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Thursday, September 24, 2009
9/18/2009 Vikings Report
The Vikings coasted against the Cleveland Browns last week. Adrian Peterson played like a man among boys. However, the rest of the team produced a pedestrian performance from a fantasy perspective. How did my week one projections stand up against reality?
Adrian Peterson: My projection: 180 yards and 2TDs. Outcome: 180 and 3TDs and 1 reception for 18 yards
Brett Favre: My projection: 200 yards passing, 1-2 TDs and 0 interceptions. Outcome::110 yards passing, 1 TD and 0 interceptions.
Percy Harvin: My projection: 70 combined yards and 1TD: Outcome: 58 combined yards and 1TD
Bernard Berrian: My projection: Do not start until he has one good game. Outcome: Berrian played but did not have any catches or yards
Sidney Rice: My projection: Don’t start him week 1. Outcome: 17 yards on 2 receptions
Ryan Longwell: My projection: Top 5 kicker. Outcome: #5 kicker
Visanthe Shiancoe: My projection: 40 yards and 1TD. Outcome: 26 yards on 3 receptions and no TDs
Chester Taylor: My projection: 70 combined yards. Outcome: 30 combined yards (included 5 receptions for 13 yards)
Vikings Defense: My projection: The #1 fantasy defense. Outcome: The #8 fantasy defense
This Week:
---------------------------
This week is a good matchup for the Vikings as they face the lowly Detroit Lions. The Lions set an NFL record last year, as the first team to ever go 0-16 over the course of an entire season. Last week, the Lions gave up 515 yards and 45 points to the Saints.
Rumors:
---------------------------
Brett Favre has been the king of drama this year. Retiring and un-retiring, rumored schisms and now injury-gate (others are calling this Favre-gate or Favre injury report-gate). I don’t have any late breaking rumors on Favre, but if the trend continues expect some kind of drama or rumor revolving around Favre in the coming weeks.
Injuries:
---------------------------
Everybody of any fantasy value is healthy on both the Viking and the Lions this week. Bernard Berrian is NOT listed on the injury report.
Position Analysis:
---------------------------
Quarterback
The unthinkable has happened. Brett Favre has turned from gunslinger to game manager. Actually, I did say last week that the Vikings were hoping for this transformation, but it’s still surprising to see this come to fruition. Favre has not yet developed great rapport with his receivers. There were a couple times when the receiver cut one direction and Favre threw it the opposite way. This type of miscommunication should diminish throughout the season as they continue to learn each other’s tendencies, but I expect to see a few more mix ups this week against the Lions.
On the other hand, Drew Brees threw for 358 yards and 6TDs last week against Detroit, so Favre should be a decent play. There are some risks that could prevent Favre from putting up big numbers. If the Vikings gain a big leady early, expect to see a heavy dose of running. Additionally, Tavaris Jackson could take over at QB to keep Favre fresh for later in the season. That being said, I still project 250 yards, 2TDs and no interceptions for Favre against the Lions this week.
Running Backs
Mike Bell ran for 143 yards with a 5.1 yard per carry average last week against the Lions. Who is Mike Bell? He was considered the 3rd string running back for New Orleans entering this season. He got the bulk of the carries last week as Pierre Thomas was injured and did not play. If Mike Bell can run for 143 yards then what should Adrian Peterson do? I project 175 yards rushing, 30 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns for the man with many nicknames: AP aka “All Day” aka AD. The only reason I’m not projecting more out of AP is because I think the Vikings will stack the line and take their chances against Brett Favre.
Although Chester Taylor had 12 combined touches last week, he did not make much out of those opportunities with only 30 combined yards. Hold on to him as a handcuff for Adrian Peterson, but don’t start him this week. I project 50 combined yards but no touchdowns. He always has potential to score a TD catching out of the backfield, but it’s impossible to know when and where that may happen. Leave him on your bench unless Peterson gets hurt at some point this season.
Wide receivers
Bernard Berrian is supposedly injury-free for the first time since before the preseason. However, hamstring injuries tend to recur and Berrian has not played or practiced much with Favre. If you’re in need of a 3rd receiver, there is upside with Berrian. I would not be shocked to see him catch 70 yards and a TD. However, I would leave him on the bench until he shows something this year.
Percy Harvin lines up in four different positions so he’ll have opportunities to produce. He was #4 in the NFL in kick returns measured by yards per carry last week. He also had 2 rushes for 22 yards and caught 3 passes for 36 yards and a TD. I expect even more touches from Percy this week resulting in 75 combined yards and another TD. I feel safer starting Percy this week over Berrian if that’s an option.
Sidney Rice will get some red zone looks, but his lack of receptions and yards hurts his value as a fantasy receiver. Leave him on your bench this week.
Tight Ends
Jeremy Shockey scored two touchdowns against the Lions last week. I project 45 yards and 1TD for Visanthe Shiancoe against the Lions this week.
Kicker
Ryan Longwell was the #5 kicker last week. This week against the Lions in a dome, I project Longwell to again finish in the top 5.
Defense
The Lions start a rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford. He had 3 interceptions last week against the Saints who are not known to have a strong defense. I think the Vikings are one of the top 5 defenses in the NFL. This will be very ugly for Lions. I project the Vikings to finish as the #2 fantasy defense this week.
Adrian Peterson: My projection: 180 yards and 2TDs. Outcome: 180 and 3TDs and 1 reception for 18 yards
Brett Favre: My projection: 200 yards passing, 1-2 TDs and 0 interceptions. Outcome::110 yards passing, 1 TD and 0 interceptions.
Percy Harvin: My projection: 70 combined yards and 1TD: Outcome: 58 combined yards and 1TD
Bernard Berrian: My projection: Do not start until he has one good game. Outcome: Berrian played but did not have any catches or yards
Sidney Rice: My projection: Don’t start him week 1. Outcome: 17 yards on 2 receptions
Ryan Longwell: My projection: Top 5 kicker. Outcome: #5 kicker
Visanthe Shiancoe: My projection: 40 yards and 1TD. Outcome: 26 yards on 3 receptions and no TDs
Chester Taylor: My projection: 70 combined yards. Outcome: 30 combined yards (included 5 receptions for 13 yards)
Vikings Defense: My projection: The #1 fantasy defense. Outcome: The #8 fantasy defense
This Week:
---------------------------
This week is a good matchup for the Vikings as they face the lowly Detroit Lions. The Lions set an NFL record last year, as the first team to ever go 0-16 over the course of an entire season. Last week, the Lions gave up 515 yards and 45 points to the Saints.
Rumors:
---------------------------
Brett Favre has been the king of drama this year. Retiring and un-retiring, rumored schisms and now injury-gate (others are calling this Favre-gate or Favre injury report-gate). I don’t have any late breaking rumors on Favre, but if the trend continues expect some kind of drama or rumor revolving around Favre in the coming weeks.
Injuries:
---------------------------
Everybody of any fantasy value is healthy on both the Viking and the Lions this week. Bernard Berrian is NOT listed on the injury report.
Position Analysis:
---------------------------
Quarterback
The unthinkable has happened. Brett Favre has turned from gunslinger to game manager. Actually, I did say last week that the Vikings were hoping for this transformation, but it’s still surprising to see this come to fruition. Favre has not yet developed great rapport with his receivers. There were a couple times when the receiver cut one direction and Favre threw it the opposite way. This type of miscommunication should diminish throughout the season as they continue to learn each other’s tendencies, but I expect to see a few more mix ups this week against the Lions.
On the other hand, Drew Brees threw for 358 yards and 6TDs last week against Detroit, so Favre should be a decent play. There are some risks that could prevent Favre from putting up big numbers. If the Vikings gain a big leady early, expect to see a heavy dose of running. Additionally, Tavaris Jackson could take over at QB to keep Favre fresh for later in the season. That being said, I still project 250 yards, 2TDs and no interceptions for Favre against the Lions this week.
