TOP 140 / 70

PLAYER,   TEAM	POS	J’s Pos Rank	Jon’s Overall Rank	George’s Overall
Aaron Rodgers, GB	QB	1	1	1
Drew Brees, NO	QB	2	2	2
Arian Foster, Hou	RB	1	3	3
LeSean McCoy, Phi	RB	2	4	5
Tom Brady, NE	QB	3	5	7
Ray Rice, Bal	RB	3	6	8
Cam Newton, Car	QB	4	7	6
Calvin Johnson, Det	WR	1	8	9
Matthew Stafford, Det	QB	5	9	10
Darren McFadden, Oak	RB	4	10	4
Matt Forte, Chi	RB	5	11	13
DeMarco Murray, Dal	RB	7	12	11
Chris Johnson, Ten	RB	8	13	20
Rob Gronkowski, NE	TE	1	14	24
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac	RB	6	15	19
Jamaal Charles, KC	RB	10	16	26
Fred Jackson, Buf	RB	11	17	12
Jimmy Graham, NO	TE	2	18	23
Andre Johnson, Hou	WR	2	19	14
Adrian Peterson, Min	RB	9	20	17
Marshawn Lynch, Sea	RB	12	21	18
Jordy Nelson, GB	WR	3	22	15
A.J. Green, Cin	WR	4	23	21
Wes Welker, NE	WR	6	24	31
Victor Cruz, NYG	WR	7	25	32
Larry Fitzgerald, Ari	WR	5	26	29
Michael Turner, Atl	RB	13	27	57
Steven Jackson, StL	RB	14	28	44
Ryan Mathews*, SD	RB	15	29	25
Willis McGahee, Den	RB	16	30	35
Greg Jennings, GB	WR	8	31	46
Julio Jones, Atl	WR	9	32	30
Hakeem Nicks, NYG	WR	10	33	39
Mike Wallace, Pit	WR	11	34	28
Roddy White, Atl	WR	12	35	47
Brandon Marshall, Chi	WR	13	36	16
Trent Richardson, Cle	RB	17	37	45
Frank Gore, SF	RB	18	38	55
Peyton Manning, Den	QB	6	39	41
Michael Vick, Phi	QB	7	40	42
Doug Martin, TB	RB	19	41	36
Steve Smith, Car	WR	14	42	22
Marques Colston, NO	WR	15	43	60
Dwayne Bowe, KC	WR	16	44	59
Darren Sproles, NO	RB	21	45	34
Reggie Bush, Mia	RB	20	46	27
Ahmad Bradshaw, NYG	RB	22	47	37
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Cin	RB	23	48	56
Aaron Hernandez, NE	TE	3	49	40
Antonio Gates, SD	TE	4	50	65
Eli Manning, NYG	QB	8	51	49
Tony Romo, Dal	QB	9	52
Miles Austin, Dal	WR	17	53	48
Eric Decker, Den	WR	18	54	52
Percy Harvin, Min	WR	19	55	50
Dez Bryant, Dal	WR	20	56	38
Brandon Lloyd, NE	WR	21	57	63
Shonn Greene, NYJ	RB	24	58	66
Antonio Brown, Pit	WR	22	59
Jeremy Maclin, Phi	WR	23	60	43
Steve Johnson, Buf	WR	24	61	61
Vincent Jackson, TB	WR	25	62
DeSean Jackson, Phi	WR	26	63	62
Demaryius Thomas, Den	WR	27	64	51
Reggie Wayne, Ind	WR	28	65
Philip Rivers, SD	QB	10	66
Pierre Garcon, Wsh	WR	29	67	53
Jermichael Finley, GB	TE	5	68
Vernon Davis, SF	TE	6	69
Roy Helu, / Wash Starter	RB	25	70	58
DeAngelo Williams, Car	RB	26	71	69
Peyton Hillis, KC	RB	27	72	70
Torrey Smith, Bal	WR	30	73
Kenny Britt, Ten	WR	31	74
Malcom Floyd, SD	WR	33	75
Justin Blackmon, Jac	WR	32	76	54
Matt Ryan, Atl	QB	11	77
Russell Wilson, Sea	QB	13	78	64
Jay Cutler, Chi	QB	12	79
Jason Witten, Dal	TE	8	80
Tony Gonzalez, Atl	TE	7	81
Stevan Ridley, NE	RB	28	82	57
Beanie Wells, Ari	RB	29	83
Kevin Smith, Det	RB	30	84
Ben Tate, Hou	RB	31	85	68
Michael Bush, Chi	RB	32	86	67
Cedric Benson, GB	RB	33	87
Donald Brown, Ind	RB	34	88
Isaac Redman, Pit	RB	35	89
C.J. Spiller, Buf	RB	36	90
Rashad Jennings, Jac	RB	37	91
Joe Flacco, Bal	QB	14	92
Mark Ingram, NO	RB	38	93
David Wilson, NYG	RB	39	94
Toby Gerhart, Min	RB	40	95
Ryan Williams, Ari	RB	41	96
Shane Vereen, NE	RB	42	97
Ben Roethlisberger, Pit	QB	15	98
Andrew Luck, Ind	QB	16	99
Carson Palmer, Oak	QB	17	100
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Buf	QB	18	101
Robert Griffin III, Wsh	QB	19	102
Titus Young, Det	WR	34	103
Nate Washington, Ten	WR	35	104
Mike Williams, TB	WR	35	105
Sidney Rice, Sea	WR	37	106
Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oak	WR	36	107
Danny Amendola, StL	WR	38	108
Laurent Robinson, Jac	WR	39	109
Brandon LaFell, Car	WR	40	110
Jacob Tamme, Den	TE	9	111
Pierre Thomas, NO	RB	43	112
Jonathan Stewart, Car	RB	45	113
Daniel Thomas, Mia	RB	44	114
Devery Henderson, NO	WR	41	115
Anquan Boldin, Bal	WR	42	116
Robert Meachem, SD	WR	43	117
Randy Moss, SF	WR	44	118
Santonio Holmes, NYJ	WR	45	119
Greg Little, Cle	WR	46	120
Michael Floyd, Ari	WR	47	121
LeGarrette Blount, TB	RB	46	122
Rashard Mendenhall, Pit	RB	48	123
Jacquizz Rodgers, Atl	RB	49	124
Alfred Morris, Wsh	RB	50	125
Ronnie Brown, SD	RB	51	126
Robert Turbin, Sea	RB	52	127
Vincent Brown*, SD	WR	48	128
Lance Moore, NO	WR	49	129
Donnie Avery, Ind	WR	50	130
Fred Davis, Wsh	TE	10	131
Brandon Pettigrew, Det	TE	11	132
Owen Daniels, Hou	TE	12	133
Brent Celek, Phi	TE	13	134
Jared Cook, Ten	TE	14	135
Jermaine Gresham, Cin	TE	15	136

