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There is only one time that I fail to use my last pick to select a kicker, and that is when my fantasy draft is a few weeks away from the start of the season. In that case, I don’t even take a kicker. I’ll take an extra RB or WR as insurance, and pick one up right before the season starts. That said, there is still a pecking order for the lonesome kicker. Here’s mine.

1.  Nate Kaeding, SD 
2.  Stephen Gostkowski, NE
3.  Ryan Longwell, MIN
4.  Mason Crosby, GB
5.  David Akers, PHI
6.  Garrett Hartley, NO
7.  Lawrence Tynes, NYG
8.  Matt Prater, DEN
9.  Rob Bironas, TEN
10.  Shayne Graham, BAL
11.  Dan Carpenter, MIA
12.  Jeff Reed, PIT
13.  Jay Feely, ARI
14.  Robbie Gould, CHI
15.  Sebastian Janikowski, OAK

Also check out:
- 2010 Top 30 Fantasy QB Rankings
- 2010 Top 50 Fantasy RB Rankings
- 2010 Top 60 Fantasy WR Rankings
- 2010 Top 25 Fantasy TE Rankings
- 2010 Top 25 Fantasy IDP Rankings

Click here to enter the Best Fantasy Football Team Name Contest for a chance to win some fabulous prizes.

Last year I won my 12-team division and finished third out of 96 in the 2009 Joes vs. Pros challenge that pitted six fantasy experts vs. six amateur players. Well, I’m back to take another crack at it. We had our draft last night. It was a 26-round draft (PPR league) and you are unable to make any moves during the season. The team you draft is the team you are stuck with. The system automatically takes your optimal score for each given week. There are tons of prizes for the winners. Here is how my team shaped up:

QB1:  Tom Brady
QB2:  Matt Ryan
QB3:  Sam Bradford
RB1:  Steven Jackson
RB2:  Ryan Grant
RB3:  Fred Jackson
RB4:  Darren Sproles
RB5:  Kevin Faulk  
RB6:  Sammy Morris
WR1:  Randy Moss
WR2:  Michael Crabtree
WR3:  Terrell Owens
WR4:  Arrelious Benn
WR5:  Early Doucet
WR6:  Antwaan Randle El
TE1:  John Carlson
TE2:  Kevin Boss
TE3:  Dante Rosario
K1:   Stephen Gostkowski
K2:  Matt Prater
K3:  Jason Hanson
DEF1:  Minnesota
DEF2:  Pittsburgh
DEF3:  New England
DEF4:  Tennessee
DEF5:  Washington

Are you hurting in the run category? Here are some reasonably available players that can help you out.

Jose Tabata, Pittsburgh Pirates
Tabata scored 13 runs over the past 15 days while hitting .375 with 4 HRs, 10 RBIs, and 1 SB. On the year he’s hitting .280 with 25 runs, 2 HRs, 15 RBIs, and 40 SBs in 41 games (168 ABs). Jose i’s owned in 13 percent of ESPN and in 32 percent of CBS leagues.

Fred Lewis, Toronto Blue Jays
Lewis scored 11 runs over the past 15 days while hitting .310 with 1 HR, 4 RBIs, and 1 SB. On the year he’s hitting .280 with 55 runs, 6 HRs, 29 RBIs, and 11 SBs. Fred is owned in 5 percent of ESPN and 18 percent of CBS leagues.

Tyler Colvin, Chicago Cubs
Colvin scored 11 runs over the past 15 days while hitting .283 with 4 HRs, 5 RBIs, and 1 SB. On the year he’s hitting .267 with 40 runs, 16 HRs, 37 RBIs, and 3 SBs. Tyler is owned in 16 percent of ESPN and 28 percent of CBS leagues.

J.J. Hardy, Minnesota Twins
Hardy scored 10 runs over the past 15 days while hitting .383 with 1 HR, 7 RBIs, and 1 SB. On the year he’s hitting .262 with 24 runs, 4 HRs, 21 RBIs, and 1 SB. J.J. is owned in 29 percent of ESPN and 37 percent of CBS leagues.

Additional Options:
Coco Crisp, Oakland A’s
Ronny Cedeno, Pittsburgh Pirates
Jon Jay, St. Louis Cardinals
Felipe Lopez, St. Louis Cardinals
Jack Cust, Oakland A’s
Edwin Encarnacion, Toronto Blue Jays
Jason Repko & Danny Valencia, Minnesota Twins (Until Morneau returns)

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Here’s a look at the unheralded players who played well yesterday.

Brian Duensing & Jason Repko, Minnesota Twins
Duensing picked up a win in his second start with the Twins allowing 2 runs in six innings to improve to 4-1 with a 1.83 ERA. He’s 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in his two starts. Repko went 3 for 4 with 2 runs , and a HR to raise his average to .324. Once Morneau returns the Twins will juggle their lineup meaning Repko will lose any fantasy value.