Running Backs
Mike Bell ran for 143 yards with a 5.1 yard per carry average last week against the Lions. Who is Mike Bell? He was considered the 3rd string running back for New Orleans entering this season. He got the bulk of the carries last week as Pierre Thomas was injured and did not play. If Mike Bell can run for 143 yards then what should Adrian Peterson do? I project 175 yards rushing, 30 yards receiving and 2 touchdowns for the man with many nicknames: AP aka “All Day” aka AD. The only reason I’m not projecting more out of AP is because I think the Vikings will stack the line and take their chances against Brett Favre.
Although Chester Taylor had 12 combined touches last week, he did not make much out of those opportunities with only 30 combined yards. Hold on to him as a handcuff for Adrian Peterson, but don’t start him this week. I project 50 combined yards but no touchdowns. He always has potential to score a TD catching out of the backfield, but it’s impossible to know when and where that may happen. Leave him on your bench unless Peterson gets hurt at some point this season.
Wide receivers
Bernard Berrian is supposedly injury-free for the first time since before the preseason. However, hamstring injuries tend to recur and Berrian has not played or practiced much with Favre. If you’re in need of a 3rd receiver, there is upside with Berrian. I would not be shocked to see him catch 70 yards and a TD. However, I would leave him on the bench until he shows something this year.
Percy Harvin lines up in four different positions so he’ll have opportunities to produce. He was #4 in the NFL in kick returns measured by yards per carry last week. He also had 2 rushes for 22 yards and caught 3 passes for 36 yards and a TD. I expect even more touches from Percy this week resulting in 75 combined yards and another TD. I feel safer starting Percy this week over Berrian if that’s an option.
Sidney Rice will get some red zone looks, but his lack of receptions and yards hurts his value as a fantasy receiver. Leave him on your bench this week.
Tight Ends
Jeremy Shockey scored two touchdowns against the Lions last week. I project 45 yards and 1TD for Visanthe Shiancoe against the Lions this week.
Kicker
Ryan Longwell was the #5 kicker last week. This week against the Lions in a dome, I project Longwell to again finish in the top 5.
Defense
The Lions start a rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford. He had 3 interceptions last week against the Saints who are not known to have a strong defense. I think the Vikings are one of the top 5 defenses in the NFL. This will be very ugly for Lions. I project the Vikings to finish as the #2 fantasy defense this week.
9/8/2009 Vikings Report
Last Week
Brett Favre saw his first significant action in the Vikings 3rd preseason game, playing into the 3rd Quarter. He was 13 of 18 for 142 yards and 1 touchdown. The numbers look good but the devil is in the details. Most of the throws were short passes, with some runs after the catch. Favre did have one beautiful throw that should have been a touchdown, but Percy Harvin couldn’t haul it in. A number of skeptics think Favre’s physical breakdown at the end of last year together with this mediocre preseason performance are signs that Favre no longer has the arm to go deep. Don’t worry though, I don’t buy it. Favre still has a cannon for an arm. However, it still may take him a couple weeks to get in sync with his receivers.
This Week
The Vikings face the Cleveland Browns coached by Eric Mangini. Mangini’s brief cameo on The Sopranos is more impressive than his NFL head coaching resume which currently stands at 23 wins and 25 losses. In an interesting twist, Favre played under Mangini last season when both were with the New York Jets. So you may wonder who will have the advantage in preparing for the game. Last season, Favre practiced each week against a Mangini lead defense, so Favre should have a good sense of their defensive philosophy. You may think that Mangini also knows Favre’s tendencies after coaching him for an entire season. However, Favre is now playing in a completely different offensive system than the one he had with the Jets. A system Favre can run in his sleep after 16 years of practice in Green Bay. As a result, I don’t think Mangini’s experience with Brett in the Jet’s offense will lead to any meaningful insight. On the other hand, Mangini will rely on the same fundamental defensive schemes he employed while with the Jets. Advantage Favre.
Rumors
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that an informed source said there was a “schism” in the Vikings locker room as a result of Brett Favre’s arrival. This source claimed that some players thought Tavaris Jackson gave the Vikings the best opportunity to win. This scoop led to a slew of investigative reporting by both local and national media outlets. The end result? Not one reporter could find any player in the Viking’s locker room, including Favre, that had any idea of what “schism” meant.
FYI, Dictionary.com defines schism as “division or disunion, esp. into mutually opposed parties.” I hope Vikings players are reading this.
Injuries
Bernard Berrian injured his hamstring in the first preseason game and has not seen the field since. He is listed as questionable for Week 1 versus Cleveland.
Position Analysis
Quarterbacks
This week’s matchup is a good one. The Browns were the 26th ranked defense in total yards last year. However, there may be a schism in your fantasy locker room if you have Brett Favre on your team and you decide to start him this week. Favre is still shaking off a little rust and hasn’t yet had the opportunity to throw to his number one receiver Bernard Berrian. Hopefully, you drafted Favre as your back up and you have one of the following quarterbacks to start week 1: Brees, Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo, Donovan McNabb, Kurt Warner, or Matt Schaub. I even like Carson Palmer and Matt Hasselbeck as sleepers over Favre this week.
However if you don’t have better options, Favre isn’t bad. I predict 200 yards passing, 1-2 TDs and no interceptions. The Vikings are hoping that Favre will be a game manager, but that he’ll keep defenses honest with the threat of a few long bombs each game. I think that will be the script for this game with heavy dose of running from “All Day”.
Running backs
The Browns were 28th against the rush in 2008. Adrian Peterson had the most rushing yards in the NFL last year. Caution: Mix those ingredients and you may have an explosion of fantasy points. I project 180 yards rushing and 2 TDs from Peterson. Add a dollop of Chester Taylor to the mix for 70 yards combined rushing and receiving.
Wide Receivers
Since early this week, Berrian has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and he is questionable for this week’s game. Hamstring injuries tend to linger, and Berrian has not yet practiced with Favre. Do not start Berrian this week. Wait until he has one big game before starting him.
Percy Harvin will line up at running back, wide receiver, kickoff returner and quarterback in the Wildcat formation. I project 70 total combined yards and 1 TD either running or catching. There is some risk here as this will be his first NFL game, so I would tend to go with more proven commodities. However, if you start three receivers, Percy may fit the bill for the #3.
Sidney Rice is a player to watch. Don’t start him in Week 1. Wait and see if he develops into a player you want on your roster for bye week substitutions.
Tight Ends
Brett loves his tight ends and Shiancoe is a good one. I project 40 yards and 1 TD.
Kickers
Longwell will be a top 10 kicker this week. Start him!
Defense
Cleveland has yet to name a starting quarterback. Mangini said he knows who the QB will be, but he has not yet told anyone. He thinks this will give him some competitive advantage because the Vikings won’t know which quarterback to prepare for. Ha! These are two average quarterbacks, leading an offense with little talent. Some advantage! This matchup is perfect for the Vikings. I project the Vikings to be the top scoring fantasy defense for Week 1.
Brett Favre saw his first significant action in the Vikings 3rd preseason game, playing into the 3rd Quarter. He was 13 of 18 for 142 yards and 1 touchdown. The numbers look good but the devil is in the details. Most of the throws were short passes, with some runs after the catch. Favre did have one beautiful throw that should have been a touchdown, but Percy Harvin couldn’t haul it in. A number of skeptics think Favre’s physical breakdown at the end of last year together with this mediocre preseason performance are signs that Favre no longer has the arm to go deep. Don’t worry though, I don’t buy it. Favre still has a cannon for an arm. However, it still may take him a couple weeks to get in sync with his receivers.
