Fantasy Football Already?

In the past few days I have noticed how close to football season it has become. Let's just say we are coming around to the best time of the year: football starts, baseball playoffs, and then before you know it, it's November and the NBA is back! The only downside to this is that I live in the frozen hellhole we have dubbed Buffalo, NY. It's almost August and it will be snowing before I know it.

I'm not going to get into the Bills season preview just yet, since it will be slightly depressing. Instead, I give you some of my Fantasy Football ideas for the upcoming season:

Running Backs:

1. Larry Johnson: I would put Alexander here, but he was just too good last year and I'm not sure how the Seahawks will respond to a Super Bowl loss. LJ is turning into a beast, and The Chiefs are clearly going to ram the ball down opposing teams throats. Trent Green is still enough of a threat at QB to open up the running game as well.

2. Shawn Alexander: Simply not #1 because I feel a bit skeptical. But hey, the guy is reliable and is coming off an MVP season. He'll make any owner happy.

3. LaDanian Tomlinson: Honestly, when I am picking my team this year, LT will probably be my first pick when my turn comes up (if he's there of course). Explosive athlete who gives you receiving yards/TD's as well. Maybe he'll throw a couple TD passes this year as well. One downside is that this could be a big risk. What will the Chargers look like without Drew Brees? If the passing game struggles then LT could shoulder too much of a load in the offense, and I don't want to bring up the injury bug.

Mid-Level Good Picks:

Tiki Barber - C'mon, had a great year last season, and will flourish as Eli matures
Clinton Portis - If the 'Skins succeed, so will Portis
Willis McGahee - I think Willis will have a big year behind an O-Line that keeps improving
Warrick Dunn - Always right up there flying under the radar

Sleepers:

Jamal Lewis - Why Not?
Ahman Green - See Above
LenDale White - Touchdown Machine. Will see more playing time as season goes on

Think Hard Before You Pick:

Edgerrin James - Worth a pick? Probably. But beware of that Arizona O-Line
Reggie Bush - I'm not convinced he'll fit in right away. Plus, He'll be splitting time with Deuce McAllister, who isn't so bad himself.

Quarterbacks:

1. Peyton Manning - No explanation needed

2. Carson Palmer - Stellar Numbers last year, but everyone, and I mean everyone, seems to think he won't be the same coming off the injury. Add in the offseason problems the Bengals are having and there is some concern. However, He still throws the ball to a guy called Chad Johnson.

3. Tom Brady - Hate the guy, but he is more consistent than any QB in the league (exclude superfreak Peyton).

Mid-Level:

Donovan McNabb - You know his numbers will be there.
Matt Hasselbeck - Can he keep up the numbers from last year?
Mike Vick - Passing should improve along with his young receivers, plus you get those rush yards.
Eli Manning - This year should be his jump off.
Jake Delhomme - Throws to Steve Smith

Sleepers:

Matt Leinart/Vince Young - By no means a secret, but I expect both to start by years end.
Jake Plummer - Almost put up MVP numbers last season
Byron Leftwich - If you need a 2nd QB in the middle rounds, this is your guy for sure. Definitely starter material as well.

Think Hard Before You Pick:

Brett Favre - Coming back might turn out to be a mistake. I hope not.
Marc Bulger - This pick could go either way. If you take him, hope Torry Holt stays healthy

Wide Receivers:

1. Steve Smith - The little man should be right up with the league's best again. Has proved he can catch the ball anytime, anywhere.

2. Terrell Owens - Sorry, but it's true. Proven star that always gets the fantasy numbers.

3. Torry Holt - Consistency, even if the Rams are terrible.

4. Chad Johnson - Had to throw him in here.

Mid-Level:

Larry Fitzgerald - Breakout year last year, look for it to continue with a newly charged offense in Arizona.
Marvin Harrison - Easily would be in the top 4 if it wasn't for Reggie Wayne stealing some of those touchdowns.
Plaxico Burress - Look for him to be Eli's go-to guy this year

Sleepers:

Randy Moss - Of course he's not totally a sleeper, but don't forget about Randy out in Oakland. The QB situation out there is not looking good, however.
Michael Jenkins - He'll be there late, and Vick has to throw to someone besides Crumpler, right?
Lee Evans - The Bills will find a way to use his incredible talent somehow.

