By Zack Cimini

Arrogance and cockiness go hand in hand with the elite players in sports. Most can tone it down to keep the view of the audience oblivious to a players actions. Whether its yapping of the mouth to the opposing team, or basic body language. DeSean Jackson has never been one to tone down his talents.

He has high stepped the last ten yards of touchdowns, ran twenty yards sideways inside the five yard line on a punt return touchdown against the Giants, and flipped the football before the end zone against the Cowboys on Monday Night football. Those are just a few of Jackson’s antics that have been just a natural part of his on-the-field demeanor.

At points in a professional athletes career humbling times occur. Last year for the Eagles was an eye opener, as a team and an individual level for DeSean Jackson. Playing as a franchise tagged athlete, Jackson had the type of numbers that would make a team let the athlete walk away. The team seemed to fold as he did, and never had any type of consistency. Jackson has admitted he did not play at his highest levels a year ago. Based on the Eagles play he likely was not the only one.

The Eagles know and the NFL knows that Jackson is a gem of a talent. Still only 25, Jackson seems like he has been in the league much longer. He played in the latter last hooray for Donovan McNabb in which he first became the deep threat people know of today. Against the Cardinals in the 2009 NFC Championship, Jackson made one of the best catches for a touchdown in recent playoff memories.

He has been through the short lived Kevin Kolb era, and now entering his third season with Mike Vick.

Maturity seemed to start to hit Jackson as the Eagles season imploded last year, and he realized his future could be in jeopardy. His contract could have been much higher than what he received in the off-season. Only 18 million of it is guaranteed, which means Jackson is going to have to earn the rest of the mid 50 million dollar contract.

Maybe watching greats just when he was a rookie like Randy Moss, Chad Johnson, and Terrell Owens struggle to find jobs suddenly and fade so quickly awoken him.

Media circles our stating Jackson seems like a new person, and much more focused. Philadelphia has one of the top defenses in the NFL, Mike Vick, and LeSean McCoy. The difference though will be with Jackson. Jackson’s open field speed and ability to get open just creates that extra dimension teams can’t stop.

The focus will always be on Vick because of his history and being the quarterback. In many rankings, Jackson can be found in the late teens and even early twenties. That is much too low for a player of Jackson’s caliber. I expect a breakout year from him, and to be a top ten fantasy receiver this season, and top five in a handful of weeks this year.

He never has been a top fantasy receiver, but has been one of the top open field and speed receivers in the NFL. Sooner or later that should lead to a breakout year, which will be this season.

By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com　

There once was a time that fantasy owners could rely on drafting a rookie running back and expect solid fantasy football numbers initially. The last few years though teams have steered away from drafting running backs high in the draft. The tandem back system and new approach has made the impact of rookie running backs lower on the fantasy map.

Trent Richardson has changed that for 2012. The rookie is expected to make huge waves in season one. Will Richardson have top tier value or just be a dependable number two running back?

In Cleveland running backs have enjoyed success even if it has been short lived. From Jamal Lewis, Jerome Harrison, and Peyton Hillis. Cleveland has done quite the shuffling at running back, which was one of the main reasons they decided to draft Richardson. To end their quest to find a back for a year to year basis.

Lets compare Peyton Hillis and Trent Richardson. Hillis is a bruiser type back more in the old mold of Mike Alstott. He went from being a short yardage back in 2010 to the feature back that relished the role. His versatility with the ball just was not there, as he is a straight north and south runner. Blame the madden curse, but Hillis needed a new environment after a publicized battle last season with the Browns.

In 2010 though Hillis was a fantasy gem, rushing for over 1100 yards and eleven touchdowns that year. That amount of touchdowns came without any scores the last five weeks of the season.

Richardson comes from the storied history of Alabama, and is a pontifical every down running back. Wearing down as the season stretches is a concern for rookies at any position. Ignore that factor with Richardson. He is built like a truck and barring injury will be fine for the entire season.

Cleveland’s quarterback situation will benefit Richardson as well. In the red zone when most teams would throw the football to their tight end or safety nets, the Browns will run more. Every down situations to control the game-clock will also mean more carries for Richardson. It is not wildly to anticipate Richardson to be a top ten to twelve fantasy football back in year one.

DeMarco Murray came out of nowhere last season as a rookie for the Dallas Cowboys because of injuries in the backfield. With Richardson, a high draft pick, young quarterback, and a backup that poses as a non-threat in Montario Hardesty, you can assume that Richardson is undervalued.

Fantasy owners do not like to draft based on no prior results. This benefits owners even more for Richardson, especially with the track record of top backs underperforming in year one the last few seasons.

