Top 5 Fantasy Must Starts Going Forward (By Position)

These are players who either were are your bench going into the start of the season or players added via free agency or waiver wire. These are players that only under extreme circumstances should be sat.

Quarterback

Cam Newton

Matthew Stafford

Eli Manning

Matt Schaub

Runningback

Ryan Matthews

Demarco Murray

Darren Sproles

Chris Johnson

Wide Receiver

Steve Smith

Jeremy Maclin

A.J Green

Julio Jones

Marques Colston

Carson Palmer Trade Steal For Bengals?

In a blog post by ESPN author, Jameson Hensley, the clear consensus is that the trade that sent Carson Palmer to the Oakland Raiders from the Cincinnati Bengals for a 1st round pick in 2012 and a conditional 2nd round pick in 2013 was a steal. Of course, when fist hearing of the trade, I too agreed with Hensley.

Carson Palmer had retired as a result of demanding a trade from the Bengals this past offseason and not receiving his wish. He served no purpose to the Bengals, who have found their potential quarterback of the future in Andy Dalton in the 2nd round in this past year's draft. So when Mike Brown, the stubborn owner of the Bengals, finally heard an offer he couldn't refuse he had to pull the trigger.

What sports analysts are missing is the "what if?". What if Carson Palmer returns to the elite form he had from 2003-2006? The fact of the matter is a teams in the NFL are all mediocre until they emerge as favorites. The Bengals franchise is arguably the worst franchise in the NFL. Palmer made that team relavent for a couple of years, what if when Palmer goes to a team with an above average offensive line such as the Raiders? What if Palmer goes to a team with an elite running back such as Darren Mcfadden of the Raiders? What if Palmer goes to a team with an above average defense? What if he reunites with his former coach Hugh Jackson? What if he had receivers with elite speed? But most of all, what if he rekindled his passion for the game, with a franchise that looks hopeful to become a playoff team from years to come?

All of these 'what if' questions will be answered this season. If these questions are answered positively, then the Raiders made a good trade. Elite quarterbacks are hard to find, just ask the Bengals, who drafted Akili Smith 3rd overall once upon a time. If you can get an elite quarterback that can win you playoff games, then it is never a bad acquisition, period.

Sure, the Raiders again notoriously gave up more than any other team would have for a player like Palmer, but you have to hand it to them that they won't roll over and let the season die starting Kyle Boller after Jason Cambell's season ending injury.

The article, which concentrates on all the logical points, that Palmer hasn't been above average since 2008, the Bengals received two first round picks for a player that who will never again wear a Bengals uniform, the Raiders got a player in Palmer that is past his prime at 32.

But my comment on the blog post was simple:
"If the Raiders win a playoff game this year, and if Carson Palmer quarterbacks a playoff Raider team for the next couple years; and if the Bengals don't make the playoffs in those years, the Raiders won the trade."

Week 10: Live Blog Post: Douglas Bulldogs @ Pueblo Warriors 10/14

I was recently hired as a sports stringer for the Arizona Daily Star. My first assignment was to cover the high school football game between the Pueblo Warriors and the Douglas Bulldogs at Pueblo High School. When being assigned to complete a live blog for the Journalism 186, Writing for the Web, class I could think of no other event than the game I covered, Friday, October 14th. The game itself was a very exciting one, the final being 25-13 Bulldogs.

Douglas Bulldogs

Pueblo Warriors

6:58 p.m. Game Starts.

The game starts and both the Bulldogs and Warriors look very pumped up for this game. The Bulldogs are considered the favorite as they're record is 5-1. The Warriors, who are very good at home, are 2-5 and are looking to bounce back after a shaky start of the season as tonight's game is their homecoming.

7:06 p.m. The Bulldogs score a touchdown 6-0 Bulldogs lead.

Sam Watkins (#8) throws a beautiful 38 yard pass to Samuel Bello (#7). The Extra point is no good.
The Bulldogs looked sharp in its first drive, as the Warriors looked on its heels in the passing game.

