Courtesy; Baltimore Sun
Football is back! So last night wasn’t a barn burner or the greatest game you’ve ever seen but, guess what, it’s football. With only 4 weeks left until the regular season starts, there’s one big topic weighing heavily on your minds: Fantasy Football.
“Fantasy”- the faculty or activity of imagining things, especially things that are impossible or improbable. That’s not exactly what comes to mind when we think about Fantasy Football is it? We are talking about real players, with real stats, playing in real games, all while being evaluated and ranked by us, real fans. Some are fans, some are fanatics, and some of us, a select few, are experts. Experts look past team bias or who went to your favorite college. What he wears or drives has no bearings. The only thing that matters is on-field performance and winning you bragging rights for the next year. That’s right; I’m here to win you a place atop your league of Joe Schmoes, colleagues and best friends. Whether you’re in a day-to-day league or locked in for the long haul of the season, you can count on coming here for advice on locks, sleepers, waivers and those tough flex questions when you’re on the bubble. So let’s have some fun.
For starters, let me break down the number #1 question I have been asked all off-season; Is AP back to AD? While there are many factors to look at- snake vs. Auction, PPR vs Keeper/Dynasty- the short answer is yes. I’ll say it again for you, yes. Although it’s difficult to overlook the off-the –field issues, all indicators show that this incident with Peterson is in the rear-view, and he’s not looking back. If his age scares you, forget about it. Age should not be a concern when it comes to a man who defies modern science and medicine. Just look back to his return from an ACL injury which led to one of the most incredible seasons we have ever seen. The single season rushing record was one long run away from being surpassed. Now Peterson has had a full year to work out and train, contact free, which will do wonders for his 30 year old body. Drive and determination have never been in question, and I have no reason to shrug at his prediction for total yards this season.
With that being said, one of the largest factors in success for a running back has to be the front five in charge of opening the holes. Just look at Murray’s success in Dallas last year for proof. That’s not to say that they made it easy enough for me or you to run on the field and do the same however, I guarantee that they enjoyed quite a few meals on Murray’s tab for their efforts. Based on that theory, Jeremy Hill should be in for a treat after the Bengals spent their first 2 draft picks on offensive linemen. Couple that with a division in the AFC North which has a reputation for defense and running, and you have a recipe for real success from your feature back.
Come back for more from the Fantasy Fix here at the Sports Column, and find out why you should go against the grain and pick this QB before anyone else gets the chance.
