There were eight 2013 NFL coaching changes. “Wait,” you say, “there were eight coaching changes? I thought there were only seven?” Don’t worry. You’ll see.

The question “How will a coaching change impact a player’s Fantasy value?” is a complex one. Daniel Kahneman says, “If a satisfactory answer to a hard question is not found quickly … [we] will find a related question that is easier and will answer it. I call the operation of answering one question in place of another substitution.”

We could sit here, and I could blow smoke up your butt, which would not be comfortable for you or me, and I could tell you the reasons why every coach will turn every Fantasy relevant player on their team into a Pro Bowler. But how helpful would that be?

Instead of taking the question, “What impact will 2013 NFL coaching changes have on Fantasy players?” which is a complex question, we’ll answer easier, indirect questionsn. What do we know about these coaches?

2013 NFL Coaching Changes:

Bruce Arians, Arizona Cardinals

What do we know about Bruce Arians? Well, last year he took a team that went 2-14 in 2011, and turned them into an 11-5 team. Chuck Pagano had a lot to do with the metamorphosis of the Colts into a competitive franchise, but Arians was placed in a difficult situation when Pagano left the team to take care of his health issues.

Great coaches rise out of difficult situations, and the situation that Arians found himself in, as the 2012 season started, could not have been any more problematic.

Doug Marrone, Buffalo Bills

Marrone has coached in the NFL under Herm Edwards and Sean Payton. After 2008, Marrone, a Syracuse alumnus, decided to accept the head coaching position at his alma mater. In his four seasons at Syracuse, Marraone produced a 25-25 record, two bowl victories, and nine NFL draft picks.

With his first-round pick in QB E.J. Manuel, Marrone will run an unconventional/evolutionary offense by NFL standards. Expect the Bills to run a lot of zone read plays that will allow their offense to freeze the opposition’s linebackers and defensive line.

Manuel’s speed will complement the dynamic RB duo of C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson, while his arm, which holds the ACC record for completion percentage, will look to connect with Steve Johnson and fellow rookies Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin.

Marc Trestman, Chicago Bears

The Bears will be the 11th team — professional or otherwise — that Trestman has been involved with over his 30-year coaching career. Trestman has worked with a strong quarterback class that includes Rich Gannon, Steve Young, Bernie Kosar, Jake Plummer, and Scott Mitchel, while he has also worked with Hall-of-Fame coach Bud Grant, when he was with the Vikings.

Trestman has been around the block, and one has to wonder why he has not been given a chance before.

Maybe he is too smart for his own good.

Maybe he has slipped through the cracks.

Maybe he will be what the Bears need to become a contender.

Whatever the outcome will be, Trestman has a pedigree as an offensive mind that few can rival. The Bears offensive side of the ball has Brandon Marshall and Matt Forte, and the combination of these offensive weapons, with the offensive experience that Trestman brings to the table, will equal a solution that is still yet to be known.

Marc Trestman has coached football at every level, and in multiple countries. But is he the answer for the Bears? Photo by: theseoduke

Sean Payton, New Orleans Saints

“Sean Payton isn’t a new coach!”

Well, he kind of is. He didn’t coach the Saints last year.

Headed into their Week 6 bye, the Saints found themselves with a 1-4 record. With disdain in their mouths that tasted like a combination of bad shellfish and what one would assume Roger Goodell tastes like — probably on the gamey side of the spectrum.

The Saints battled their way back, and finished the season with a 7-9 record. This is the same Saints team that finished 13-3 in 2011. What changed? Coaching. Roger Goodell rightly or wrongly screwed the Saints’ head coach and several of its defensive players, which resulted in a wash of a year for the city of New Orleans.

Payton probably does not account for the difference in six wins from 2011 to 2012, but he does account for some of the offensive production and efficiency that the team lost.

We focused on four of the eight 2013 NFL coaching changes today. Look for the next four later in the week.

Devon Jordan is obsessed with statistical analysis, non-fiction literature, and electronic music. If you enjoyed him here, follow him on Twitter @devonjordan15.

2013 NFL Coaching Changes – Part 1 is a post from: DavidGonos.com

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There are all kinds of strategies to assembling a fantasy football team, but an approach I seem to find myself sticking to across all Fantasy Sports is ensuring to balance my high risk picks with what I consider safe and reliable options.

I kicked off my All Reliable QBs, Running Backs and Wide Receivers already and for the purpose of this 2013 Fantasy Football All Reliable Team, players who are projected in the top third of required starters at their positions based on FantasyPros consensus rankings and standard league roster formats aren’t included.

For example, everyone wants a receptions hawk like Jason Witten, but he is currently ranked 4th, so he isn’t eligible.

2013 Fantasy Football All Reliable Team: QB | RB | WR | TE

2013 Fantasy Football All Reliable Team: Tight Ends

Greg Olsen, Carolina

Olsen is coming off a career season, in which he finished as the 6th best Tight End option.  Olsen is currently ranked 9th among the “Expert” crowd, but with no changes for the Black Cats his role shouldn’t change and that sounds like value to me. He might have reached his ceiling in 2012, but there is nothing wrong with a handful of scores and the 4th most receiving yards within the position.

The Bears 2007 1st rounder had teased fantasy owners with his potential for half a decade and although, you’d like to see more TDs, Olsen settles in as middle tier TE. He has gelled  nicely in Carolina and should easily repeat his 2012 numbers.

Greg Olsen had his best fantasy season in 2012, but can he build on that success? (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

Vernon Davis, San Francisco

Alright, so maybe Davis isn’t the safest guy at all. But heading into draft season talent rules and there is no denying what he is capable of doing. Secondly, with Michael Crabtree’s injury Davis will have to see his targets increased. Talent + Opportunity = Safe Pick! Although, I have never really been a math guy.

This is a player who has hauled in 13 TDs in the past and gone good for just under 100o yards, so his current 8th ranking presents exceptional value. He is a matchup nightmare, post-season monster and clicked with Colin Kaepernick when it counted against the Falcons and Ravens to finish the season.

Early Thoughts on Fantasy Tight Ends

It would appear that there is value to be found in the middle rounds, as Jason Witten and Tony Gonzalez are going around the 6th round. However, after that Dennis Pitta, Vernon Davis and Kyle Rudolph are all coming off the board basically a round at a time.

It gets sort of interesting, because the bottom tier are all being gobbled up between the 9th and 11th round. Jermichael Finley, Greg Olsen, Antonio Gates, Brandon Myers, Owen Daniels, Martellus Bennett,  Jared Cook and Jermaine Gresham all have an ADP currently between 110 and 140.

