Tag: DEnver Broncos

Will Joe Flacco thrive with the Broncos

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Joe Flacco has landed himself on another good defensive team with the Denver Broncos, and he also has something to prove now, with the Baltimore Ravens choosing to go with 22 yr old QB, Lamar Jackson. I feel this will also light a fire under him.
Flacco will be a much better fit than Keenum who was grabbed too fast and for too much money after his 2017, 22 TD season with Minnesota. Flacco is a great fit for Denver to win big games, and he has won some big playoff games over his 11 year career, and was a huge reason for Baltimore winning a Super Bowl in 2012. Figure there are less than 7-8 “bigtime” QBs in the NFL – having a QB like Joe Flacco isn’t so bad for a team with a giant heart and mighty D. He may not be a 35 TD QB – but he has shown he has whatever it is that makes an NFL QB. Not everyone can be the top QB – it doesn’t mean they can’t play the game at a great level.
Many folks forget he took down Brady in Foxborough back in 2012, when they won the SB, when Flacco put up awesome numbers in the postseason. After what he did – he can be considered arguably one of the best post season QBs ever. With playoff numbers of 25 TD passes, over 3200 YDs, and having thrown 2+ TDs in a game 9/15 games – it is hard to deny. And he has been tough on the road, as well – with his top 3 biggest YD passing games, and dealing with road crowds in 12 of his 15 postseason games.
And Flacco hasn’t had much help at WR or RB since the Bowl. With an aging Steve Smith and “flash in the pan” Mike Wallace at WR and since Rice left, or was stuck with Terrance West or perennial mediocre RB, Justin Forsett, running the ball. Baltimore invested everything in their defense and forgot about their offense, they just never added anything to the recipe for him to succeed.
When the Ravens drafted Jackson, it caused some ugly tension between the Ravens and Flacco, he saw the writing on the wall, anyone could. Baltimore should of kept Flacco, Jackson will not be as good as they want him to be. Joe Cool has the poise and the calm experience to do well in Denver, and Baltimore will wish they kept him soon enough, when Jackson is passing for 160 YDs, turning the ball over twice a game, and completing just 56% of his passes.
Flacco is better than Keenum – this shouldn’t be a question, but can he still play?
Yes, I think he can.
Can he outplay what Case Keenum produced?
I am sure of it.
Case had his success in Minny because of Pat Shurmur and what he created with what he had, not because of Case Keenum, let’s be 100% honest here. Case is an average QB, and is most suitably a back up. Zimmer and the Vikings were certainly right all along. Keenum had a great season with 22 TDs and his “I’m chucking this, and I hope someone catches it” pass to Stefon Diggs vs New Orleans – but he was a one-hit wonder. He can not carry a team anywhere on his own, which is why I was floored when I saw the numbers that teams were tossing at him after his big season. Showing again, all it takes is a good run and a few big plays to pull in money from these owners.
The Broncos are only a few years out of winning a Super Bowl with a 39 year old, 9 TD passing QB in Peyton Manning, this team is not garbage, in any sense of the word. Denver won the Bowl with a washed up QB, a decent run game, and a QB attacking defense that struck fear in opposing teams.
They haven’t hit on a QB in the draft for what seems like 100 years, and they will need to keep an eye out for someone to start grooming for the teams future – but the team has a defense that is ready now, and a fanbase that wants W’s in the column. Joe Flacco is that QB of the now – he is not a gamble on the future, he’s exactly what the Broncos need right now. Elway needs to prove the naysayers wrong with his QB choices. Flacco is more than enough of a QB to keep them in the games enough for their vicious defense to handle what they need to do, he can, and will get the Broncos to the playoffs. He is a lot better than many people give him credit for. Baltimore rarely gave him a surrounding cast, now he has something to work with, Joe Flacco is going to be great for Denver. He’s miles ahead of Case Keenum. Denver has a run game with explosive 1000 yard rusher, Phillip Lindsay, the Broncos team is going to be pretty nasty on both sides of the ball.

