Chicago Bears - Is Cedric Benson ready to carry the load at running back?

Ever since he was drafted with the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft, Benson has been rumored to take over as the No. 1 back for the Bears. After all, what team spends such a high selection on a player who's not going to see the field? Well, Chicago apparently. Benson was unable to take over the starting job from Thomas Jones during the past two seasons. That changes this year with Jones being dealt to the Jets. The good news for Benson is that he'll be the featured back, is 24 years old and will be running behind one of the league's best offensive lines. The bad news is that he couldn't take over the starting job for two years, he doesn't have much upside in the passing game and he's never been a featured back. Those are serious red flags for me, and I could see Benson being a bust this season. Chicago doesn't exactly have a ton of other weapons to help out the run game, and I can't get over the fact that it took him this long to take over as a starter. He'll likely be drafted as a No. 2 back, but I'm probably going to steer clear of Benson on draft day.

Green Bay Packers - Who will get the ball at running back?

This is a more important question than you might think. Consider that in '06, Ahman Green, Vernand Morency and Noah Herron combined for 1,630 yards. With Green gone, the Packers feature back should produce a decent fantasy season. So who will the feature back be? Morency was slated to be the starter, but he'll be sidelined with a knee injury for at least a couple weeks at the beginning of training camp. That means if rookie Brandon Jackson can impress the coaching staff early, he has a chance to be an immediate contributor. And finally, Herron will be in the mix also. Even though the running back situation is confusing at this point, I won't shy away from drafting whoever the front-runner is as my third running back. This is an important position battle to observe during training camp and the preseason.

Detroit Lions - Can Jon Kitna make good on his predictions?

Earlier this offseason, the Lions signal caller said Detroit would win 10 games in '07, and then he was asked about how many touchdown passes he'd throw. Half-jokingly (I think), Kitna set the number at 50. Hmm...I'll go out on a limb and say neither of those numbers are likely, but let's get to his fantasy value. Only three quarterbacks (Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Marc Bulger) threw for more yards than Kitna last season. Then there's the bad news. The Lions quarterback had 22 interceptions and 21 touchdowns. So what's changed for '07? Detroit drafted wide receiver Calvin Johnson with its first pick, further strengthening an already solid receiving corps that includes Roy Williams and Mike Furrey. Kitna is a good example of why it can pay to wait for a quarterback. He's not exciting, and you'll never brag about having him on your team. But in the end, Detroit throws the ball a lot, and Kitna will pile up yardage numbers. And the truth is, he probably won't be among the top-10 quarterbacks off the board in most drafts.

Minnesota Vikings - Is Chester Taylor an attractive option at running back?

There's not a whole lot to like about the offensive fantasy options in Minnesota this season. Taylor was solid in his first season with the Vikings, piling up more than 1,500 rushing/receiving yards. However, things don't look so promising for him in '07. For starters, Taylor wore down towards the end of last season, with just one 100-yard game over the final 10 weeks. Now he'll have to deal with Vikings first-round pick Adrian Peterson getting carries in what's suddenly a crowded backfield. Add in the fact that Taylor found the end zone just six times last season, and he's not a very likeable option this year. That being said, Peterson is certainly an injury risk, and Taylor could be relied on more in the passing game with inexperienced Tarvaris Jackson at quarterback. He should be considered a third running back.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 10:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Before we get to the pressing questions surrounding AFC West teams, note that Childs and I did our first football podcast of the season. Among the topics covered: Randy Moss' value, who to take with the No. 2 pick and who will be the No. 1 fantasy WR. 

Denver Broncos - Will Mike Shanahan continue to frustrate owners by flip-flopping running backs throughout the season?

Last year it was Mike Bell and Tatum Bell. Tatum ran for 1,025 yards but only had a pair of touchdowns. Mike ran for 677 yards but found the end zone eight times. 2006 was another year of confusion for fantasy owners who drafted Broncos backs. Will that change in '07? The early answer is yes. Denver signed Travis Henry in the offseason, and he figures to be the main man. Last year with the Titans, Henry ran for 1,211 yards and seven touchdowns. He piled up six 100-yard games, four of which came after Week 9. Henry will be a popular pick, given Denver's system of producing high rushing totals. However, a couple things to keep in mind: One, Henry has to prove he can stay healthy being the No. 1 back for a full season, something that hasn't happened since 2003. And two, Henry will not be a factor in the passing game. He caught just 18 balls for 78 yards in '06. With all that being said, Henry is a high-risk, high-reward pick. Look for him to be among the top-15 running backs off the board and a second-round selection. Meanwhile, Bell is a nice late-round pick, considering he is a Henry injury away from being the No. 1 option in a running back-friendly system.

Kansas City Chiefs - Is there anyone on this offense worth drafting other than Larry Johnson?

Let's start with Johnson. There are several concerns with the Kansas City running back. His offensive line isn't what it used to be. He's threatening to hold out of training camp. And most importantly, he set an NFL-record with 416 carries last season, causing experts to predict that he'll be a major bust in '07. Even with all those factors, I wouldn't hesitate to grab him with the No. 3 pick. Consider this: he either scored a TD or ran for 100 yards in 14 of 16 games last season and has 40 TDs over the past two seasons. Moving on to the rest of the Chiefs' offense, there's not much going on. Kansas City will go with Brodie Croyle or Damon Huard at QB. It seems like the Chiefs want Croyle to win the starting job, but he has no experience and holds no fantasy value. Huard, meanwhile, was a pleasant surprise, throwing for 11 TDs and one INT in '06. However, he figures to be the team's backup. At wide receiver, the Chiefs drafted Dwayne Bowe out of LSU, but this unit remains one of the league's worst. And finally, the one player besides Johnson worth drafting is Tony Gonzalez. Kansas City's tight end caught 73 balls for 900 yards and five touchdowns last season. He remains a top-three TE option.