There is obviously a lot of security in owning  Jimmy Graham, but it’ll cost you. Instead, I am looking at the value of Tony Gonzalez and Jason Witten in the middle rounds, or the above discussed Vernon Davis. If those pieces don’t fit into my drafting puzzle, I’ll fall back to my old TE approach of looking for the hot hand and staying active on the waiver wire.

Finally, I’d recommend some additional reading from my colleague at The Fake Football, C.D. Carter, who has looked deeply into the reality of streaming TEs. It is a great read and given the dynamics of the position, the depth and number of TEs going around round 10 as highlighted above, it may be a solid strategy heading into 2013.

I’m a Loyal Leafs, Cubs, and Cowboys fan for decades. I wear the C for The Fake Hockey, in addition to contributing to The Fake Baseball and The Fake Football in more of a Timmy Try Hard role. You can also find my weekly fantasy baseball preview here at davidgonos.com and can reach me on Twitter @naparker77.

2013 Fantasy Football All Reliable Team: Tight Ends is a post from: DavidGonos.com

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There are all kinds of strategies to assembling a fantasy football team, but an approach I seem to find myself sticking to across all Fantasy Sports is ensuring to balance my high risk picks with what I consider safe and reliable options.

I kicked off my All Reliable QBs and Running Backs already and for the purpose of this 2013 Fantasy Football All Reliable Team, players who are projected in the top third of required starters at their positions based on FantasyPros consensus rankings and standard league roster formats aren’t included.

For example, we are all loving some  Larry Fitzgerald with the Carson Palmer addition, but he is currently ranked 11th, so he isn’t eligible.

2013 Fantasy Football All Reliable Team: QB | RB | WR | TE

2013 Fantasy Football All Reliable Team: Wide Receivers

Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh

It wasn’t the breakout season many had hoped for in 2012, but that will just drive his draft day price down. With Mike Wallace in Miami, Brown is set to snatch a few more balls and increase his touchdowns again this season. Even better, Brown finished last season strong with a score in each of the Steelers final 4 games.

The Central Michigan product is undersized, but he will be involved as the number one target in Steel City. If the TD trend continues in 2013 you’re looking at exceptional value.

Steve Johnson, Buffalo

Johnson’s three straight seasons of 1000 receiving yards and over 75 receptions are exactly what you’re looking for in your 3rd wideout. Johnson is equally lethal as a deep threat or inside the 20, making him a matchup nightmare.

The concerns are obvious, as a rookie QB will be tossing his way, but that is all the more reason for the Bills to go his way often in 2013. His breakout 2010 season numbers are likely unattainable, but what is wrong with another top 25 Fantasy season? The potential is there for a top 20 finish too.

Steve Smith, Carolina

It isn’t 2005, but the Black Cat is a lot better than his 2012 stat line, which still added up to a top 20 WR fantasy finish. Smith is a feisty receiver who could easily double his 4 TD output from a year ago and settle around 1200 yards with 80 grabs.

Owners perpetually reach for breakout candidates and trendy names, so target Smith in the middle rounds and reap the rewards. The upside is there for a top 15 finish, with a floor of a low-end third Fantasy WR, who is a #1 in real football and that is the security I’m looking for!

T.Y. Hilton, Indianapolis

So there is definitely risk in a guy who is primarily a deep threat, but Hilton was Fantasy Football’s top rookie wideout in 2012 and should only grow alongside fellow rookie Andrew Luck. Hilton did grab two TDs inside the 20s though, so he isn’t strictly a one-trick pony and also helps in formats that reward kick and punt returns.

The addition of Darrius Heyward-Bey, may hurt a little bit, but Hilton will get to start opposite Reggie Wayne and he did finish as a top 25 receiver in 2013. He only started a single game last year, so look for more opportunities and improved numbers in 2013. Remember all those wasted targets that went Donnie Avery’s way last season?

Anquan Boldin, San Francisco

There is no argument here that his best days aren’t long gone, but what you get is a reliable possession receiver who isn’t afraid of the tough areas of the field. He’ll have to fight for opportunities, but he is in line for another respectable season and his new team needs a guy like him.

Boldin isn’t a Fantasy starter by any means, but he will have a solid season and prove to be worth a few spot starts against favorable matchups. The upside is limited, but you know what you’re going to get from Boldin.

Mike Williams, Tampa Bay

If his rookie season was the ceiling and his sophomore season was the floor, last season is what we should come to expect from Williams. He is a beast in the red zone and should continue to be targeted heavily inside the 20. The Bucs offense is improving and starting opposite Vincent Jackson should continue to provide Williams with plenty of opportunities.

Williams isn’t as valuable in PPR leagues and he needs those TDs to add up in order to hold on as a starter in Fantasy leagues, but 1000 yards and 8 TDs is solid fake football.

Early Thoughts on Fantasy Wide Receivers

Fantasy wide receivers are going to make or break a lot of Fantasy teams this season. The position is deep and the runs on wideouts are going to get rolling as early as the late 1st round. I’m partial to RB-RB in rounds 1 and 2 and following up with a pair of receivers in Rounds 3 and 4.

I employed this in a recent mock draft to the tune of: Ray Rice, Steven Jackson, Michael Crabtree and Hakeem Nicks, which is a start I’m happy with. I went with Crabtree over Andre Johnson, Randall Cobb and Victor Cruz, so there is a lot of excellent talent still available in the 3rd round.

I am content with waiting until Round 6 for my third receiver and even later if you select a top TE or QB option early. There are an abundance of high upside receivers hanging on long into the middle rounds: Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson are just two examples from the same team!

With all the talk about depth, the position can’t be ignored either though. Targeting a pair of reliable receivers in the early middle rounds is almost essential, because the runs on the position can quickly eat up the talent and leave you reaching for mediocre options.

I’m a Loyal Leafs, Cubs, and Cowboys fan for decades. I wear the C for The Fake Hockey, in addition to contributing to The Fake Baseball and The Fake Football in more of a Timmy Try Hard role. You can also find my weekly fantasy baseball preview here at davidgonos.com and can reach me on Twitter @naparker77.

2013 Fantasy Football All Reliable Team: Wide Receivers is a post from: DavidGonos.com

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This week I want to share a few waiver wire columns that I thought were particularly good as a part of my weekly fantasy baseball preview. I take care of the waiver wire article over at The Fake Baseball and it can be a tough racket! However, roster management is sometimes even more important than your initial fantasy draft, so keeping active is critical. This weeks targets include Yasmani Grandal, Brandon Beachy, David Phelps, Justin Morneau and Eric Chavez.

Fantasy Smack Talk: Dustin Barkley breaks down a few options for all mixed leagues, deeper leagues and players to keep an eye on. Francisco Liriano anyone?

