Fantasy football grades
With the football season nearly halfway through and the fact that my fantasy football teams are both pretty bad right now, I decided to take a look back at one of my past columns and grade myself on just how smart I was before the season started. My loyal readers will remember that I did a fantasy football preview and gave everyone a player to watch and a player to avoid. So, let’s take a look and see how smart I was.
Quarterback to Watch: Matt Leinert
Quarterback to Avoid: Philip Rivers
Alright, so Leinert was a bad choice. After a few weeks of struggling a bit, he was relieved and used as a platoon quarterback with Kurt Warner. Now, he’s on injured reserve and done for the season. Whoops.
At least I can get some credibility back with Philip Rivers. Most people were big on the Charger signal-caller coming into the season but I was a little wary. He currently ranks No. 20 among quarterbacks according to espn.com. He is even behind people like Brian Griese, Damon Huard and Jon Kitna.
Running Back to Watch: Joseph Addai
Running Back to Avoid: Deuce McAllister
I get to claim success on both counts for running backs. Despite missing a week due to an injury, Addai still ranks eighth among running backs across the land, which is not real surprising for anyone involved with the Colts’ offense. McAllister, on the other hand, is done for the year with an injury after the Saints struggled out of the gate. I win this round.
Wide Receiver to Watch: Brandon Jones
Wide Receiver to Avoid: Terrell Owens
Both of these have turned out poorly, however I still hold out hope that Owens is going to blow up Dallas yet. It just seems like a matter of time and another loss or two. Brandon Jones has been a huge disappointment in Tennessee after many people, including myself, thought he would be a solid target for Vince Young this year.
Tight End to Watch: Heath Miller
Tight End to Avoid: Kellen Winslow
Another split on this category as Miller has played very well for Pittsburgh and ranks sixth among all tight ends. One spot ahead of him is Winslow, but he still scares me because it is impossible to know when he is going to do something stupid again. He is a more reckless version of T.O. and I still just can’t trust him.
Defense to Watch: Baltimore
Defense to Avoid: Minnesota
Well, I definitely underestimated the Vikings defense this season as they currently rank second among defenses this season.
The Ravens aren’t too shabby either, coming in at sixth. I will say I am happy that I am wrong about the Vikes, now if they can just find a quarterback and some receivers things would be much better. But that’s a different column for another day.
On to this issue’s question, which comes from TJ Perry, a junior majoring in public relations and advertising.
In light of NDSU’s recent win over the Minnesota Gophers and their emergence as one of the most dominant teams in the FCS only four years removed from their Division II status, how long will it be before Coach Bohl moves on to “$greener$” pastures? Can his replacement hope to enjoy the same sort of success or will the Bison’s glory days be directly reflected in the length of Bohl’s tenure?
Excellent question TJ, first off, I am not going to venture a guess on how long Bohl will be here, but I think, at maximum, he will be here for five more years and win a national championship or two before taking a big time job, like Jim Tressel who made the leap from Youngstown State to Ohio State. I don’t think he will leave to take over a mid-major program and will wait until the right opportunity comes along, whether that’s this year or five years from now.
As for how his replacement will be, I honestly have no idea. I will trust that Gene Taylor and co. will make the proper move as he has a pretty good track record with his two hires being Bohl, who has worked out well, and Saul Phillips for basketball, who I have heard good things about already. I think NDSU football will be in good shape even after Bohl leaves.
Send your questions to Bradley.Jones@ndsu.edu. Brad will answer one question in every issue.
Brad can also be heard Tuesdays at 4 and Fridays at 3 on 105.9 FM or online at www.kndsradio.com.