This Week
The Vikings face the Cleveland Browns coached by Eric Mangini. Mangini’s brief cameo on The Sopranos is more impressive than his NFL head coaching resume which currently stands at 23 wins and 25 losses. In an interesting twist, Favre played under Mangini last season when both were with the New York Jets. So you may wonder who will have the advantage in preparing for the game. Last season, Favre practiced each week against a Mangini lead defense, so Favre should have a good sense of their defensive philosophy. You may think that Mangini also knows Favre’s tendencies after coaching him for an entire season. However, Favre is now playing in a completely different offensive system than the one he had with the Jets. A system Favre can run in his sleep after 16 years of practice in Green Bay. As a result, I don’t think Mangini’s experience with Brett in the Jet’s offense will lead to any meaningful insight. On the other hand, Mangini will rely on the same fundamental defensive schemes he employed while with the Jets. Advantage Favre.
Rumors
Adam Schefter of ESPN reported that an informed source said there was a “schism” in the Vikings locker room as a result of Brett Favre’s arrival. This source claimed that some players thought Tavaris Jackson gave the Vikings the best opportunity to win. This scoop led to a slew of investigative reporting by both local and national media outlets. The end result? Not one reporter could find any player in the Viking’s locker room, including Favre, that had any idea of what “schism” meant.
FYI, Dictionary.com defines schism as “division or disunion, esp. into mutually opposed parties.” I hope Vikings players are reading this.
Injuries
Bernard Berrian injured his hamstring in the first preseason game and has not seen the field since. He is listed as questionable for Week 1 versus Cleveland.
Position Analysis
Quarterbacks
This week’s matchup is a good one. The Browns were the 26th ranked defense in total yards last year. However, there may be a schism in your fantasy locker room if you have Brett Favre on your team and you decide to start him this week. Favre is still shaking off a little rust and hasn’t yet had the opportunity to throw to his number one receiver Bernard Berrian. Hopefully, you drafted Favre as your back up and you have one of the following quarterbacks to start week 1: Brees, Brady, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Tony Romo, Donovan McNabb, Kurt Warner, or Matt Schaub. I even like Carson Palmer and Matt Hasselbeck as sleepers over Favre this week.
However if you don’t have better options, Favre isn’t bad. I predict 200 yards passing, 1-2 TDs and no interceptions. The Vikings are hoping that Favre will be a game manager, but that he’ll keep defenses honest with the threat of a few long bombs each game. I think that will be the script for this game with heavy dose of running from “All Day”.
Running backs
The Browns were 28th against the rush in 2008. Adrian Peterson had the most rushing yards in the NFL last year. Caution: Mix those ingredients and you may have an explosion of fantasy points. I project 180 yards rushing and 2 TDs from Peterson. Add a dollop of Chester Taylor to the mix for 70 yards combined rushing and receiving.
Wide Receivers
Since early this week, Berrian has been sidelined with a hamstring injury and he is questionable for this week’s game. Hamstring injuries tend to linger, and Berrian has not yet practiced with Favre. Do not start Berrian this week. Wait until he has one big game before starting him.
Percy Harvin will line up at running back, wide receiver, kickoff returner and quarterback in the Wildcat formation. I project 70 total combined yards and 1 TD either running or catching. There is some risk here as this will be his first NFL game, so I would tend to go with more proven commodities. However, if you start three receivers, Percy may fit the bill for the #3.
Sidney Rice is a player to watch. Don’t start him in Week 1. Wait and see if he develops into a player you want on your roster for bye week substitutions.
Tight Ends
Brett loves his tight ends and Shiancoe is a good one. I project 40 yards and 1 TD.
Kickers
Longwell will be a top 10 kicker this week. Start him!
Defense
Cleveland has yet to name a starting quarterback. Mangini said he knows who the QB will be, but he has not yet told anyone. He thinks this will give him some competitive advantage because the Vikings won’t know which quarterback to prepare for. Ha! These are two average quarterbacks, leading an offense with little talent. Some advantage! This matchup is perfect for the Vikings. I project the Vikings to be the top scoring fantasy defense for Week 1.
9/2/2009 Vikings Report - UPDATE
Update 9/2/09
Hello Football Junkies! Its draft time and I've made some adjustments to my WR and QB rankings since my August 23rd report. My fantasy football draft was last night and I want to take this opportunity to tell you what round Vikings players were taken. I'm in a competitive league that has been together for seven years, and people generally don't make bad picks. Thus it should be an accurate reflection for similarly scored leagues. We're a 12 team league, standard scoring, starting 1QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 Flex WR/TE, 1 Defense and a kicker, and 6 reserves that can be any position (e.g. you could choose all 6 backups to be RBs as one owner did last night).
Our draft was 14 rounds and here are the rounds Vikings were drafted:
Round 1, Pick 1: Adrian Peterson (No surprise)
Round 5, Pick 60: Bernard Berrian
Round 7, Pick 78: Percy Harvin (this was a little higher than I expected)
Round 8, Pick 90: Brett Favre
Round 10, Pick 118: Chester Taylor
Round 11, Pick 125: Vikings Defense
Round 13, Pick 148: Ryan Longwell
Visanthe Shiancoe was not drafted, but this is because TE is optional in our league. We have the choice of starting a TE or a 3rd WR. In leagues, where TE is required, Shiancoe should be ranked 9 or 10. Sidney Rice was not drafted. I expect him to go late in most drafts, and if undrafted you should monitor him as a potential waiver wire pickup.
Here are my updated QB and WR rankings for those of you who have not yet drafted.
Quarterbacks
1. Brees
2. Brady
3. Rogers
4. Rivers
5. McNabb
6. Warner
7. Romo
8. Schaub
9. Ryan
10. Cutler (Jay has moved into my top 10 after two impressive preseason performances)
11. Carson Palmer
12. Brett Favre (Try to get one of the top 11 guys, and get Favre as your backup. He has some upside, but he could wear down as the season progresses)
13. Hasselbeck (Hasselbeck is my QB sleeper for this year. If he's healthy I think he can be a starting fantasy QB. He was drafted in Round 12 of our draft)
14. Eli Manning (I view Manning as a solid backup QB)
Wide Receivers
1. Andre Johnson
2. Randy Moss
3. Larry Fitzgerald
4. Calvin Johnson
5. Steve Smith
6. Reggie Wayne
7. Anquan Boldin
8. Roddy White
9. Greg Jennings
10. Marques Colston
11. Chad Ocho Cinco
12. TO
13. Wes Welker
14. Vincent Jackson
15. Dwayne Bowe
16. Roy Williams
17. TJ Houshmanzadeh
18. Bernard Berrian
Enjoy your drafts! The report below is unchanged since August 23rd. The next report is coming Wednesday, September 9th. Follow me on Twitter for more fantasy football updates and to see my roster from last night's draft. My user name is theNFLguy
You can also email questions to theNFLguy@gmail.com
Hello Football Junkies! Its draft time and I've made some adjustments to my WR and QB rankings since my August 23rd report. My fantasy football draft was last night and I want to take this opportunity to tell you what round Vikings players were taken. I'm in a competitive league that has been together for seven years, and people generally don't make bad picks. Thus it should be an accurate reflection for similarly scored leagues. We're a 12 team league, standard scoring, starting 1QB, 2 RB, 2 WR, 1 Flex WR/TE, 1 Defense and a kicker, and 6 reserves that can be any position (e.g. you could choose all 6 backups to be RBs as one owner did last night).
Our draft was 14 rounds and here are the rounds Vikings were drafted:
Round 1, Pick 1: Adrian Peterson (No surprise)
Round 5, Pick 60: Bernard Berrian
Round 7, Pick 78: Percy Harvin (this was a little higher than I expected)
Round 8, Pick 90: Brett Favre
Round 10, Pick 118: Chester Taylor
Round 11, Pick 125: Vikings Defense
Round 13, Pick 148: Ryan Longwell
Visanthe Shiancoe was not drafted, but this is because TE is optional in our league. We have the choice of starting a TE or a 3rd WR. In leagues, where TE is required, Shiancoe should be ranked 9 or 10. Sidney Rice was not drafted. I expect him to go late in most drafts, and if undrafted you should monitor him as a potential waiver wire pickup.
