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Preseason Week 3 – Regular Season Approaching Fast

August 29, 2012 By Leave a Comment

scoutPRO has been busy watching the NFL preseason action unfold, and keeping our eyes on some players to watch or avoid as fantasy owners prepare to draft their 2012 rosters. Here are some of the most interesting developments from Week 3:

While the Jaguars continue waiting on holdout fantasy stud RB Maurice Jones-Drew, Rashad Jennings has put his best foot forward in this preseason, earning him consideration for owners if he gets the job in MJD’s absence. Although this team hasn’t shown a lot of offensive power in the past few seasons, Blaine Gabbert is developing at a better than expected rate, and rookie Justin Blackmon has already emerged as an impact player worthy of your roster.

We all know Aaron Rodgers is an elite QB, and Cedric Benson has looked good in his touches the past few weeks, but WR Jordy Nelson has been the real breakout star of the Packers’ preseason so far. The former second-round pick appears capable of topping even the very solid Greg Jennings as the Cheese’s #1 receiver. Becoming Rodgers’ favorite target is certainly nothing to be ignored by fantasy owners.

Although many pundits are expecting Trent Richardson to be a primetime contributor for the Browns in his first season, many signs have pointed to the team taking it slow with the #3 overall draft pick. It is hard to envision Richardson carrying the full load with Montario Hardesty and Brandon Jackson available to pitch in, which damages the rookie’s upside. Be careful not to overvalue him.

While Ray Rice continues to be himself (a super-elite RB), the real news out of Baltimore’s preseason games for fantasy owners are Joe Flacco and Torrey Smith, who have both increased their stock with solid performances. QB Flacco has shown composure, and runs a talented offense that will make him a great #2. Smith has been impressive, and will make a good #2 or an excellent #3 at WR. Keep eyes on Anquan Boldin in later rounds of the draft; he still has plenty to offer owners.

Torrey Smith's stock keeps rising.

The Cardinals QB ‘battle’ (more like ‘who stinks less’) between Kevin Kolb and John Skelton has now gotten even more confusing, as neither are slated to start in the Cards’ preseason finale vs. the Broncos. Forget either as an option this year, although there shouldn’t be any doubts about standout Larry Fitzgerald, as he has proven he can catch anything the pathetic duo can heave his way.

As usual, scoutPRO fantasy expert Nelson Sousa’s full report on what he saw is available for members on www.scoutpro.com. Check it out today! 

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Preseason Week 2 – Vital Info for Your Draft

August 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment

scoutPRO has been busy watching all of the preseason Week 2 action unfold, and keeping our eyes on some players to watch or avoid as fantasy owners prepare to draft their 2012 rosters. Here are some of the most interesting developments from the weekend:

Michael Turner looks extremely slow. He has been ineffective in the first two weeks of the preseason, and with Matt Ryan making plenty of throws targeting Roddy White and Julio Jones, expectations for Turner are even lower.

It is still unclear whether the Bills will be able to live up to the lofty standard they set during last year’s surprise season. Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller both have had little success on the ground in the first two exhibitions, and behind Stevie Johnson, the boys from Buffalo are lacking much depth at WR, save for perhaps Donald Jones. These guys will need to be much better to merit roster spots, especially in less deep leagues.

Will this finally be the year the Raiders break 2 years stuck at the 8-8 plateau for a winning season? Darren McFadden is making a case for consideration among the elite RBs of the league, and he has been targeted with a number of screen and short passes in the current offense. Darius Heyward-Bey may fall down the draft board a bit after looking a bit untidy so far this preseason, but he will be a serious value at WR to owners who pick him up.

Darren McFadden could surprise this year

They still feature one of the league’s most intimidating defenses, but the Jets just can’t seem to get things together on the offensive side of the ball. Mark Sanchez went 9-11 in the second preseason game, but it wasn’t pretty. None of the team’s WR corps, save for perhaps the injured Santonio Holmes (who should be ready to go for Week 1), appear to be at a high enough level to earn a roster spot.Shonn Greene looks disoriented, running into his own lineman on several occasions this past week. Buyer beware; this offense is shaky at best.

The Cowboys have shown some interesting tricks in their first pair of preseason matchups that should grab the attention of fantasy owners everywhere. Dez Bryant has been a beast – but he is somewhat fragile (reports that he hurt his knee again in practice Monday are another red flag for owners). If he can stay healthy, he will absolutely be a top flight WR. Tony Romo’s athleticism has helped him maintain his status as one of the best QB options outside of the few elite guys at the top. Assuming Miles Austin is ready to go for Week 1, he should be ready to rock and roll to duplicate his great 2011 season.

scoutPRO fantasy expert Nelson Sousa’s full report on what he saw is available for members on www.scoutpro.com. Check it out today!

