Kickers and Defenses: Stealing points in Week 15

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

It's not uncommon to hear or read grousing about the kicker and defense positions in fantasy football. It's all luck, some say. It's too freaking random, someone might offer. Just flip a coin and get it over with, that's how many seem to view this part of the game. I've seen leagues that eliminate the kickers and defenses altogether.

Those lines of reasoning never made sense to me. In my view, ranking kickers and defenses is the easiest thing a fantasy football scribe does every week. More than any other position, the success of your kicker and defense is usually tied to the success of his club. (It's not quite that simple, but that's the best way to start - follow the heavy favorite.) And while some others

Steelers | Shaun Suisham earns honor

Source: Footballguys.com

Pittsburgh Steelers PK Shaun Suisham has been named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 13.

Steelers | Shaun Suisham expected to play

Source: Footballguys.com

Pittsburgh Steelers PK Shaun Suisham (ankle) is listed as probable for the Week 10 game against the Kansas City Chiefs Monday, Nov. 12, due to a left ankle injury.

Shuffle Up and Redraft: Starting over with 220 picks

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

In the world of spies, they mock what they don't understand. In the world of fantasy, we want to understand, so we mock.

Truth be told, this 220-pick exercise wasn't really a mock — it's a real thing. I assembled 10 of my flatliner roto friends (industry and non-industry folks included) and we're all standing behind our teams. While we won't do any maintenance to the rosters we drafted Tuesday night, we are keeping score and we are playing for a financial stake. If you can't go full out, why go at all?

We'll use best-ball scoring to determine the winners; everyone will have their best theoretical score assigned to them after each go-round. It's a total-points grab, there are no head-to-head games. We're using the

Steelers | Six players probable for Week 8

Source: Footballguys.com

Pittsburgh Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey (knee), LB Chris Carter (hamstring), LB Adrian Robinson (concussion), LB Jason Worilds (illness), SS Will Allen (ankle) and PK Shaun Suisham (ankle) fully participated in practice Friday, Oct. 26, and are listed as probable for Week 8.

Steelers | Two limited during practice

Source: Footballguys.com

Pittsburgh Steelers LB Adrian Robinson (concussion) and PK Shaun Suisham (ankle) were limited during practice Thursday, Oct. 25.

Steelers | Three limited

Source: Footballguys.com

Pittsburgh Steelers LB Brandon Johnson (hamstring), LB Adrian Robinson (concussion) and PK Shaun Suisham (ankle) were limited in practice Wednesday, Oct. 24.

Matt Hasselbeck - Hasselbeck directs Titans' upset win

Source: The Huddle

Tennessee Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck was 25-of-44 for 290 yards, a touchdown and an interception Thursday night in his team's 26-23 Week 6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Huddle Up: Hasselbeck, starting his second straight game in place of injured starter Jake Locker, had a solid fantasy night, capped off with a pair of fourth-quarter scoring drives as the Titans overcame a 23-16 deficit. On the the first of those drives, Hasselbeck completed an 80-yard march with a 5-yard TD pass to Kenny Britt. Then, after the Steelers' Shaun Suisham came up just short on a 54-yard field-goal attempt, Hasselbeck drove the Titans 33 yards in 5 plays to set up Rob Bironas' game-winning 40-yard field goal.

Steelers | Shaun Suisham earns honor

Source: Footballguys.com

Pittsburgh Steelers PK Shaun Suisham has been named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 5.

Mostly NFL Notes: Reggie Wayne and luck

Source: Roto Arcade by deldon

Ryan Tannehill has got 9.8 YPA over the past two weeks with both games coming on the road. He's also taken a respectable 10 sacks over five games and has one of the weaker receiving groups in the league to throw to. Moreover, Jake Long has been a big disappointment so far. Tannehill's 2:6 TD:INT ratio isn't pretty, but there are plenty of other reasons for optimism, especially considering how raw he was entering the league. I didn't see that coming and certainly not so fast…Andy Dalton entered with an 8.8 YPA and eight touchdown passes over the first four games of the season, but Miami's defense held him to 5.4 YPA and a 1:2 TD:INT ratio. And the Dolphins' run D continues to dominate, allowing an NFL-low 2.7 YPC. This team is

2012 NFL Week 1 Fantasy Projections: Matthew Stafford and Tom Brady Top List

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

Using the WhatIfSports.com NFL simulation engine, the individual fantasy players and defensive teams are ranked based entirely on projected fantasy points using the FOXSports.com Fantasy Football default scoring where:

QBs, RBs, WRs and TEs: TDs are 6 points.

QBs: 25 passing yards is 1 point.

QBs: Interceptions are -2 points.

RBs: 10 rushing yards is 1 point.