Bretsky Ball: Wayne Bretsky lines the options up by position and also takes a look at deeper league options. How about a little Jason Vargas, or would you prefer some Juan Pierre stolen base expertise?

Rotoworld: D.J. Short has some mixed leagues and low-owned options for fantasy owners to consider and also discusses Don Mattingly’s bullpen tease!

Wasting Away Again on the Waiver Wire: Here is my looks at some of the hotter hitters of the past few weeks! I’m a big Chris Tillman supporter right now.

Pirates starter Francisco Liriano is a gamble some owners are rolling with! (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Let’s get our fake baseball uniforms dirty this week my friends!

Weekly Fantasy Baseball Preview: Bats

Catchers

Pick – Joe Mauer: Batting .500 over the past 2 weeks. That is good, the 5 RBIs aren’t great, but how about 12 doubles and 13 runs?

Sleeper – Salvador Perez: The power has evaporated, but he has 7 multi-hit games in May and 4 in his current 9 game hitting streak.

Bust – Jesus Montero: I love this guy, but he got picked off second yesterday and then couldn’t keep his foot on home plate on the game winning run. Have to wonder if there is a dent in the toolbox!

First Base

Pick – Joey Votto: When he was drafted in the first round owners were looking forward to weeks where he got on base at a .621 clip. Hands up if that is good enough for you Billy Beane?

Sleeper – Adam LaRoche: Owners who cut ties might regret it, the guy is dialed in and capable of monster stretches!

Bust – Ike Davis: Still a bust, still standing too far from the plate, batting .036 in the last week.

Second Base

Pick – Dustin Pedoria: There are others out performing him of late, but he is dialed in and about to have a monster stretch.

Sleeper – Marco Scutaro: It is never flashy, but the veteran always finds a way to get on base and is currently rolling along a 17 game hitting streak. That is a NICE! The 13 multi-hit games, well that is a NICER!

Bust – Danny Espinosa: Still on the bust list, he and Ike might as well start a folk music duo and hit the road. Danny and Ike, “How many pitches must a man face, before he hits the ball and How many swing-and-a-misses must a man endure before he gives up on it all?” They’re clearly against WAR too, with their horrible negative .6 and .8 respectively.

Third Base

Pick – Adrian Beltre: This is me from 2 weeks ago, “I am buying everywhere I can, things are about to turn around for Beltre.” And I did and it has been awesome!

Sleeper – Eric Chavez: Speaking of Billy Beane, anyway, he kills righties and is on fire right now, a trip to Coors Field and then back home against the Padres looks alright if you need a plug in at the 3 bag.

Bust – Todd Frazier: This is me from 2 weeks ago, “He’ll be fine, I think, but right now he is slumping and you need production from 3B.  If you can start someone else I’d roll that way, his eligibility makes him tough to drop though.”

Shortstop

Pick – Elvis Andrus: 9 runs and 5 swipes in the past week, that is what I’m looking for from the SS roster spot. Although, Segura’s bomb and 5 runs, swipes and rabbits are pretty good too!

Sleeper – J.J. Hardy: When he gets on a roll, you can enjoy the round trippers, RBIs and everything that comes along with them. Just remember, he enjoys going to funkytown too.

Bust – Alcides Escobar: He has hit a skid and his OBP has dropped down below .300, which isn’t Danny and Ike territory, but it isn’t good either. He hasn’t shown off his speed of late either.

Outfield

Pick – Alex Rios: 2 bombs, 11 hits, a swipe, with 6 runs and 7 RBIs in the past week. That is some good fake baseball and if he’d stop hitting so many home runs he could steal a few more bags and go 30/30. Good fake baseball indeed!

Pick – Andrew McCutchen: There was a mini-slump, but Cutch is back at it, proof is in the 2 bombs and swipes with 9 runs and a .310 average over the past week. Let’s set the floor at 100 runs, 25 bombs, 90 rabbits, 30 swipes and a .275 average – Cool?

Sleeper – Dayan Viciedo: The injury is in the rear-view and the South Sider should get back to mashing baseballs and taking names, or whatever it is that he does. Why did a rookie who hit 25 bombs and bat above .250 in only 505 at bats in 2012 go so late in drafts?

Sleeper – Gerardo Parra: He has only gone hitless twice in May, tied for 5th in MLB in hits and is hitting .327 on the season. The power and speed are there, they’re not difference makers, but considering the spark plug and WAR leader lives on base, you should own him if you can.

B(.J. Upton)ust – Dexter Fowler: He struck again, I’ve seen this trick from him too many times, zero shares thus far in 2013. However, if he is dropped don’t be afraid to snatch him up if he shows signs of turning it around!

B(.J. Upton)ust – Michael Saunders: The power speed combo is great, but the batting average is an anchor. He isn’t capable of posting a respectable average, so let one of the other members of your league benefit from his 15 steals and bombs, while crumbling with his .235 average.

Weekly Fantasy Baseball Preview: Arms

Two-Start Pitchers

This week I am looking forward to seeing how Julio Teheran fares as a two-start arm. He has settled in since his shaky start and pitched well in his last 4 outings, going 2-1, allowing a mere 8 earned runs and striking out 14. He was the best arm going this spring and has Brandon Beachy breathing down his neck. His matchups are favorable and the Braves lineup is finally healthy.

Take a peek at these 2 excellent two-start pitcher previews:

Razzball: Scott Evans not only takes care of your two-start pitcher needs and tiers the options up, he also highlights which players may be readily available on your waiver wire.

Rotoworld: Nick Nelson’s look at the week ahead adds helpful notes, such as Lefty/Righty Breakdowns, Games Played Totals and even his own Streamer City picks. Finally, Nick loves him some Johnny Cueto, me too Nick, me too!

Streaming Options

It is a tricky game streaming pitchers and even more difficult when you’re trying to project for an entire week. If you’re a streamer, jot down these names and use a guy on a day when you need a start. I don’t recommend streaming every single day, unless you really love the rush!

My Colleague at The Fake Baseball, Brien Bonneville, has a daily list of streaming pitching options and his Streaming Pitchers Primer is a must-read if you’re looking to employ this strategy. Streaming is a risky business, but when used properly it can be an excellent fake baseball advantage.

I also want to share a video from my pal Pat Mayo, which briefly discusses streaming pitchers and an excellent article from Matthew Berry on the Wandy Line that is must read stuff.  Taking the time to read and watch these resources will help you be a better fantasy baseballer and that is what we are all striving for in life, isn’t it?

So now it is time to get at this week’s options:

May 20th – Jake Odorizzi @ TOR: This might not be the easiest team to face, but they don’t mind swinging and missing and he should be able to keep them off balance.

