to Galloway, or if the other receivers and running game will step up. Two more signal callers that should be looked at with extreme caution are Trent Green and Daunte Culpepper. Both have yet to prove that they can remain healthy or return to form from serious injury. Others to note: Tarvaris Jackson, whoever gets the Browns job, Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich. 

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