My Joe Flacco Blog

Is this one of the best rookie classes of all time? I can't say for sure, but I know this class of rookies definitely has the most Fantasy Football value that I can remember in a long time. We have a QB who is playing like a seasoned veteran, a running back who is #1 runner right now for fantasy, and a receiver who is 7th in the league in receptions. I will list some of the impact rookies and their fantasy value. The overall draft choice will be in parentheses.

QUATERTBACK:

Matt Ryan (3)- He has to be the leading candidate for R.O.Y. Atlanta drafted him with the third overall pick and he has been better than advertised. The best part is that because of him, no one thinks about Mike Vick anymore. After week 10, he is the eleventh overall QB for standard fantasy scoring. He would make a GREAT backup and I would not be hesitant to make him my starter, if needed. He has some very nice weapons with Turner and Roddy White and I look for him to continue to progress all season. Ryan is going to be a future stud.

Joe Flacco (18)- What a pleasant surprise he has been for Baltimore. A lot or Ravens players wanted Troy Smith to be the starter on opening day, but Baltimore went with the rookie. The Ravens actually traded up on draft day to take Flacco with the 18th overall pick, out of Delaware. They obviously saw something that they liked. And they have to be happy with the results so far. With Flacco at QB, Baltimore actually has a vertical passing game which they haven't had in years. (ever?) He is making nice decisions and is doing more than just managing the game. Derrick Mason is clearly benefiting from this and so with M. Clayton. Flacco is currently the 15th overall QB and is available on most waiver wires right now. Pick him for depth.

RUNNING BACK:

Matt Forte (44)- Forte is the # 1 running back in standard PPR scoring. The Bears got themselves a keeper in Forte. He was most likely drafted in the 6th round or later in fantasy football leagues. So, anyone who is lucky enough to own him got an absolute steal. He also has a great strength of schedule the rest of the way. So continue to start him in confidence. The Bears will continue to get him the rock. I would list him as a close 2nd to Ryan for R.O.Y.

Chris Johnson (24)- He and LenDale White have been a dynamic duo for Tennessee. Johnson is so explosive and can take it to the house at any time. Even though he is in a time share, Johnson is still the 7th overall running back for fantasy. It does seem like he can be a future superstar. The only question mark with him is if he can hold up being an every down back. That remains to be seen. But he will remain very solid for the remainder of this season based on the combination that Tennessee loves to run the ball and the high upside that he brings every week.

Steve Slayton (89)- Slayton was drafted with the 89th overall pick out of West Virginia. In most fantasy leagues, he was either undrafted or went very, very late. Both the Texans and whoever drafted him for fantasy, got great value. He was more than likely drafted as your 4th or 5th running back, so you should have great depth. Hopefully you traded one of your higher, underperforming running backs to upgrade at another position. He is worthy of starting as a RB2 or a great flex option. Slayton will continue to be productive in this potent Texans offense. He is the 14th overall back in PPR leagues. The only question mark with Slayton is if he will be able to hold up for an entire season. He is on the small side. We will see.

Tim Hightower (149)- Anyone who ended up drafting Edgerin James hopefully was smart enough to handcuff him with Hightower. The Cardinals have decided to roll with Hightower now and put Edge on the bench. They won't look back. Hightower has much more burst than Edge and that is what this potent offense needed in a running back. He also runs very hard, which is the reason Arizona decided to make him their goal-line back. Feel free to start him with confidence for the rest of the season. He makes a decent RB2 or a great flex player for most. He is the running back of the future for the Cardinals.

Felix Jones (22)- Dallas went after Jones in the draft and it looks like a wise move. Marion Barber has been the workhorse for the Cowboys, but Jones is a great change of pace back. He also has been very valuable to their return game. Jones looks to be returning from his injury soon, possibly even this week. Dallas could really use his speed. Jones is a must-handcuff if you own Barber and has some nice keeper value also. It looks like he will be a solid back down the road.

Jonathan Stewart (13)- He is another back that is in a serious time-share with Deangelo Williams. He does look to have a nice future though in the NFL. He has some nice speed and looks to be a complete back. Right now, the Panthers seem to be favoring the physical running of Williams more though. Stewart still has nice value though for fantasy. He is more of a fill-in/flex play right now, but that could change quickly if Williams were to stumble or get injured.