Here are my updated QB and WR rankings for those of you who have not yet drafted.
Quarterbacks
1. Brees
2. Brady
3. Rogers
4. Rivers
5. McNabb
6. Warner
7. Romo
8. Schaub
9. Ryan
10. Cutler (Jay has moved into my top 10 after two impressive preseason performances)
11. Carson Palmer
12. Brett Favre (Try to get one of the top 11 guys, and get Favre as your backup. He has some upside, but he could wear down as the season progresses)
13. Hasselbeck (Hasselbeck is my QB sleeper for this year. If he's healthy I think he can be a starting fantasy QB. He was drafted in Round 12 of our draft)
14. Eli Manning (I view Manning as a solid backup QB)
Wide Receivers
1. Andre Johnson
2. Randy Moss
3. Larry Fitzgerald
4. Calvin Johnson
5. Steve Smith
6. Reggie Wayne
7. Anquan Boldin
8. Roddy White
9. Greg Jennings
10. Marques Colston
11. Chad Ocho Cinco
12. TO
13. Wes Welker
14. Vincent Jackson
15. Dwayne Bowe
16. Roy Williams
17. TJ Houshmanzadeh
18. Bernard Berrian
Enjoy your drafts! The report below is unchanged since August 23rd. The next report is coming Wednesday, September 9th. Follow me on Twitter for more fantasy football updates and to see my roster from last night's draft. My user name is theNFLguy
You can also email questions to theNFLguy@gmail.com
8/22/2009 Vikings Report - PRESEASON
Last Week:
---------------------------
Do you hear that? Listen closely. Can you hear it? It’s the sound of Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings wide receivers still celebrating Favre’s dramatic return to football. Why are they so happy? No running back probably faced more 8 and 9 man fronts last year than Adrian “All Day (AD)” Peterson. The Vikings quarterbacks from last year would be 2nd or 3rd string on most NFL teams, so defenses loaded up to stop the run. Now with the addition of Favre, those days are gone and everybody benefits. Expect more touchdowns and higher yards per carry from AD. Expect more passing yards and passing touchdowns from the quarterback position. We’re talking about a very balanced and potent offense that has the best running back in football, speedy wide receivers, and a hall of fame quarterback that can still throw deep with the best of them. Strap yourself in. This is going to be a fun ride.
This Week:
---------------------------
The coming weeks are all about the fantasy draft and where Vikings should be drafted. I just watched the fantasy draft special on ESPN and Matthew Berry, The Senior Director of Fantasy Sports at ESPN, also known as the “the Talented Mr. Roto”, picked Michael Turner with the first pick of the draft. Watch out Mr. Roto! With moves like that I’m gunning for your job! Seriously there is no debate about this. Adrian Peterson is the consensus number one pick of the draft. He has a combination of size, speed and power that is unmatched by any other back in the league. And with the addition of Favre, Peterson’s job just got easier. So if you draft #1, take Peterson. If you draft second, then send a clip of Mr. Roto touting Michael Turner to the person with the first pick. Hopefully they will take his advice, and you can snatch up Peterson with the second pick.
The big questions are where to draft Berrian and Favre. Last year Berrian had 46 receptions for 964 yards, for an amazing 20.1 yds/reception. This guy has big play ability and he did it with inconsistent quarterback play. Both Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson saw significant playing time during the 2008 season. It’s hard to imagine Berrian not catching more balls for more yards with Favre at the helm. I have Berrian ranked as the #16 wide receiver in the draft. ESPN has him ranked #20 and CBS #26. Here are my top 16 wide receivers. This is not necessarily the order I think they should be drafted, but it reflects projections of where they will rank at the end of the season by total fantasy points. In the Position Analysis section (later in this report), I will tell what round Vikings players are currently being drafted.
Wide Receiver Projections for 2009
1. Andre Johnson
2. Larry Fitzgerald
3. Randy Moss
4. Steve Smith
5. Calvin Johnson
6. Reggie Wayne
7. Greg Jennings
8. Anquan Boldin
9. Roddy White
10. Chad Ocho Cinco - Steal alert: After a disappointing 2008 season, CBS ranks Chad #16 and ESPN ranks him #19 in their wide receiver projections. Chad enters this year with renewed focus and has looked phenomenal in camp and preseason. He’s currently going in the fifth round. The nine guys above will all be gone by the 2nd round or early in the third. Chad is the only top 10 receiver that you can get in the 4th or 5th round, and this represents extreme value. My only concern is whether his quarterback Carson Palmer stay healthy.
11. Wes Welker
12. Marques Colston
13. Roy Williams
14. Terrell Owens - Note: I had TO at #11 before the toe injury. If that improves during the preseason then his stock will rise. If he continues to miss games, then it’s time to worry.
15. DeSean Jackson
16. Bernard Berrien
For Quarterbacks, ESPN has Favre ranked #17 and CBS has him ranked #20. This offense has too much talent for me to believe that. I have Favre as #13 in the draft. Here are my top 13 quarterbacks. Again, this represents my projections of where they will rank at the end of the season by total fantasy points, not necessarily the order they should be drafted.
1. Drew Brees
2. Tom Brady
3. Peyton Manning
4. Philip Rivers
5. Donovan McNabb
6. Aaron Roger
7. Kurt Warner
8. Tony Romo
9. Matt Schaub
10. Matt Ryan
11. Matt Hasselbeck
12. Matt Cas… no, on second thought, forget Matt Cassel. Take Eli Manning.
13. Brett Favre
14. Carson Palmer (Would rank him #11 if I thought he could stay healthy)
I’m down on Jay Cutler and Matt Cassel. These two quarterbacks changed teams in the off season, and are not surrounded by the same level of offensive talent that they enjoyed last year on their old teams.
Rumors:
---------------------------
Favre joining the Vikes has been the biggest NFL rumor for the past two years, but now that has become reality. There is a lot of talk that the once future franchise quarterback Tarvaris Jackson will be the odd man out, either cut or traded by the end of the pre-season. He looked great in last night’s game going 12 for 15 for 202 yards and 2 TDs. If he continues to play like that, I doubt they would cut him, however his trade value may be on the rise. The top rumor of the week comes from outside of Minnesota. Hot off the press is that Jessica Simpson is dating third year Redskins quarterback Colt Brennan. Brennan would neither confirm nor deny, but did say that Tony Romo may have started this one.
Injuries:
---------------------------
Bernard Berrian is questionable for the August 31st game versus Houston. He injured his hamstring in the first game against Indianapolis.
Position Analysis:
---------------------------
Draft projections are based on 12 team leagues.
QUARTERBACKS:
Don’t read anything into Favre’s less than stellar debut in last night’s game. He only had two and half days of practice since joining the team. Favre was 1 of 4 for 4 yards passing. He faced a brutal pass rush in limited action, getting knocked down twice on just 4 pass plays. He actually reacted well to the pass rush, getting rid of the ball very fast without taking a sack or turning it over. Favre knows this offense inside out. He just needs a few weeks to gel with his new receivers. I project Favre as the top fantasy reserve quarterback this year with upside potential. The biggest question is how he will produce at the end of the season.
QB Draft Projection:
Favre is currently going in the 9th round. He could go higher if he plays well next week against Houston. Favre has very good upside but he’s turning 40 in October. Draft him to be your back up with potential to overtake your starter if he can stay healthy.
RUNNING BACKS:
Adrian Peterson is the consensus #1 pick in the draft. Don’t even think about this one. I think Adrian could rush for 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns. I’m usually not big on drafting handcuffs, but in this case, Chester Taylor is a must. If Adrian goes down then Chester could be a top 5 running back in this offense. He’s currently going in round 11, but if you have Peterson don’t wait that long! Depending on which running backs are still available and if you were lucky enough to draft Peterson, I would be comfortable drafting Chester Taylor in the 9th or even the 8th round for security.