San Diego Chargers - Is Antonio Gates worth spending an early pick on?

The answer is no. Let someone else in your league be that guy. Don't get me wrong. Gates is undoubtedly the No. 1 option at tight end. He had 924 yards and nine touchdowns in what could be considered a down year in '06. However, drafting him ahead of guys with monstrous upside like Carson Palmer, Donovan McNabb and Larry Fitzgerald is insane. Barring injury, Gates will finish as the top tight end, but there are several tight ends that might not finish that far behind (Gonzalez, Jeremy Shockey, Kellen Winslow, Todd Heap to name a few). Take your chances with a top-flight wide receiver or quarterback, or grab a running back you like in round three. You'll be able to get better value with a tight end later in the draft.

Oakland Raiders - Is there anyone worth drafting on this offense?

Wow. Probably not. Rookie JaMarcus Russell is likely to get the starting nod right away at QB, but he will endure serious growing pains. Russell made a lot of errors in college and will not possess any fantasy value in '07. Meanwhile LaMont Jordan was an enormous disappointment at running back last season. He ran for 434 yards and two touchdowns in nine games. Even more frustrating to fantasy owners was that he caught just 10 balls for 74 yards after catching 70 for 563 in '05. Jordan is recovering from a knee injury and won't be a big producer this season. Ronald Curry showed potential last season at WR, catching 62 balls for 727 yards, but he only scored once. With Russell at QB and one of the league's worst offensive lines, he's not amont the top-40 wide receivers.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Here's a look at fantasy nuggets for the Orioles' three-game series against the Devil Rays:

Orioles // Standing out: Corey Patterson continues to swing a hot bat since the All-Star break. After a disappointing first half, he's batting .439 with a pair of homers, five RBIs and five stolen bases in his last 10 games. For Patterson, a big second half could mean a bigger contract at the end of the season when he joins a crowded free agent class of center fielders.

Player to watch: Nick Markakis is also having a big second half for the second straight season. The O's right fielder is batting .395 with eight RBIs and three steals since the All-Star break. Markakis' speed has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy owners. He stole just two bases last season but has 12 in '07.

On the mound: Orioles closer Chris Ray didn't get a save chance Sunday against the Athletics because of arm stiffness. He says it's no big deal, but owners should keep an eye on him during the O's homestand. Jamie Walker got the save in Ray's place, but he doesn't hold much fantasy value even if Ray's injury is more serious than initially thought.

Devil Rays // Standing out: Second baseman B.J. Upton went 8-for-19 (.421) with three homers and six RBIs in Tampa Bay's four-game series with the Yankees. Upton has been on a tear since returning from the disabled list. He's batting .444 with 10 RBIs since the All-Star break. On the season, Upton is hitting .339 with 12 homers, 41 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.

Player to watch: Tampa Bay's big-time prospect Delmon Young is batting .422 since the All-Star break but hasn't homered since June 22, a span of 25 games. Overall, he's had a solid rookie campaign, hitting .295 with nine homers, 52 RBIs and 24 doubles.

On the mound: Tonight's starter Scott Kazmir has had back-to-back solid outings since the All-Star break. In his last two starts, Kazmir is 2-0, having allowed one earned run on seven hits in 13 innings. Overall, Tampa Bay's young lefty is 7-6 with a 4.02 ERA and 128 strikeouts (he's walked 63).

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 4:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

St. Louis - Should Steven Jackson be the No. 2 pick overall?

The No. 1 pick is a no-brainer this season. Any fantasy owner who doesn't select LaDainian Tomlinson with the top selection should immediately have his or her fantasy football privileges revoked. That brings us to the second pick, where the debate begins between Larry Johnson and Jackson. The Rams running back was a beast last season, accounting for 2,334 rushing/receiving yards and 16 touchdowns. Jackson finished '06 on an absolute tear, with 10 touchdowns over the last four weeks and three straight 100-yard rushing games to close out the season. I'm giving him the edge over Johnson. Jackson is entering his prime at 24 years old, has a formidable offensive line and can put up points even if he's not getting 25 carries each game. Last year, he led all RBs with 90 catches. He's the pick at No. 2.

Seattle Seahawks - When is the right time to take Shaun Alexander?

It's funny how quickly things change in the fantasy world. From 2000-2005, Alexander didn't miss a game and was billed as a model of durability. Now after missing six games in '06, people are labeling him an injury risk. One thing is for certain. He's not the elite running back he once was. The good news is that he finished strong last year and still is a major touchdown producer. Alexander scored five times over the last five weeks of the regular season and had two more TDs in Seattle's divisional playoff loss to the Bears. Despite missing six games, he still scored seven times. The bad news is he'll be 30 years old when the season starts, and the Seahawks offensive line isn't as good as it was when Alexander was in his prime. Also, if he's not doing it through the ground game, Alexander is useless. He's caught just 27 balls for 126 yards over the past two seasons. So where does that leave us? I'd have a tough time taking him at No. 5 or higher, but I'd have a tough time passing on him at No. 7. You do the math. The No. 6 or 7 pick is one of the worst in this year's drafts.

San Francisco 49ers - What can Frank Gore do for an encore?

San Francisco's running back was a popular sleeper going into last season's drafts, and he delivered in a big way. Gore accounted for 2,180 rushing/receiving yards to go along with nine touchdowns. He had nine 100-yard rushing games and led the league in rushes over 20 yards. Gore also showed good versatility, catching 61 balls for 485 yards. The negatives? He ran for eight touchdowns, which isn't enough for an elite fantasy back. Look for that number to reach double-digits in '07. Also, Norv Turner, an offensive coordinator that constantly produces solid fantasy backs, has moved on to San Diego. And finally, critics will point to Gore's injury problems of the past. But as I pointed out above with Alexander, predicting injuries is a hopeless cause when it comes to fantasy football. Calling Gore injury-prone at this stage in his career is not a fair assertion. That leaves us with Gore as the easy pick at No. 4.

