Welcome
Sports Outlaw's Scott Henkel brings you a weekly look at the fantasy football stock exchange known as Ballin' or Fallin'.
Scott evaluates quarterbacks, runningbacks, wide receivers, tight ends, and defenses from across the NFL and lets you know if the player or team is on the rise or falling. If a player or team is Ballin' their stock is on the rise. If a player or team is Fallin' they are losing stock.
Are your players on his list? Find out each week in Ballin' or Fallin'!
1st Down or 4th and Forever: Season II Vol. 1
Great googly moogly has it been a year already? Well fear not truth addicts because your 364 day wait is over. 1st or 4th is back at Sports Outlaw to bring the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help me God!
In case you missed last season's weekly rant on who is ballin' and who is crawlin' in the world of fantasy football and got your ass handed to you in your league let me start by welcoming you to the only article you need in fantasy football to dominate your league. Now let me recap how this little thing is arranged:
If you think I'm blowing smoke on my “1st Down” picks, copy it into a comment and take me to task. If you think you know a guy is going to tank next week go ahead and blind us with your awesomeness.
2) McNabb is for all intents and purposes in a contract year. He's getting a ton of heat for getting hurt and not sealing the deal in the playoffs. This is his year to shine. He will either blow up and put points up or he'll be looking for
a new job.
My money is he blows up. I think he's going to produce like he did before his last massive injury. He will easily be the top producing ff quarterback when it is all said and done...barring injury. And that gamble is what makes this game still fun after all those years of winning.
Donovan McNabb…..1ST DOWN!!!!
Jay Cutler: The insulin junkie is back healthy and with another year under his belt. I think last season was an aberration due to him losing some 30 pounds over the course of the season with an undiagnosed illness. He also gets Marshall back along with exciting Eddie Royal to help make plays. The running game will be likely week to week but as long as Selvin Young averages 5 yards per carry the gig is his. If he's doing that Cutler is getting lose coverage through a solid play fake which in my opinion allows him to crack top 5 this season ahead of guys like Romo and Brees.
Jay Cutler…..1ST DOWN!!!!
This off season has given me soooo much to rant about it makes selecting difficult. So I'll go with an abbreviated format:
1) Travis "Smokedog" Henry - MORON!!! You got one last shot in Denver and literally pissed it away. Good luck finding a job that will pay child support now you doofus. The next time we see this bag of crap will be on an episode of COPS.
2) Tinker Bell - Seriously dude what are you, 12 years old? You got dumped because you have no heart and you go and steal the guy who replaced you bags? And now your time in the NFL is done. Unfreakingreal.
3) Chad J...Ocho Cinco - Alright the gimmick is going to sell some jerseys. But if you were going to change your last name to do it at LEAST consult a Spanish speaking person to get the name right. The whole of the Spanish world are laughing at you.
Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the forums!
In case you missed last season's weekly rant on who is ballin' and who is crawlin' in the world of fantasy football and got your ass handed to you in your league let me start by welcoming you to the only article you need in fantasy football to dominate your league. Now let me recap how this little thing is arranged:
A “1st Down” rating means this guy is either going nuts or showing signs of busting out of the straight jacket. Since this is still preseason I'll be looking long term to the season. Next week it switches back to a week by week analysis.
“4th and Forever” is going to be run a little different this season. Last year you just got to read about me clowning on guys. This year it is your turn. Time for some reader participation.
If you think I'm blowing smoke on my “1st Down” picks, copy it into a comment and take me to task. If you think you know a guy is going to tank next week go ahead and blind us with your awesomeness.
Now that we're acquainted let's get this season started. Since the season starts this week consider this your first shot out of the gate for week one:
1st Down
Runningbacks:
Michael Turner: I know a good situation when I see one. And Turner's move to Atlanta is one of those gold nuggets fantasy football fans wait for every season. Here is a guy that at times outshined Superman in San Diego last season. Now he gets the starting nod in an offense promising to get him the ball early and often in both the run and pass. His biggest negative is that he's got a rookie under center. I don't care. Fantasy football is a game of reading statistics and going with your gut. My spare tire tells me loud and clear that Turner should be your #1 back.