WIDE RECEIVERS:
Bernard Berrian is the clear number one receiver for the Vikings, and as discussed above I project him to finish #16 in total fantasy points for wide receivers this year. Percy Harvin is listed as the number three wide receiver for the Vikings, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that number two on the depth chart, Sidney Rice, should be drafted higher. I’m a Florida alum, and I can say that Percy Harvin is the most dynamic playmaker to come out of the U.F. in the past 16 years. NFL Network Analyst Mike Mayock said on last night’s broadcast that he attended Harvin’s Pro day before the draft and it was “mind boggling”. In reference to Harvin’s ability to catch, Mike said that “the ball never hit the ground”. Mike also stated that Harvin’s “explosion and quickness were off the charts” and labeled him as a “top 10 talent”. The only question on Harvin is durability. He is sometimes labeled as being small and injury prone. Lastly, there is Sidney Rice. He only had 141 yards receiving last year on 15 catches, but did manage to get 4 touchdowns.
WR Draft Projections:
Berrian is currently going in the late 5th or early 6th round. Harvin is currently going in the 10th and has potential to be a good #3 WR. Rice is worth picking up late as a fantasy reserve somewhere between rounds 12-14.
TIGHT ENDS:
Visanthe Shiancoe is a top 10 TE with the arrival of Brett Favre. He caught 42 passes for 592 yards and seven touchdowns last year, and now he has Favre slinging it to him. Brett loves his Tight Ends. Think Keith Jackson, Mark Chmura and Bubba Franks. Visanthe showed off his skill last night by making a beautiful touchdown catch after scrambling to get open while Tarvaris was on the run. Draft Projection: Shiancoe is currently going in the 11th round. I think he’s a steal if you could get him there and would consider drafting him higher after 8 or 9 tight ends have gone off the board.
PLACE KICKER:
Ryan Longwell is very good and like his name implies, he is gold from long range. Last year he was 6 of 6 for field goals over 50 yards. I think he is a top 5 kicker, and he plays in a dome which is a big advantage. That being said, projecting kickers is more luck than skill in my opinion. Wait until the last two or three rounds of your draft before considering drafting Longwell or any kicker for that matter.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS:
The Vikings are clearly a top 5 fantasy defense. This defense was number #1 against the run last year and ranked #6 in total yardage allowed. If you are drafting Individual Defensive Players (IDPs), Jared Allen is one of the best defensive ends in the league. He ranks 1st in total sacks over the last 5 years. Defense is all about the matchups and the Vikings have a favorable schedule with 4 of the first 5 games against CLE, DET, SF and STL. However, don’t overspend on defense. Defenses should be drafted before kickers, but still taken near the end of your fantasy draft.
Good luck on your draft and break out the popcorn, because the NFL season is about to start…and it’s going to be a good one! Follow me on twitter for Vikings updates including injuries and other football discussion. I’m also taking all fantasy football questions (not just Vikings) over Twitter, so sign up and send me a tweet. My user name is ghlassMinnesota Vikings
By: George Hlass
Updated: 8/23/2009
Please access our Premium Products for the Minnesota Vikings Team Capsule, Player Rankings/Statistics, Crystal Ball Projections, Fantasy Recommendations and much more.
Last Week:
---------------------------
Attention: Follow me on Twitter for Vikings updates including injuries and other football discussion. I’m also taking all fantasy football questions (not just Vikings) over Twitter, so feel free to send me a tweet. My user name is ghlass
Do you hear that? Listen closely. Can you hear it? It’s the sound of Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings wide receivers still celebrating Favre’s dramatic return to football. Why are they so happy? No running back probably faced more 8 and 9 man fronts last year than Adrian “All Day (AD)” Peterson. The Vikings quarterbacks from last year would be 2nd or 3rd string on most NFL teams, so defenses loaded up to stop the run. Now with the addition of Favre, those days are gone and everybody benefits. Expect more touchdowns and higher yards per carry from AD. Expect more passing yards and passing touchdowns from the quarterback position. We’re talking about a very balanced and potent offense that has the best running back in football, speedy wide receivers, and a hall of fame quarterback that can still throw deep with the best of them. Strap yourself in. This is going to be a fun ride.
This Week:
---------------------------
The coming weeks are all about the fantasy draft and where Vikings should be drafted. I just watched the fantasy draft special on ESPN and Matthew Berry, The Senior Director of Fantasy Sports at ESPN, also known as the “the Talented Mr. Roto”, picked Michael Turner with the first pick of the draft. Watch out Mr. Roto! With moves like that I’m gunning for your job! Seriously there is no debate about this. Adrian Peterson is the consensus number one pick of the draft. He has a combination of size, speed and power that is unmatched by any other back in the league. And with the addition of Favre, Peterson’s job just got easier. So if you draft #1, take Peterson. If you draft second, then send a clip of Mr. Roto touting Michael Turner to the person with the first pick. Hopefully they will take his advice, and you can snatch up Peterson with the second pick.
The big questions are where to draft Berrian and Favre. Last year Berrian had 46 receptions for 964 yards, for an amazing 20.1 yds/reception. This guy has big play ability and he did it with inconsistent quarterback play. Both Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson saw significant playing time during the 2008 season. It’s hard to imagine Berrian not catching more balls for more yards with Favre at the helm. I have Berrian ranked as the #16 wide receiver in the draft. ESPN has him ranked #20 and CBS #26. Here are my top 16 wide receivers. This is not necessarily the order I think they should be drafted, but it reflects projections of where they will rank at the end of the season by total fantasy points. In the Position Analysis section (later in this report), I will tell what round Vikings players are currently being drafted.
Wide Receiver Projections for 2009
1. Andre Johnson
2. Larry Fitzgerald
3. Randy Moss
4. Steve Smith
5. Calvin Johnson
6. Reggie Wayne
7. Greg Jennings
8. Anquan Boldin
9. Roddy White
10. Chad Ocho Cinco - Steal alert: After a disappointing 2008 season, CBS ranks Chad #16 and ESPN ranks him #19 in their wide receiver projections. Chad enters this year with renewed focus and has looked phenomenal in camp and preseason. He’s currently going in the fifth round. The nine guys above will all be gone by the 2nd round or early in the third. Chad is the only top 10 receiver that you can get in the 4th or 5th round, and this represents extreme value. My only concern is whether his quarterback Carson Palmer stay healthy.
11. Wes Welker
12. Marques Colston
13. Roy Williams
14. Terrell Owens - Note: I had TO at #11 before the toe injury. If that improves during the preseason then his stock will rise. If he continues to miss games, then it’s time to worry.
15. DeSean Jackson
16. Bernard Berrien
For Quarterbacks, ESPN has Favre ranked #17 and CBS has him ranked #20. This offense has too much talent for me to believe that. I have Favre as #13 in the draft. Here are my top 13 quarterbacks. Again, this represents my projections of where they will rank at the end of the season by total fantasy points, not necessarily the order they should be drafted.
1. Drew Brees
2. Tom Brady
3. Peyton Manning
4. Philip Rivers
5. Donovan McNabb
6. Aaron Roger
7. Kurt Warner
8. Tony Romo
9. Matt Schaub
10. Matt Ryan
11. Matt Hasselbeck
12. Matt Cas… no, on second thought, forget Matt Cassel. Take Eli Manning.
13. Brett Favre
14. Carson Palmer (Would rank him #11 if I thought he could stay healthy)
I’m down on Jay Cutler and Matt Cassel. These two quarterbacks changed teams in the off season, and are not surrounded by the same level of offensive talent that they enjoyed last year on their old teams.