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Why the Preseason Matters

August 21, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Every fantasy owner heads into an NFL season with well thought out expectations and predictions, but it really is all speculation until the players take the field and show what they are made of. Now that the NFL preseason is under way, we have had the chance to take a realistic look at what to expect from guys this year. Here are a few of the most interesting developments so far:

Jamaal Charles appeared to have most of his explosiveness back, but with Peyton Hillis around, the Chiefs have some healthy competition in their backfield. This is good news for a squad whose offensive line is looking very solid so far, helping the backs get in rhythm as they look to improve on a 2011 season in which they ranked 27th overall in offense.

Ryan Tannehill made a big first impression in an attempt to quiet the many doubters who thought he was taken far too high in the draft. The Miami offense looks a lot like the one he ran fairly successfully at Texas A&M, and he looked comfortable behind center.

While Doug Martin has been emerging out of camp as the starting RB in Tampa Bay (and he looks solid in game action), LeGarrette Blount has also put his A game on the field, showing that he has something to contribute and deserves to get carries.

Julio Jones flexed his muscles as he tries to assert himself as a top-tier WR. Even in a Falcons’ preseason loss to the Ravens, he got plenty of looks and made some highlight reel catches. His sophomore season could be a big breakout.

With all eyes scrutinizing his throws, Peyton Manning displayed that he may still need more time in his recovery from multiple neck surgeries in the past year. He has a few more weeks to get fully tuned up, and if he can come even close to being the Peyton of old, the Broncos offense should be just fine.

The dynamic combination of Matt Stafford and Calvin Johnson looks like it will deliver big fantasy numbers again this year, but Kevin Smith has been the story in Detroit so far this preseason, showing flashes of brilliance while Jahvid Best and Mikel LeShoure remain questions.

The 49ers showed the run first against Minnesota. Then they showed it some more. Despite having plenty of weapons in the air, Frank Gore, Brandon Jacobs, and Kendall Hunter are looking like a formidable ground game.

Check out scoutPRO Fantasy Football Expert Nelson Sousa’s full thoughts on the preseason so far for each team on www.scoutPRO.com.

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Draft Day Strategy

August 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Draft day is just around the corner! The competition has been planning for months, following free agency, coaching changes, and training camp closely to develop their ideal draft order. Is your draft strategy all set and ready to go? If not, pay attention to these 3 crucial tips on how to draft successfully for the 2012 season:

Tight Ends are a hot commodity entering 2012, but there is no urgent need to rush into taking a TE in one of the first few rounds. There are definitely elite TE fantasy options, like Rob Gronkowski or Jimmy Graham who have earned first or second round discussion, but only these few guys can stand with the RBs and WRs in terms of pure point production. The position is being featured more prominently in a number of NFL offenses, and is much deeper than ever before. Thanks to the abundance of players like Antonio Gates, Vernon Davis, and Jason Witten, owners can wait a little longer without worrying too hard over landing a solid TE.

The Running Back situation in 2012 is hard to decipher. On the surface, there appears to be a big drop off between top tier players like Arian Foster, Ray Rice, LeSean McCoy, or Chris Johnson (provided he can bounce back) and the rest of the pack. There is uncertainty surrounding a number of RBs like Adrian Peterson, Jamaal Charles, and Maurice Jones-Drew for various reasons. Furthermore, major questions remain about guys like Marshawn Lynch (was last year a fluke?), and Darren McFadden, DeMarco Murray, Matt Forte and Fred Jackson are all coming back from serious injuries, and Ryan Mathews’ preseason injury shows that durability is a big question for many RBs. Owners with first, second, or third overall picks can prioritize the running game when drafting this year to ensure they have top flight talent, but everyone else should consider finding an edge at another position.

Ray Rice will be a top-producing RB this season.

Be on the lookout for upside in the later rounds. Every year, a few guys picked up off the waiver wire or free agent market break out and end up among the top point producers in the league. Likewise, more than a fair share of draft picks end up as busts, falling to waivers themselves. Take some risks with unproven players who you think have big potential. Often times, zigging when everyone else zags can make an owner highly successful. Nail it, and your whole league will be jealous of your amazing fantasy prowess.

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Sizing Up the Fantasy Draft

July 24, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Last week, scoutPRO’s resident fantasy expert Nelson Sousa participated in a National Fantasy Football Championships (NFFC) fantasy draft for a feature in the Championships’ magazine.