Darren McFadden (4), Rashard Mendenhall (23), Ryan Torain (139)- These three backs all have been plagued by injuries. McFadden had 1 good game all season (against the Chiefs) and Torain only played one half of a game all season. Torain did look rather good in that half and looked to be the back of choice for the Broncos. Overall the jury is still out on all 3 of them. I must say that McFadden has looked like somewhat of a bust. He doesn't have much speed and doesn't really look special, like a top 5 pick should. I would rather have most of the backs listed above over McFadden. I was very high on Torain and so were the Denver Broncos. They said that he could have won the starting job in the preseason before he got injured. Then when he comes back, he blew out his knee in the first game. Mendenhall looked good before his season ending surgery, minus his small case of the fumbles.

WIDE RECEIVER:

Eddie Royal (42)- Royal is the 10th overall wide receiver in PPR leagues. He has been clearly benefiting from all of the attention that Brandon Marshall demands, and he has been flourishing. Royal flashes a great combination of speed and good hands. He looks like he has what it takes to be a #1 receiver down the road. Royal went undrafted in a lot of fantasy leagues, or very late. He deserves to be starting for you now. He is a very solid #3 receiver, with the possibility of even more in PPR leagues.

DeSean Jackson (49)- Jackson has blazing speed and playmaking ability that the Eagles were lacking at wide receiver. He was great for them early in the season while the Eagles were minus their 2 top receivers. He continues to be a nice play as McNabb likes to spread the ball around. They also get him involved in reverses and punt returns. Jackson will remain to be a decent # 3 receiver or very good depth.

Donnie Avery (33)- Avery has been a very nice surprise for the Rams. He also is benefiting from the attention that Holt was demanding. It seems that he snuck up on some teams, but they are aware now. Avery has a very nice future in the NFL. He has great speed and is another playmaker. He is a nice fill-in or matchup player for your fantasy team. He can also fill in at the flex position.

If I had a vote for Rookie of the Year; this is how I would rank the top 5 as of right now:

1) Matt Ryan

2) Matt Forte

3) Chris Johnson

4) Joe Flacco

5) Eddie Royal

Honorable Mention: Slayton, Hightower, F. Jones

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The Baltimore Ravens are getting very excited for the 2010 NFL season and how it may play out. They have a core group of young, talented offensive players, finally picking up the lagging spot of the club that has existed for years. Meanwhile, defensively the team expects to be as stout as ever, making them a formidable unit that can challenge anyone.

The team is of course headed up by future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis. Prior to last season there had been rumors that Lewis was nearing the end of his career. However, last year he was rejuvenated on the field, and had one of his best seasons in recent memory. With the rest of the talent on defense, this makes the Ravens the same old, in your face, smash mouth, tough and rugged defensive unit that everyone always expects.

The offense though may be better than it has ever been. Quarterback Joe Flacco has continued to improve, and is ready to become one of the premier players at his position in the league. The same can be said for running back Ray Rice, who seems ready to take the league by storm and showcase his great combination of talents.

Plus, they finally have a star wide receiver, with the acquisition of Anquan Boldin from the Cardinals. A late offseason pickup also added former Bengals and Seahawks receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh to the team too.

With the Ravens, the story used to be that you could win by just scoring a few points against that rigid defense, because the offense was second tier. But now the offense is first rate, which makes the team a very scary proposition for other opponents around the league to have to square off against.

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There have been so many football players stepping it up and exceeding expectations through the first few weeks of the 2009 fantasy football season. Sure, this kind of thing does happen every year, but it seems like there are more "no names" rising to the occasion this year, suddenly emerging as top players at their positions. Let's take a look at a few of the many guys who have outperformed the expectations placed upon them at the beginning of the season. Keep in mind that we'll only be listing a few of the many players who fall into this category.

1. Steve Smith of the New York Giants. Who would have thought that this Steve Smith would be the fantasy stud WR through the first five weeks of the football season? He was basically unknown before the season started, and he's outperformed the "real" Steve Smith handily. With 481 receiving yards and 4 TDs through five weeks, his numbers have been off the charts so far.

2. Joe Flacco. In just his second season, Flacco is suddenly one of the more prolific fantasy football quarterbacks. He's fifth in overall scoring for QBs in 2009, and no one would have expected that entering the season. Flacco was typically drafted near the end of drafts, if at all.

