NFL Power Rankings: Week 10

Alright. I’m tired of switching Indy and New Orleans from first to second, so until one of those teams loses, then they are going to get the tie.

And I’m sure that Jerod will put his little editor’s note in here telling me what a jack-ass I am that both of my favorite teams are # 1, even if deservedly so.

[Editor's note: You're a jackass, but not because you made obvious choices at #1. You're a jackass for leaving it as a tie and not having cojones to just pick one.]

So let me make this simple for ya J-Rod….

Your two teams, Miami (3-5) and Cleveland (1-7), have combined to win HALF as many games as just one of my teams.

How’s that crow?

[Editor's note: Why don't you ask Coach Mora, who was this week's choice for the thumbnail since he coached both the Saints and Colts. I bet he wouldn't be too excited about your tie idea. He strikes as a win-or-else type guy.

"Tie? Tie? Are you kidding me? A tie?"

Way to disappoint Coach Mora, Big MB. I think next week we're going to change the name of this post from Power Rankings to Weak Rankings...in honor of the author.

A tie. What a crock of shi--ean Payton.]

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NFL Power Rankings: Week 9 (It’s Not Unusual to Have the Saints at #1…)

Another great week of NFL action: the Colts won (but looked human), the Saints continue to roll, and the Giants continue to spiral out of control.

It seems like every week brings more drama to the stage during what has been a very exciting season thus far that we are now halfway through.

One thing is for sure….THE REDSKINS DIDN’T LOSE THIS WEEK! (But the Browns did!)

[Editor's Note: There you go dick Myles. Keep rubbing salt in the wound jackass buddy. Keep kicking Browns fans when they're down you no talent ass clown my friend.

I can't wait until Peyton Manning retires and your one-man franchise returns to sucking and all of its fair-weather fans go away.  Go ahead, shake your head. But you know it's true.]

Now, onto this week’s Power Rankings.

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NFL Power Rankings: Week 8

With a another very interesting week of NFL Football in the books, the Power Rankings have decided to be like Elvis for Halloween this week….they’re “All Shook Up”.

O.K., that was terrible, but on a more serious note, it was a very interesting week with a lot of changes in the rankings. Take a look and comment; tell me what YOU think!

[Editor's note: I'll tell you what I think right now. How in the hell can you drop the Saints below the Colts after NO showed the heart of a champion on the road this past Sunday? Oh wait, that's right...I forgot that you live in Indianapolis. Never mind. Makes perfect sense. "All shook up" indeed...]

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Friday Morning Would…You Start Brandon Jacobs or Ahmad 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?

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NFL Power Rankings: Top 15 for Week 6

Another interesting week of NFL football and it’s time to see how the top 15 teams in the NFL stack up.

It should come as no surprise that last week’s top two stayed in the same spots this weekend.

(Hint: both teams have Archie Manning’s sons calling the signals!)

After the jump, check out my current top 15 and then chime in with your comments/disagreements in the comment section.

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Week 5 NFL Power Rankings

This week, we have our first ever tie in the Power Rankings. I had a real tough decision choosing who would be first and who would be second so there is a tie for first place.

T-1. New York Giants (Last 6 [+5])

Ok, so Archie Manning must be sitting at home smiling at both of his boys who will tie for 1^st in Big MB’s Power Rankings for Week 5.

Obviously, the Giants don’t miss Plaxico Burress one bit. The G-men’s destruction of Kansas City only showcased Manning and his receivers. Smith and Manningham continue to impress and Brandon Jacobs is the beast of the NFC East. Next week is a HUGE NFC power game as the Saints come to town.

[Editor's Note: it's Big MB writing this column...any guess who the other 4-0 team is that he has tied for first? It shouldn't take more than one...]

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Big MB’s NFL Power Rankings, Week 4

[Editor's note: Today we introduce a new weekly feature here at MSF, courtesy of Big MB, our soon-to-be renowned NFL expert and already renowned teller of "this".

Every week around this time, Big MB will be checking in with his NFL Power Rankings. He goes 1-15 and gives you the low down on the NFL's best teams.

Bold prediction: the Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins will not be making it into Big MB's first list.

Find out after the jump.]

