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After a breakthrough 2012 season, Michael Crabtree will likely miss the season with a torn Achilles’ tendon. This is a huge blow to his dynasty league owners.
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Crabtree finished 2012 with 1,105 yards and nine touchdowns. More importantly, he really clicked with Colin Kaepernick and finished strong, averaging 83.1 yards with six touchdowns in the final eight games.
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He really came on in the postseason. Crabtree averaged 95 yards and a touchdown in the Niners’ three playoff games.
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The injury puts a damper on Kaepernick’s outlook as he loses his primary target. Anquan Boldin, Vernon Davis and Frank Gore figure to benefit from the injury.
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Crabtree can be avoided in re-draft leagues. He can be kept in dynasty leagues with several keepers, but those with fewer keeper spots can cut ties.
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We continue on with our early fantasy football rankings. This time we take a look at the 2013 fantasy football team defense landscape.
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1. Seattle Seahawks
The Seahawks allowed the fewest points last year, yielding just 15.3 points per game. They finished fourth in the league with 306.2 yards per game allowed. Adding Antoine Winfield’s veteran presence to an outstanding secondary anchored by Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas makes this an elite unit. Cliff Avril, who recorded 9.5 sacks last year for the Detroit Lions, gives them even more beef up front.
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2. San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers finished just behind the Seahawks with 17.1 points per game allowed. They ranked third in total defense with 294.4 yards per game allowed. Patrick Willis anchors the defense, while Aldon Smith, who recorded 19.5 sacks last year, is a total menace.
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3. Houston Texans
The Texans took a slight step back defensively last year, but still finished in the top ten in both scoring defense (20.7 ppg) and total defense (323.3 ypg). Their struggles were primarily in pass defense, but the addition of future first ballot Hall of Famer Ed Reed should help. Having a healthy Brian Cushing will also be huge. Oh, and they still have J.J. Watt.
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4. Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens will miss the leadership of Reed and Ray Lewis, but they reloaded. A clerical error allowed Elvis Dumervil to slip out of the Denver Broncos’ grasp. Baltimore snatched him up to pair with Terrell Suggs, who should be healthy after missing half of the season with an Achilles injury. Michael Huff came over from the Oakland Raiders to soften the blow of Reed’s departure.
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5. Pittsburgh Steelers
The Steelers led the league in total defense with 275.8 yards allowed per game. They ranked sixth in scoring defense (19.6 ppg). Troy Polamalu’s health will be the key to their success or lack thereof.
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6. Denver Broncos
The Broncos will miss Dumervil, but they still have Von Miller terrorizing opposing quarterbacks. Denver finished second in total defense (290.8 ypg) and fourth in scoring defense (18.1 ppg).
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7. Chicago Bears
Da Bears finished third in scoring defense (17.3 ppg) and fifth in total defense (315.6 ypg). A lot of their success last year was predicated on their ability to turn turnover into touchdowns. That isn’t something you can bank on every year.
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8. Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals finished sixth in total defense (319.7 ypg) and eighth in scoring defense (20.0 ppg). Geno Atkins (12.5 sacks) and Michael Johnson (11.5 sacks) form an underrated one-two punch.
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9. New England Patriots
The Patriots bend (373.3 ypg), but don’t break (20.7 ppg) on defense. Their offense tends to make opposing teams one-dimensional.
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10. Atlanta Falcons
The Falcons had similar numbers as the Patriots (365.6 ypg, 18.7 ypg), which isn’t surprising since they have a potent offense of their own. They added Osi Umenyiora and rookie Desmond Trufant to bolster their defense.
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Jeanmar Gomez, Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs
Gomez is 2-0 with a 2.78 ERA and a 1.21 WHIP. At home he has a 1.88 ERA (3.50 on the road).
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Season Totals: 18-18, 287 IP, 219 Ks, 3.98 ERA (127 earned runs), 1.28 WHIP (274 hits, 94 walks)
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(Photo: Kathy Kmonicek, AP)
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Francisco Liriano, Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs
Liriano is 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA. He has 16 strikeouts in 11 innnings. His WHIP (1.55) is a little out of control, but he should excel against the Cubbies.
