Hibs.Net NFL Fantasy League

We'll start by complimenting you on your strength at quarterback, receiver, and tight end. As you know, it's very difficult in a competitive league to assemble a team that is strong at QB, RB, and WR, so just about every team will have a weakness. As you probably suspect, we perceive yours to be at running back.

In 2012, that's not an instant fantasy team killer like it might have been five years ago. And in this particular case, we absolutely think you're strong enough elsewhere to overcome it. You've definitely got a good team here, but we'd feel better if we knew you were committed to keeping an eye out for the 2012 version of 2010's Peyton Hillis or LeGarrette Blount or 2009's Ricky Williams, Jamaal Charles, or Fred Jackson.

Players we particularly like on this team include Drew Brees, Denarius Moore, and Vincent Jackson. We have all these guys ranked ahead of where they are typically being drafted.

Bottom line:
• With great inseason management, we think you have about a 80 percent chance of making the playoffs.
• With good inseason management, we think you have about a 70 percent chance of making the playoffs.
• With average inseason management, we think you have a 60 percent chance of making the playoffs

I think it's good analysis but, to be fair on the drafters (us) it's not like we all had a chance of our first choice players. I know that I didn't get anyone that I REALLY wanted and after the first couple of rounds I actually had to look at lists and read a little about the players I was looking at - although in some cases I just picked a guy because he was ranked high(est available) e.g., my kicker.

Overview:
Old school!
We like your overall strength at the traditionally less important positions, but make no mistake about it: this team is about strength at the running back position. And we think it will be the league favorite or very close to it. Somewhere Emmitt Smith is smiling.
Nonetheless, we'd be remiss if we didn't at least mention the relative lack of strength at quarterback and receiver. These are usually survivable weaknesses, but we'd feel better if we knew you were committed to zealously scouring the waiver wire for this year's emergent players at QB and WR. Getting a breakout player at one or both of those positions would take your already-good team to the next level.
Players we particularly like on this team include Julio Jones, Ahmad Bradshaw, DeAngelo Williams, and Mason Crosby. We have all these guys ranked ahead of where they are typically being drafted.
Bottom line:

• With great inseason management, we think you have about a 99 percent chance of making the playoffs.
• With good inseason management, we think you have about a 90 percent chance of making the playoffs.
• With average inseason management, we think you have a 83 percent chance of making the playoffs.

interesting stuff, frankly speaking their talking a loady kite :greengrin
RB Summary:
Nice work here. We like both your starting running backs, as our projections indicate that they give you a combined 4.1 point-per-game advantage over an average opponent in this league. Our projections have Ray Rice ranked second and DeMarco Murray ranked at #9.
Your bench also looks good. Ahmad Bradshaw looks great as a third running back.
Since you're strong at the position, you probably don't absolutely need to roster more than three players here. Of your remaining guys, we like DeAngelo Williams the best, but you should keep the one you think has the best chance of putting up starter numbers. The rest might be considered expendable if you find you need roster space elsewhere.
Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:
Some of our staffers have LeGarrette Blount as high as #26, which would make him a great fifth running back and even a legitimate RB3. Heath Cummings's take: "I'm not quite as ready as everyone else to hand LeGarrete Blount's job to Doug Martin. I'm sure Martin will get plenty of opportunities, but so will Blount, especially early on. We've seen plenty of evidence in the past to show how risky rookie running backs can be, so don't totally give up on Blount just yet."

WR Summary:
Your starting receivers should, as a unit, be adequate but not great. In particular we like Julio Jones as a top WR. Jones is our #2 ranked receiver, Marques Colston is #22, and we have Eric Decker 29th.
Reggie Wayne should serve as a very solid fourth receiver.
We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.
A quick note about the same-team Colston/Jimmy Graham duo you've got here. Though the effect is probably negligible, this kind of pairing is likely to make your team more (not less) consistent than a comparable-scoring different-team pair.

just to let you know that should be the teams uploaded onto your rosters. (hopes there is no mistakes :greengrin)

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Originally Posted by Gatecrasher

just to let you know that should be the teams uploaded onto your rosters. (hopes there is no mistakes :greengrin)

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Yep, spot on thanks.

I thought the draft as a whole was fine. When we're doing it 3 weeks before the season starts, does it really matter if it takes 10 days to complete? This way nobody had to supper a computer autopick and I thought that was a good thing.

The fantasy evaluator started off by saying I had a crap team then went on to say that I had done well in all categories. Except for kicker, they hated my pick there, but I think that the Rams will be kicking plenty of FGs this season and Zuerlein's range will make him the best under-the-radar kicker in the draft.

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Originally Posted by Gatecrasher

just to let you know that should be the teams uploaded onto your rosters. (hopes there is no mistakes :greengrin)

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Cheers Gatey :agree::aok:

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Originally Posted by Gatecrasher

just to let you know that should be the teams uploaded onto your rosters. (hopes there is no mistakes :greengrin)

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Has anyone or is anyone going to make any changes to their teams before the season starts? I've changed my kicker, I decided that I'd be better with an indoor kicker so have picked up one of the Saints kickers instead. If he's not going to start in the first game it should be relatively easy to pick up another kicker before the first games start.