Episode 28: Top 150 +WR rankings

Aaron Rodgers 2011-9 (Photo credit: elviskennedy)

Power Week has officially come to a climax as Hosts George Barrett and Jonathan “The Judge” Farmer have officially released their big overall rankings board.  George goes through his personal top 150 as Farmer tells him his players are too risky.  Just in time for your draft the guys finally give you a solid ranking. #Fumbler4Life

Check us out on iTunes here!

Episode 28: Top 150 +WR rankings

Episode 27:Final RB + QB Rankings

Washington Redskins vs. New Orleans Saints at Fed Ex Field…Final Score: Redskins 29 / Saints 24 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Hosts George Barrett and Jonathan “The Judge” Farmer bunker down in studio together to give Fumble Nation what they have been craving, official player rankings!!!! RBs and QBs have now been put in their place, and WRs and TE are soon to follow. #Fumbler4Life

Check us out on iTunes here!

Episode 27: QB and RB Rankings

Episode 26: Power Week Part 2

gambling (Photo credit: Joelk75)

Power Week continues as hosts George Barrett, Jonathan “The Judge” Farmer, and Trapier Michael finish out their preseason Week 3 review.  Ex Barry Nation member Brad Vetter stops by to talk a little “Real Football” gambling. #Fumber4Life

Check us out on iTunes here!

Episode 25: Power Week Begins

This pod officially marks the beginning of Fantasy Football Power Week.  Hosts George Barrett, Jonathan “The Judge” Farmer, and Trapier Michael review the first 8 games of preseason week 3.  They end the show with the official draft order of Barry Nation. #Fumbler4Life

Check us out on iTunes here!

