by rseysPosted on Posted in Kicker Cheatsheet Week 5 Forward 2014

This cheatsheet ranks the fantasy value of kickers from now until the end of the season.  It’s based on field goals being worth 3 points, and PATs as 1 point.  (I.e., no bonus points awarded for long range field goals, or deductions for missed kicks.)

Number in parenthesis indicates bye week
Green = Bye week done
Red = Bye this week

  1. Cody Parkey PHI (7)
  2. Brandon McManus/Matt Prater DEN (4)
    (Matt Prater was released on October 3. If McManus is available, add him to your roster ASAP!))
  3. Mike Nugent CIN (4)
  4. Chandler Catanzaro ARI (4)
  5. Steven Hauschka SEA (4)
  6. Dan Bailey DAL (11)
  7. Nick Novak SD (10)
  8. Shaun Suisham PIT (12)
  9. Adam Vinatieri IND (10)
  10. Cairo Santos KC (6)
  11. Matt Bryant ATL (9)
  12. Phil Dawson SF (8)
  13. Stephen Gostkowski NE (10)
  14. Robbie Gould CHI (9)
  15. Caleb Sturgis MIA (5)
  16. Greg Zuerlein STL (4)
  17. Justin Tucker BAL (11)
  18. Mason Crosby GB (9)
  19. Graham Gano CAR (12)
  20. Josh Brown NYG (8)
  21. Blair Walsh MIN (10)
  22. Alex Henery DET (9)
  23. Dan Carpenter BUF (9)
  24. Billy Cundiff CLE (4)
  25. Shayne Graham NO (6)
  26. Patrick Murray TB (7)
  27. Ryan Succop TEN (9)
  28. Randy Bullock HOU (10)
  29. Josh Scobee JAC (11)
  30. Kai Forbath WAS (10)
  31. Nick Folk NYJ (11)
  32. Sebastian Janikowski OAK (5)

 

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by rseysPosted on Posted in Kicker Cheatsheet Week 4 2014

This cheatsheet ranks the fantasy value of kickers for week 4, 2014.  It’s based on field goals being worth 3 points, and PATs as 1 point.  (I.e., no bonus points awarded for long range field goals, or deductions for missed kicks.)

RANK – PLAYER NAME – MATCHUP

  1. Nick Novak SD (vs JAC)
  2. Phil Dawson SF (vs PHI)
  3. Adam Vinatieri IND (vs TEN)
  4. Shaun Suisham PIT (vs TB)
  5. Shayne Graham NO (@ DAL)
  6. Matt Bryant ATL (@ MIN)
  7. Stephen Gostkowski NE (@ KC)
  8. Kai Forbath WAS (vs NYG)
  9. Mason Crosby GB (@ CHI)
  10. Caleb Sturgis MIA (@ OAK) (London)
  11. Dan Bailey DAL (vs NO)
  12. Randy Bullock HOU (vs BUF)
  13. Alex Henery DET (@ NYJ) (replaces Nate Freese)
  14. Robbie Gould CHI (vs GB)
  15. Justin Tucker BAL (vs CAR)
  16. Blair Walsh MIN (vs ATL)
  17. Nick Folk NYJ (vs DET)
  18. Cody Parkey PHI (@ SF)
  19. Dan Carpenter BUF (@ HOU)
  20. Cairo Santos KC (vs NE)
  21. Josh Brown NYG (@ WAS)
  22. Graham Gano CAR (@ BAL)
  23. Ryan Succop TEN (@ IND)
  24. Sebastian Janikowski OAK (vs MIA) (London)
  25. Patrick Murray TB (@ PIT)
  26. Josh Scobee JAC (@ SD)

The following kickers do not play in week 4 because of bye:
Chandler Catanzaro ARZ
Billy Cundiff CLE
Steven Hauschka SEA
Brandon McManus DEN (Matt Prater suspended)
Mike Nugent CIN
Greg Zuerlein STL

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by rseysPosted on Posted in Kicker Cheatsheet Week 4 Forward 2014

This cheatsheet ranks the fantasy value of kickers from now until the end of the season.  It’s based on field goals being worth 3 points, and PATs as 1 point.  (I.e., no bonus points awarded for long range field goals, or deductions for missed kicks.)

