Your own NFL Scoreboard

The NFL Games & Scores widget can now be added to your personal home page our your online fantasy page.  Or you can add it to Google, Facebook, Live.com, Netvibes, Blogger, Typepad, MySpace, PageFlakes and several other social networking sites.

If you have windows XP, you can even put it right on your desktop.

(**Put your mouse over the upper right corner and click on the "copy me" button.  Then scroll over the icons to choose where you want to put the scoreboard.**)

Running Backs Tank in 2007

Disappointment is the 2007 theme for Running Backs in the NFL.  A quick look at the top pre-season running backs shows very little production from the guys chosen with your most valuable Fantasy Draft picks.  If you look at how long this list is, well, it really is unprecedented to have this many top runners not running well ... or not running at all.

1)  LaDainian Tomlinson, SD - Turmoil abounds in SD this year.  LT may be the best back in the NFL but even he struggles when the offensive line can't block and no one respects your QB.  It also doesn't help to have a Head Coach calling plays trying to out-think himself.  LT will remain a solid #1 unless he gets injured, which, in our opinion, isn't all that unlikely a scenario for this year.  He's been healthy for a long time but he's getting older and he's getting pelted every time he touches the ball.  Keep your eyes on Michael Turner as a backup, in fact, we think you should consider getting him now. (Barely in Top 10)

2)  Steven Jackson, STL - Out with a groin tear.  Makes me say ouch just thinking about it.  These are serious injuries and unless given time to heal properly, will continue to be a problem for Jackson all season long.  It's the NFL so you can expect he'll be pushed back into the line-up as soon as he's ready.  Question is, will he be ready to go and can he return to form?  Stay tuned ... no one knows yet. (Not in top 20)

3) Shaun Alexander, SEA - Alexander has a cracked bone in his wrist but he's still in the line-up.  However, his production has DECREASED in each consecutive game this season.  The curve is downward for the Seattle star and should continue to hold in that pattern.  It's not just that he's playing poorly this year,  although you could make the argument, it's more that his team around him is playing better.  Good news for the Seahawks, Bad news for your Fantasy Roster. (Not in Top 10)

4)  Larry Johnson, KC - Another major disappointment for Fantasy Rosters. Some actually had LJ at the number 1 draft spot but KC is struggling right now all over the offense.  Last weekend they put up solid numbers against the Chargers  and Johnson may have gotten back on track but don't count on it.  They face the Jaguars in week 5 and LJ should have another tough outing.  (Not in Top 10)

5)  Frank Gore, SF - Gore's first two games went better than owners could have hoped but in weeks 3 & 4 he dropped down to average numbers as most would expect.  With QB Alex Smith potentially out for the season, don't count on too much from SF but do expect Gore to get the ball all game long.  He could put up great numbers and carry the load or he could get hurt from the pounding be done for the season.  We expect he'll fall somewhere in between but won't be in the Fantasy top 10 for the rest of the season. (Not in Top 10)

Other Notable disappointments:

Solving the Charger's woes

We're going on record today on how to solve the Charger woes.  Remember, you heard it here first.

1)  Fire GM AJ Smith - If it isn't clear now that the team should have backed Shottenheimer over Smith, it will be at mid-season when they're struggling to reach 4-4.  Whose fault is that?  I guess we should point to the owner.  He chose Smith over Shottenheimer in the dispute that lead to the firing of a 14-2 coach.  We know, Shottenheimer has a history ... yadda, yadda.  We know!  We point it out all the time (and enjoy it) but 14-2?  Fire a 14-2 coach?  We give that guy the benefit of the doubt.  It's 14 wins.  Seriously that's pretty good. 

Remember, Cower had the same rep until he finally got his Super Bowl win.  Same for Tony Dungy.  They were coaches who couldn't get the big One.  Now they're both Golden as far as the NFL faithful is concerned and you don't think Shotty was on the verge of the same cross-over from goat to glory?  We do.  (By the way, How's Gruden doing in Tampa now?)

Argue all you like but to solve the problem, Smith has to go.  why?  It's the only way to ...

2)  RE-HIRE Shottenheimer as either an "assistant coach" or "team consultant" - I guarantee, they get him back in the house, they win the next game.  He'll bring back the emotion and sense of urgency they absolutely lack.

3)  Internally, privately (shhhhh) demote Norv Turner to Offensive Coordinator duties, where he EXCELS.  The jury's back and the verdict is in, Norv Turner stinks as a Head Coach.  Sure, he had plausible deny-ability going for him in both Washington and Oakland but not now in San Diego.  They've gone first to worst in 4 games.  However, don't throw out the baby with the bath water.  Turner happens to have a long successful history as an offensive coordinator.  He simply makes the offense better when he's in charge of it and it alone.  Let him keep the title of Head Coach for now (wink, wink, nudge, nudge), but put him back to OC where he can excel.

