NFL Mid-Season Ramblings and Second Half Predictions

bill hinton — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 06:08:43 -0400

Here's a few random thoughts about what I've learned so far this season and what I think will happen in the second half of the most unpredictable season I've ever seen.

First of all, Favre is still Favre and that's what makes Ted Thompson a genius. While Brett is still getting it done at a very high level, Aaron Rodgers is the better quarterback right now and will only get better over the next several years. It was a risky move that divided a fan base and put the Packers' short term future in doubt, but a move that needed to be made.

Rodgers is now sure to sign a long term deal rather than test free agency due to the faith showed by Thompson. With Rodgers running the offense efficiently and avoiding crucial turnovers Green Bay will be a Super Bowl threat in an NFC, where everyone but the Giants seem to have a lot of question marks.

Don't be surprised if they take care of the Titans and get a champagne toast from the '72 Dolphins this weekend.

L.T. will be L.T. in the second half of the season and finish the year as the number one running back in fantasy football. The bye week should help with the toe problem and a schedule full of soft run defenses in the second half should take care of the rest.

Andre Johnson is the best receiver in the NFL and the Texans, despite some early season meltdowns will find a way to make the playoffs. The Colts aren't healthy and neither are the Jags while the Texans just keep getting better.

My Raiders still suck and I can no longer defend Al Davis, but I continue to support them completely. As the only Raider fan at my sports bar it gets a little tough sometimes, but it makes it that much sweeter when we do win.

This has been the most unpredictable season I have ever seen, but the cream will rise to the top, your fantasy studs will eventually put up their numbers, and the best teams will be the best teams. That's why the Giants and Packers will play for the NFC title and the Titans and Chargers will play in the Tom Brady consolation game, also known as the AFC championship.

Rodgers won't throw any crippling interceptions and the Packers will beat the Giants. The Chargers will beat the Titans capping a second half surge and then go on to beat the Packers in the Super Bowl.

Unpredictable? Maybe, but if a 3-5 team is ever to win the Super Bowl this is the year!

Fantasy and Team Loyalty

bill hinton — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 05:13:04 -0400

I was recently out at a sports bar with my buddy "Stan the Packer Fan," when a couple things happened that made me realize the loyalties we have in sports and fantasy sports and how they sometimes relate to life.

Stan was depressed and elated watching Brett Favre look sharp for the Jets. After a few shots he proclaimed "Screw the Pack, I'm a Jets fan now!" This really alarmed me as a lifelong Raiders fan that could never root for another team.

I explained to him that when Marcus Allen became a Chief my loyalties stayed with my team—even though I wore 32 when I played, and Marcus was my favorite player. I still loved Marcus, but he was now the enemy.

The night ended and I really didn't give it much thought, until I found out I had somehow been lucky enough to get the first pick in my main fantasy league. I was lucky enough to have L.T. in 2006 and A.P. in 2007, so I have a lot of love for both of those guys as far as fantasy goes.

The rub is, being a Raiders fan I would much rather see AP light it up than to see L.T. run for his usual 200 against my Raiders. So you know who I'm taking? I'm taking LT!

AP is the younger sexier version of L.T. but can you really count on him for the long haul? He reminds he of the hottest girl at the bar who you know you're going to be buying drinks all night with no guarantee of anything. It could be your best night ever or it could be your worst, while L.T. is that 2:00 am booty call you can always count on!

I told this to my buddy Kelly who has the second pick in our draft and he smiled and said I'm ready to start buying some drinks! Of course, if you saw Kelly's wife you would know he's rolled the dice on the hot chick and won before so he probably likes his chances.

The moral of the story though is love your team in reality, but don't be afraid to go against it in fantasy. If you lose one or the other at least you'll have something to pick you up, but if you won't take a guy because he plays against your team you will have nothing but misery when he goes out there Sunday and kills you twice!

Bleacher Report - Articles by bill hinton

NFL Mid-Season Ramblings and Second Half Predictions

Fantasy and Team Loyalty