LestersLegends.com » New York Giants

Super Bowl XLVI Pick

30 January 2012


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Pro Bowl Result
:  0-1
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Regular Season Lock Picks:  28-6 (.824)
Regular Season Total:  176-80 (.688)
Playoffs Picks:  6-4 (.600)
Pro Bowl Pick:  0-1
Overall Total:  182-85 (.682)

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Super Bowl XLVI Pick: This time I think the Patriots get the Giants. With Gronk, Hernandez, and Welker I think Brady will be able to handle the Giants’ pressure. I am expecting a great game. I’m just think (and am hopeful) that New England comes out on top.
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Fantasy Loudmouth is sponsoring another fantasy football contest this week featuring two of the top quarterbacks this season.
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All you have to do is guess the combined passing yards for Tom Brady and Eli Manning in Week 9. Whoever comes the closest without going over takes home the prize.
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As always, be original. If somebody guessed a total you want, you’ll have to come up with another one. Just leave a comment with your best guess and be sure to check out Fantasy Loudmouth.
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Streeter Lecka/Getty Images
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The Giants are a hurting unit. They have been ravaged by injury this year, and their wide receiver corps is no exception.
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Hakeem Nicks is dealing with a knee injury. He’s able to play through it, but his four catches for 38 yards and a score on Monday illustrate that he’s not the same player that torched the Redskins for seven grabs and 122 yards in the opener.
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Domenik Hixon is out for the year after tearing his ACL. Had he not been injured he would be in line for extra looks against the Eagles this week.
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That’s because Mario Manningham will likely miss the game because of a concussion. Time is running out for Manningham to get cleared to play, and their Monday Night Football match-up is not doing them any favors.
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Without Manningham and Hixon the G-Men will need some people to step up.
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Enter Victor Cruz. Cruz dominated the preseason and will get a chance to show what he can do in real games. He got some action in on MNF catching two passes for 17 yards. One of his grabs went for a first down. Though he has a great deal of potential, he is not without his risks.
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Consistency has been an issue for Cruz, both in terms of his route running and hanging onto the football. Still, if you’re looking for a deep sleeper, Cruz could be your guy.
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Another option, primarily in PPR leagues is Brandon Stokley, who should be able to say he caught passes from Peyton and Eli after this week. He will work the slot, but at 35 his upside is very limited.
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Ahmad Bradshaw
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Ahmad Bradshaw had a modest start to the 2011 season running for 44 yards on 13 carries (3.4 ypc) and a score. He added one reception for ten yards.
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Bradshaw’s longest run of the day went for just seven yards, which is unfortunately a continuation of a trend from his last three games of last year where he failed to generate a double-digit yard rush. That should change this week.

