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So plenty of people have asked me what to expect when the Jets open training camp. Well, I'm glad I can tell you. Open your mind and picture the following: "Ladies and gentlemen, children of all ages," says the man dressed head to toe in a green and... more

Your fantasy football team plays in the NFL, and you should too! Sign up today to play the official free and customizable fantasy game of the National Football League! NFL.com held its second experts league mock draft of the year on Friday, July 19th.... more

You know who the stud wideouts are. Everyone does. When you're drafting in the second and third rounds and Calvin Johnson, Dez Bryant, Percy Harvin and Julio Jones are there, you're taking them. That's great. You have one slot filled in a position that... more

The 2013 Primetime Emmy Award nominations were announced Thursday. From Peyton Manning to Joe Namath, NFL personalities have made their share of memorable television cameos.... more

J. Smith (No. 1) A. Rank (No. 3) M. Grant (No. 6) A. Gbaja-Biamila (No. 7) M. Fabiano (No. 10)   Round 1, Pick 1 Arian Foster, RB, Houston Texans: It's the major debate everyone has: who's number one overall? Mainly, it's a gut feel... more

With "World War Z" premiering this week, every one of us will wonder if we'd be special enough to survive a zombie apocalypse. Could you help the planet survive with a rag-tag group of strangers? As you muse on that I can tell you this: I know which NFL personalities would survive "World War Z" and why.... more

You know who the stud wideouts are. Everyone does. When you're drafting in the second and third rounds and Calvin Johnson, Dez Bryant, Percy Harvin and Julio Jones are there, you're taking them. That's great. You have one slot filled in a position that... more

Finally, a position where you know who the top eight to 10 picks are going to be in your draft. The list of elite running backs isn't very long, but at least the top eight on the list below (and C.J. Spiller makes nine) are pretty much set in stone for... more

Pretty soon the running back position will be non-existent, and we'll have to change all the fantasy rules to accommodate it. Imagine, every week starting two quarterbacks and six wide receivers. This could be fantasy football in the year 2020. Okay,... more

When it comes to wide receivers, nothing is a bigger question than if the best players will continue to be the same fantasy players they were a year ago. You can draft your first quarterback hoping he'll project higher than a year ago (Andrew Luck, for... more

There's no bigger role of the dice than drafting a tight end. After all, how many of them can you really count on? All you can really ask for is to have a tight end who is a big enough part of the offense to give you six to eight points a week. Let's take... more

NFL.com held it's first experts league mock draft of the year on Monday, May 20th. The standard scoring league consists of NFL Fantasy LIVE members Dave Dameshek, Elliot Harrison, Michael Fabiano, Akbar Gbajabiamila, Jaime Maggio, Adam Rank, Matt "Money"... more

Draft kit | Sleepers | Deep Sleepers | Busts | Breakouts | Bargains   M. Fabiano D. Dameshek M. Grant E. Harrison A. Rank J. Smith   Usually, I'm a believer that you should be a leader, not a follower. A trend-setter, not a... more

Draft kit | Sleepers | Deep Sleepers | Busts | Breakouts | Bargains   M. Fabiano D. Dameshek M. Grant E. Harrison A. Rank J. Smith   1. Dez Bryant will have the most fantasy points of any wide receiver this season - by a... more

Draft kit | Sleepers | Deep Sleepers | Busts | Bargains | Strategies   M. Fabiano D. Dameshek M. Grant E. Harrison A. Rank J. Smith   Chris Ivory, RB, New York Jets: One thing the Jets are going to do this season is run the... more

Draft kit | Sleepers | Deep Sleepers | Busts | Breakouts | Strategies   M. Fabiano D. Dameshek M. Grant E. Harrison A. Rank J. Smith   Michael Vick, QB, Philadelphia Eagles: No quarterback's stock has dropped more than... more

Draft kit | Sleepers | Deep sleepers | Breakouts | Bargains | Strategies   M. Fabiano D. Dameshek M. Grant E. Harrison A. Rank J. Smith   Danny Amendola, WR, New England Patriots: He'll be terrific for New England, and for... more

Draft kit | Sleepers | Busts | Breakouts | Bargains | Strategies   M. Fabiano D. Dameshek M. Grant E. Harrison A. Rank J. Smith   Ryan Tannehill, QB, Miami Dolphins: He was so much better than I thought he would be as a... more

Draft kit | Deep sleepers | Busts | Breakouts | Bargains | Strategies   M. Fabiano D. Dameshek M. Grant E. Harrison A. Rank J. Smith   Lamar Miller, RB, Miami Dolphins: Don't think for a second this is going to be a... more

Yes, I stood in line at the Bluth Frozen Banana Stand in Los Angeles for 90 minutes so I could take a picture of myself in front of it. You won't find many bigger Bluth Family cheerleaders than me. Arrested Development had a cult following before being cancelled seven years ago by Fox. Now, it's back. It's a comeback of biblical proportions. However, there are some NFL players who have their own long road to returning to the game when their NFL careers appeared over. It's NFL Arrested Development.... more

It's summer time at the NFL.  During the next few weeks, we here at NFL.com  will unveil our Most Underrated and Overrated Players of All Time for all 32 teams and allow users to determine their choices as well. When my wife and I were trying to pick... more

I remember that in one episode of "Mad About You" (I really do miss that show), they did a spoof titled "Die Hard IV: Die Already" about the new "Die Hard" movie. And this was in 1997. Now yet another John McClane vehicle is set to hit the cineplex this weekend. And while I was a fan of the Justin Long/Timothy Olyphant I'm-going-to-send-a-car-up-a-ramp-to-blow-up-a-helicopter previous installment, enough might just be enough. But then again, hanging on too long is nothing new to Hollywood, or the NFL. Here's some outdated sequels that we've been watching the last few years that are long past their prime.... more

Black Monday is here. Unfortunately, there will be no shopping involved ? except for the NFL teams who will be out doing exactly that for new head coaches. It?s one of the staples of our fall and winter calendar. First, new TV shows we were excited about get cancelled, and then, head coaches we expected to bring our teams victories get the axe. Both the NFL and Hollywood are tough businesses, so let?s take a look at the head coaches who are either already unemployed or could become so, and compare them to this season?s TV failures. You?ll see some striking similarities. Or at least in my mind there are.... more