May 21st – Mike Leake @ NYM: The Mets are quickly becoming one of the worst offenses in the Bigs, while Leake has been solid in 6 of 8 starts thus far.

May 22nd – Michael Wacha @ SD: Make sure that he actually gets the call to replace Garcia and you might have to add him immediately, but you can bank on some run support!

May 23rd – Rick Porcello vs MIN: Look for the Tigers to feast on Scott Diamond and Porcello’s recent success to keep rolling along.

May 24th – Brandon McCarthy vs SD: Fresh off a complete game shutout, the strikeouts might not amount to much, but he is a WHIP and ERA beast right now.

May 25th – Pass:  If A.J. Griffin is available I’d snatch him up, but he is likely owned, a lot of top arms are in action.

May 26th – Julio Teheran @ NYM: As mentioned above, he is worth a go for both starts this week, so get him scooped up quick.

I’m a Loyal Leafs, Cubs, and Cowboys fan for decades. I wear the C for The Fake Hockey, in addition to contributing to The Fake Baseball and The Fake Football in more of a Timmy Try Hard role.  You can also find my weekly fantasy baseball preview here at davidgonos.com and can reach me on Twitter @naparker77.

Neil’s Weekly Fantasy Baseball Preview: May 20th – 26th is a post from: DavidGonos.com

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So Gonos zaps me an email, “Hey man, want to host a Fantasy Baseball Awards Show?” and I was all like “For sure, dude, love to.”

I didn’t realize that I was going to be handing out quarterly Fantasy Baseball awards for a sport that doesn’t even have quarters! Furthermore, there are no after parties, red carpets or nominees luncheons, and I’m in charge of nominations and the only judge. So basically, I’m randomly selecting categories to give out fake awards based on fake baseball performances.

I know, sounds sweet doesn’t it! And I’m hosting so we don’t have any debacles like Conan’s attempt to get to the Emmys.

Hit the music, or whatever you do at these things and let’s get this show on the road, you gorgeous human person you! (Man, I am a natural at this host thing, must be all the parties I threw as a teenager.)

2013 First-Quarter Fantasy Baseball Awards

Andre Dawson Award

Handed out to the fantasy baseball player who has joined a new team and absolutely mashed, like The Hawk did in 1987.

Mark Reynolds: I had to start off with an easy one, as my wife would say, “Come on Man!?!” Reynolds had an ADP of 256 and is currently ranked 22nd on the ESPN Player Rater, Helllllo? Obviously, Reynolds has been hanging out with Drew Carey and loving him some Buzz Beer!

Larry Jones Award

Handed out to the young Fantasy Baseball shortstop who is pushed to third and becomes an All Star like Chipper did in 1996.

Manny Machado: He is a lot younger than Chipper too, he could easily hit 20 bombs, drive in 100, score 110 and steal over 15 bags, all with a .300 batting average. Man this guy is a rare example of a player who may be better than advertised! I wonder if Manny has ever been to Double Dime Ranch?

Only Miguel Cabrera has more Head-to-Head Fantasy points at third base than Orioles 3B Manny Machado, who actually has more total bases and extra-base hits. Photo Credit: Keith Allison

Aaron Rowand Award

Handed out to the Fantasy Baseball player who has joined a new team and absolutely gone ice cold, like Long Neck did in 2008.

BJ Upton: Alright, it is still easy and Josh Hamilton is an obvious choice too, but he is turning it around. Upton had an ADP of 48 and is currently sitting on 9 runs, to go along with his 3 home runs and stolen bases. He is hitting around a buck-fifty and striking out almost a third of the time he goes to bat.

Randy Johnson Award

Handed out to the Fantasy Baseball pitcher who absolutely dominants, like The Big Unit did in 2001 with his 371 strikeouts.

Yu Darvish: He actually has a shot at 300, no seriously, he does, he already has 80. His 6 wins, sub 1 WHIP and 2 point whatever ERA are very Unit like too. I’m not going to compare heights and ethnicities, or did I just do that? Regardless, Darvish is absolutely dominating!

John Smoltz Award

Handed out to the Fantasy Baseball pitcher who all of a sudden loses his jazz in his prime, like Smoltzy did in 1994.

Cole Hamels: The strikeouts are down, the ratios are up and the veteran lefty is 1 and 6 on the season. What gives Cole? Just because your wife is a reality TV girl doesn’t mean you should ignore us fantasy baseball lovers. Fianlly, he is coming off a beatdown from the Indians.

Hideo Nomo Award

Handed out to the Fantasy Baseball pitcher who breaks into the league striking out everyone, like The Tornado did in 1995.

Shelby Miller: Kid is dealing for the Cards and boasts 5 wins already, to go along with his 50 plus punchouts. Even better, Miller was being drafted around the same time as Mark Reynolds this draft season, his ADP was 254. I credit Dave Parker with all my shares and I’m talking about my father, not The Cobra.

Bobby Abreu Award

Handed out to the young Fantasy Baseball player who puts up a great roto season like El Comedulce first did in 1998.

Starling Marte: The guy is scoring and driving them in, going yard and swiping at will. His batting average shouldn’t drop enough to hurt too much and at his current pace Marte is set for a 20-40 season and that is some good fake baseball folks! 220 players went on average before the Peg-Leg in drafts and he is currently 3rd on the ESPN Player Rater.

Jeff Bagwell Award

Handed out to the consistent 30 HR, 100 RBI Fantasy Baseball staple at first base, like Baggy was from 1996 to 2001.

Prince Fielder: Take away 2010 and you’ve got the same production and at 29, there are a few more years left in the tank, especially if he takes up bacon! Fielder is going to easily eclipse those benchmarks and if anyone else was hitting in front of him he’d push for 150 RBIs this season.

Neil Allen Award

Handed out to the Fantasy Baseball Closer who went late and cheap, yet proved to reward his owners like The Pride of Glenn Waggoner’s team did in 1980 for 2 dollars in the first ever Fantasy Baseball Draft.

Edward Mujica: Even back in 1980 they didn’t have to pay for saves and Mujica likely came for free this year. Now the Cards closer has 11 saves without a blemish, great ratios and a key role on a dominant ball club. If he had the job from day one he’d be closing in on 18 or even 20 saves now.

And there you have it folks, my first-quarter Fantasy Baseball awards! If you’d like to give a player a First Quarter Fantasy Baseball Award please do so in the comments below. Finally, make sure to check back in July for the mid-season Fantasy awards!

