The Bad Quarterback League: Week 1

When we last left our fellowship of the Bad Quarterback League, wages were set, a draft was foregone, and our players were ready to cheer against the league's finest. I have to say, watching football from the perspective of the Bad Quarterback league was really a treat. Never, ever, have I enjoyed watching Tavaris Jackson play football, but this Sunday, as he led his team to defeat against San Francisco, the room was filled with cheers. Emotions sailed every time Donovan McNabb sailed the ball over an open receiver, every time Eli Manning hit the dirt, and especially every time Big Ben dialed up a downfield shot to Ed Reed. Some would argue that what we're doing here is "uncouth or against God", but to those people, I have just one thing to say. When's the last time you found yourself cheering for Luke McCown?

I rest my case. Here's the recap of Week 1's Worst Quarterbacks.
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Carpenter (MIA & MIN) vs. Morgan (PHI & GB)

In our first matchup, Carpenter fielded his top unit against Morgan's worst. Chad Henne defied the odds on Monday night, putting up a dazzling -10 on the BQL radar much to the surprise of Patriots and Dolphins fans alike. Most viewers were probably expecting a booing repeat of training camp, but you have to admit, his performance was uplifting for the fans at Sun Life. Luckily for Carpenter, his champion, Donovan McNabb, truly shined. McNabb's 39 yards and interception were the epitome of clutch, despite his short touchdown toss to Michael Jenkins. My team, on the other hand, waved the white flag, getting two of those "required starts" out of the way on a week where no one knew what would happen. Vick managed to find me positive points, but Aaron Rodgers was just too good to keep my squad in the positive. Looking forward, it was very nice to hear Denver fans cheering for Tebow on Monday Night Football.

Winner: Carpenter +35


Loser: Morgan -3


Top Perfomer: Donovan McNabb (45)



Stephens (NYG & NO) vs. McCool (SF & OAK)

McCool caught a bit of a surprise, much like many of Alex Smith's receivers. We all have to admit, Smith didn't look completely horrific, gunslinging in the shadow of Tavaris Jackson, who put on the real (bad) show. Smith still managed an adequate BQL start, and Jason Campbell really stepped up in a rainy Denver game to give McCool success in Week 1. Stephens found a nice surprise as well in a week where he was throwing out some "required starts." Eli Manning, who many believed would carve up Washington, even managed to throw a touchdown to an opposing defensive lineman on his way to a 27 point outing. On the flip side, Drew Brees put on a passing clinic against the Green Bay defense. The Saint's -17 point performance sealed the deal for McCool's Week 1 slide. It's worth noting that the Seahawks rode the bench this week, and Tavaris will most likely get the nod going into Week 2.

Winner: McCool +38


Loser: Stephens +10


Top Performer: Eli Manning (27)


Hall (PIT & IND) vs. Frisbee (JAX & BUF)

Hall made a bodacious move right out of the gate, starting what was imagined to be his worst (best in real life) lineup of Indi and Pittsburgh. He was richly rewarded for his gamble. Ben Roethlisberger led all scorers this week after completing as many passes to Ed Reed as he did teammates Emanuel Sanders, Antonio Brown, and Mewelde Moore. With three interceptions and two lost fumbles, Big Ben  was a one man wrecking crew. Add in a darling triple fumble performance by Kerry Collins, and you have the largest margin of victory on our Week 1 scoreboard. Frisbee decided to retort with Luke McCown and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Jacksonville's passing performance would have McCowned most opponents, but Buffalo's Ryan Fitzpatrick ravaged Kansas City en route to a disappointing -3. McCown faces off against Rex Ryan's blitz happy Jets in Week 2, so the stage is set for Frisbee to bounce back.

                                                           David Crary - Associated Press

Winner: Hall +67

Loser: Frisbee +20

Top Performer: Ben Roethlisberger (49)

Cassilly & Pierce (CIN & HOU) vs. Lever (CAR & TEN)

The dynamic duo of Cassilly & Pierce opened by throwing a curveball, choosing to start Houston and Cincinnati. The trio of Schaub, Dalton, and Gradkowski put up solid, but not overwhelming numbers as our ladies posted a solid +18. I think's it's safe to say we can blame Dalton's performance on a Brown's defense that decided to leave receivers wide open. Expect big things in the future. Lever started Cam Newton and Matt Hasselbeck, which many thought would be a lock for huge numbers on opening weekend. Instead, Hasselbeck managed to finagle an 80 yard score to Kenny Britt and Cam Newton set a Week 1 rookie record with his 422 passing yards and 3 touchdowns. The tandem combined for the lowest score of the weekend. The girls start the season with a big win, and the Cleveland Browns have yet to make their first start.