RANK – PLAYER NAME – TEAM/BYE
(Red = Bye this week)

  1. Cody Parkey PHI/7
  2. Mike Nugent CIN/4
  3. Brandon McManus/Matt Prater DEN/4 (Matt Prater suspended – returns week 6.  Stash Prater if you have roster space.)
  4. Stephen Gostkowski NE/10
  5. Chandler Catanzaro ARI/4
  6. Shaun Suisham PIT/12
  7. Steven Hauschka SEA/4
  8. Dan Bailey DAL/11
  9. Nick Novak SD/10
  10. Robbie Gould CHI/9
  11. Cairo Santos KC/6
  12. Graham Gano CAR/12
  13. Adam Vinatieri IND/10
  14. Shayne Graham NO/6
  15. Phil Dawson SF/8
  16. Matt Bryant ATL/9
  17. Blair Walsh MIN/10
  18. Greg Zuerlein STL/4
  19. Alex Henery DET/9 (Replaces Nate Freese)
  20. Justin Tucker BAL/11
  21. Dan Carpenter BUF/9
  22. Josh Brown NYG/8
  23. Caleb Sturgis MIA/5
  24. Ryan Succop TEN/9
  25. Billy Cundiff CLE/4
  26. Josh Scobee JAC/11
  27. Mason Crosby GB/9
  28. Kai Forbath WAS/10
  29. Patrick Murray TB/7
  30. Nick Folk NYJ/11
  31. Sebastian Janikowski OAK/5
  32. Randy Bullock HOU/10

 

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by rseysPosted on Posted in Wilson Football Factory

When you turn on your TV on Sunday afternoon, every score you see – every goal line plunge, every field goal, every touchdown reception, every extra point – will all have been scored with a Wilson football.  Wilson is the official ball of the NFL.  This is a tour of Wilson’s Football Factory in Ada, Ohio, where all of the Official NFL footballs are made. This short video shows the step-by-step process that’s used to make each and every one of these footballs.  Very interesting!
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by rseysPosted on Posted in The NFL Simpsonized

Adrien Noterdaem is an artist from Belgium that has the unique ability to imitate the Simpsons animation look.  Recently Noterdaem, working with Bleacher Report (http://bleacherreport.com/), created several exposés of NFL players in the distinctive Simpsons style.  I present them to you here.  Enjoy!

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by rseysPosted on Posted in Kicker Cheatsheet Week 3 2014

This cheatsheet ranks the fantasy value of kickers for week 3, 2014. It’s based on field goals being worth 3 points, and PATs as 1 point. (I.e., no bonus points awarded for long range field goals, or deductions for missed kicks.)

RANK – PLAYER NAME – MATCHUP

  1. Stephen Gostkowski NE (vs OAK)
  2. Shayne Graham NO (vs MIN)
  3. Cody Parkey PHI (vs WAS)
  4. Adam Vinatieri IND (@ JAC)
  5. Steven Hauschka SEA (vs DEN)
  6. Matt Bryant ATL (vs TB)
  7. Mike Nugent CIN (vs TEN)
  8. Nate Freese DET (vs GB)
  9. Caleb Sturgis MIA (vs KC)
  10. Nick Folk NYJ (vs CHI)
  11. Dan Carpenter BUF (vs SD)
  12. Mason Crosby GB (@ DET)
  13. Phil Dawson SF (@ ARZ)
  14. Dan Bailey DAL (@ STL)
  15. Graham Gano CAR (vs PIT)
  16. Randy Bullock HOU (@ NYG)
  17. Greg Zuerlein STL (vs DAL)
  18. Robbie Gould CHI (@ NYJ)
  19. Justin Tucker BAL (@ CLE)
  20. Billy Cundiff CLE (vs BAL)
  21. Kai Forbath WAS (@ PHI)
  22. Nick Novak SD (@ BUF)
  23. Brandon McManus DEN (@ SEA) (Matt Prater suspended)
  24. Chandler Catanzaro ARZ (vs SF)
  25. Josh Brown NYG (vs HOU)
  26. Blair Walsh MIN (@ NO)
  27. Shaun Suisham PIT (@ CAR)
  28. Josh Scobee JAC (vs IND)
  29. Cairo Santos KC (@ MIA)
  30. Patrick Murray TB (@ ATL)
  31. Ryan Succop TEN (@ CIN)
  32. Sebastian Janikowski OAK (@ NE)
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by rseysPosted on Posted in Kicker Cheatsheet Week 3 Forward 2014