4)  Next year hire Pete Carrol to be head coach!

That's it, simple.  Until then, the question is simply "How low can they go?"

NFL Matchups Week 4

Weekly NFL Match-up analysis.

This weeks Match-ups:

Game 1:  Ravens @ Browns
Game 2:  Rams @ Cowboys
Game 3:  Bears @ Lions
Game 4:  Jets @ Bills
Game 5:  Texans @ Falcons
Game 6:  Raiders @ Dolphins
Game 7:  Packers @ Vikings
Game 8:  Bucs @ Panthers
Game 9:  Seahawks @ 49ers
Game 10:  Broncos @ Colts
Game 11:  Chiefs @ Chargers
Game 12:  Steelers @ Cardinals
Game 13:  Eagles @ Giants
Game 14:  Patriots @ Bengals

Weekly Matchup Charts

Just as we did in the pre-season, we offer you Weekly Match-up Charts to analyze the coming weekend games.

For the last few weeks we featured these charts for Widget users only.  Now we expand it to everyone.  Enjoy!

Game 1 Chargers vs Packers
Game 2 Vikings vs Chiefs
Game 3 Rams vs Bucs
Game 4 Lions vs Eagles
Game 5 Colts vs Texans
Game 6 Dolphins vs Jets
Game 7 Cardinals vs Ravens
Game 8 Bills vs Patriots
Game 9 49ers vs Steelers
Game 10 Jaguars vs Broncos
Game 11 Bengals vs Seahawks
Game 12 Browns vs Raiders
Game 13 Panthers vs Falcons
Game 14 Giants vs Redskins
Game 15 Cowboys vs Bears
Game 16 Titans vs Saints

The Pack is Back!!

The Green bay Packers are off to a 2-0 start and Brett Favre is playing as young as his teammates look.

We listed Brett Favre among our value picks of the 2007 season.  Week 1 started pretty shaky for our projections but Week 2 showed the potential we've recognized since the off-season.  The difference this year is not Brett Favre and all the things that make him great like his leadership, his arm, his ability to lead a comeback or any of the other traits that guarantee his spot in Canton 5 years after retirement.  The difference this year is the Green Bay defense.

The Packer defense is young and tough.  They look almost as good as the defenses that the Packers rode to Super Bowl XXXI and  XXXII.  Rather than carrying the team by himself, as Favre has done unsuccessfully for the past 5+ years, the defense is leading the charge.  All Favre has to do is manage the offense, keep turnovers to a minimum and score like an average QB.  Of course, that's child's play for Favre.  Despite his diminished skills, there is no one better to act as orchestrator and figure-head leader.

Fantasy Take:   As we said before, Favre is a  player to have on your roster.  Donald Driver is a solid WR for your team.  The rest of the skill positions have talent and are going to see the ball too, however, Driver is the only one who will get consistent looks.  Keep Greg Jennings on your radar screen in case Driver gets hurt.

10 Wins for Detroit? Maybe.

When Detroit Lions QB, Jon Kitna, guaranteed a 10 win season for a franchise that hasn't seen 10 wins since 1995 (10-6), most just chuckled.  Joe Namath got the same reaction when he guaranteed a Jets win in Super Bowl III over the Baltimore Colts.  Namath got the last laugh and if Jon Kitna's will alone can carry the Lions to that record, he'll get the last laugh too.  So far, so good.

The Lions are 2-0 having snapped several team losing streaks including an 11 game slump in the NFC North and 10 straight losses against the Minnesota Vikings.  Jon Kitna has clearly been the catalyst for those victories with his leadership, his extra effort and his arm.  He avoids the slide, much to most fantasy owners dismay, to gain the extra yardage or get the first down.  He's hitting his receivers with accuracy and gaining his teammates confidence.  As a result the Detriot Lions are starting to resemble a solid playoff contender.

It's too early to anoint the Lions a true contender but with Mike Martz's version of the "greatest show on turf" taking shape in Detroit and their skill positions up across the board, the Lions are a solid running back away from reaching the 10 wins Kitna's promised.  Maybe he can just keep scrambling for the extra rushing yards and TD's they need.

Fantasy Take:  While the Lions may not reach 10 wins, it's clear they will put up fantasy numbers so hold on to Kitna, WR Roy Williams and rookie WR Calvin Johnson.  Also keep your eye out for the return of Kevin Jones.

What's all the crying about?

What's all the crying about?

The New England Patriots are under fire as the NFL Commissioner has deemed their video "scouting" practices against NFL competition rules. It seems the Pats are video taping their opponents during the game and stealing their defensive play signals to give Brady the upper hand on the field. Eric Mangini, current head coach of the Jets and former assistant to Head Coach Bill Bellichik in NE, cried foul to the NFL who proceeded to set up a sting to catch the Patriots in the act.  ... and they did.

