Yardbarker: Brandon Marshall

Top 10 performances that will set the tone for the 2008 season

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 20:41:22 -0500

Ahhhhhhhhh. That early renewal payment for NFL Sunday Ticket finally pays off on Sunday, as the most anticipated day of the year returns. After a short hiatus, I will be back, providing gameday analysis, top 10's and, when I get my bearings on the season, predictions! I'll list mine anyways, because I have a new office pool to dominate. Not every team needs to come out of the gate at full speed, but the following ten players, coaches and units need to turn in a strong performance if they want to win. Or just keep their jobs.

Denver Broncos Preview

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:18:34 -0500

The Broncos are hoping this is the team that can make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2005. Fortunately this offseason wasn't as tragic as last year when they had to deal with the death of two teammates (Darrent Williams and Damien Nash). They had their issues with Brandon Marshall, but it appears that had a "happy" ending as his suspension was reduced to just one game. On Offense Jay Cutler enters his second season as the starter. He had a solid season last year throwing for 3500 yards and 20 TDs, numbers which he can improve on. Brandon Marshall was his go-to-guy last year and he'll miss the opener because of a suspension. He dodged a bullet though because he was initially suspended for three games. Javon Walker is gone to Oakland, but it wasn't like he played much last year anyway. The other wideouts are Eddie Royal, Darrell Jackson, and Brandon Stokely. They also have two capable Tight Ends in Tony Scheffler and Daniel Graham. At Running Back Selvin Young is the lead back. I thought Ryan Torrain might challenge him, but an broken bone is his elbow will cost him the beginning of the season. On the other side of the ball Denver is led by LB D.J. Williams (141 Tackles) and CB Champ Bailey (84 Tackles, 3 INTs). Dre Bly is a nice compliment to Bailey at Cornerback while Marlon McCree (San Diego) will be their new Free Safety. Elvis Dumervil (12.5 Sacks) is their main pass rushing force, although he'll need help. DeWayne Robertson was brought in to help plug the middle. Nate Webster (87 Tackles) and Boss Bailey round out the Linebacker corps. I think the Broncos will challenge for the Wild Card with around 9 Wins. If San Diego suffers injury setbacks, Denver could jump the shark and win the AFC West. In the end, I feel they will be on the outside looking in when the playoffs get underway. Fantasy-wise their main weapon is Brandon Marshall. He's worthy of a #1/#2 WR slot in most leagues. Jay Culter is a good starting QB option, and a great backup if you're afforded that luxury. Scheffler is a nice sleeper at Tight End. Denver Defense should solid as well. Selvin Young is worth taking, but I wouldn't want him as anything more than a #2 RB at best. I'd be more comfortable with him as your #3.

Final Fantasy Football Re-Draft Rankings

Sat, 30 Aug 2008 07:54:41 -0500

This is it kids. For those of you that have the patience to put off having your fantasy football draft, we have updated our rankings one last time before the start of the NFL Season.

Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Expert League Mock Draft

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 22:52:32 -0500

Let's check out to see how Rounds 2- 8 played out in the Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Expert League Draft which was hosted and sponsored by MyFantasyLeague.com. The scoring system is "standard" scoring and each team starts 1 QB, 2 RB, 3 WR, 1 TE, 1 K, 1 DEF. ------------------- 2008 Bruno Boys Fantasy Football Expert League Draft - Round 2 Results 2.01 Fantasy Football Edge: Terrell Owens (Dal) 2.02 RotoWire: Ryan Grant (GB) 2.03 Fantasy Football Xtreme: Braylon Edwards (Cle) 2.04 RotoWorld: Reggie Wayne (Ind) 2.05 Fantasy Sharks: Maurice Jones-Drew (Jac) 2.06 Pigskin Addiction: Larry Fitzgerald (Ari) 2.07 Bruno Boys Fantasy Football: Andre Johnson (Hou) 2.08 Junkyard Jake: Reggie Bush (NO) 2.09 Melnick & Greco Football: T.J. Houshmandzdeh (Cin) 2.10 Athlon/Grogan Fantasy Football: Marques Colston (NO) 2.11 Fantasy Football Xtreme: Willis McGahee (Bal) 2.12 Fantasy Football Librarian: Chad Johnson (Cin) ------------------- To read more, click the link...

