lawofmurphy

Thanks for all the replies! Yeah, we have a website associated, but it's not well read compared to the magazine...which people actually still buy! I was thinking about adding on a podcast...I've done them before and they're pretty fun. I also like the idea of some extra stat highlights in the profiles...we've stuck to just the basics...but adding an interesting stat for some or all the players would be nice if we could swing it. Sadly, the in depth stat analysis doesn't fit for the magazine, but as website additions, it makes sense.

I hope this isn't out of line to post. If it is, I won't be sad if anyone deletes it! I write for one of the bajillion fantasy football mags that litter the bookstores come July or so. I'm not gonna say which one cause I'm not here to advertise it. I organize the profile/ranking section and we're always looking for ways to put out a better product. I've read a ton of FF magazines...I try to get as many as I can. But I was wondering if anyone had any ideas about stuff they enjoy from the profiles in fantasy football mags...or if there's any stuff you WISH mags would do? I have been trying to push some more 'conversational' elements for our section. I think we need to get beyond the idea that our one list is the only way anyone should look at players. A player might be ranked 12th, but some guys are riskier than others and a simple ranking can't communicate that. Oh well. Sorry again if this is out of place!

1. I agree he will get more shots because of where he was picked. I don't think he should (solely based on draft position), but that's besides the point either way. 2. His rookie year was actually very poor. His raw numbers looked respectable because he was allowed to pass a ton. His rate stats were worse than McCoy's. He also gets credit for the Rams being a more successful team, but that can be explained by the defense going from worst in the league in 2009 to above average in 2010. The offense basically stalled, and the only gain they made was in the ground game. 3. Comparing Bradford and any rookie QB of the last decade to QB's that were rookies prior to 1996 or so is worthless. The NFL has transitioned to a much more pass friendly league. The only QB in the last decade that really struggled early on and became a good QB would be Eli. Now, it's possible quarterbacks in general have shorter leashes and the problem is QB's just need more time in general. If that's how you feel, then as long as you're consistent in thinking the same thing about McCoy, I can't argue. My point from the start is that it's an interesting comparison to me and I'm not really sure how I feel about the two. I just think it's worth discussing.

I'm still on the fence about the talent level of both Bradford and McCoy. You can argue McCoy may not have the arm strength. I'm not convinced Bradford has the accuracy or smarts/instincts. I do, however, think that it's hard to feel DIFFERENTLY about the two. If you think the Browns were right to move on from McCoy, I think it's somewhat inconsistent to think the Rams should be giving Bradford more time. That's why I brought this up I suppose...trying to figure out the seemingly inconsistent view of two extremely similar-in-practice players.

Sorry, Bradford is player A. Colt McCoy is player B.

So I think this is kind of interesting. Player A ----------- Started - 26 games Completion % - 57.6 QB Rating - 74.2 Record - 8-18 TD % - 2.5 INT % - 2.2 yards-per-attempt - 6.0 yards-per-completion - 10.4 adjusted net yards per attempt - 4.6 2010 DVOA - -9.3% 2011 DVOA - -18.6% Player B ---------- Started - 21 games Completion % - 58.4 QB Rating - 74.5 Record - 6-15 TD % - 2.9 INT % - 2.9 yards-per-attempt - 6.3 yards-per-completion - 10.8 adjusted net yards per attempt - 4.7 2010 DVOA - 3.8% 2011 DVOA - -8.3% Player B had an all-pro offensive lineman. Player A played with a pro-bowl running back in 2010. Both players have terrible offensive teams around them. Player B is now on the trading block. Player A is probably going to get 1 or 2 more years as a starter. Put another way, should Rams fans be nervous? I know the stock answer is "Bradford had no help. Let's see how he does." The other answer is "The Rams are so invested in him that they can't just get rid of him" I respect both of those arguments, but that's also how franchises get set back half a decade. I have no vested interest in Bradford, but I'd be fairly concerned about him. I don't think he's got much fantasy value at all...redraft or otherwise.

This is the closest answer that I like in the thread. It's funny how people just assume players stay the same throughout their careers. It's just not true. Running backs start losing steps once they get high carry seasons. I don't even think how big he is matters...his game was pure blazing speed and he clearly lost a step between 2009 and last season. This happens to a lot of players...I think about Tomlinson early in his career vs. the middle of his career. He wasn't the same back. He had lost speed, but he adapted with running smarts and improving other aspects of his repretoir (like that deadly stiff arm). Maybe he did get dinged up early in the year worse than anyone knew. Maybe the success went to his head. But I think the biggest issue is he lost a step and tried to be the same kind of back that ran for 2,000 yards in 2009. He's going to have to adjust his game to take advantage of blocking better. He's going to have to keep developing his spin move, which is already nasty. He's got the raw talent to get back to elite status, but he's going to have to work at it...so we'll see.

Maybe he's been dealing with this for a while...would explain his sudden suckiness.

*shrug* I think he should stay. The grass isn't greener on the other side of the fence. I think bringing in a Cowher, Fisher, Billick would end disastrously. If there's a bright, young, innovative offensive mind out there, I'd probably go for that. I agree the Castillo decision was misguided and hopefully that's rectified. But any time you bring in as many new pieces as we did defensively, you'll need a solid season to get acquainted. It all went pretty much according to the schedule this year. I think they bounce back next season and I don't see any reason to blow the team up. But that's just me. And from an entertainment perspective, I REALLY love when the Eagles are terrible. It's a lot more fun to listen to people freak out. So if they did fire Reid, I'd take some pleasure in the next few years of 5-win seasons

Broadcasters (the Jim Rome's, Skip Bayless', etc.) are actors playing a role. Bayless reminds me of this radio guy from a long time ago who would do voices on his show...but listeners didn't know he did voices. So he would do an interview where he was really both the interviewer and the interviewee, but the audience wouldn't know it. He'd have the "interviewee" say really absurd/offensive things and the "interviewer" would get outraged and callers would yell and scream. It was actually pretty brilliant. Bayless just acts the role of the contrarian and if you "hate" him, then he's doing his job well.

Agreed that get-togethers work the best. I like writing weekly articles (previews/reviews/weekly rankings/etc, etc) to keep people interested in all the teams. I think a major inhibitor of discussion and activity is when owners are so wrapped up in their own team that they wouldn't know any trend happening with other teams. That said, I don't think trash talk and weekly banter is necessarily the sign of an active or good owner. Some are more quiet than others...

Position Rank for Fitz by Year... 2005 - 2 2006 - 24 (injured) 2007 - 5 2008 - 1 2009 - 5 2010 - 16 2011 - 7 (currently) I mean...unless the Cardinals get an above average QB for next year, I don't see how he does a ton better than this season. He's not a BAD player to have obviously, but I don't think he's having a down year. With Warner, he was top 5...without Warner (and Boldin to a degree), he's probably more in the 5-10 range. -------------- The guys that interest me from an ADP angle... Schaub - Is he still a QB1? He's injury prone. His top WR is injury prone...it's a scary prospect. Eli Manning - I'll be honest...I thought Eli had wrapped up the "Lifetime #10 Ranking" award for his position (title previously held by Hines Ward and Joe Horn), and then he went out and had a great season this year. Does he leapfrog the 5-10 guys like Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub, etc.? Reggie Bush - It wouldn't shock me if he climbs into RB2 ADP position...has been quietly impressive this year. And I was the biggest anti-Bush guy before this season.

I find it interesting that both sides were probably wrong and I am the only person on either side that is willing to meet in the middle about it.

The Rodgers owner in our league missed the playoffs despite being 3rd out of 10 in scoring. Them's the breaks sometimes.

Yes, the idea that he would be a top 20 fantasy back was ambitious. And from a fantasy perspective, I don't like that Thomas is signed through 2014 or whatever...and Sproles isn't going away any time soon. And the injury this year isn't good news. But I still saw a bit more from him than I expected. The advanced metrics like him. Again, a 3 yard run on 1st and 10 sucks but a 3 yard run on 3rd and 1 is a success. So he's been put in situations where success is a different definition than what it is for other backs. Good in the NFL, bad in fantasy.