Arizona Cardinals - Which receiver should be drafted first -- Larry Fitzgerald or Anquan Boldin?

First off, both can be drafted as No. 1 wide receivers and should be among the top-10 producers at their position now that Matt Leinart has a year under his belt. Boldin had a very good season in '06, setting a career-high with 14.5 yards per catch and playing in all 16 games. The bad news was that his catches, receiving yards and touchdowns (four) were all down from '05, a season in which he played in 14 games. Meanwhile, Fitzgerald had six touchdowns in 13 games and has shown he has the potential to the No. 1 fantasy receiver overall. If I had to decide right now, I'd take Fitzgerald because he's more likely to produce big TD numbers. But like I said, with a new coaching staff and a more seasoned Leinart, fantasy owners are going to be happy with the production of both these wideouts when all is said and done in '07.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Here's a look at fantasy nuggets for the Orioles' three-game series against the Athletics:

Orioles // Standing out: Nick Markakis had a big second half last year, hitting .311 with 14 homers and 41 RBIs after the All-Star break. The O's right fielder is starting off the second half of '07 in the same way. Markakis is 13-for-29 (.448) with a homer, five extra-base hits and seven RBIs in seven games since the break. Overall, Markakis is batting .293 with 10 homers, 58 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

Player to watch: Corey Patterson was arguably the Orioles' most disappointing fantasy player during the first half of the season. In '06, he hit .276 with 16 homers and 45 stolen bases. In the first half this season, he hit .232 with two homers and 18 steals. However, since the break, Patterson is 14-for-28 (.500) with a pair of homers, six runs and two stolen bases.

On the mound: Erik Bedard was scratched from his last scheduled start because of a stiff neck but is set to take the mound tonight. The O's lefty has been dominant in his last two starts, having allowed no runs and five hits in 16 innings while striking out 22 and walking two. Bedard leads the majors with 156 strikeouts and has not lost in his last six outings.

Athletics // Standing out: Considering Oakland is batting an MLB-worst .191 since the All-Star break, I'm going to go with pitching in this spot. Starter Lenny DiNardo has allowed two runs or fewer in three straight starts. In his last outing against the Rangers, DiNardo allowed no runs and three hits in seven innings. Overall, he has a 2.51 ERA and has started nine games.

Player to watch: Third baseman Eric Chavez continues to frustrate fantasy owners with his low average. He set a career-low last season by batting .241, and Chavez hasn't been much better in '07, batting .245. Looking on the bright side, he looks like a sure bet to hit more than 20 home runs for the eighth straight season. Chavez has 15 bombs and 46 RBIs. He's hitting .200 since the All-Star break.

On the mound: Starter Joe Blanton is having a good season overall (8-6, 3.36 ERA), but he's struggled recently. In his last two outings, Blanton has been roughed up for 22 hits and nine runs in 13 2/3 innings. He's tossed three complete games on the year and only C.C. Sabathia and James Shields have logged more innings on the season.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 12:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Indianapolis Colts - Should Joseph Addai be considered an elite running back?

There's no doubt about it. Addai split carries with Dominic Rhodes last season and still managed over 1,400 rushing/receiving yards and eight touchdowns. Rhodes is now gone, and the Colts have done nothing to replace him, meaning Addai becomes the undisputed starter. He rushes behind a great offensive line and showed great versatility last season, catching 40 balls for 325 yards. Don't be scared off by Indy's high-powered passing attack. Remember, Edgerrin James had back-to-back seasons of more than 1,500 yards in 2004 and 2005. Addai might not reach those heights this season, but he's certainly a first-round pick and can be counted on to produce as a No. 1 running back.

Jacksonville Jaguars - What can Maurice Jones-Drew do for an encore?

The Jaguars running back was one of fantasy's biggest surprises last season, accounting for 15 touchdowns and over 1,300 yards. However, don't expect him to repeat those numbers in 2007. Fred Taylor is still Jacksonville's primary running back, and Greg Jones could return from injury to take over short-yardage carries. It will be imperative for fantasy owners to keep an eye on how the RB position plays out for Jacksonville during training camp. The good news for Jones-Drew fans is that he did his damage with just 212 touches last season. But the truth is he'll probably be over-valued by a fantasy owner in your league who's drafting based on last year's stats. Don't be that guy.

Houston Texans - How good can Matt Schaub be in his first full season as a starter?

Anyone who's watched the Texans over the past few seasons knows David Carr wasn't their biggest problem on offense. The offensive line showed some improvement last season, but still allowed 43 sacks. And keep in mind, Carr has shown good mobility in five NFL seasons. Schaub has thrown six touchdowns and six interceptions in his career, will be protected by a poor offensive line and will be joined by a supporting cast that lacks true weapons other than wide receiver Andre Johnson. That's plenty to overcome considering this will be Schaub's first year as a full-time starter. I think he has potential, but he's probably a year away and doesn't possess much fantasy value for '07.

Tennessee Titans - Should Vince Young be considered a fantasy starter?

It's hard to find anyone who wasn't impressed with Young during his rookie campaign. VY led Tennessee to wins in six of its last seven games and an 8-8 record overall. As for Young as a fantasy quarterback, he was great with his legs, rushing for 552 yards and seven touchdowns. The results as a passer weren't as spectacular. Young completed less than 52 percent of his passes, tossed 12 touchdowns and was picked off 13 times. In 2007, he figures to once again produce big numbers as a runner, but the Titans didn't do much to improve Young's supporting cast. Tennessee has no proven No. 1 RB, and its wide receiving corps is one of the worst in the league. Young should produce as a top-15 QB because of his rushing numbers. The smart move would be to draft him along with a veteran QB to reduce your risk.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 1:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

UP

Jermaine Dye, White Sox: He's been a fantasy disappointment this season, but Dye is giving fantasy owners hope with a hot second-half start. Since the All-Star break, he's hitting .370 with four homers, six RBIs and eight runs in six games. Dye is hitting just .229 on the season, but he has 16 homers and 45 RBIs.