I’m a Loyal Leafs, Cubs, and Cowboys fan for decades. I wear the C for The Fake Hockey, in addition to contributing to The Fake Baseball and The Fake Football in more of a Timmy Try Hard role. You can also find my weekly fantasy baseball preview here at davidgonos.com and can reach me on Twitter @naparker77.

2013 First-Quarter Fantasy Baseball Awards is a post from: DavidGonos.com

The post 2013 First-Quarter Fantasy Baseball Awards appeared first on DavidGonos.com.

Injured quarterbacks are just one of the many news items you have to track during the Fantasy Football offseason.

You have to know who goes where in free agency, and figure out which veterans have new competition breathing down their necks after the NFL Draft.

So it’s easy to understand when we miss out on an offseason news bite about injured quarterbacks and scheduled surgeries, etc.

That’s why we’re here. In this series, I’ll touch on the injured quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends.

Injured Quarterbacks on the Mend

1. Robert Griffin III, Washington

This is the man that everyone wants to know about when you think “injured quarterbacks.”

The hope is that he’ll be back for week 1, but in my opinion, that’s highly unlikely. I doubt head coach Mike Shanahan will send his franchise player out there unless he’s 100-percent sure he’s 100-percent healthy.

The only man who came back that quickly was the robot, Adrian Peterson. It’s tough to judge these types of ACL and LCL tears — it’s all based on how the person responds to recovery. Because RG3 is such a strong willed individual, it’s always possible he’ll be there for Week 1, but I’d look for him to be back after their bye in Week 5.

2. Matt Ryan, Atlanta

Ryan is recovering from recent left shoulder surgery to repair a sprained shoulder. This is a minor injury and he should definitely be ready to go when training camp begins.

3. Christian Ponder, Minnesota

Vikings QB Christian Ponder threw for 234 yards and three touchdowns in the season finale against Green Bay. (Photo Credit: BigDeeLittle)

I follow a lot of baseball and I consider quarterbacks and pitchers to have similar jobs. With this said, a pitcher can’t throw with a bum elbow, and a quarterback can’t either. So, this is something to definitely keep an eye on as the season progresses.

4. Brandon Weeden, Cleveland

Weeden had some shoulder soreness that is not something to be concerned about. However, it is something to definitely keep our eyes on. He will be ready when training camp begins.

5. Michael Vick, Philadelphia

Where do we start here? Should we discuss the many current injuries he has or the next ones that are coming? Concussions, bruised ribs, shoulder problems, hands, fingers, quadriceps — yeah, they’ve all been Vick’s injuries of the past two years.

It’s simple — this guy can’t stay healthy, he’s usable only as a week-by-week play in most standard Fantasy leagues.

6. Blaine Gabbert, Jacksonville

Gabbert had some forearm and shoulder stiffness at the end of last season. He will be available Week 1 and doesn’t have the Jags concerned. But the question is, will he be effective? He is not a week-by-week play in Fantasy – not by a long shot.

7. Carson Palmer, Arizona

This is a team that has made major strides in the offseason. Now, Fitzgerald finally has an arm to throw him the ball, but is it a healthy arm? Yes, he is healthy and I think he’ll stay that way. The one worry I have is that dreadful offensive line. H

opefully, he can get the ball out quick and ride his two-back tandem of Rashard Mendenhall and rookie Andre Ellington to help solidify this solid NFC team.

8. Jake Locker, Tennessee

This is the only injury I can relate to and I can tell you he’ll probably never be the same. Even with great trainers, it’s going to be almost impossible to get that shoulder right again, once it’s been out. Its vulnerable to pop out again. I think Locker is in some trouble here, while he is healthy now, I don’t believe he will stay that way.

Joel Bartilotta, 22, has been playing Fantasy Sports for over a decade now, as he enters his final year at Metro University of Denver. He roots for his home team Nuggets and Rockies, even though they greatly disappoint him. He’ll be doing a complete series on injured quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers and tight ends.

Injured Quarterbacks on the Mend is a post from: DavidGonos.com

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This article will look at the most added players over the last seven days according to ESPN’s calculations (the percentages are current up to Tuesday night).

This exercise should be able to allow us to see if some recently successful performances have been authentic or fraudulent.

While it may be justifiable to react and pick up several of these recent risers, there are some other players on this list that should be disregarded like the 1995 sixty-five inch Mitsubishi television that is currently in my room, weighs more than I would like to think about, and is currently inoperable for one reason or another. Just like my inability to move this behemoth of a television out of my living quarters, Fantasy owners should dissuade their motivation from action, and not pick up certain players on this list despite their recent, larger than life performances.

Most Added Players:

10. Justin Morneau: +26.1% (79% Owned)

9. Mitch Moreland: +30.3% (36.9% Owned)

Owned in fewer leagues than Albert Pujols, Billy Butler, and Lance Berkman, Mitch Moreland is also ranked higher than the aforementioned first basemen on ESPN’s player rater. If Moreland is able to avoid the injuries that derailed his playing time last year, he should be able to continue the production he has had in 2013.

While Moreland’s BABIP is a little high—nothing inflated enough to be worried about—his HR/FB ratio suggests that his power production can be sustained, if not improved upon from last year, because of his surge in FB% (42.9% this year, compared to 37.7% last year).

8. Scott Kazmir: +30.3% (30.6% Owned)

Kazmir consistently averaged 92 mph on his fastball until 2010, but soon after that time his skillset declined to the point that he only averaged 88 mph on his fourseam in 2011. So far this year, Kazmir has averaged 92 mph on his fastball and has regained his velocity and effectiveness.

7. James Loney: +30.8% (43.7% Owned)

James Loney is on a historic pace that cannot be sustained. Photo by: Keith Allison.

As we discussed last week, Loney currently has the third largest differential between his 2013 BABIP and his career BABIP among qualified players this year.

Loney’s BABIP has largely increased because of his line drive rate. But, as Matt Klaassen discussed on Monday, since batted ball data has been recorded in 2002, no qualified hitter has ever ended a season with a line drive rate as high as Loney’s 34%.

6. Andrelton Simmons: +31.8% (92.8% Owned)

5. Travis Wood: +33.4% (69.2% Owned)

When I looked at Travis Wood’s player page to get a definitive look at his numbers, I literally rolled my eyes. Wood is striking out less batters than he ever has before (6.08 K/9), has a more than generous .186 BABIP, and even more opportunistic 6.1% HR/FB ratio. Look for Wood to regress, and save your waiver dollars for someone worth your time.

4. Brian McCann: +43.6% (92.1% Owned)

3. Junichi Tazawa: +52.9% (54.3% Owned)

2. Kelly Johnson: +58.3% (77.6% Owned)

Johnson’s 14.7% HR/FB is consistent with his production over the last three years, and after last year when his fly ball percentage dipped to an unprecedented 33.7%, his FB% this year is back up to 46.6% and indicates that Johnson has made an adjustment with his approach at the plate. The average may come down, but the power that Johnson has showed this year is legit.