3. Ricky Williams. The storied career of Ricky Williams is once again on the upswing. Williams is having his best season in years, with a ton of rush yards and receiving yards, not to mention 3 TDs through five games.

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The Baltimore Ravens entered the regular-season finale in 2008 needing a victory to reach the playoffs and last season was no different as an 8-7 Ravens team went to Oakland knowing a loss would keep them at home. Baltimore had little trouble in a 21-13 victory that got it a Wild-Card round matchup with New England.

And the Ravens then laid a 33-14 beat down on a Pats team that had been unbeaten at home in the regular season. Baltimore also snapped the Patriots' home playoff win streak at 11 games, handing New England its first home playoff loss since 1978. The Ravens did this despite Joe Flacco going 4-for-10 for 34 yards and a pick.

While Flacco was lousy in that game and then the following week in a loss to the Colts, he was very good during the season with 3,613 yards passing on 63.1 percent completions with 21 touchdowns and 12 picks. Pretty much all his numbers were up from his rookie year despite the lack of a true No. 1 receiver. The real star of Baltimore's offense last year and one of the NFL's breakout players was running back Ray Rice. The former Rutgers star joined Jamal Lewis as the only Ravens player in team history to have more than 2,000 yards from scrimmage. Rice rushed for 1,339 yards and caught 78 passes for 702 yards. But other than Flacco, Rice and to some degree Derrick Mason (73 catches, 1,028 yards, seven TDs) the Baltimore offense lacked playmakers.

Baltimore thinks it solved that problem with the offseason trade for Arizona WR Anquan Boldin and the signing of Donte Stallworth, who sat last season out due to suspension. Boldin should give the team the No. 1 threat it has lacked for years, but this still will be a running team.

The Ravens remain among the league's best defensive teams, ranking third overall last year and fifth against the rush. They have one of the best players in the league on the defensive line (Haloti Ngata), at linebacker (the ageless Ray Lewis), and in the secondary (Ed Reed). The only concern for this unit is whether Reed will miss the first six weeks, as he has hinted he may go on the PUP list as he recovers from offseason hip surgery. Certainly that would hurt this unit.

The experts list Baltimore's 2010 wins total at 9.5 and the Ravens as the AFC North favorites at -160.

Let's see how the 2010 Baltimore Ravens schedule breaks down:

Week 1: Monday, Sep. 13, at NY Jets, 7:00 PM
Week 2: Sunday, Sep. 19, at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Week 3: Sunday, Sep. 26, Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 4: Sunday, Oct. 3, at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
Week 5: Sunday, Oct. 10, Denver, 1:00 PM
Week 6: Sunday, Oct. 17, at New England, 1:00 PM
Week 7: Sunday, Oct. 24, Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Week 8: BYE
Week 9: Sunday, Nov. 7, Miami, 1:00 PM
Week 10: Thursday, Nov. 11, at Atlanta, 8:20 PM
Week 11: Sunday, Nov. 21, at Carolina, 1:00 PM
Week 12: Sunday, Nov. 28, Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Week 13: Sunday, Dec. 5, Pittsburgh, 8:20 PM
Week 14: Monday, Dec. 13, at Houston, 8:30 PM
Week 15: Sunday, Dec. 19, New Orleans, 1:00 PM
Week 16: Sunday, Dec. 26, at Cleveland, 1:00 PM
Week 17: Sunday, Jan. 2, Cincinnati, 1:00 PM

This schedule is ranked as the 12th toughest in the NFL, with an opponents' 2009 winning percentage of.508 (130-126). The Ravens don't have to worry much about travel, with 15 of their 16 regular-season games in the Eastern Time Zone for only the second time in team history so watch those NFL point spreads. And there are no West Coast trips, which is always a benefit.

If Baltimore can get to the bye week above.500 that would be a major accomplishment and set this team up nicely for an easier schedule post-bye. Four of the Ravens' first six games are on the road, including the first Monday night game (against the Jets) at the new Giants Stadium. That's the first time the Ravens will face former defensive coordinator Rex Ryan, New York's head coach. That game should be a bruising, low-scoring affair. The Jets have opened as three-point favorites. Then Baltimore gets a chance for revenge against a Bengals team that swept the Ravens last year, allowing Baltimore a total of just 21 points. Of course a former Ravens defensive coordinator also coaches Cincy: Marvin Lewis. It's the first time in franchise history that Baltimore opens with two road games - a split would be a great result.

