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NFFL-Keeper - rated by footballguys.com - Hyperdrive - 06.09.2012

Hier mal das "professionelle" Rating der einzelnen Teams unserer Liga von footballguys.com

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NFFL-Keeper - rated by footballguys.com - Hyperdrive - 06.09.2012

QB: Tony Romo, Ryan Fitzpatrick
RB: Ray Rice, Darren Sproles, Isaac Redman
WR: Antonio Brown, DeSean Jackson, Kendall Wright, Brian Quick
TE: Antonio Gates, Dallas Clark
PK: Dan Bailey

Overview:

A bit odd to name your team after the Jets and then not take any of them. But we're sure you have your reasons. On to the analysis...

Let's start by remarking that we appreciate your old-school leanings: you have a team marked by strength at the running back position. Because the position is so sought after, a team constructed like this usually has a chance to make the playoffs. But with the quarterback and wide receiver both being less strong, you may need to do something to change the outlook of this team. Your deficiencies are likely to show themselves through the bye weeks, so try to manuever early in improving the quarterback and/or receiver positions before week four.

Keep an eye out for quarterbacks like Cam Newton last year, Michael Vick and Josh Freeman in 2010, Brett Favre in 2009, Matt Cassel and Kurt Warner in 2008, and Derek Anderson in 2007. All were available cheap in August, and all contributed to fantasy championship teams. Similarly, wide receivers like Victor Cruz and Laurent Robinson were available after a lot of the drafts. Landing some of this year's top waiver players would be a huge help, so pay close attention to increased workloads, targets, injuries, etc.

Players we particularly like on this team include Darren Sproles and Ray Rice. We have both these guys ranked ahead of where they are typically being drafted.
Bottom line:

With great inseason management, we think you have about a 45 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With good inseason management, we think you have about a 30 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With average inseason management, we think you have a 11 percent chance of making the playoffs.

In any event, we wish you the best of luck. Here's hoping all your weeks are like week 17 of 2011:
Ray Rice vs. CIN: 199 combined yards, 2 TD
Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. NE: 307 passing yards, 2 TD
Isaac Redman vs. CLE: 110 combined yards, 1 TD
Antonio Gates vs. OAK: 106 receiving yards, 1 TD

QB Summary:

We have Tony Romo rated #8 among quarterbacks, which makes him a viable starter if not an exciting one. And we're not crazy about Ryan Fitzpatrick (ranked #24 among quarterbacks) as a backup. If Romo turns in the season we expect, this position won't ruin you, but it probably won't be a strength either. And if things go wrong, it could be a long year at QB.

Incidentally, Fitzpatrick has what we project as a neutral matchup (SF) during Romo's bye.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

RB Summary:

Obviously, Ray Rice is a great way to anchor any RB group. We've got him ranked #1 at the position, and by our reckoning he gives you about a 5.6 point advantage over an average team in the first RB slot.

Tough to do better than Darren Sproles at RB2; he's a likely flex starter. Isaac Redman, on the other hand, is an average-at-best third RB.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

WR Summary:

We see both your starters at receiver as below average. Antonio Brown is our #24 ranked receiver, and we have DeSean Jackson at #27.

Kendall Wright is a very weak third receiver. Brian Quick is also a liability at fourth receiver.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Some of our staffers have Antonio Brown as high as #13. Mark Wimer's take: "Brown's fat new extension and his continued presence in camp learning the new offense while Mike Wallace sulks has vaulted Brown into the #1 wide receiver position on my Pittsburgh projections, and moves Brown well up my draft board as well. He looked outstanding in the second and third preseason games (7/108/2 at Buffalo most recently), making me more than happy to draft Brown whenever I can entering regular season. "

Some of our staffers have DeSean Jackson as high as #10, which would make him a great second receiver and even a legitimate WR1. Andrew Garda's take: "The moral of the story, kids, is this: if you whine loud enough, you will get what you want. At least that's the message DeSean Jackson learned as he got the massive long term deal he wanted after basically giving up on 2011. The question owners need to ask themselves is very simple: do you believe he can turn it back on after last year's abysmal performance? How you see the risk vs the reward will be critical. For myself, I believe he will bounce back to form this year. While I might normally worry about a guy who just got paid pulling a Chris Johnson and coasting, I actually believe Jackson will be invigorated in 2012 and get back to form. Whether he has completely damaged his relationship with Mike Vick remains to be seen, but they need his talents to win so he'll get his targets. If there is a downside to DJax it's this: he is an all or nothing play. He will not get you a lot of receptions, but he does get a few big plays a game. When he hauls them in, it's a win. When he doesn't, well..... maybe next week. Overall though I think him an excellent low end WR1 and a very good WR2."

Some members of our staff have Kendall Wright ranked as high as 31st, which would make him a fine third receiver. Jeff Pasquino defends his high ranking as follows: "The Titans lacked a true WR1 last year when Kenny Britt went down with an injury, but now they have both Britt back and rookie Kendall Wright. Matt Hasselbeck can put up good numbers with solid options, and that is exactly what he will have in 2012. Even Jake Locker can appreciate Wright as he could be a WR1 in his own right. Wright will push to start by the end of 2012 and likely be the starter in 2013 with Britt."

Brian Quick is ranked #52 by some of our writers. Jeff Pasquino reasons, "Quick was the first pick of Round 2 in the NFL Draft, and the Rams have been thrilled with him in OTAs so far. Quick should get every shot to start for the Rams as a rookie, for St. Louis needs playmakers at the wideout position. Quick has the speed and size to be a top wide receiver, but time will tell if he can translate his skills from a small school to the big time. If his talent comes anywhere close to his opportunity, he will have a big first year."

TE Summary:

Antonio Gates should be above average as a starting tight end. We have him ranked fourth overall at the position. He's about 0.5 points per game better than an average starting TE in this league. Dallas Clark is an adequate second tight end.