                                                                               Associated Press

Winner(s): Cassilly & Pierce +18

Loser: Lever -5

Top Performer: Matt Schaub (10)

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That's all for an exciting opening weekend!

Moving into Week 2, we'll see the following matchups:

Lever vs. Carpenter
Stephens vs. Morgan
Hall vs. McCool
Frisbee vs. Cassilly & Pierce

Join us next Tuesday for the recap of our second week of Bad Quarterback action!

Inspired by Grantland

Powder Blue Bias

Two weeks ago I, an enthusiastic Titans fan, found myself face to face with an avid Colts fan. I began to speak, but before I got a word out, she promptly told me not to talk smack for the Titans, as I had no room to boast. Apparently my years of pride and prejudice had proceeded me. Realizing that she was most likely right, I took a moment to call a mental huddle to dial up a high percentage play. My thoughts lined up, looked the adversary in the eyes, and snapped the ball.

I bet that the Tennessee Titans would finish the season with a better record than the Indianapolis Colts.

Loser takes the winner out an exquisitely formal dinner at the restaurant of the winner's choice.

Staring down the barrel of 3rd & 7, I dialed up the fake punt.

Why would I make such a bodacious move? Pride? Madness? Faith?

Funny how often the three seem to correlate for sports fans.

After taking your choice between hubris, madness, and sureness, you find me in likely position to eat my words, or more relevantly, an upscale dinner for two. 

Then, tragedy struck. Rumor grew of a shadow in the East, whispers of a nameless fear, and Peyton Manning's injury perceived. Minutes turned to hours. Hours turned to days. Kerry Collins came out of retirement. My mindset began to change. Could Peyton's neck surgery mark the changing of the guard?

The sands were shifting all around the AFC South. Arian Foster's hamstring continued to suffer from "antiawesomeness" down in Houston. The Jaguars waived the white flag and cut veteran starting quarterback, David Garrard. And, much to my delight, Chris Johnson agreed to a new contract with the Titans, becoming the highest paid running back in NFL history.

Could my madness pay off?

I think so. Here's why, team by team:

Houston Texans

The up-and-coming Texans find themselves as the darlings of the AFC South. And why not?  With the dynamic pass catching tandem of Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson, the NFL's rushing leader in Arian Foster, a healthy Owen Daniels with a new contract, and a talented offensive line, they should be poised for a playoff run, right?

Wrong.

Thanks to something I will label as the "Kubiak Effect", I see this "loaded" team getting pulled right back into the sub .500 rut where they've made a living under the tenure of head coach Gary
Kubiak. What can I say, the man just has a will to lose. Anyone else remember when this team finished last season on a 2-8 run? I bet Texans fans sure do.

Mastermind Wade Philip, has taken the helm of the NFL's worst pass defense and implemented a drastically new 3-4 scheme. Houston has also taken their best defender, defensive end Mario Williams, and converted him into an outside linebacker. The guy's an incredibly talented pass rusher, but I can't wait until he's asked to drop back and cover the likes of Dallas Clark, Marcedes Lewis, and Jared Cook.

Houston's offense will put up plenty of points, but I have my doubts that one month of working in the 3-4 will be enough to mesh. On paper, this team looks undeniably dangerous, but if history repeats itself, I see have trouble seeing Kubiak's Texans on top of the divisional race.

Prediction: 2nd in Division (8-8)

Indianapolis Colts

You don't need me to tell you things are looking back in Indi. Everything this team does revolves around the greatness of Peyton Manning, who is now out indefinitely. The up tempo, quick striking offense relies on the quarterback to read the defense and put the pieces into place to methodically move the chains. Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, and Austin Collie are all talented route runners, but without Peyton's precision, they're much less frightening for opposing defenses. Speaking of defenses, you won't find a unit on the Colts that depends more on Manning's offensive ingenuity than Larry Coyer's defense. This 4-3 plays small and fast, with two of the league's finest pass rushers playing as bookends for the undersized defensive line. They thrive on passing situations, which are frequent when Manning is putting up big points on the other side of the ball. Without their offensive general, the Colts will likely be playing in close games, or from behind, which means a lot more rushing attempts heading toward one of the league's more insecure run defenses. For the first time in a decade, the Colts may very well find themselves at the bottom of the totem pole. 