By Zack Cimini
notjustagame23@gmail.com

Will start week two’s, You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me with a whole unit. Chicago’s offensive line a year ago was pulverized by the Giants defense in front of a nationally televised Sunday night game. Their quarterback took a licking all year, only to break down completely in the playoffs with an injury. You’d think the unit could come together and fix issues at hand. How quickly and easily the Saints attacked Cutler was comical. It looked like an overmatched 1A high school, going against a 5A high school defensive line. The Saints lived in the Bears backfield, and the Saints turf became awfully familiarized with the imprint Cutler.

How about the Arizona Cardinals? In a game that they could of maneuvered themselves to a 2-0 start, Kevin Kolb throws the ball to Chansi Stuckey on a potential game winning drive. In game winning situations do you put the ball in a fifth string receiver’s hands? No. They paid Larry Fitzgerald and Todd Heap all that money, and couldn’t muster a better drive then that. Kneel down Washington, and Arizona fans remember that loss in week seventeen.

Philadelphia’s linebackers let Mike Turner run for a straight burst up the middle for sixty yards, and let the oldest tight end in football eat them alive over the middle all game. They’ve got to get better in the middle of their defense or playoff teams with solid duo backfields are going to feast in December and January.

Last week most of the Bundy moments occurred from players under performing. This week it was injuries that derailed fantasy starts to minimal total points.

Quarterbacks

Philip Rivers- A quarterback of Rivers caliber still can’t get his team off from perpetual bad starts. They won a sloppy game week one against the Vikings, and turnovers plagued their home game against the Patriots. Rivers did not contribute the type of numbers you would of expected in a shootout. He did get the Chargers going in the second half, but another two interceptions thwarted one of his touchdown throws.

Luke McCown- For McCown to be considered a veteran and play the way he has, is beyond ugly. It puts a glaring spotlight on the Jaguars front office. Everyone knows the reason they cut Garrard was not the fact that McCown was better. It was so they didn’t have to pay Garrard’s contract incentive. Look for McCown to be benched and next year on a team as a third stringer.

Matt Cassel- The teams start compared to last year is head scratching. They’re playing as if they were coached by Herm Edwards again. Discipline instilled a year ago by head coach Todd Haley has gone out the window. Talent level has drop and injuries have mounted. The mega investment on Cassel was a debate last year. Haley may have to yank Cassel in favor of Tyler Palko.

Mike Vick- He had the Eagles rolling, but mistakes by him while on the field were absolutely inexcusable. His concussion symptoms and prognosis were enough to drive owners to yell, you’ve got to be kidding me. But his fumble not protecting the football, and errant interception were both preventable.

Sam Bradford- The new system change seems to be helping Bradford stretch the field and get away from the dink and dump of a year ago. Speeding up plays for the hurry up offense has opposing defenses unsettled. Maybe without Steven Jackson, the Rams just couldn’t figure out how to run their red zone offense. Bradford just could not find open targets once the Rams got inside the twenty. Ignore the overall stats, as they were impressive. Leaving open red zone opportunities just does not bode well for fantasy owners. Field goals don’t cut, unless you had Josh Brown and were down single digits in your fantasy league.

Joe Flacco- I documented it last week, stating that this week’s game vs. Tennessee would be the tell all if Baltimore was actually moving forward. Guess not. Playing to the level of their competition is what the Ravens do. Close calls against the Bills, Browns, and other teams happened a year ago. There was absolutely no reason the Ravens should of not came out and demolished the Titans. Flacco just can not bring his A game every week.

Running Backs

Felix Jones- On the very first series Jones was hurt with a separated shoulder. Tallying just three total fantasy points and his status for next week is questionable. Jones has shown he can be a home run threat type of back even with limited work. Dallas needs those flashes from him to get this offense to an even higher level.

Jamaal Charles- Panic mode officially set in to owners that winced with Kansas City fans when Charles went down. He bumped Larry Johnson into retirement and weekly viable fantasy point fifteen to twenty point producer. With him out of your lineup now, major adjustments will need to be done.

Mike Tolbert- Two fumbles and not much brought to the offense in terms of rushing the football. Tolbert’s fantasy value has come out of the backfield. San Diego is not going to accept that for long. Tolbert needs to get back into gear, or he will lose a good share of the split with Ryan Matthews.

Reggie Bush- More involvement rushing the football and being even more of a weapon as a receiver was the expectations from Bush and Miami. Quietly it looks as if the Dolphins have decided to bump Daniel Thomas as the main back, and keep Bush’s involvement toned down like it was in New Orleans. Many probably started Bush as a flex starter and received Saint like fantasy numbers from him.

