Football Returns

How great was this weekend with the return of college football and for many more their fantasy football draft? I'm ready for the professionals to get the action started in a few days, but hope springs eternal for many in the college ranks. USC's ground game was quite impressive, but they are not national championship quality with a frosh at QB. Oklahoma's season ended before it got out of the starting blocks. BYU has a legit chance to crash not only the BCS but the national title game. You'd have to think that an undefeated Mormon crew puts up a better resume than the Fighting Paternos if both go undefeated. The Big Ten sucked out loud this past weekend. Northern Iowa and Syracuse both deserved wins, and OSU faced a big scare. Purdue started better than expected as did the Michigan offense. Indiana is absolutely abysmal and had two opportunities to lose at home against Eastern Kentucky. Another long year for those of us in the Midwest. Notre Dame showed that with their schedule they are a legitimate threat to make a BCS run. Their defense will determine whether they'll make a run at the title because the offense will fulfill their end of the bargain. Am I the only guy that thinks of Jimmy from Seinfeld when people talk about Jimmy Clausen? He seems like he would refer to himself in the third person. Jimmy had a good game, Jimmy's goin out, Don't touch Jimmy's hair, Jimmy's gettin angry! Florida should go largely untested to the national title game, and right now I say their matchup is likely from a group of Texas, Penn St, BYU, and Notre Dame based on talent and schedule.

The NFL boys are getting set to kick the ball off in mere days. Nothing has really happened yet, but I'll throw around random predictions. The Rams, Lions, Bucs, Chiefs, Broncos, Raiders, Browns, Bills, and Redskins will be awful. I say that none of these teams win more than 6 games. The race is on now for the chance to not draft Sam Bradford since he's now injured. I don't disagree with Adam Schefter's prediction tonight that Aaron Rodgers wins the MVP. He absolutely could do just that and put up crazy numbers. He'll get a run from Drew Brees though. I think you'll see the Colts and Patriots struggle a bit this year, but the Pats probably win the East. The two rookie quarterbacks will have success at times, but be primed to be team leaders next season. Speaking of Adam Schefter, I bet someone wishes he was still the big fish in the small pond on NFL Network. They found a new beat writer that wears glasses to do everything that he did for them and now he's just a lost puppy behind Mort and Clayton. I think the AFC ends up being the Pats, Steelers, Chargers, and Texans along with the Ravens and Colts. The NFC will fill out with the Giants, Packers, Cardinals, Falcons, Saints, and Vikings. I say the Chargers beat the Ravens and Saints beat the Packers in the title games with the Chargers winning it all. Basically I'm saying the defense wins championships moniker takes a one year hiatus.

Dear Mr. Fantasy

Well most people are fresh off their respective drafts, and most people love their new players but others need some roster help. Here are some guys that should be owned in your league: James Davis, Michael Bush, Peyton Hillis, Mark Sanchez, Dustin Keller, Matt Stafford, Kenny Britt, Steve Smith (Giants), Cadillac Williams, Kevin Boss, Tony Sheffler, and the Jets Defense with Rex Ryan. Some guys will already be owned, but others are not. Mike Bell will not solve your problems even if you're a Pierre Thomas owner. Stick with guys that are talented, not overachievers. Wes Welker is the anamoly, not the rule. Feel free to hit me up all season with questions about potential trades, roster help, start em/sit em, and waiver wire pickups. One last piece of advice: you should be doing two things every week if you're serious about fantasy football or football in general, read Peter King's Monday Morning Quarterback on Sports Illustrated and frequent Rotoworld. I'm not a paid endorser, but those guys know their stuff. Another one...listen to guys that cover the NFL, not so called "fantasy" gurus.