Kicker Summary:

Dan Bailey, our seventh ranked kicker, won't win the league for you, but he'll do.

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NFFL-Keeper - rated by footballguys.com - Hyperdrive - 06.09.2012

QB: Eli Manning, Andrew Luck
RB: Jamaal Charles, Stevan Ridley, Peyton Hillis, Evan Royster
WR: Percy Harvin, Hakeem Nicks, Eric Decker, Brandon Lloyd
TE: Tony Gonzalez, Kyle Rudolph
PK: Sebastian Janikowski

Overview:

Your receivers are the strongest part of this team. While no team can be expected to be above average at all three core positions (QB/RB/WR), you are in the precarious position of being a bit weak at two of them.

Although you should not be counted out yet, you may need to be active on both the waiver wire and in trades to turn this team into a legitimate contender. The best way to achieve that might be to sacrifice some of your wide receiver strength to gain multiple players than can help your roster now. It's generally easier finding quarterbacks and wide receivers on the waiver wire than quality running backs.

Keep an eye out for quarterbacks like Cam Newton last year, Michael Vick and Josh Freeman in 2010, Brett Favre in 2009, Matt Cassel and Kurt Warner in 2008, and Derek Anderson in 2007. All were available cheap in August, and all contributed to fantasy championship teams. Likewise, running backs like Peyton Hillis, LeGarrette Blount, and Mike Tolbert all could be had dirt cheap at the draft or shortly after. You are likely going to need to land some of this year's top waiver plays, so pay close attention to increased workloads, targets, injuries, etc.

Players we particularly like on this team include Hakeem Nicks, Kyle Rudolph, and Eric Decker. We have all these guys ranked ahead of where they are typically being drafted.
Bottom line:

With great inseason management, we think you have about a 55 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With good inseason management, we think you have about a 40 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With average inseason management, we think you have a 20 percent chance of making the playoffs.

In any event, we wish you the best of luck. Here's hoping all your weeks are like week 5 of 2010:
Brandon Lloyd vs. BAL: 135 receiving yards, 2 TD
Hakeem Nicks vs. HOU: 130 receiving yards, 2 TD
Percy Harvin vs. NYJ: 97 receiving yards, 2 TD
Eli Manning vs. HOU: 297 passing yards, 3 TD

QB Summary:

We have Eli Manning rated #10 among quarterbacks, which makes him a viable starter if not an exciting one. And we're not crazy about Andrew Luck (ranked #20 among quarterbacks) as a backup. If Manning turns in the season we expect, this position won't ruin you, but it probably won't be a strength either. And if things go wrong, it could be a long year at QB.

Incidentally, Luck has what we project as a good matchup (NE) during Manning's bye.

A quick note about the Manning/Hakeem Nicks hookup you've got here: while we think the effect of the quarterback/receiver hookup has largely been exaggerated in fantasy football circles, it does have a tendency to make your team somewhat more inconsistent than comparable scoring duos from different NFL teams. But if you like the players at both ends of the connection, we do not see any need to make a change because of it.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

RB Summary:

We have Jamaal Charles ranked #10 at the position. So while he's passable as a first running back, he doesn't look particularly thrilling. And we also have some doubts about whether your depth at RB is going to make up for it, so this could be an area of some concern.

We see Stevan Ridley as an average second running back. Peyton Hillis is a nice handcuff to Jamaal Charles and a fine third running back in his own right. Evan Royster should be a good fourth running back.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Jamaal Charles is ranked #6 by some of our writers, which would make him an above average first running back. Anthony Borbely reasons, "Charles is one of the few backs that can be a top-10 RB without being a workhorse, so the addition of Peyton Hillis doesn't bother me. Charles tore his ACL early last season and will have had a full year to recover so I am not all that concerned about it, but he will be a player to monitor in preseason. For now I have Charles ranked as a mid-level RB1."

Evan Royster is ranked #24 by some of our writers, which would make him a great fourth running back and even a legitimate RB2. Mark Wimer reasons, "Roy Helu's Achilles tendonitis and Tim Hightowers' shaky reconstructed knee make Royster a leader in this committee, but nothing is certain here. The Shanahans are known for playing musical chairs with their running backs, though - Washington looks like a headache waiting to happen for fantasy owners, in my opinion. The entry of Alfred Morris into the Washington RB sweepstakes makes a muddled situation even worse."

WR Summary:

Your starting receiver group is a strength, particularly Hakeem Nicks as a second receiver. Percy Harvin is our #9 ranked receiver, and we have Nicks at #10.

Your bench also looks good. We love Eric Decker as a third receiver; he's a likely flex starter. Likewise, Brandon Lloyd should be excellent at WR4.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Percy Harvin is ranked #7 by some of our writers, which would make him a fine first receiver. Heath Cummings reasons, "In the ten games Christian Ponder started last season, Percy Harvin averaged 13.7 fantasy ppg. Projected over a full season, that would have made him the second most productive receiver in the league. Harvin is in camp and on board, so I expect big things out of him this season."

TE Summary:

Tony Gonzalez is just OK as a starting tight end (we have him ranked #9). So the selection of Kyle Rudolph, who we see as a solid backup, was wise.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Some of our staffers have Tony Gonzalez as high as #4, which would make him an above average first tight end. Jeff Pasquino's take: "Gonzalez does not have a ton left in the tank, but even an older veteran tight end who is destined for the Hall of Fame is better than most younger options in the league. Gonzalez can work defenses to get open and find soft spots in the secondary, settle down in them and catch 10-15 yard gainers for QB Matt Ryan, especially in key situations. Gonzalez offers little yards after the catch but he is still good enough to catch 70+ balls and score a half-dozen or so touchdowns this year. He's always in great shape and has missed just one game in 10 years."

Kicker Summary:

Sebastian Janikowski, our 10th ranked kicker, is below average but probably adequate.