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Originally Posted by Sergio sledge

Has anyone or is anyone going to make any changes to their teams before the season starts? I've changed my kicker, I decided that I'd be better with an indoor kicker so have picked up one of the Saints kickers instead. If he's not going to start in the first game it should be relatively easy to pick up another kicker before the first games start.

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After seeing Sanchez and tebows cometikn numbers I might just drop Holmes :greengrin

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Originally Posted by Sergio sledge

Has anyone or is anyone going to make any changes to their teams before the season starts? I've changed my kicker, I decided that I'd be better with an indoor kicker so have picked up one of the Saints kickers instead. If he's not going to start in the first game it should be relatively easy to pick up another kicker before the first games start.

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I'm not sure what we do to change our players. I assume it's pretty easy to pickup players that have not been drafted? To be honest, I don't think I would swap any of my players now because I would be getting guys low down the order BUT I have to consider that one of my RBs is already injured. So much to think about.

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Originally Posted by Sergio sledge

Has anyone or is anyone going to make any changes to their teams before the season starts? I've changed my kicker, I decided that I'd be better with an indoor kicker so have picked up one of the Saints kickers instead. If he's not going to start in the first game it should be relatively easy to pick up another kicker before the first games start.

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Here's hoping you've got to pick another guy as I've got Garett Hartley as kicker in my team :na na: Not gonna lose sleep over my kickers or defences though, they're too unpredictable!

I dumped Ryan Mathews. I did some more reading about the kid and although he seems to be a decent RB, he is also injury prone. He might be back in time for game 1. He might be back for game 4. I don't want to waste a roster spot on someone who "might" be ready.

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Originally Posted by AyrshireHibs

Here's hoping you've got to pick another guy as I've got Garett Hartley as kicker in my team :na na: Not gonna lose sleep over my kickers or defences though, they're too unpredictable!

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I noticed that. They seem to be sharing kicking duties in pre-season, so you never know what's going to happen. Its pretty easy to pick up another decent kicker anyway.

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Originally Posted by HibsMax

I dumped Ryan Mathews. I did some more reading about the kid and although he seems to be a decent RB, he is also injury prone. He might be back in time for game 1. He might be back for game 4. I don't want to waste a roster spot on someone who "might" be ready.

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I'm all over that - Matthews goes to the Dundee Claymores :greengrin

Our wee thread appears to be attracting some traffic. 28 guests looking in this morning.

I sincerely hope none of you are looking for profound advice on fantasy NFL, as you're in the wrong place :greengrin

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Originally Posted by The Story So Far...

I'm all over that - Matthews goes to the Dundee Claymores :greengrin

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Good luck to you. I would have loved to have him but I don't have a strong enough squad to keep injured players. I was so far down the draft that all the really good guys had gone so I needed to get an RB in my team that would actually be playing. Ryan thinks he will be back by game 1. His doctors disagree. Is is all smoke and mirrors? I have no idea. All I know is that I need players that play.

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Originally Posted by HibsMax

Good luck to you. I would have loved to have him but I don't have a strong enough squad to keep injured players. I was so far down the draft that all the really good guys had gone so I needed to get an RB in my team that would actually be playing. Ryan thinks he will be back by game 1. His doctors disagree. Is is all smoke and mirrors? I have no idea. All I know is that I need players that play.

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I had Sidney Rice, whom I acknowledged I felt was a gamble. Even if he IS fit and healthy, I fear that his consistency might just not be there, particularly if Flynn is working with and generating a good chemistry with the other Seahawk receivers.

I have 2 able RBs in Johnson (who is having an brilliant pre-season) and Redman, who should get some good game time (if fit himself) until Mendenhall returns in Pittsburgh, so if Matthews isn't ready in week 1 or 2, I have cover. When Matthews DOES get fit and returns to playing, he's an explosive RB who will generate yards, touchdowns and points, based on previous years. His health might be an issue, but he's the overall #10 ranked RB in the fantasy rankings and based on this and his previous years, I think he's worth the gamble of not having for the first couple of weeks.

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Originally Posted by The Story So Far...

I'm all over that - Matthews goes to the Dundee Claymores :greengrin

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Can I be the first to shout foul play here. I put a waiver claim in on him too yet he went to someone who drafted before me - seems a bit unfair. The wire should of been set in reverse of the draft order!!

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Originally Posted by AyrshireHibs

Can I be the first to shout foul play here. I put a waiver claim in on him too yet he went to someone who drafted before me - seems a bit unfair. The wire should of been set in reverse of the draft order!!

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...and so it begins :greengrin

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Originally Posted by AyrshireHibs

Can I be the first to shout foul play here. I put a waiver claim in on him too yet he went to someone who drafted before me - seems a bit unfair. The wire should of been set in reverse of the draft order!!

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For what it's worth, I actually agree with you - I thought it WAS going to be set up so it was going to work in reverse :agree:

As the foul play isn't on my part though (I put in a waiver request and got lucky really...) might I also say ":na na:".

