Fantasy Football Player Rankings Rant

All these major sites, who host hundreds of thousands fantasy leagues (ESPN, NFL, Yahoo, CBS...), should definitely have an application on their site that allows the owner to UPLOAD an Excel (or Works) spreadsheet, which converts into your player rankings. No, not every person who plays
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fantasy football is gonna spend the time to create his or her own spreadsheet (player list), but I guarantee for as many who do, there are probably the same amount who have one that someone else created for them.

Nevertheless, most people who play, and want to win, rank their players at the particular site prior to their draft, right? And it is those people - who have spent their time preparing - who deserve to save a few hours of their time by not having to drag & drop (or click up & down) 150+ players into a particular order.

Why is this not already a thing? We go apply for jobs, and sites instantly read our resumes, and not only show you the resume, but they take certain fields of information, and place that information where it is needed into their application!

C'mon... this is 2013 already!

Attn: ESPN.com Fantasy Football, NFL.com Fantasy Football, Yahoo Fantasy Football, and CBS Sportsline Fantasy Football

/Rant

Drafting a Fantasy QB Early

Via / Source

This was a cool graphic I found - making the point that most fantasy football owners who drafted top QBs early are likely to be losing this season.

Updating this graphic with week-3's stats, Rodgers had about 8 in week-3 against the Seahawks. In week-3 of 2011 (and I have no idea why this is N/A in the graphic to begin with), Rodgers had about 24.

So the graphic is, in fact very accurate - in that if you drafted a top-5 or top-6 QB this year, you are likely not winning much so far this year.

I tried to get Cam Newton in most leagues, but I wound up getting Michael Vick. After the season I had last year (waiting a long time to draft a QB) I wasn't about to do it again. Trying to get Vick was still pretty early (probably 6th or 7th QB drafted), and he's got 9 turnovers through 3 games. The league in which I have been starting Romo is 3-0.

If you waited for a QB this season (unlike most seasons) you are probably doing very well.

50 Years of Fantasy Football

~An ESPN Video



Andy Mousalimas celebrated an anniversary more monumental than a wedding or a birthday. It was the 50th anniversary of his first fantasy football draft.

Source / Via

He's mentioned in Wikipedia's "American Fantasy Football" article in the history section. I think we all have to thank this man and his buddies.

My Team

After 8 Mock drafts and 3 weeks of preparation, this is my main team:

Forte RB
Murray RB
A.Johnson WR
Vick QB
Gates TE
Gore RB
DJackson WR
VJackson WR
Redman RB
Boldin WR
Palmer QB
DWilliams RB
GLittle WR
Gonzo TE
Detroit D/ST
Prater K

I had the 10th pick in a 10 team league.

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On vacation Mon 27th - Wed 29th. Great posts will resume when we get back. See you then!

Fantasy Football is Almost Here!

Posts just might be a little slower than usual this week. The NFL season starts in 2 weeks, and I'll be drafting most of my teams this week. So I've been doing a bunch of player stats & research.. and stuff.

Don't worry, though.. I'll still find some good stuff! As always, I thank you for coming!

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Introducing the Newest Spur: Marcus Denmon

Missouri Tigers' senior Marcus Denmon - Image Source: AP / NewsTribune.com

With the 59th pick in the 2012 NBA draft, the San Antonio Spurs picked Missouri's Marcus Denmon. He's a smart 6'3" shooting guard, who was a key piece of the Tigers' run & gun style. The guy can shoot, has a knack for steals, and led the Tigers in scoring the last two seasons.

Here's a good article about him from Bleacher Report..

San Antonio Spurs Recent Draft History

(and who we could've gotten over the years..) - Long post.


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2011: Cory Joseph (Texas) #29. Passed on: Kyle Singler (Duke) Detroit pick #33, Jon Leuer (Wisconsin) Milwaukee pick #40.

Ádám Hanga (Hungary) #59. Passed on: Isaiah Thomas, Jr. (Washington) Sacramento pick #60.


2010: James Anderson (Oklahoma St.) #20. Passed on: Jordan Crawford (Xavier) NJ Nets pick #27, Dexter Pittman (Texas) Miami pick #32, Landry Fields (Stanford) NY Knicks pick #39.

Ryan Richards (United Kingdom) #49. Passed on: Jeremy Evans (W.Kentucky) Utah pick #55.


2009: DeJuan Blair (Pittsburgh) #37. Passed on: Jodie Meeks (Kentucky) Milwaukee pick #41, Marcus Thornton (LSU) Miami pick #43 (to Sacramento), Danny Green (North Carolina) Cleveland pick #46.

Jack McClinton (Miami) #51.
Nando de Colo (France) #53.


2008: George Hill (UIPUI) #26. Passed on: Darrell Arthur (Kansas) New Orleans pick #27 (to Memphis), Donte Green (Syracuse) Memphis pick #28 (to Sacramento), Nikola Peković (Montenegro) Minnesota pick #31, DeAndre Jordan (Texas A&M) LAC pick #35.

Goran Dragić (Slovenia) #45 (traded to Phoenix).
James Gist (Maryland) #57.