Think Hard Before You Pick:

Donald Driver - See Favre above.
Matt Jones - This lanky white kid from Jacksonville could be the biggest sleeper pick in the draft. Then again, he could really, really suck.

I'm not going to talk much about the rest:

Tight Ends:
1. Antonio Gates - Duh...
2. Tony Gonzalez - Double Duh...
3. Jeremy Shockey- You get the picture here...

Kickers:
1. Neil Rackers - If the Cardinals hae trouble getting in the end zone, he'll be there again this year.
2. Adam Vinatieri - Yeah...
3. Mike Vanderjagt - Big D will put his foot to good use this season

Defense:
1. Chicago
2. Jacksonville
3. Pittsburgh


Well Folks, good luck. And don't kill me if your team sucks, because mine probably will too when some no name dominates the league and my star RB gets injured. Yeah, it happens every year.



'

New York Knicks: The Strive for Average

Seeing as how the Knicks finished last season as the laughing stock of the NBA, expectations aren't too high this year. To make matters worse, the team didn't even get their draft pick at the top of the order. They did pick up a couple guys who might make an impact.

Renaldo Balkman: This forward from South Carolina was the MVP of the NIT Tourney. He can rebound the ball well, his FG% is high (lots of dunks), and is a defensively minded player. I was angry at first about this pick, not really knowing too much about him. As time went on, I got used to it. Balkman showed great presence in all of the Vegas Summer League games I watched the past few weeks. He looks like he is an NBA ready player, and knows how the game moves. I have been very impressed with his drive, and he could turn out to be a nice find for the team. The media is giving Isiah Thomas a lot of scrutiny for the pick, but I feel it is only because they passed on Marcus Williams, the PG from UConn.

Mardy Collins: The Guard from Temple was the Knicks other late first round pick. Here is a choice I don't agree with. The Knicks Guard Rotation is currently Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, Jamal Crawford, Quentin Richardson, Jalen Rose, and Nate Robinson. Why add another guard to the mix, let alone one I don't think will ever be productive in the league. But what do I know?

With Isiah Thomas now GM and Coach of the Knicks, this season will be a huge turning point for the team. Either he stays and coaches all the players he acquired to a mediocre record, or he's out of town with most likely half of the team. I feel somewhat good about this year for a few reasons:

1) The youngsters look good.

Add Balkman to the Knicks young core of Channing Frye, David Lee, and Nate Robinson and you have something to build on for the future. Frye has gained 20 lbs and should be starting next to Eddy Curry to create quite a big man tandem. David Lee has been getting rave reviews about his play in the summer league, and the Knicks are even getting calls from many NBA execs imquiring about his availability. Robinson, although still cocky and flamboyant, is making strides towards being more of a passing-minded PG.

2) "It might be crazy enough to work."

Those were the words uttered by Isiah after the Knicks acquired Steve Francis at the trade deadline this past season. Francis doesn't seem very happy in New York, and most seem to think there is no way he can get along with Marbury. I think "The Franchise" could be come a trade piece, but deep down I hope he stays. Just imagine if Marbury and Francis both realize they have never won anything playing with a shoot first mentality. They could be the best backcourt tandem in the league. The Knicks are talking about a run and gun offense...imagine those two working the ball up the court.

3) Eddy's Last Chance

Many people, including himself, know this year is the last chance for Eddy Curry. He has been mostly a disappointment in the NBA, and has progressively become more out of shape. Adding to the fact that we gave up that draft pick for him and his huge contract, he has to do something. I believe the talent is there, and if he can drop even just 20 lbs he'd be looking at a good year.