Wide Receivers

Malcolm Floyd- I had him pegged as one of the top receivers for week two. He was on his way to doing that, lighting up the Patriots secondary on the first drive. Rivers was basically throwing jump ball lobs to him, and Floyd was gobbling them up with his 6’5 frame. After an impressive forty yard sideline catch, in which Floyd contorted his entire body, he came down roughly and never returned with a groin injury. He was on pace to have Vincent Jackson’s day.

Mike Williams-
Sure a touchdown called back on an illegal formation cost fantasy owners a good ten points. Hey, Mike and the Tampa Bay offensive coordinator, there were fifty two total offensive plays to make some sort of contribution. At least Williams kept a streak of consecutive games with a catch intact. One for negative four yards. A strong punch to the gut for owners that have Williams as their second receiver.

By Zack Cimini
notjustagame23@gmail.com

Losing is going to happen in fantasy football just like it does in all sports. All the variables that drive NFL coaches crazy, will also drive you nuts. A missed field goal, dropped touchdown, a fumble/interception by one of your players, and the worst, a dud performance from one of your sure studs.

Here is the first installment of You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me for week one of the NFL season.

Quarterbacks

Donovan McNabb-
This doesn’t happen to a quarterback that has been one of the better over the last ten years. McNabb’s latest newest setting got off to an atrocious start. There were likely some of you out there that started McNabb just on prior years supporting him. You would of expected a shootout between the Vikings and Chargers. Instead McNabb couldn’t get forty yards throwing the football. Add an interception to his stat column and you might as well of started a bottom tier tight end and got the same amount of points.

Philip Rivers-
Once again the Chargers got off to a slow start. Rivers put up a 300 yard passing game, but being an upper echelon fantasy quarterback you would expect more from him week one. Especially going up against a Vikings defense that is expected to be towards the bottom in the NFL.

Matt Ryan-
Too put up as many throws as Ryan did and not throw for a touchdown is a true fantasy disappointment. The Falcons seemed to move the football decently, but just couldn’t muster an effective complete drive. Ryan hit a bunch of different receivers but couldn’t come up with any momentum type plays on the road. He has shown to be an amazing quarterback at home, but he has to move past his road woes issues.

Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben hasn’t had too many awry games in his career, but this one will shoot to the top. Coming off a Super Bowl loss, the Steelers came out flat all around. Leading with Roethlisberger, who couldn’t facilitate his freestyle pocket plays like he is used to. He was facing the Ravens who were obviously angry with the way their season ended last season.

Eli Manning
He opened his mouth to reporters stating that he believes he is in the company of quarterbacks like Tom Brady, etc. With most attention on Peyton Manning missing a game, some of it should be spotlighted on Manning’s rusty start. Not many quarterback can stat that they have a duel backfield threat and depth to the position the Giants have.

Running Backs

Steven Jackson-
Fantasy owners of Steven Jackson went out of their seats when they witnessed Jackson’s fifty yard touchdown as if he were running with rookie legs. Being teased with a fantasy field day was all you would get. Jackson tweaked his hamstring and looks like he may be out for a few games.

Arian Foster-
You blast your own MRI exam of your hamstring injury on twitter, and act like it’s a minor non issue. Jokingly he also mocks fantasy owners who were concerned over his injury. Well Arian your non presence on the field week one was the reason why.

LeGarrette Blount- Not a way to start off the 2011 season after taking over the starting running back position. Blount did face a formidable Lions defensive line, that showcased they are going to be a force to reckon with all season. Blount was an absolute non factor, as if he was back on the Titans practice squad.

Chris Johnson-
ROI on Johnsons week one has left fantasy owners tumbling in desperation. How many weeks will it take Johnson to adjust? Money isn’t an issue anymore for Johnson, and the pressure to live up to his new contract could pose all types of concerns. Rushing for a pathetic twenty eight yards put Johnson as one of the worst statistical fantasy backs of week one.

Frank Gore-
Gore had one of the premier matchups of the week for a fantasy running back. Owners were drooling weeks before the season in anticipation of the points they were going to get from Gore. Gore got the carries but could not crack the end zone or find many holes to gain yards through.

Shonn Greene-
Start calling Greene the Robert Horry of the NFL. He shows up and puts his effort out in the playoffs only. LT has aged another year, and Greene was expected to take on more of a burden in 2011. More games like Sunday and Greene will get more and more into a time share with LT. He has to step it up on a weekly basis.

Wide Receivers

Vincent Jackson- Philip Rivers rough start didn’t bode well for Jackson. Even when Rivers got things going, Jackson was not much involved. He only gained three fantasy points in standard leagues, and five in PPR leagues. It’s highly disappointing to see those type of numbers from a quarterback-receiver tandem that are near the top in the league.