2007: Tiago Splitter (Brazil) #28. Passed on: Carl Landry (Purdue) Seattle pick #31 (to Houston).

Marcus Williams (Arizona) #33. Passed on: Marc Gasol (Spain) LA Lakers pick #48 (to Memphis)


2006: Damir Markota (Croatia) #59.


2005: Ian Mahinmi (France) #28. Passed on: David Lee (Florida) NYK pick #30, Brandon Bass (LSU) New Orleans pick #33 (to Dallas), CJ Miles (Skyline HS, Dallas) Utah pick #34, Monta Ellis (Lanier HS, MS) Golden State pick #40, Andray Blatche (S.Kent Prep) Washington pick #49, Marcin Gortat (Poland) Phoenix pick #57 (to Orlando - to Phoenix)

(Today I am reminded Andrew Bogut was the #1 overall pick in 2005.)


2004: Beno Udrih (Slovenia) #28. Passed on: Anderson Varejão (Brazil) Orlando pick #31, Trevor Ariza (UCLA) NY Knicks pick #44.

Sergei Karaulov (Uzbekistan) #58. Ehh..


2003: Leandro Barbosa (Brazil) #28. Passed on: Josh Howard (Wake Forest) Dallas pick #29, Matt Bonner (Florida) Chicago pick #45 (to Toronto), Mo Williams (Alabama) Utah pick #47, James Jones (Miami) Indiana pick #49, Kyle Korver (Creighton) NJ Nets pick #51 (to Philly), and undrafted players Marquis Daniels (Auburn), and José Calderón (Spain).


2002: John Salmons (Miami) #26 (to Philly). Passed on: Carlos Boozer (Duke) Cleveland pick #35, Matt Barnes (UCLA) Memphis pick #46, Rasual Butler (La Salle) Miami pick #53.

Luis Scola (Argentina) #56 (rights traded to Houston 2 years later). Passed on: Devin Brown (UTSA), Reggie Evans (Iowa), Udonis Haslem (Florida) - all 3 undrafted.


2001: Tony Parker (France) #28. Passed on: Gilbert Arenas (Arizona) Golden State pick #30, Mehmet Okur (Turkey) Detroit pick #37, Earl Watson (UCLA) Seattle pick #39, and undrafted players Carlos Arroyo (Florida Int'l), Maurice Evans (Texas), Jamario Moon (Meridian CC), Andres Nocioni (Argentina).


2000: Chris Carrawell (Duke) #41. Passed on: Michael Redd (Ohio St.) Milwaukee pick #43.

Cory Hightower (Indian Hills CC) #54 (to LA Lakers). Passed on: Malik Allen (Villanova), Ime Udoka (Portland St.) - both undrafted.

(Today I learned Kenyon Martin was the #1 overall pick in 2000.)


1999: Leon Smith (MLK HS, Chicago) #29. Passed on: Gordan Giriček (Croatia) Dallas pick #40.
Manu Ginobili (Argentina) #57. Passed on: Chris Andersen (Blinn), Raja Bell (Florida Int'l) - both undrafted.


1998: Felipe López (St. John's) #24. Passed on: Al Harrington (St.Patrick's HS, NJ) Indiana pick #25, Rashard Lewis (Alief Elsik HS, Houston) Seattle pick #32

Derrick Dial (E.Michigan) #52. Passed on: Brad Miller (Purdue), Earl Boykins (E.Michigan), Anthony Carter (Hawaii) - all 3 undrafted.


1997: Tim Duncan (Wake Forest) #1. Passed on: Everybody else. If you need to see who could've been better in this case, you shouldn't be reading this, but here you go.


1996: NONE


1995: Cory Alexander (Virginia) #29. Passed on: Tyus Edney (UCLA) Sacramento pick #47.


1994: Bill Curley (Boston College) #22. Passed on: Wesley Person (Auburn) Phoenix pick #23, Monty Williams (Notre Dame) NY Knicks pick #24, Greg Minor (Louisville) LA Clippers pick #25, Charlie Ward (Florida St.) NY Knicks pick #26, Voshon Lenard (Minnesota) Milwaukee pick #46.


1993: Chris Whitney (Clemson) #47. Passed on: Bruce Bowen (Cal St.-Fullerton), Bo Outlaw (Houston) - both undrafted.


1992: Tracy Murray (UCLA) #18 (traded to Milwaukee). Passed on: Latrell Sprewell (Alabama) Golden St. pick #24, PJ Brown (Louisiana Tech) NJ Nets pick #29, Popeye Jones (Murray St.) Houston pick #41

Henry Williams (UNC-Charlotte) #44. Passed on: David Wesley (Baylor) undrafted.


1991: Greg Sutton (Oral Roberts) #49. Passed on: Darrell Armstrong (Fayetteville State), David Benoit (Alabama) - both undrafted.


1990: Dwayne Schintzius (Florida) #24. Passed on: Lance Blanks (Texas) Detroit pick #26, Elden Campbell (Clemson) LA Lakers pick #27, Toni Kukoč (Yugoslavia) Chicago pick #29.