For the final edition of Higher/Lower/Over/Under this season, I'm going to look back at what we've seen and what's ahead for 2013. Note for Week 17: If you're in an end-of-the-world fantasy league and you have the Mayans, you can officially waive them.... more

Whether you're a fantasy beginner or don't have as much time to devote to your fantasy team during the week, I'm here for you with the newest edition of Fantasy 101 - all your fantasy needs in 15 minutes or less. Because that's how long you'll need to... more

The final edition of Targets and Touches takes a look back at Championship Sunday. We had some monster target numbers for wideouts Sunday, led by A.J. Green's 18 in the Bengals win over Pittsburgh. Green was the number one fantasy wideout for a good... more

Well, we're here. It's Championship Week. If you thought semi-final week was pressure-packed for you, how does it feel now? Where no matter what you're doing during the day, your thoughts are consumed about things like which of three players you're... more

Whether you're a fantasy beginner or don't have as much time to devote to your fantasy team during the week, I'm here for you with the newest edition of Fantasy 101 - all your fantasy needs in 15 minutes or less. Because that's how long you'll need to... more

There's not much I can tell you about half of the guys on the list of Targets and Touches that you don't already know. Still, Championship Week is on the horizon. And if you're like me, you'll think all week long about your WR2 or flex plays. So let's... more

This week in Higher/Lower/Over/Under, it's the second week of your fantasy playoffs, and there are still questions to be answered. Thankfully for me, Walking Dead and Sons of Anarchy have wrapped their seasons, so I have extra time to devote to my... more

Whether you're a fantasy beginner or don't have as much time to devote to your fantasy team during the week, I'm here for you with the newest edition of Fantasy 101 - all your fantasy needs in 15 minutes or less. Because that's how long you'll need to... more

For most of you, it's semi-final week, which means trusting players who you haven't been riding for most of the season. Changing your lineup becomes difficult. I get it. I hemmed and hawed for FOUR DAYS last week between Stevie Johnson and Malcom Floyd.... more

This week in Higher/Lower/Over/Under we're focused. I mean focused like the U.S. Government in finding Abu Nazir. (Farewell, Jamey Sheridan. You would have been a horrible President.) So we're changing it up this week and going in depth on a few huge... more

Whether you're a fantasy beginner or don't have as much time to devote to your fantasy team during the week, I'm here for you with the newest edition of Fantasy 101 - all your fantasy needs in 15 minutes or less. Because that's how long you'll need to... more

This week in Targets and Touches, we examine some new blood who have infiltrated our Top Ten list. Is Cecil Shorts here to stay? How about Aaron Hernandez? Can Chris Givens be your big waiver wire pick up who brings you a championship? Do the Colts have... more

This week in Higher/Lower/Over/Under we'll tackle running backs and wide receivers - and of course, the 2012 Tim Tebow in Colin Kapernick. This is the biggest week of the season to date: likely your final matchup before the playoffs begin and there's so... more

Whether you're a fantasy beginner or don't have as much time to devote to your fantasy team during the week, I'm here for you with the newest edition of Fantasy 101 -- all your fantasy needs in 15 minutes or less. Because that's how long you'll need to... more

This week, Targets and Touches is all about peaking. Now is the time you look to the waiver wire, or to your bench, for players who are starting to string big games in a row together. At this point in the season, I like players who are trending upward... more

So Hitchcock is in theaters. Anthony Hopkins, lip jutting out like Bill Cowher after a bad officiating call, is the star. As we enter the home stretch, which players and teams have brought us so many chills they may as well be Hitchcock movie plots?... more

Whether you're a fantasy beginner or don't have as much time to devote to your fantasy team during the week, I'm here for you with the newest edition of Fantasy 101 - all your fantasy needs in 15 minutes or less. Because that's how long you'll need to... more

Apparently it's Oklahoma State day in Targets and Touches. It's also apparent that Aaron Rodgers officially has a new favorite receiver in Green Bay. Is it possible that we've also seen the player emerge who you can pick up this week that may be able to... more

Time is a fickle friend. Early in the fantasy season, you had plenty of it to turn your team into a dangerous one. But now the days are getting shorter, and the wind has found her teeth (sorry, I channeled "American Dreams" there for a second). There are... more

Associated Press Danny Woodhead (left) has become a versatile weapon for the Patriots since being released by Rex Ryan's Jets. I can answer Tom Brady . I can answer him in spades. I can talk rings around him with my answer. I can give it to him... more

Whether you're a fantasy beginner or don't have as much time to devote to your fantasy team during the week, I'm here for you with the newest edition of Fantasy 101 - all your fantasy needs in 15 minutes or less. That's how long you'll need to digest this... more

Each week, Targets and Touches breaks down the pass catchers who saw the most number of passes come their way, and the running backs who garnered the most touches. This week we saw chalk rise in our rankings, with some (thankfully) familiar names topping... more

With the new James Bond movie "Skyfall" dropping Friday, Jason Smith takes a moment to compare current NFL teams to past Bond installments.... more

This week in Higher/Lower/Over/Under focuses on quarterbacks - there's a couple who you need to consider being must-starts if you want to win a title. And there's a couple who, despite our pre-season projections, remain matchup-based starters. We'll also... more

Whether you're a fantasy beginner or don't have as much time to devote to your fantasy team during the week, I'm here for you with the newest edition of Fantasy 101 - all your fantasy needs in 15 minutes or less. That's how long you'll need to digest this... more

Each week Targets and Touches breaks down the pass catchers who saw the most number of passes come their way, and the running backs who garnered the most touches. This week, what we learned about one team's group of wideouts tells us a lot about that... more

As you digest your leftover candy from Halloween, I present to you this week's edition of Higher/Lower/Over/Under. I hope it's more of a "Hey, wow I got a WHOLE candy bar from someone, not just one of the small ones!" reaction to the column instead of a... more