The Ravens should handle Cleveland and then catch a huge break that they play Pittsburgh in Week 4 and not Week 5 because Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger will be not allowed back until after four games. Thus a road win there could give Baltimore the early upper hand for the division. The Ravens will be solid favorites in home games against Denver and the Bills but a likely dog at a New England team that will be out for vengeance - if Pats WR Wes Welker goes on the PUP list, Baltimore would avoid him as it did in last year's playoff game.

Baltimore should beat Miami with a week off prior before facing three straight NFC South teams. That quick turnaround against the Falcons likely favors Atlanta because at least it's at home on the short week. And that tremendous Carolina ground game will challenge the Ravens. That game at Houston looks like a loss as Baltimore traditionally has not been a good team on Monday nights (5-8). The matchup against the Saints marks the fifth year in a row the Ravens face the reigning Super Bowl champions. That it's in the elements is a huge advantage for Baltimore. And really there's no reason the Ravens shouldn't win their final two games rather easily.

As an NFL handicapper, it looks like an 11-5 team to me and the AFC North champion. I hate to project much further, but the Ravens seem like excellent value to win the AFC at +600 as well as +1100 to win the Super Bowl. If everything breaks right and there are no major injuries (especially to Flacco, Boldin and if Reed gets 100 percent), there is no reason this team can't win it all.

Doc Moseman is one of the pioneers of college football and the NFL handicapping industry. Check out his Web site for up-to-the-minute NFL odds and his famous winning college football and NFL picks.

One of the hottest discount NFL merchandise items continues to be the NFL Fathead. For a very low price you get a life size wall decal that you hang in a bedroom, game room, office or anywhere else. One of the great upsides with these is that you can move them from place to place without damaging the wall or the decal. Not to mention they feature great action shots of some of the hottest NFL players.

Now about a dozen new NFL Fatheads have been released for the current 2009 NFL season. In this group there are a whole lot of big names, with a great mix of rookies, seasoned veterans and emerging stars. Check out the full list of new NFL Fatheads below to see if any of the names spark your interest in obtaining some new discount NFL merchandise.

Kurt Warner - The quarterback of the Arizona Cardinals has enjoyed a late career renaissance, spearheaded by the drive to the Super Bowl last season.
Joe Flacco - Now a second year quarterback for the Baltimore Ravens, Joe Flacco has already emerged as a leader, a hard worker and a play maker.
Joe Thomas - The beast of an offensive lineman for the Cleveland Browns will be a force to be reckoned with for the next decade.
Jason Witten - One of the best tight ends in all of the NFL, Jason Witten is perhaps the strongest point of the Dallas Cowboys team.
Greg Jennings - Long overlooked as one of the top receivers in football, Jennings makes a great team with Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Ronnie Brown - Brown has been thriving both in the Wildcat and as a regular running back in the Miami Dolphins attack.
Brandon Jacobs - Brandon Jacobs is probably the most punishing running back in the NFL, weighing in at 265 pounds and bulldozing his way through linebackers.
Brett Favre - This marks the third team for which Brett Favre has had a Fathead. His strong start in Minnesota makes everyone's criticism of his return seem silly.
Mark Sanchez - Favre's replacement with the New York Jets, Sanchez has already shown strong flashes of promise in his rookie season as a quarterback.
Phillip Rivers - Leading the high powered San Diego Chargers attack, Phillip Rivers has emerged as one of the most accurate and lethal NFL quarterbacks.
Darrius Heyward-Bay - The rookie wide receiver with the Oakland Raiders hopes to bring some explosion to the offensive side of the ball for the team.
Jeremy Maclin - Another rookie wide receiver, Maclin will be pairing up with DeSean Jackson in a now very dynamic Philadelphia Eagles offense.
James Laurinaitis - The rookie linebacker with the St. Louis Rams is one of many young pieces that the club will be looking to build around in the future.

As you can see, many of the best names in the NFL are represented with these new NFL Fatheads. With the holiday season approaching, if you're looking for some new discount NFL merchandise one of these players may be exactly what you or the fan in your life had in mind.