This cheatsheet ranks the fantasy value of kickers from now until the end of the season.  It’s based on field goals being worth 3 points, and PATs as 1 point.  (I.e., no bonus points awarded for long range field goals, or deductions for missed kicks.)

RANK – PLAYER NAME – TEAM/BYE

  1. Brandon McManus DEN/4 (Matt Prater suspended.  Returns week 6.  Great kicker to stash if you have roster space.)
  2. Cody Parkey PHI/7
  3. Mike Nugent CIN/4
  4. Stephen Gostkowski NE/10
  5. Chandler Catanzaro ARI/4
  6. Shaun Suisham PIT/12
  7. Steven Hauschka SEA/4
  8. Phil Dawson SF/8
  9. Robbie Gould CHI/9
  10. Dan Bailey DAL/11
  11. Graham Gano CAR/12
  12. Cairo Santos KC/6
  13. Nick Novak SD/10
  14. Blair Walsh MIN/10
  15. Adam Vinatieri IND/10
  16. Nate Freese DET/9 (Avoid – Is struggling and could potentially be replaced)
  17. Ryan Succop TEN/9
  18. Shayne Graham NO/6
  19. Dan Carpenter BUF/9
  20. Caleb Sturgis MIA/5
  21. Greg Zuerlein STL/4
  22. Justin Tucker BAL/11
  23. Josh Brown NYG/8
  24. Patrick Murray TB/7
  25. Billy Cundiff CLE/4
  26. Mason Crosby GB/9
  27. Matt Bryant ATL/9
  28. Josh Scobee JAC/11
  29. Nick Folk NYJ/11
  30. Kai Forbath WAS/10
  31. Sebastian Janikowski OAK/5
  32. Randy Bullock HOU/10

 

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by rseysPosted on Posted in Kicker Cheatsheet Week 2 2014

This cheatsheet ranks the fantasy value of kickers for week 2, 2014.  It’s based on field goals being worth 3 points, and PATs as 1 point.  (I.e., no bonus points awarded for long range field goals, or deductions for missed kicks.)

RANK – PLAYER NAME – MATCHUP

  1. Brandon McManus DEN (vs KC) (Matt Prater suspended)
  2. Phil Dawson SF (vs CHI)
  3. Mason Crosby GB (vs NYJ)
  4. Shayne Graham NO (@ CLE)
  5. Adam Vinatieri IND (vs PHI)
  6. Mike Nugent CIN (vs ATL)
  7. Steven Hauschka SEA (@ SD)
  8. Ryan Succop TEN (vs DAL)
  9. Kai Forbath WAS (vs JAC)
  10. Stephen Gostkowski NE (@ MIN)
  11. Graham Gano CAR (vs DET)
  12. Justin Tucker BAL (vs PIT)
  13. Patrick Murray TB (vs STL)
  14. Cody Parkey PHI (@ IND)
  15. Chandler Catanzaro ARZ (@ NYG)
  16. Randy Bullock HOU (@ OAK)
  17. Caleb Sturgis MIA (@ BUF)
  18. Blair Walsh MIN (vs NE)
  19. Dan Bailey DAL (@ TEN)
  20. Dan Carpenter BUF (vs MIA)
  21. Shaun Suisham PIT (at BAL)
  22. Matt Bryant ATL (@ CIN)
  23. Josh Brown NYG (vs ARZ)
  24. Nate Freese DET (@ CAR)
  25. Robbie Gould CHI (@ SF)
  26. Billy Cundiff CLE (vs NO)
  27. Sebastian Janikowski OAK (vs HOU)
  28. Nick Novak SD (vs SEA)
  29. Josh Scobee JAC (@ WAS)
  30. Nick Folk NYJ (@ GB)
  31. Greg Zuerlein STL (@ TB)
  32. Cairo Santos KC (@ DEN)

