Fantasy Football Deeper Sleeper Alert for Week 6: Torry Holt

Email Post Email Post
torry-holt

It dawned on me a couple of days ago while going through the Week 6 schedule that we have a very underrated reunion story taking place this week. Unfortunately, it is during one of the least compelling and meaningful games on the schedule from a “real” standpoint.

I am speaking, of course, about Torry Holt, one of the greatest players in Rams history, who will be hosting his former team this weekend as a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Even though it is not a game getting much attention, that doesn’t mean the game won’t be very meaningful from a fantasy standpoint.

In fact, quite the contrary. When the Jaguars and Rams meet up this weekend, with their two combined victories and zero percent chances to make the playoffs, I propose that the events could dictate the outcome of many a fantasy matchup this week. Why?

23rd and 30th.

Those are the overall defensive ranks of the Rams and Jags, respectively.

Which brings me to Torry Holt as a sleeper selection for your Week 6 lineups.

[Read more...]



Friday Morning Would…You Start Brandon Jacobs or Ahmad Bradshaw?

Email Post Email Post
jacobs-bradshaw

Two of the hottest names in fantasy football this week are teammates Ahmad Bradshaw and Brandon Jacobs of the New York Giants.

The reasons for the buzz around these two, however, are starkly different.

Jacobs has made news this week because of what appears to be growing frustration with his own subpar performances of late, and perhaps even jealousy at the success of his backfield mate. Bradshaw is generating buzz because he has rushed for 278 yards on only 37 carries over the past three weeks.

With the Giants facing their most stern defensive test of the season this Sunday — against the undefeated New Orleans Saints — which Giants running back will make the better Week 6 start: Brandon Jacobs or Ahmad Bradshaw?

[Read more...]



NFL Week 6 Odds and Betting Picks: Rams-Jaguars, Giants-Saints, Panthers-Bucs

Email Post Email Post

NFL Week 6 odds are up and, while we have playoff baseball to worry about, there’s still time to make a few picks for Sunday’s gridiron. Let’s try and continue the momentum after we aced last week’s picks.

[Read more...]



Notre Dame-USC Preview

Email Post Email Post
clausen-weis

Saturday is a huge day for the Notre Dame football team as they go against the 6th ranked USC Trojans. The Trojans have beaten the Irish seven years straight, and since the “Bush Push” the Trojans have won easily every time.

Still the Irish players believe they can beat the Trojans.

A win against the Trojans would elevate not only the Notre Dame coaches and players, but all their fans as well. The Irish have a stellar offense, but they haven’t seen a defense as good as the Trojans.

It will be a tough challenge, but one that means a lot to both teams.

[Read more...]



I’ll Tell You This: Sports Rumor Mill – Dungy, Gruden, Quinn, and More!

Email Post Email Post

In this week’s “I’ll Tell You This” I jump into the realm of the Sports Rumor Mill. Take a look and brew up some comments or rumors of your own!

1. Tony Dungy to Return to Coaching?

Recent rumors have placed Tony Dungy back at the helm of the struggling Tampa Bay Buccaneers as early as next season. Tampa Bay is 0-5, and has shown no signs of life this season, and its coach, Raheem Morris, is no doubt on the hot seat.

There seemingly will be a change in Tampa in the next couple of years, if not before.

I’ll Tell You This:

[Read more...]



Midwest Sports Talk Podcast: ALCS and NLCS Preview

Email Post Email Post

Earlier this afternoon, Myles and I had the pleasure of doing our first Midwest Sports Talk podcast with our guest AJ Kaufman.

AJ, who wrote two excellent previews of the ALCS and NLCS, provided great insight on some of the key matchups and components that will ultimately determine who ends up playing for the World Series.

And Myles and I discussed the question I posed earlier today: does “guy code” dictate that we should all forgive Mike Sim-Walker?

So enjoy the latest edition of the MSF Podcast, and look for more general sports discussion in a similar format each Thursday moving forward.

[Read more...]



ALCS Preview: Anaheim Angels vs New York Yankees

Email Post Email Post

[Writers's Note: As someone raised in southern California who attended dozens of Angels games during his college years, including two playoff games in 2002, I will refer to the Angels' city as Anaheim, not Los Angeles nor "Los Angeles of Anaheim."]

No doubt we have the two best teams in the AL — perhaps in baseball — playing for the American League pennant.

The New York Yankees surpassed 100 wins this season and reclaimed the AL East as their own. The Anaheim Angels continued their dominance of the AL West with another 90+ win season and division title.

Fans should be ecstatic to see this quality matchup.

It also presents many story lines.

[Read more...]



Does Guy Code Dictate Letting Mike Sims-Walker Off the Hook?

Email Post Email Post
mike-sims-walker

As many of you know, especially those of you who have been keeping tabs on the comment section of this week’s start em, sit em post, I have not been happy with Mike Sims-Walker since Sunday.

Last week, I touted him as a great play to everyone who would listen, started him in multiple leagues, and then watched him figuratively kick us all in the groin by being a late scratch Sunday and contributing nothing to any of our Week 5 causes.