Prediction: 4th in Division (5-11)

Jacksonville Jaguars

Speaking of the Jaguars, it's nice to see that Del Rio has already surrendered the 2011 season. With Garrard off the roster, Jacksonville will see Luke McCown under center for Week 1. Oh man.

You have to believe that once Blaine Gabbert is ready to take the starting gig, he'll get his shot and the Jags will begin working on a new dynasty. I think Gabbert's going to be a fine quarterback down the road, but as far as this year goes, the combo of McCown and Gabbert aren't going to scare too many opponents. Jacksonville will likely face eight man fronts week in and week out, which could lead to big numbers for tight end Marcedes Lewis, but certainly doesn't bode well for Maurice Jones Drew, the team's true offensive bright spot. 

I think we'll see notable improvements in Jacksonville's defense this year, especially in the secondary, but the pass rush will be in trouble if star defensive end Aaron Kampman's knee troubles escalate. We'll learn more when they face off against Chris Johnson and Kenny Britt at home in Week 1.

Prediction: 3rd in Division (6-10)

Tennessee Titans

Here comes the powder blue bias. I've stated my case for a division ready to be claimed by the Titans, who bring talent back on both sides of the ball. Tennessee was playing good football last season until the torrent of drama came cascading into LP Field, washing away long time friend Jeff Fisher, former first round pick Vince Young, and a majority of the coaching staff. Simply put, the season ended in flames (except for the final showdown against Houston. Thanks, Gary).

In the aftermath, Tennessee hired Hall of Famer Mike Munchak to serve as head coach, along with selecting quarterback Jake Locker in the first round of the NFL Draft, officially marking a new beginning for the franchise. However, with the lockout in full force, Titans fans didn't have high hopes for the 2011 season. 

Then, something beautiful happened. The lockout came to an end. The franchise reached out to sign free agents, including veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, defensive tank Shaun Smith, and west coast safety Jordan Babineaux. Chris Johnson signed his contract, and Kenny Britt didn't receive a suspension for his offseason shenanigans. Coach Munchak established himself as someone coaches, players, and fans could believe in. Surprisingly, Titans fans saw life begin to bloom from the settling dust.

As the preseason began, fans could tell that the players were buying into the new philosophies of the coaching staff. New defensive coordinator Jerry Gray's arsenal looked bigger, more formidable, and confident. Hell, they were even tackling. On the offensive side, Hasselbeck quickly established a rhythm with the historically not-so-sure handed Nate Washington and all 6'5" 250lbs of break out candidate, Jared Cook. The veteran still has it, and with one of the league's best offensive lines led by Roos, an interesting receiver corps helmed by Britt, and one of the game's most dangerous weapons in running back Chris Johnson, this offense is going to score some points.

I recently read an encouraging article by the Sports Guy, Bill Simmons, where he also predicted the Titans to rise up and take the division. The Titans may seem iffy coming out of the lockout with a new head coach and new quarterback, but as Simmons notes, could things possibly be any less stable than they were last season? Not a chance. The Tennessee Titans rise from the ashes this season and give the Texans all they want in a race to the playoffs.

Prediction: 1st in Division (10-6)

In summary, I stand in hurbis, madness, and sureness declaring that my powder blue bias will pay off. And if worse comes to worse, and Indi finds a way to once again claim the AFC South, a ritzy date is still a ritzy date. Even if it is with a Colts fan.

Go Titans.

Welcome To The Bad Quarterback League

This afternoon my roommate and I stumbled upon an intriguing entry while perusing Grantland.

http://www.grantland.com/blog/the-triangle/post/_/id/3686/introducing-grantlands-bad-quarterback-league

As a longtime fan of fantasy football, I've spent years cheering for the Peyton Mannings and Aaron Rodgers of the world, but it's so true that I've never taken time to relish in the unsung narrative that is "The Bad Quarterback." As Grantland's David Jacoby points out, "when things go wrong for an NFL quarterback, they go spectacularly wrong." So true, Mr. Jacoby.

WARNING:

This is NOT for the faint of heart.

This is NOT for those who easily falter.

This is NOT for any who value strong arms, high accuracy, or a good reputation with the community.

THIS is for the bad quarterbacks.

Thankfully, Grantland lays out the algorithm for the bad quarterback league, including a few simple steps to get the ball rolling. So, of course, we rounded up a group of football enthusiasts to give her the old college try. With a full season of ill advised throws and postgame interviews gone array looming just on the horizon, I present to you the breakdown for our inaugural Bad Quarterback League.

