Fantasy

A Sure-Fire Way to Dominate Your Fantasy Football League

Every NFL season I watch as the idiots at ESPN, NFL Network, CBS Sports, and some others unveil their annual Fantasy Football studs and busts. Not trying to brag, but it has been the same just about every year since I first got into Fantasy Football in the late 1990s. It's simply my thing, and the poor analysts seem to rarely get it right. Last year, 2013, I enrolled in 20 Fantasy Football leagues. I went to the Playoffs in 17 of them, and I won 12 Championships out of the 20 leagues I was enrolled in. If you will listen to me you will win your league.




33% of your path to success rests in your ability to draft the right players. Here are some ground rules you should bear in mind when preparing your draft:

-Take your Pre-Rankings seriously, but it's not the be-all, end-all
-Don't go Chalk
-Don't trust injury-prone players
-Be patient
-Watch the Byes
-Get that Defense
-And then get another
-Don't take the best kicker
-Keep up with the news (Texans' QB)
-Don't get married (to players)

Take your Pre-Rankings seriously, but it's not the be-all, end-all

The first few players matter, for sure, especially if you have the #1 overall draft pick in your league. As long as you aren't just, really stupid, you should be ok here. Right now, ESPN's top 2 FF gurus have Adrian Peterson ranked #1 overall. I disagree here, but it's really just semantics vs. probabilities...again, as long as you aren't a complete moron. If I had the #1 overall pick right now, I would take Peyton Manning, who is primed for another record-breaking year. Why wouldn't he be? He still has 3 of his top 4 receivers from last year, same O-Line, and he's ticked off now. I take him #1, then (in a 12-team league) I take 2 of the following: Alfred Morris, LeVeon Bell, Zac Stacy, or a high-ranked receiver. You might draft a RB, which is fine. Instead of Manning, Morris, and Bell, you have Jamaal Charles, Cam Newton, and Morris/Bell. The statistical drop-off between Manning and Newton is comparable to Charles-Morris/Bell, so decisions like that really come down to your fan favorites. We will talk about specific players later.

Don't Go Chalk

Don't you be that GM who drafts Brees and then Newton just because he was the best player available. "Well I can trade him later." No. You can't. Not for maximum value. Choose your players based on need, not value. Now... Matthew Stafford is still on the board in Round 7, but you already have a QB. By all means, draft him. This also goes for those idiots who like to make their first 3 picks all Running Backs. Those guys never win their leagues because you can't win a league with Kordell Stewart as your QB.

Don't Trust Injury-Prone Players

Stay away from the Gronkowskis, Amendolas, and Fred Taylors. Someone has to draft them, I know. Don't let it be you.

Be Patient

In Auction leagues especially, the Championship team-to-be will always be one of the very last ones to finish their draft. The rules for drafting a Championship team in an Auction league are simple: Draft ONE (and only one) stud, the definition of "stud" here being someone who costs more than 20% of your entire payroll, i.e. Calvin Johnson, Aaron Rodgers, etc; Get good quality in your starting slots; Wait, wait, and wait for optimum depth. I guarantee you will be able to get high-quality players for a dollar apiece if you are patient enough. For Snake leagues, patiently wait for your players, don't draft them too high, and have back-ups waiting for when your heart gets broken and your players are picked. Don't join Auto-pick leagues. Those just are not fun.

  

     Watch the Byes

Excited about Frank Gore being your 3rd RB? Not when you realize that he and your starter share the same Bye week. Scatter your byes and be sure to include this factor into who you draft. 

Get That Defense

I will never, ever, ever understand this, but Fantasy Football GMs just do not value Defenses. I always get the best defenses every year, and they are always a big part of why I win my leagues. And yes, I said Defenses, with a plural. Don't be afraid to grab that Seahawks D in Round 6. Guess what? Take San Francisco with your next pick. Let me explain why. Are you really going to start Seattle's Defense @ Green Bay in Week 8? Of course not. But that's ok. You took my advice and you drafted Carolina's Defense, and they are at Home vs. Jacksonville. Multiple Defenses give you OPTIONS.

 Stay Away From Kickers

There is never any way to tell which kickers will have the best seasons, let alone the best weeks. Don't waste valuable picks on kickers. Instead, wait until the very last round and just take one that you know will at least score a bunch of points. Especially in today's high-scoring NFL, there is no reason you should get hung up on any particular kicker.

Keep Up With the News

"Hmm... Should I trust Ryan Fitzpatrick as my back-up QB?" Well, if you read the news you know that he is halfway decent; however, Andre Johnson wants out of Houston, Arean Foster is starting to get a reputation of injury-proneness, they have no Tight End you have ever heard of, and they lost Ben Tate to free agency. Your #1 overall pick could be determined by your take on how well Bridgewater will do in the cold weather thereby impacting AP), or how Nick Foles and LeSean McCoy are getting along. 

Don't Get Married To Your Players

It's ok to pledge some sort of allegiance to NFL players who have saved your bacon in the past. I wrote Jordan Cameron a Thank-You letter last year for proving to be the difference for me in 2 of my leagues. Just don't ever get too attached that you allow them to overstay their welcome. (Just look at that guy who just drafted Darren Sproles).

33% of your path to success rests in your ability to START the right players. Here are some ground rules you should bear in mind when selecting players each week:

-Analyze the match-ups

-Be Aware of Teammates' Statuses

-Church-proof Roster

-Check the Weather

-Look at Other Stats

-Enjoy Defenses Benefits

Analyze the Match-ups

This sounds so simple, yet I have to say it. Don't put in Brandon Marshall just because he is Brandon Marshall. If the Bears are @ New England, he is going to have a Revis-sized headache all day, and you will want to start Alshon Jeffrey if you are lucky enough to have him. You don't start Aaron Rodgers @ Seattle if you have Romo at Home vs. the Eagles. The only spot this does not really apply to is Tight End. You should really have only one TE, and he should be an automatic start every week. Look at players' past game logs as a major tool to help analyze match-ups.