2015 NFL Fantasy Football Busts – stay away, you were warned!

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Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning steps back to pass against the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012, in Denver. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey)

Peyton Manning
Simply put, Peyton Manning is another year older. And there is a lot different in Denver this year. The 2014 Broncos’ Oline is virtually all new. This is a huge concern for me, it makes you question the probability for success together. John Fox is gone. Gary Kubiak is now in Denver. Kubiak has always loved those workhorse RBs. His teams have never been big time passing teams in the league, over 12 years as an offensive coordinator or head coach. Peyton late in the season, his arm strength looked awful. Does anyone expect anything different, come this years December? And hugely, Julius Thomas, his big pass catcher, is gone. So that’s TDs that are missing. Does Peyton have a high reward, of course he does. Is he a safe pick to make, yes. But, he isn’t a RD 1-3 grab anymore, not worth it. The difference between Manning and Tony Romo was fewer than 2 ppg last season.
2015 prediction: 16.7 PPG
LeSean McCoy
McCoy has had a nagging toe injury, this is concerning to me. It has followed him for years. This is a change of scenery is that could be worriesome. They use field turf in Buffalo. We know the dreaded words no one wants to utter. Besides he has played on grass throughout college into the pros, with the Eagles. McCoy in the last 3 out of 4 seasons has had over 320 touches per season. That’s a lot of tread on those wheels. There is no quarterback in Buffalo to be concerned over. They will try to focus on the running game, but they are going to be able to play the backfield, with 8. Trouble all over it.
2015 prediction: 9.1 PPG

 

Mike Evans
Evans had a great rookie year. Scoring 11.8 ppg in standard leagues. And being the high majority of their offense, overall. I simply don’t see those kind of numbers as realistic. Much more of a fluke. We have seen sophomore slumps before with WRs in FFB. Most importantly, is the Tampa Bay Bucs are coming in with some major changes. Jameis Winston, firstly. How confident you are in him will be how you look at Evans. I don’t trust him, I typically never draft or trust a rookie QB at the helm. WRs in his pick spot, like DeAndre Hopkins, is a much better grab, as is Alshon Jeffery.
2015 prediction: 8.5 PPG
DeMarco Murray
Easily the beast of 2014. and the #1 RB in fantasy football last season. Now in Philadelphia, I am not so much a fan, anymore. His leaving from Dallas, is a huge concern. That Oline was ridiculous. He is looked at as the successor of Shady, and the centerpiece of the Eagles offense. But, his usage is my beef. Philadelphia’s backfield is cramped. Kelly plays all his backs, he’s shown that last year. McCoy’s numbers were way down to what he was used to last year. He scored just 5 of the Eagles’ 16 rushing touchdowns in 2014. Darren Sproles had 6 TDs including 3 within the 10. He is still there, he is very active on that team, and they also snagged Ryan Mathews. With those members, Murray will get about half of the carries now. And with Philly’s they need to keep fresh legs in there.
He won’t be a top 5 back this year, maybe top 10 but he is coming off an injury free season and he didn’t cough up the ball much either. The Cowboys got rid of him when his stock was sky high.
2015 prediction: 10.2 PPG
Written by TonyK of VegasTopDogs.com