Whether you're a fantasy beginner or don't have as much time to devote to your fantasy team during the week, I'm here for you with the newest edition of Fantasy 101 - all your fantasy needs in 15 minutes or less. That's how long you'll need to digest this... more

Each week, Targets and Touches breaks down the pass catchers who saw the most number of passes come their way, and the running backs who garnered the most touches. I have two words for this edition of Targets And Touches: Cecil. Shorts. There's actually... more

This week, Higher/Lower/Over/Under actually contains the numbers 369.64 and 10,000. One of the Desperate Housewives shows up, as does LaRod Stephens-Howling. Since he may never approach the relevancy level he was at during Week 7, let me say this: of the... more

Whether you're a fantasy beginner or don't have as much time to devote to your fantasy team during the week, I'm here for you with the newest edition of Fantasy 101 - all your fantasy needs in 15 minutes or less. Because that's how long you'll need to... more

The Week 7 Targets and Touches report is a bit of an anomaly from previous weeks. In the Targets category, the numbers of the overall leaders were in the low teens and below. And as far as the Touches went? Well, let's just say some of your leaders are... more

This week in Higher/Lower/Over/Under we're going to tackle Matthew Stafford, Steven Jackson, horror and zombies (I guess you could say Stafford and Jackson have had zombie-like fantasy production and you wouldn't be wrong). We're also waving goodbye to a... more

Whether you're a fantasy beginner or don't have as much time to devote to your fantasy team during the week, I'm here for you with the newest edition of Fantasy 101 -- all your fantasy needs in 15 minutes or less. Because that's how long you'll need to... more

If you were worried about Aaron Hernandez taking targets away from Wes Welker (like I was), worry no more - or at least for a little while as Hernandez rounds back into shape. If you held onto Welker through his rough patch you're being rewarded right now... more

Rick LaBranche / Associated Press Longtime college football announcer Beano Cook died Thursday at age 81. I'm going to miss my friend. I talked to Beano Cook once or twice a week for six years up until a few months ago. I cried in the... more

This week in Higher/Lower/Over/Under I really just wanted to write a free-flowing commentary about Homeland and the 20-year reunion of the crew from The Larry Sanders Show. However since my business is fantasy, only one of those makes it into this week's... more

Whether you're a fantasy beginner or don't have as much time to devote to your fantasy team during the week, I'm here for you with the newest edition of Fantasy 101 - all your fantasy needs in 15 minutes or less. Because that's how long you'll need to... more

What's old is new again. I remember the early-to-mid 2000's. I was younger, lighter, faster and had no problem staying up past eleven o'clock at night. But then I had a baby, and changed my work hours from late nights to early mornings. Hey, life happens.... more

This week in Higher/Lower/Over/Under we'll serve up a round downstairs from Melville's, spotlight some kickers and defenses (for real, hey, they're part of fantasy too), welcome back a former 1,000 yard rusher to fantasy relevance, and see if the Dolphins... more

Whether you're a fantasy beginner or don't have as much time to devote to your fantasy team during the week, I'm here for you with the newest edition of Fantasy 101 - all your fantasy needs in 15 minutes or less. Because that's how long you'll need to... more

Your fantasy team plays in the NFL, and you should too! Sign up today to play the official free and customizable fantasy game of the National Football League! I love how every week there's a theme to Targets and Touches. Whether it's shocking names,... more

This week in Higher/Lower/Over/Under we'll debate the pecking order of the top fantasy quarterbacks and tell you who might be making their way into that club. The fantasy world of defenses is on its ear, and people are panicking on Cam Newton and the... more

Whether you're a fantasy beginner or don't have as much time to devote to your fantasy team during the week, I'm here for you with the newest edition of Fantasy 101 - all your fantasy needs in 15 minutes or less. Because that's how long you'll need to... more

Your fantasy team plays in the NFL, and you should too! Sign up today to play the official free and customizable fantasy game of the National Football League! This week I find myself thinking not only do Naughty Girls Need Love Too, but so do some... more

This week in Higher/Lower/Over/Under our topics cover Sharks, but no Jets. LiLo, but not Stitch. Chris, but not Calvin Johnson. Peyton, but not Eli. And Wes, but not Frank Welker. Curious? Let's get to the digits. 3: The number of days this week I've... more

Whether you're a fantasy football beginner or don't have as much time to devote to your fantasy team during the week, I'm here for you with the newest edition of Fantasy 101 -- all your fantasy needs in 15 minutes or less. Because that's how long you'll... more

Your fantasy team plays in the NFL, and you should too! Sign up today to play the official free and customizable fantasy game of the National Football League! This week in Targets and Touches, a few things have become evident. Mainly that you can... more

This week in Higher/Lower/Over/Under our topics cover old Panthers running backs, cell phone shenanigans, Shanahanigans, SAMCRO, internet death rumors, disappointing superstars and the Man With The Yellow Hatâ??s best friend. 0: Number of yards for... more

Welcome to the first regular season installment of "Fantasy in 15 Minutes or Less." If you're new to fantasy and don't have as much time to devote to it as others, fear not. You'll have all the information here every week to put you on an even playing... more

Your fantasy team plays in the NFL, and you should too! Sign up today to play the official free and customizable fantasy game of the National Football League! Welcome to Season 2 of 'Targets and Touches', where we take a look at what pass-catchers saw... more

Ready for this? The New York Jets are going to explode offensively this season. And it's all about Tim Tebow and the tremendous effect he's going to have. Evans: Jets must start Tebow Heath Evans explains why Tim Tebow is the only New York Jets... more

This column is pretty self-explanatory. I take a number and tell you whether the result will be above the number or below it. Yes, it's mainly about fantasy. But this week, it's also about Old Navy, Iron Maiden, and Gunnery Sargeant Hartman. Read on. 2:... more

As Wallace Shawn says in The Princess Bride : "So. It is down to you, and it is down to me." I'm here, and I will be here. I promised you a few weeks ago I would help shepherd you through your first fantasy season whether you feel you need help or you... more

Time. Everyone's done songs about it. From the Chamber Brothers to Jim Croce to Styx to Cyndi Lauper to Hootie and the Blowfish. It's the most precious resource we have (besides chocolate ice cream). It can be your friend, just as often as it's not. But... more

