Football
NFL quarterbacks are the talk of the league this year, and there are several hot commodities that have emerged over the last year or two. With names like Favre on their way out and still others like Clausen working their way in, quarterbacks are all the rage going into the 2010-11 regular season. Here are a few quarterbacks around the league who must post solid years to remain starters in the NFL.
Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs.
Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens have been on the rise over the past two seasons and I think they're a good bet to win the North in 2010. Quarterback Joe Flacco is entering his third season in the NFL and has been steadily improving while showing signs of star potential. With wide receiver Anquan Boldin now at his disposal, 2010 could be a breakout season for young signal caller. Boldin gives the Ravens a physical receiver capable of making the kind of after-the-catch plays that have people lining up to get their hands on NFL tickets.
Here are 10 players whose fantasy prospects I love heading into the 2010 season. (Note: This article was written on Aug. 17.)
Maurice Jones-Drew, Running Back, Jacksonville Jaguars: OK, I understand that I'm not exactly going out on a limb here, but I believe that Mojo is actually the most reliable fantasy running back in the game right now. Think about it: Chris Johnson is coming off a season (albeit a fantastic one) in which he received a huge workload. He's never touched the ball anywhere close to that many times before and he's not the biggest of guys.
Indianapolis Colts: The Colts are annually the favorite in this division, and 2010 is no different. Fresh off a Super Bowl appearance, expect the Colts to again approach 12 or 13 wins on their way to a first-round bye. At this point, the Colts' season doesn't truly start until the playoffs, but don't tell Peyton Manning that. Manning is good for his usual 4,000 yards and 30 or so touchdowns this year thanks to endless hours in the film room. With an emerging group of receivers surrounding Reggie Wayne and Dallas Clark, Manning could have more options than ever in 2010.
San Diego Chargers: The Chargers are again the favorite to win the West, but they shouldn't run away with it like we usually expect. The Bolts have some major question marks surrounding this team, namely the holdouts of left tackle Marcus McNeill and wideout Vincent Jackson. Both of these players play major roles for this team and would leave big shoes to fill if they were to stand firm concerning their contract status.
The Chargers will need receivers like Malcolm Floyd, Josh Reed and Legedu Naanee to step up in Jackson's absence, and a lot of passes are sure to go Antonio Gates' way.
Minnesota Vikings: Obviously a lot hinges on whether or not Brett Favre returns to action this season. With Favre under center, the Vikings are a team that every football fan wants to get NFL tickets to see; without him, they're a borderline playoff team. Favre had a magnificent season in 2010 and led the Vikings to within an overtime of the Super Bowl. If he returns, the Vikings are again a contender for the Vince Lombardi Trophy. However, if Favre retires for good this time, the team's offensive identity changes dramatically.
New Orleans Saints: The Saints are coming off their best season in franchise history, shocking the world and making a run all the way to the Super Bowl, and winning. New Orleans boasts one of the more potent offenses in the National Football League, something that carried the team in 2009. Quarterback Drew Brees runs one of the best passing attacks in the league, one that spreads the ball around and keeps defenses on their toes.
However, the team is hoping to have a more consistent ground assault in 2010.
For the last two seasons, the Detroit Lions have been in a rebuilding state, and they have been able to secure some of the top young names in the league. During the 2010 NFL Draft, they used their first round pick (second overall) on defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh. Suh made headlines during the offseason because of how long it took to negotiate his contract, but his holdout was worth the wait. Suh and the Lions agreed to a five-year deal worth more than $60 million, with $40 million guaranteed.
Just one game into the preseason, the New England Patriots are already dealing with a few serious injuries that have required the Pats to court replacements. One of the reasons that the Patriots are considered one of the perennial powerhouses of the league, though, is their depth, so if any team could survive a series of big injuries, it is the Patriots.
First, the defense took a hit when defensive end Ty Warren decided to get surgery to correct a hip injury, which placed him on injured reserve.
The preseason records of each team mean very little. In fact, when the Detroit Lions set a record for having the first 0-16 season in NFL history in 2008, they had a record of 4-0 in the preseason. Because of this, it is worth analyzing more than just the final score of each team's preseason matchup. The Houston Texans kicked off their preseason on Saturday, Aug. 14 with an away game against the Arizona Cardinals and lost 19-16. Despite the loss, the outing proved promising for the rest of the season. Houston Texans tickets are the best way to be a part of this season's action.
