Friday, August 22, 2014

2014 Fantasy Football Keepers Review


World Killers
Team Owner: Bob Nealon
Keepers: Dez Bryant (3rd), Zac Stacey (11th), Andre Ellington (17th)
Keeper Grade: B

            He was able to steal one of the best receivers in the game in Dez Bryant at the end of the expansion draft then decided to settle with two young running backs, at great value picks, with high upside. However when you look closely, as only I do, one has to wonder if he would have been better off securing another stud receiver like an AJ Green, or a better pass-catching back like a Giovanni Bernard. Perhaps it is not wise for me to poke the bear that is the World Killers, as Bob has an illustrious career as a fantasy player, and is a favorite to win the league in the fist year. You guys better pay up or hey may break my legs.




Team Barnes
Team Owner: Pat Barnes
Keepers: Reggie Bush (3rd), Percy Harvin (11th), Julius Thomas (14th)
Keeper Grade: C-

            His expansion draft was as disappointing as his team name. Pat, a die-hard Notre Dame fan, seems to have a fantasy career that parallels the Irish. You want Pat to be good, the potential is there, but just doesn’t seem to get the results. He seemed as if he was Lou Houltz selecting Julius Thomas  but one has to wonder if it was he or Ty Willingham selecting Reggie Bush, or Charlie Weis selecting Percy Harvin. Hopefully he is able to rebound before the draft this Tuesday, August 26th, but the ghost of Knute Rockne couldn’t save his keeper. New idea for a team name Pat: “Bob Davie’s Bunch”



Thy Willis Be Done
Team Owners: Mike White Jr. & Jeremy White
Keepers: Adrian Peterson (1st), AJ Green (3rd), Antonio Brown (6th)
Keeper Grade: A

            Mike & Jeremy White hit this one out of the park with their expansion draft. These “track stars” ran circles around the competition in the expansion draft. The tie-wearing Washingtonville brothers got elite receivers to fill the roster as both AJ Green and Antonio Brown would be legit number 1 receivers on almost anyone’s team (not to mention they got the best running back in Adrian Peterson). Hopefully they do not cramp up on the actual draft, and may prove the theory true that two heads are better than one.




Team Cerar
Team Owner: Mike Cerar
Keepers: Drew Brees (1st), Frank Gore (4th), DeSean Jackson (6th)
Keeper Grade: B-

            Even in his inebriated state, Team Cerar was able to put together a decent, and timely expansion draft. In one of the most impressively efficient drafts, considering the distractions, and liquor, Team Cerar was able to land fantasy stud quarterback Drew Brees and big play monster DeSean Jackson. While the selection of Frank Gore brought about public criticism and borderline emotional abuse, it wasn’t the worst selection for a keeper (cough Reggie Bush, cough cough Rashard Jennings). If he picks this well when he is drunk, we may be in trouble on Tuesday if he is sober (odds say he will be). But one has to wonder if his team name is to remind him, what his name is?



3-putt bogey
Team Owner: Ian Hobbs
Keepers: Aaron Rodgers (1st), Giovanni Bernard (5th), Monte Ball (6th)
Keeper Grade: B+

            Hobbs did not bogey on this expansion draft. An oldie, but a goodie, Hobbs returns to the league and extraordinary fashion by landing Aaron Rodgers, and two solid running backs with top 10 fantasy expectations this year. He is set up incredibly well for the draft on Tuesday. If his Rory-like performance can continue, title expectations are real for Hobbs. His bags are packed, he has his airline ticket, bring him to the airport…send him home.


The Fighting Frenchies
Team Owner: Chris Kaval
Keepers: Julio Jones (3rd), Vernon Davis (6th), Le’Veon Bell (11th)
Keeper Grade: B-

            From one golfer to another, except last season proved an epic disaster that not even Phil Mickelson has been able to show us. Sorry Chris, not even last year would Renee Russo remember your 12 of a season. But injuries destroyed the Fighting Frenchies a year ago, and Chris looks to rebound in a big way. Julio Jones should bounce back nicely, Vernon Davis is still one of the most dependable tight ends in the league, and Bell proved to have monster potential and losing only an 11th round pick is great value. Hopefully Chris will be able to make the cut this year.



The Dainty Giants
Owner: Tim Galvin
Keepers: Brandon Marshall (2nd), Peyton Manning (3rd), Torrey Smith (5th)
Keeper Grade: B-

            Mr. Trivia goes into the 2014 season lock and loaded and looking for better results than a year ago. Tim’s keepers reflect the type of season he had last season. Marshall and Manning proved that Tim is primed to contend in the league, but Torrey Smith proved to be, like many players on his team, not able to live up to expectations. Tim rolls the dice once again with Smith but expect more of his picks to be more like the Manning’s and Marshall’s of the world. Tim is a dark-horse contender in the World Division. Just as long as he doesn’t mess it up…



 Trayvon Lives On
Owner: Kyle Henderson
Keepers: DeMariuys Thomas (3rd), Victory Cruz (4th), Rashard Jennings (17th)
Keeper Grade: C

            On paper, Kyle’s keepers appear to look ok…that is if his keepers were written on toilet paper. Thomas is a monster, but Victor Cruz at the expense of a 4th round pick is overvalued, and Jennings has done nothing in Giants camp to prove his worthy of a keeper selection even if he is the last pick in the draft. Hopefully Kyle can pull some rabbits out of the hat (or corn out of the stool depending on how you look at it) on draft day, Tuesday, August 26th, or the poop will keep rollin in.