Recently, our crew of fantasy football analysts conducted a mock fantasy football auction draft. The 15-man roster consisted of one QB, two RBs, two WRs, one TE, one WR/RB, one K, one DEF and six bench spots. It uses NFL.com's standard scoring system .... more

Let's forget for a second that the Seattle Seahawks already have about 10 receivers who fall into the "This guy may be good this year but he also may not be" category. Terrell Owens is his own phenomenon. He's like an episode of "House" -- once you've... more

Time. Everyone's done songs about it. From the Chamber Brothers to Jim Croce to Styx to Cyndi Lauper to Hootie and the Blowfish. It's the most precious resource we have (besides chocolate ice cream). It can be your friend, just as often as it's not. But... more

You've been thinking about playing fantasy football but have yet to take the plunge. Your friends have asked, and you've thought about it, but so far, no dice. Either you think it's too hard or it'll take up too much time. Look, there's a thousand reasons... more

For most of us, the summer is in full swing. For NFL players, it's nearly over, as they have to report to training camp this week. The Eagles kicked things off in Bethlehem, Pa., with the next wave of full teams reporting this weekend. So what to do with your last chance to enjoy freedom? Sleeping in is always a popular choice (although for players with young children, going to camp might afford them more rest than being at home). Whatever it is, they have to make it count, because the R & R is over. With that, let's take a look at the teams in their "last chance" to succeed in 2012. Squads that, if they don't sniff the Lombardi Trophy, will see big changes made at head coach, quarterback, and more. Their themes could go from "Last Chance" to "Starting Over" in 2013.... more

Mike Fabiano Dave Dameshek Elliot Harrison Adam Rank Jason Smith Matt Smith   Who will be the season's biggest breakout player? I think we're going to get a 2011 Matthew Stafford-type season out of Matt Ryan in Atlanta. With... more

QBS - Rank RBS - Fabiano WRS - Jason Smith TES - Harrison Overall Draft Strategies   It's funny, but you hear every fantasy expert talk about how there's a dearth of top-flight No. 1 running backs (which there are), but I don't hear... more

Mike Fabiano Dave Dameshek Elliot Harrison Adam Rank Jason Smith Matt Smith   This "perfect" draft is based on NFL.com's standard 10-team leagues with a basic (non-PPR) scoring system that rewards four points for touchdown passes... more

Draft kit | Sleepers | Deep sleepers | Busts | Breakouts | Bargains   Mike Fabiano Dave Dameshek Elliot Harrison Adam Rank Jason Smith Matt Smith   Click the above tabs to see picks from our various analysts As... more

Mike Fabiano Dave Dameshek Elliot Harrison Adam Rank Jason Smith Matt Smith   1. Chris Johnson will lead all running backs in fantasy points. The more I think about it, the more I believe it. I can chalk up his horrendous season... more

Draft kit | Deep sleepers | Busts | Breakouts | Bargains | Strategies   Mike Fabiano Dave Dameshek Elliot Harrison Adam Rank Jason Smith Matt Smith   Click the above tabs to see picks from our various analysts... more

Draft kit | Sleepers | Deep sleepers | Breakouts | Bargains | Strategies   Mike Fabiano Dave Dameshek Elliot Harrison Adam Rank Jason Smith Matt Smith   Click the above tabs to see picks from our various analysts... more

Draft kit | Sleepers | Deep sleepers | Busts | Bargains | Strategies   Mike Fabiano Dave Dameshek Elliot Harrison Adam Rank Jason Smith Matt Smith   Click the above tabs to see picks from our various analysts Sam... more

Draft kit | Sleepers | Deep sleepers | Busts | Breakouts | Strategies   Mike Fabiano Dave Dameshek Elliot Harrison Adam Rank Jason Smith Matt Smith   Matt Ryan, QB, Falcons: As good of a year as he had last season, he's... more

Draft kit | Sleepers | Busts | Breakouts | Bargains | Strategies   Mike Fabiano Dave Dameshek Elliot Harrison Adam Rank Jason Smith Matt Smith   Click the above tabs to see picks from our various analysts Tim... more

Jerome Miron/US Presswire Terrell Owens hauled in 35 passes for 420 yards and 10 touchdowns in eight games for the IFL's Allen Wranglers. So, what went wrong with T.O. this time? You think you know the answer. Everyone does. And you're wrong. The... more

Walter Iooss Jr. / Sports Illustrated Dwight Clark did more than just catch a football when he made "The Catch." He also changed history. A lean and hungry look. When we see torches being passed in sports, I think back to that quote from Julius... more

The tight end position in fantasy football is really one of the haves and have nots. You're either one of the top seven or eight in the game, or you're a part of the rest of the pack -- which is why Coby Fleener is going to be an interesting draft-day... more

Life and fantasy football are about change. How you adapt to it is the difference between winning and losing in both. How did I adapt to suddenly getting less sleep when my daughter was born? I started going to bed earlier - and I used to love staying... more

Answer: Bookstores, digital cable, Adam Rank's comedy career, and the 300 carry a year running back. Question: What are things nearing extinction? We saw two more potential mail-carrying running backs lose that status during the draft (Ahmad Bradshaw... more

We hear it all the time: The NFL is more of a quarterback-driven league than ever before. And we point to ever-increasing yardage and touchdowns as the main reason for this. "Holy Tebow! Did you see how many QBs threw for 4,000 yards this year?" But it... more

I know lists like NFL Network's "The Top 100: Players of 2012" are supposed to create conversation. You can make a list of anything top to bottom and you'll find people to wholly disagree with it. The list could be the top 10 sunny days of 2011 and... more

When I first began writing as part of my living, a scribe I trusted explained the importance of "forward thrust." After briefly laughing like I was in a seventh-grade locker room, I realized he was serious. What just happened is nice and all, and I'm sure... more

The draft is coming, and I know what's coming, as well. NFL.com's Mock Draft Central With the draft now upon us, NFL.com analysts unveil their final attempts at projecting how Round 1 will go. More ... Well, I don't know EXACTLY what's coming... more