 

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by rseysPosted on Posted in Kicker Cheatsheet Week 2 Forward 2014

This cheatsheet ranks the fantasy value of kickers from now until the end of the season.  It’s based on field goals being worth 3 points, and PATs as 1 point.  (I.e., no bonus points awarded for long range field goals, or deductions for missed kicks.)

RANK – PLAYER NAME – TEAM/BYE

  1. Mike Nugent CIN/4
  2. Stephen Gostkowski NE/10
  3. Brandon McManus DEN/4 (Matt Prater suspended.  Returns week 6.  Great kicker to stash if you have roster space.)
  4. Cody Parkey PHI/7
  5. Steven Hauschka SEA/4
  6. Phil Dawson SF/8
  7. Chandler Catanzaro ARI/4
  8. Shaun Suisham PIT/12
  9. Graham Gano CAR/12
  10. Blair Walsh MIN/10
  11. Cairo Santos KC/6
  12. Robbie Gould CHI/9
  13. Dan Bailey DAL/11
  14. Adam Vinatieri IND/10
  15. Shayne Graham NO/6
  16. Nick Novak SD/10
  17. Nate Freese DET/9
  18. Ryan Succop TEN/9
  19. Caleb Sturgis MIA/5
  20. Dan Carpenter BUF/9
  21. Josh Brown NYG/8
  22. Nick Folk NYJ/11
  23. Mason Crosby GB/9
  24. Patrick Murray TB/7
  25. Greg Zuerlein STL/4
  26. Justin Tucker BAL/11
  27. Matt Bryant ATL/9
  28. Josh Scobee JAC/11
  29. Sebastian Janikowski OAK/5
  30. Billy Cundiff CLE/4
  31. Kai Forbath WAS/10
  32. Randy Bullock HOU/10

 

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by rseysPosted on Posted in Kicker Cheatsheet Week 1 2014
  1. Cody Parkey Phi (vs Jac)
  2. Brandon McManus Den (vs Ind)
  3. Robbie Gould Chi (vs Buf)
  4. Phil Dawson SF (@ Dal)
  5. Nate Freese Det (vs NYG)
  6. Stephen Gostkowski NE (@ Mia)
  7. Steven Hauschka Sea (vs GB)
  8. Shayne Graham NO (@ Atl)
  9. Cairo Santos KC (vs Ten)
  10. Shaun Suisham Pit (vs Cle)
  11. Greg Zuerlein Stl (vs Min)
  12. Randy Bullock Hou (vs Was)
  13. Nick Folk NYJ (vs Oak)
  14. Chandler Catanzaro Arz (vs SD)
  15. Matt Bryant Atl (vs NO)
  16. Justin Tucker Bal (vs Cin)
  17. Kai Forbath Was (@ Hou)
  18. Adam Vinatieri Ind (@ Den)
  19. Caleb Sturgis Mia (vs NE)
  20. Josh Brown NYG (@ Det)
  21. Mike Nugent Cin (@ Bal)
  22. Nick Novak SD (@ Arz)
  23. Dan Bailey Dal (vs SF)
  24. Patrick Murray TB (vs Car)
  25. Blair Walsh Min (@ Stl)
  26. Graham Gano Car (@ TB)
  27. Josh Scobee Jac (@ Phi) (monitor quadriceps injury)
  28. Dan Carpenter Buf (@ Chi)
  29. Ryan Succop Ten (@ KC)
  30. Mason Crosby GB (@ Sea)
  31. Sebastian Janikowski Oak (@ NYJ)
  32. Billy Cundiff Cle (@ Pit)

 

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by rseysPosted on Posted in 2014 Preseason Kicker Cheatsheet

If you’ve been a reader of Football Weblog for a while, you already know that we provide the most accurate fantasy football kicker rankings found anywhere.  We’ve shown through regression analysis that a kicker’s accuracy or his ability to kick long-range field goals have little bearing on his propensity to score points.  The key to finding the highest scoring fantasy football kickers hinges on identifying kickers that hail from teams that score the most points and win the most games.  (See “Using the Science of Statistics to Select a Fantasy Kicker”.)