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Season Totals: 16-18, 271.2 IP, 210 Ks, 4.11 ERA (124 earned runs), 1.30 WHIP (261 hits, 91 walks)
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By Mora Best, Maukuss Time
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Injury here, Injury there… next thing you know, half of the top 10 PGs from this past year were injured at some point. Some returned like Kyrie Irving while others will remain out until next year like Rondo. Nonetheless with the recent surge of talent at the Point Guard position in the NBA, the fantasy PG draft class has become extremely deep; like take a swim in the Pacific Ocean deep. I have compiled a list of the top 10 fantasy PGs available in this year’s upcoming draft… I’ll probably update it after the NBA Draft, but until then here we go…
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1. Chris Paul
Chris Paul is a stud and without question a top five fantasy pick year in and year out. He continues to hover around the top of league in assists and steals while holding on to a league’s best assist to turnover ratio. Shooting 48% with 4 of 5 free throws a game never hurts either… yeah Chris Paul is what we like to call fantasy nasty.
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2. Russell Westbrook
Westbrook led PGs in points (23.2) and Free Throws made (5.6) while placing second in rebounds (5.2) behind an injured Rondo. The only thing keeping him behind CP3 at this point is the 43 percent FG% which in reality isn’t that bad considering he takes over 18 shots a game.
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3. Stephen Curry
Have you been afforded the opportunity to check out the playoffs yet!? Exactly… enough said. Stephen Curry is Sick-Nasty and arguably the best point guard in the NBA hands down when healthy. He is the only PG ever to make over 250 3s while shooting 45% from the 3PT line. When you throw in his high FT %, steals, assists, points and 4 rebounds a game… Stephen Curry is becoming an automatic 1st round fantasy pick right in front of our very own eyes.
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4. Kyrie Irving
If not for the mid-season injury, Kyrie Irving would have realized his early 2nd round status. He averaged over 22 points a game, 6 assists, 1.5 steals, almost 4 rebounds a game and shot around 45%. Heading into next year, It is safe to say Irving is on the brink of a break-out season if he can stay healthy.
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5. Deron Williams
Let’s be honest, Deron Williams was a disappointment this season. The 19 points and 7 assists a game was appreciated, but probably way below the 1st round value he was projected to have. Not to mention losing to a D-Roseless Bulls team in the playoffs, he has to be at a low right now. However, even with that said if this is D Wills at his worst then imagine if he bounces back next year and returns to 20 and 10 status… one can only hope right?
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6. John Wall
Teach you how to dougie? No problem, John Wall can do that and more. After returning from injury, John Wall resumed #BeastMode duties making the Wizards look like a completely different team in the process. Similar to Stephen Curry, if I knew I was getting Dougie for the entire season then he would automatically move up a few spots.
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7. Mike Conley
Even though there isn’t anything fancy about Conley’s game, year after year he proves himself a viable fantasy option at PG. Now even more so with Rudy Gay gone, Mike Conley has picked up a lot of the left over duties on Offense. You may be fooled by the mere 15 points per game, but don’t be. Conley has proved me wrong enough times to show me that he is here to stay as a legitimate FBK PG.
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8. Rajon Rondo
When Rondo got injured this year, I think thousands of yells across fantasy land emerged in the sound of one gigantic sigh. I feel for you Rondo owners as he may need some recovery time for this one. If healthy, he is obviously a top 5 fantasy PG. However I’m not a doctor and until he’s able to get back on the floor – Playing it safe will be my choice.
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9. Ty Lawson
Lawson’s injury couldn’t have come at a worse time for fantasy players. However, he still played 73 games this year and gives you a little of everything including points, assists, free throws, 3 pts and steals.
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10. Tony Parker
Parker scored 20 points a game to go along with 8 assists and 4 Free Throws. The most outstanding stat on his statline though is his 52 percent FG%. That is crazy efficient as I am sure a thousand floaters and layups are what make it so high. It goes without saying that he leads all point guards in FG%.
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Click here to see the honorable mention point guards.
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Personally, Derrick Rose and Damian Lillard would be in the top ten and Mike Conley and Ty Lawson would be bumped. Mora is right though, the point guard position has become incredibly deep.
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Tyler Cloyd, Philadelphia Phillies @ Miami Marlins
Cloyd won his season debut, holding the Diamondbacks to two runs on two hits in 6.1 innings. Last year he was 2-0 at home with a 2.50 ERA (7.50 on the road).
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Season Totals: 16-18, 271.2 IP, 210 Ks, 4.11 ERA (124 earned runs), 1.30 WHIP (261 hits, 91 walks)
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Julio Teheran, Atlanta Braves vs. Minneosota Twins
Teheran is 2-1 with a 4.57 ERA. In his past four starts he’s 2-1 with a 2.84 ERA
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Season Totals: 15-18, 264.2 IP, 206 Ks, 4.22 ERA (124 earned runs), 1.31 WHIP (258 hits, 89 walks)
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