Albert Pujols, Cardinals: He was the first selection in most drafts going into the season, but Pujols didn't quite meet expectations in the first half. However, since the break, he's been on a tear, hitting .400 with four homers in five games. On the season, Pujols is batting .315 with 20 homers and 57 RBIs. He'll need a good second half to reach 40 homers for the fifth straight season.

Orlando Hernandez, Mets: El Duque is 2-0 since the All-Star break and has allowed two earned runs in 13 innings. He's also stolen a base in two straight outings. Hernandez is quietly having a solild year with a 2.96 ERA. His career-best came in 2004 when he posted a 3.30 ERA in 15 starts with the Yankees.

DOWN

Grady Sizemore, Indians: He's off to a slow start in the second half, going 3-for-22 (.136) with no homers or RBIs in five games. Sizemore has still been a top-five fantasy outfielder for the season with 15 homers, 46 RBIs, 76 runs and 25 steals.

Barry Bonds, Giants: He's currently mired in an 0-for-19 slump and hasn't had a hit since July 5. This has caused Bonds to snap at the media and even his BFF Pedro Gomez. He's expected to be left out of the lineup for the third straight game today to rest his legs. Bonds has been solid this year with 17 homers and 42 RBIs, but the second half could be a struggle for the 42 year old.

Roy Oswalt, Astros: Houston's ace was shelled for eight earned runs on 10 hits in 5 1/3 innings in his last start against the Cubs. Oswalt has allowed 10 hits in two of his last three starts. On the season, he's 8-6 with a 3.90 ERA.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

When I was doing research for my NFC South questions post this morning, I didn't know the information about the Falcons would be so outdated just hours later.

As you probably know by now, quarterback Michael Vick has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges related to illegal dogfighting. Earlier this morning, I wrote that Vick would be a risky pick in fantasy drafts, but he could probably be considered a starter after producing solid numbers in 2006. I also wrote that Vick likely wouldn't face any legal or disciplinary action before the '07 season.

Whoops. Guess I was wrong.

The main question on the fantasy front is: Will Vick be suspended?

ESPN.com's John Clayton reports that Vick's case will consume much of the season, and commissioner Roger Goodell can't suspend Vick unless he is found guilty or admits guilt. This is because he's a first-time offender under the league's new conduct policy.

This means Vick's fantasy value is obviously up in the air. I can't see many owners getting excited about picking a guy who's capable of such despicable behavior. But then again, others may say fantasy football is about the numbers. The fact of the matter is his case could take up most of the season, he has a new coach and his team underachieved last season. That's quite a bit to overcome and still be a quality fantasy quarterback.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 9:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Atlanta Falcons - Where should Michael Vick be selected?

As has been the case over the past six seasons, talking about the Atlanta Falcons means talking about Vick. He is one of the more polarizing players in the NFL. Fans point to the excitement he can provide on any given play, which translates to his tremendous rushing numbers. Haters point to his lack of improvement in the passing game. Vick was extremely productive as a fantasy player last season, rushing for 1,039 yards and passing for 20 touchdowns. Repeating those numbers in 2007 is a risky proposition at best. Vick will be playing under new coach Bobby Petrino, which would theoretically mean his rushing numbers will go down and he'll be able to take more shots down the field in the passing game. However, Petrino is not the first coach brought in to change Vick's style, and Atlanta's wide receivers are nothing to write home about. It doesn't appear that he will face any disciplinary action this season for the dog-fighting controversy, but that doesn't mean it's not an issue to be concerned about. Vick is even more of a risk than usual this season, but can be drafted as a low-end starter. However, selecting a solid backup behind him is a must.

UPDATE: Vick was indicted hours after this entry was posted. Click here for updated information.

Carolina Panthers - Do they have anyone worth drafting other than Steve Smith?

That's a tough one. Certainly nobody to get excited about. Let's start in the backfield. Who's more NOW -- DeAngelo Williams or DeShaun Foster? Answer: neither. The two backs figure to share carries, meaning neither holds much value as a fantasy starter. Williams is the more intriguing pick. He showed ability at times as a rookie, but was hampered by injuries and an ineffective line. If Foster goes down and the line improves, Williams holds value as a mild sleeper, but I'm not seeing it. As for Foster, he's entering his fifth NFL season and has never run for more than three touchdowns or 897 yards. Not to mention he's an injury risk. Drafting Foster is not a good idea under any circumstances. Then there are Carolina's quarterbacks. Jake Delhomme is coming off a disappointing year where he threw for 2,805 yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 INTs in 13 games. If you like to wait on quarterbacks, teaming up Delhomme with another veteran and picking your spots wouldn't be a bad idea. Remember, he did throw for a combined 53 touchdowns in 2004 and 2005. However, also remember that the Panthers picked up David Carr in the offseason, meaning Delhomme will be on a short leash.

New Orleans Saints - Is Reggie Bush a first-round pick?

In his rookie campaign, Bush came pretty close to matching the hype even though his numbers weren't particularly eye-popping. Bush averaged 3.6 yards per carry and had just one 100-yard rushing performance. However, look closer and you'll see he caught 73 balls, which is enormous in leagues that award points for receptions. Also, check out how Bush finished his first season in the NFL. He had two 100-yard receiving games to go along with a 100-yard rushing game in the season's final five weeks. All eight of his touchdowns came after Week 9. The Saints did a tremendous job of finding touches for Bush, and the only downside this year is he'll continue to share carries with Deuce McAllister. Bush is a top-15 running back and a great option for a No. 2 RB. That makes him a second-round pick with a high ceiling.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Can Jeff Garcia be productive in his new home?