Should Peyton Manning play for less

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Manning
Obviously Peyton Manning has had nothing short of an amazing career and great player and face for the NFL for 17 seasons. But this offseason is going to be beyond interesting. Especially with what Peyton Manning should do in regards to his payment for his services.
The Broncos have to consider many things with the aging QB. Peyton will likely agree to another season, the team is wanting him to take a cut in pay. But by doing that, does it give him the opportunity to also get other offers while waiting for the chance? As far as a cut in pay, I feel he should, to make a real and legit case to try and bring the Broncos to that elusive championship that he was brought in to get them. He should want to keep the team together.
Still, at his ripe old age of 38, he is still putting up awesome stats. He had an “off season” and his season in 2014, still would have been a dream season for any QB. The guy is one of the best QBs we have ever seen play the game in our lifetime. He is a classy man, and a great player. I don’t want to see him hang on too long with noodle arm throws after week 11 anymore. There comes a time when you have to ride off to the sunset, wave, and leave with class.
I think that aging QBs who are still demanding ridiculous wages, are out of control. Especially when they have had a successful career, and have made boatloads of money already. Let’s be honest, they don’t need the money. If they take lower pay,then they hand over a bunch of salary cap for the team to spend on other weapons for them to win the championships that they want to get to. Personally, his wage makes no sense to me. 19M for a 38 year old QB, who has had some really awful playoff performances, which is why you got him, to win those games, is idiotic.
What means more to the player? A few more million dollars or the championship? Peyton actually has a chance to make a statement, if he did something like sign for the league minimum, his endorsements would probably even go higher, and players respect would skyrocket, and his legendary status would become mythical.
Plus he could be a trendsetter for future players. Brady took a hit, so he could get more talent around him and as a result, another championhip ring. They could get extra money and invest in keeping players around him, or geting even more to add for him.
Honestly, if Peyton wants to retire with another ring on his finger, money should be no object to him at this point. Regardless of what many of his fans may want to believe, he can’t carry the Broncos on his back to the SuperBowl, no matter how great he is. Especially at his advanced age. The team, as a whole, has had Julius Thomas, Demaryius Thomas, Emanuel Sanders on offense and on the defensive side, Demarcus Ware and Von Miller, who had great seasons. It is not likely to really put a better team around him than Manning had last year. They had, on paper, the most talented roster in the NFL.
He has had a history of poor playoff performances, including last season vs the Colts, when he struggled and bumbled his way to 211 yds passing, and a pathetic 4.5 yds/passing attempt. His best days are past, which I would think realistically, with or without him the Broncos are not a legit SuperBowl contender.
Executive VP of Football Operations/General Manager, Elway, has done everything possible to put the best team around him. But still, when it comes to crunch time Manning just falls flat, and disappoints. Most of the leagues elite QBs would have gotten the trophy with that squad.
Peytons head falls apart when the going gets tough. As does his aging arm. I think he will always be known as the best regular season QB of all time. He easily had way better weapons than most other QBs had, there comes a point where you have to ask, how much more can you put around a player? Peyton, obviously, can only dictate offense, I am not a banger on teams success based off of one player. But, he didn’t do what they brought him in to do, come big time play, let’s be brutally honest.
With RB C.J. Anderson coming around last season, I think they should, if things can be worked out, move towards a 55 to 45% run to pass in 2015. He just isn’t the QB he once was. Start moving into a run more offense, and keep him as fresh as possible. Simple as that. The Broncos get 10-11 great games from Peyton, make those 10-11 count.
The QB beyond any other position in the NFL has to be more mentally preparied than any other position to me. In the playoffs against the Colts, which I know I have gone on about, but that game he played was one of the worst I have ever seen a great QB ever play. He actually looked like a scared rookie.
It seems that mentally his mind goes blank in every game which is most important we have gtten used to see that over the last two years. It is rather sad to see someone like him, one of the best ever, struggling with how to prepare and make a decision. Make the right one Peyton.

2014 Top 10 NFL Fantasy Football Sleepers

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SexyRef

A Fantasy “Sleeper” is defined as a player (in this case NFL) who you believe will have a “breakout” season, while not being ranked in the Top 10 at his position before the season started. Here is my list for the 2014-15 season.

Jeff’s 2014-15 Top 10 NFL Fantasy Football Sleepers

1) Carlos Hyde RB (49ers)

My top-rated running back coming into the draft this past May. Carlos Hyde improved his production every season at Ohio State since his freshman season in 2010. Last season, he rushed for 1,521 yards and accumulated 15 touchdowns. In his College career, Hyde rushed for 3,198 yards, 6.1 Yards per carry, and 41 total touchdowns. Hyde runs like he’s mad at the ground and he is the perfect back for what the 49ers like to do. He’s big and physical, while having good feet and vision. I love his talent. Lets be honest here. Frank Gore is not getting any younger at the age of 31. The 10-year veteran is just 33 yards short of 10,000 rushing yards. Gore ran for 1,128 yards with 9 touchdowns last season, and has at least 250 carries for three straight years. Hyde is expected to receive at least 7-10 touches per game to start, but don’t be shocked if he’s a bigger part of the 49ers offense and in the starting lineup sooner rather than later. Aided by a very solid offensive line, look for Hyde to rush for 1000+ yards with 10 total touchdowns this season. Yeah, I said it!


2) Andre Ellington RB (Arizona)

Reminds me of Jamaal Charles quite a bit. There are some concerns that his small frame can hold up for 16 games. He played in 15 games last year, gaining 652 yards on just 118 attempts. Andre scored just 4 total touchdowns and I would expect that number to at least double if he stays healthy. There is no denying his skill-set and he did add about 8-10 lbs of muscle this off-season. He’s at the ripe age of 25 where many running backs have career type seasons. The Cardinals’ offensive line will be better than last season and might even become a strength of the team. Ellington is on the verge of stardom. Look for him to gather ginormous points in running, receiving, and scoring.

3) Terrance Williams WR (Dallas)

Miles Austin has taken his injured hamstrings to Cleveland. In all seriousness, I wish Miles the best and hope he can stay healthy for the Browns. Terrance has that great combination of size and speed. Listed at 6′ 2″, 209 lbs, Williams is one of the fastest players on the team, while using the slot to his advantage as well. The local boy had a solid rookie season with 736 receiving yards and 5 touchdowns. His longest scoring play was an 82-yard skinny post from the left side against the Broncos. Look for Terrance Williams to amass 1000 receiving yards and at least 7 touchdowns, as most teams’ focus will be on trying to cover Dez Bryant with an extra safety. The Cowboys are expecting big things from Williams and you should too.