Be Aware of Teammates' Statuses

The Offensive Line is important here. Tyron Smith, Tony Romo's All-Pro Offensive Tackle, is responsible for protecting his blind side. You can bet that if Smith is missing the game @ Houston because of a leg injury, I will not be starting Romo. If you have been enjoying 3 fruitful weeks of Carlos Hyde racking up all those TDs for the 49ers, you might want to know when Frank Gore is starting to feel better before starting one of them. 

Church-Proof Your Roster

You check your watch, and it's 11:55. Jay Glazer alerts you on your mobile that Mason Crosby got mad and kicked an anvil, won't play. The problem is that Reverend Jones won't expedite the sermon's conclusion, and your roster will soon be doomed with an injured player taking up a valuable spot. Again, if you really want to win your league, be prepared. Have a friend available, get the fantasy app on your phone, feign illness for 18 consecutive weeks, or become a pastor, whatever. 

Check the Weather

You don't want Peyton Manning starting @Buffalo during a blizzard. Don't even draft players like Terry Bridgewater, who will be playing half his games outside in freezing Minneapolis. Some players, such as Rodgers, have already proven their value no matter what the conditions are. 

Look at Other Statistics

Again, you might roll your eyes that I am telling you something so basic, but many people actually have a hard time remembering this. This is exactly why I put McCoy and Charles above AP. Run an analysis on all Receptions/Yds/TDs from all the Running Backs before you draft. Then run them on all your RBs before you start them each week to monitor their progress. Look at your QBs' rushing yards, picks, and fumbles. As far as your Defenses go, you should put more trust in Pts. allowed, and less trust in Total Fantasy Pts, as those numbers can become quite inflated, especially at the beginning of the season. For example, it's Week 7 now. The Jacksonville Defense is the #2 Fantasy D, because they returned 3 INTs for TDs last week. Don't trust them. That was one game. Look at how many points they have given up the last 7 weeks, instead. If you are playing in a Fantasy League that gives pts for return yardage, keep that in mind for your receivers.

Enjoy Defenses Benefit

Remember when I told you to draft the best defense you know of, and then to draft another solid defense? If you did that, you will be smiling every week when you are plugging one of them in. Personally, I try to draft the maximum of 3 Defenses every league I am in, but that does not always work out. 

The other 33% of your success hinges on your ability to capitalize on Free Agency within your league. Following these simple tips, tossing in a little wheeling and dealing could prove to be the difference in almost winning and winning it all.

-Scour, scour, and re-scour Free Agency before Thursday Night

-Look Ahead for Defenses/Kickers

-Sort and Filter, Sort and Filter

Scour, scour, and re-scour Free Agency before Thursday Night

Check Free Agency sometime on Tuesday (before waivers clear). You should be checking up on players who had break-out games, injured players almost ready to come back, and promising players impatient GMs have dropped. If you have a high waiver priority, don't use it unless you are sure it's a lock. If Matt Flynn comes in and throws 4 TDs in Rodgers' place, wait until he does it again! If you just need a kicker, don't ever waste a waiver request. Just wait until Wednesday and pick him up. You aren't finished. Check Free Agency again before the Thursday night game. By the way, get used to those annoying Thursday night games. It doesn't look like the NFL is going to eliminate those any time soon. Check again before the Sunday early games. Championships take due diligence-- believe me, you will find jewels people toss away on the waiver wire.

Look Ahead for Defenses/Kickers

Especially for Defenses (and positions you are crucially weak in, likely due to injury), LOOK AHEAD! If you see that Cleveland, who has absolute worst Offense in the league in this scenario, will be @Buffalo next week, and Buffalo's D is not that bad, AND it will be really friggin cold, go ahead and pick up the Bills Defense. At the very least, you've got 6-8 pts, and the potential for 5 times that much.

Sort and Filter, Sort and Filter

Whether it's ESPN, Yahoo, or a more legitimate gambling site, study and learn the sorting and filtering system they offer. When checking the Free Agent market, look at players' stats over the past 4 weeks, break down averages against only that team they are playing, or look ahead to projected stats. Don't trust the numbers entirely or let them make you crazy, but use them to your advantage for sure.

I will have the complete rankings (QBs, RBs, etc.) at the end. For now, let's look at the individual positions. Without further ado, let's get to the individual player rankings:

Quarterbacks:

     Experts

1 Manning

2 Brees

3 Rodgers

4 Luck

5 Stafford

6 Kaepernick

7 Foles

8 Newton

9 Griffin

10 Brady

11 Ryan

12 Romo

13 Wilson

14 Rivers

15 Cutler

16 Dalton

17 Roeth

18 Alex Smith

19 Tannehill

20 E Manning

My Rankings:

1 Manning

2 Rodgers

3 Brees

4 Luck

5 Newton

6 Foles

7 Rivers

8 Ryan

9 Brady

10 Stafford

11 Dalton

12 Romo

13 Griffin

14 Kaepernick

15 Bradford

16 Wilson

17 Cutler

18 A Smith

19 E Manning

20 Roeth

Explanations:

1-4: Manning, Brees/Rodgers, Luck

The experts and I agree on the Top 4, save for flip-flopping Brees and Rodgers. It's true that Brees passes more, but if Rodgers stays healthy the entire season he still tops Brees' numbers. Luck has climbed up to a solid grip on #4 with a unanimous stamp. It will take a solid year for him to keep that trust he has gained. DON'T BE FOOLED HERE: Luck is NOT in the same category as the other 3. A crystal clear drop-off is evident after the first 3 QBs (and fluke seasons by other QBs).