Rumors:
---------------------------
Favre joining the Vikes has been the biggest NFL rumor for the past two years, but now that has become reality. There is a lot of talk that the once future franchise quarterback Tarvaris Jackson will be the odd man out, either cut or traded by the end of the pre-season. He looked great in last night’s game going 12 for 15 for 202 yards and 2 TDs. If he continues to play like that, I doubt they would cut him, however his trade value may be on the rise. The top rumor of the week comes from outside of Minnesota. Hot off the press is that Jessica Simpson is dating third year Redskins quarterback Colt Brennan. Brennan would neither confirm nor deny, but did say that Tony Romo may have started this one.
Injuries:
---------------------------
Bernard Berrian is questionable for the August 31st game versus Houston. He injured his hamstring in the first game against Indianapolis.
Position Analysis:
---------------------------
Draft projections are based on 12 team leagues.
QUARTERBACKS:
Don’t read anything into Favre’s less than stellar debut in last night’s game. He only had two and half days of practice since joining the team. Favre was 1 of 4 for 4 yards passing. He faced a brutal pass rush in limited action, getting knocked down twice on just 4 pass plays. He actually reacted well to the pass rush, getting rid of the ball very fast without taking a sack or turning it over. Favre knows this offense inside out. He just needs a few weeks to gel with his new receivers. I project Favre as the top fantasy reserve quarterback this year with upside potential. The biggest question is how he will produce at the end of the season.
QB Draft Projection:
Favre is currently going in the 9th round. He could go higher if he plays well next week against Houston. Favre has very good upside but he’s turning 40 in October. Draft him to be your back up with potential to overtake your starter if he can stay healthy.
RUNNING BACKS:
Adrian Peterson is the consensus #1 pick in the draft. Don’t even think about this one. I think Adrian could rush for 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns. I’m usually not big on drafting handcuffs, but in this case, Chester Taylor is a must. If Adrian goes down then Chester could be a top 5 running back in this offense. He’s currently going in round 11, but if you have Peterson don’t wait that long! Depending on which running backs are still available and if you were lucky enough to draft Peterson, I would be comfortable drafting Chester Taylor in the 9th or even the 8th round for security.
WIDE RECEIVERS:
Bernard Berrian is the clear number one receiver for the Vikings, and as discussed above I project him to finish #16 in total fantasy points for wide receivers this year. Percy Harvin is listed as the number three wide receiver for the Vikings, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that number two on the depth chart, Sidney Rice, should be drafted higher. I’m a Florida alum, and I can say that Percy Harvin is the most dynamic playmaker to come out of the U.F. in the past 16 years. NFL Network Analyst Mike Mayock said on last night’s broadcast that he attended Harvin’s Pro day before the draft and it was “mind boggling”. In reference to Harvin’s ability to catch, Mike said that “the ball never hit the ground”. Mike also stated that Harvin’s “explosion and quickness were off the charts” and labeled him as a “top 10 talent”. The only question on Harvin is durability. He is sometimes labeled as being small and injury prone. Lastly, there is Sidney Rice. He only had 141 yards receiving last year on 15 catches, but did manage to get 4 touchdowns.
WR Draft Projections:
Berrian is currently going in the late 5th or early 6th round. Harvin is currently going in the 10th and has potential to be a good #3 WR. Rice is worth picking up late as a fantasy reserve somewhere between rounds 12-14.
TIGHT ENDS:
Visanthe Shiancoe is a top 10 TE with the arrival of Brett Favre. He caught 42 passes for 592 yards and seven touchdowns last year, and now he has Favre slinging it to him. Brett loves his Tight Ends. Think Keith Jackson, Mark Chmura and Bubba Franks. Visanthe showed off his skill last night by making a beautiful touchdown catch after scrambling to get open while Tarvaris was on the run. Draft Projection: Shiancoe is currently going in the 11th round. I think he’s a steal if you could get him there and would consider drafting him higher after 8 or 9 tight ends have gone off the board.
PLACE KICKER:
Ryan Longwell is very good and like his name implies, he is gold from long range. Last year he was 6 of 6 for field goals over 50 yards. I think he is a top 5 kicker, and he plays in a dome which is a big advantage. That being said, projecting kickers is more luck than skill in my opinion. Wait until the last two or three rounds of your draft before considering drafting Longwell or any kicker for that matter.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS:
The Vikings are clearly a top 5 fantasy defense. This defense was number #1 against the run last year and ranked #6 in total yardage allowed. If you are drafting Individual Defensive Players (IDPs), Jared Allen is one of the best defensive ends in the league. He ranks 1st in total sacks over the last 5 years. Defense is all about the matchups and the Vikings have a favorable schedule with 4 of the first 5 games against CLE, DET, SF and STL. However, don’t overspend on defense. Defenses should be drafted before kickers, but still taken near the end of your fantasy draft.
Good luck on your draft and break out the popcorn, because the NFL season is about to start…and it’s going to be a good one!
---------------------------
Do you hear that? Listen closely. Can you hear it? It’s the sound of Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings wide receivers still celebrating Favre’s dramatic return to football. Why are they so happy? No running back probably faced more 8 and 9 man fronts last year than Adrian “All Day (AD)” Peterson. The Vikings quarterbacks from last year would be 2nd or 3rd string on most NFL teams, so defenses loaded up to stop the run. Now with the addition of Favre, those days are gone and everybody benefits. Expect more touchdowns and higher yards per carry from AD. Expect more passing yards and passing touchdowns from the quarterback position. We’re talking about a very balanced and potent offense that has the best running back in football, speedy wide receivers, and a hall of fame quarterback that can still throw deep with the best of them. Strap yourself in. This is going to be a fun ride.
This Week:
---------------------------
The coming weeks are all about the fantasy draft and where Vikings should be drafted. I just watched the fantasy draft special on ESPN and Matthew Berry, The Senior Director of Fantasy Sports at ESPN, also known as the “the Talented Mr. Roto”, picked Michael Turner with the first pick of the draft. Watch out Mr. Roto! With moves like that I’m gunning for your job! Seriously there is no debate about this. Adrian Peterson is the consensus number one pick of the draft. He has a combination of size, speed and power that is unmatched by any other back in the league. And with the addition of Favre, Peterson’s job just got easier. So if you draft #1, take Peterson. If you draft second, then send a clip of Mr. Roto touting Michael Turner to the person with the first pick. Hopefully they will take his advice, and you can snatch up Peterson with the second pick.
The big questions are where to draft Berrian and Favre. Last year Berrian had 46 receptions for 964 yards, for an amazing 20.1 yds/reception. This guy has big play ability and he did it with inconsistent quarterback play. Both Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson saw significant playing time during the 2008 season. It’s hard to imagine Berrian not catching more balls for more yards with Favre at the helm. I have Berrian ranked as the #16 wide receiver in the draft. ESPN has him ranked #20 and CBS #26. Here are my top 16 wide receivers. This is not necessarily the order I think they should be drafted, but it reflects projections of where they will rank at the end of the season by total fantasy points. In the Position Analysis section (later in this report), I will tell what round Vikings players are currently being drafted.
Wide Receiver Projections for 2009
1. Andre Johnson
2. Larry Fitzgerald
3. Randy Moss
4. Steve Smith
5. Calvin Johnson
6. Reggie Wayne
7. Greg Jennings
8. Anquan Boldin
9. Roddy White
10. Chad Ocho Cinco - Steal alert: After a disappointing 2008 season, CBS ranks Chad #16 and ESPN ranks him #19 in their wide receiver projections. Chad enters this year with renewed focus and has looked phenomenal in camp and preseason. He’s currently going in the fifth round. The nine guys above will all be gone by the 2nd round or early in the third. Chad is the only top 10 receiver that you can get in the 4th or 5th round, and this represents extreme value. My only concern is whether his quarterback Carson Palmer stay healthy.
11. Wes Welker
12. Marques Colston
13. Roy Williams
14. Terrell Owens - Note: I had TO at #11 before the toe injury. If that improves during the preseason then his stock will rise. If he continues to miss games, then it’s time to worry.