Garcia had success last year filling in for an injured Donovan McNabb. He threw for 1,309 yards, 10 touchdowns and two interceptions in eight games with the Eagles. Now he finds himself in Tampa Bay at the age of 37 with a suspect supporting cast and a backup in Chris Simms breathing down his neck. Somehow that doesn't scream "monster fantasy season" to me. As well as he played a year ago, Garcia wasn't even a top-10 quarterback after taking over the starting job. The good news is he'll be comfortable in Tampa Bay's system. The bad news is he's dealing with one of the worst receiving corps in the league. Garcia should be considered nothing more than an average backup.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 12:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

New England Patriots - Where does Randy Moss rank among fantasy wide receivers?

The truth about Moss is he's probably going to get picked higher than he should in most drafts. Let's look at the facts. Moss is entering his ninth NFL season at 30-years-old and is coming off a season in which he caught 42 balls for 553 yards and three touchdowns. You could make the argument that nobody could have put up big numbers at wideout for Oakland last season, and you'd probably be right. But then we take a look at where he's going -- to an offense that loves to spread the ball around and completely revamped its entire receiving corps. Donte' Stallworth and Wes Welker are going to see their share of looks. I just don't see a monster year out of Moss. I think 1,000 yards is a bit of a reach and double-digit touchdowns is an impossibility. He probably squeezes into the top-20 wide receivers but is no more than a No. 2 WR.

Miami Dolphins - Is Trent Green a good bounce-back candidate?

He's not a good bounce-back candidate, and at best, he's an average option as a backup. Before 2006, Green had thrown for at least 4,000 yards in three straight seasons. And that was with a team in the Chiefs that had below-average wide receivers and always ran the ball in the red zone. The key in Kansas City was that he had a great tight end in Tony Gonzalez and an offensive line that protected him. In Miami, he'll be the man, but Green has an o-line filled with question marks and a No. 1 receiver in Chris Chambers that was one of fantasy's biggest disappointments in '06. At 37-years-old, I don't think Green has much left in the tank. Health is certainly a concern, and his supporting cast doesn't exactly strike fear into the hearts of opposing defensive coordinators. He could be a good option as a No. 2 QB, but his days as a big-time fantasy producer are over.

New York Jets - What kind of impact will Thomas Jones have with his new team?

I know it's early, and training camp is still a few weeks away, but I'm excited about the prospects of Jones in New York this season. He's never been a big touchdown guy, but Jones ran for 1,210 yards last year and 1,335 the year before while holding off Cedric Benson. Keep in mind he carried just 21 times over the last two weeks of '06 with the Bears resting their regulars. In New York, he'll lose carries to Leon Washington, but that's really the only negative. He's durable, versatile and a very low-risk pick. Don't be surprised to see him produce a 1,200-yard, eight-touchdown season.

Buffalo Bills - Does Buffalo have anyone besides Lee Evans worth drafting?

Let's start with Evans. He was a beast last year, with 82 catches for 1,290 yards and eight touchdowns. Evans finished strong with touchdowns in each of the last four games. That brings us to his quarterback, J.P. Losman. Buffalo's signal-caller also finished strong, with 12 touchdowns over the final seven weeks of the season (although he also tossed eight INTs over that span). Losman is a high-rish/high-reward pick. He could revert back to the guy who tossed four INTs over the final two weeks last season. Or he could be the guy who tossed 10 TDs and four picks in a five-week span from Week 11 to Week 15. He should be drafted as a backup if you're willing to roll the dice. And finally, at running back, the Bills drafted Marshawn Lynch out of California. He will be the No. 1 option for Buffalo, and that gives him immediate value in today's NFL. In leagues with 10 teams or fewer, Lynch would be a stretch to be a No. 2 fantasy back in his first season, but I like his upside and recommend grabbing him as a backup or flex option.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 10:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

Catcher: Russell Martin, Dodgers

An easy choice for National League catcher. Martin was a popular sleeper candidate going into this season, but he's surpassed the expectations of even his biggest fans. He's batting .306 with 11 homers and 60 RBIs. But what's made Martin an especially valuable fantasy player has been his 16 steals. He had 10 all of last season.

First base: Prince Fielder, Brewers

Milwaukee's young slugger has outperformed the likes of fantasy first-round picks Albert Pujols and Ryan Howard. He's batting .284 with 29 homers and 70 RBIs. Fielder had 28 homers and 81 RBIs in 157 games as a rookie last season. Meanwhile, Pujols (.310, 16 HRs, 52 RBIs) and Howard (21 HRs, 67 RBIs) rank fourth and sixth among fantasy first basemen respectively.

Second base: Chase Utley, Phillies

He's batting .325 with 15 homers, 68 RBIs, 64 runs and six stolen bases. Utley's on pace to post his second straight 100 RBI/100 run season. Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips earns an honorable mention with 17 homers, 47 RBIs, 60 runs and 16 stolen bases.

Third base: Miguel Cabrera, Marlins

The jokes continue about his weight, but Cabrera continues to produce at the plate, hitting .324 with 18 homers and 61 RBIs. David Wright, Chipper Jones and Aramis Ramirez have all produced as expected. One surprise has been Milwaukee's Ryan Braun. The Brewers rookie is batting .350 with 11 homers, 32 RBIs and eight steals in 40 games.

Shortstop: Hanley Ramirez, Marlins

This was probably the most hotly-debated position when All-Stars were announced. Jose Reyes has the best speed. J.J. Hardy and Jimmy Rollins have the best power. But Ramirez has shown the best mix of everything through the first half of the season. He's batting .331 with 14 homers, 70 runs and 27 stolen bases. Reyes meanwhile has just four homers, Rollins has 15 steals and Hardy has none. Hardy deserves serious consideration for the top spot because he wasn't on anyone's radar during draft time yet has produced 18 homers and 54 RBIs.