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NFL Week 4 Key Match-Up Previews: Jets-Saints and Ravens-Patriots

[Editor's Note: There are plenty of intriguing and meaningful matchups on the NFL Week 4 schedule. Two of the most important games to be played on Sunday -- before Favre-Packers madness on Monday night -- are the Jets at the Saints and the Ravens at the Patriots.

Matt Noonan, one of MSF's NFL writers, previews and predicts these two pivotal early season matchups.]

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Pierre Thomas Injury Update: Status Questionable for Week 1 With MCL Sprain

Pierre Thomas has been a trendy pick during fantasy football draft season as a potential first round value that can often be had in Rounds 2-4, depending on your league. Thomas played well last year over the final six weeks of the season and benefits from playing in the most explosive offense in the NFL.

He also, of course, benefits from the fact that Reggie Bush runs between the tackles about as well as Chad Pennington throws the deep out.

Yet, despite all of these positives, the latest injury updates on Pierre Thomas indicate that you may need to sit him in Week 1.

A few days ago, Thomas listed himself as questionable for Week 1 because of an MCL sprain (via Fanhouse) that has hampered him throughout the preseason. He also recently sustained a laceration “from a fence” (via the Times-Picayune) that required him to get stitches, but should not hamper him moving forward.

Follow the links to StubHub for great deals on New Orleans Saints tickets and all 2009 NFL tickets.

The official Week 1 injury report is not out yet, but the news about Thomas is pessimistic enough that I would begin making alternate plans for your running back slots this week. He did not practice on Monday, and I’ve seen no reports yet that indicate he we will be ready to take advantage of the porous Lions’ D on Sunday.

The fact of the matter is that if you gave Sean Payton truth serum, he would probably admit that he doesn’t think he’ll need Thomas to score on and beat Detroit. Thus, if their #1 backfield horse isn’t ready to go, there is no reason for them to rush him back. This is a huge season for Payton and the Saints, and Thomas is the guy they are counting on to provide the Deuce-like thunder opposite Reggie Bush’s lightning.

That said, I wouldn’t panic yet if you are a Thomas owner (as I am).

Hopefully you have a decent option on your bench for Week 1 and his absence won’t kill you. If you own Reggie Bush, he obviously becomes a must-start, pending the reports out of Saints practice this week. Mike Bell should also see increased carries, especially around the goalline, if Thomas is out. In fact, Bell might not be a bad guy to stash on your bench as a semi-handcuff for Thomas as a hedge in case Thomas’ injuries linger.

Just be sure to keep track of the latest injury updates on Pierre Thomas throughout the week, but I’d get him out of your lineup right now — just in case you forget to check before Sunday — and then make a last minute switch on Saturday or Sunday if the news about his knee changes.

I’ll update this post if I see that anything changes.

Update: Via this tweet from Jeff Duncan of the Times-Picayune, it appears as if you are safe in removing Pierre Thomas from your rosters. Thomas, according to Duncan, is not dressed for Wednesday’s practice.

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* – Pierre Thomas photo credit: Ball St Journal

Saints Beat Packers – Drew Brees On Pace to Break Dan Marino’s Season Record

Update 12/22: Drew Brees now needs 402 yards in the Saints’ Week 17 game against Carolina to break Dan Marino’s all-time record of 5,084 for passing yards in a season.

It is official. I need to stop making predictions.

For any of you who wasted time reading my Saints-Packers Monday Night Football prediction, I apologize. As with nearly every Cleveland Browns game this year, and the Texas Tech-Oklahoma game, among many others, I was way off on my Packers-Saints prediction.

My Monday Night Football prediction: Packers 38 | Saints 31

Actual score: Saints 51 | Packers 29

However, I am happy about this result because while my heart belongs to the Browns and the Dolphins, the Saints are my favorite NFC team. I don’t root for them actively, but I would like to see them make the playoffs. And the primary reason is their quarterback, Drew Brees.

Yes, I am an Indiana fan and an Indiana grad, and I am also an unabashed fan of Drew Brees.

For the evening Drew Brees was phenomenal. He finished 20-26 with 4 TDs, no INTs, and 323 passing yards. That is a sick 12.4 yards per completion.

