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Top Ten Things
for NFL 2006
Posted August 12, 2006
1. The "Flexible Schedule" and "Sunday Night Football (SNF) on NBC":
The NFL will implement a "Flexible Schedule" beginning in Week 10 (except Week 16). The SNF game will be chosen from the scheduled Sunday afternoon games. It
will be moved with 12 days notice. This helps to ensure the best games will be on Sunday night. We think, to really ensure an audience, the solution is at least 2 games on
at once. You can't predict blow-outs, even with the best teams. Still, its a step in the right direction for the best football on Sunday nights. However, it may frustrate fans
schedules-- never knowing until 12 days before whether your game might be the one.
2. New York Jets:
Will the Jets bounce back? Last year was a huge disappointment, and fans wanted to see the Jets grab a QB in the draft. When they failed to trade up and Vince Young
was grabbed 3rd, the decision came down to D'Brickashaw Ferguson or Matt Leinart. Leinart ended up slipping to 10th in the draft, making the Jets management look
good, but the QB hole in New York seems huge. That is, until Chad Pennington arrived to training camp healthy and refreshed-- a virtual new man. A lot is riding on
whether Chad really can re-emerge. Because Ramsey doesn't really count as another option at QB. With Saban working hard on the Dolphins and Buffalo seeking to
bounce, the Jets could have another long season ahead. The buzz, at least, is fun for now. But what about Curtis Martin (latest news)?
3. Larry Johnson:
Do you really think you can get away with drafting a top RB from the Kansas City Chiefs and expect a smooth year. There have been many reports that Priest Holmes
might retire. And Johnson proved he was near unstoppable in the 2nd half of last season. But, its basically a fantasy rule-- you need a handcuff when you have a running
back from the Chiefs (What's a handcuff? That's the fantasy term used for picking a back-up player from the same position and same team to ensure your covered in
case one gets injured). It would be quite a surprise if Johnson ended the season on top-- without a hitch.
4. Vince Young:
We absolutely, unequivocally think Young can be ready to play this season. We also think Young has a huge NFL future ahead of him. It seems like the Titans might take
some time to bring Young around. And, they do have that luxury with Billy Volek around. Still, we won't be surprised if Young is getting some solid time before the
halfway mark this year. He's got the NFL frame. And he's a flat-out dominating football player. His performance in the Rose Bowl was a man-among-boys showcase.
He single-handedly beat Reggie Bush, Matt Lienart, LenDale White, and the USC Trojans. Vince Young is the real deal. Fantasy value? Not sure where he will fit in this
season. But, be sure to watch Young play when you get the chance.
5. Arizona Cardinals:
Is this the year the Cardinals snap out of it? Why not? They have a brand new stadium (Cardinals Stadium). But 'Zona hasn't won more than 9 games in a season since 1976-- when they were in Saint Louis. That's pain. Are there any
diehard, 3-decade Cardinal fans out there? Could relief be on the way? Edgerrin James has arrived from Indianapolis. It's a big step in the right direction; shores up the
position. However, the downside is that a lot of James' success was due to the fact that defenses were focusing on Manning in Indy. What the Cardinals do have going
for them on offense is the best wide receiver tandem in the NFL: Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Whether Kurt Warner still has it left in him to steer this offense
into double-digit wins is the big question.
6. Wide Receivers at your Fantasy Football draft:
Is this the year to pick a wide receiver with your first pick in the draft? Say your first pick is the 8th pick in the draft: Do you take a WR like Steve Smith or Chad
Johnson? Or do you stay with the traditional fantasy rule and draft RB's early-- no matter who they are? This year, your comparing Smith and Johnson to LaMont Jordan
and Steven Jackson. It's not an easy choice. Is it better to try your luck with Domanick Davis or Willis McGahee a little later in the draft? The smaller the number of
teams in your league, the more willing you may want to be to grab Smith instead of Jordan. If your in a larger league (10+ teams), better stick to the RB's. Because once
their gone, you have no recourse. You can always get by with Lee Evans or Joey Galloway as your wide receivers.
7. What to do about Tiki Barber:
Barber is flying up the fantasy rankings. He's 4th or 5th in most preseason rankings. Barber is talking about retiring after the season, but Jerome Bettis sytle. Because
Barber says: "I honestly feel we can compete for a Super Bowl" (story). It is this type of attitude that is driving fantasy owners to him--
even if it means drafting him 4th overall. It also helps that Barber has always been healthy. In the last 8 seasons (1998 was his first full season in the NFL), Barber has
missed just 2 games. Career stats here.
8. Washington Redskins:
Is Joe Gibbs a minor-miracle worker? Or, were the Redskins a one-year blip? The offense has all the pieces (great defense, good receivers, a great up-and-coming TE,
and a top-tier RB)... except a true QB. And that's no small problem. Gibbs can try his best, with new Offensive Coordinator Al Saunders (from Kansas City), to organize
their offense around whatever strengths they can find in Mark Brunell's game (which were few and far between from Week 11 on). In those final 7 games, Brunell
topped 160 yards passing twice (194 and 163). Brunell will turn 36 at Week 2. He's really the only question mark for the Redskins. Even a mediocre season from Brunell
could be enough for a repeat playoff performance. The Redskins schedule is manageable; their tough games include long-time division rivals (Philadelphia, the Giants, and
Dallas) along with at Indianapolis, at Tampa Bay, at St. Louis, and a Week 12 home game vs Carolina.
9. Oakland and Dallas:
Who is America's team these days? Is it the Patriots, Steelers, or Colts? It's certainly not a "Raider Nation" after the last 3 seasons (4, 5, and 4 wins). But the "Silver and
Black" are hopefully heading into the season, even if QB Aaron Brooks' arrival in Oakland brings more questions than answers. And what about the Cowboys? After a
10 win season in 2003, the Cowboys have been unable to follow through on that momentum. Enter Terrell Owens. No one questions his talent. But will he turn out to be a
headache for Dallas? Probably not. But, even so, the Cowboys may be held back by Bledsoe.
10. What does Vegas say?
You can see Vegas future lines for the Super Bowl via Vegas.com here. Vegas has the Cowboys (7/1) getting
more play than the Seahawks (11/1). And via TradeSports the Super Bowl odds are about the same as Vegas: Colts as the favorite. And then the Patriots, Steelers,
Seahawks, and Panthers. Both Vegas and TradeSports like the Cowboys and Dolphins a little more than might be expected (Fan favorites? Or does everyone have a
Dallas/Miami vibe this year?). What teams have no chance? The traders say Houston, Tennessee, Buffalo, and San Francisco. TradeSports Super Bowl prices here.
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