4) Colin Kaepernick QB (San Francisco)

Currently being drafted No. 11 in mock drafts. Colin is poised to have his best season yet. The team is extremely motivated after how last season ended in heart break fashion. Actually, it’s been two straight postseason meltdowns so the motivation is there. The offense is loaded with the likes of Michael Crabtree, Anquan Bolden, Stevie Johnson, Vernon Davis, not to mention a very talented backfield. Lets not forget about Kaepernicks running ability. Only Russell Wilson ran for more touchdowns as a QB last season. The defense looks really good and I am expecting big things from this team in 2014-15. They are one hungry bunch. If you don’t get one of the Top 3 QB’s than wait and grab Kaepernick in the 8th or 9th round.

5) Jay Cutler QB (Chicago)

Jay Cutler is ranked anywhere from No. 12 to No.16 at the QB position. The Bears feature two of the league’s top 7 wide receivers in Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery. Not to mention a top 5 overall player in running back Matt Forte. Both receivers are capable of 1,000+ receiving yards and double digit touchdowns. Marshall accomplished the feet last year and don’t be shocked if both players reach that level this season. This offense is loaded and if Cutler can stay healthy he should have his best season to date. Cutler has never finished with a QBR of 90 or better in a season. He had a career high of 89.2 last season. This could be that year. He’s a steal in the mid rounds this season.

6) Tony Romo QB (Dallas)

The Cowboys will have a new offensive play-caller for the third straight season. Although Bill Callahan is still the offensive coordinator, Scott Linehan will be calling the plays. He loves to throw the ball early and often. Tony Romo’s career numbers are quite impressive with 29,565 passing yards, 64.6% completion percentage, and 208 touchdown passes. His 95.8 career QBR ranks fourth, behind Rivers, Manning, and Aaron Rogers. Romo had 31 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2013-14 for the second time in three years. Romo is better than most people think. At 34 years of age Romo has at least two very productive season in the tank. During his five-year tenure the Lions offense never ranked less than sixth in pass attempts. The Cowboys offense is loaded including a very good offensive line. The Cowboys defense figures to allow a lot of points, so the Cowboys might be playing catch-up more often than not. Romo has posted better stats than where he is being drafted for 6 straight seasons.

7) Emmanuel Sanders WR (Denver)

I am expecting big things from Sanders with the Broncos. Peyton Manning likes to throw touchdowns and Sanders will help fans forget about the departure of Eric Decker (Jets). Sanders is entering his fifth season at age 27, coming off a solid campaign with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He had 67 receptions, 740 receiving yards, and six touchdowns. I would be shocked if Sanders didn’t have his best season to date with Manning at QB. Extremely quick and gets open more often than not. Sanders is a steal after the 10th round.

8) Sam Bradford QB (Rams)

At 26 years of age, the time is now for Bradford to take that next step. There are some signs he will. Sam was well on his way to posting career-best numbers last season after throwing 14 touchdown passes in seven games, Bradford suffered a season-ending ACL injury. The Rams have a plethora of young talent that is on the verge of breaking out. Chris Givens and Tavon Austin figure to get better. Kenny Britt was a great pickup an should help the Rams in red-zone scoring. Bradford could end being the “steal” of your draft.

9) Montee Ball RB (Denver)

Denver has a lot of talented running backs but Ball has the most upside. He didn’t win the starting job last season due to protection issues in both basic and blitz-heavy defenses. In this offense, the potential for 1,500+ rushing yards and 10+ touchdowns is certainly there. Ball averaged 4.7 yards per carry in 16 games. Solid. Look for Ball to have a huge breakout type season if he can stay healthy. He will also be a force in the passing game as well. Big things from Ball in 2014-15.

10) DeAndre Hopkins WR (Houston)

Considering all of the quarterback issues last season the Texans endured, Hopkins managed to put decent numbers with 52 receptions, 802 receiving yards, and two touchdowns. Just two seasons ago, Hopkins was the No. 1 receiver in a Clemson offense that featured Sammy Watkins. This guy is poised for a huge breakout type season and will be a nice point producer as a No. 2 or 3 receiver. Currently being drafted 30th among receivers which should be going up as more drafts get underway.

Good Luck on draft day!

Jeff Hochman/JHSL