I. The Players

Team 1 - Ben Carpenter

Team 2 - Jake Morgan

Team 3 - Nathan Stephens

Team 4 - Raleigh McCool

Team 5 - Austin Hall

Team 6 - Nathan Frisbee

Team 7 - Summer Cassilly & Rachel L. Pierce

Team 8 - Joey Lever

II. The Stakes

In honor of the league’s most miserable gunslingers, we agreed on a wager that not even Philip Rivers would argue with.

a. The Jersey -  The champion of the inaugural Bad Quarterback League will receive a replica jersey of their team’s highest scoring quarterback, purchased by a collection of the remaining league members. In the event that Team 7 - Cassilly & Pierce wins the championship, replica jerseys of their team’s two highest scoring quarterbacks will be purchased by the remaining league members.

b. The Portrait - A professional quality portrait will be taken of the champion wearing his or her rewarded replica jersey(s). This portrait will be delivered to all league members in .jpg format.

c. The Print -  Each losing league member will be required to download the .jpg file, have the portrait printed in 8x10 dimensions, and placed into a frame.

d. The Best Part - Aside from the champion, each member must clearly display the framed photograph in the most frequently trafficked room of their home, in plain sight, until the beginning of the following NFL season.

e. The Lockout Clause - In case of another NFL lockout, the framed photographs will remain on display until either the next NFL season begins or the lockout officially ceases, whichever happens last.

III. Scoring (As seen on Grantland)

POSITIVE POINTS:

• Benched during game (non-injury): 35 points
• Concussed: 10 points
• Interception for TD: 25 points
• Interception (non-TD): 5 points
• Fumbles lost: 5 points
• Fumbles kept: 2 points
• 3-turnover game: 12 points
• 4-turnover game: 16 points
• 5-turnover game: 24 points
• 6-turnover game: 50 points
• No passes of 25+ yards: 10 points
• No passing/rushing TDs (QBs only): 10 points
• Under 200 passing yards: 6 points
• Under 150 passing yards: 12 points
• Under 100 passing yards: 25 points
• Under 50 percent completion rate: 5 points
• Under 40 percent completion rate: 15 points
• Under 30 percent completion rate: 25 points
• Teammate/Coach/Fan argument on sidelines replayed replayed on SportsCenter: 15 points

24/7 POINTS:

• Arrested: 50 points
• Detained/questioned by police: 10 points
• Practice/locker room fight (physical): 20 points
• Apology press conference: 75 points
• Penis picture on blog: 150 points
• Official vote of confidence from coach: 10 points
• Bitching about his linemen: 10 points
• Suspended: 50 points per game

NEGATIVE POINTS:

• 300-349 yards passing: -6 points
• 350-399 yards passing: -9 points
• 400+ yards passing: -12 points
• 75+ yards rushing: -8 points
• 3 passing/rushing TDs: -5 points
• 4 passing/rushing TD’s: -10 points
• 5 passing/rushing TD’s: -20 points
• Game-winning drive (last two minutes): -12 points

IV. The Rosters

Summer Cassilly & Rachel Pierce

Draft picks:

1. Cincinnati Bengals
2. Cleveland Browns
3. Houston Texans
4. New England Patriots

“Bengals suck. I have nothing else to say.” - Rachel L. Pierce

Nathan Stephens

Draft picks:

1. Seattle Seahawks
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. New York Giants
4. New Orleans Saints

“I’m fully confident that Tavaris Jackson will lead the league in shitty quarterbacking.” - Nathan Stephens

Jake Morgan (Sex on a Stick)

Draft picks:

1. New York Jets
2. Denver Broncos
3. Philadelphia Eagles
4. Green Bay Packers

“With the NYC media lurking, who better to give up a 150 point penis picture than ole Sex on a Stick? Jackpot." - Jake Morgan

Joey Lever

Draft picks:

1. Carolina Panthers
2. Tennessee Titans
3. Arizona Cardinals
4. Tampa Bay Bucs

“I’d text you one, but Cam Newton just stole my cell phone.” - Joey Lever *response via text* 

Raleigh McCool


Draft picks:

1. San Francisco 49er’s
2. Oakland Raiders
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. Atlanta Falcons


“The sweetest words I’ve ever heard from Jim Harbaugh’s lips: ‘Alex Smith will be our starting quarterback.’ That’ll be all. Thanks, Jim and Alex.” - Raleigh McCool