Dwayne Bowe- When one has a quarterback that is inconsistent, it makes it extremely hard to decide when to start that player. It looked like Matt Cassel had solved his inconsistency woes towards the second half of last year by connecting with Bowe and spreading the ball out. That skyrocketed Bowe’s fantasy value for 2011. Now that is in extreme jeopardy as Cassel might end up with the least amount of yards per game of any quarterback.

By Zack Cimini

notjustagame23@gmail.com

Dolphins fans have been prepared for head scratching moves before. A spat between Bill Parcells and Jason Taylor, caused Taylor to float to a couple of teams before landing back to Miami. Ricky Williams hiatus was self caused but no one anticipated Miami welcoming him back with open arms. Whispers of Brett Favre heading to Miami, might not have been as shocking to hear that the Dolphins signed Larry Johnson Tuesday.

While the Dolphins front office is at it, why not call up Cecil Collins or Lawrence Phillips and see what they’re up to?

Shifting from Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams to new feature backs was a much needed move. It’s just the mismanagement that raises questions. Reggie Bush has been a flash back since he entered the league. Now the Dolphins are going to heighten his carries and expect him to retain his slashing abilities out of the backfield. Pairing him with a strong halfback to try and have a fair distribution figured to happen without much thought.

Planning for Daniel Thomas to be the lone threat with Reggie Bush seems to be the thought process. Thomas was a beast and much of a one way offensive machine for Kansas State last year. Concerns over the way rookie backs have faired the last several years, likely caused the latest move in Johnson.

When has a back buried for over four years with absolutely no productivity, risen back noticeably? No that’s not a slam to Tiki Barber. Johnson has nothing left in the tank. Miami is giving him a shot when they could have had better luck signing an XFL player. The only thing the Dolphins could possibly be bringing Johnson in for is goal line packages and extreme short yardage situations.

Heck, even Daniel Thomas can keep the wildcat formation still alive for 2011. He ran enough direct snaps and misdirection plays at Kansas State. This signing is laughable and the two percent of faithful 05-07 Larry Johnson owners out there, we have one small message. Take a deep breath, and let those memories fade far away.

By Zack Cimini
notjustagame23@gmail.com

Fantasy owners that pointed at their bench to their buddies and said, “see, see, if I would of started Dwayne Bowe I would of won this week,”. You’ve got to love the owners that hype their teams up through their bench than the win/loss column. Dwayne Bowe has had plenty of opportunities this season to emerge as he did a few years ago. Being a disappointment thus far in 2010 is a huge understatement.

Bowe’s had issues abound this year. Matt Cassel’s looked his way and Bowe has not been able to deliver as a number one receiver. Nothing was worse than his play against the Colts. Indianapolis ranks right up there with poor pass defenses, and Bowe could not thrive. He was able to get open and then the football was reminded of Bowe’s hands. Laying the pigskin on the turf happened on wide open routes, including an actual nice throw by Cassel in the end zone. His play in that game basically cost the Chiefs as they eventually got into a fourth quarter hole against the Colts.

Seeing Bowe become a fantasy impact player week six was not surprising. Houston’s pass defense is what might prevent them from making the playoffs. They’ve giving up an incredible amount of yards and points as a unit. It’s the type of game though that could break Bowe out of his funk.

He will never be considered a fantasy every week starter with Matt Cassel at quarterback. He can though be an injury/bye week/first off the bench at receiver position athlete. Kansas City has their style of play down pat for the rest of the year. With Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles they have two backs that can split the load at a high number of carries each. The team knows that counting on Cassel to be their number one option offensively is not a key to winning. He just hasn’t grasped the teams playbook and has struggled overall.

If you are forced to start Bowe, it’s always going to be a high risk. Look around the league and you’ll see that the majority of quarterbacks are throwing 25, 30, or even higher pass attempts a game. Don’t be fooled that Cassel has actually thrown the ball for an average of 6.2 yards per completion. An insanely poor statistic. Cassel’s play of checking down is exactly what the Cardinals passed on with Matt Leinart in preseason.

Chances of Cassel getting benched likely won’t happen at this point. The only way you’d start Bowe is for reasons mentioned in the last paragraph, or if you’re extremely strong with your fantasy running backs. Even if Bowe goes out and has a string of solid games to parlay last weeks, we don’t see him getting far beyond last years numbers. Trading him to a desperate owner is your best bet of getting any long term value out of him.

Joe Lopat, Zack Cimini, and Jabbar Harris return once again to talk football hot topics, as well as their usual fantasy football segments. They’ll tell you who to start/sit and provide spread picks for week seven.