Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Fantasy Football Week 3 Rankings: Ranking the Top Defenses

Welcome to the dark-side for those that love defense. In the world of fantasy football, having a solid D can really give you an edge each week.

With that in mind, it's harder to predict a consistent defense in fantasy football than it is one particular offensive player.

Unless you're in a league that uses individual defense, having to rely on an entire unit at once can be rather frustrating at times.

Regardless of the situations, we need them and they need us.

So, here are the top three defenses for Week 3.

3. Baltimore Ravens (at St. Louis Rams)

For both teams this is an interesting matchup, because the Ravens allow 302 pass yards per game, ranking them last in the NFL.

The Rams, on the other hand, still rank No. 14 in pass offense (244.5 per game). Obviously something's got to give.

Unfortunately for St. Louis, Baltimore only allows 70 yards on the ground (ranked No. 4), so they will be forced to become one-dimensional.

Advantage Baltimore, as they then can drop more into coverage and blanket the young and inexperienced Rams' offense.

St. Louis is a team with a lot of potential, but the Ravens' pass D has nowhere else to go but up, and they're simply too talented too not get better.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers (at Indianapolis Colts)

The Colts only managed to score seven points against the Houston Texans and 19 against the Cleveland Browns.

Although both of those defenses have made some improvements, they're still nothing compared to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Even if Peyton Manning was under center it wouldn't matter, as he wouldn't be 100 percent and they would be one-dimensional anyway.

Look for Pittsburgh to attack Indianapolis early on, because for starters, it won't matter who's under center.

Not to mention their pass D has improved quite a bit since last season, so don't be surprised if Blitzburgh forces multiple interceptions and then returns one or two for a TD.

1. San Diego Chargers (vs Kansas City Chiefs)

It's a big divisional game for San Diego even though the Chiefs are without RB Jamaal Charles and safety Eric Berry.

You can't expect K.C. to really do anything on either side of the ball with two of their best players out, and after being picked a part by Tom Brady in Week 2, the Bolts' D is anxious to get back on the field.

San Diego will be blitzing a lot and playing a lot of man coverage, because other than Dwayne Bowe, there aren't any deep receiving threats.

With QB Matt Cassel having thrown just one TD to four picks, it's going to be another long day at the helm.

The Bolts will force turnovers, but with the coverage being locked-in, there will be more hits on Cassel, thus more fumbles to recover/scoop and score.

Altogether these three defenses will dominate; the only question remaining is who actually produces the most?

 

Be sure to check out John on Bleacher Report.

And you can follow him on Twitter @ Sportswriter27.

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/859255-fantasy-football-week-3-rankings-ranking-the-top-defenses

Los Angeles Lakers San Francisco 49ers

Bubba Watson sinks putt on airplane

Oh, that Bubba Watson: what a silly guy. He recently uploaded the above video of him testing out the putt-reading capabilities of a new caddy he’s trying out, Lance, who happens to work for fellow PGAer Matt Kuchar. And in order to properly grade out Lance’s reading the distance of the putt, Bubba attempts to [...]

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/golf/article_external/video_bubba_watson_tests_out_new_caddie_by_putting_on_an_airplane/6871300

Baltimore Ravens Atlanta Falcons

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Why is Kevin Durant Rocking a Bulls Hat?

Does anyone else find this to be more than a little strange? Like our friends over at CBSSports.com’s Eye on Basketball blog mentioned, there’s no need to get into an uproar over Kevin Durant wearing a Chicago Bulls hat. He’s not leaving the Thunder to play for the Bulls because that’s not possible at this [...]

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/nba/article_external/why_is_kevin_durant_rocking_a_bulls_hat/6869722

Charlotte Bobcats Oakland Raiders

Baghdatis, Muller reach 2nd round at Moselle Open

Marcos Baghdatis of Cyprus and Gilles Muller of Luxembourg beat German opponents in straight sets Monday to reach the second round of the Moselle Open.

Baghdatis won seven straight games in a 7-5, 6-2 win over Matthias Bachinger. Muller edged Philipp Petzschner 7-6 (2), 7-6 (5).

Baghdatis, the Australian Open runner-up in 2006, next plays third-seeded Alexandr Dolgopolov of Ukraine. Muller will next face Andrey Golubev of Kazakhstan or Benoit Paire of France.

Baghdatis won the last three games of the first set and jumped ahead 4-0 in the second. He converted three of seven break points. Bachinger failed to convert his only break chance.

Muller had a tougher time, saving five break points in the first set to force a tiebreaker. The left-hander took a 5-0 lead before serving an ace to clinch the set. Petzschner broke for a 4-2 lead in the second set but failed to serve it out at 5-3.

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/baghdatis_muller_reach_2nd_round_at_moselle_open/6880039

Arizona Cardinals Washington Wizards

Monday, September 19, 2011

Kansas City Royals: Predicting their 2012 Opening Day Lineup

With the Kansas City Royals 2011 season about to wrap up, it's time to look forward to the upcoming '12 campaign.

Next year's starting lineup for the Royals should likely consist of many of the same players who will finish with the team this season.

The key to success in 2012 and beyond for the KC offense will be the play of their younger hitters, such as Hosmer, Moustakas, Giavotella and Perez.

Here is my predicted 2012 Opening Day lineup for the Royals.

Begin Slideshow

Source: http://bleacherreport.com/articles/856805-kansas-city-royals-predicting-their-2012-opening-day-lineup

Baltimore Ravens Atlanta Falcons

Top 10 Plays of the 1990 Finals

Check out the best of the best from the 1990 showdown between the Pistons and Blazers in the NBA Finals.
From: NBA
Views: 37234
391 ratings
Time: 03:00 More in Sports

Source: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs_ICwIFPJk&feature=youtube_gdata

Charlotte Bobcats Oakland Raiders

WTA Guangzhou ? Monday Results, Tuesday Schedule

WANLIMA GUANGZHOU INTERNATIONAL WOMEN?S OPEN
Guangzhou, China
September 19-24, 2011
$220,000/International
Hard/Outdoors
Results ? Monday, September 19, 2011
Singles ? First Round
(4) Petra Martic (CRO) d. Chang Kai-Chen (TPE) 64 64
Urszula Radwanska (POL) d. Anastasia Rodionova (AUS) 76(5) 64
Noppawan Lertcheewakarn (THA) d. (WC) Zheng Saisai (CHN) 75 60
Doubles ? First Round
(WC) Liang/Tian (CHN/CHN) d. A.Bondarenko/Koryttseva (UKR/UKR) 46 63 1210 (Match TB)
Singles Qualifying ? Final Round
(WC) Zhao Yi-Jing (CHN) d. (2) Madalina Gojnea (ROU) 62 63
(3) Zarina Diyas (KAZ) d. (9) Nicha Lertpitaksinchai (THA) 75 61
(6) Hsieh Su-Wei (TPE) d. (4) Zhang Ling (HKG) 76(0) 46 61
Xu Yi-Fan (CHN) d. (10) Chan Chin-Wei (TPE) 61 62
Order of Play ? Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Centre Court (From 13.00hrs)
1. Anastasija Sevastova vs. Chanelle Scheepers
2. Han Xinyun vs. Jarmila Gajdosova
3. Maria Kirilenko vs. Alona Bondarenko
4. Alberta Brianti vs. Zheng Jie (...

Source: http://network.yardbarker.com/tennis/article_external/wta_guangzhou_monday_results_tuesday_schedule/6869839

New York Knicks Detroit Pistons