1. Heath Bell: +65.3% (67.4% Owned)

Over the last two seasons, Heath Bell’s fastball has become very hittable. PITCHf/x data shows that Bell’s fastball has gone from 15 runs above average in 2011, to -4.3 in 2012, and -2.5 this year. It’s clear that Bell does not have the same velocity and movement on his fastball that he used to, so it is only a matter of time before he pitches his way out of the closers role he has found himself in.

The Diamondbacks chose to put Bell in the closers role because he had experience in that capacity, but past experience does not always correlate to current ability. Bell is the most added player in Fantasy Baseball because of the position scarcity at closer, but before long David Hernandez, who will most likely take over the closers role once Bell falters, will be the most added player.

Devon Jordan is obsessed with statistical analysis, non-fiction literature, and electronic music. If you enjoyed him here, follow him on his Twitter feed.

Most Added Players of the Week is a post from: DavidGonos.com

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The 2013 Fantasy Football Rookie WR Rankings aren’t exciting and spectacular, filled with superstar college wide receivers like we had in recent years. In 2012, we were all atwitter over the arrival of Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon joining Jacksonville. And the year before that, we had Georgia’s A.J. Green having us drool with anticipation.

But we were let down a bit in 2012, with no wide receiver catching more than 70 passes or 1,000 yards. Colts rookie WR T.Y. Hilton was the top dog puppy, but mostly because he caught seven touchdown passes from Andrew Luck.

While there were just three rookies among the top 50 wide receivers in Fantasy Football by season’s end, it wasn’t that bad of a season overall for this class.

But the 2013 class of rookie quarterbacks ranked as the best ever, and the 2013 class of rookie running backs has three of the best rookie RBs from the past 11 years. So the 2013 class of rookie wide receivers seems like a huge disappointment because of the success of the other two positions.

History of Rookie Wide Receivers

To get a little perspective on rookie wide receivers, we looked back at the past 22 seasons to see how many rookies stood out in each year. Notice that Kendall Wright, considered one of the top rookie wide receivers entering the 2012 season, didn’t catch 70 passes, or reach 700 receiving yards or catch seven touchdown passes.

(Only the wide receivers with at least 70 catches OR 1,000 yards or 7 touchdown catches are shown.)

2012

• Justin Blackmon, JAC – 64-865-5
• Josh Gordon, CLE – 50-805-5
• T.Y. Hilton, IND – 50-861-7

2011

• A.J. Green, CIN – 65 catches-1,057 yards-7 TDs
• Julio Jones, WR, ATL – 54-959-8
• Torrey Smith, BAL – 50-841-7

2010

• Mike Williams, TB – 65-964-11

2009

• Austin Collie, IND – 60-676-7

2008

• Eddie Royal, DEN – 91-980-5

2007

• Dwayne Bowe, KC – 70-995-5

2006

• Marques Colston, NO – 70-1,038-8

2005 –

2004

• Michael Clayton, TB – 80-1,193-7
• Larry Fitzgerald, ARI – 58-780-8
• Roy Williams, DET – 54-817-8
• Lee Evans, BUF – 48-843-9

2003

• Anquan Boldin, BAL – 101-1,377-8

2002

• Donte Stallworth, NO – 74-894-2

2001

• Chris Chambers, MIA – 48-883-7
• Rod Gardner, WAS – 46-741-4

2000

• Darrell Jackson, SEA – 53-713-6

1999

• Kevin Johnson, CLE – 66-986-8
• Troy Edwards, PIT – 61-714-5
• Torry Holt, STL – 52-788-6

1998

• Randy Moss, MIN – 69-1,313-17

1997 –

1996

• Terry Glenn, NE – 90-1,132-6
• Marvin Harrison, IND – 64-836-8
• Keyshawn Johnson, NYJ – 63-844-8
• Eddie Kennison, STL – 54-924-9

1995

• Joey Galloway, SEA – 67-1,039-7
• Wayne Chrebet, NYJ – 66-726-4
• Frank Sanders, ARI – 52-883-2
• Chris Sanders, HOU – 35-823-9

1994

• Darnay Scott, CIN – 46-866-5

1993

• James Jett, OAK – 33-771-3

1992 –

1991

• Lawrence Dawsey, TB – 55-818-3

1990

• Fred Barnett, PHI – 36-721-8
• Calvin Williams, PHI – 37-602-9
• Ricky Proehl, PHO – 56-802-4

2013 Rookie Rankings:
Top 30 Overall | QB | RB | WR | TE

2013 Fantasy Football Rookie WR Rankings

But don’t be too down on this class of rookie wide receivers. After all, there were more rookie wide receivers (3) drafted in the first round than quarterbacks (1), running backs (0) and rookie tight ends (1) combined.

1. Tavon Austin, WR, St. Louis

While this is the consensus No. 1 rookie wide receiver in most Fantasy circles, he barely gets that grade from me. While he’s obviously dynamic, with the ability to score from wherever, it’s tough to envision him becoming the next great receiver in the mold of Wes Welker, Danny Amendola and Percy Harvin right out of the gate. The Rams plan to use him as a receiver, out of the backfield and in the return game, but he’s essentially their only weapon right now. Think DeSean Jackson with little help around him.

I’d expect a handful of weeks with 160 rushing and receiving yards, and then a few weeks with 18 yards. He’s a mid-round gamble as a WR3 right now – around the time you’d take someone like Tampa Bay’s Mike Williams or San Diego’s Danario Alexander. The Rams moved up to draft Austin, and nobody’s happier than QB Sam Bradford, who lost Amendola and Steven Jackson this offseason.

Rams rookie WR Tavon Austin was the earliest skill position player taken in the 2013 NFL Draft (eighth). Photo Credit: Diamondback Photo

2. DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Houston

Who was happier with the Texans’ first-round pick: QB Matt Schaub or WR Andre Johnson? It’s interesting that head coach Gary Kubiak compared Hopkins to former Broncos WR Rod Smith. He’ll line up almost immediately across the field from Johnson, and serve as his protégé, as he tries to take some defensive attention away from the Hurricanes product.

Interestingly enough, former Canes WR Reggie Wayne did a similar thing when he came up across from Marvin Harrison with Indianapolis. Unfortunately, Schaub is no Peyton Manning. But this offense will be strong enough to get Hopkins a ton of passes – and more than a handful of touchdowns.