Outfielder: Matt Holliday, Rockies

He might be underappreciated by the average baseball fan, but he's definitely a star on the fantasy front. Holliday is batting .341 with 15 homers and 69 RBIs. He broke out last season with a .326 average to go along with 34 bombs and 114 RBIs.

Outfielder: Eric Brynes, Diamondbacks

The former Oriole will likely be in for a big payday as a free agent at the end of this season if he continues to produce like he has in the first half. Byrnes is batting .306 with 14 homers, 49 RBIs, 53 runs and 17 steals. Byrnes was one of only three players to hit at least 25 homers and steal at least 25 bases last season.

Outfielder: Carlos Lee, Astros

It's tough to argue with 16 homers and 73 RBIs at the break. Lee is also hitting .297 and has stolen six bases. Other possibilities in this spot: Adam Dunn (24 HRs, 58 RBIs); Ken Griffey Jr. (23 HRs, 59 RBIs) and Shane Victorino (11 HRs, 27 SBs).

Starting pitcher: Jake Peavy/Chris Young, Padres

Peavy's bounced back in a big way this season, going 9-3 with a 2.19 ERA and 125 strikeouts in the first half. His teammate Young has pitched just as well, going 8-3 with a 2.00 ERA and 99 strikeouts. I guess it's no wonder San Diego is 49-38 at the break.

Starting pitcher: Brad Penny, Dodgers

I was able to snag him pretty late in one of my drafts, and the results have been spectacular. Penny is 10-1 with a 2.39 ERA and 82 strikeouts. Others who deserve consideration here: John Maine (10-4, 2.71 ERA, 93 K) and Cole Hamels (10-4, 3.72 ERA, 124 K).

Relief pitcher: Takashi Saito, Dodgers

Los Angeles' closer was unhittable in the first half, piling up 23 saves to go along with a 1.47 ERA and 0.71 WHIP. Saito has amassed 47 strikeouts and has walked just four batters. The always-reliable Trevor Hoffman also deserves a mention with 25 saves and a 1.91 ERA.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 10:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

It's time for the second annual live logging of the Home Run Derby.

Let's be honest -- this event is better than the actual All-Star Game. Why? Because everyone can relate. Raise your hand if you never played Home Run Derby as a kid. That's what I thought. For me in the Philadelphia suburbs, a home run was initially a ball that landed in the street. As we grew older, the ball had to land across the street and into the McLaughlins yard.

That's enough about my childhood though. Here's the deal. I'll be updating the action live as it happens. All you have to do is refresh your page for updates. Enjoy!

8:00 - The Counting Crows open the event by performing "Accidentally in Love." No word on if this was dedicated to Barry Bonds and Jeff Kent. I like the Counting Crows, but isn't this song more than two years old? It could be worse I guess. It seems like sporting events never get the music right.

8:05 - The contestants are introduced. Matt Holliday has no idea where he is supposed to go. Does he know the camera's on him?

8:07 - Prince Fielder is introduced. The players have to run from the outfield to home plate. I'm not sure if he's going to make it. I'd pay big money to watch him race Haloti Ngata.

8:10 - Ryan Howard -- my pick to win this thing -- does a little dance as he's introduced. Why don't more players show a little personality? I think he was "dusting his shoulders off." Is that still a move? Someone get Jay-Z on the phone.

8:15 -- Erin Andrews interviews Howard. Somehow I think he's happier than Bonds is when Pedro Gomez is launching questions in his direction.

8:21 - Justin Morneau hits four home runs to get the festivities started. That's not going to last. By the way, your announcers this evening are Chris Berman, Joe Morgan and Dusty Baker. Karl Ravech and the Baseball Tonight crew are in a studio. How is this fair? They deliver highlights every night during the season and don't even get to go to the All-Star Game?

8:32 - Holliday goes deep five times. He had an impressive start but then faded. I'm sure he doesn't mind though. He still carried my fantasy team to first place over the first half of the season. That has to count for something right?

8:34 - Peter Gammons interviews Bonds. Where's Pedro Gomez?? Did Gammons kidnap him? Did he have to sneak the interview in while Gomez went to the men's room? I'm in complete shock right now.

8:37 - Gammons finishes his interview with Bonds. No, he did not pull a Jim Gray and say "Barry, now is your chance to apologize to the baseball community about using performance-enhancing drugs." I can't say I wasn't secretely rooting for this to happen though. By the way, no respect for Magglio Ordonez. The interview took place during his at-bats.

8:38 - Ordonez manages just two homers; I guess the ESPN producers knew what they were doing. As Ordonez wraps up, Howard offers up a golf clap while thinking, "This is going to be too easy. Two years in a row for Ry-Ho."

8:42 - Our first The Bronx is Burning commercial. What's the over-under on these tonight? I'm going to say eight.

8:46 - The announcers interview Alex Rodriguez as Albert Pujols competes. Basically every question to A-Rod translates to, "Talk about how great you are." Joe Morgan asked him what the difference has been from last year. What I would give to hear him say, "Well I started dating this blonde adult dancer, and ever since then, I felt more comfortable at the plate."

8:48 - Pujols finishes with four homers. This is getting embarassing. By the way, Berman introduced the Cardinals slugger as "Winnie the Pujols" during introductions. Of all the cheesy nicknames provided by Berman, this has to be the worst.

8:50 - A-Rod says he's looking forward to the All-Star game because the ramifications are so big. Is Bud Selig underneath the table whispering answers to him? Does A-Rod know the Yankees are 10 games out of first and 8.5 out of the Wild Card?

8:52 - Alex Rios steps into the batter's box as the packed house at AT&T Park asks, "Who?" Rios manages five home runs. This Derby has been a serious yawn-fest so far.

