NFL Offseason

[Illiniwek06]

Football Outsiders (via ESPN Insider) lists Martez Wilson as the #2 prospect on its list of top 25 breakout players.

[illini80]

Originally Posted by IlliniRunIn07

Yep, this was a relief.

Ok, so I'm doing fantasy for the first time this upcoming season. Someone give me some tips! I've already started trash talking, so I'll need to back it up.

My tip is pretty pathetic, but it's all I've got.

I try to go to about 3 FF web sites and combine ratings to make my own cheat sheet. I don't know all the players well enough to draft all the positions on my own. I take a little heat in my league for that, but I also take a little money so I'm fine with that.

[KBLEE]

Originally Posted by IlliniRunIn07

Ok, so I'm doing fantasy for the first time this upcoming season. Someone give me some tips!

The #1 thing you need to do is familiarize yourself with the intricacies of your scoring system / lineup. Is it a PPR (point per reception) or standard yardage / scoring league? How many points for a passing TD? How many players do you start at each position (position scarcity)?

Most websites and magazines are geared toward basic scoring / lineup leagues. If your league varies from the "norm" you can target players earlier or later in the draft to take advantage of the difference.

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by IlliniRunIn07

Yep, this was a relief.

Ok, so I'm doing fantasy for the first time this upcoming season. Someone give me some tips! I've already started trash talking, so I'll need to back it up.

Originally Posted by KBLEE

The #1 thing you need to do is familiarize yourself with the intricacies of your scoring system / lineup. Is it a PPR (point per reception) or standard yardage / scoring league? How many points for a passing TD? How many players do you start at each position (position scarcity)?

Most websites and magazines are geared toward basic scoring / lineup leagues. If your league varies from the "norm" you can target players earlier or later in the draft to take advantage of the difference.

Yeah I agree with KB. Most standard leagues only give QB's 4 pts for TDs which is stupid while RB's/WR's/etc. got 6 so two years ago in our league we switched it to 6 points/td for QB's. I made the mistake of still targeting a top RB in the first round which I got but it was because there was a run on QB's so I was stuck with a middle of the road QB in the 2nd round and it cost me big time.

Last year I had Brees and made the playoffs but got screwed once Forte went down.

I usually try to fill my QB and two RB slots first. I feel as though the WR depth is good enough that I can two in rounds 4-6 and still be fine especially since we ppr.

Oh one more thing, DON'T EVER EVER EVER EVER take a K before the last round. If you do then you should immediately be kicked out of the league

If you wouldn't mind telling us, how are your rosters set up?

[IlliniRunIn07]

Thanks for the help everyone. I'm not 100% on all the rules, but here's what I know:

4 pts for a passing TD
6 pts for a rushing TD
1 pt for every 25 passing yds with a 1 pt bonus at 250, 350, 450, etc.
1 pt for every 10 rushing yds with a 1 pt bonus every 100 yds.

I have to look into how the rosters are set up.

[AHSIllini32]

In that case, and again it depends on where you draft, I would try to get a stud rb and aim for a middle of the pack QB in the 2nd round ala Rivers, Vick, Cutler (although I think he's going to have a great year), etc.

[IlliniRunIn07]

Originally Posted by AHSIllini32

In that case, and again it depends on where you draft, I would try to get a stud rb and aim for a middle of the pack QB in the 2nd round ala Rivers, Vick, Cutler (although I think he's going to have a great year), etc.

I have a little over a month to research who I should pick, but I'm surprised you list Vick as a middle of the pack QB. I figured he would be a fantasy beast. I know he had some injuries last season, so are you predicting more of the same this year?

I agree about Cutler. He has shown improvement each year in Chicago. He was absolutely rolling last year until the freak injury. Team him up with Marshall (a legitimate #1 WR - something the Bears have lacked for too long), and they will be a fun team to watch this season. Fantasy aside, I'm very much looking forward to the start of the season.

[AHSIllini32]

Originally Posted by IlliniRunIn07

I have a little over a month to research who I should pick, but I'm surprised you list Vick as a middle of the pack QB. I figured he would be a fantasy beast. I know he had some injuries last season, so are you predicting more of the same this year?

I agree about Cutler. He has shown improvement each year in Chicago. He was absolutely rolling last year until the freak injury. Team him up with Marshall (a legitimate #1 WR - something the Bears have lacked for too long), and they will be a fun team to watch this season. Fantasy aside, I'm very much looking forward to the start of the season.