Episode 24: Prelude To Power Week

English: Swimmers compete against one another to claim the title of Ironman in the 2008 World Ironman Competition finals in Hawaii. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In Host George Barrett’s triumphant return to the Fumble from his Ironman event, the guys discuss the rest of weeks 1 and 2 of the preseason.  Hosts George Barrett, Jonathan “The Judge” Farmer, and Trappier Michael are getting ready for what they have called Power Week, by sharing their top stories they are following leading into the all important week 3 of the preseason. In the end of the pod George shares with fumble nation the story of his Ironman competition. #Fumbler4Life

Bonus Episode 2: Jon and Trap on TE, K’s, and Defensens

Rob Bironas and Neil Rackers (Photo credit: The Brit_2)

Jon and Trapper, come back for one last episode before George returns from his Ironman Success.  Jon discusses TE, K, and Defense. Trapper has some news, including a Scott W update on the QB situation in Tennessee and Seattle.Check us out on iTunes here!

Bonus Episode 2:

Ode To Draft Day – 20 rules and trends to read before your draft

Ode To Draft Day – 20 rules and trends to read before your draft

Written by @FantasyFBTalk

My favorite holiday season is fast approaching. And if you’re reading this, perhaps you are starting to feel some of the holiday spirit yourself. You can keep New Years Eve and Christmas and St. Patrick’s Day and Halloween.

I will take Draft Day.

The time of year when all of your friends and colleagues come together in the great spirit of competition and fake football glory. Where you dream of that brilliant 1^st round pick carrying your team on his back to a championship – a moment more worthy of a Make-a-Wish segment on ESPN than any you have ever seen before. Where you spend hours cleverly naming your team something vile about your testicles or a fellow league-mate’s girlfriend, or your testicles and your fellow league-mate’s girlfriend. Where you pray to the fantasy gods that this will finally be the year that you actually back up the amount of shit-talking you are sure to spew.

Yes, it’s Draft Day and it’s better than every holiday there is and ever will be. So do me a favor and deck your (DeAngelo) Halls with (Dwayne) Bowes of (Tamba) Hali and let’s get this party started.

Of course all this celebratory reverie brings with it great responsibility.  And I’m here to help.

First off, I’m not a paid analyst. I watch more football and think more football than I sleep, but that doesn’t mean I know more than you or your league. I won’t pretend to have the insights of Matthew Berry or Jason La Canfora or George Barrett, or The Judge, or anyone else.

What I can do is give you some insights that I have gained in watching and participating in hundreds of drafts in my fantasy football career. Note: This isn’t a strategy piece. Personally, I think most of those are bullshit. There are more winning fantasy football strategies than there are audible calls in Peyton’s lexicon [read: a lot]. Instead, you will find recommendations for draft preparation, pointers about under and overvaluing players, and basic rules that will put you in the best position to shine on Draft Day. So here you go, friends. Read away and get ready for some freaking football!