Nathan Frisbee

Draft picks:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars
2. Buffalo Bills
3. San Diego Chargers
4. St. Louis Rams

“With Garrard being gone, and McCown being downright awful (with a 1-7 record in the NFL), it’s just a matter of time until Blaine Gabbert starts. and my bold prediction is that Blaine hasn’t fully outgrown the glory days at Missouri. So, I’m pulling for a couple counts of public drunkeness, and some domestic abuse allegations... at least. Maybe I’ll get lucky wit ha few press conference tirades and sexual battery.” - Nathan Frisbee

Austin Hall

Draft picks:

1. Washington Redskins
2. Chicago Bears
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Pittsburgh Steelers

“I drafted the Redskins because I remember 2008 when Rex Grossman had more turnovers than 6 NFL teams.” - Austin Hall

Ben Carpenter (Henne's of the Mouth)

Draft picks:

1. Miami Dolphins
2. Minnesota Vikings
3. Detroit Lions
4. Dallas Cowboys

"If I get points for a quarterback looking like Gumby, or dying of old age, my team is in good shape."- Ben Carpenter

V. Moving Forward

Now that all the pieces are in place, we will move forward with our head to head, round robin style, thirteen week season. In Week 14, we will see the top four teams ascend to a four week playoff bracket. Winner takes all.

I'll be posting weekly updates as the season progresses, so stay tuned for the latest stories from our inaugural Bad Quarterback League!

Week 1 Preview coming soon...

If this experiment goes well, then who knows what other doors could open up. The NBA? Hello Orlando Magic! (see Arenas, Gilbert)

Fantasy Football, The Next Chapter

The other day I found myself discussing fantasy football with a friend. Shortly after laying out my roster, flaunting my league's new trophy, and raving about how I believe the Titans Defense will actually be worth starting in a few games this season, I realized my enthusiasm was being met with a blank stare. "Fantasy football is a whole different culture", she said to me.

I had no choice but to agree.

Yes, it has occurred to me that fantasy football is indeed more than just a collection of statistics. Fantasy football is, in essence, the stuff dreams are made of. Each week we, aspiring champions of the fantasy world, hold onto hope as we look overwhelming odds square in the eyes. It's all about passionately hugging your brother when Vick dials one up deep to Jackson to pull you into the arms of victory on a Monday night. It's about falling to your knees in tears as Gore goes down with a hip injury, pulling your team's season into the darkness with him. It's about picking up Hillis in Week 3 and watching him heroically carry you to the playoffs on his way to the Madden cover. Yes, my friends, fantasy football is all about the human condition.

This September as you gather around the big screen with your best friends, realize that what you are participating in is more than just a game. You're engaging in an ever-growing culture, writing your name in one of the more interesting stories of our day and age.

So, without any further ado, I present 10 NFL players you'll want in your fantasy story this season.

1. Jamaal Charles - RB - Kansas City Chiefs

Gonna start the list with my boldest statement: Jamaal Charles will be the highest scoring player in fantasy this season. That's right.

In 2010, we saw him finish in the top 3 of all running backs after living in a time share with Thomas Jones. This season, Haley's going to give him even more playing time and carries in a run first offense, which will lead to extraordinary results. Charles is strong, shifty, and one of the best breakaway runners in professional football. With his new and improved role, I'm buying that Jamaal is poised for an even greater breakout season. He was my biggest sleeper last year, and I truly think he takes the next step this year to become the best player in fantasy.

2. LeSean McCoy - RB - Philadelphia Eagles

McCoy will finish the season as a top 5 running back. He may not get close to the top in terms of carries, but he led all backs in terms of receptions last season, and I'm buying that he's a lock to lead the pack again in 2011. Plus, with Andy Reid wanting to reduce blows to his prized QB, McCoy stands to be the primary benefactor. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times - This kid has the best (and shadiest) juke in the National Football League. To continue my man-crush, I also love the consistency LeSean showed in 2010. If you exclude a 5 and a 7 point outing, Shady wracked up at least 8 points in every other contest, with 9 games reaching double figures. Coming out of a lockout, early round consistency is the one thing I'm gunning for when I peruse the draft board. When you add all of that with Michael Vick bamboozling the opposition, McCoy's going to be a straight up nightmare out of the backfield, and a steal in the late first round.