Don't wait any longer, get your hands on the latest cheap NFL Fatheads and the hottest discount NFL merchandise today.

Here are the rankings and my opinions to follow after:

1. Drew Brees

2. Aaron Rodgers

3. Peyton Manning

4. Tom Brady

5. Tony Romo

6. Matt Schaub

7. Philip Rivers

8. Brett Favre

9. Joe Flacco

10. Eli Manning

11. Matt Ryan

12. Donovan McNabb

13. Jay Cutler

14. Kevin Kolb

15. Chad Henne

16. Alex Smith

17. Ben Roethlisberger

18. Carson Palmer

19. Matt Leinart

20. Matt Cassell

21. Vince Young

22. Matthew Stafford

23. Mark Sanchez

24. Kyle Orton

25. Jason Campbell

I gave the top spot to Drew Brees for one big reason: WEATHER. I love Aaron Rodgers as much as the next guy but Brees playing the majority of his games in a done compared to the brutal Decembers in swirling wind and snow certainly enhance his chances for top notch numbers throughout the whole year. Despite Rodgers' rushing advantage, Brees has been the standard for the last three years and remains so. Durable and playing in the best offense in the league, Brees should be taken as soon as number 6 in the first round in drafts.

The guy I always aim for is Peyton Manning due to his awesome consistency from year to year. I snagged him in round 2 last year and thought that was a huge bargain and he will likely be available in the middle of the second round again. Its very rare when your QB leaves you no worries regarding injury or performance and that counts a huge amount in my book. I always say pass on Brees and Rodgers in round 1 and go with Manning in 2. Thats my plan.

Tom Brady is over a year removed from knee surgery and he should be sitting on a big year. Favorite receiver Wes Welker is looking like he will be ready for week 1 so look for an awesome year from him. Many people are forgetting about Brady now and letting him slide as he is no longer the IT player due to the rise of Rodgers and Matt Schaub. Dont be foolish and let him pass you by in round 3.

I put Tony Romo over Schaub based simply on durability. Schaub has never been the picture of health which is a huge worry. Losing your QB is devastating. You can get by with an injured top WR and maybe even a top RB if your number two back is good but you cant replace your stud passer. I always am about minimizing risk which is why I am leery of Scahub but IF HEALTHY he will be awesome. How lucky do you feel?

Philip Rivers drops to 7th due to the issues surrounding top WR Vincent Jackson. Jackson has already been suspended for 4 games and also threatens to hold out the entire year in a contract dispute. I dont buy the holdout nonsense as no player ever follows through with it but he could struggle a bit without him for those 4 games. Regardless Rivers is still awesome and actually makes a great value since he could drop to round 4 due to the controversy.

One guy I am really high on and who could thrust himself into the top 5 this year is Joe Flacco. Blessed with a cannon arm and a stud RB in Ray Rice, Flacco finally got some WR help with the addition of Anquan Boldin. Flacco is making the true journey to ace passer and that journey could be completed this season. BUY BUY BUY!!!!

Donovan McNabb to me is always a tease. He always misses a few games and will throw in his share of duds. I do like him but the overall package leaves you wanting more. He could see a boost in Washington getting away from the tough Philly crowds but who knows here.

Eli Manning quietly gets it done and no one really talks about him. I am a Giants fan and have seen every start he has made and he truly is a top 10 QB. I dont think he will ever be a star like his brother but he will get the job done. Durable like Peyton counts for a lot here and he is the guy you pick up later after you stock up on RB's and WR's. He's the guy you want if you use that strategy I am not opposed to it.

Two deep sleepers: one I LOVE and one I am intrigued with. First of all I am IN LOVE with Chad Henne. This guy is going to be incredible. He has IT. I saw all of his games last year and he was fantastic against the Pats and showed great poise. He now has Brandon Marshall to throw to and a top notch running game. Snatch him up as your backup and you just might get two studs in one draft. I know he will be on all of my teams. The one I am intrigued upon is Matt Cassell. Cassell did well in New England the year he replaced Tom Brady and now he has Charlie Weis as his offensive coordinator. Despite being a terrible college coach, Weis knows how to coach offense and Cassell will be put in position to succeed. Throw a lottery ticket on his name. He will make a very good backup.

So there you have it. Do you agree or disagree with my assessments? Who do I have ranked too high and who do I have ranked too low?

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