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NFFL-Keeper - rated by footballguys.com - Hyperdrive - 06.09.2012

QB: Ben Roethlisberger, Joe Flacco
RB: DeMarco Murray, Steven Jackson, Cedric Benson
WR: Jordy Nelson, Demaryius Thomas, Mike Williams, Justin Blackmon
TE: Aaron Hernandez, Greg Olsen
PK: Nate Kaeding

Overview:

Your starting lineup is respectable, but the lack of depth is a serious problem. If you're lucky enough to avoid the injury bug, you might be OK. But that's a tough thing to have to count on.
To make this team into a serious contender, you are going to need to be extremely active in trades and on the waiver wire. You esentially need to turn over significant parts of this roster. Last year running backs like Michael Bush, Darren Sproles, and Fred Jackson all could be had dirt cheap at the draft. Additionally, wide receivers like Victor Cruz and Laurent Robinson were available after a lot of the drafts. Quarterbacks like Cam Newton last season, Michael Vick in 2010, Brett Favre in 2009, Matt Cassel in 2008, and Derek Anderson in 2007 could all be had cheap just after draft time. You are likely going to need to land many of this year's top waiver plays to make any significant noise, so pay close attention to increased workloads, targets, injuries, etc.

Players we particularly like on this team include Steven Jackson, Aaron Hernandez, and Nate Kaeding. We have all these guys ranked ahead of where they are typically being drafted.
Bottom line:

With great inseason management, we think you have about a 50 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With good inseason management, we think you have about a 30 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With average inseason management, we think you have a 12 percent chance of making the playoffs.

QB Summary:

We have Ben Roethlisberger rated #16 among quarterbacks, so we're not even sold on him as a fantasy starter in your league. But #17-rated QB Joe Flacco provides you with another viable option. So while the position doesn't figure to be a strength, with shrewd management and a little luck you might end up with decent production at QB
Incidentally, these two have a pretty nice combined schedule and a decent playoff schedule too. If you simply played the one with the better matchup each week, this is the schedule you'd face:

CIN | PHI | NE | CLE | PHI | DAL | CIN | WAS | NYG | OAK | BAL | SD | BAL | SD | DEN | NYG

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

RB Summary:

We have DeMarco Murray ranked #8 at the position. So while he's passable as a first running back, he doesn't look particularly thrilling.

Steven Jackson looks great as a second running back; he's a likely flex starter. Cedric Benson should be adequate at RB3.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Some of our staffers have DeMarco Murray as high as #7, which would make him a fine first running back. Maurile Tremblay's take: "Based on what he showed last year, Demarco Murray should be the featured back in Dallas, and Felix Jones will be only a change-of-pace back."

Some members of our staff have Cedric Benson ranked as high as 26th, which would make him an above average third running back. Mark Wimer defends his high ranking as follows: "A grinder who may be the starting, two-down back for Green Bay - IF he still has gas in his tank. The Packers seem to believe in Benson as of the last week of August - he's moved up my board and James Starks has dropped off of it. "

WR Summary:

We see both your starters at receiver as below average. Jordy Nelson is our #17 ranked receiver, and we have Demaryius Thomas at #21.

We don't particularly like Mike Williams as a third receiver. But Justin Blackmon should be a fairly good WR4.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Some members of our staff have Jordy Nelson ranked as high as fifth, which would make him an above average first receiver. Heath Cummings defends his high ranking as follows: "Nelson was the most productive Green Bay receiver in 2011 and reports out of camp say he's the best receiver there in 2012. Sure, I think the touchdown totals will come down but 75-80 catches for 1300+ yards should be the expectation. Don't hesitate to take him early."

Some members of our staff have Demaryius Thomas ranked as high as 11th, which would make him a great second receiver and even a legitimate WR1. Jeff Tefertiller defends his high ranking as follows: "As long as Peyton Manning is healthy, Thomas could have a banner season. His run-after-catch skills are top notch and the Broncos need his play-making. Thomas averaged over 17 yards per catch last season (and 20 ypr in college). Playing the same position (X), Thomas could put up Reggie Wayne numbers. "

Some of our staffers have Mike Williams as high as #36, which would make him a fine third receiver. Steve Holloway's take: "Williams has more ability than he showed a year ago and will have Vincent Jackson on the opposite side helping to open things up. Tampa Bay should have a much improved offense in 2012 and Williams should be more productive."

Justin Blackmon is ranked #27 by some of our writers, which would make him a great fourth receiver and even a legitimate WR3. Steve Holloway reasons, "Disturbing beginning for the rookie, but hopefully he will learn his lesson. One of two good receivers added in Jacksonville should be the most targeted rookie this season. He is has looked better than most expected in pre-season games and probably will be sliding up draft boards based on views of his skills and performance."

TE Summary:

As you are well aware, Aaron Hernandez is an elite tight end. We have him ranked third overall at the position. He's about 2.4 points per game better than an average starting TE in this league. Greg Olsen is a nice backup.

Kicker Summary:

Nate Kaeding, our fifth ranked kicker, won't win the league for you, but he'll do.

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NFFL-Keeper - rated by footballguys.com - Hyperdrive - 06.09.2012

QB: Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Peyton Manning
RB: Maurice Jones-Drew, Willis McGahee, DeAngelo Williams, Michael Turner
WR: Steve Johnson, Santonio Holmes, Anquan Boldin, Greg Little
TE: Jermaine Gresham, Brent Celek
PK: Mason Crosby

Overview:

This team is built around strong quarterback play. But it has some serious issues post-draft. Your only real core strength is at quarterback, yet that's often the easiest position to fill during the season. Your weaknesses at both running back and receiver put you in a hole before any games have played. To end up with a team constructed like this, you probably did not get value on some of your selections. The players themselves are not necessarily bad --- you just might have paid more than what they were worth.