Top fantasy football competitors were invited to draft and eventually play out the league over the course of the 2012 season. Yes, this draft is very early ahead of the start of the 2012 NFL season, but it is a great opportunity to get a perspective on the mindset of some of the world’s most successful fantasy football managers. Early mock drafts and high profile live drafts like this provide a good portrait of how millions of fantasy drafts across the country will play out in a few weeks’ time.

Nelson commented that this year’s draft progressed fairly routinely, but he did notice a great deal of depth on display, with strong performers falling into the later rounds. Several managers didn’t take their 2nd running backs until the 7th round and beyond, and Nelson didn’t select a starting TE until the 12th!

Nelson will be keeping scoutPRO subscribers up to date how this team performs. For now, he is putting his nose back to the grindstone to analyze this influential draft more closely.

Check www.scoutpro.com for Nelson’s full write up on the draft, and stay tuned to our blog for the latest updates!

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scoutPRO’s First Take: Impact Rookies

July 3, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The 2012 NFL rookie class is being touted big time by analysts. At the top of the draft, there are some exciting players like QB Robert Griffin III and RB Trent Richardson, who are already poised to play big roles for their new teams. As you dig deeper, there are a few less heralded incoming rookies who may also be worth a serious look. On the flipside, since they are completely unproven, there is a huge risk of these guys turning out to be major busts once the season gets started.

Fortunately, scoutPRO’s resident Fantasy Expert and National Fantasy Football Championship (NFFC) veteran Nelson “The Franchise” Sousa will be providing the insider’s perspective all season long to make sense of Fantasy Football by the numbers and rumors. Nelson is kicking off the 2012 Fantasy season with an in-depth look at the 4 rookies who will deliver the most value this year.

Head over to www.scoutpro.com to see Nelson’s picks for impact rookies this season!

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scoutPRO™ at the 2012 Fantasy Sports Trade Association Summer Conference

June 28, 2012 By Leave a Comment

On June 11-12, 2012, Competitive Sports Analysis (CSA) Founder and CEO Diane Bloodworth attended the 2012 Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA) Summer Conference in San Francisco, CA. CSA’s powerful scoutPRO™ Fantasy Football software was previously nominated for the FSTA’s Fantasy Sports Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Fantasy Sports Tool awards, and at this year’s conference, CSA joined other nominees and FSTA members in a dialogue about the unique and rapidly growing fantasy sports industry.

Highlighting the event were panels featuring speakers from high-powered and influential organizations like Yahoo!, Bleacher Report, Facebook, CBS Sports, and ESPN discussing topics including how best to engage subscribers with quality content and building a trusted brand in the fantasy sports world.

CSA will look to leverage knowledge and insights gained from the conference to improve the scoutPRO™ experience and become an even higher-impact tool for fantasy owners. scoutPRO™ was also entered into a developer contest for Fantasy Football apps sponsored by CBS Sports with more than $75,000 in prizes to be awarded.

Attending the FSTA Conference is just one initiative that we are taking to ensure we are offering our subscribers the most “game-changing” scoutPRO™ software possible.

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Don’t Forget About D

May 22, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Often overshadowed by the flashy play of RBs, WRs, and QBs racking up points every week is the Team Defense category that most fantasy formats include. In these types of leagues, having one of the better defenses is a definitive advantage; especially on occasions when a team produces a defensive gem, contributing significant points, it could be enough to turn a bad week into a victory.

A good defense gives an owner a sort of peace of mind. Some teams have gleaming defensive records over the past few seasons; ask fantasy owners who have rolled out the likes of the Green Bay Packers or the Baltimore Ravens against their opponents how important a reliable defense can be. Following this year’s draft and the developments of free agency so far, there may be some unlikely corps heading the pack in the 2012 season. Here are a few value plays for underrated defenses:

- The Denver Broncos were hugely inconsistent on the defensive side of the ball in 2011. They will rely on the adage that “the best defense is a good offense,” having signed Peyton Manning. Notwithstanding their other offseason moves, the Broncos D will get a boost in confidence from being backed by the future hall of fame QB that could translate to success.

- The Philadelphia Eagles quietly finished 2011 with the sixth highest fantasy-scoring defense despite their problems with winning games. The addition of DeMeco Ryans strengthens their linebacker corps, and a renewed energy surrounding a team with huge potential should help intimidate opposing offenses.