Aaron M. Sprecher/NFL Second-year quarterback Andy Dalton and the Bengals could make a serious run at the AFC North title in 2012. There are two kinds of people right now. The ones saying, "Well, we HAVE to win this season because the Schedule Gods... more

Right now, no one is going to mistake the 2009 NFL Draft as one that defined a generation. Heck, it barely defined 2009. In fact, plenty of experts call it the worst draft of all time. Just 11 players chosen have reached the Pro Bowl (well, 10... more

Associated Press Eli Manning, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger (from left to right) top the quarterback rankings at the moment. It's like every offseason someone has to proclaim how good a quarterback he is. We had Top-Five Eli last spring, and... more

Patrick Semansky/AP Rex Ryan certainly made his presence felt on "Hard Knocks" the first time around. How about an encore performance? News that the Jets would be interested if HBO's "Hard Knocks" came calling again is only slightly less... more

NFL.com Illustration Extra Sweet 16: From Selection Sunday to the Super Bowl, the NFL playoffs get a taste of madness in this exercise. File this column under the heading "It'll never happen, but how much fun would it be if it did?" With the NCAA... more

Associated Press/US Presswire The 2012 free-agency frenzy didn't really benefit (from left to right) Mark Sanchez, Stephen Ross and Matt Forte. Being a loser isn't as simple as it sounds. There's the loser who can't get a date, or good grades, or... more

Associated Press Peyton Manning vs. Tim Tebow on the football field would be one thing. But what about in a battle to the death?! If you're like me, you can't wait to see "The Hunger Games." Done much better than "Twilight," with a story that's... more

Full disclosure: The author of this column, a diehard Jets fan, drove into work Wednesday in Los Angeles and pulled up next to a TV news van. He leaned out his window and asked if they were driving to cover Tebow. The man in the passenger seat said "Huh?"... more

It's very rare that we find out what happens to the losers. As history has shown us, when there's a big competition, victors = spoils. And losers = disappearance. We still watch "30 Rock" years after "Studio 60" has been dead and buried. Carrie... more

US Presswire Peyton Manning (left) and LeBron James both made relocation decisions that played out in the public eye. There are more than a few similarities between LeBron James taking his talents to South Beach and Peyton Manning taking his neck... more

Denis Poroy/AP Philip Rivers and the Chargers certainly aren't going to lay down in the AFC West for Peyton Manning's Broncos. Look, I love the NFL Network, but if I had the money, I would leave to start the Peyton Football Network. I'd just... more

So I wanted to throw up Friday night. Not when I saw the $40.5 million contract extension Mark Sanchez received , but because I was a Twitter Warrior after I found out. I was driving through the mountains on a 2½ hour car trip and couldn't stay away from... more

When I was in Little League, I tore it up. I was a 10-year-old monster. Doubles to the gap, singles lashing by fielders' gloves. It was terrific. I thought I'd be playing shortstop for the Mets at some point. (And actually, given where they are now, that... more

It's finally upon us. Wednesday is expected to be the day we've all been waiting for. Peyton Manning can be your quarterback IF ... the Price is Right! Forget about "The Decision II." Let's have Drew Carey guide every interested GM through guessing the... more

Indianapolis in my rear-view mirror. I'll never forget pulling away from the JW Marriott the day after Super Bowl XLVI and seeing the huge Lombardi Trophy on the face of the hotel as a final reminder of the phenomenal week we had that culminated in Giants 21, Patriots 17. And now, shockingly, we're using that phrase for Peyton Manning. It's one thing to know the day is coming, quite another when it finally gets here. It's sort of like how you felt leaving for college for the first time. A new world to explore, your old life still a part of you but yet more in your memory as you move forward. You always have room for your old friends but as time goes on you see them more as your past than as your future. So before Peyton throws his first non-Colts pass, let's look back at the top moments of his career with Indianapolis.... more

I always thought the phrase "caveat emptor" sounded like something you would call a Greek or Roman king who took over entire continents with nothing but a sword and a chariot. Yes, I'm picturing Gerard Butler from 300 . I think I was 25 when I learned it... more

There are a thousand questions as free agency approaches. As a Jets fan, about 750 of them have to do with my team. Free agency has become such a dice roll in recent years. Giving money to Darren Sproles worked out for the Saints; throwing cash at... more

Tim Heitman/US Presswire Tim Tebow (left) and the NFL could teach Hollywood a few lessons about how to hype up its biggest night. What's happened to the Oscars? That's not really an original question, since we've been asking it for the last 10... more

Things were said. Things were taken back. And now we pick up the pieces and see what's next after the biggest feud we saw this week. (Note: This is not about CM Punk and Chris Brown.) Of course, I'm talking about Tim Tebow and Brady Quinn. So how can we... more

AP Could the slower, overpadded players of the 1980s make it in today's NFL? Jason Smith doesn't think so. The 1980s have been big in my house recently. In some ways they've always been big, as my wife and I were children of that decade, but two... more

Bill Kostroun/AP Jeremy Lin's meteoric rise reminds us why the NFL is great, as football is filled with similar stories. You know things are getting out of hand when "Lin" is a more popular search on the Internet than Romney, Santorum or Adele. Yet... more

Hubba, hubba, hubba, who do you trust? I'm giving away free money! Okay, so I'm not exactly doing that, but I am doing what Jack Napier tried to do in the original "Batman." The 1989 one. The good one -- not the one where Christian Bale tries to talk... more

Legacies are a funny thing. We write them in stone when they should be in pencil. What if one play goes a different way, say Wes Welker catches Tom Brady's pass late in the fourth quarter on Sunday? I'm writing a column about how Bill Belichick is the... more

INDIANAPOLIS -- Ten feet. I was 10 feet from Tom Brady's final Hail Mary pass that fell incomplete Sunday night. And that final play. The ball was impossibly high and came down into a gaggle of players. Rob Gronkowski leaped, seemingly 10 feet, as the... more

Greg Trott/AP Despite playing with a series of lackluster quarterbacks, Cris Carter ranks fourth in career catches (1,101). INDIANAPOLIS -- Pro Football Hall of Fame voting has always fascinated me. You'd think it would be a science, with voters... more