NFL Punchlines: Rudi Johnson Insists He Will Be Traded

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 17:29:10 -0500

Philip Rivers says his trash talking is water under the bridge. Yeah, OK, Frank the Tank's drinking problem was thought to be curbed as well. (USA Today)

Has the Shawne Merriman situation put a damper on the beginning of the NFL season? (Post-Dispatch)

Make sure you draft a receiver in the first three rounds of your fantasy draft. There are a lot of good ones to choose from. (Newsday)

Vernon Gholston had a so-so game last night in the preseason finale capping what has been a less than stellar camp for the rookie pass rusher. (NY Daily News)

Not so fast: Jeremy Shockey ended up not making his Saints debut last night. He was a late scratch, Sean Payton seems nervous about rushing him back to soon from his leg injury. (Times-Picayune)

Vince Young is "fine" according to Jeff Fisher after VY dinged up his hand on a helmet late in the 2nd quarter last night. (Tennessean)

Stating the case that the Dallas Cowboys will win the Super Bowl. (Star Tribune)

The good ol' QB sneak is a part of Aaron Rodgers' arsenal. (Journal Sentinel)

Jeff Saturday will reportedly miss six weeks due to ligament damage in his right knee. (Miami Herald)

Chad Henne has been one of the main recipients of the Parcells' regime's tough love. (Miami Herald)

With no NFL team for the past 14 years, Los Angeles area football fans have found another way to stay involved with pro football. (L.A. Times)

Rudi Johnson is still insists that he thinks he will be traded before the season opener. (Cincy Enquirer)

If Tropical Storm Gustav displaces the Saints they will practice next week in Indy. (Indy Star)

Whatever he said worked, Brandon Marshall's suspension was reduced to one game. (Denver Post)

Pac is back! (Dallas Morning News)

The Bills season ticket numbers are the highest they have ever been. (Buffalo News)

FINAL: (Day 2) Tournament Vote Off: NFL QB's -- FINAL -- B. Favre vs D. McNabb -- Pick the FINAL Winner

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 07:15:19 -0500

Welcome to day 2 of THE SUPER BOWL QB's CHAMPIONSHIP Round tournament style vote off. What you do here is vote for the best QB of the pair. The winner will be the YARDS SUPER BOWL QB CHAMPION: *****NOTES FOR DETERMINING THE WINNER OF THE FINALS:***** ***** The winner will be the one with highest number of votes after 48 hours, this gives everyone a chance to vote or after 151 total votes have been casted or the first one to 76 votes, whichever comes first. ***** Since this is a 2-day vote off, you will be able to vote once a day for a total of 2 total votes at least 24 hours apart. **** After you vote, its an open floor for discussions about anything you want to talk about as long as you follow the 3 Rules of the Yard. Let's keep it friendly, and tell your friends we are here and lets make this fun for everyone. THE SUPER BOWL QB's CHAMPION IS: NOW IN SESSION IS: --- B. FAVRE vs D. MCNABB

The BedPan | Fantasy Football Injuries of Note

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 06:47:07 -0500

Time to bring out the bedpan again as we roll closer to the season and the last weekend for Fantasy Football Drafts. The latest on some injured players including IDP Players.

Brandon Marshall now suspended only one game, lights fantasy skyrocket

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:09:17 -0500

If you have drafted, you just might be sitting on fantasy gold if you snagged Brandon Marshall late. His three-game suspension has just been reduced to just ONE game.

Marshall’s Suspension Reduced to One-Game

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:04:58 -0500

The Associated Press reports Broncos WR Brandon Marshall has had his suspension reduced to one game. His suspension begins Saturday, August 30th, and he can return to team headquarters September 9th. Marshall will forfeit his pay for an additional game, meaning he'll lose a two-game total of $52,352.

Marshall’s Suspension Reduced to One-Game

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:04:58 -0500

Marshall's Suspension Reduced to 1 game.

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 21:29:59 -0500

You think the NFL chopping Brandon Marshall's suspension from three games to one isn't a major development for the Denver Broncos? Just look at the preseason. Marshall caught 10 of Jay Cutler's 30 completions in the preseason in fewer than five quarters of work. Marshall is a blossoming superstar. He and Cutler could be a special tandem for years to come. Marshall was originally suspended for three games because of several legal scrapes over the past couple of years. Under the original guidelines, Marshall was supposed to serve at least two games. However, he appealed his case in New York on Tuesday. Thursday, his attorney Harvey Steinberg said Marshall will only miss one game. That means the receiver will be out for the Broncos' season opener at Oakland on Sept. 8 on ESPN's Monday Night Football. However, he should be on the field for Denver's home opener Sept. 14 against San Diego.

MANUFACTURED JOY: DENVER BRONCOS

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:39:06 -0500

by Zac, Throwing Into Traffic

1. The Ultimate Leader's ultimate plan comes to ultimate fruition!

Jake Plummer got screwed. That's just a fact. So if you're Mike Shanahan, and you took a winning quarterback in a playoff competing year and benched him for an unproven (though wildly talented) rookie who proceeded to lose you out of the postseason, your eggs are all immovably placed in the Jay Cutler basket. The bad news is that no sweets are allowed in that basket (Get it? Because he's got diabetes?). The good news is that of all the QB's taken in that hyped 2006 draft class, Cutler's progress has been the steadiest and most productive. In just his Tsecond year, Cutler put up an above average QB rating of 88.1, along with 7.5 YPA and 20 TDs to 14 INTs. Even more interesting is that Cutler's failings seem to be largely related to his youth, as his performance on the road is significantly worse than at home, something that figures to improve with experience playing in front of hostile crowds. With Brandon Marshall maturing nicely (as a player, anyway), and the run game promising to remain consistent, Cutler could be the centerpiece of a steady offene with one of the best deep arms in league.