QBs, RBs, WRs and TEs: Fumbles lost are -2 points.

WRs, TE and RBs: 10 yards

Steelers | Danny Hrapmann not expected to be threat

Source: Footballguys.com

Pittsburgh Steelers PK Danny Hrapmann is not expected to be a serious threat to PK Shaun Suisham for the kicking job during training camp.

Steelers | Dave Rayner visiting

Source: Footballguys.com

Free-agent PK Dave Rayner (Bills) is visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers Wednesday, May 9. Rayner would challenge PK Shaun Suisham for the team's kicking job.

2012 NFL Wild Card Round: Fantasy Football Defense and Kicker Rankings

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

Here is the Lester’s Legends fantasy football team defense rankings for the Wild Card Round.

1. Pittsburgh Steelers @ Denver Broncos: This is easily my favorite matchup of the Wild Card Round. Tebow seems to have lost his mojo, and the Steelers’ physical play will make it difficult for him to reclaim it. 

I suspect they will limit his running ability, forcing him to beat them with his arm. I don’t see that happening.

2. Houston Texans vs. Cincinnati Bengals: The Texans have had a rock-solid defense this year, ranking fourth in scoring (17.4) and second in yards allowed (285.7). Wade Phillips will challenge

NFL Playoffs 2012 Fantasy Football: Team Defense, Kicker Wild Card Rankings

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

For those of you who are new to playoff fantasy football, the name of the game is not to select simply the highest-scoring players for this week.

You want to choose players who have better odds to advance to the next round.

Some websites will put a salary cap for your squad, with dollar values for each player. Other sites may allow you to pick anyone available, but you have to decide which players will advance to the next round, as you will get bonus points for their production in future weeks.

Heading into the Wild Card Round of the playoffs, if I had to put my money down on teams that I felt were locks to advance, they would be the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

With that said, you

Shuffle Up for the Playoffs: Second season cheat sheet

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Well, that was a fun 17 weeks. But we still have 11 games to go. Let's talk about the fantasy playoffs.

The first thing you do prior to a playoff draft is rank all the teams with respect to their game potential. This has nothing to do with who's actually on the teams or how fantasy-friendly those players are; you're simply asking yourself "who could get multiple games out of the tournament?"

Here's how I rank the 12 teams with respect to Game Potential:

1. Saints
2. Packers
3. Patriots
4. Ravens
5. Steelers
6. Giants
7. Texans
8. Falcons
9. Niners
10. Bengals
11. Lions
12. Broncos

How you compose that list above will have a

Wild Card Round – K/D Rankings

Source: Fantasy-Info.com by Sean Douglas

For those of you that are new to playoff fantasy football, the name of the game is basically to not just select the highest scoring players for this week, but you want to choose players who have better odds to advance to the next round. Some websites will put a salary cap for your squad, with dollar values for each player.

Other sites may allow you to pick anyone available, but you have to decide which players will advance to the next round, as you will get bonus points for their production in future weeks.

Heading into the wild-card round of the playoffs, if I had to put my money down on teams, I felt were locks to advance it would be the Saints and the Steelers. With that said, you will notice that my top-ranked kicker

Fantasy Football Kicker Rankings: NFL Week 16

Source: Bleacher Report NFL

Here’s the LestersLegends’ Week 16 2011 fantasy football kicker rankings.

1. David Akers @ Seattle: Akers leads the league in FGs (38) and points (143). The Seahawks have allowed 21 FGs and 28 PATs.
 

2. John Kasay vs. Atlanta: Kasay has 26 FGs and 31 PATs. The Falcons have allowed 21 FGs and 30 PATs.

3. Dan Bailey vs. Philadelphia: Bailey is second in league in FGs (32) and points (132). The Eagles have allowed 15 FGs and 36 PATs.
 

4. Mike Nugent vs. Arizona: Nugent has 27 FGs and 30 PATs. The Cardinals are tied for the lead with 30 FGs allowed, along with 29

Shuffle Up and Run: Shady McCoy grabs the yellow jersey

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

We're in an even-numbered week, so today we wash the running backs. What you'll find below is how I'd attack a fresh draft, rankings from today-forward (the defenses and the kickers tag along; next week we'll go back to the passing game). These are not weekly ranks, they're rest-of-season ranks. Assume a standard scoring format (non-PPR), ignore Week 17 from the conversation, and away we go.

I don't want to turn this week's Shuffle into a never-ending filibuster on the Top 6 running backs. I don't see the utility to that, for one thing, and I also know that fantasy owners tend to be very protective about their best players. You could take the Top 6 names out of a hat in any order and it would make

Shuffle Up and Run: Shady McCoy grabs the yellow jersey

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

We're in an even-numbered week, so today we wash the running backs. What you'll find below is how I'd attack a fresh draft, rankings from today-forward (the defenses and the kickers tag along; next week we'll go back to the passing game). These are not weekly ranks, they're rest-of-season ranks. Assume a standard scoring format (non-PPR), ignore Week 17 from the conversation, and away we go.