Mark J. Terrill/AP Former Patriots wide receiver David Givens caught touchdown passes in seven straight playoff games. "I'm really excited to see what the possibilities are." That was former Patriots wide receiver David Givens ... a) After... more

Associated Press Mark Sanchez and the Jets went 0-3 this season against their two biggest rivals, the Patriots and Giants. INDIANAPOLIS -- There are four types of Super Bowls that fans can experience in their lives: » The one between two teams... more

Tim Heitman/US Presswire Dexter Jackson was the surprise MVP of Super Bowl XXXVII when the Buccaneers dismantled the Raiders. When you win the Super Bowl's Most Valuable Player award, you go to Disneyland or Disney World. It began with Giants... more

Tony Gutierrez / Associated Press Willie Gault (far left) helped the Bears put forth a dominating performance in Super Bowl XX. The first thing Willie Gault told me was that his life is an open book. He said this as he's currently embroiled in... more

Beth Keiser / Associated Press Larry Brown's two second-half interceptions helped the Cowboys secure a third Super Bowl win in four years. It was 1996. A defensive player hadn't been named Super Bowl MVP for 10 years . Then came Larry Brown and... more

Gene Puskar / Associated Press David Tyree's catch will likely be relived frequently in the days leading up to Super Bowl XLVI. There's no bigger star-making event than the Super Bowl. "American Idol" winners come and go. You'll struggle to... more

If you've ever seen Invasion of the Body Snatchers , you know how I feel right now. Basically, the hero is the only person in the movie who hasn't been taken over by a pod-like alien life form, and he loses his mind trying to get help, when madness reigns... more

I think I'm really onto something with these movie titles. Maybe it's that Oscar season is here (and honestly -- "The Descendants" was just okay -- it's a pretty weak year), but I think "Touches In Preview" worked pretty well both as a potential film and... more

During the regular season, I wrote a weekly column breaking down which running backs had the most touches (carries plus receptions) game-to-game. At the end of the season, I did a 'Year In Review' to illustrate the trends that played out in 2011. Because... more

The funny thing about the conference championship games is that no sooner are they over than we're forgetting about them and focusing on the Super Bowl (a good thing for Billy Cundiff and Kyle Williams). While I might not forget the looks of the players... more

Hopefully, you're in good graces this week with whatever is going on in your life and you'll get to watch both conference championship games. If all goes well, it'll be a full Sunday of pizza, wings, a quick nap, and more pizza while never getting out of... more

Kevin Terrell/AP The work Mike McCoy did with Tim Tebow has made the Broncos offensive coordinator a hot coaching prospect. If I need a head coach in the NFL right now, I call McCoy or Chud before anyone else. Who are they? The wave of the future.... more

Revisionist history. It's something everyone likes to do -- that is, everyone who can't own up to something when it blows up in their faces. My quotes were taken out of context. I never said at the beginning of the season Curtis Painter would be a great... more

I don't like to be one to say "I told you so," but -- well, scratch that. I LOVE being the guy to say "I told you so." But I did. Right now, if you filled your roster with players from the Packers or the Saints in the NFL.com Fantasy Playoff Challenge ,... more

I'm feeling the pressure. I admit it. Not because it's the playoffs, but because I was 4-0 last week with my picks . How can you improve on dumb luck like that? And I even said Denver would win in OT on an 80-yard pass! (Not really. If you read last... more

In February 2008, I was 37 years old and watching the worst Super Bowl of my life. As a Jets fan, all I could take solace in was that either the Patriots or the Giants would lose. But someone was going to win. And as the game progressed, I was really... more

Oh my lord, my team is in ruins. And I mean trek to the jungle and get eaten up by vines like in the book "The Ruins", ruins. I know I thought this would be an offseason filled with intrigue and drama but now it's ramped up on HGH. Forget about hiring... more

The Viewer's Guide is getting simpler now that the playoffs are here -- you watch all the games! The only thing that could make this weekend better would be a joint Rex Ryan/Boomer Esiason/Mark Sanchez/Santonio Holmes press conference between games! On to... more

I'm Winston Wolfe. I solve problems. And with that, Vincent and Jules were off the hook in "Pulp Fiction" for a nearly botched briefcase retrieval and a fully botched car-killing of Marvin in the Los Angeles valley. All it took to undo it was some... more

A bit of trickery this week in the final edition of The Hurt Locker. What injuries are real, what aren't? Who could be held out as a precaution and who's really banged up? It's sort of like a spy movie. What to believe? Which scenarios are real? We'll... more

There is no shortage of intrigue in the Week 17 games. While everyone else is talking about playoff possibilities and seeding scenarios, I am going to start with a couple games whose impact will last well past the Super Bowl in February. THE GAMES THAT... more

The end of the year is traditionally a time for reflection, but the NFL is a hard sport to reflect upon: While we've seen the majority of the season, the most important stories lie ahead. So let's concentrate on this moment in time, the final week of... more

The end of a calendar year is always time for reflection, to consider what you did right in 2011 and what you hope to change for 2012. We looked back at the season that was in the Target Report ; now we'll look back and see which RBs had the most touches... more

I hope championship weekend brought you a championship, but more importantly, I hope the Target Report helped you pick up the right players and play the correct ones all season long. So let's look back at the top targeted WRs for 2011 and see how they... more

Championship Week is here. So is Christmas. The best present I can give you is this: just about everyone banged up this week will play in Week 16. The only downside is that with most of these injuries they're things that can crop up during a game and... more

OK, things are starting to get a little nuts. For the second week in a row my "crazy prediction" came true, thanks to the Colts. Where can I go this week? Seattle upsets the 49ers, that's where. The Seahawks are a different team at home, where their fans... more

Tim Heitman/US Presswire Panthers fullback Richie Brockel scored a TD last Sunday on a play inspired by the move, 'Little Giants.' The annexation of Puerto Rico. Google it , and instead of a history of the Treaty of Paris (1898), your first seven... more

It's Championship Week. I can't say it enough. In the Target Report, we drew the line between which WRs you play and don't play this week. The best news for fantasy owners is that when it comes to RBs, you pretty much know who to start and who to sit.... more