Bud Norris, Houston Astros
Norris gave up 1 unearned run on 4 hits in six innings to improve to 3-7 with a 5.63 ERA. He collected seven strikeouts.

Brad Mills, Toronto Blue Jays
Mills gave up 2 hits in seven scoreless innings in his season debut.

Jeremy Guthrie, Baltimore Orioles
Guthrie took the loss despite giving up just 1 unearned run in 7 innings. He fell to 4-10 with a 4.23 ERA. He’s given up three runs in his last 13-2/3 innings.

Carlos Ruiz, Philadelphia Phillies
Ruiz went 3 for 4 with a run and 3 RBIs (17) to raise his average to .284.

Trevor Crowe, Cleveland Indians
Crowe went 3 for 4 to raise his average to .264.

Jon Jay, St. Louis Cardinals
Jay went 3 for 6 with a run to improve his average to .385. He has a modest five-game hitting streak going.

Jerry Hairston, Jr. (pictured)
Jerry went 2 for 5 with a run (38) and 3 RBIs (40) to raise his average to .252.

Potent Middle Relievers
Wilton Lopez, HOU: 1 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Ks (31 Ks, 39-2/3 IP)
Manny Delcarmen, BOS:  1 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Ks (25 Ks, 37 IP)
Rich Thompson, LAA:  3 IP, 1 Run, 5 Ks (9 Ks, 7-1/3 IP)
Tyler Clippard, WAS:  1-1/3 IP, 0 Runs, 3 Ks (69 Ks, 60-2/3 IP)
Grant Balfour, TB:  1 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Ks (42 Ks, 42-1/3 IP)
Craig Breslow, OAK:  Save, 1 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Ks (49 Ks, 48 IP)
Sergio Mitre, CLE:  2 IP, 0 Runs, 3 Ks (19 Ks, 31-1/3 IP)
Sergio Santos, CHW:  1 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Ks (35 Ks, 32-1/3 IP)
Sean Gallagher, PIT:  Win, 3 IP, 0 Runs, 4 Ks (29 Ks, 31-1/3 IP)
Manny Corpas, COL:  2-2/3 IP, 0 Runs, 4 Ks (41 Ks, 54-2/3 IP)
Matt Belisle, COL:  1-2/3 IP, 0 Runs, 3 Ks (62 Ks, 62 IP)
Luke Gregerson, SD:  1 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Ks (61 Ks, 49-1/3 IP)

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IDP leagues are becoming increasingly popular in fantasy circles. Here’s a look at my top 25 IDP players for 2010.

1.  Patrick Willis, SF
2.  Jon Beason, CAR
3.  D.J. Williams, DEN
4.  DeMeco Ryans, HOU
5.  James Harrison, PIT
6.  Karlos Dansby, MIA
7.  James Laurinaitis, STL
8.  Ray Lewis, BAL
9.  Jonathan Vilma, NO
10.  London Fletcher, WAS
11.  Barrett Ruud, TB 
12.  DeMarcus Ware, DAL
13.  David Harris, NYJ
14.  Clay Matthews, GB
15.  Kirk Morrison, JAX
16.  James Farrior, PIT
17.  Curtis Lofton, ATL
18.  Chad Greenway, MIN
19.  Stephen Tulloch, TEN
20.  Lance Briggs, CHI
21.  Jerod Mayo, NE
22.  Yeremiah Bell, MIA
23.  LamMarr Woodley, PIT
24.  Charles Woodson, GB
25.   D’Qwell Jackson, CLE

Also check out:
- 2010 Top 30 Fantasy QB Rankings
- 2010 Top 50 Fantasy RB Rankings
- 2010 Top 60 Fantasy WR Rankings
- 2010 Top 25 Fantasy TE Rankings

Images courtesy of Icon SMI

Click here to enter the Best Fantasy Football Team Name Contest for a chance to win some fabulous prizes.

Here’s a look at the unheralded players who played well yesterday.

Fred Lewis, Toronto Blue Jays
Lewis went 3 for 5 with 3 runs and a SB (11) to raise his average to .284. He has 13 runs in his last 11 games.

Jeff Francoeur, New York Mets
Francoeur went 1 for 4 with a HR (9) and 3 RBIs (45) to raise his average to .248.

Jonathon Niese, New York Mets
Niese continued to sparkle allowing 1 run in 6 innings to improve to 7-4 with a 3.43 ERA.  He is 3-2 with a 2.09 ERA in his last six starts.