Michael Turner…..1ST DOWN!!!!
Michael Turner…..1ST DOWN!!!!
Frank Gore: Yes, the same Frank Gore I clowned all season long last year is a guy I'm good with pinning my hopes and dreams of winning another title in 08. Is he a walking MASH unit with bum knees and shoulders? Yup. Quarterback still suck? Yup. No supporting cast at wr? Yup. Again, I don't care. My reasoning is simple. JT O'Sullivan might suck as a fantasy football option and the wideouts are lead by a guy who was drafted when dirt was new but they will be juuuuust enough to get Gore out into space and let him do his thing. Martz has done more with less and has not gushed about a rb since Marshall. Gore is going to be a mad value pick in ppr leagues.
Frank Gore…..1ST DOWN!!!! Ray Rice: I know what you're thinking here, "Dang Ram, another runningback on a team with a craptastic quarterback?" More of you are thinking what the hell I'm doing listing a dude who doesn't even start. I have to admit, I was not sold on Rice as a pro prospect during the draft. Now after seeing him perform with the 1st team Ratbirds I am convinced the Mid-Atlantic Midget is going to be a huge addition this season. He has hands, desire, and power. This season is a new head coach and a new attitude that fits Rice to a "T". Even if Willis was 100% healthy I'd still be all about Rice. Think back to what Maurice Jones-Drew did with an older Fred Taylor his rookie season and project that towards Rice. The conditions are nearly identical.
Ray Rice…..1ST DOWN!!!! Wide Receivers:
Calvin Johnson: Megatron is healthy. Martz is gone. Cue CJ's entrance into the elite ranks of fantasy football wideouts. The Lions might not want to pass as much as they did last season. But they will have to pass that much and more because of no ability to run the ball. Most people are riding Megat....I mean "Bolt"'s jock this pre-season and yours truly is one of those people. This is the season he stands up and dominates the position.
Calvin Johnson…..1ST DOWN!!!!
Calvin Johnson…..1ST DOWN!!!!
Brandon Marshall: That one game suspension was music to Cutler's ears. This is a man among boys who if he keeps his head on straight will be up there among the elite wr's this season. If you passed on him and took someone like Andre Johnson or Chad Ocho Cinco you're going to want to take yourself outside where the wife and kids can't see you and kick your own ass.
Brandon Marshall…..1ST DOWN!!!! Antonio Bryant: This is my "WTF?!?!" pick of the year. He shouldn't be mentioned in the same breath as the guys I wrote about earlier but here is a guy that is going to sneak up on owners because of his unceremonious dumping from the Niners and year-long timeout by the NFL. Can he rebuild a career with Jeff Garthia passing him the ball? I think he can. And he'll outproduce many other wideouts with bigger names, too. If he's sitting on your ww quietly pick him up and see what I'm talking about. All I require is you name your firstborn after me. Small price to pay.
Brandon Marshall…..1ST DOWN!!!! Quarterbacks:
Donovan McNabb: Some of you clowns know I recently traded Brady for what ended up to be McNabb and Ray Rice. I was chided and ridiculed as expected from this group of knuckledraggers. I did it knowing two things:
1) Brady will never....EVER...sniff that kind of production. EVER. And the post SB loss will further push his production further down. 2) McNabb is for all intents and purposes in a contract year. He's getting a ton of heat for getting hurt and not sealing the deal in the playoffs. This is his year to shine. He will either blow up and put points up or he'll be looking for
a new job.
My money is he blows up. I think he's going to produce like he did before his last massive injury. He will easily be the top producing ff quarterback when it is all said and done...barring injury. And that gamble is what makes this game still fun after all those years of winning.