The Target Report for this week is cutthroat. During the season, and even the early rounds of the playoffs you can afford to take a chance on a player coming off a big week or two. But the stakes are raised. It's Title Week. You're likely playing for all... more

In the Week 14 Viewer's Guide , I predicted there would be something crazy in the Chiefs-Jets game, but I didn't think it was going to be Todd Haley getting an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and then getting fired. Since I'm red-hot in the Crazy... more

Here we are in the semifinals, or the opening playoff week, of your fantasy league. Before we move on, there's one thing you need to know: If you've been without an injured star for a while, you're going to be without him for a while longer. Players don't... more

Wait, what? The Urban Dictionary defines the above phrase as a way to indicate that you can't make sense of what was just said. For example, "Looking back, I think the Raiders were right to pick JaMarcus Russell with the No. 1 pick." Wait, what? I use... more

Believe it or not, quarterback rankings aren't getting any easier despite the fact that it's probably your semifinal week in fantasy. If you're still playing a mid-level QB or are riding with a hot guy you hope continues his upward trend, this is your... more

To show you how unpredictable things are in fantasy football, if I told you in Week 6 that teams would be playing for championships relying on players like Roy Helu, Marion Barber, Shonn Greene and Toby Gerhart you would have told me I was in some kind of... more

It's a different week for the Target Report, as the stakes are now raised as to what constitutes an acceptable risk in fantasy. Can you really ride with Kevin Walter, Devin Aromashodu, Demaryius Thomas or Darrius Heyward-Bey?  Sure, these guys got all... more

I know we normally talk matchups here in the Viewer's Guide, but I would be remiss if I didn't begin with what has had me scratching my head all week long: How the heck do the Chiefs have five wins? Matt Cassel was awful and now is out for the year.... more

It's here. The playoffs. Week 14. The time of year you wake up in the morning and the first thing you do is open your laptop, which you kept next to the bed, just so you can get on-line and check to see if one of your injured players' status has changed... more

There's been so much discussion about the final playoff spots in each conference. You've been overloaded with statistics on schedule strength for the final four weeks, who's peaking, and who's treading water. It's a fun conversation because everyone... more

Another week, and another waiver wire player atop the Target Report. Not only that, but there's more than a couple of marginal wideouts who are worth giving a shot at your flex position for the playoffs, if you have a need. I know we say don't overthink... more

I must say, I feel like there's a void in my life now that I'm not writing about Joseph Addai every week. It's like when your oldest goes off to college. At least I still have Darren McFadden to keep me company for awhile. So let's open The Hurt Locker... more

Thankfully (and that's the last post-Thanksgiving mention of that word) we have a much better slate for Week 13's Viewer's Guide than we did in Week 12. And I'm ready to go heavy with movie analogies to make my points about the best games of the weekend.... more

Wilfredo Lee/AP Playing in Green Bay early in his career and Minnesota at the end, Brett Favre sandwiched in a year as a Jet in '08.   On Nov. 29, 2011, the Texans signed Jake Delhomme to be their third (and future starting?) quarterback,... more

Just when you thought it was safe to read the Touches Report, Mike Shanahan strikes again. Normally that would cause me to get cold sweats and start shivering, but I think I've figured out (yes, for the 748th time) how things are going to go in... more

Two NFC South WRs are back in my good graces, while I'm on the fence about two AFC West WRs. Believe it or not, it is possible to have a good day (or what passes for a good day) on Revis Island. And just how the heck did a QB make his way into the Target... more

It's with a bit of sadness I write The Hurt Locker this week. This is because a mainstay in this column for much of this season looks like he's about to sprout wings and fly away back to the field. It's so emotional to watch kids grow up and get out on... more

Just when you thought you'd seen it all: two waiver-wire free agents crop up on the Touches Report. The good news is both are worth picking up - one to play right away and one to stash on your bench and wait for. And one other thing - Ogbannaya is... more

Have you noticed in the Target Report the last few weeks the number of targets the top ten players are seeing is diminishing? It was just a month ago we had four or five wideouts getting 12 to 15 a game, now, it's decreasing as the season wears on and the... more

OK, so this past week the "Best Final 2:00" wasn't the Bills-Cowboys game -- unless you're counting the final two minutes until kickoff because you spent that time watching the Cowboys cheerleaders finish their warmups. Or you got up from the TV at the... more

This week it's the lingering injuries that have caught our attention in The Hurt Locker. (At least Joseph Addai is on a bye, snapping his seven-week streak of appearing in this report.) For the most part, the hamstrings aren't healing as fast as fantasy... more

US Presswire Could Peyton Manning (left) suit up for Rex Ryan's Jets in 2012? Stranger things have happened in the NFL. Let's address the elephant in the room: Peyton Manning has played his last game as an Indianapolis Colt. Go ahead, say it... more

The answer: Marshawn Lynch, Chris Johnson and Reggie Bush. The question: Who are running backs we talked about a lot in 2008? Okay, so that could be a possible answer, but they're also three of the biggest surprises on the Touches Report for Week 10 of... more

This week's Target Report is full of a bunch of Chrissy Hyndes. (That means there's a lot of Pretenders on it. I can hear Elliot Harrison singing 'Chain Gang' right now in my head.) This is one of those weeks to resist going out and grabbing players just... more

The Hurt Locker heads to an interesting place this week - why should Brandon Jacobs sit regardless of Ahmad Bradshaw's status? How come Larry Fitzgerald can find a seat on your bench this week whether it's Kevin Kolb or "Red" Skelton throwing the... more

This is a week when you need seven televisions in your house. There are no byes, and big matchups galore -- and I mean Bart Scott guys-fighting-over-strippers big. So, let's just get right to it. THE GAME WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT ON MONDAY:... more

US Presswire Once at odds on the Redskins, Albert Haynesworth and Mike Shanahan could be out of work come 2012. On Sunday morning, I was walking out of the green room here at NFL Network after Mark Sanchez threw his pick on the opening drive... more

Associated Press Redskins coach Mike Shanahan apparently will go with rookie Roy Helu (29) over Ryan Torain at running back.   Just when you think you know who's going to top the Touches List for this week, we wind up with guys like Roy Helu,... more