7:15 p.m. Richard Gastelo (#3) of the Warriors throws an interception to Samuel Bello (#7).
The Bulldogs capitalize with an interception from a poor pass from Gastelo, Samuel Bello looks sharp as he is the playmaker of the game thus far with a touchdown catch and an interception early in the game.


7:21 p.m. The Warriors score a touchdown to lead 7-6.

 Richard Gastelo (#3) throws a touchdown pass to #21, Noel Federico. Federico looks sharp as the Warriors are moving the ball on the ground very well.


7:30 p.m. The Bulldogs score a touchdown, but miss the extra point and lead 12-7

Grant Watkins (#8) continues his aerial attack with a touchdown pass to Jason Sanez (#20).
The Bulldogs look like the emerging favorite as the Warriors have no way of slowing the passing game of the Bulldogs.


7:33 p.m End of 1st Quarter Bulldogs 12, Warriors 7

8:02 p.m. End of 2nd Quarter Bulldogs 12, Warriors7

8:32 p.m The Bulldogs score a touchdown, but go for a 2point conversion and fail, Bulldogs lead 18-7

The Bulldogs score another touchdown through the air as Grant Watkins (#8) throws his third touchdown and his second to Samuel Bello (#7).

8:47 p.m. The Bulldogs score another passing touchdown and lead 25-7

The game appears to be getting away from the Warriors as time dwindles in the 3rd quarter being down by three touchdowns. Sam Watkins (#8) doesn't look to be holding back as he completes his second touchdown to Jason Sanez (#20).


8:51 End of 3rd Quarter Bulldogs 25, Warriors 7

8:55 p.m. The Warriors score a touchdown cutting the deficit to 25-13

An early 4th quarter touchdown from the Warriors is exactly what they needed, as Gastelo (#3) throws his second touchdown, this time to Andes Vallez Mezquita (#29).


9:11 p.m. Pass from Gastelo (#3) is intercepted in the endzone by Samuel Bello (#7)


As the last efforts for the Warriors fail, the Bulldogs seal the victory with Bello's second interception of the day, ending his day with 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions.


9:25 p.m. End of 4th quarter FINAL Bulldogs 25, Warriors 13

The game ends with The Douglas Bulldogs spoiling the Pueblo Warriors homecoming with a 25-13 victory. The player of the game is Samuel Bello (#7) as he played both wide receiver, 2 touchdowns, and cornerback, 2 interceptions, beautifully.

5 Must Start Wide Receivers Going Forward

So we're five games into the season, and either you're the minority of the 'sitting pretty' or the majority of the frantically checking the waiver wire. Most of us couldn't have predicted Cam Newton and Steve Smith's fantasy dominance nor the sophomore slumps of Sam Bradford and Mike Williams. But starting the right players is always puts you in the right position to win week by week. So let go of starting Reggie Wayne and Percy Harvin every week and play matchups and previous success, especially in the wide receiver position. Here are 5 must start WR's that most likely have been riding your bench or the waiver wire this season.

A.J Green Cincinnati Bengals Started in 57%
So much for the rookie wide receiver class notoriously struggling again this wear right? A.J was doomed with rookie quarterback Andy Dalton and arguably the worst franchise in sports, the Bengals. But if you took a shot on Green, the number one receiver in this year's draft, you're "sitting pretty". The question is why haven't you started him? Yeah Yeah i get it, its the BENGALS. But A.J is averaging 12 points a game, and is in the top 15 in targets. Start him. Period.

Julio Jones Atlanta Falcons: Started in 43%
Jones' situation was also precarious in season's beginning. Matt Ryan never throws the ball more than 25 yards, and the Falcons already had a number one wide reviver in Roddy White. But again, the rookie receivers prevail. Jones as a number two is still over 40 targets (top 15) and has four TDs. If you have a better option, then I praise your draft, but you probably don't unless you picked a receiver in the first four rounds.

Jeremy Maclin Philadelphia Eagles Started in 86%
Maclin is another number two WR thats bringing in targets and catches of a number one. He is 8th in targets in the entire league, and more importantly has more than Desean Jackson. With the Eagles sputtering and the talent the team possesses, they have nowhere to go but up, and Maclin will be a big part of it.