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Originally Posted by The Story So Far...

For what it's worth, I actually agree with you - I thought it WAS going to be set up so it was going to work in reverse :agree:

As the foul play isn't on my part though (I put in a waiver request and got lucky really...) might I also say ":na na:".

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The DunmeoutofRyanMatthews Claymores.

We'll just have to stick an asterisks next to any wins you get - pretty much like the Patriots over the past decade and a half :na na:

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Originally Posted by AyrshireHibs

The DunmeoutofRyanMatthews Claymores.

We'll just have to stick an asterisks next to any wins you get - pretty much like the Patriots over the past decade and a half :na na:

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:greengrin

Matthews to rack up a personal best fantasy performance the week we play would indeed be pleasing :wink:

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Originally Posted by hibsbollah

...and so it begins :greengrin

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fiiiiight!

Alright lads, I make my big move tomorrow so if I aint aboot for a bit, I apologise.

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Originally Posted by Haymaker

Alright lads, I make my big move tomorrow so if I aint aboot for a bit, I apologise.

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All the best Haymaker!

Very jealous that you'll get to watch all of our games at a reasonable hour :greengrin

Might have to start looking for Postdocs at MIT or UConn so I have a chance of attending a game or two :agree:

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Originally Posted by The Story So Far...

I had Sidney Rice, whom I acknowledged I felt was a gamble. Even if he IS fit and healthy, I fear that his consistency might just not be there, particularly if Flynn is working with and generating a good chemistry with the other Seahawk receivers.

I have 2 able RBs in Johnson (who is having an brilliant pre-season) and Redman, who should get some good game time (if fit himself) until Mendenhall returns in Pittsburgh, so if Matthews isn't ready in week 1 or 2, I have cover. When Matthews DOES get fit and returns to playing, he's an explosive RB who will generate yards, touchdowns and points, based on previous years. His health might be an issue, but he's the overall #10 ranked RB in the fantasy rankings and based on this and his previous years, I think he's worth the gamble of not having for the first couple of weeks.

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Definitely worth a gamble as you say, just not as my premiere RB which is what I drafted him as. I thought about keeping him but, and this is hardly scientific, I read different things about when he might be healthy and how long it will take him to become effective. I'm wondering if those "lost" weeks will lose me too many points, so I axed him.

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Originally Posted by AyrshireHibs

Can I be the first to shout foul play here. I put a waiver claim in on him too yet he went to someone who drafted before me - seems a bit unfair. The wire should of been set in reverse of the draft order!!

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You're lucky. I don't even know what you're talking about. Lol.

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Originally Posted by HibsMax

You're lucky. I don't even know what you're talking about. Lol.

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Can someone explain the waiver wire to me (us newbies)?

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Originally Posted by HibsMax

Can someone explain the waiver wire to me (us newbies)?

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It's a claim system, based on a pre-defined order.

The draft order was chosen based on a competition we had and the argument here is that since those at the end of the draft had to sit and watch all of the good players go before they could pick, that any claim on waiver players (the better players who are openly available) should go in the opposite direction.

Hope that makes sense...

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Originally Posted by The Story So Far...

It's a claim system, based on a pre-defined order.

The draft order was chosen based on a competition we had and the argument here is that since those at the end of the draft had to sit and watch all of the good players go before they could pick, that any claim on waiver players (the better players who are openly available) should go in the opposite direction.

Hope that makes sense...

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Yes, that makes sense. What doesn't quite make sense is the situation that just happened...that being you getting to pick a player ahead of someone else on the wire. Is that just tough sh*t or should we try and rectify the situation i.e., you take back Sidney Rice and let AyrshireHibs get a chance of first refusal...well, after the other ahead of him on the wire?

I'm not sure how that works, it sounds a little manual. Does the website enforce the waiver order? Do people have to register an interest in a player beforehand so that if they do become available, they get first dibs? It's just not clear to me how we would do this without asking each person in turn if they want a player and then, when it's your turn, you can choose to take the player or pass him over.

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Originally Posted by HibsMax

Yes, that makes sense. What doesn't quite make sense is the situation that just happened...that being you getting to pick a player ahead of someone else on the wire. Is that just tough sh*t or should we try and rectify the situation i.e., you take back Sidney Rice and let AyrshireHibs get a chance of first refusal...well, after the other ahead of him on the wire?

I'm not sure how that works, it sounds a little manual. Does the website enforce the waiver order? Do people have to register an interest in a player beforehand so that if they do become available, they get first dibs? It's just not clear to me how we would do this without asking each person in turn if they want a player and then, when it's your turn, you can choose to take the player or pass him over.

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I'm not entirely sure how the waiver wire has been initially set tbh - the only thing I can think is that maybe when the players have been inputed manually I was second on the list and that's why I'm ninth in the pecking order. On the subject of Matthews, I'm more than happy with my stable of running backs (Foster, MJD and Forte are all ranked in the top 6) and was only really hoping to use him as future trade bait for an upgrade at WR or a backup QB - TSSF can have him :greengrin