Tony Massenburg (Maryland) #43. Passed on: Antonio Davis (UTEP) Indiana pick #45, Cedric Ceballos (Cal St.-Fullerton) Phoenix pick #48.

Sean Higgins (Michigan) #54.


1989: Sean Elliott (Arizona) #3. Passed on: Glen Rice (Michigan) Miami pick #4, JR Reid (North Carolina) Charlotte pick #5, Stacey King (Oklahoma) Chicago Bulls pick #6, Nick Anderson (Illinois) Orlando pick #11, Mookie Blaylock (Oklahoma) NJ Nets pick #12, Tim Hardaway (UTEP) Golden St. pick #14, Dana Barros (Boston College) Seattle pick #16, Shawn Kemp (Trinity Valley CC) Seattle pick #17, BJ Armstrong (Iowa) Chicago pick #18, Vlade Divac (Yugoslavia) LA Lakers pick #26, Cliff Robinson (UConn) Portland pick #36.


1988: Willie Anderson (Georgia) #10. Passed on: Will Perdue (Vanderbilt) Chicago pick #11, Harvey Grant (Oklahoma) Washington pick #12, Dan Majerle (Central Michigan) Phoenix pick #14, Brian Shaw (UC-Santa Barbara) Boston pick #24.

Shelton Jones (St. John's) #27. Passed on: Vinny Del Negro (NC St.) Sacramento pick #29, Vernon Maxwell (Florida) Denver pick #47, Steve Kerr (Arizona) Phoenix pick #50, Anthony Mason (Tennessee St.) Portland pick #53.

Barry Sumter (Austin Peay St.) #56.

Archie Marshall (Kansas) #75. Passed on: Avery Johnson (Southern), Tim Legler (La Salle) - both undrafted.


1987: David Robinson (Navy) #1. Passed on: Everybody else! Notables: Scotty Pippen, Kenny Smith, Kevin Johnson, Horace Grant, Reggie Miller, Mark Jackson, Reggie Lewis.

Greg Anderson (Houston) #23.


1986: Johnny Dawkins (Duke) #10. Passed on: John Salley (Georgia Tech) Detroit pick #11, Del Curry (Virginia Tech) Utah pick #13, Scott Skiles (Michigan St.) Milwaukee pick #22, Arvydas Sabonis (USSR) Portland pick #24, Mark Price (Georgia Tech) Dallas pick #25 (to Cleveland), Dennis Rodman (SE Oklahoma St.) Detroit pick #27.

Kevin Duckworth (E.Illinois) #33. Passed on: David Wingate (Georgetown) Philly pick #44, Jeff Hornacek (Iowa St.) Phoenix pick #46.


1985: Alfredrick Hughes (Loyola) #14. Passed on: Joe Dumars (McNeese St.) Detroit pick #18, AC Green (Oregon St.) LA Lakers pick #23, Terry Porter (Wisc.-Stevens Pt.) Portland pick #24.

Mike Brittain (South Carolina) #29. Passed on: Manute Bol (Sudan) Washington pick #31.

Tyrone Corbin (DePaul) #35. Passed on: Michael Adams (Boston College) Sacramento pick #66, Mario Elie (American Int'l) Milwaukee pick #160 (wow).


1984: Alvin Robertson (Arkansas) #7. Passed on: Otis Thorpe (Providence) KC Kings pick #9, Kevin Willis (Michigan St.) Atlanta pick #11, John Stockton (Gonzaga) Utah pick #16, Jerome Kersey (Longwood) Portland pick #46.

Joe Binion (NC A&T) #57. Passed on: Rick Carlisle (Virginia) Boston pick #70.

Ozell Jones (Cal St.-Fullerton) #90.


1983: John Paxson (Notre Dame) #19.

I stop here because, well our franchise was frankly very young. Not only that, but only Gene Banks and a handful of players were decent noteworthy picks from the first 6 seasons. We all know about the Iceman, George Gervin, but the details of how we acquired the Hall of Famer from the Virginia Squires is still very sketchy.

Sources: Basketball-Reference.com, and Wikipedia's yearly "NBA draft [year]" pages.

Colt To Cleveland

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Congratulations to Colt McCoy and his family for waiting way-y-y too long to be drafted by the Cleveland Browns. Watching this draft it was pretty surprising that several other teams, notably the Raiders, Bills, Chiefs, and Seahawks, passed him over time & time again. Denver reached early-early for Tim Tebow, and Carolina did a great job of grabbing Jimmy Clausen when he fell to them.

So many teams, so many players. So many mistakes! But we shall see...

Congrats also to Jordan Shipley, who ironically was drafted one pick before Colt McCoy, to the Bengals. Also to Sergio Kindle, who will now grab a spot on the Ravens defensive front. And Earl Thomas will be the Seahawks' starting FS for a long time. Way to go you guys!

One more thing I wanna say. We shall see if the Rams truly messed up by not following what I said months ago: "Whoever has the #1 overall pick in the draft is an idiot if they don't get:
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Ndamukong Suh!"

So kudos to Detroit for a great draft, and well.. We'll see if Sooner Sam Bradford is worth it.