8:58 - At least someone is entertained. A-Rod and Bonds are shown on camera cracking up. I wonder what they're laughing at. Maybe it's something like "Stu Scott thinks he's actually invited to my party tonight. He asked if he should bring pound cake!" Now that would be worth a laugh.

9:03 - The Baseball Tonight crew gets a shot to provide analysis from the studio again. I once interviewed Steve Phillips when I was a college intern at USA Today. I remember he was in the car when I was on the phone with him and he kept putting the chat on hold saying things like "Hold on, I'm about to pass a tractor trailer...one second, I'm trying to merge here." It really was great comedy. It's impossible for me to think of anything else when I see him on TV.

9:07 - Fielder delivers a disappointing three-homer performance. One of the balls goes into McCovey Cove though. That's a place I have to get to as a sports fan. Add it to the list along with Wrigley Field, Lambeau Field and Madison Square Garden.

9:10 - Berman says of Fielder, "He's put the power back in the kielbasa." I'm confused.

9:13 - David Ortiz stops Vladimir Guerrero in the middle of his turn to hand him a special bat. Finally some entertainment! If the hitters aren't going to put on a show, at least they can give us some reason to watch.

9:14 - Speaking of Ortiz, if you could go out and have a beer with any living athlete, who would it be? Big Papi has to rank high among Red Sox fans. The guy just looks like fun.

9:16 - Joe Morgan reminds us for the 100th time that Howard is his guy. Is it too late to change my pick?

9:18 - On a sidenote, I can't stop spilling stuff on my shirt. So far I've managed a sweet pepper stain from a sub, a chocolate stain from a nutrition bar and water stains from missing my mouth when taking a drink. Sometimes I feel like a 2-year-old trapped in a 24-year-old's body. This is one of those times.

9:20 - Guerrero finishes with five homers and is guaranteed a spot in the next round with Rios and Hollilday. Get ready for Howard to blow these guys out of the water.

9:25 - Howard struggles just like the rest of the guys. "I don't think he got that one," Berman says, less than a second before Howard hits his first homer to center field.

9:27 - This legitimately has a chance to be the worst Home Run Derby ever. Howard is out with three homers. He explains to Pujols afterwards, "I was swinging too hard." Swinging too hard?? C'mon Ryan, you can do better than that.

9:30 - Morneau and Pujols take part in a swing-off for the final spot in the second round. Baker says he likes to hear players "talking stuff" to one another. What's your favorite "talking trash" synonym? There's talking noise, talking junk, talking smack, and now talking stuff. I'm a 'talking noise' guy.

9:35 - Pujols hits a couple bombs to advance to the second round. The competitors still alive: Holliday, Rios, Guerrero and Pujols.

9:36 - Unbelievable interview by Erin Andrews with Pujols. First she asks him how much pressure he felt in the swing-off. Umm, didn't this guy play in the World Series last season? I think he can handle this. And number two, what's his strategy in the next round? I'm going out on a limb for this one, but I think it's probably to hit more home runs.

9:45 - Holliday gets the final round started. On one of his home runs, Berman screams, "Holliday puts this ball on holiday!" Yes, I'm still confused.

9:46 - Holliday curses after missing a couple balls, and ESPN has to bleep it out. Good stuff. He finishes with eight homers, and the camera spans the crowd to a fan holding a sign that says "BA-BOOM." Can't they do better than that? Who sits at home thinking 'I have a great idea for a sign to bring to Home Run Derby...BA-BOOM!"

9:49 - Berman explains that "on holiday" means "on vacation" in Canada. Morgan and Baker do the announcers version of the smile and nod.

9:50 - Morgan randomly yells out, "Jon Miller has Cal Ripken." Berman and Baker don't acknowledge his comment and seem utterly confused. As am I. I can't believe I've been writing this thing for two hours.

10:00 - Rios puts on a great show, hitting 12 bombs. If nothing else, at least more fans will know who he and Holliday are after this thing.

10:07 - The bottom line on ESPN reminds us that The Bronx is Burning will be shown immediately after the All-Star game. Thank goodness. I'm sure the majority of the viewing public was extremely concerned.

10:08 - Guerrero steps to the plate. Berman, Baker and Morgan spend a full five minutes debating whether his first shot is in fact a home run even though anyone watching can see it's short. Do I sound grumpy yet?

10:11 - Guerrero takes pitches in Home Run Derby but not in real games. Go figure. Baker says he's taking breaks in between pitches because he's enjoying the music, which is currently Biggie Smalls. That might have been my favorite moment of the night.

10:15 - Some guy with a red shirt and a sweet mustache just bowled over about five kids to get to a home run ball hit by Vlad. Guerrero finishes with nine homers in the second round. They have to be using different balls since the first round. It's like a completely different contest.

10:25 - The camera keeps focusing in on Pujols' kid as he takes his turn. Think about what it would be like to have Pujols as your dad. Does this kid just walk into Dairy Queens in St. Louis and scream "My dad is Albert Pujols and I want an Oreo Blizzard!" That's what I'd do.

10:33 - Pujols finishes with nine homers, setting up a Rios-Guerrero final.

10:42 - An ESPN Deportes anchor interviews Guerrero in Spanish. He says each question twice -- once in English and once in Espanol. I took Spanish for four years of high school and one year in college and picked up about five words.

10:45 - Rios hits a disastrous two homers in the final. THAT WAS ONE OF THE GREATEST MOMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF AMERICAN SPORTS! Sorry, I just morphed into the announcers from last week's hot dog-eating contest. I'm back now.

10:50 - A graphic scrolls across the screen telling us that Guerrero needs three homers to win the Home Run Derby. Pathetic.

10:52 - Vlad has three outs and just one homer. This is serious pressure. Can you imagine being one of the greatest hitters of this generation and not being able to beat two homers for the Home Run Derby title? I think I'm going to root for this.