15. DeSean Jackson
16. Bernard Berrien
For Quarterbacks, ESPN has Favre ranked #17 and CBS has him ranked #20. This offense has too much talent for me to believe that. I have Favre as #13 in the draft. Here are my top 13 quarterbacks. Again, this represents my projections of where they will rank at the end of the season by total fantasy points, not necessarily the order they should be drafted.
1. Drew Brees
2. Tom Brady
3. Peyton Manning
4. Philip Rivers
5. Donovan McNabb
6. Aaron Roger
7. Kurt Warner
8. Tony Romo
9. Matt Schaub
10. Matt Ryan
11. Matt Hasselbeck
12. Matt Cas… no, on second thought, forget Matt Cassel. Take Eli Manning.
13. Brett Favre
14. Carson Palmer (Would rank him #11 if I thought he could stay healthy)
I’m down on Jay Cutler and Matt Cassel. These two quarterbacks changed teams in the off season, and are not surrounded by the same level of offensive talent that they enjoyed last year on their old teams.
Rumors:
---------------------------
Favre joining the Vikes has been the biggest NFL rumor for the past two years, but now that has become reality. There is a lot of talk that the once future franchise quarterback Tarvaris Jackson will be the odd man out, either cut or traded by the end of the pre-season. He looked great in last night’s game going 12 for 15 for 202 yards and 2 TDs. If he continues to play like that, I doubt they would cut him, however his trade value may be on the rise. The top rumor of the week comes from outside of Minnesota. Hot off the press is that Jessica Simpson is dating third year Redskins quarterback Colt Brennan. Brennan would neither confirm nor deny, but did say that Tony Romo may have started this one.
Injuries:
---------------------------
Bernard Berrian is questionable for the August 31st game versus Houston. He injured his hamstring in the first game against Indianapolis.
Position Analysis:
---------------------------
Draft projections are based on 12 team leagues.
QUARTERBACKS:
Don’t read anything into Favre’s less than stellar debut in last night’s game. He only had two and half days of practice since joining the team. Favre was 1 of 4 for 4 yards passing. He faced a brutal pass rush in limited action, getting knocked down twice on just 4 pass plays. He actually reacted well to the pass rush, getting rid of the ball very fast without taking a sack or turning it over. Favre knows this offense inside out. He just needs a few weeks to gel with his new receivers. I project Favre as the top fantasy reserve quarterback this year with upside potential. The biggest question is how he will produce at the end of the season.
QB Draft Projection:
Favre is currently going in the 9th round. He could go higher if he plays well next week against Houston. Favre has very good upside but he’s turning 40 in October. Draft him to be your back up with potential to overtake your starter if he can stay healthy.
RUNNING BACKS:
Adrian Peterson is the consensus #1 pick in the draft. Don’t even think about this one. I think Adrian could rush for 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns. I’m usually not big on drafting handcuffs, but in this case, Chester Taylor is a must. If Adrian goes down then Chester could be a top 5 running back in this offense. He’s currently going in round 11, but if you have Peterson don’t wait that long! Depending on which running backs are still available and if you were lucky enough to draft Peterson, I would be comfortable drafting Chester Taylor in the 9th or even the 8th round for security.
WIDE RECEIVERS:
Bernard Berrian is the clear number one receiver for the Vikings, and as discussed above I project him to finish #16 in total fantasy points for wide receivers this year. Percy Harvin is listed as the number three wide receiver for the Vikings, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that number two on the depth chart, Sidney Rice, should be drafted higher. I’m a Florida alum, and I can say that Percy Harvin is the most dynamic playmaker to come out of the U.F. in the past 16 years. NFL Network Analyst Mike Mayock said on last night’s broadcast that he attended Harvin’s Pro day before the draft and it was “mind boggling”. In reference to Harvin’s ability to catch, Mike said that “the ball never hit the ground”. Mike also stated that Harvin’s “explosion and quickness were off the charts” and labeled him as a “top 10 talent”. The only question on Harvin is durability. He is sometimes labeled as being small and injury prone. Lastly, there is Sidney Rice. He only had 141 yards receiving last year on 15 catches, but did manage to get 4 touchdowns.
WR Draft Projections:
Berrian is currently going in the late 5th or early 6th round. Harvin is currently going in the 10th and has potential to be a good #3 WR. Rice is worth picking up late as a fantasy reserve somewhere between rounds 12-14.
TIGHT ENDS:
Visanthe Shiancoe is a top 10 TE with the arrival of Brett Favre. He caught 42 passes for 592 yards and seven touchdowns last year, and now he has Favre slinging it to him. Brett loves his Tight Ends. Think Keith Jackson, Mark Chmura and Bubba Franks. Visanthe showed off his skill last night by making a beautiful touchdown catch after scrambling to get open while Tarvaris was on the run. Draft Projection: Shiancoe is currently going in the 11th round. I think he’s a steal if you could get him there and would consider drafting him higher after 8 or 9 tight ends have gone off the board.
PLACE KICKER:
Ryan Longwell is very good and like his name implies, he is gold from long range. Last year he was 6 of 6 for field goals over 50 yards. I think he is a top 5 kicker, and he plays in a dome which is a big advantage. That being said, projecting kickers is more luck than skill in my opinion. Wait until the last two or three rounds of your draft before considering drafting Longwell or any kicker for that matter.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS:
The Vikings are clearly a top 5 fantasy defense. This defense was number #1 against the run last year and ranked #6 in total yardage allowed. If you are drafting Individual Defensive Players (IDPs), Jared Allen is one of the best defensive ends in the league. He ranks 1st in total sacks over the last 5 years. Defense is all about the matchups and the Vikings have a favorable schedule with 4 of the first 5 games against CLE, DET, SF and STL. However, don’t overspend on defense. Defenses should be drafted before kickers, but still taken near the end of your fantasy draft.
Good luck on your draft and break out the popcorn, because the NFL season is about to start…and it’s going to be a good one! Follow me on twitter for Vikings updates including injuries and other football discussion. I’m also taking all fantasy football questions (not just Vikings) over Twitter, so sign up and send me a tweet. My user name is ghlassMinnesota Vikings
By: George Hlass
Updated: 8/23/2009
Please access our Premium Products for the Minnesota Vikings Team Capsule, Player Rankings/Statistics, Crystal Ball Projections, Fantasy Recommendations and much more.
Last Week:
---------------------------
Attention: Follow me on Twitter for Vikings updates including injuries and other football discussion. I’m also taking all fantasy football questions (not just Vikings) over Twitter, so feel free to send me a tweet. My user name is ghlass
Do you hear that? Listen closely. Can you hear it? It’s the sound of Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings wide receivers still celebrating Favre’s dramatic return to football. Why are they so happy? No running back probably faced more 8 and 9 man fronts last year than Adrian “All Day (AD)” Peterson. The Vikings quarterbacks from last year would be 2nd or 3rd string on most NFL teams, so defenses loaded up to stop the run. Now with the addition of Favre, those days are gone and everybody benefits. Expect more touchdowns and higher yards per carry from AD. Expect more passing yards and passing touchdowns from the quarterback position. We’re talking about a very balanced and potent offense that has the best running back in football, speedy wide receivers, and a hall of fame quarterback that can still throw deep with the best of them. Strap yourself in. This is going to be a fun ride.
This Week:
---------------------------
The coming weeks are all about the fantasy draft and where Vikings should be drafted. I just watched the fantasy draft special on ESPN and Matthew Berry, The Senior Director of Fantasy Sports at ESPN, also known as the “the Talented Mr. Roto”, picked Michael Turner with the first pick of the draft. Watch out Mr. Roto! With moves like that I’m gunning for your job! Seriously there is no debate about this. Adrian Peterson is the consensus number one pick of the draft. He has a combination of size, speed and power that is unmatched by any other back in the league. And with the addition of Favre, Peterson’s job just got easier. So if you draft #1, take Peterson. If you draft second, then send a clip of Mr. Roto touting Michael Turner to the person with the first pick. Hopefully they will take his advice, and you can snatch up Peterson with the second pick.