OK - so, they'll get fined and punished and probably will be watched closer than 'Al Qaeda', to quote Al Davis, from now on - but what next?

OK - next play, right?  Wrong.  There are plenty of people out there who want more.  Suspensions, tarnished images of those involved and even talk of tarnishing the 3 Super Bowl rings they've collected over the last 6 years.  There's even talk of golden boy Tom Brady being put on the block where reputations are concerned.

Are you kidding me? 

If you're a Niner fan, keep your mouth shut.  If you're a Bronco or Raider fan, you too!  It's widely known and even documented by the NFL that SF cheated the salary cap using shall we say "creative" contracts during their championship years.  No loss of trophies or punishment for those involved.  Walsh's rep is definitely intact as is Joe Montana's.

The Broncos even lost a draft pick for their shenanigans (or Shanihanigans) during their super Bowl years and Raider Nation ... remember the Holy Roller? Greg Biekert snagging Manning's play calls right ON the field?  If you're not cheatin' you aint tryin'.  That sound familiar? 

So, besides the fact that people may dislike the Patriots, their coach or their accomplishments, what's all the talk about tarnishing of images? 

We're definitely not Patriots fans here at Fantasy Control, in fact, quite the opposite.  But outside of current penalties, how do you try to take this any further.  What would be the goal?

I mean, if the "snowjob" didn't already tarnish that Super Bowl, what really could?

We're not in favor of cheating in the NFL.  We tend to lean towards the purist stance.  But to not recognize that teams are ALWAYS trying to get an edge like this is ignorant.  How many other teams are running like cockroaches for cover right now with the knowledge they've been there, done that.

How about Mangini himself?  His knowledge of this practice came from experience when he was in New England and I don't remember him telling anyone.  Shouldn't he and everyone else who's played there during these times be punished too? That’s crazy talk.

Clearly, this is media hype and that's what we hate.  The media has a flavor of the month (or year or decade) and when that flavor is on the clock, all news is good news.  But nothing makes better news than toppling the giants.

That's all this is folks, media hype.  Let's get back to football.  Punish them, then move on.

That's our $.02.

 

All eyes and prayers on Kevin Everett

Football is a brutal contact sport that's played at a level most will never experience in their entire lives.  Players go full speed with the intent of crushing their opponents in such a way as to make the highlight reels and get attention which equates to money in their pockets.  The bigger the hit or the harder the crunch, the more recognition they get.  It's encouraged and it's what makes the game so exciting to watch.However, injuries are inevitable. 

This weekend Kevin Everett of the BUffalo Bills was left paralyzed by what his doctors described as a "catastrophic" and life-threatening injury.  Everett was hurt on a special teams play after he ducked his head while tackling Denver's Domenik Hixon during the second-half kickoff.

He was immediately strapped to a gurney and taken off the field. 

We at Fantasy Control wanted to take this opportunity to ask fellow sports fans around the nation to take a moment today and dedicate your best wishes and prayers to Kevin and his family and friends.  Think about what you were doing this weekend while Everett was being carted off to the hospital.  Were you watching the game, enjoying another game or off performing Sunday chores?  Regardless, consider yourself lucky and remember the next time you complain about NFL Player salaries that winding up completely paralyzed after just one good hit is a risk each player takes, every play of every game.

So, as you adjust your Fantasy line-up for next week, remember that the guys offering themselves up to the football gods for your viewing pleasure run significant risks in doing so ... and, as in the case of Everett, are not always compensated for the risk.

We wish Kevin a successful recovery and the Everett Family all the best in their time of need.

Moss and Pats look Super Bowl bound

We'll be the first to admit that Randy Moss looked good in his debut for the New England Patriots this weekend against the Jets.  In fact, it's hard to imagine the offense that made it to the AFC Championship game last year with a WR corps that was completely re-tooled not making it all the way this year.

It's hard to say if Moss is back as an individual.  Surely he'll be happy with the stats he generated this weekend.  However, looking back, his first game in Oakland in 2005 (coincidentally against the Patriots) was rather impressive too.  He had 8 catches for 130 yds and a TD.  Everyone thought he was the key to the Raider revival in 2005.  He wasn't.  Is it just the Raiders?  Maybe!! 

We're still holding out our judgment on Moss as an individual but as a Fantasy Player on the New England Patriots - He's GOLD!!! 

Expect the Patriots to decoy Moss more and more as the season progresses but with their depth at the WR position, defenses will simply choosing whom to allow to burn them.

Yahoo's Spotlight on Fantasy Control

Yahoo recently placed their Widget Spotlight on Fantasy Control's NFL Games & Scores widget.  While the rest of the industry continues to focus on widgets for advertising, Fantasy Control leverages the widget platform to bring you the best in rich, real-time content.

Take a look: