NFL Picks and Predictions

Tonight is my NFL fantasy football league draft and I am anxiously hoping to accomplish a few things.  I want this year’s team to be well rounded.  The draft is a head to head draft with only ten teams, so I assume that there will be plenty to choose from.  Still, it is important to get the jump on the league with a good NFL fantasy football draft.

Each week, along with my regular NFL picks and predictions I am planning to also let you experience my NFL fantasy league experience.  You can see the ups and downs, as well as the thinking that I put into my league.  For those that are new to NFL fantasy football, you might learn a few things.  For those that are not new to NFL fantasy football, you can laugh at me for kicks.  (It is always fun to play Monday morning quarterback.)

Going into the draft, I am hoping to draft two solid running backs with my first two picks.  I am hoping to get DeAngelo Williams rather cheaply.  And I want a balanced team that has depth.  Those are my three major goals.  I do not yet know what position I will be drafting in so it makes it hard to target much else.  I am very much a “get a good quarterback after your running back is settled”  kind of fantasy drafter.  I believe in the power of the running game.

Some players I would like to get (other than the obvious players):

DeAngelo Williams

Matt Ryan (If cheap)

Roy Williams (should be a steal after last year)

Steve Smith (an annual target for me)

I will post with my actual fantasy football team and the results tomorrow and let you know how I did.  Wish me luck NFL Football friends!

Peyton Manning

Trying to come up with the top NFL quarterbacks of all time is kind of like trying to pick the best movie of all time.  It really depends on your personal taste.  Some people put a premium on NFL records, and others put a premium on NFL championships.  Still others simply go with their personal favorites.  These are my personal picks of the best NFL quarterbacks of all time, and I would love to hear what you agree/disagree with.

Number 5 – Dan Marino (Miami Dolphins) – Many people will argue that Dan does not deserve this spot because of his lack of a championship.  Personally, I think that his accomplishments on the field and in the NFL record books are more than enough to place him at number five.  Some could even argue that he deserves to be higher up the list, but a lack of championships does have some say in this list.

Number 4- Tom Brady (New England Patriots) - Being a Carolina Panther fan and an old St Louis Rams fan, it is tough to concede this pick.  Brady is simply phenomenal when it comes to winning.  He is right on the edge of moving into Montana territory with the incredible skills and championships.  Tom Brady will likely be near the top of most any “best of” quarterback list.

Number 3- Johnny Unitas (Baltimore Colts) – One of the guys that I think would be a huge winner in today’s game as well.  This guy was so much better than the guys around him it was not even funny.  I love watching old film of him and he is as solid as they came.

Number 2 – Peyton Manning (Indiannapolis Colts) - Yet another man that will certainly go down as one of the greatest, I see him as a solid number two already.  His incredible passing skills, along with his ability to bring out the best in everyone around him makes Peyton Manning a solid pick at number two.  When it is all said and done, I feel he will be number one on this list.

Number 1 – Joe Montana (San Francisco 49ers) - How can you put Joe any lower than number one?  He was the consummate pro, and the best quarterback of all time when it comes to winning football games.  Even when the Niners were not very good, he still pushed and made them better.  The Niners would never have been that good without Joe Montana.

When everybody’s fantasy football draft rolls around, it is not likely that tight ends will be at the top of everyone’s draft list.  That is logical considering even the best tight ends do not even come close to contributing what a quarterback or running back will provide.  Still, the 2009 NFL football season will have some tight ends that will challenge the wide receivers of the league.

This season, there will be at least five of them that you can expect to fill your fantasy scorecard week after week.  Here they are:

Jason Witten – Witten already was putting up pinball type numbers for the Dallas Cowboys before Terrell Owens left, and now he is going to be targeted even more.  Add to that the fact that the Cowboys have a super running attack and you start to see how Witten is set for a career year.

Dallas Clark -  Clark is another example of addition by subtraction.  Harrison is no longer there for Manning to throw to, and Clark should pay the dividends.  Reggie Wayne will still be the man, but Clark will likely be the primary number two in crunch time.

Antonio Gates - Gates is an unquestioned beast when he is healthy and it appears that he is finally there.  Offseason foot surgery solved a long standing problem and that probably means bad news for the rest of the AFC.  Phillip Rivers will be throwing to him early and often.

Kellen Winslow -  Winslow is set to finally fulfill the potential that he has been missing out on for years.  He should be near the top of your tight end list if for no other reason than he is sure to be a security for…..whoever is Tampa Bay’s quarterback.

Tony Gonzalez – Matching Gonzalez with Matt Ryan is a match made in heaven.  Not only will Gonzalez give Mattie Ice a new target, but he is the perfect compliment to the Atlanta offense.  They will feed Michael Turner, and then play action pass all day long.  Hello Tony Gonzalez!