1. 1.     Most important of all, preparation separates winners from losers on Draft Day. The prepared manager will also enjoy the Draft Day experience much more than the unprepared manager. Fantasy drafts are supposed to be equal parts celebration of football hysteria and bona fide smack-talk.  If you are unprepared, you run the risk of making a hasty or shortsighted decision that may affect the rest of your draft.  It may also leave you in a position to try to defend a crappy draft move to your buddies. Avoid these situations by strategizing far before Draft Day.  Make your own player rankings based on the rules of your league. Practice with mock drafts so that you can be prepared to call your own audibles of your pre-draft strategy with confidence.
2. 2.     Know your league rules. Every decision you make should be guided by your league’s rules. For instance, if passing touchdowns are worth the same as rushing touchdowns, I’m suddenly moving Matt Stafford above Cam Newton in my rankings. Is it a PPR league? I’m moving Roddy White above teammate and beast Julio Jones. Little changes like that based on your league rules may make the difference between 1^st and 2^nd place. Familiarize yourself with the rules and try to find mock drafts that mirror your league’s draft.
3. 3.     Be aware that everyone has the same fantasy football magazine, iPhone application, website, and twitter account (shameless plug: @FantasyFBTalk) that you have. You will separate yourself from chalk ranking drafters by adapting your own player rankings to your league and recognizing value and sleeper picks.
4. 4.     Be prepared to go off script. Even if your pre-draft rankings are holding course, do not overvalue a guy in the 3^rd round that you could get in the 4^th.  Or that you could get a suitable substitute for in the 7^th.  Mock drafts and Average Draft Position (ADP) lists will help you figure out where players are being drafted so that you can smell the stench of an overvalued pick before you select him.
5. 5.     Your first 4 rounds of picks are important, but not necessarily the most important. These first four guys may get you to the playoffs.  But your picks in rounds 5-15 are the guys that will get you the freaking trophy.  Too often people get down to the 8^th or 9^th round and then go on auto-draft, ending up with two backup QBs and an injured 13-year veteran has-been WR. Also consider last year’s ADP for the following guys: Wes Welker (5^th round), Matt Stafford (7^th), Jimmy Graham (8^th), Julio Jones (8^th), Fred Jackson (9^th), Reggie Bush (9^th), AJ Green (10^th), Steve Smith (10^th), Cam Newton (Undrafted). Middle and late rounds clearly matter. Take some risk here because the reward can be enormous.
6. 6.     Don’t overvalue the big and most oft-discussed offseason free agency or trade move. The same goes for the big name rookies. Certainly Julio and AJ proved last year that it can be done. But that doesn’t mean Blackmon will be a top 10 WR in 2012 (he will not). Do not overlook any of these players, but every year there is a tendency to overvalue and overdraft the bright and shiny new fantasy toys. I’m looking at you, Vincent Jackson, BenJarvis Green-Ellis, Trent Richardson, and Cedric Benson. All that said, sometimes a move is just what a player needs to re-discover his fantasy relevance (See: R. Bush, D. Sproles). Guys I think will flourish in new towns include Brandon Lloyd, Peyton Hillis, and Brandon Marshall. But again, these guys will be drafted higher based solely on their new surroundings.
7. 7.     As a corollary to #6, don’t overlook what a free agency or trade move may do to other players. What does the addition of Hillis do to Jamaal Charles? What does the addition of Brandon Lloyd do to Wes Welker and Aaron Hernandez? What about drafting rookies David Wilson, Doug Martin, and Isaiah Pead to give Bradshaw, Blount, and Jackson some company? Consider how a move will affect others around him.
8. 8.     Don’t give any player the hometown discount. It doesn’t matter if the guy plays for your favorite team or not. Also doesn’t matter if the guy is denounced by PETA, was convicted of a DUI, talks smack on the Commissioner, or poses in GQ. Go out there and pick the best player regardless of the name. Do not draft or not draft a guy because of how much he is liked or disliked.
9. 9.     For the love of all that is holy among fantasy gods, do not draft a Defense or Kicker until the final two rounds. By this point, every fantasy football manager should know this. However, I bet house money that you will see some moron reach on Stephen Gostkowski or the Jets defense in the 11^th round.  Please, please do not be “that guy” (but feel free to make fun of that guy). I do admire the guys at the Fantasy Fumble getting rid of the Kicker position in the Barry Nation. I’m starting to lobby that move as well.

10.Don’t be a slave to the conglomerates! Yes, ESPN, Fox, CBS, NFL, Yahoo, and tons of other websites employ (and actually pay!) “experts” to tell you what players will succeed week to week.  Listen to them, but do your own research. You’ll be surprised how often you are right compared to what the “experts” will tell you.

11.No backups, no problem! Contrary to what you see in all of the auto-draft systems, a backup QB is not necessary on Draft Day. There are a couple notable exceptions I can get on board with: (1) If you draft a “mobile” QB like Vick that has higher chance of injury; and (2) if you get stuck with a late round quarterback and want to hedge your bet with a second QB (e.g., taking Jay Cutler and Andrew Luck). While we’re at it, you probably only need one tight end, one kicker, and one defense. Save those valuable picks for what’s most important.

12.Draft as many running backs and wide receivers as your league will allow. Once you get your main roster spots filled, take fliers on RBs and WRs that have some high risk but high possible returns.  All you have to do is hit on 2 or 3 of your 10 picks and you’ll be way ahead of your league mates that are drafting back-up QBs and silly handcuffs.