I don't want to turn this week's Shuffle into a never-ending filibuster on the Top 6 running backs. I don't see the utility to that, for one thing, and I also know that fantasy owners tend to be very protective about their best players. You could take the Top 6 names out of a hat in any order and it would make

Fantasy Football Rankings: PK - Week 9

Source: KFFL.com NFL

This divisional grudge match should give Shaun Suisham extra work

Shuffle Up and Run: Chris Johnson’s Treehouse of Horror

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

When you're a fantasy scribe by trade, you essentially rank things for a living. Today we meet up with running backs, kickers and defenses.

The listings below are rest-of-season ranks, how I'd attack a fresh draft tonight. It's an even-numbered week, which means we hit the backfield and the two fringe positions. The passing postions (QB, WR, TE) will return to the floor next week. Assume a standard scoring format (no PPR kickback, no return yards).

What's already happened on the field matters as an audition, but this is not intended to be a list of scoring leaders. What we're focused on is value from this point forward. Your intelligent and respectful disagreement is always welcome, but for

Shuffle Up and Run: Chris Johnson’s Treehouse of Horror

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

When you're a fantasy scribe by trade, you essentially rank things for a living. Today we meet up with running backs, kickers and defenses.

The listings below are rest-of-season ranks, how I'd attack a fresh draft tonight. It's an even-numbered week, which means we hit the backfield and the two fringe positions. The passing postions (QB, WR, TE) will return to the floor next week. Assume a standard scoring format (no PPR kickback, no return yards).

What's already happened on the field matters as an audition, but this is not intended to be a list of scoring leaders. What we're focused on is value from this point forward. Your intelligent and respectful disagreement is always welcome, but for

Shuffle Up and Run: Chris Johnson’s Treehouse of Horror

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

When you're a fantasy scribe by trade, you essentially rank things for a living. Today we meet up with running backs, kickers and defenses.

The listings below are rest-of-season ranks, how I'd attack a fresh draft tonight. It's an even-numbered week, which means we hit the backfield and the two fringe positions. The passing postions (QB, WR, TE) will return to the floor next week.

What's already happened on the field matters as an audition, but this is not intended to be a list of scoring leaders. What we're focused on is value from this point forward. Your intelligent and respectful disagreement is always welcome, but for the love of all that is holy, support your position. Give us

Shuffle Up and Run: Chris Johnson’s Treehouse of Horror

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

When you're a fantasy scribe by trade, you essentially rank things for a living. Today we meet up with running backs, kickers and defenses.

The listings below are rest-of-season ranks, how I'd attack a fresh draft tonight. It's an even-numbered week, which means we hit the backfield and the two fringe positions. The passing postions (QB, WR, TE) will return to the floor next week.

What's already happened on the field matters as an audition, but this is not intended to be a list of scoring leaders. What we're focused on is value from this point forward. Your intelligent and respectful disagreement is always welcome, but for the love of all that is holy, support your position. Give us

Shuffle Up and Run: Partnering with the Law Firm

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

Sticking with the new rules of Shuffle Up 2011, we'll tackle the running backs today, along with the kickers and defenses. Next week (and all odd-numbered weeks), we'll do the passing positions (QBs, WRs, TEs). Maybe in Week 17 we'll do the offensive and defensive coordinators (I've already got Juan Castillo slotted at the bottom).

The lists below are how I'd attack a fresh draft if I had one tonight. What's happened to this point is merely an audition; if you want the list of top-scoring players through five weeks, go somewhere else. Use this post for trades, pickups, to scout and gage your team, fresh drafting purposes, that's up to you. Your respectful disagreement is always welcome, but back it up with a

Fantasy Football Rankings: PK - Week 6

Source: KFFL.com NFL

Shaun Suisham is a formidable fantasy play against the Jags

Shuffle Up and Deal: Matthew Stafford makes the leap

Source: Roto Arcade by Scott Pianowski

In my most optimistic and idealistic mind, I look forward to this weekly exercise as a sharing of ideas, a way for us to connect on the NFL and try to figure things out, kindly, respectfully.

It's a nice idea, anyway. I'm going to cling to it for the next five minutes or so, until I hit "send" on this piece and release it to the world. I know what's coming. I've got a flak jacket here if I need it.

Ranking pieces invariably are going to get someone's dander up, because it's only human nature for us to get protective of the players we own and like. When someone questions our guy, we don't stand for it. Well, some of you won't. I know how it goes.

Below are my ranks for the rest of the year, how I'd