#5: Cam Newton

The experts have him down at #8. They had him ranked low last off-season, too, and he made them look stupid. So now they put him down at #8 again! His legs alone keep him in the Top 10 QBs, and then he somehow poops out 25 TDs to mediocre/crappy receivers. If you have a Top 3 Draft pick, you should be drafting Newton or Luck with your 2nd pick.

#6, 7: Nick Foles and Philip Rivers

Experts have Foles at 7 and Rivers way down at 14. Rivers had 32 TDs to go along with only 11 picks and 4,500 yards. He also had the 4th-highest QB rating. I really don't understand why he doesn't get higher projections than 14th. As far as Foles, it looks like everybody knows his 27 TDs and 2 INTs are setting 2014 up for a great season for him. Do keep in mind that he lost DeSean Jackson, but he does have Maclin coming back, and still has Riley Cooper (and Darren Sproles, for what that is worth).

#8-10: Brady, Dalton, Stafford

Again, Dalton (Experts #16) doesn't get any respect. He has possibly the 2nd best receiver in Green, and has some solid RB support. He did toss 20 Ints last year, but he also had 33 Touchdowns. He's still young and should see those picks decrease this season. Brady had a "bad year" and still threw 25/11 TDs to INTs. Still, Belichick keeps bringing in injury-prone players, and did nothing to combat that in the off-season. I don't like Stafford, but he did add the best TE in the draft AND Golden Tate. If he doesn't break out into a Top-5 fantasy QB this year, he won't.

#11-13: Kaepernick, Romo, Griffin

Kaepernick shrugged off a tough off-season of scandals and will come back happy with the additions of Steve Johnson and Carlos Hyde. His ability to run should put him in the Top 10 this season. Jerry Jones added some O-Line protection during the off-season, which should help Romo have another fine season. He threw 31/10 last year. Griffin is a huge question mark, but he is worth taking a risk on AS A #2 QB!! Do not trust him with your starting duties until he proves himself. 

#14: Matt Ryan

Ryan had a tough season with injuries to Julio Jones and some horrid Offensive Line support, to go along with some terrible luck. Expect him and the Falcons to bounce back in '14. 

#15: Sam Bradford

The experts don't have him in their Top 20, and I don't blame them. He has never really panned out; however, he is my sleeper for this season. He had some great games to finish out last season before he got injured (He had 14/4 TDs/Ints), he has a potential Pro-Bowler in Zac Stacy now, and he added Gregg Robinson in the draft. Still, he is in the toughest division in football. You should definitely draft him as your back-up and start him against the not-NFC West defenses.

#16-20: Wilson, Cutler, A Smith, E Manning, Roethlisberger

Stay away from these guys. Wilson, Smith, and Roeth are game managers who may or may not get you 2-3 TDs if you start them, and the other 2 are absolute Interception machines. 

Running Backs:

Experts

1 Charles

2 McCoy

3 Peterson

4 Forte

5 Lacy

6 Lynch

7 (LeVeon) Bell

8 Foster

9 Bell

10 Murray

11 Bernard

12 Stacy

13 Ball

14 Martin

15 Morris

16 Bush

17 Ellington

18 Spiller

19 Mathews

20 Vereen

My Rankings

1 McCoy

2 Charles

3 Forte

4 Peterson

5 Lacy

6 Lynch

7 Foster

8 Morris

9 Mathews

10 Martin

11 Stacy

12 Bush

13 Gore

14 Johnson

15 Bernard

16 Bell

17 Ball

18 Murray

19 Ellington

20 Spiller

Explanations

#1-4: McCoy, Charles, Forte, Peterson

The experts agreed with me, but flip-flopped these 4. Charles was statistically better than McCoy last year, but I put McCoy ahead for the upcoming season. They lost DeSean Jackson, so odds are they will be relying on McCoy just a bit more. Don't be afraid of them adding Sproles to take away carries. Charles and Forte are no slouches. It was difficult to arrange these 3. They are just as deadly with the receptions than McCoy. As far as AP, I dropped him to #4 because he will have an unproven QB, no matter who it is, AND he will be playing in rough conditions for the next 2 years. That is not good for a partially injury-prone RB.

#5-7: Lacy, Lynch, Foster

I would definitely nab Manning/Brees/Rodgers before any of these guys. Lacy is a freak, and could make a move into the Top 4 this season, as could Foster if he can stay healthy. That is a huge "if," especially since he doesn't have a very reliable QB. Andre Johnson's possible departure also spells bad news for him. As far as Lynch, he is gravely overworked, and I smell injury this season. You can draft him and I won't mock you, but I won't draft him.

#8-10: Morris, Mathews, Martin

The experts have all these guys ranked lower because they are smoking crack. After a spectacular rookie year, Morris's production suffered a bit because Griffin's did. Don't expect a repeat of that. They have a more offensive-set head coach now, and Morris will have another solid year, despite whatever Griffin may do. Ryan Mathews put together the quietest 1,450-yard season (receptions included) that I have ever heard of. I had to do a double-take when I saw his stats. The most encouraging number from him is his 4.4 ypc. Expect more good numbers in '14. Doug Martin is a huge question mark. New coach Lovie Smith wants to spread the ball around the other backs. This will obviously halt his numbers a bit, but it will also keep him healthy.

#11-13: Stacy, Bush, Gore

The experts have Stacy and Bush at #12 and #14, while they inexplicably left Gore off their Top 20. A healthy Bradford and super draft pick Gregg Robinson are only going to improve Zac Stacy's numbers. I may actually have him too low. Reggie Bush is going to be electrifying, as always, but you better handcuff Joique Bell to him in your line-up for when Bush gets his annual injury. Gore may be winding down his career, but not yet. He had 1,100 yards+ last year, and Carlos Hyde hasn't proven himself yet. Let's just wait and see before sending Gore into retirement.