Applying this concept results in Football Weblog’s 2014 Preseason Kicker Cheatsheet.  (See below.)  As you can see, several kickers are ranked very differently from the so-called fantasy football “experts”.  For example, most other generic “cookie-cutter” cheatsheets rank Justin Tucker, Blair Walsh, and Sebastian Janikowski quite high, while Alex Henery, Mike Nugent, and Graham Gano are low on the totem pole.  Time will tell the accuracy of these numbers, but I’ll put my money on the science of statistics rather than gut feelings or past history.

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by rseysPosted on Posted in New Technology to Track a Football

Maybe it’s just me, but when so much is on the line in football, whether it’s college ball or the pros, spotting a football by eyesight seems lame.  Inches are huge in football, yet the job of the head linesman and line judge in determining the exact location of a football after a play ends is really just a best guess.  Adverse conditions make their job even more difficult.  How is it possible for two mortal referees to accurately spot a football when it’s blocked from view during, say, a goal-line plunge with the running back buried under a pile of players?  How can the officials correctly place the ball when there’s thick fog or heavy snow messing with visibility?  Can’t some kind of GPS system be implanted in the ball so the referees would always know a ball’s true location?

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by rseysPosted on Posted in Chris Kluwe on Augmented Reality

Chris Kluwe has been in the news a lot recently regarding his allegations that Minnesota Vikings special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer used homophobic language on many occasions.  Even before this most-recent happening, Kluwe has been involved in a number of divisive incidents because of his unfiltered style of speaking out.  Recently, however, I stumbled across an entertaining talk presented by Kluwe pertaining to augmented reality and the direction that, not only sports may take, but society as well.  I may not agree with Kluwe’s statements that fans want to “be” their favorite player – my enjoyment with football revolves more around the strategic element – but he presents a future that very well may come to pass.  Enjoy!
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by rseysPosted on Posted in Fantasy Football Sleepers 2014

Every season there’s a handful of unheralded players – sleepers, dark horses, breakouts – that flash into the fantasy football limelight by inexplicably becoming NFL starters, and in some cases, top 5 players at their position. If you’re like me, you’re scouring the Internet this time of year searching for these players. Savvy fantasy football owners know that unearthing football gems late in the draft can be the difference between winning a league championship, and finishing as an also-ran.

Who will be this season’s Nick Foles, Alshon Jeffery, or Julian Edelman? After hours of research, I’ve compiled a top-50 list of players that are mentioned most often by fantasy football experts as having the potential to produce a breakout season. If their consensus carries any weight, it may be wise to look carefully at the players on this list, especially those at the top.
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by rseysPosted on Posted in NFL Playoff Droughts

Climate change is a hot-button topic lately.  Although controversial, science shows that rising CO2 levels in the atmosphere are adding to the greenhouse effect.  Not only is this causing global warming, but also is attributable to violent storms, more frequent flooding, and extreme drought.  If we are smart, we will do what we can to reverse the damage.  We may have a difficult struggle ahead of us.

NFL franchises face a similar challenge.  Some teams have suffered through years of playoff drought.  Their fans are parched.  They ache for a cool drink of playoff water, and dream of following the lush, heavenly river that leads to the Super Bowl.  Management works hard trying to change the losing climate of their football club.

Teams that have enjoyed recent playoff success face similar struggles.  They know too well that they sit in a precarious position.  Without careful and constant effort, other teams are poised to displace them from their playoff oasis.  Like the weather, the NFL climate is in constant flux.  Today’s playoff success may simply be the last cool rain preceding a devastating drought.
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