September 1, 2012

Greg's Top Ten Current Players I Will NOT Be Drafting this Weekend:

1. Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles, QB: Drank this juice last year and there's no way in hell I'm going to drink it again after the indigestion it caused me. Every single time Vick took the field, when he took the field, I feared for
his safety. It's almost like there's a cult of dogs somewhere poking needles into a Michael Vick voodoo doll. When you scramble out of the pocket and use your legs to gain yards, learn how to slide, Michael.

2. Reggie Bush, Miami Dolphins, RB: It's not that I don't like Reggie Bush, it's more about the team he plays for that bothers me. If there was ever a team in line for the Matt Barkley sweepstakes, it's the Miami Dolphins. I can't imagine Reggie Bush will emerge as a powerhouse rusher with so little talent surrounding him.

3. Randy Moss, San Francisco 49ers, WR: I'm just not buying it. In fact, I'm a bit surprised he didn't get cut this past week considering how little he did during the preseason. Of course, I'm sure coach Jim Harbaugh doesn't want to tip his hand in the preseason, but I still wouldn't draft him when I consider his quarterback is a far cry from Tom Brady, Randall Cunningham or Daunte Culpepper in his prime.

4. Any Oakland Raiders Offensive Player: I'm not hating. Not in the least. In fact, I almost always find myself rooting for the Raiders when they're on television - which is almost never since selling out Raider games is about as common as Kim Kardashian displaying humility. Ok, now I'm hating. Seriously, there is nobody on the Raiders I can imagine myself drafting. Their wide receivers are inconsistent, Carson Palmer is the posterboy for mediocrity, they forgot how to use the TE position and don't even get me started on Darren McInjured.

5. Austin Collie, Indianapolis Colts, WR: Collie probably ranks as one of my favorite Colts of all-time. He's guts personified. Unfortunately, he's also concussions personified. Collie has suffered four serious concussions over the past 21 months which is a serious headache for fantasy owners. Chances are, he won't even get drafted in any of the fantasy leagues I'm in due to the perception that the Colts offense will struggle with a rookie quarterback. Still, I'd take my chances elsewhere.

6. Fred Jackson, Buffalo Bills, RB: Quick. Guess how old Fred Jackson is? Would you have guessed 32 years old this Feburary? In running back years that's freaking ancient. In fact, most rushers get put down before their 30th birthday. The argument for Jackson is that "he doesn't have a lot of miles" on his legs since he's only been playing in the NFL since 2006. Well, that may be true, but he was playing professional football for three years before taking snaps with Buffalo. The way I look at it, 32 year-old legs are still old and I'm not taking my chances on a guy who has far less football ahead of him than behind him.

7. Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers, RB: His third year in the NFL and he still hasn't been able to shake the injury bug. In fact, one carry into his 2012 preseason he busted his collarbone. Fragile much? Considering the guy is still being drafted somewhere in the first three rounds of most drafts, there's no way in hell I'm taking an injury prone rusher who has never once had an elite season as early as he's been going.

8. Rashad Jennings or Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars, RB: Holdouts rarely end well for fantasy running backs. Remember last season when Chris Johnson held out up until the very start of the 2011 season? That's usually how holdouts work for rushers. You hold out, miss valuable time in camp, get a bit lethargic and fail to get into a rhythm. While Rashad Jennings might be starting now, he won't be once MJD comes back and he WILL come back at some point. When he does, Jennings will be rendered useless. I'll let some other fantasy owner deal with that headache.

9. DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles, WR: Another Eagle makes the list and again it's one that I used to own and got burned by in 2011. In a contract year figured Jackson would light the sky with touchdowns in 2011. To say he failed to meet expectations would be an understatement. Jackson finished the year with 961 receiving yards and a measly four touchdowns. Thanks for nothing. Jackson is like a poor man's version of Michael Irvin. Flashy and at times very dynamic but a far cry from a superstar like Irvin.

10. Matt Forte, Chicago Bears, RB: Two words...Michael Bush.