#14: Chris Johnson

Here is another one the experts left off their list completely. He had a long overdue surgery in the off-season to repair his meniscus, and that actually may help him to regain some of his old speed. He is not bad for a RB2 in your league.

#15-17: Bernard, LeVeon Bell, Ball

I expected Cincinnati to release the Law Firm (Ben Jarvus-Green-Ellis), but it never happened. Still, expect Bernard to take over more of the starting duties. He really needs to improve on his ypc, but man is he explosive in the passing game or what? I am not sold on Bell as the long-term answer in Pittsburgh. He has a nose for the end zone, but his ypc are too low for a #1 RB. Draft him if you can get him low enough, but don't count on him to win your league for you. Montee Ball appears like he will has a pro-bowl season, but we can't be positive. 

#18-20: Murray, Ellington, Spiller

Stay away from injury-prone Murray, but if you can get him low enough in the draft he will certainly help you until he does get put on the shelf. Ellington is a big mystery. Again, take him in the lower rounds and make him your RB3 if you want, but don't cast all your chips on him. You know the rules here, if you take Spiller.....better get Freddy Jackson, who actually had a better year than Spiller last year.

NFL Fantasy Teams: AFC South Intro

What if you took the all-time best players from each of the 8 NFL divisions and paired them up against each other on a neutral field? Just imagine: Brett Favre and Calvin Johnson taking on Elway and Marcus Allen; Brady and Moss vs Ray Lewis and Mean Joe Greene. Don't think about it any longer, because we are doing it! In this first installment of the Battle of the NFL Divisions, we introduce the all-time AFC South roster.







Division Teams: Indianapolis Colts, Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans








2 Super Bowls Titles, 5 AFC Championships, 28 Hall of Famers (all from Indianapolis and Tennessee)

So, we will soon begin the painful procedure of dissecting this division down into its not-so-illustrious units. As evidenced by the numbers above, the Texans and Jaguars have not added much to this comparatively young division. It's going to be absolutely fun discussing names like Manning and Unitas, and not so much fun getting down and deep in the more obscure ones. 








Pride of the Division: Aerial Dominance

 Can't say it hasn't been interesting in the AFC South (and locations the Oilers and Colts used to be in). From Unitas/Berry to the great Run n' Shoot offenses to the Peyton Manning era, even the Jaguars and Texans have chipped in a couple of Hall of Fame receivers in Jimmy Smith and Andre Johnson.









Division Scar They Can Never Remove: The Tragedy of Steve McNair

"Steve McNair had it all. He was a NFL quarterback who came from humble beginnings. He was regarded as one of the toughest men to play the game. He was married, had four children and he donated his time and money to help those in need. He was named sportsman of the year by the league and severed as a mentor for other young, black quarterbacks coming into the league.

Then there’s the other McNair: The cheater who died from four gunshot wounds from his 20-year-old mistress. She shot McNair after she discovered that he was seeing another young lady and that he was not planning on divorcing his wife. The 9mm semiautomatic pistol Sahel Kazemi used to kill McNair and herself was found on the floor of the condo McNair shared with a friend.

This cheating story ended tragically. McNair never got the opportunity to cry at a press conference and admit the errors of his ways, like Laker great Kobe Bryant several years ago. His children will forever know that their father was killed by his lover. And McNair’s wife was kept in the dark, too, telling police she did not know her husband was having an affair until the former quarterback was found dead. Kazemi was taken advantaged of by an older man with millions of dollars. She believed in him and reacted violently when he deceived her too. Now her family has to make sense of this tragedy.

McNair possessed the perfect blend of confidence and athleticism on the field. It’s too bad that deceit and vanity contributed to his death off the field."

     -James Causey








Team Captain: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

Honestly, if scientists found another equally-civilized planet who wanted to get together for a Football Bowl for the ages, wouldn't Earth select Manning as the Captain of the team? By the time this guy's eulogy is read, he just might go down as the most knowledgeable footballer ever, player or coach. His passion, ambition, and tenacity are beyond compare. This is all before we even look at his skills, which are just stupid.







God's Perfect AFC South Athlete: Jevon Kearse

They called him "the Freak." He was 6'5", 262 pounds, had an amazing 86" wingspan, a 38-inch vertical leap, and ran a 4.43 40. Perhaps the most impressive physical attribute he has is his giant hands. He can hold the ends of a 12-inch ruler in one hand, from little finger to thumb. Think about that, then imagine what he did to opposing linemen for 10 years.









Division Bad Boy: Marvin Harrison

Let's just cut through all the BS and get to the facts here: 

-The FBI joined forces with the Philadelphia Police Department to investigate Marvin Harrison for 2 separate shootings-- one fatal.

-Dwight Dixon, a convicted drug dealer with ties to Harrison, was in the middle of a civil lawsuit against Harrison, claiming the future Hall of Famer shot him in the chest, stomach, and arm while they were at Harrison's Philadelphia car wash.

-During the process of this months-long suit, Dixon was shot and killed by an unknown man who wore a hooded sweatshirt, jeans, and white shoes. 

-The murder took place just blocks away from Harrison's car wash.

-Dixon told police first responders that he believed the 2 shootings were linked before he fell into a coma and eventually died. He never was able to give a formal police interview.

-Ballistics shows that Harrison's gun was indeed used as the murder weapon; however, Harrison denies any knowledge, says he did not even have access to that weapon on that day, and police have never proven that he is a liar.

-A second witness, Robert Nixon, also told police that he saw Harrison fire a gun. Nixon, who was wounded in the back by stray gunfire, filed a civil suit against Harrison last July, claiming that the ex-wide receiver "continued shooting at the other person ... as [he] drove past plaintiff. In doing so, a bullet from defendant's handgun struck plaintiff in the back with great force and violence."  After an investigation, the Philadelphia district attorney's office announced that it was not bringing charges in connection with that incident.