- The San Francisco 49ers ended the franchise’s best season in a few decades seventh overall in fantasy scoring defense. They are a smart play to repeat that success in 2012, simply because they are accomplishing a front office miracle in returning all 11 starters from last year’s unit. Adding Aldon Smith, who registered 14 sacks as a rookie, doesn’t hurt either.

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5 Rookies Who Could Make the Biggest Mid-Draft Impact

May 15, 2012 By Leave a Comment

After the first, second, and third rounds of your fantasy draft have come and gone, and essential fantasy RBs (Arian Foster and Ray Rice), QBs (Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees), and WRs (Larry Fitzgerald and Calvin Johnson) are long off the board, it is time for the pivotal fourth, fifth, and sixth rounds. Starting to fill out your roster with second tier guys who will contribute serious value will mean the difference in depth that wins fantasy leagues year after year.

There are no shortage of quality players likely still available (Cam Newton, Victor Cruz, and Adrian Peterson will probably still be hanging around), but this is the time to consider taking a hard look at the incoming rookie class to find a potential fantasy diamond in the rough. Here are 5 of the newbies who may give their owners a competitive edge in this crucial stage of the draft:

1. RB Trent Richardson (CLE) – Richardson has the most obvious potential of rookies in this year’s fantasy leagues. He should get the large majority of the Browns’ touches, and has the talent to turn a high number of carries into a huge number of fantasy points.

2. QB Robert Griffin III (WAS) – RG3 commands a significant amount of fantasy interest, and for very good reason. He will be free in a new look Redskins offense to play his style, mostly outside the pocket, which means yardage and TDs from scrambles and carries in addition to his passing game.

3. RB Doug Martin (TB) – Martin should get a solid look in Tampa Bay, especially on third down situations; he has better hands and blocks better than LeGarrette Blount. He will have ample opportunity to contribute.

4. WR Michael Floyd (AZ) – He will have to deal with being Larry Fitzgerald’s teammate (Fitzgerald will probably be targeted upwards of 150 times this season), but Floyd has the size and the skill to be a quality receiver. He could be the biggest surprise contributor if defenses focus on Fitzgerald and leave him open.

5. WR Rueben Randle (NYG) – Randle joins a team of Super Bowl champs that will bring serious swagger to the field, and fits in nicely with a corps of receivers that lacks a true number 1. He will get plenty of looks from Eli Manning and will benefit from spread-out defenses trying to cover 3 or more quality wide outs at a time.

After the drafting is all done, the beginning of the season is always an exciting time. Look for a few rookies to quickly become breakout fantasy contributors who offer a big bang for your buck!

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2012 NFL Draft First Round – Impact Players

April 27, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Last night’s NFL Draft featured little of the usual drama, with the top 2 picks effectively locked down for almost a month leading up to draft day. Sure enough, standout QBs Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III made the headlines as they took their rightful places on Thursday night, but while there may not have been any bombshells, there were some unexpected surprises, including some interesting selections that fantasy owners should note.

Here is a look into the first round picks that should make the most impact this fantasy season:

- Thanks to last year’s trade with the Atlanta Falcons, the Cleveland Browns drafted the blue chip RB in this year’s class in Trent Richardson (Alabama).  With the number of touches he should receive, Richardson has the potential be a playmaker and point machine.

- Doug Martin (Boise St.) is a complete RB, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers know it’s not a stretch that he could unseat LaGarrette Blount as a number 1 back. Martin has a great set of hands, and as a double threat, could cause havoc for opposing defenses.

- WR Michael Floyd (Notre Dame) will give the Arizona Cardinals’ QBs a viable second strong option downfield. Look for him to be targeted early and often to draw some attention off of Fitzgerald. The Cards’ passing game should benefit greatly from this pick.

- WR Kendall Wright, RG3’s teammate at Baylor, was an excellent value for the Tennessee Titans at no. 20 overall. Not only is he a threat in the slot, he could also be a solid return man. Wright has huge potential.

- The biggest boost to team defense came in the form of the New England Patriots trading up twice in the first round to bolster the front seven, selecting Chandler Jones (Syracuse) and Dont’a Hightower (Alabama). This should indicate the Pats’ commitment to improving their D, which was dismal in 2011.

Following the top 2 picks, who will be obvious fantasy contributors, the QB class in the first round was a general letdown. Cleveland Browns pick Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State) and the Miami Dolphins’ choice Ryan Tannehill (Texas A&M) don’t even seem like true starters, let alone viable fantasy producers.

Now that the first round has come and gone, fantasy owners have to step back and evaluate which rookie players will merit a look come fantasy draft time. Stay tuned to the blog for more insights from scoutPRO on this year’s draft class!

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