I listed Vick in middle of the pack for exactly that reason. That and I just don't think they have a ton of WR options. Yes, I know Desean Jackson and dudes good but that's about it. I think they rely on McCoy a ton as they should. Either way he would be good value in the 2nd round.

I agree about Cutler too. He was on pace for ~3500 yards and 20-30TD's before he got hurt plus the scheme change will help him out as will (obviously) Marshall.

Don't underestimate having Forte signed, happy, and in training camp as well. He will help Jay out a ton in the passing game.

[cmore]

I just tuned into the HOF game and saw that martez has a couple of sacks and a few hurries.

[AHSIllini32]

Mike Mayock was raving about Tez last night. He had a great game too.

[256ILLINI]

Bears signed DE Derek Walker to a one-year contract.

http://www.fantasysp.com/player/nfl/...-year-contract

[Dan]

256ILLINI - please use this thread for all NFL news. Thank you

[256ILLINI]

Gotcha, didn't think it'd be a big deal since it's a former Illini, I thought it'd be thread-worthy.

[uofi09]

Originally Posted by 256ILLINI

Bears signed DE Derek Walker to a one-year contract.

http://www.fantasysp.com/player/nfl/...-year-contract

I know Derek personally. He had told me about 2 months ago that this deal was going to happen. He had tryouts with other NFL teams as well. He is a great person and has worked hard for this deal. He deserves it. Congrats Derek!

[IlliniSteve]

Steelers signed former Illini Jason Ford after losing John Clay for the season

[IlliniRunIn07]

Jason Witten with a "serious" spleen injury. I'm no doctor, but that sounds painful and it sounds like potential for reaggrivation if he gets hit in the right spot. Witten is probably my favorite TE right now, so I'm hoping for a speedy recovery.

[Paignt It Orange]

John Clay tore his quad, Jason Ford signed. Good luck Jason! Weighed in at 251 lbs on his pro day!

http://www.steelersdepot.com/2012/08...rb-jason-ford/

Wow, I was a day late and a dollar short on this story. Feel free to remove it Dan.

[NJJ87]

Just saw Jason Ford get his first carry with the Steelers (early 4th Qtr vs. Colts). Signed this week, there might be a few carries available until Mendenhall returns, which might not be until week 4-6.

[256ILLINI]

Vontae traded to the Colts for a 2nd rounder.

Good for him. Philbin has the worst personality on the planet and was never going to get through to Vontae.

[Decatur1955]

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/indiana...2754--nfl.html

[Groundhogday]

The Dolphins really like cornerback Nolan Carroll.

Miami confirmed this on Sunday when it dealt starting cornerback and former first-round pick Vontae Davis to the Indianapolis Colts for a pair of draft picks. Davis, who had a mediocre training camp and at one point was demoted to No. 2 on the depth chart, had fallen out of favor with the team...

Despite Davis' immense talent, he had plenty of baggage that had become too much for the team. Aside from his struggles in camp this month, he had previously been reprimanded for violating team rules and getting into a fight with former teammate Brandon Marshall during practice.

http://www.cbssports.com/general/blo...is-leaves-void

Vontae had off and on problems with attitude at Illinois and those problems seem to have followed him into the NFL. I hope he takes this trade as a opportunity to make some personal changes.

[RyanK]

Should be interesting week 1. Vontae will probably be lined up on Marshall.

[IlliniKat91]

Originally Posted by RyanK

Should be interesting week 1. Vontae will probably be lined up on Marshall.

Being a Bears fan, I hope Marshall makes Vontae look like a clown. (Vontae was an a$$hole on campus, for what it's worth.)

[GilThorpe]

Originally Posted by IlliniKat91

Being a Bears fan, I hope Marshall makes Vontae look like a clown. (Vontae was an a$$hole on campus, for what it's worth.)

I have heard that before, and it was fairly obvious in our games that he had some emotional issues. He can change and he should use this trade as a reason to do so, its just not likely that he does. He is a guy who if he did things the team way, he could have a very rewarding 10-12 year career. he might not make it beyond 6 or 7 if he keeps having issues.

[IlliniKat91]

Originally Posted by GilThorpe

I have heard that before, and it was fairly obvious in our games that he had some emotional issues.

It became even more obvious when you spoke to the women he dated. I usually cheer for guys to pick themselves up, and don't want to see him become a total train wreck, but given what I heard from several of my friends who spent quality time with him, I would be okay with karma biting him in the ass.

It's sad. He's talented, just too busy letting his emotional issues, to borrow your phrase, get in the way of success in all phases of his life.