Joshua Tomlin, Cleveland Indians
Tomlin gave up 1 run on 3 hits in 7 innings to beat the Yankees in his MLB debut. Don’t run out and pick him up, but you can put him on your radar after that performance.

Orlando Cabrera, Cincinnati Reds
Cabrera went 3 for 6 with 2 runs and an RBI to raise his average to .259. He’s 11 for 28 (.393) with 6 runs in his last six games.

Danny Valencia, Minnesota Twins
Valencia is solving the Twins’ third base woes. Yesterday he went 4 for 5 with 3 RBIs to raise his average to.400. He’s 14 for 19 (.737) in his last four games with six runs and 8 RBIs.

Andruw Jones, Chicago White Sox
Jones went 1 for 3 with 2 runs, a HR (14) and 3 RBIs (33). He’s hitting just .205.

Gio Gonzalez, Oakland A’s
Gio took a no-decision despite giving up 1 run in 6 innings with 6 Ks. He’s 9-6 with a 3.64 ERA on the season.

Andres Torres, San Francisco Giants
Torres went 3 for 4 with 2 runs (55), 2 RBIs ( 39), and a SB (18) to raise his average to .279. He’s 8 for 23 (.348) with 5 runs and 4 RBIs in his last five games.

Neil Walker, Pittsburgh Pirates
Walker went 3 for 4 with a HR to raise his average to .310.

Potent Middle Relievers
Drew Storen, WAS: 1 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Ks (26 Ks, 29-2/3 IP)
Scott Downs, TOR: 1-1/3 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Ks (35 Ks, 42-1/3 IP)
Trever Miller, STL: 1 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Ks (17 Ks, 23-1/3 IP)
Joaquin Benoit, TB: 1 IP, 0 Runs, 3 Ks (50 Ks, 34-1/3 IP)
Logan Ondrusek, CIN:  2 IP, 0 Runs, 3 Ks (21 Ks, 31 IP)
Jose Mirajes, MIN:  1 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Ks (16 Ks, 21 IP)
Matt Thornton, CHW:  1 IP, 0 Runs, 3 Ks (54 Ks, 39-1/3 IP)
Ryan Madson, PHI:  1 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Ks (20 Ks, 17-1/3 IP)
Hong-Chih Kuo, LAD:  2 IP, 0 Runs, 5 Ks (45 Ks, 34-1/3 IP)
Edward Mujica, SD:  1 IP, o Runs, 2 Ks (47 Ks, 46-1/3 IP)

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After last season’s playoff success in which he piled up 263 yards and 2 TDs in wins over Cincinnati and San Diego, Shonn Greene began climbing up draft boards in the minds of fantasy owners. Then the Jets signed LaDainian Tomlinson rather than bringing Thomas Jones back. That only strengthened the case for fantasy owners. While LT may still have a little left in the tank, it seems like he’s closer to E than Jones is.

While I like the second-year back out of Iowa, I am not as high on Greene as most are. Mock Draft Central has an ADP of 14 for Greene, which seems a bit high. Personally I don’t even have him that high among RBs (click to see my RB rankings) let alone all players.

He is going ahead of guys like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Randy Moss, Reggie Wayne, Cedric Benson, and Ryan Grant. I can see passing on the QBs since there are plenty of good options later in the draft, but an unproven RB over Moss and Wayne, who you can basically pencil in for 1000+ yards and 10 TDs? I don’t see how you do that based on a handful of games. Even guys like Grant and Benson, that have proved they can contribute for a full season without getting hurt, seem like wiser decisions to me.

The Jets do have an excellent offensive line and play smash mouth football, but don’t expect them to be as run heavy this year. Mark Sanchez is older and wiser. Plus, the Jets brought in Santonio Holmes to help the Jets have a more balanced offensive attack.

Taking a guy 14th overall in a fantasy draft that has just two career TDs is risky, especially when he caught as many passes during the regular season as you did. It’s not like I would expect him to improve dramatically in the pass-receiving department. Even in his one breakout year of college he caught just eight passes.

LaDainian Tomlinson will catch the ball out of the backfield, and with 138 career rushing TDs look for LT to get the call at the stripe. So basically you’re looking at a yardage machine that won’t get many receiving yards and is unlikely to crack double-digit TDs. That doesn’t sound like a top 15 pick to me.

Prediction:  1280 total yards (1180 rushing), 6 TDs, 12 catches

What do you expect from Shonn Greene?

Click here to enter the Best Fantasy Football Team Name Contest for a chance to win some fabulous prizes.

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Well, T.O. found a new home again. This time he won’t be the WR with the biggest mouth on his team. That honor belongs to new teammate Chad Ochocinco. The signing shouldn’t hurt Ocho’s fantasy numbers too severely. Antonio Bryant stands to lose a significant portion of his looks though. Rookie TE Jermaine Gresham could see fewer passes over the middle and in the red zone because of the signing. Carson Palmer’s fantasy value gets a little bump. The best thing to come of this will be the drama that ensues from having Ocho and T.O. paired up.