3. Cordarelle Patterson, WR, Minnesota

Patterson played just one season of Division I football with Tennessee, so it’s understood that he’s a project that should need some time to learn his craft at the professional level. He has prototypical size, and he only has to beat out Jerome Simpson for a starting job, but the Vikings don’t have an above average quarterback in Christian Ponder.

NFL.com compares him to Demaryius Thomas, which is interesting for sure, but will certainly get Fantasy owners more excited than they should be for his rookie season. By season’s end, he’ll start on the other side from Greg Jennings, but Fantasy owners shouldn’t risk even a middle-round pick on him.

4. Robert Woods, WR, Buffalo

Woods steps into a poor man’s comparison of what Hopkins will be going through. Stevie Johnson is no Andre Johnson, and the Bills QB could be Kevin Kolb or rookie E.J. Manuel (likely the latter, sooner than later).

The USC product will try to succeed in taking away attention from Johnson in the passing game. The fall-off from Patterson to Woods in rookie WR rankings is considerable. This is a second tier of players we’re getting into now. Woods could be one of the most productive rookie WRs from a Fantasy perspective, but mostly because he’ll get so much work right out of the gate.

USC WR Robert Woods was compared to Packers WR James Jones by NFL.com. Photo Credit: Prospect-Central

5. Keenan Allen, WR, San Diego

Allen is coming back from a knee injury in October, but he is a great talent that had him going in the first round of many NFL mock drafts last fall. He has good size, and a very good quarterback throwing to him. It doesn’t hurt that Robert Meachem was a total free-agent bust a season ago.

6. Markus Wheaton, WR, Pittsburgh

Gone is Mike Wallace to Miami, so the Steelers needed to backfill a wide receiver spot. Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders will line up as the starters, but Pittsburgh is already indicating that they will use Wheaton in several spots on the field, including the slot and in the backfield.

They not only have to replace Wallace’s production, but TE Heath Miller (knee) might not be ready to start the season either.

The Chargers spent a third-round pick on WR Keenan Allen, as they continue trying to replace Vincent Jackson. Photo Credit: Neon Tommy

Check back over the next few months, as we’ll be updating these 2013 Fantasy Football Rookie WR Rankings throughout the offseason.

2013 Fantasy Football Rookie WR Rankings is a post from: DavidGonos.com

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Earlier this week, I wrote about the luckiest pitchers of the year, but in this article our attention will be pointed toward the luckiest hitters of 2013. In the same way that our previous article used FIP to discover which pitchers have been the luckiest, we will use BABIP as our tool to discover what hitters have received the most assistance from randomness.

How did I use BABIP? Simple. You take a hitters career BABIP and subtract it from his 2013 BABIP (all numbers used for this article are current up to mid-day Thursday), and the number you get is the hitters BABIPdif.

The larger the BABIPdif, the unluckier a hitter has been from batted balls; the smaller the BABIPdif, the luckier a hitter has been from batted balls. You get the point.

This list of the luckiest hitters was restricted to players with over one hundred plate appearances in 2013. If you want a laugh, go to Nick Punto’s FanGraphs page and do the math on his BABIPdif for yourself.

The Luckiest Hitters of 2013:

10. Jhonny Peralta, BABIPdif: -.067

9. Jay Bruce, BABIPdif: -.068

Jay Bruce could go from bad to worse if his batting average luck fails him. Photo by: kcbrez009.

Bruce has also swung and missed on 15.3% of the pitches he has seen, which is the highest percentage of his career and the ninth worst percentage in the majors this year. While Bruce’s power numbers are down because of his deteriorated plate discipline numbers, the only reason his batting average has not seen the same plunge is because of the assistance he has gotten from an inflated BABIP.
 

8. Adam Jones, BABIPdif: -.074

7. Yadier Molina, BABIPdif: -.078

Molina’s contact rate is up from 85% last year to 89% this year, which could explain his rise in in BABIP, but more importantly his current decrees in power. If Molina has sacrificed some power for contact, it would explain why his HR/FB ratio (4.5% this year) is down from last year’s career high of 13.8%, and would make last year and 2011 outliers when it comes to his power production.

However, this is doubtfully a change in approach by Molina, and more likely a regression towards the mean when it comes to his HR/FB ratio. This year could be the return to single digit home run totals for Molina.
 

6. Brandon Moss, BABIPdif: -.080

5. Colby Rasmus, BABIPdif: -.094

4. Torii Hunter, BABIPdif: -.108

Now is when we start to get into the territory of players that have BABIPs that are one hundred points higher than their career average. Meaning: the batting averages they have so far in 2013 are completely, utterly, absolutely, categorically, and unquestionably unsustainable. Case in point, Torii Hunter, who, at this point of his seventeen-year career, has a large enough of a sample size to be exactly the player the numbers depict him to be.
 

3. James Loney, BABIPdif: -.116

2. Carlos Santana, BABIPdif: -.128

When it comes to Carlos Santana, the 2013 season has served as conformation bias for fans that, until now, have looked at the Indians catcher with the thought of  “what could have been?” Sustainability does not come to mind when you look at Santana’s batting average, but his power numbers are just as fraudulent.

Santana has hit as many fly balls as he has throughout his career, but this year he has managed to find the bleachers with one out of every four fly balls (25% HR/FB). Unless Santana has finally managed to develop into his full power potential, look for a dip in dingers.

1. Carlos Gomez, BABIPdif: -.136

Carlos Gomez will need to leg out as many ground balls as he can, if he wants to keep his BABIP as high as it is so far. Photo by: Steve Schar.

Fantasy Players should try and float as many Carlos Gomez for Matt Kemp/Andrew McCutchen trades out there while they can. While Gomez is the leader in the luckiest hitters gang for now, luck always runs out. Just ask the people that blow their lottery winnings after 15 months and didn’t invest any of it in a mutual fund.

The Luckiest Hitters of 2013 is a post from: DavidGonos.com

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Tuesday, we broke out the first round of The Usual Suspects 2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft and today it is on to Round 2!  Last season, the top 2 rounds were filled with teams that likely got mixed up in back-to-back picks as notorious as Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne. That’s right, ‘Dumb and Dumber’ and I’m not sure which one is which, or worse!

You remember the team that foolishly snatched up Darren McFadden in the first round, only to follow up with DeMarco Murray in the 2nd! Or it could have gone LeSean McCoy and Larry Fitzgerald, or Chris Johnson and Ryan Mathews and the possibilities go on and on.

It certainly is difficult when your picks end up looking like ‘Dumb and twice as stupid’er,’ as I like to say. But unfortunately, it is much easier to line up a great one-two punch in hindsight, than it is in August.  Right now, it doesn’t appear like there are any ‘Dumb and twice as stupid’er’ combos in this draft, but it rarely does in May!