Donovan McNabb…..1ST DOWN!!!!
Jay Cutler: The insulin junkie is back healthy and with another year under his belt. I think last season was an aberration due to him losing some 30 pounds over the course of the season with an undiagnosed illness. He also gets Marshall back along with exciting Eddie Royal to help make plays. The running game will be likely week to week but as long as Selvin Young averages 5 yards per carry the gig is his. If he's doing that Cutler is getting lose coverage through a solid play fake which in my opinion allows him to crack top 5 this season ahead of guys like Romo and Brees.
Jay Cutler…..1ST DOWN!!!!
This Week’s Rant:
This off season has given me soooo much to rant about it makes selecting difficult. So I'll go with an abbreviated format:
1) Travis "Smokedog" Henry - MORON!!! You got one last shot in Denver and literally pissed it away. Good luck finding a job that will pay child support now you doofus. The next time we see this bag of crap will be on an episode of COPS.
2) Tinker Bell - Seriously dude what are you, 12 years old? You got dumped because you have no heart and you go and steal the guy who replaced you bags? And now your time in the NFL is done. Unfreakingreal.
3) Chad J...Ocho Cinco - Alright the gimmick is going to sell some jerseys. But if you were going to change your last name to do it at LEAST consult a Spanish speaking person to get the name right. The whole of the Spanish world are laughing at you.
So there you have it, the season can now begin. Remember this season the 4th's are up to you. If you're smarter than me....well that just isn't possible but if you think you are smarter than me I want to read it. And if you have an idea for next weeks 1ST DOWN!!!! email me your bit and if it doesn't suck I'll publish it and give you full props:
airram98@hotmail.com
airram98@hotmail.com
Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in the forums!
-Scott “The Ram” Henkel
Total Comments 3
Comments
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I hope you're right Ram. My money league roster includes, Cutler, McNabb, Brandon Marshall and Megatron. Great minds think alike eh?Posted 09-05-2008 at 01:51 PM by chrisslabaugh
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The force is strong in this one. Fear not Mr. Slabaugh, you're safe in your money league.Posted 09-05-2008 at 03:32 PM by The Ram 
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4TH DOWN!!!!
Alright to start off the season I have a 4th DOWN to get us started. This one does not go out to any NFL player. No, this one goes out to those in the fantasy football world that are either rejoicing the misfortune or patting themselves on the back for being fantasy football masterminds for dealing Tom Brady before he was injured.
If you are cheering or are in anyway happy that Brady might be done for the season just because you don’t like the Patriots or their head coach; shame on you. You freaking suck at life. We are all laughing at you and imagine you sitting there in the dark of your parent’s basement unable to drive because you still have your learners permit, braces flashing through your smile in the glow of a monitor that hides your acne and Coke bottle glasses, typing away about how you don’t care and he deserves it. You’re letting your little petty mind and immaturity show. It does not impress anyone on a message board. It is sickening. You should grow up, shut your crap trap, and let the grown folks talk.
If you somehow now count yourself as a fantasy football stud or mastermind who was somehow able to pull off the ultimate buy low and sell high in fantasy football you need to get a slap of reality with a cinderblock. Whether you know it or not you are very much akin to the slapnut I describe above. You are now proud of your fantasy football acumen because a dude got hurt. You are not that smart nor do you possess the precognitive ability to foresee injury. You are fortunate only in the regard as you now don’t have to start your backup or pray to whatever rock you worship that you are able to get Cassell off waivers. Yay for you.
Both kinds of vacuous entities need to step away from the keyboard, go outside for a walk, and take stock of life. Or maybe this isn’t the hobby for you because you are apparently taking this stuff way too serious and life not serious enough.
And for your frame of reference I traded for Tom Brady in my money league two years ago….and traded him this past off-season for Donovan McNabb and Ray Rice and I don’t feel an ounce of satisfaction. Not even a little. So eat me.Posted 09-08-2008 at 10:31 AM by The Ram