So, needless to say, I’ve been pissed along with everyone else who started MS-W.

However, now that we know the reason for his Week 5 absence, the question must be asked: does guy code dictate that we no longer harbor ill will towards him?

[Read more...]



LOTD: Profile of Jaguars QB David Garrard

Email Post Email Post
david-garrard

It’s time to bring back a feature we haven’t done much here on MSF over the past few weeks: the link of the day.

Today, the choice is easy.

Our very own Ron Clements is the newest sports writer for The Telegraph, based in Illinois. Not only do I want to express MSF’s most sincere congratulations and publicly wish him the best of luck, but he’s already written a great piece worthy of LOTD status.

Tuesday night, Ron posted a terrific profile of Jacksonville Jaguars QB David Garrard.

In the article, Ron traces Garrard’s career journey, including: the incredible bowl game he participated in while at East Carolina; his struggle with Crohn’s disease; his battle to climb to the top of Jacksonville’s depth chart; and, how he’s dealing with the franchise’s current struggles.

[Read more...]



YardBarker Blogger NFL Power Rankings – Week 6

Email Post Email Post

As you know, MSF contributes weekly to the Yardbarker blogger NFL Power Rankings, sponsored by Gillette Fusion MVP. The latest results are live and can be viewed by clicking here.

To see Myles’ Power Rankings, click here.



MSF Podcast: Week 6 Fantasy Flash with Jerod & Kurt

Email Post Email Post
fantasy-flash-logo

It’s midweek, which means it’s time for the Fantasy Flash podcast with me and Kurt.

We start the Fantasy Flash last week and got a good response, so it looks like this will become a weekly staple here on MSF.

And in the future, if you have questions that you want us to address in the Fantasy Flash, write them in the comment section of one of our fantasy football posts. In future episodes we will be choosing a couple of the best questions and discussing them during the podcast.

On this week’s Flash, Kurt and I do the usual: predict this week’s top individual scorer, provide three start ‘ems and three sit ‘ems a piece, and then discuss a few sleeper picks and waiver wire possibilities.

Among the players discussed this week: Brandon Jacobs, Jonathan Stewart, Matt Hasselbeck, Donnie Avery, Maurice Jones-Drew, Aaron Rodgers, Jermichael Finley, Jerome Harrison, Terrell Owens, Lee Evans, Jamal Lewis, and many, many more.

[Read more...]



2009 NLCS Preview: Phillies-Dodgers Analysis and TV Schedule

Email Post Email Post
nlcs-logo

What can you say about this year’s L.A. Dodgers?

They dominated their division and most of their league all season, yet were overlooked, as many (wrongly) felt they played in a weak division. (See the NL Wild Card winner two of the past three seasons.) They then closed the regular campaign by scuffling during the season’s final fortnight and received intense criticism.

Most, including local writers, therefore picked Los Angeles to lose to the potent St. Louis Cardinals in the Division Series. Instead, now that they’ve swept a stellar NL central champ for the second year in a row, the Dodgers are set to host the Philadelphia Phillies Thursday night in a rematch of the 2008 NLCS.

[Read more...]



Fantasy Football Sleepers and Waiver Wire Steals for Week 6

Email Post Email Post
donnie-avery

Week 5 was arguably the most unpredictable week of the 2009 NFL season to date. Chris Johnson does nothing, Matt Hasselbeck explodes with two cracked ribs and the Broncos are still undefeated after beating the Patriots.

Lets try to make sense of what’s to come in Week 6!

[Read more...]



Blogging Fitness: A Look Into the Life and Training of an Ironman Triathlete

Email Post Email Post
carlos-lema-triathlon-training

Redefining your fitness limits: A look into the life of an Ironman Triathlete

Regardless of your fitness level, I think we can all agree that triathlons are a gigantic feat. Even more gigantic is the traditional Ironman Triathlon.

Can you fathom swimming 2.4 miles and then biking 112 miles?

Oh, and just in case that didn’t tucker you out, why don’t you go ahead and finish it off with a full-fledged marathon, which is 26.4 miles.

Racing in that order without a break absolutely blows my mind. I am currently training for just a marathon and that is pushing me to the limit. Adding swimming and biking to the mix is a physical marvel.

As difficult as it is to fathom the physical demands of participating in an Ironman Triathlon, why would anyone in their right mind do it more than once?

I am in complete awe of Carlos Lema, a mega-athlete who recently moved from the Big Apple to Dallas in May of 2009.

Lema cannot get enough of triathlons.

[Read more...]



Phillies-Dodgers NLCS Betting Preview: Odds and Prediction

Email Post Email Post

Even if you prefer NFL betting or mixed martial arts or NASCAR or whatever, it’s tough for any sports fan to deny the appeal of October baseball.

The crisp fall air, the drama of a one-on-one matchup between hitter and pitcher — ahhh, you have to love it.

Time to preview the National League Championship Series, which features a rematch of last year’s NLCS between the Phillies and Dodgers.

[Read more...]