We'll see. 36-46 would make me happy.

See you back here...

CRAZY METS

Two grand slams as part of an 11 run inning....enough said.

Excitement....back with a real article tomorrow.

Are the Mets for Real?

As a Mets fan my entire life, it has been a tough journey along the way. When I was just turning three years old, the Mets won the 1986 World Series. Being raised a Mets fan, this would be the benchmark I would work off of in the future. My parents were both Mets fans, so of course I was paraded around in all sorts of 80's era Mets little clothes. Living through the middle years was the worst, especially watching the team that got scorched in the Series by the Yankees. Living in Buffalo now makes it even harder, since most people in this town think they can just decide to be Yanks fans for the fun of it.

This year has been different though. Mets fans can feel it...the playoffs are coming.

Now this is where a debate arises. Most would say with a 12 game lead in the surprisingly poor NL East would guarantee the playoffs at this point (barring a colossal breakdown, knock on wood). The question is whether or not the Mets are built for the long haul.

First we will look at the internal workings of the team:

Offense: Sure, there have been days the bats are quiet, but for the most part the Mets have been rolling all year. Three players (David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado) have above 20 HR at the halfway point. Jose Reyes leads the league in runs and steals, and Jose Valentin has been a revelation this year, holding up the end of the order. Hitting shouldn't be an issue in the playoffs.

Defense: Fielding has been another fairly bright spot for the Mets this year. From a catching standpoint, Paul Lo Duca has been an improvement from Mike Piazza. Jose Reyes' errors at SS have dropped significantly from last year, and Valentin has been solid at second. Cliff Floyd and Xavier Nady's play has been spotty in the outfield, but there are some players on the bench that can hold it down. Which leads me to...

Bench: The bench players for the Mets this year have been phenomenal this year. Endy Chavez has not only been outstanding in the OF, but his bat has come through in though spots. Julio Franco has not only been a team leader/player coach, but his play backs it up.

Pitching: Ahhh, everyone points to pitching as the piece that could be the downfall of the Mets in the playoffs. The four Mets pitchers who have had solid jobs so far this season have been Pedro Martinez, Tom Glavine, Orlando Hernandez, and Steve Trachsel. When you look at these gentlemen, you would think the team is set...three years ago. The truth is, all four pitchers are getting old, and are injury prone. Pedro has already hit the DL, Glavine has slowed down a touch from his incredible start to the year, and El Duque has been off some days. On the other hand, all three are used to the big game. Even if they slow down by the end of the season, they will be ready for the playoffs, guaranteed. Granted, that fifth spot in the rotation needs to be sealed up...the Mets need another pitcher. I don't even need to say anything about the bullpen, a unit that has been solid throughout the year.

Trades?

Trade rumors are heating up this time of year, and many are talking about the Mets seeking out a pitcher. Among these names are Dontrelle Willis, Livan Hernandez, Barry Zito, and even Greg Maddux. Let's analyze the possibilities:

Dontrelle Willis: Getting ahold of this young gun would not only give the Mets a solid boost into the playoffs, but if they could secure him he could be another piece to add to the young foundation of this team. It seems that it will cost the team Lastings Milledge, however, a possibility I am not sure about. Is a proven starting pitcher worth the cost of your top prospect, not to mention a prospect that is being compared to Willie Mays? (See Scott Kazmir). I believe at this point it could be...as much as it hurts to say it, unless Omar Minaya can work out another deal.

Livan Hernandez: This could be the one pitcher that the Mets could get without giving up Milledge. Mike Pelfrey, the Mets young pitching prospect, could be packaged with a guy like Aaron Heilman. Livan would slide in perfectly to that number three spot, right before his half brother El Duque. This is the one trade that I think will definitely go down. Now if only we could throw in Milledge and have Soriano come over too....hmmm, I'm getting greedy.