To make this team into a serious contender, you are going to need to be extremely active in trades and on the waiver wire. You esentially need to turn over significant parts of this roster. Last year running backs like Michael Bush, Darren Sproles, and Fred Jackson all could be had dirt cheap at the draft. Additionally, wide receivers like Victor Cruz and Laurent Robinson were available after a lot of the drafts. You are likely going to need to land some of this year's top waiver plays, so pay close attention to increased workloads, targets, injuries, etc.

Players we particularly like on this team include Philip Rivers, Greg Little, Brent Celek, and Mason Crosby. We have all these guys ranked ahead of where they are typically being drafted.
Bottom line:

With great inseason management, we think you have about a 55 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With good inseason management, we think you have about a 35 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With average inseason management, we think you have a 18 percent chance of making the playoffs.

In any event, we wish you the best of luck. Here's hoping all your weeks are like week 11 of 2010:
Steve Johnson vs. CIN: 137 receiving yards, 3 TD
Maurice Jones-Drew vs. CLE: 220 combined yards, 1 TD
Santonio Holmes vs. HOU: 126 receiving yards, 2 TD
Peyton Manning vs. NE: 396 passing yards, 4 TD
Michael Turner vs. STL: 127 combined yards, 1 TD
Philip Rivers vs. DEN: 233 passing yards, 4 TD

QB Summary:

You don't need us to tell you this, but we'll tell you anyway: Tom Brady should ensure that your production at the quarterback position is among the best in the league. We have him as the #3 QB according to your scoring rules, and we figure he gives you about a 1.5 point-per-game advantage over an average starting QB.

We also love Philip Rivers as a backup. In fact, we think he's good enough to be someone's starting quarterback in this league. With Brady in place as your starter, he's something of a luxury for you. If he plays like we expect, you should be able to get good value for him in a trade after quarterback injuries hit some of your opponents.

Incidentally, Rivers has what we project as a bad matchup (KC) during Brady's bye.

RB Summary:

We have Maurice Jones-Drew ranked #18 at the position, so we don't even necessarily see him as being RB1 worthy in this league. And we also have some doubts about whether your depth at running back is going to make up for it, so we feel this is an area of concern.

Willis McGahee is a little below average as a second running back. But DeAngelo Williams should be a fairly good RB3. We love Michael Turner as a fourth running back.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Some of our staffers have Maurice Jones-Drew as high as #5, which would make him an above average first running back. Jeff Tefertiller's take: "The diminutive ball carrier is a star and will be the center of the Jaguar offense once again. Holdout over, there is little concern with the fantasy star. Jennings could also steal touches as the Jaguars look to limit Jones-Drew's workload after a career of heavy usage. "

Some members of our staff have Willis McGahee ranked as high as 20th, which would make him a fine second running back. Maurile Tremblay defends his high ranking as follows: "There is some speculation that Ronnie Hillman could take over as the lead back in Denver by the midway point in the season. Personally, I am not giving enough credence to that speculation to cause me to avoid drafting McGahee --- but I am giving it enough credence to try very hard to handcuff Hillman to McGahee when I do."

Some of our staffers have DeAngelo Williams as high as #20, which would make him a great third running back and even a legitimate RB2. Jeff Pasquino's take: "Williams was re-signed in Carolina last year, signifying that the organization believes in his long term value. It is Jonathan Stewart (free agent in 2013) that is more likely to move onward, leaving Williams as the top rusher for the Panthers long term. Williams averaged over five yards a carry last year and finished just outside of the Top 25 rushers in both PPR and non-PPR formats even though he averaged fewer than 10 rushes a game. Imagine what he can do if that number moves to the 15-18 per game plateau? Snap up Williams as a nice value play wherever you can."

WR Summary:

We see both your starters at receiver as below average. Steve Johnson is our #11 ranked receiver, and we have Santonio Holmes at #37.

Anquan Boldin is a little below average as a third receiver; he's a likely flex starter. But Greg Little should be a very good fourth receiver.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Some of our staffers have Steve Johnson as high as #10, which would make him a fine first receiver. Mark Wimer's take: "Steve Johnson is Ryan Fitzpatricks' favorite target, with no worries about being superceded by other wide receivers on this roster. Draft him with confidence and enjoy solid-to-outstanding results all year long."

Some of our staffers have Santonio Holmes as high as #30. Mark Wimer's take: "Santonio Holmes has an attitude problem and it spills over onto the field. I'm not a fan and plan on avoiding him in all my fantasy drafts. This is doubly true now that he has rib cartilage injury issues. He did look good in the third preseason game, which bumped him up my board a tad, but I'm still not in a rush to draft him this year."

Some members of our staff have Anquan Boldin ranked as high as 32nd, which would make him a fine third receiver. Jason Wood defends his high ranking as follows: "57 receptions for 887 yards and 3 TDs is NOT what fantasy owners were hoping for, but that may be the new normal for Anquan Boldin. I suspect he can do a bit more if he can stay on the field for 16 games, but at this point you have to consider his ceiling to be lower than many of the receivers being drafted in his tier."

TE Summary:

Though neither of them is elite, you have two viable starting tight ends in Jermaine Gresham and Brent Celek. If one of them breaks out, or if you play the matchups well, you'll probably get good production from the position.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Some of our staffers have Jermaine Gresham as high as #8, which would make him a fine first tight end. Steve Holloway's take: "Gresham, the former first round pick from Oklahoma has improved his production in each of his two seasons with the Bengals. I anticipate continued improvement for Gresham, as well as Andy Dalton in his second season quarterbacking the team. Gresham finished 13th a year ago, even while missing two games."

Kicker Summary:

Mason Crosby, our second ranked kicker, won't win the league for you, but he'll do.