-The reputations of both witnesses roadblocked the entire case: "I'm pretty comfortable I know who fired the gun," District Attorney Lynn Abraham, who has since left the job, said at the time. But she added that she was could not go forward with just the statements of Nixon and Dixon. "With these witnesses, I don't think so," she said.

-Harrison was never charged, and the case is as dead as a doornail. 






Best Owner: Bud Adams, Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers

Houston hates him, but he landed them on the sports map and kept them there for a few decades before turning the city over to the new Texans and moving to upgrade Nashville. Besides literally helping build and shape the NFL, Adams' greatest singular accomplishment is, no doubt, the Eighth Wonder of the World: The Astrodome. 







Best Stadium: Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis Colts

The House That Peyton Manning Built






Best Fans: Indianapolis Colts

Stadium Rank: 6
Television Rank: 12
Merchandise Rank: 15
Social Media Rank: 5
Fan Club Rank: 3








Biggest "Could Have Been" in AFC SouthHistory: The Colts Draft Ryan Leaf.

Brass tacks: The Colts always had the #1 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, and Manning was pretty much "their guy" from the very beginning of the process. But let's pretend like the choice was a bit more difficult and that they had drafted Leaf instead. How would things have been different?

First, Leaf would not have been a bust (at least not as much of one). When the Chargers drafted Leaf, they threw him into Game 1 with no legendary quarterback to study under. Craig Whelihan, in fact, was the ONLY other quarterback on the roster! Ever hear of him? Me neither. Add to this that the Chargers brought absolutely no help at RB or receivers, and they also had a lame duck in unsuccessful head coach Kevin Gilbride and his final season. Leaf never had a chance. Under Leaf, the Chargers' record was 3-6 and his career was doomed from the start. Had he been drafted by Indianapolis, he would have inherited experienced head coach, Jim Mora, and future Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk an Marvin Harrison to work with.

Second, Peyton Manning still would have been Peyton Manning. If there is one thing we have learned, it's that this dude does the impossible. He would have found a way to transform San Diego into a Super Bowl winner. Imagine him with Tomlinson and eventually Antonio Gates. 

Third, the Chargers most definitely do NOT draft Drew Brees later. Instead, the Cowboys or Raiders pick Brees, since San Diego is not there to get him. Like Manning, Brees also overcomes negative elements and leads his team to new heights. Drew Brees, a Texas guy leading the Dallas Cowboys to more Super Bowl Championships...





MVP: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

Who else would it be? NFL records
Manning holds a number of individual career records:

Regular season
Most seasons with at least 4,000 passing yards: 13 (1999–2004, 2006–2010, 2012–2013)
Most passing yards, season: 5477 (2013)
Most games with 40+ pass attempts in a season: 10 (2010)
Most consecutive seasons with at least 20 touchdown passes: 13 (1998–2010)
Most consecutive seasons with at least 25 touchdown passes: 13 (1998–2010)
Most games with a perfect passer rating, career: 4 (includes 1 playoff game)
Most consecutive games started to open a career: 208 
Most touchdown passes, season: 55 (2013)
Most consecutive games with at least 2 touchdown passes: 13 (games 1–13, 2004)
Most consecutive games with at least 4 touchdown passes: 5 (games 7–11, 2004)
Most games with at least 4 touchdown passes, season: 8 (2013)
Most regular season games with at least 4 touchdown passes, career: 25 
Most games with at least 5 touchdown passes, career: 8 (includes 1 playoff game)
Most games with at least 5 touchdown passes and no interceptions, career: 5
One of only seven QBs with at least 6 touchdown passes in two games (tied with Sammy Baugh, Y. A. Tittle, Daryle Lamonica, Tom Brady, Charley Johnson and George Blanda)
One of only two QBs with at least 6 touchdown passes and no interceptions in two games (tied with Tom Brady)
One of only seven QBs with at least 7 touchdown passes, game (tied with Sid Luckman, Adrian Burk, George Blanda, Y.A. Tittle, Joe Kapp and Nick Foles)
One of only three QBs with at least 7 touchdown passes and no interceptions, game (tied with Y.A. Tittle and Nick Foles)
Most regular season games with at least 300 passing yards: 84
Most regular and postseason games with at least 300 passing yards: 93
Most games with at least 400 yards passing and no interceptions: 6
Most career touchdown passes in Thursday games: 32
Most touchdown passes on a Thursday game: 7
Largest career TD-INT differential: 272
Highest career passing TDs/game average (min. 150 TD passes): 2.046 TDs/game
Second-Highest career passing yards/game average: 263.6 (Drew Brees, 263.7)
Second-Highest career completions/game average (min. 100 games played): 22.5 (Drew Brees, 23.4)
Highest completion percentage by a QB in one month in NFL history (min. 75 attempts): 81.8% (December 2008)
Most career games with a completion percentage of 70% or higher (min. 10 attempts): 66
Most consecutive regular season wins as a starter: 23 (2008–2009)
Most seasons with 10+ wins as a starter (regular season only): 13 (1999–2000, 2002–2010, 2012–2013)
Most seasons with 12+ wins as a starter (regular season only): 10 (1999, 2003–2009, 2012-2013)
Only QB with seven straight seasons of 12+ wins as a starter(2003–2009)
Only QB with nine straight seasons of 10+ wins as a starter (2002–2010)
Only QB to lead five consecutive 4th quarter comeback wins (games 7–11, 2009)
Most fourth quarter comeback wins in one season: 7 (2009)
First QB to defeat the other 31 teams in the regular season (Tom Brady did this later the same day, and Brett Favre did it the following week)
Most wins as a starting QB in a decade, regular season only: 115 (2000s)
Most wins as a starting QB in a decade, regular & postseason: 124 (2000s)
Most AP NFL MVP Awards: 5 (2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2013)
Most Touchdown Passes in a decade: 314 (2000–2009)
Most Passing Yards in a decade: 42,254 (2000–2009)
Most Completions in a decade: 3,575 (2000–2009)
Playoff records
Most 300+ yard passing games: 8
Most yards passing, 1st half of game: 360 vs. Denver Broncos, 1/9/05
Led the biggest comeback in conference championship game history (18 pts), 1/21/07 vs. New England
One of only four QBs to post a perfect 158.3 passer rating in a game (Don Meredith, Terry Bradshaw, Dave Krieg)
Most games with 20+ completions: 14 (surpassed by Tom Brady in 2011)
Most games with 30+ completions: 4 (surpassed by Drew Brees in 2011)
Most games with 30+ attempts: 17
Most games with 40+ attempts: 8 (tied by Tom Brady in 2011)
Most completions and attempts in a single postseason: 97/153 (2006)
One of only 2 quarterbacks to complete 80% of his passes in two playoff games (tied with Kurt Warner)
Most consecutive postseasons with at least one start: 9 (2002–2010)
Most postseason losses by a quarterback: 12
Most first-round postseason losses by a quarterback: 8
Rookie records
Most touchdown passes: 26 (tied by Russell Wilson in 2012)
Most interceptions thrown: 28
Most consecutive games with a touchdown pass (games 4–16): 13
Most games with at least one touchdown pass: 15
Most games with 300+ yards passing: 4
With Marvin Harrison
Manning and former Colts wide receiver Marvin Harrison hold a number of QB-WR tandem records:

Most completions/receptions (career): 953
Most passing/receiving yards (career): 12,756
Most passing/receiving touchdowns (career): 112
Most completions/receptions in a season, QB-to-WR duo: 143 (2002)
Most passing/receiving yards in a season, QB-to-WR duo: 1,722 (2002)
Pro Bowl records
Most Pro Bowl selections for a QB: 13
Most consecutive Pro Bowl selections for a QB: 9 (during the 2002–2010 seasons)
Most passing attempts (career): 150
Most passing attempts (game): 41 (2004)
Most completions (career): 92
Most completions (game): 22 (2004)
Most passing yards (career): 1,278
Most passing yards (game): 342 (2004)
Most passing touchdowns (career): 13






AFC South Head Coach: Tony Dungy, Indianapolis Colts

Dungy had already essentially been suckered out of his Super Bowl Championship he earned in Tampa Bay, and he built up a solid defense that enabled the Colts to fine polish and mold their team into a winner. He led the Colts to an amazing 85-27 record before trading his clipboard for a microphone. Perhaps even more importantly, Dungy has been a huge role model to countless individuals while overcoming a great deal of personal tragedies. 







AFC South Defensive Coordinator: Don Shula, Indianapolis (Baltimore) Colts

Shula took over the Colts' gig at age 33, making him the youngest coach in league history up until that point. In his 7 years in Baltimore, they went 71-23. Under his leadership, they won the NFL Championship, lost 2 more, and lost a heart-breaking Super Bowl to the New York Jets. The Colts also won a Super Bowl the year after he left.







AFC South Offensive Coordinator: Tom Moore, Indianapolis Colts

Somebody has to coach Peyton Manning, and it's this genius. He has been coaching offense in various places since 1965. This includes a long stint working under Coach Chuck Noll during the dynasty years. He is currently the Assistant Head Coach and Offensive Consultant for the Arizona Cardinals.





An Open Letter to: The guys who did not make the list

Dear Steve McNair and Maurice Jones-Drew, I am sorry I had to leave you off the AFC South roster. Steve, you were great-- you won NFL MVP in '03, and you came very close to leading the Titans to glory; however, you just couldn't quite break the Manning/Unitas/Moon hold. Maurice, had to go with Freddy Taylor. He's got your numbers beat, and now you have gone to Oakland to watch your career get euthanized. 

As far as you, J.J. and Andrew, you will be cracking this lineup in a few years as long as you stay healthy, so I will certainly be updating this roster as needed. Arian, I have a sneaking suspicion that your career is Terrell Davising, but I am a huge fan of yours, so I hope I am very wrong about this.

Click HERE to see the next series of roster announcements for the All-Time AFC South!

NFL Fantasy Teams: AFC South Roster (Quarterback)

This Quarterbacks crew ranks #2 overall among all NFL divisions. They also have a deadly arsenal to pass to, and a pretty solid running game to turn to. 



AFC South Starting Quarterback: Peyton Manning, Indianapolis Colts

Have we talked about this guy yet? By the way, where does he rank on your list of the all-time greatest signal-callers? As of right now (May 2014), I keep going back-and-forth between putting him #2 behind Montana or #3 behind Brady. Thoughts?








Back-up Quarterback: Johnny Unitas, Indianapolis (Baltimore) Colts

This guy really ought to hate Manning. Not only has Peyton Manning passed him on every legitimate critic's list of All-Time greatest quarterbacks, but Manning is also ahead in every TEAM category. Whatever. There is still no discounting what "the Golden Arm" did for the NFL and for all future quarterbacks. 10 times a Pro-Bowler, 7 times an All-Pro, Unitas also won 4 NFL MVP Awards, 3 Pro Bowl MVPs, led the Colts to a Super Bowl victory, was named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team, and was ultimately enshrined as a first-ballot Hall of Famer in 1979. 