Barry Zito: I don't see the Mets searching out Zito, as it has been thought for a year now that they will seek him out in free agency at the end of the season. However, if other teams are putting the pressure on to get him, the Mets might have to pull the trigger.

Greg Maddux: Ok, let's be for real here. Not going to happen. As much as Mets fans salivate over Glavine and Maddux pitching back to back giving a final F you to the Braves, he is too old. This team needs to find a guy that will last through the years after Pedro and Tommy G retire.

The Playoffs:

If and when the Mets get there, they have a few questions to face:

Q: Will this team stay healthy?
A: For the most part, yes. It is mostly a young team. The only guys I am worried about are Delgado and Pedro. Hopefully those guys can take their time on the DL and be fresh for October.

Q: Can the Mets match up against the Cardinals and Astros?
A: Are you serious? Of course they can. The Mets have better hitters from top to bottom (notice I said from top to bottom, I'm not forgetting about Albert Pujols). And they will most likely have home field advantage.

Q: Can the Mets beat the AL contender if they get to the World Series?
A: At this point I am saying no to that. After going 3-6 against the Blue Jays, Red Sox, and Yankees (including getting swept by the Sox), it looks like this team has some serious work to do. The Red Sox look like they are ready, and I would love to see a rematch of the 86 series during the 20th anniversary of the win. Now, if the Mets pick up another pitcher, things change a little bit.

This team is still finding its identity, and all the work will hopefully culminate right around September.

More to come...

I'm Baaack/State of the Blog Address

Many of you probably presumed this blog was about to die a young death and ride off into the sunset like so many blogs that people get lazy keeping up. Well you were wrong! It may have been a close call, but we're back on!

Let me explain what has happened in the last month:

Dating back to the beginning of June, you will notice that the last article on this site was a Buffalo Sabres game seven preview. Well we all know what happened in that game seven, and let's say I wasn't quite in the mood for posting about that topic at the time.

Then a little thing called summer kicked in. I've been working a good amount, and I have started summer classes. In my freetime, I'd rather be out enjoying the weather as well as the festivities that come with it. Along the way my car broke down too, which didn't help matters much.

Anyway, enough with the whining. I'd like to take a few paragraphs to discuss where this site is going in the next 6 months. A State of the Blog address if you will:

Article One: Opinions Matter

When I originally opened this blog, I posted very frequently, sometimes three times a day, reporting general news in the sports world. The problem with this format was the time it consumed. After I realized I couldn't post multiple times a day, I started to write less frequent, but longer, more rich articles. This developed into more of an opinion editorial than straight up facts. However, many have said they prefer this style, so I will stick to it.

Articles will now be less frequent, but a hell of a lot better.

Article Two: Join the Revolution

Due to the fact that I cannot post as often as I would like, I am openly accepting offers to join my site as a features writer. Not just anyone will be allowed, there are some very biased criteria you must meet:

1. You need to know how to write, and write well. If you are one of those people that received a C in English, no matter how hard you tried, don't bother.

2. You need to share the general editorial opinion of this site. This basically means you can't be a Yankees or Dolphins fan. You have to at least appreciate the teams talked about on this site to write positive articles about them.

3. Commitment. The new vision of this blog calls for a reliable, steady posting of articles. I don't want you on board if you are only going to do this for a month.

I'm especially looking for some people that know a little more about the internet than me. I'd like to change the layout of this site a bit, as well as be able to post pictures again, which stopped working for me.

With that said, bring it on. Drop me an IM at RiversSyr, or email me at csw5@buffalo.edu

Article Three: The Future

I probably won't get an article up again until this weekend, but here are a few main points that will be focused on this site in the coming weeks:

---> The Mets Second Half Dash into the Playoffs

---> The Buffalo Bills: For Real This year or not? Preseason Coverage

---> NBA Offseason action: The Knicks in Vegas, and Possible Trade Rumors

Hope to see you back here.