2. Insert running back here!

KSK put it best, but I can't get over seeing Selvin Young on people's fantasy draft boards. Seriously, this guy is living proof that whatever else we think about him, Shanny is a glorious orange bastard when it comes to creating run blocking schemes. This year, the team not only returns last year's surprise in Young, but also consistent speed threat Andre Hall and rookie draft pick Ryan Torain. All of this suggest that the ninth best rushing team in the league (I know, it surprised me too), figures to be just as potent this year, meaning that this offense could be scarily versatile.

3. Tony Scheffler FEVER!

Tony Scheffler is the annoying faux-indie band of fantasy football; everyone can tell you things about him, but nobody is really that into him, they just want to look cool. Still, the numbers from week seven on are kind of legit. Five games of five receptions or more, an average of 11.2 YPC, 5 TD, and the size to work in the red zone. Repeat after me: "Yeah, dude, I totally liked him before he was cool."

4. Exciting back and forth action!

Well, on the bright side, this offense looks to be very difficult to pin down. Trouble is that they also might have trouble getting time on the field. That's because teams have been able to consistently use the ground game to gouge the Broncos. While the team boasts two top tier corners and speedy linebackers, the center of the defense has been entirely unable to slow down opposing backs. Two things could turn that around this year. First, DJ Williams, a speedy linebacker with the size to bring backs down, returns to the middle of the field, where his range as a player is best suited. Second, and admittedly less certain, DE Jarvis Moss needs to become a more consistent disruption to opposing backfields. While he has the size and speed to do so, he frequently was manhandled by offensive linemen, contributing to the defense's 30th ranked run stopping unit.

5. By the way, JAY CUTLER HAS A F**KING ARM CANNON!

Wide Receiver Sleeper of the Year

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 16:23:10 -0500

Nate Burleson is primed to have a huge year, yet he's available in the mid to late rounds in most drafts. Read why he's our WR Sleeper of the Year and see some of other "under the radar" receivers.

FINAL: Tournament Vote Off: NFL QB's -- FINAL -- B. Favre vs D. McNabb -- Pick the FINAL Winner

Thu, 28 Aug 2008 09:31:17 -0500

Welcome to THE SUPER BOWL QB's CHAMPIONSHIP Round tournament style vote off. What you do here is vote for the best QB of the pair. The winner will be the YARDS SUPER BOWL QB CHAMPION: *****NOTES FOR DETERMINING THE WINNER OF THE FINALS:***** ***** The winner will be the one with highest number of votes after 48 hours, this gives everyone a chance to vote or after 151 total votes have been casted or the first one to 76 votes, whichever comes first. ***** Since this is a 2-day vote off, you will be able to vote once a day for a total of 2 total votes at least 24 hours apart. **** After you vote, its an open floor for discussions about anything you want to talk about as long as you follow the 3 Rules of the Yard. Let's keep it friendly, and tell your friends we are here and lets make this fun for everyone. THE SUPER BOWL QB's CHAMPION IS: NOW IN SESSION IS: --- B. FAVRE vs D. MCNABB

NFL Punchlines: Jets Announce PSL Plan For New Stadium

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 18:27:09 -0500

Raiders center Jake Grove is "giddy" that he won the starting job. (San Fran Chronicle)

As DeSean Jackson shines, Reggie Brown has seen his role with the Eagles diminish. (Philly Inquirer)

Parcells has "his guys" all over the Dolphins roster. Why is this a story that gets written every time he goes to a new team? (Orlando Sentinel)

The Jets have announced their PSL plan for the new stadium. The upper deck ticket holders were spared the fee. How nice of Woody. (NY Daily News)

With all of the money the Jets poured into that o-line in the offseason they need to perform better than they have thus far. (NY Post)

With Strahan announcing he is staying retired and Mathias Kiwanuka moving to DE to replace Osi, what will the Giants do to fill the void left at linebacker? (NY Post)

The Vikings D will even be that much better with LB Chad Greenway in the lineup after he missed all of last season. (Star Tribune)

Cadillac Williams on PUP list = Earnest Graham's stock rising in fantasy drafts. (Miami Herald)

Also placed on the PUP list, Giants WR David Tyree. (Hartford Courant)

Are Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson the 3rd best receiving tandem in the league? Roy thinks so. (Detroit Free Press)

Brandon Marshall is trying to appeal his three game personal conduct policy suspension. (Denver Post)

Could we see an 18-game regular season as apart of the next collective bargaining agreement in 2011? If so, do you think it is a good idea? (Denver Post)

Tread lightly if you are thinking of drafting Rudi Johnson because according to him he'll be gone, "at any minute." (Cincy Enquirer)

Yesterday we mentioned that Ricky Manning Jr. was disgruntled and later in the day the Bears promptly released him. Coincidence? Probably not. (Sun-Times)