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NFFL-Keeper - rated by footballguys.com - Hyperdrive - 06.09.2012

QB: Jay Cutler, Carson Palmer, Andy Dalton
RB: Matt Forte, Frank Gore, Kevin Smith, Shonn Greene
WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Andre Johnson, Greg Jennings, Robert Meachem
TE: Jason Witten, Coby Fleener
PK: David Akers

Overview:

A bit odd to name your team after the Steelers and then not take any of them. But we're sure you have your reasons. On to the analysis...

Your receivers are the strongest part of this team. It's rare for us to endorse a team with weaknesses at quarterback and running back, but we're doing it right here! You should have a contender here. But your margin for error in terms of inseason management could be a bit thinner than some of your competitors'. You must remain committed to finding 2012's emergent players at RB and QB.
Bottom line:

With great inseason management, we think you have about a 75 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With good inseason management, we think you have about a 65 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With average inseason management, we think you have a 49 percent chance of making the playoffs.

In any event, we wish you the best of luck. Here's hoping all your weeks are like week 12 of 2007:
Frank Gore vs. ARI: 214 combined yards, 2 TD
Larry Fitzgerald vs. SF: 156 receiving yards, 2 TD
Greg Jennings vs. DET: 60 receiving yards, 2 TD
Carson Palmer vs. TEN: 283 passing yards, 3 TD

QB Summary:

We have Jay Cutler rated #18 among quarterbacks, so we're not even sold on him as a fantasy starter in your league. And we're not sure that Carson Palmer (our #22-rated QB) is likely to provide much help.
Incidentally, these two have a pretty nice combined schedule and a good-looking playoff schedule too. If you simply played the one with the better matchup each week, this is the schedule you'd face:

SD | GB | STL | DEN | JAX | ATL | DET | CAR | TB | HOU | NO | MIN | SEA | MIN | GB | ARI

A quick note about the same-team Cutler/Matt Forte duo you've got here. Though the effect is probably negligible, this kind of pairing is likely to make your team more (not less) consistent than a comparable-scoring different-team pair. See this article (which was written before the 2008 season) for more discussion.

RB Summary:

Matt Forte is a solid choice as a top running back. He's our #6 RB, so you're ahead of most teams there, which is good considering that, overall, running back is probably not going to be your strongest position.

We see Frank Gore as an average second running back. Kevin Smith is practically criminal at RB3. Shonn Greene looks great as a fourth running back.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Some members of our staff have Matt Forte ranked as high as fourth, which would make him an above average first running back. Heath Cummings defends his high ranking as follows: "With Forte signed the Bears are now calling Michael Bush a short yardage back. That's great news for Forte, especially in PPR formats. He has never had success at the goal line anyway, and his fantasy production has never been based on touchdowns. As worried as I was about Forte in June, I'm moving him back where he belongs, in the top five of PPR running backs."

Some of our staffers have Frank Gore as high as #13, which would make him an above average second running back. Jeff Pasquino's take: "Gore is another veteran featured running back who is closer to the end of his career. The 49ers rely on a ground game as a key cog in their offense, but with several backs added lately including Brandon Jacobs and LaMichael James which will cut into his touches this year. Gore has decent flex / RB3 value for 2012, but don't expect much beyond this year."

WR Summary:

Nice work here. We like both your starting receivers, as our projections indicate that they give you a combined 4.4 point-per-game advantage over an average opponent in this league. Larry Fitzgerald is our #2 ranked receiver, and we have Andre Johnson at #5.

Your bench also looks good. Greg Jennings looks great as a third receiver; he's a likely flex starter. Robert Meachem should also be solidly above average at WR4.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

TE Summary:

Jason Witten is viable but below average as a starting tight end (we have him ranked #8). We're also not too fired up about Coby Fleener as a backup.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Some members of our staff have Jason Witten ranked as high as fourth, which would make him an above average first tight end. Jeff Pasquino defends his high ranking as follows: "Witten turns 30 this year but he still is a favored target for QB Tony Romo, especially on key third downs and near the end zone. Witten was overshadowed by big seasons by other tight ends but he still finished in the Top 8 for the fifth season in a row. Take him as a solid TE1 in all formats for 2012, but consider adding youthful depth in Keeper and Dynasty."

Some members of our staff have Coby Fleener ranked as high as 12th, which would make him a great second tight end and even a legitimate TE1. Jeff Pasquino defends his high ranking as follows: "Fleener gets to hit the ground running as the starter for the Colts, plus he has his collegiate QB under center with Andrew Luck in Indy. Fleener was already regarded as the top tight end in his draft class and now he will see plenty of targets over the middle just like at Stanford."

Kicker Summary:

David Akers, our third ranked kicker, won't win the league for you, but he'll do.

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NFFL-Keeper - rated by footballguys.com - Hyperdrive - 06.09.2012

QB: Aaron Rodgers, Christian Ponder
RB: Trent Richardson, Marshawn Lynch, C.J. Spiller, BenJarvus Green-Ellis
WR: Victor Cruz, Vincent Jackson, Lance Moore, Laurent Robinson
TE: Fred Davis, Dustin Keller
PK: Garrett Hartley

Overview:

This team is built around strong quarterback play. But it has some serious issues post-draft. Your only real core strength is at quarterback, yet that's often the easiest position to fill during the season. Your weaknesses at both running back and receiver put you in a hole before any games have played. To end up with a team constructed like this, you probably did not get value on some of your selections. The players themselves are not necessarily bad --- you just might have paid more than what they were worth.

To make this team into a serious contender, you are going to need to be extremely active in trades and on the waiver wire. You esentially need to turn over significant parts of this roster. Last year running backs like Michael Bush, Darren Sproles, and Fred Jackson all could be had dirt cheap at the draft. Additionally, wide receivers like Victor Cruz and Laurent Robinson were available after a lot of the drafts. You are likely going to need to land some of this year's top waiver plays, so pay close attention to increased workloads, targets, injuries, etc.