10:53 - Two homers and seven outs. They might have to have a swing-off because of a two-homer tie. Unbelievable.

10:55 - Guerrero finally hits his third homer and walks away as the 2007 Home Run Derby champ. Congratulations. That does it for me. This has been a strong three-hour run. I would say goodnight, but The Bronx is Burning is next. Let me know how it is.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 7:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

The season is halfway through, and it's time to take a look at the fantasy All-Star teams. I'll take a look at the American League today and do the National League tomorrow.

Catcher: Victor Martinez, Indians

This was an easy one. Martinez is the top-ranked fantasy catcher in all the land according to ESPN.com's player rater. He's batting .324 with 16 homers and 68 RBIs. Martinez was likely among the top-three catchers off the board in your draft, and he's already matched his home run total from '06. Jorge Posada (.326, nine HRs, 48 RBIs) gets an honorable mention.

First base: Justin Morneau, Twins

The reigning AL MVP gets the nod with a first half that included 24 homers and 74 RBIs. Morneau is on pace to surpass his career-high in home runs (34) set last season and is hitting .295. Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena also deserves a mention. Fantasy is all about value, and Pena wasn't on anyone's radar going into this season. However, he's had a monster first half, hitting .287 with 20 homers and 52 RBIs.

Second base: Brian Roberts, Orioles

The O's fan favorite got off to a slow start, but has been extremely productive with 27 steals -- which leads the American League -- and a .322 average. Roberts also has a legitimate chance to reach 100 runs for just the second time in his career.

Third base: Alex Rodriguez, Yankees

Is there any question here? A-Rod has been ridiculous over the first half of the season, hitting .317 with 30 homers, 86 RBIs and 79 runs. He's even stolen nine bases. Those numbers would be great even if he didn't play a game the remainder of the season. Mike Lowell is the runner-up with 14 homers and 63 RBIs to go along with a .300 average.

Shortstop: Carlos Guillen, Tigers

Maybe the most underrated player in fantasy and in real life, Guillen is hitting .325 with 14 homers and 67 RBIs. He's on pace to reach 100 RBIs for the first time in his career. Orlando Cabrera (.328, 51 RBIs) and Derek Jeter (.336, 57 runs) also should be mentioned here.

Outfielder: Magglio Ordonez, Tigers

He's hitting a ridiculous .367 with 13 homers, 70 RBIs, 70 runs and 35 doubles. Ordonez was good last year, hitting .298 with 24 homers and 104 RBIs, but nobody expected him to contend to be the top-ranked fantasy player in '07.

Outfielder: Torii Hunter, Twins

He's set to earn a monster paycheck as a free agent after this season. Hunter is hitting .301 with 19 homers, 69 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Hunter hit more than 30 home runs for the first time in his career last year and is poised to do so again.

Outfielder: Alex Rios, Blue Jays

He's already matched his home run total from a year ago (17) to go along with a .294 average, 53 RBIs, 62 runs and nine stolen bases. Rios hit .302 with 82 RBIs in 128 games last season before getting injured.

Starting pitcher: Dan Haren, A's

He's been the best fantasy pitcher in the league, going 10-3 with a 2.30 ERA in 19 starts. Haren has started to come back down to earth over the last month, having allowed three runs or more in four straight starts. He's struck out 101 batters.

Starting pitcher: C.C. Sabathia, Indians

Cleveland's big left hander is 12-3 with a 3.58 ERA, 119 strikeouts and a pair of complete games. Sabathia was pounded in his last start, allowing seven runs on 10 hits in four innings against the Tigers. Sabathia is looking to break career-highs of 17 wins and 172 strikeouts. He tossed six complete games last season.

Relief pitcher: J.J. Putz, Mariners

Seattle's closer has been phenomenal in the first half, with 24 saves, 44 strikeouts in 41 innings, a 0.88 ERA and a 0.59 WHIP. Putz scared off some fantasy owners with arm problems before the season but has been as good as any relief pitcher in the majors.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 10:31 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
                    

UP

Adam LaRoche, 1B, Pirates: It took him awhile to get going, but the Pirates first baseman is now showing the power he displayed last season in Atlanta. LaRoche is batting .429 with four doubles, four homers and nine RBIs over the last week. Overall, he's hitting .238 with 13 homers and 51 RBIs. LaRoche hit 32 bombs last season before being traded to Atlanta in the offseason.

Brandon Phillips, 2B, Reds: Cincinnati's second baseman is 9-for-23 (.391) with three homers, seven RBIs and 11 runs in his last five games. Phillips' power has been a major surprise this season. He's tied for the home run lead among second basemen with 17 bombs, matching his total from all of last season. Phillips has also 15 steals and a .277 average.

Daisuke Matsuzaka, SP, Red Sox: Living up to expectations would have been impossible for Boston's starter, but he's been productive on all fronts through the first half of the season. Dice-K has allowed one earned run or less in four straight starts and two earned runs or less in six straight. On the season, he's 10-5 with a 3.53 ERA and 119 strikeouts.

DOWN

Derrek Lee, 1B, Cubs: Chicago's first baseman has been good this season but is currently mired in a 3-for-23 (.130) slump. Overall, Lee is batting .332 but hasn't shown the power he displayed in previous seasons. He only played in 50 games last season, but Lee hit 46 homers in 2005, 32 in 2004 and 31 in 2003. Lee has six homers and 41 RBIs this season.

Rickie Weeks, 2B, Brewers: Milwaukee's second baseman is 1-for-27 in his last eight games. Weeks missed time because of injury and is hitting .223 on the season. He has five homers and 19 stolen bases.

Brian Fuentes, RP, Rockies: He lost his role as Colorado's closer after blowing four straight save chances. Fuentes has 20 saves on the season to go along with a 4.06 ERA. Fuentes had 30 saves last season and 31 in 2005.

Posted by Sheil Kapadia at 5:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)