But whatever, I am pretty sure I heard that these fancy fantasy football drafts are won in the middle rounds anyway. However, perhaps that saying ended with, but they can be lost in the first 2 rounds, I wasn’t really paying attention though. So again, please find all the necessary details below for our standard format 2013 fantasy football mock draft, along with some analysis and pick explanations.

2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Participants

The LateRoundQB.com writers:

• Austan Kas
• Keith Black
• Chad Scott
• J.J. Zachariason

The FantasyTrade411.com writers:

• Michael Clifford
• Terrance Bridgett
• Nick Raducanu
• Tony Mauriello

From MyFantasyLeague.com

• Geoff Stein

The DavidGonos.com writers:

• Devon Jordan
• David Gonos
• Neil Parker

2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Results

Selection Analysis From Writers:

2.01 - Geoff Stein - Dez Bryant, DAL WR

2.02 – Tony Mauriello – Maurice Jones-Drew, JAC RB: I wanted to grab my second RB earlier rather than later. If it wasn’t MJD, I had my eye on another RB. I believe MJD will be healthy (which is key for him) and will not be a holdout. If the Jacksonville wideouts can continue to mature, they will keep opposing DBs honest so that opposing teams cannot stack the box against MJD.

2.03 – Keith Black – Demaryius Thomas, DEN WR:Tons of consistency here. Really like Thomas, and not much of a Marshall guy (who was my other consideration at this pick).

2.04 – Nick Raducanu – Matt Forte, CHI RB: I hate you all for making me do this (the RB options on the board at this point are not exactly ideal), but I usually end up hating myself if I don’t go RB-RB…and I’d rather hate you guys than myself. No offense, of course.

2.05 - Neil Parker - Steven Jackson, ATL RB: It must be nice to take elite skills to a high octane offense that made Michael Turner relevant. In August, Steven Jackson will be a serious consideration at the end of the 1st round. His scoring opportunities should triple and Jackson will thrive in the Falcons winning environment. He had 16 total TDs in 2006 and he’ll push for a new career high in 2013.

2.06 – Chad Scott – Brandon Marshall, CHI WR: Not a fan of the RB selection here so going for my WR1. Should see the same amount of targets, if not more, in a Trestman offense.

207 – Michael Clifford – DeMarco Murray, DAL RB

2.08 – Devon Jordan – Jimmy Graham, NOS TE: I am repulsed by the available running backs, and after last year, when I drafted Chris Johnson in the second round and was tortured by his weekly inconsistency, I could not bear the thought of another season with Chris Johnson on my roster. This pick says more about Chris Johnson than Jimmy Graham. But, that said, I am of the school of thought that Graham will improve upon last year, with the reunion of Sean Payton and the Saints offense, and that Rob Gronkowski is too much of a health risk.

2.09 – J.J. Zachariason – Chris Johnson, TEN RB:

2.10 – Terrance Bridgett – Julio Jones, ATL WR: Would have taken Chris Johnson here if he was available…but since he is off the board I’ll wait on Running Back and select another Elite WR to pair with Megatron.

2.11 – David Gonos – Stevan Ridley, NEP RB: LeGarrette Blount will steal a few carries, but he’s not going to be stealing goal-line carries. Despite his size, he tip-toes to the line. The only time he blasts somebody is when he has a head of steam going — and even then, he chooses to hurdle them more often than not. This isn’t a PPR league, so Ridley gives me RB1 value as my RB2, paired with Arian Foster.

2.12 – Austan Kas – Rob Gronkowski, NEP TE This forearm saga is definitely a concern, but it’s hard to pass on the clear-cut number one player at his position.

Round 2 Rundown:

The end of the first round and second round is where you start to see real variance from draft to draft, as different strategies begin to be employed. Typically, the top 6 to 8 picks each year are relatively fixed, so Round 2 is where business really picks up.

There were only 2 wideouts taken in the 1st round to go along with the 10 running backs. Round 2 saw our first 2 tight ends come off the board, along with another 6 running backs and 4 wide receivers. Considering that a third of the league are willing to start Carson Palmer in Week 1, it is little surprise that a quarterback hasn’t been selected yet.

Starting with the 2 tight ends; there is a steep drop off in the rankings and last season Jimmy Graham and Rob Gronkowski paced the field despite each dealing with injury issues. It will be interesting to see when the next TE comes off the board and whether or not the early reach at the position can compensate for the production lost at the other skill positions. There is a lot of security in being able to slot in a reliable option in the TE slot each week though too.

The running back position continued to get plundered and 3 former perennial 1st rounders all went in Chris Johnson, Steven Jackson and Maurice Jones-Drew. Jones-Drew is returning from injury, but despite not getting any younger is always an impact back when he is on the field.

Johnson didn’t get started until Week 4 last season, took the next week off too and then finished decently down the stretch. He is a great pick in the bottom of the 2nd round and the Titans improved their offensive line this off-season. I got Steven Jackson later than he will be available when it counts, as he might not take trips to pay dirt, but instead take up permanent residence there.

Matt Forte has trouble scoring and staying on the field, but still puts up respectable fantasy totals, whereas DeMarco Murray is still looking to get back to his breakout stretch in 2011. He is a great back, but again has been hindered by injuries the past 2 seasons. He’ll push toward the 1st round in 2014 if he  can prove capable of staying healthy this year.

If you were a Stevan Ridley owner down the stretch last season you were happy as the Pats’ back scored in 6 straight from Week 8 on. Ridley might not have the upside of some of the other backs in Round 2, but he has the opportunity to put up consistent fantasy points, as a key member of a solid offense.

The 4 receivers who went are all excellent players and there is no doubt that there will be a huge run on them coming up. Dez Bryant put up just under 20 fantasy points a game when it counted and lead many owners, myself included, to fantasy title town last season, so he’ll be  hot commodity in 2013.

Brandon Marshall almost beat out Calvin Johnson in standard scoring formats last season, and has proven to be unstoppable when he is ready to play.  Demaryius Thomas and Julio Jones suffer a little in comparison to the other 2, because they share the ball with other top options in the passing game. but will be 2nd round staples in 2013 drafts.

That wraps up round 2, but here is a link to the draft, so you can watch all the action unfold!

I’m a Loyal Leafs, Cubs, and Cowboys fan for decades. I wear the C for The Fake Hockey, in addition to contributing to The Fake Baseball and The Fake Football in more of a Timmy Try Hard role. You can also find my weekly fantasy baseball preview here at davidgonos.com and can reach me on Twitter @naparker77.

2013 Fantasy Football Mock Draft Review: Round 2 is a post from: DavidGonos.com

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