Players we particularly like on this team include C.J. Spiller, Dustin Keller, and Garrett Hartley. We have all these guys ranked ahead of where they are typically being drafted.
Bottom line:

With great inseason management, we think you have about a 55 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With good inseason management, we think you have about a 35 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With average inseason management, we think you have a 18 percent chance of making the playoffs.

In any event, we wish you the best of luck. Here's hoping all your weeks are like week 12 of 2011:
Victor Cruz vs. NO: 157 receiving yards, 2 TD
Laurent Robinson vs. MIA: 79 receiving yards, 2 TD
Marshawn Lynch vs. WAS: 131 combined yards, 1 TD
Dustin Keller vs. BUF: 61 receiving yards, 2 TD
Lance Moore vs. NYG: 54 receiving yards, 2 TD
BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs. PHI: 44 combined yards, 2 TD

QB Summary:

You don't need us to tell you this, but we'll tell you anyway: Aaron Rodgers should ensure that your production at the quarterback position is among the best in the league. We have him as the #1 QB according to your scoring rules, and we figure he gives you about a 4.6 point-per-game advantage over an average starting QB.

Our projections don't show Christian Ponder as being a top-notch backup, but the issue will be moot as long as Rodgers stays healthy.

Incidentally, Ponder has what we project as a neutral matchup (DET) during Rodgers's bye.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

RB Summary:

We have Trent Richardson ranked #15 at the position, so we don't even necessarily see him as being RB1 worthy in this league.

Marshawn Lynch should be a good second running back; he's a likely flex starter. We also very much approve of the selection of C.J. Spiller, and not just because you can hold the Fred Jackson owner hostage. He's a fine third running back in his own right. Tough to do better than BenJarvus Green-Ellis at RB4.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Some members of our staff have Trent Richardson ranked as high as fifth, which would make him an above average first running back. Andrew Garda defends his high ranking as follows: "Trent Richardson is far and away the best bet for a rookie impact in 2012. The best back to come out of the Draft since Adrian Peterson�yeah I said it�he will be the backbone of a Browns' offense really bereft of other weapons. Maybe his overall redraft ranking seems high, but this guy is the real deal�accept no imitations. He runs hard between the tackles, has great speed and can catch the ball. Buy early, buy often."

WR Summary:

We see both your starters at receiver as below average. Victor Cruz is our #12 ranked receiver, and we have Vincent Jackson at #25.

Lance Moore is a little below average as a third receiver. Laurent Robinson also looks somewhat weak as a fourth WR.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Some of our staffers have Victor Cruz as high as #5, which would make him an above average first receiver. Mark Wimer's take: "I think 2011 (82/1536/9) was just the beginning for Cruz - with Mario Manningham out of the picture in New York he could easily see 100 receptions, which should translate into 1,400+ yards even if his lofty 18.7 average yards per catch comes back down to a more usual average over the coming season. I've got him down for 85-90 receptions for 1,400-1,500 yards and nine-to-ten TDs heading into regular season. The foot injury to Hakeem Nicks and all the reps Cruz has piled up with Eli Manning while Nicks was out is another reason to be bullish on Cruz's 2012 upside."

Vincent Jackson is ranked #8 by some of our writers, which would make him a great second receiver and even a legitimate WR1. Andrew Garda reasons, "Jackson finally has a team which loves him and is the man in Tampa, even with Mike Williams and Arrelious Benn already there. Josh Freeman has to get right though because otherwise the ball won't reach Jackson in the first place. New head coach Greg Schiano had a no-nonsense program at Rutgers and is doing the same thing in Tampa�reportedly to great relief among some of the players. Jackson was brought in to give Freeman a big-play weapon and I have no doubt he can be that. If Freeman plays like he did his first year or so (and I believe he will play closer to that), Jackson will have a great year. He should still get a lot of targets even if the Schiano-led Bucs run the ball as much as Rutgers liked to. "

TE Summary:

Fred Davis is just OK as a starting tight end (we have him ranked #10). So the selection of Dustin Keller, who we see as a solid backup, was wise.

Kicker Summary:

Garrett Hartley, our fourth ranked kicker, won't win the league for you, but he'll do.

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NFFL-Keeper - rated by footballguys.com - Hyperdrive - 06.09.2012

QB: Matt Ryan, Robert Griffin III
RB: Arian Foster, Doug Martin, Jonathan Stewart, Ben Tate
WR: Calvin Johnson, Julio Jones, Jeremy Maclin, Brandon LaFell, Nate Washington
TE: Jared Cook, Martellus Bennett
PK: Alex Henery

Overview:

In a competitive league, almost every team has a weakness. It's almost impossible to build a team that is strong at all three core positions (quarterback, running back and wide receiver). Your backs and receivers look just fine. And while it's probably not accurate to describe a team with Matt Ryan as weak at the position, we do think you're dangerously thin. As Tom Brady reminded us of in 2008, even quarterbacks with spotless health records can go down at any time. Thus the lack of depth at QB is what's keeping this team from getting our full endorsement.

So although this team isn't perfect (few are), it should still be a strong contender.

Players we particularly like on this team include Doug Martin and Brandon LaFell. We have both these guys ranked ahead of where they are typically being drafted.
Bottom line:

With great inseason management, we think you have about a 90 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With good inseason management, we think you have about a 80 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With average inseason management, we think you have a 73 percent chance of making the playoffs.

In any event, we wish you the best of luck. Here's hoping all your weeks are like week 16 of 2011:
Arian Foster vs. IND: 174 combined yards, 1 TD
Jared Cook vs. JAX: 169 receiving yards, 1 TD
Julio Jones vs. NO: 128 receiving yards, 1 TD
Brandon LaFell vs. TB: 103 receiving yards, 1 TD
Calvin Johnson vs. SD: 102 receiving yards, 1 TD

QB Summary:

We expect Matt Ryan to be a solid starter. According to our projections, he's the #6 QB, so you should be better off than most teams in the starting quarterback slot.