Here’s a look at the unheralded players who played well yesterday.

Alexi Casilla & Danny Valencia, Minnesota Twins
With Orlando Hudson on the DL, Casilla went 2 for 4 with 3 runs and 3 RBIs to raise his average to .315. He has a modest four-game hitting streak going. Valencia went 4 for 4 with 4 runs and a Grand Slam. He went 10 for 14 in his last three games to raise his average to .376.

Javier Vasquez, New York Yankees
Vasquez gave up 2 runs on 5 hits with 5 Ks in 7 innings to improve to 9-7 with a 4.54 ERA.  He’s 3-0 in his last four starts with a 2.77 ERA.

Potent Middle Relievers
Sean Marshall, CHC: 1 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Ks (61 Ks, 52-2/3 IP)
Carlos Villanueva, MIL:  Win, 1 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Ks (61 Ks, 48 IP)
Matt Albers, BAL:  3 IP, 1 Run, 4 Ks (31 Ks, 49-2/3 IP)
Clay Hensley, FL:  1 IP, 0 Runs, 2 Ks (52 Ks, 44-2/3 IP)

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You aren’t going to find many bigger Larry Fitzgerald fans than yours truly. I have forever loved the way he approaches the game. He learned how to prepare for an NFL season from Cris Carter and followed in his footsteps of gathering WRs around the league for a grueling camp.

Not only does he prepare intensely, and take young players under his wing (Sidney Rice last year for example), but he never seems to be in conflict with the team or his teammates, let alone not getting in trouble off the field.

On the field is where he truly captivates me. He does not have blazing speed, but he simply finds a way to get it done. He has great hands, footwork, leaping ability, vision, etc. I should stop before I am accused of a man-crush on Fitz.

In six NFL seasons he has averaged 87.2 catches for 1177.8 yards (13.5 ypc), and 9.8 TDs. In four of his last five years he had at least 96 catches and double-digit TDs. In three of his last five years he had 1400+ receiving yards.

He’s been just a bout a sure thing for double-digit TDs as any RB out there the past few years. Not only did I consider him a first round pick last year, I considered him a mid-round (6-8) first round pick.

Things have changed though. Kurt Warner is gone and Matt Leinart is at the helm. Leinart has had his share of bumps and bruises, but he has had some success with Fitz in the past.

In 2006 they played in eight games together when Leinart was the starting QB. Fitz averaged 5.25 catches for 74 yards with 4 TDs. Those aren’t the numbers you have come to expect from Fitz, but he has come a long way from 2006. I am counting on Leinart to do the same when he’s finally given another chance this year.

Not only did he lose his QB, but Fitz lost his running mate. While Steve Breaston and Early Doucet are quality WRs, they aren’t Anquan Boldin. I’m not sure how much that will affect Fitz though. Last year Boldin missed Week 9 and Fitz torched Chicago for 123 yards and 2 TDs. In 2008 Boldin missed Weeks 5, 6, 16 & 17 and Fitz caught 20 passes for 362 yards and 6 TDs in his absence. In 2007 Boldin was out Weeks 4, 5, 6 & 14 and Fitz caught 31 passes for 432 yards and 2 TDs in those four games.

I also think the Cardinals will lean much heavier on the run with Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower taking some of the pressure off of Leinart. Kurt Warner was an elite talent so it made sense to rely on his arm. Leinart has ability, but there is going to be a philosophy change in the desert.

I’m not expecting another 1400 yard season for Fitz, but I do have him ranked high among WRs (click to see rankings) with a projection of 100 catches for 1250 yards and 10 TDs. Those are first round numbers, but I can see the argument that I’m being overly optimistic.

Mock Draft Central has Fitz with an ADP of 11. I would put him right around there as well. I would prefer RBs like AP, Chris Johnson, MJD, Michael Turner, Frank Gore, Ray Rice, and Steven Jackson over Fitz. I would also rather have WRs Andre Johnson and Reggie Wayne as well. I do like Aaron Rodgers and Drew Brees a lot, but I’d rather grab Fitz and settle for a Manning, Brady, Romo, Schaub, or Rivers later.

That puts Fitz at the 10th pick in my book, so yes I do consider him a first round pick still. Remember, I may be a little biased since I am such a big fan, but there aren’t many guys that you can basically pencil in for 1000+ yard and 10 TDs. I believe Fitz remains on of them.

What do you expect from Larry Fitzgerald?

Click here to enter the Best Fantasy Football Team Name Contest for a chance to win some fabulous prizes.