Santana Moss Washington Redskins Started in 15% (bye)
San-tana. Ike!  He's averaging 12 targets a game with Rex Grossman as his QB. He also has big play ability something that is always appealing to fantasy owners.

Victor Cruz New York Giants Started in 18%
It wasn't until his spectacular catches this past week in Seattle that he earned a spot on this list. As Eli Manning continues to build confidence in Cruz, his targets will as well. If no other options are available, start him.

Honorable, but not yet startable...

Darrius Heyward-Bey
He's getting targets, and actually catching the ball, watchout.
Pierre Garçon
The only player on the Colts worth keeping on your bench, start him if you have no other options.
Antonio Brown
Brown's getting a suprising amount of targets, and he's a deep threat.
Early Doucet
Has an eye popping 38 targets, he's clearly getting enough attention for a deep bench spot.
Nate Washington
Nate is the number one option, despite his lackluster numbers since Kenny Britt's injury.

The Day I Trailed A Pararazzo

The story is centralized around a day in the life of Wagner, a paparazzo, who travels to different celebrities houses to take pictures of them. The central conflict of the story was a bit confusing to me but if i had to describe it Wagner tries to get photos of Michael Douglas and Sarah Jessica Parker, and then the Kardashians. My opinion of the story is twofold, I think that the character, Wagner, could be interesting but the story doesn't concentrate on his origin nor focus on his profession from a wider scope. I would suggest readers only click on the article based on their interest of paparazzi. The larger human themes in the story is the attempt to humanize the paparazzi, and the questions that arrise from my perspective are: Why should I care about Wagner? And why is the author interested in Wagner?

Week 7: How to Make Money Blogging

Blogs somehow make money, but how it is done? by popular belief most people think that blogging is solely made by advertising, but the process a bit more complicated than that. An article from Microsoft explains that blogs make money in five ways. 

1. Sell advertising

2. Help sell others' products

3. Solicit contributions

4. Market your services in your blog

5. Use a blog to deepen your existing customer relations

Because many on this list are self explanator, I’d like to concentrate on some points that seemed very intriguing to me as a new blogger. “Market your services in your blog” is the most applicable to those writing a blog with a theme or premise or particular stance. My blog, for example, is a football analysis, fantasy football analysis, etc. If I make my blog professionally, excluding rants and bias, and post frequently enough to attain a fan base for my blog, interest will grow for “fantasy advice sites” to advertise on my blog. 

Overall the article is an essential read for those wanting to make money by blogging, and I highly recommend it. 

Week 6: Top 5 Blog Sites

1. The Huffington Post
The Huffington Post is an aggregating blog created by Arianna Huffington in 2005. The site covers all that a traditional newspaper has to offer, but is more current due to the immediacy of the web. Overall the site is very polished in my opinion, but the stories are very liberal biased, something that makes me hesitant to consistantly read the site as a news source.

Arianna Huffington

2. Mashable!
Mashable is a blog founded by Pete Cashmore. The site's focus is on social media news, but also covers a wide range of information. The site was founded in 2005. I personally like the idea of this site and have been following Cashmore (mashable) on twitter for quite some time. The success of the site is encouraging people to use social media for practical uses which incidentally what Mashable uses to succeed.

3. Think Progress
Think Progress is a site created by Faiz Shakir that was launched in 2004. It is a politcal blog that concentrates on major news and political opinions of all political orientations. I like the site, because it it is news driven and doesn't seem like political orientation of the authors get in the way of what the stories are trying to portray.

4. The Daily Beast
The Daily Beast is a blog created by Tina Brown, former editor and chief of Vanity Fair and The New Yorker. The site was launched in 2008. The Daily Beast severs as an aggregate with the idea that all readers need is one site to get all of their news.

5. Gizmodo
Gizmodo is a site launched in 2002 that concentrates on consumer electronics. I have been following Gizmodo for some time, and the site provides in depth reviews, previews and videos of all hot electronics to give consumers all the information they need before deciding to buy a product.