Robert Griffin III, who we have rated as the #13 QB, is a nice backup and could conceivably emerge as either a starter for your team or, if Ryan plays as expected, some tempting trade bait for teams with quarterback troubles.

Incidentally, Griffin III has what we project as a good matchup (NYG) during Ryan's bye.

A quick note about the Ryan/Julio Jones hookup you've got here: while we think the effect of the quarterback/receiver hookup has largely been exaggerated in fantasy football circles, it does have a tendency to make your team somewhat more inconsistent than comparable scoring duos from different NFL teams. But if you like the players at both ends of the connection, we do not see any need to make a change because of it.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

RB Summary:

Obviously, Arian Foster is a great way to anchor any RB group. We've got him ranked #2 at the position, and by our reckoning he gives you about a 4.8 point advantage over an average team in the first RB slot.

We love Doug Martin as a second running back. Jonathan Stewart should also be solidly above average at RB3. Ben Tate is a handcuff, but we'd like him as a fourth running back even if you didn't have Arian Foster.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Some members of our staff have Jonathan Stewart ranked as high as 20th, which would make him a great third running back and even a legitimate RB2. Anthony Borbely defends his high ranking as follows: "Stewart was a top 25 RB last year despite only having 142 carries and 4 TDs. He was clearly more effective than DeAngelo Williams and I expect an increase in carries. Expect borderline top-20 numbers this year. Stewart suffered a sprained ankle in the week three preseason game and is listed as day-to-day. It does not impact my ranking. "

Some of our staffers have Ben Tate as high as #33, which would make him a great fourth running back and even a legitimate RB3. Anthony Borbely's take: "Tate filled in admirably when Arian Foster was injured, but unless that happens again, I can't see ranking Tate above a borderline RB3. He is arguably the best handcuff to own. "

WR Summary:

Nice work here. We like both your starting receivers, as our projections indicate that they give you a combined 6.6 point-per-game advantage over an average opponent in this league. Calvin Johnson is our first ranked WR, and we have Julio Jones at #3.

Your bench also looks good. Jeremy Maclin looks great as a third receiver; he's a likely flex starter. Brandon LaFell should also be solidly above average at WR4. Nate Washington looks great as a fifth receiver.

TE Summary:

This is a pretty motley crew. We don't see Jared Cook as a viable starter or Martellus Bennett as an above average backup. Help is needed.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Jared Cook is ranked #14 by some of our writers. Anthony Borbely reasons, "Cook is one of the most intriguing TEs this year and has as much upside as any of the non-elite TEs. Cook flashed his potential in the last 3 games of 2011, racking up 21 catches for 335 yards on 26 targets. The Titans are accumulating a nice collection of weapons and that could limit Cook's targets and there is risk due to his inconsistency, but Cook has the kind of upside that most upper-end TE2's lack."

Kicker Summary:

Alex Henery, our ninth ranked kicker, won't win the league for you, but he'll do.

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NFFL-Keeper - rated by footballguys.com - Hyperdrive - 06.09.2012

QB: Michael Vick, Russell Wilson
RB: Chris Johnson, Fred Jackson, Rashad Jennings
WR: Roddy White, Torrey Smith, Dwayne Bowe, Kenny Britt, Darrius Heyward-Bey
TE: Jimmy Graham, Jacob Tamme
PK: Jason Hanson

Overview:

In a competitive league, almost every team has a weakness. It's almost impossible to build a team that is strong at all three core positions (quarterback, running back and wide receiver). As you probably suspect, we perceive your weakness to be at the quarterback position. Of all the deficiencies to have though, this is usually the easiest one to mask.

Footballguys owner David Dodds even recommends you go into your draft with the goal of landing the top RBs and WRs while waiting to grab QBs late. Value-Based Drafting principles also suggest that teams constructed in this manner end up being strong. But for this team to reach it's full potential, you might need to have a quick trigger finger at the QB position and stay on the look out for good quarterback help. Last year Cam Newton could be had very cheap in August and September, but ended up contributing to a lot of fantasy championships. In 2010 it was Michael Vick and Josh Freeman; in 2009 it was Brett Favre; in 2008, the same could be said of players like Aaron Rodgers, Kurt Warner, and Matt Cassel. Quarterbacks like these can be found every year, and that could be the key to your team's success.

So although this team isn't perfect (few are), it should still be a strong contender.

Players we particularly like on this team include Russell Wilson, Torrey Smith, Fred Jackson, Kenny Britt, Darrius Heyward-Bey, Dwayne Bowe, and Jason Hanson. We have all these guys ranked ahead of where they are typically being drafted.
Bottom line:

With great inseason management, we think you have about a 99 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With good inseason management, we think you have about a 90 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With average inseason management, we think you have a 84 percent chance of making the playoffs.

In any event, we wish you the best of luck. Here's hoping all your weeks are like week 10 of 2010:
Michael Vick vs. WAS: 333 passing yards, 80 rushing yards, 6 TD
Dwayne Bowe vs. DEN: 186 receiving yards, 2 TD
Fred Jackson vs. DET: 170 combined yards, 2 TD
Roddy White vs. BAL: 138 receiving yards, 2 TD
Chris Johnson vs. MIA: 124 combined yards, 1 TD

QB Summary:

We have Michael Vick rated #9 among quarterbacks, which makes him a less-than-stellar starter in this league. But we like the selection of our #12-rated QB, Russell Wilson, to go with him. Hopefully between the two of them, you should be able to cobble together some good production at the position, but this strategy always carries with it the downside that you'll drive yourself crazy trying to decide who to start from week to week.
Incidentally, these two have a terrific combined schedule and a decent playoff schedule too. If you simply played the one with the better matchup each week, this is the schedule you'd face:

ARI | DAL | GB | NYG | CAR | NE | SF | DET | NO | DAL | WAS | CAR | DAL | ARI | CIN | SF

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

RB Summary:

Chris Johnson is a solid choice as a top running back. He's our #4 RB, so you're ahead of most teams there.