13.Assess your risk tolerance prior to Draft Day. A good draft gives you a healthy mix of home run hitters and consistent performers.  However, if your risk tolerance is more on the conservative side (aka the “Judge” school of thought), look for wide receivers that get the most targets and receptions (E.g., Roddy White, Wes Welker, Larry Fitzgerald). Similarly, look for running backs that get the most carries (Maurice Jones-Drew, Michael Turner, Ray Rice, Marshawn Lynch).  Conversely, the “home run” hitters (aka the “George” school of thought) are those that average the most 20+ yard receptions or deep threat targets (E.g., Jordy Nelson, Victor Cruz, Julio Jones). A healthy mix is probably preferable, but recognize your tolerance prior to Draft Day.

14.Don’t be afraid of RB by committee. The reality of the new age of NFL rushing is this committee/platoon approach.  I used to be among those that wouldn’t touch a committee running back.  Now that so many teams are employing this approach, you have no choice but to take a Jonathan Stewart, Darren Sproles, Peyton Hillis, and Stevan Ridley type of back and start the heck out of them.  Ideally, you are able to make one of these types of backs your 2^nd RB or Flex, but don’t be wary of such a player in the middle rounds.

15.Give yourself an edge on Draft Day through your research. Most of your fellow league mates are not looking at 2009-2011 carries, targets, and receptions. Most of them are not looking to see who is coming off of injury or is approaching a contract year. Most only remember last year’s team and the 2011 players who went beast against them. Most will draft based on what they know, which is far less than you know. Recognize this fact and exploit it on Draft Day.

16.Don’t worry about the bye week ever. Don’t even put it on your Draft Day prep sheets. Too often someone drafts a player over another due to a bye week and that player isn’t even on his roster anymore come that week. Just not worth the extra detail on Draft Day. Only notable exception is if you’re taking a second quarterback.

17.Remember that serviceable QBs are available in the 5^th through 10^th rounds. If a player falls to you that you did not expect to be there, don’t be afraid to take him in lieu of a Quarterback. Most will recommend to you that you do anything you can to get one of the top tier guys (e.g., Rodgers, Brady, Brees, Newton, Stafford).  I agree that it’s nice to own one of these guys, but if you’re faced with a Stafford or Darren McFadden decision in the late 2^rd round, don’t be afraid to go after your guy.  There will always be an Eli Manning, Matt Ryan, or Peyton Manning, Mike Vick, or Philip Rivers waiting for you a couple rounds later.

18. Don’t succumb to the “run of players at that position” game.  You all know what I’m talking about. Allow me to set the scene: No tight ends have been chosen since round 2 and then one person grabs Gates in the early 5th. Next thing you know, 5 tight ends come off the board over the next 7 picks.  Don’t be the guy that ends up on the late end of that train.  Especially this year.

19. Tight ends other than Graham, Gronk, and to a lesser extent, Gates and Hernandez, are all pretty much the same. More than likely, Graham and Gronk will be off the board in the 2^nd or early 3^rd round. If you miss on those two, you don’t have to fret. Most remaining tight ends are pretty close to the same in production. And I bet good money there will be three of four late round tight ends that end up in the top 10 in fantasy production by the end of the year.

20. Have fun! Especially if you’re winning, which you definitely should be if you put in the time to prepare.  Also know that I am in full support of as much smack-talk as your league mates will endure before dropping keyboards and going at it.  Even then, I would inform them that if they do choose to throw bones, they will probably lose at that too. And even if you end up with a black eye, you can still go to bed that night knowing you’re better than your assailant at the most important life skill of all, fantasy football. Now get after it!

 

Bonus Episode 1: Schedules, Draft Recap, and Trap’s Strategy

draft board (Photo credit: theogeo)

George is out; at his Ironman contest leaving Jon and Trapper to rule the show.  Jon does a bit on schedules and they become angry at a bad comment.  Trap divulges his draft plan for the season and the recap one of Jon’s drafts and talk about @ronnie35UK ‘s team.

Check us out on iTunes here!

Bonus Episode 1: Schedules, Draft Recap, and Trap’s Strategy

Episode 21: Preseason part 3 NYG v. Jags and Manning’s

English: Capture of Eli Manning in a public service announcement by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

George and Jon take a look at the Jaguars and Giants, and their preseason game.  They discuss which Manning is better, and Goerge proclaims that he does not want to live in a world in which Ben Jarvus Green-Ellis is a fantasy star.  Trapier is back on the drops and generally making fun of George and Jon.  #Fumbler4Life

Check us out on iTunes here!

Episode 21: Preseason Review part 3