The Giants take on St. Louis on Monday Night Football. In two MNF games last year Bradshaw had 229 yards on 35 carries (6.5 ypc) with a score. He added 24 yards on seven catches.
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He’s also playing at home where he averaged 112.5 total yards last year, as compared to 81.1 on the road. Five of his eight touchdowns came at home as well.
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Plus, with Hakeem Nicks hurting the Giants could be more inclined to use a more conservative offensive approach, relying on Bradshaw and Jacobs in the ground game.
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That would play into St. Louis’ Week 1 weakness. The Rams gave up a league worst 236 rushing yards in the opener. Obviously with Michael Vick that number is going to be bloated, but the running backs combined for 139 yards on 19 carries (7.3 ypc) and a touchdown.
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Bradshaw isn’t as effective as Shady McCoy, but he is a similar running back. With his speed, shiftiness, and receiving skills, Bradshaw is a good bet to put up big numbers on Monday Night Football.
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Eli Manning under Center
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Eli Manning made some noise this summer by stating that he is one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. While I am not going to defend his position, what do you want him to say?
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If he said he wasn’t a top quarterback he would probably be ripped even more for not being confident, because we all know without that trait you’ll be eaten alive in New York.
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I’m less worried about the words that are coming out of his mouth and more concerned about the passes coming out of his hand.
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Odd are good that Eli’s preseason has come to a close since there is no point risking injury right before the season kicks off. To say his preseason has been a struggle is a major understatement.
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Eli completed just 27 of his 55 passes (49.1 percent) for 314 yards. He threw two interceptions and failed to throw a touchdown in any of the Giants’ three games.Talk about a depressing start.
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After throwing 25 picks last year his fantasy owners and Giants fans alike would have liked to see a stronger start. Don’t get hung up on the INTs though because several of them came on deflections after the ball hit his receivers’ hands.
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It could be a tough adjustment for Eli as he adjusts to life after Steve Smith and Kevin Boss, but his early schedule is quite favorable.
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The Giants open at Washington and home against Seattle. They’ll get a test in Week 3 against Philly, but then get Arizona, Seattle, Buffalo, a bye, and Miami. On paper it looks like Eli will have every chance to get going early.
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If his struggles continue into the season I would start worrying about Eli, but until then I’ll consider him one of the top QB2s in the fantasy football.
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About the only stable running back scene in the NFC East belongs to the Philadelphia Eagles. LeSean McCoy ran for 1080 yards and seven touchdowns. He added to his totals with a ridiculous 78 catches for 592 yards and two more scores. Sure, he’ll lose some touchdowns to Michael Vick, but he doesn’t have much competition from other running backs. McCoy is a solid RB1.
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Felix Jones is the lead back in Dallas, but the Cowboys fully expect to share the workload. Tashard Choice and rookie DeMarco Murray will be in the mix, but they probably won’t do enough for fantasy teams barring injury. Jones is best suited as an RB3 at this point. Marion Barber III is unlikely to return gone.
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Ahmad Bradshaw is in limbo until the lockout is settled. If he become a restricted free agent he will likely remain with the Giants. If he is unrestricted he’ll go to the highest bidder. I like his prospects better if he stays with the G-Men, but I wouldn’t shy away from him if he bolts. Bradshaw is a solid RB2 regardless. Brandon Jacobs is also in limbo. The Giants could ask him to take a paycut. Whether or not he’ll be willing to do so will determine his fantasy worth. Like Bradshaw I like Jacobs better if he returns to the Giants. He’s a solid RB3 that would get a boost in value if Bradshaw leaves.
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Then there’s Washington. Ryan Torain had some moments last year, but he can’t seem to stay healthy. He’s a big risk that should probably be no better than a RB4. Torain will have to share the load with rookie Roy Helu, who has a good chance of becoming the most productive of his class this year. Clinton Portis is unlikely to return.
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The NFC East has three established quarterbacks and one messy situation.
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Michael Vick is the number one fantasy quarterback in the division. He’s a bit of a risk in part because of injuries and in part because he’s never had a season like last year. He has the tools to succeed and the weapons around him to flourish, but we won’t know if he still has the drive to be a better quarterback. He’s easily a top tier QB1, but he has more risk than the likes of Rodgers, Brees, Brady, and Manning. Kevin Kolb is one of the better backup quarterbacks in the league. He could find himself traded, possibly to Arizona. He makes a decent QB2 if he’s a starter.
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Tony Romo put up big numbers when he is healthy. Dez Bryant is immature, but he gives Romo another quality weapon. He’s averaged 2699.5 yards and 1.9 touchdown passes per game over the past four years (51 games). His lack of playoff success keeps him from the Brady, Peyton, and Brees discussions, but he is possibly the best value among fantasy quarterbacks because of it.
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Eli Manning reached 4000 yards for the second straight season. Not bad for a team that historically likes to run the football. His career high of 31 touchdowns gives him an average of 29 over the past two years and 25 over the past six. He really formed a nice rapport with Hakeem Nicks and remains a solid QB1 if you want to address other needs or a high-end QB2.
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Then there is Washington. Donovan McNabb is as good as gone, which marks the second straight season he’s been sent packing. I don’t know if he’s a starting caliber quarterback anymore. Even if he finds a new gig, his fantasy days are most likely behind him. Rex Grossman could be brought back, but it appears John Beck could get a chance to show what he can do. This is a situation to avoid. Not only are the QB options mediocre at best, but they are running thin in the playmaker department.
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