Back-up Quarterback: Warren Moon, Tennessee Titans (Houston Oilers)

Dude threw for over 49,000 yards and had 291 touchdowns, good for 6th and 8th all-time. But here's the thing- he lost SIX YEARS screwing around in the Canadian Football League. Those 6 years would have easily placed him up around 2nd/3rd around Dan Marino's place. Of course, while he was in Canada he won 5 Grey Cups with his team and racked up numerous awards and league records. While he was in the NFL, he went to 9 Pro Bowls and was selected to 3 All-Pro teams. He was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 1990, won a Pro Bowl MVP, and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2006.




Click HERE to see the next series of roster announcements for the All-Time AFC South!

NFL Fantasy Teams: AFC South Roster (Running Backs)

The AFC South brings the 7th-best Running Backs crew out of the 8 divisions. They don't suck. There have just been a WHOLE LOT of great NFL running backs, and this backfield is more than adequate to help the passing game out.


AFC South Starting Running Back: Edgerrin James, Indianapolis Colts

Edge finished his amazing career with 12,246 yards rushing, 433 receptions for 3,364 more yards, and 91 total touchdowns. His total rushing yards and yards per game (82.7) are both good for 11th all-time. He made 4 Pro Bowls and 3 All-Pro squads, and he also helped lead the Arizona Cardinals to their only Super Bowl. James holds 15 NFL records, all relating to his being the youngest player to accrue every increment of yards from scrimmage from 2,000 to 12,000. He will certainly be getting in the Hall of Fame over the next couple of years, one would have to assume. 





Back-up Running Back: Earl Campbell, Tennessee Titans (Houston Oilers)

The prime of his career really only lasted 5-6 years. Of course, he used that time to single-handedly destroy defenses, and it ended up ruining his life. He has to use a wheelchair much of the time now due to back and knee injuries sustained as a result of his ground-and-pound style of play. The "Tyler Rose" was a 5-time Pro Bowler, 3-time All-Pro, 2-time NFL MVP, 3-time NFL Offensive Player of the Year, and he is also the all-time NFL leader in best smoked sausages cooked and sold to hungry fans. Campbell was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991.





Back-up Running Back: Fred Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars

One of the myths about "Fragile Fred" is that injuries kept him from becoming great. The truth is that injuries kept him from becoming even greater than he was. He still managed to log in 7 seasons of 1,146 yards rushing or more, and that is not what I would call a failed career. In fact, he is currently 15th all-time in rushing yards, with 11,695. He also ranks 18th overall in yards rushing per game. Underrated and unappreciated in the absolute worst football market in America, Taylor only made one Pro Bowl and one All-Pro squad. His bad luck of the Jacksonville Curse probably means no Hall of Fame for him, either.




Click HERE to see the next series of roster announcements for the All-Time AFC South!

NFL Fantasy Teams: AFC South Roster (Receivers, Tight End)

The AFC South brings the worst-ranked Tight Ends to the field, but the #3-ranked wide receivers to add some serious firepower to their already lethal passing game.


AFC South Starting Wide Receiver: Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts

So let's just forget there is a dead body still accounted for, adopt the OJ Simpson mentality, and focus solely on Harrison's on-the-field production. The results are crazy. Here, this will be easier than anything I have to say:

NFL records[edit]

Holds the NFL record for receptions in a single season with 143, set in 2002.
Most receptions in a 2 season period (252), 2001–2002; 3 season period (354), 2000–2002; 4 season period (469), 1999–2002; 5 season period (563), 1999–2003; 6 season period (649), 1999–2004; 7 season period (731), 1999–2005; 8 season period (826), 1999–2006; 9 season period (885), 1998–2006; 10 season period (958), 1997–2006; 11 season period (1,022), 1996–2006.

Most receiving yards in a 4 season period (6,322), 1999–2002; 5 season period (7,594), 1999–2003.