Team Williams
Owner: Luke Williams
Keepers: Jimmy Graham (2nd), Michael Floyd (10th), Alshon Jeffery (13th)
Keeper Grade: B+

            Team Williams is on the fantasy warpath and his stud receivers will lead the way and hopefully land Luke in the playoffs.  Jimmy Graham is the best the NFL can offer at the position, and Michael Floyd and Alshon Jeffery are two young explosive receivers who are promised to put up big numbers again in 2014. However Luke has to put together a complete draft, which was something he was unable to do a year ago. Luke has been a stable in the league for years, but he is still searching for his first title and the “Reign of Luke” appears to remain years away.





F FF
Team Owner: Matt Goebel
Keepers: Calvin Johnson (1st), Eddie Lacy (3rd), Jordan Reed (17th)
Keeper Grade: B

            Matt was 7 fantasy points away from making the playoffs and attempting to recapture his fantasy crown (If anyone is looking for a Marshawn Lynch voodoo doll, Matt has it). Matt was robbed of his playoff berth like Endy Chavez robbed Scott Rolen of a homerun in the 2006 NCLS, but he looks to bounce back like his beloved New York Mets do…I mean the Brooklyn Nets…I mean the New York Jets…I mean change your team or something the alliteration isn’t working out for you. Matt has solid keepers across the board, and Jordan Reed has great value when you factor in the potential and potency of the Redskins offense. Matt has the reputation and aspiration to return to the top, but my narration will feel more like a castration as Matt’s season may feel something like this…






The Carlos Dangers
Team Owner: Mike Limperopulos
Keepers: Marshawn Lynch (2nd), Andrew Luck (8th), Cordelle Patterson (17th)
Keeper Grade: C+

            My future brother-in-law to be has some promising keepers but it may prove to be too much potential and not enough production. Mike was close to make the championship a year ago, but then he met Nick Foles, Jamaal Charles and the rest of the title winning Sonic Dogs and became another pot hole on the road to my dominance. Patterson could prove to be a fantasy stud in Norv Turner’s offense, and Andrew Luck is primed to make a step forward in the top echelon of fantasy quarterbacks, and Lynch is still beast mode until proven otherwise. But this is not a team as of now that we can honestly say will win the title. 3rd or 4th place in the league? Sure. Mike is much like an Arsenal, or a Liverpool for that matter, he will finish top 4, but the title will continue to stay out of reach.



Bethel Wildcats
Team Owner: Scott Clough
Keepers: Matt Forte (2nd), Cam Newton (4th), Keenan Allen (17th)
Keeper Grade: B

            He thinks this grade should be higher, but what else is new? The Bully of Bethel, the Harrier of Honey Hollow comes into 2014 season with solid keepers and another legitimate shot at the title. Forte seems to never skip a beat, Cam is a model of consistency, and Keenan Allen’s value cannot be understated at the 17th spot. He is primed to try and make the title game this year and capture his second title in three years. That is if he can get by his little brother.




The Mighty Balvons
Team Owner: Mike Mastroianni
Keepers: LeSean McCoy (2nd), DeMarco Murray (4th), Philip Rivers (17th)

Keeper Grade: B-

            Another year, and another title appearance for the Mighty Balvons. It seems every year you can count on the following: Death, Taxes, and Mike will manage a team you think has no business being in the playoffs, to the championship. He has proven to give more league members violent, outbursts of anger than the infamous Soup Nazi. But the ‘Summer of Mike’ may prove to be coming to an end, as his division rivals appear to be stronger than he. McCoy is still the best you can do at the position, but the selection of DeMarco Murray is puzzling to say the least, and Rivers is valuable at 17th, but not at the cost of the gapping holes he is faced with filling. But every year we count him out, he does things that appear to lack any kind of intelligence. But year after year the Mighty Balvons are in the title game. Its so annoying.



Beacon Bridge Souls
Team Owner: Kevin “The Commish” Clough
Keepers: Jamaal Charles (1st), Matt Stafford (5th), Jordy Nelson (6th)
Keeper Grade: B-


            I know you are expecting that I give myself a grade of ‘A’ or higher, but to prove just how authentic my rankings are I decided to lie to you guys and pretend my keepers are not great. Jamaal Charles was the most dominate player from a year ago, Stafford quietly had one of the better seasons any quarterback had a year ago (didn’t even have to play him…your welcome league), and Jordy Nelson proved to be Aaron Rodgers most dependable target. While many are probably commenting saying how “that’s bullshit, his team sucks, he was so lucky last year, god how I want to be just like him” let me say to you that my dominance last year was not made of chance, or fate, it was manufactured by the engine between my ears. Once again, your commissioner will return to the top with my three-headed fantasy monster spear-heading the way. I not only play the game, nor do I just run the game, I AM THE GAME!



No comments:

Post a Comment