3.  Larry Fitzgerald - WR - Arizona Cardinals

@LarryFitzgerald11 will bounce back in glorious fashion to finish the 2011 season as a top 3 wide receiver. He finished inside the top 20 last season after somehow hauling in 52 percent of the underwhelming passes thrown his way by the committee of suck. Fitzgerald, on a more positive note, still led all receivers in redzone targets last season. With Beanie Wells being the only goal line rushing threat on the Cardinals' pass first offense, I think Larry's totals will only grow in 2011. Now add the talented young Kevin Kolb to the equation. We've all read reports where Kolb and Fitzgerald were practicing together in the offseason, so I have to believe the chemistry's going to be there. Once you take all that, and add in Kolb's tendency to lock onto one receiver, Fitzgerald begins to look like a steal in the 3rd round. I'll actually be drafting him in the second (if he's still on the board). And remember, this guy was a top 7 fantasy pick when he had Kurt Warner two seasons ago. Larry, allow me to be the first to welcome you back to fantasy elitism.

4. Jermichael Finley - TE - Green Bay Packers

I believed in him last year, but his knee was blown up when he dove into the pile to recover a teammate's fumble. In 2011, the Packers' elite tight end is back and at full health. This time, he claims his spot at the top of the tight end totem pole. Finley will be #1 shortly after the bye week, then he'll lead the pack the rest of the way. Put it on the board.

5. Josh Freeman - QB - Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Freeman really should be drafted 2 rounds earlier than he's going. Surrounded by some intriguing young talent, I foresee Freeman marching up and down the field like a boss on most opponents. I believe he's a lock for finishing as a top 10 quarterback, and could even see him slipping into the top 5 if he finds a way to turn all those rushing yards into a handfull of rushing TD's.


6. Knowshon Moreno - RB - Denver Broncos

I'm really high on Knowshon this season. When he was healthy last season, I loved watching his production, and now, Denver's gone from a pass happy McDaniels scheme to the run heavy philosophy of new head coach, John Fox. Fun fact - Over the last decade, no coach called more rushing plays than John Fox. I know the acquisition of notorious vulture, Willis McGahee, will lead to some theft at the goal line, but Moreno is still the top dog, and he's going to put up big numbers running and receiving for Denver this season.


7. Danny Amendola - WR - St. Louis Rams

In 2010, guess who tied Larry Fitzgerald for red zone targets? Yep, you guessed it. Not only does this kid have a fun last name, but he has nice speed and terrific hands. Now, throw him into a Josh McDaniels system that made Wes Welker a star, and you have yourself a breakout candidate.

8. Owen Daniels - TE - Houston Texans

Daniels finds himself in the top 5 tight ends at the end of the season. Before tearing his ACL in 2009, Daniels was the top scoring tight end in fantasy. Then, the anti-awesomeness known as knee surgery recovery took it's toll for the majority of the 2010 season. However, in the final four games of last season, we saw Daniels look more like the tight end we loved (and Titans fans hated) back in '09. After finishing the 2010 season with back to back games with touchdowns and 5+ catches in each appearance, the Texans believed Daniels is healthy enough to receive a nice 4 year contract extension. Throw all that in with a quarterback who loves his tight end and you've got a man poised for a huge fantasy bounce back. I just wish he wasn't a godforsaken Texan.

9. New England Patriots D/ST

Everyone seems to be overlooking the Pats D this year. After finishing as the third best fantasy defense last season, the only thing they did was add former UT Vol-stars, Albert Haynesworth and Shaun Ellis. They like to blitz, they like to confuse opposing quarterbacks, and they're very good at both. I love the duo of Jerod Mayo and Brandon Spikes anchoring the middle, and those young defensive backs just have a knack for finding the endzone when they force turnovers. Lastly, at the end of the day, you have coach Belichick, who loves to go for the throat and never let up. This means you'll never have to worry about this defense going soft if Brady gives them a huge lead.


10. Jared Cook - TE - Tennessee Titans 

Here comes the Titans bias. I firmly believe that Jared Cook will finish the 2011 season as a top 10 tight end. I had heard some great things about this guy going into training camp, but couldn't believe my eyes when I went down to Baptist Sports Park. At 6'5" 250, you can't miss Cook out on the field. Simply put, this beast has size, speed, and outstanding hands, each of which slate him to be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. Wanna send a linebacker? Good luck covering him. Wanna send a safety? Have fun bringing him down. You read it here - Fantasy breakout incoming.

Every season tells a new story, and I believe your next chapter will have a happy ending if you find these guys on your roster. Godspeed, brothers and sisters.