Most games in a career with at least 8 receptions (51), 9 receptions (32), 11 receptions (12), 12 receptions (8)
Most consecutive games with at least 6 receptions (16) and 9 receptions (6)
Most consecutive seasons with at least 5 touchdowns (11) – shared with Jerry Rice, Don Hutson, Cris Carter, Tim Brown, Terrell Owens
Most consecutive seasons with at least 6 touchdowns (11) – shared with Terrell Owens, Jerry Rice, Don Hutson
Most consecutive seasons with at least 5 touchdown receptions (11) – shared with Jerry Rice, Don Hutson, Cris Carter, Tim Brown, Terrell Owens
Most consecutive seasons with at least 6 touchdown receptions (11) – shared with Jerry Rice, Don Hutson
Most consecutive seasons with at least 10 touchdown receptions (8)
Most consecutive seasons with at least 11 touchdown receptions (4)-tied with Lance Alworth, Art Powell
Most consecutive seasons with at least 14 touchdown receptions (2)-tied with Jerry Rice
Consecutive seasons with 1,400+ receiving yards (4); 1999–2002
Consecutive seasons with 100+ receptions (4); 1999-2002
Consecutive seasons with 82+ receptions (8); 1999–2006.
Most games in a single season (2002) with at least 6 receptions (15), 7 receptions (12), 8 receptions (12), 9 receptions (10), 11 receptions (5).
Most games in a season with at least 13 receptions (2) in 1999 - tied with several players
3rd most games in a single season with 10+ receptions (6). Wes Welker and Andre Johnson have 7.
Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning currently hold the record for most completions between a Wide Receiver and Quarterback with 953.
Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning currently hold the NFL record for passing touchdowns between a WR and QB with 112.
Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning currently hold the NFL record for passing yards between a WR and QB with 12,756.
Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning currently hold the NFL record for completions in a season between a WR and QB with 143, 2002
Marvin Harrison and Peyton Manning held the NFL record for passing yards in a season between a WR and QB with 1,722, 2002 - broken by Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford in 2012
Harrison trails only Jerry Rice in 1,500 or more receiving yard seasons. He has 3 such seasons, Jerry Rice had 4.
First player to record 2 seasons of 1,600 yards receiving in NFL history, (1999 & 2002).(Torry Holt became the 2nd, (2000 & 2003)
First player to have 50+ receptions in his first 11 seasons in NFL history.(Torry Holt became the 2nd on December 27, 2009)
With 59 career 100-yard receiving games, Marvin Harrison ranks No. 3 all time behind Jerry Rice (76) and Randy Moss (64).
Second-fastest player to achieve 100 receiving touchdowns.
Consecutive seasons of 1,000+ all-purpose yards and 10+ touchdown receptions (8), 1999–2006.
On December 18, 2006, Marvin Harrison and Indianapolis Colt teammate Reggie Wayne became the only NFL wide receiver tandem to catch 75 receptions and 1,000 yards in 3 straight seasons. The game was on Monday Night and was played against the Cincinnati Bengals.
On November 17, 2002, made his 600th career reception against the Dallas Cowboys.
On October 12, 2003, made his 700th career reception against the Carolina Panthers. And is the fastest player to do so reaching the mark in 114 games.
On November 8, 2004, made his 800th career reception against the Minnesota Vikings. And is the fastest player to do so reaching the mark in 131 games.
On November 20, 2005, made his 900th career reception against the Cincinnati Bengals. And is the fastest player to do so reaching the mark in 149 career games.
On December 10, 2006, made his 1000th reception against the Jacksonville Jaguars. And is the fastest player to do so reaching the mark in just 167 career games.
On December 28, 2008, made his 1,100th career reception against the Tennessee Titans in his last regular season game and his last game in Indianapolis. He is the fastest player to do so reaching the mark in just 190 career games. Half way through the second quarter, he moved into second place for most receptions all time with 1,102, trailing only Jerry Rice.
Most receptions over 1st 7 seasons (665), 8 seasons (759), 9 seasons (845), 10 seasons (927), 11 seasons (1,022) and 13 seasons (1,102) seasons of career of any NFL receiver
Most consecutive games with a reception to start a career (190)
Most average receptions per game in a career (5.8) - 1996-2008
Most consecutive games with 8+ receiving yards (190), (206 if counting playoffs) – every game
Most consecutive games with a 6+ yard reception (190), (206 if counting playoffs) – every game
Most consecutive games with an 8+ yard reception (177), (192 if counting playoffs)
Marvin Harrison is in third place for the most consecutive games with a reception with 190 (206 counting playoffs), only behind Jerry Rice who had 274 and Tony Gonzalez who has 196 as of the end of the 2012 season.
Averaged 84.77 receptions per season, which is second to the all time record held by Sterling Sharpe who averaged 85 receptions per season.
4th most touchdown receptions in a decade (95) 2000–2009
3rd most receiving yards per game throughout a career (76.7 yds/game)
2nd most receiving yards in a decade (10,439) 2000–2009





AFC South Starting Wide Receiver: Andre Johnson, Houston Texans

Johnson is second all-time in NFL history in receiving yards per game (80.4), trailing only Calvin Johnson (83.0), and holds nearly every Texans receiving record. He is the only player with 60+ receptions in his first 8 seasons, and he also holds the following NFL records:
Most games with 10+ receptions in a season: 7 (tied with Wes Welker)
Most seasons with 100+ receptions: 5 (tied with Wes Welker)
Most seasons with 100+ receptions and 1,400+ yards: 4
Only player to gain the highest two-game total in NFL history in consecutive games: 461 yards
Most games with 10+ receptions and 100+ yards: 17

If Johnson, nicknamed "the Natural," has even 4 more decent seasons (he is 32 right now), he will undoubtedly finish his career 2nd all-time only to Jerry Rice in receiving yards and receptions. If he can somehow stay healthy and at his current pace for about 6-7 years, he could even eclipse Rice's numbers. 





Back-up Wide Receiver: Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts

Wayne has played in 6 Pro Bowls, has been named to 3 All-Pro teams, and helped the Colts win Super Bowl XLI by catching Peyton Manning's only touchdown of the game. He is in the twilight of his career, but still logging some pretty worthwhile seasons. So far he has 1,006 receptions to go with 13,566 yards and 80 touchdowns, all of which currently rank 8th, 11th, and 23rd; however, even 2 more decent seasons will send him up to 3rd, 3rd, and Top 10 (though he will need to make room for Andre Johnson to pass him later). He is a lock for Canton when the time comes. 




Back-up Wide Receiver: Jimmy Smith, Jacksonville Jaguars

J-Smooth, as he is affectionately dubbed, was a 5-time Pro-Bowler and 2-time All-Pro, but he played in Jacksonville so don't take too much stock in those underservingly low numbers. He holds all the Jaguars' franchise records, of course, but he will never get into the Hall of Fame because of the Jacksonville Curse.






AFC South Starting Tight End: Dallas Clark, Indianapolis Colts

Clark had a pretty good career, finishing with 505 receptions for 5,665 yards and 53 touchdowns, all good numbers for tight ends. The problem is that those numbers should not be good enough for a tight end to start for an NFL divisional all-time team. He added a Pro Bowl and an All-Pro selection to his resume, but he will never add Canton to his list of realities. 




Back-up Tight End: John Mackey, Indianapolis (Baltimore) Colts

Perhaps Mackey should be the starter for this squad. After all, he is in the Hall of Fame. He did help win 2 NFL Championships and a Super Bowl, and he did make 5 Pro Bowls and 3 All-Pro teams; however, Dallas Clark has him dominated in numbers. It took him 20 years (1992) to get inducted into the Hall of Fame, and at that time he was only the 2nd tight end enshrined. 







Click HERE to see the next series of roster announcements for the All-Time AFC South!