For the season, Drew Brees has now passed for 3574 yards through 11 games. That is good for 324.9 yards per game. If Brees is able to maintain that pace through the final five games of the season he will finish with 5,198 yards. The NFL record is held by Dan Marino, who threw for 5,084 yards in 1984. (Interestingly, Drew Brees is not the only quarterback chasing Dan Marino this year. Kurt Warner has passed for 3,506 yards this season, which also puts him on pace to surpass Marino.)

(Oh, and even more interestingly, though not of any interest to anyone but me, I have either Drew Brees or Kurt Warner on all five of my fantasy teams, and both of them on two. I can’t predict games, but damnit I can draft quarterbacks!)

Dan Marino has always been one of my favorite players, but if anyone has to break his single-season passing record I hope that it is Drew Brees. After watching Brees dominate the Big Ten while playing for my arch nemesis Purdue, I thought the Dolphins should have drafted Brees to be the heir apparent to Marino. However, the Dolphins made the same mistake as every other NFL team with a first round pick that year: they passed on the undersized quarterback whose arm was supposed to not be strong enough.

Drew Brees has consistently proven people wrong during his NFL career, and he is certainly doing it again this year. In a season in which his most dynamic offensive weapon has been nagged by injuries (Reggie Bush) and his most consistent receiver has also been hit with the injury bug (Marques Colston), Drew Brees is having his finest season.

And I can’t think of any better compliment to Drew Brees’ abilities than this: An IU grad and a lifelong fan of Dan Marino (a huge cardboard cutout of Marino is currently staring at me as I write this) is actively rooting for Drew Brees to break the record.

(But for the record, if any annoying Purdue fan posts “Boiler Up” in the comments section, I will ban your IP address from this site and delete this post.)

[tags]nfl records, drew brees, new orleans saints[/tags]

Week 9 Fire and Ice Fantasy Football Forum | Matt Ryan-Reggie Bush

What an exciting week 8, was it not?

In taking in all week 8 had to offer, there were a few glaring issues or situations that stood out above the rest. Here’s who and what they were.

Matt Ryan, QB-Falcons. ON FIRE.

Yes, the Falcons lost, so why is he on fire. Have you seen him play? Do you remember he is only a Rookie? I cannot remember a rookie QB making this kind of an impact this fast. The Falcons were supposed to the worst team in football this year. Ryan has given the Falcons a 4-3 record, which is 4 more wins than most predicted they would have. Mike who? Yes, he has eased the pain of the loss of the Falcons entire offense going to Federal prison.

The Falcons coaches displayed their obvious comfort with Ryan throwing, as two out of every three plays were a pass against the Eagles. Ryan has had impressive outings against two defenses that are savages when it comes to applying pressure to quarterbacks, especially rookies, those being the Bears and the Eagles. Even though Matt Forte and Chris Johnson have been impressive, if Ryan continues, here is your 2008 NFL Rookie of the year! … Continue Reading

Fantasy Football Week 8 | Reggie Bush Injury Update – Deuce McAllister

(Update 11/26 – Thanks to ProFootballTalk for his one.  Reggie Bush is hopeful that he will be back on the field for the Saints’ Week 13 game.  Fantasy players everywhere…rejoice!)

Check out the Week 9 Fire and Ice Fantasy Football Forum for the latest news regarding Reggie Bush’s injury status.
If you’re a Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister, Pierre Thomas or Aaron Stecker owner, or in need of a running back in fantasy football week 8, this applies to you.

In Sunday’s loss to the Panthers, Saints running back Reggie Bush injured his meniscus in his left knee on a punt return in the second quarter. As it stands right now, Reggie Bush needs arthroscopic knee surgery that could sideline him for several weeks.

Head coach Sean Payton stated that the plan is to scope the knee, evaluate it and go from there. This injury will yield more carries for Deuce McAllister, Pierre Thomas and Aaron Stecker. I anticipate Aaron Stecker to be used in the same format as Reggie Bush, as he possesses the most speed out of this group. If Deuce McAllister can be productive when given the opportunity, he stands to benefit the most from the absence of Reggie Bush.

Check back with Midwestsportsfans.com on Wednesday for more insight into fantasy football week 8.

And don’t forget to get your questions in for the mailbag portion of our upcoming Week 9 Fantasy Football Sleeper Focus. If you have a roster question and want expert help, email profootballinsight@live.com and your email will either be responded to personally, or here on Midwest Sports Fans.

[tags]fantasy football, reggie bush[/tags]