This week's Target Report sees some newer wide receivers cementing their status as consistent, weekly plays that you can depend on for at least 10 points and a possible explosion. It's as if the pecking order for elite wideouts is wide open after Wes... more

I feel like I jinxed the potentially injured last week. I mentioned how The Hurt Locker wasn't very populated, then we had an explosion of injuries from Week 8 to Week 9. Below, we get into no fewer than ten running backs whose health is throwing a wrench... more

So last week's Cowboys-Eagles game failed to come down to the final 2:00, unless you were counting the minutes until the coin toss, that is. The Vikings-Panthers affair was the barn-burner we thought it would be, however, so you give and you get. Onto... more

If I asked you who the biggest disappointment in the NFL is this year you'd say, without question, Chris Johnson. He's in a timeshare with Javon Ringer, who actually said this week he knows C.J. is the No. 1 guy "for now." On "NFL Fantasy Live" we're... more

Denny Medley/US Presswire Battle's rushing screams of a guy who needs to be added to your fantasy team.   The Touches Report for Week 9 is starting to see the cream rise to the top (Frank Gore, Steven Jackson), while a couple of newbies crash... more

So much to get to in today's Target Report for Week 8. We have emerging stars like Antonio Brown, Colts and Broncos WRs (it must be Halloween if these guys are on our list), and we have players who were so impressive with their targets for this week that... more

So last week in the Viewer's Guide , I said there would be a shootout between the Browns and Seahawks. That's like saying "The Playboy Club" just missed finding its audience. I can't tell you the flak I got for that one on Twitter and in our newsroom. I... more

Nearing the midway point of the NFL regular season, the dings are getting bigger (just like your car if you pull in too close to another one in parking lots like we have here at the NFL Network where it's hard enough for me to fit into a spot if I just... more

Matt Stamey-US PRESSWIRE Maurice Jones-Drew had a mediocre fantasy performance in Week 7, but he saw a ton of touches. Monday in the Target Report I recommended trying to flip Roddy White. What annual top 5 running back am I trying to unload... more

This week's Target Report once again sees an unfamiliar name atop the list. What is it with these fantasy free-agents getting all the looks? We'll examine that, as well as a top five fantasy WR you'll want to try to trade, who could be a huge pickup for... more

This week's edition of The Hurt Locker involves some of the same names as last week (this is what you get when you come off a lockout and every third player has a hamstring injury). Some are closer to returning, some are not. Joseph Addai: I like the... more

Every Sunday, unless you have the NFL RedZone channel, you're faced with a dilemma. Which games to watch? And for how long? What games do I have to clear my schedule for?  Fear not. We're going to take a look at the games with the biggest potential --... more

We've seen the last of Donovan McNabb. Let that sink in. The most polarizing quarterback of the last decade-plus is gone. Lost in the hype of trade deadline day was the news that Christian Ponder will replace McNabb at quarterback for the Vikings. It... more

G. Newman Lowrance / Associated Press James Starks has yet to register a 100-yard game and hasn't scored a TD since Week 1. There are some very familiar names atop the Week 6 touches leaderboard. The drama this week deals mainly with players... more

The Target Report for Week 6 brings us trades, disappointing wideouts, and how you can start pass-catchers from the Colts and Browns -- who thought we'd be saying that at any point this year? And the number one targeted player of the week is available in... more

The Hurt Locker has become a sparsely populated place the past two weeks -- which is a good thing. But still, there are questions involving some No. 1 fantasy RBs and WRs that need to be addressed. Below we'll delve into injury replacements, bad... more

Disclaimer: We're actually legally obligated to talk Tim Tebow every 7.8 minutes here at NFL Network and NFL.com . I'm not kidding you, there's a guy with a stopwatch who reports you to management if he catches you missing the deadline, even if you're in... more

Patrick Semansky / Associated Press Jackie Battle should be on the top of everyone's waiver wire wish list this week. Believe it or not, there's a running back in the top 10 for touches in Week 5 that was only on 0.2 percent of all fantasy... more

The target report Plenty of big days from wideouts on Sunday, just not from the guys you thought. Is it time to play Pierre Garcon? Darrius Heyward-Bey? (And I NEVER thought I'd say the words "play" and "Heyward-Bey" in the same sentence unless it was... more

Paul Spinelli/AP Vincent Jackson's balky hamstring is causing a lot of headaches for the Chargers and fantasy owners alike. The injury report is not as populated as it's been in recent weeks, but star players are still in question. Let's go... more

The other night, I get sucked into watching "The Natural" for the 5,000th time. And like always, I ask myself the same question: Why don't the Pirates walk Roy Hobbs after they take out Youngberry in the ninth? John Rhoades comes in but he inherits a 2-0... more

Monday we saw the big pass catchers from Week 4 in the NFL. Today, we'll spotlight the running back position in Targets and Touches. A couple of mild surprises in the Top Ten, as we spotlight Beanie, Felix and Ryan. I know, they sound like three guys in a... more

Cary Edmondson/US Presswire No surprise that Tom Brady would lead the most fantasy friendly team in the AFC. This past weekend I was hanging out with some friends I haven't seen in a couple of weeks, and they asked me how my new job was... more

Jason O. Watson/US Presswire Frank Gore is in danger of not playing this Sunday. He's in greater danger of losing his job in the long term. Who's in? Who's out? Who do you have to wait and keep checking back on? Let's head inside The Hurt... more

Kirby Lee/US Presswire Darren McFadden is making a bid to the number one overall fantasy pick next season. Every Sunday on NFL Fantasy Live, we all make Bold Predictions! We take a look at someone we have a gut feel on and how they're going... more

Daniel Shirley/US Presswire Unless something out of the ordinary happens, expect to have Michael Vick in your lineup this week.   At times I thought it would be easier to go through every player who was NOT injured in previewing this weekend's... more

First off, yes the title is an "Arrested Development" homage. Second, references to shows like this will be common in the Blog Log Blog. It's ... who I am, which you might already know. This past week has been one of new beginnings for my life -- a new... more