Fred Jackson looks great as a second running back. We also see Rashad Jennings as an above average RB3.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

WR Summary:

Nice work here. We like both your starting receivers. Roddy White is our #6 ranked receiver, and we have Torrey Smith at #15.

Your bench also looks good. Dwayne Bowe looks great as a third receiver; he's a likely flex starter. Likewise, Kenny Britt should be excellent at WR4. Tough to do better than Darrius Heyward-Bey at WR5.

TE Summary:

As you are well aware, Jimmy Graham is an elite tight end. We have him ranked first overall at the position. He's about 5.7 points per game better than an average starting TE in this league. Jacob Tamme is a nice backup.

Kicker Summary:

Jason Hanson, our sixth ranked kicker, won't win the league for you, but he'll do.

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NFFL-Keeper - rated by footballguys.com - Hyperdrive - 06.09.2012

QB: Alex Smith, Matt Schaub
RB: Ryan Mathews, Michael Bush, Chris Wells
WR: Miles Austin, Mike Wallace, Pierre Garcon
TE: Rob Gronkowski, Tony Scheffler
PK: Rob Bironas

Overview:

Your starting lineup is respectable, but the lack of depth is a serious problem. If you're lucky enough to avoid the injury bug, you might be OK. But that's a tough thing to have to count on.
To make this team into a serious contender, you are going to need to be extremely active in trades and on the waiver wire. You esentially need to turn over significant parts of this roster. Last year running backs like Michael Bush, Darren Sproles, and Fred Jackson all could be had dirt cheap at the draft. Additionally, wide receivers like Victor Cruz and Laurent Robinson were available after a lot of the drafts. Quarterbacks like Cam Newton last season, Michael Vick in 2010, Brett Favre in 2009, Matt Cassel in 2008, and Derek Anderson in 2007 could all be had cheap just after draft time. You are likely going to need to land many of this year's top waiver plays to make any significant noise, so pay close attention to increased workloads, targets, injuries, etc.

Bottom line:

With great inseason management, we think you have about a 35 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With good inseason management, we think you have about a 20 percent chance of making the playoffs.
With average inseason management, we think you have a 1 percent chance of making the playoffs.

In any event, we wish you the best of luck. Here's hoping all your weeks are like week 2 of 2011:
Miles Austin vs. SF: 143 receiving yards, 3 TD
Rob Gronkowski vs. SD: 86 receiving yards, 2 TD
Ryan Mathews vs. NE: 126 combined yards, 1 TD
Mike Wallace vs. SEA: 126 receiving yards, 1 TD

QB Summary:

We have Alex Smith rated #14 among quarterbacks, so we're not even sold on him as a fantasy starter in your league. But #15-rated QB Matt Schaub provides you with another viable option. So while the position doesn't figure to be a strength, with shrewd management and a little luck you might end up with decent production at QB
Incidentally, these two have a terrific combined schedule and a nice playoff schedule too. If you simply played the one with the better matchup each week, this is the schedule you'd face:

GB | DET | MIN | TEN | BUF | GB | SEA | ARI | BUF | STL | JAX | NO | TEN | NE | NE | MIN

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

RB Summary:

We have Ryan Mathews ranked #13 at the position, so we don't even necessarily see him as being RB1 worthy in this league. And we also have some doubts about whether your depth at running back is going to make up for it, so we feel this is an area of concern.

We may not love Michael Bush at second RB, but we like the fact that you can hold the Matt Forte owner hostage. We really don't like Chris Wells at third running back.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Some members of our staff have Ryan Mathews ranked as high as fifth, which would make him an above average first running back. Maurile Tremblay defends his high ranking as follows: "He'll probably miss the first game or two with a broken clavicle. After that, Mathews should get a workload similar to what LaDainian Tomlinson got under Norv Turner a decade ago --- for as long as he can stay healthy."

Some of our staffers have Michael Bush as high as #25. Maurile Tremblay's take: "Matt Forte will be the lead back as long as he stays healthy, but Michael Bush is an effective runner who will have a role in the offense. He may get some goal-line carries. And if Forte misses time, Bush should be a fantasy starter."

WR Summary:

We see both your starters at receiver as below average. Miles Austin is our 20th ranked WR, and we have Mike Wallace at #28.

Pierre Garcon should serve as a very solid third receiver; he's a likely flex starter.

We might suggest adding a bit more depth here. See the end of the report for some suggestions on who to pick up.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Some members of our staff have Mike Wallace ranked as high as 11th, which would make him a great second receiver and even a legitimate WR1. Jeff Pasquino defends his high ranking as follows: "Wallace is the clear top target for Ben Roethlisberger, and without a strong rushing attack entering 2012 the Steelers will be very pass-happy on offense. Wallace is the veteran now with no Hines Ward, so expect him to lead the way with a Top 10 fantasy finish."

TE Summary:

As you are well aware, Rob Gronkowski is an elite tight end. We have him ranked second overall at the position. He's about 3.0 points per game better than an average starting TE in this league. We don't see Tony Scheffler as an adequate second tight end. An upgrade here would be nice, but if Gronkowski holds up, it won't matter.

Note that the above "thoughts" were generated by David Dodds's projections. Others have different takes:

Some of our staffers have Tony Scheffler as high as #26. Will Grant's take: "In an offense that's loaded with talent at most of the pass-catching positions, Scheffler still manages to pull in a few TD receptions each season. In a PPR league he loses a little value from his low Receptions per game. Keep an eye on him as a possible late round flyer, in case some of the younger WRs do not pan out. "

Kicker Summary:

We don't think Rob Bironas is starter quality in this league. Keep a sharp eye on the waiver wire.

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