The big questions are where to draft Berrian and Favre. Last year Berrian had 46 receptions for 964 yards, for an amazing 20.1 yds/reception. This guy has big play ability and he did it with inconsistent quarterback play. Both Gus Frerotte and Tarvaris Jackson saw significant playing time during the 2008 season. It’s hard to imagine Berrian not catching more balls for more yards with Favre at the helm. I have Berrian ranked as the #16 wide receiver in the draft. ESPN has him ranked #20 and CBS #26. Here are my top 16 wide receivers. This is not necessarily the order I think they should be drafted, but it reflects projections of where they will rank at the end of the season by total fantasy points. In the Position Analysis section (later in this report), I will tell what round Vikings players are currently being drafted.
Wide Receiver Projections for 2009
1. Andre Johnson
2. Larry Fitzgerald
3. Randy Moss
4. Steve Smith
5. Calvin Johnson
6. Reggie Wayne
7. Greg Jennings
8. Anquan Boldin
9. Roddy White
10. Chad Ocho Cinco - Steal alert: After a disappointing 2008 season, CBS ranks Chad #16 and ESPN ranks him #19 in their wide receiver projections. Chad enters this year with renewed focus and has looked phenomenal in camp and preseason. He’s currently going in the fifth round. The nine guys above will all be gone by the 2nd round or early in the third. Chad is the only top 10 receiver that you can get in the 4th or 5th round, and this represents extreme value. My only concern is whether his quarterback Carson Palmer stay healthy.
11. Wes Welker
12. Marques Colston
13. Roy Williams
14. Terrell Owens - Note: I had TO at #11 before the toe injury. If that improves during the preseason then his stock will rise. If he continues to miss games, then it’s time to worry.
15. DeSean Jackson
16. Bernard Berrien
For Quarterbacks, ESPN has Favre ranked #17 and CBS has him ranked #20. This offense has too much talent for me to believe that. I have Favre as #13 in the draft. Here are my top 13 quarterbacks. Again, this represents my projections of where they will rank at the end of the season by total fantasy points, not necessarily the order they should be drafted.
1. Drew Brees
2. Tom Brady
3. Peyton Manning
4. Philip Rivers
5. Donovan McNabb
6. Aaron Roger
7. Kurt Warner
8. Tony Romo
9. Matt Schaub
10. Matt Ryan
11. Matt Hasselbeck
12. Matt Cas… no, on second thought, forget Matt Cassel. Take Eli Manning.
13. Brett Favre
14. Carson Palmer (Would rank him #11 if I thought he could stay healthy)
I’m down on Jay Cutler and Matt Cassel. These two quarterbacks changed teams in the off season, and are not surrounded by the same level of offensive talent that they enjoyed last year on their old teams.
Rumors:
---------------------------
Favre joining the Vikes has been the biggest NFL rumor for the past two years, but now that has become reality. There is a lot of talk that the once future franchise quarterback Tarvaris Jackson will be the odd man out, either cut or traded by the end of the pre-season. He looked great in last night’s game going 12 for 15 for 202 yards and 2 TDs. If he continues to play like that, I doubt they would cut him, however his trade value may be on the rise. The top rumor of the week comes from outside of Minnesota. Hot off the press is that Jessica Simpson is dating third year Redskins quarterback Colt Brennan. Brennan would neither confirm nor deny, but did say that Tony Romo may have started this one.
Injuries:
---------------------------
Bernard Berrian is questionable for the August 31st game versus Houston. He injured his hamstring in the first game against Indianapolis.
Position Analysis:
---------------------------
Draft projections are based on 12 team leagues.
QUARTERBACKS:
Don’t read anything into Favre’s less than stellar debut in last night’s game. He only had two and half days of practice since joining the team. Favre was 1 of 4 for 4 yards passing. He faced a brutal pass rush in limited action, getting knocked down twice on just 4 pass plays. He actually reacted well to the pass rush, getting rid of the ball very fast without taking a sack or turning it over. Favre knows this offense inside out. He just needs a few weeks to gel with his new receivers. I project Favre as the top fantasy reserve quarterback this year with upside potential. The biggest question is how he will produce at the end of the season.
QB Draft Projection:
Favre is currently going in the 9th round. He could go higher if he plays well next week against Houston. Favre has very good upside but he’s turning 40 in October. Draft him to be your back up with potential to overtake your starter if he can stay healthy.
RUNNING BACKS:
Adrian Peterson is the consensus #1 pick in the draft. Don’t even think about this one. I think Adrian could rush for 2,000 yards and 16 touchdowns. I’m usually not big on drafting handcuffs, but in this case, Chester Taylor is a must. If Adrian goes down then Chester could be a top 5 running back in this offense. He’s currently going in round 11, but if you have Peterson don’t wait that long! Depending on which running backs are still available and if you were lucky enough to draft Peterson, I would be comfortable drafting Chester Taylor in the 9th or even the 8th round for security.
WIDE RECEIVERS:
Bernard Berrian is the clear number one receiver for the Vikings, and as discussed above I project him to finish #16 in total fantasy points for wide receivers this year. Percy Harvin is listed as the number three wide receiver for the Vikings, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that number two on the depth chart, Sidney Rice, should be drafted higher. I’m a Florida alum, and I can say that Percy Harvin is the most dynamic playmaker to come out of the U.F. in the past 16 years. NFL Network Analyst Mike Mayock said on last night’s broadcast that he attended Harvin’s Pro day before the draft and it was “mind boggling”. In reference to Harvin’s ability to catch, Mike said that “the ball never hit the ground”. Mike also stated that Harvin’s “explosion and quickness were off the charts” and labeled him as a “top 10 talent”. The only question on Harvin is durability. He is sometimes labeled as being small and injury prone. Lastly, there is Sidney Rice. He only had 141 yards receiving last year on 15 catches, but did manage to get 4 touchdowns.
WR Draft Projections:
Berrian is currently going in the late 5th or early 6th round. Harvin is currently going in the 10th and has potential to be a good #3 WR. Rice is worth picking up late as a fantasy reserve somewhere between rounds 12-14.
TIGHT ENDS:
Visanthe Shiancoe is a top 10 TE with the arrival of Brett Favre. He caught 42 passes for 592 yards and seven touchdowns last year, and now he has Favre slinging it to him. Brett loves his Tight Ends. Think Keith Jackson, Mark Chmura and Bubba Franks. Visanthe showed off his skill last night by making a beautiful touchdown catch after scrambling to get open while Tarvaris was on the run. Draft Projection: Shiancoe is currently going in the 11th round. I think he’s a steal if you could get him there and would consider drafting him higher after 8 or 9 tight ends have gone off the board.
PLACE KICKER:
Ryan Longwell is very good and like his name implies, he is gold from long range. Last year he was 6 of 6 for field goals over 50 yards. I think he is a top 5 kicker, and he plays in a dome which is a big advantage. That being said, projecting kickers is more luck than skill in my opinion. Wait until the last two or three rounds of your draft before considering drafting Longwell or any kicker for that matter.
DEFENSE/SPECIAL TEAMS:
The Vikings are clearly a top 5 fantasy defense. This defense was number #1 against the run last year and ranked #6 in total yardage allowed. If you are drafting Individual Defensive Players (IDPs), Jared Allen is one of the best defensive ends in the league. He ranks 1st in total sacks over the last 5 years. Defense is all about the matchups and the Vikings have a favorable schedule with 4 of the first 5 games against CLE, DET, SF and STL. However, don’t overspend on defense. Defenses should be drafted before kickers, but still taken near the end of your fantasy draft.
Good luck on your draft and break out the popcorn, because the NFL season is about to start…and it’s going to be a good one!
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