Joe’s Fantasy Football Bible

So what’s it gunna be then, eh? If you’ve ever seen or read A Clockwork Orange, you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. In fantasy football, it’s question you ask yourself over and over as the clock is winding down and you need to pick. You’ve read every ESPN, Yahoo!, and Rotoworld article imaginable, scoured through every cheatsheet, and have even made your own rankings. No matter how prepared you are (or think you are), be prepared for chaos. You may think you know what you’re going to do until you’re on the clock. I’ve done it. I remember blurting out “Torry Holt!” as time expired one year. This of course was when he signed with Jacksonville, clearly was on the decline, and in that stupid moment of word vomit, I ruined my chance at back to back championships.

Don’t be that guy. If I’ve learned anything from playing fantasy football the past decade, it’s hold back the word vomit. Fantasy football isn’t a time to let chaos ensue. Your guy gets taken? So what, there’s a hundred other guys that can make up your team. Be angry, upset, afraid, whatever, for a few seconds, then take a deep breath, and get back to the board. Be cold and calculated, not reactive and emotional. These, along with the rest of this piece, will be tips to help you not only survive, but dominate your draft.

The Old Timers Offense: Offensive Line

By: Joe Siniscalchi (@Joe_Siniscalchi)

Yesterday, I wrote a piece on some of the best players over 30 that would make up a great offense. In this part, I’ll go over the best offensive lineman over 30.

The Old Timers Offense

By: Joe Siniscalchi (@Joe_Siniscalchi)

There’s a common saying in football that the NFL stands for “not for long”. In fact, the average NFL playing career lasts about three seasons. Sticking around beyond that, let alone maintaining a high level of play is nothing short of impressive. Over the last few seasons, we have seen an influx of young superstars who are shaping the game and will look to do so for the next decade.

But what about those who have been doing it already? More importantly, those who are not only old, but are still valuable contributors. Most people consider old vets simply as mentors, but there are many that still hold a valuable place on the field.

I decided to make a list of players in their 30s who aren’t letting up anytime soon, or are still playing at a high level. Today, however, I’m focusing just on offense.

Superstars or Superheroes?

By: Joe Siniscalchi (@Joe_Siniscalchi)

Ever wonder if your favorite athletes were superheroes what their persona would be? While Clinton Portis may have been the only player in the NFL who actually dressed up, I like to think there were other superheroes who played football. I fantasize about things like Calvin Johnson pulling a Mr. Fantastic to catch a ball, or Vince Wilfork absorbing lineman and ball carriers like The Blob quite often. I figured I’d share some of them with you all.

#TheList: 5 NFL Teams Who Can Flop

By: Joe Siniscalchi (@Joe_Siniscalchi)

A few days ago, I recently highlighted five teams that I think can turn heads this season. I mentioned I’d be going over five teams that I think can disappoint given expectations. I’m not saying these teams will go 0-16, but I think there is a good chance they underperform.

#RememberWhen

By: Joe Siniscalchi (@Joe_Siniscalchi)

Remember when Johnnie Morton did the worm?

They just don’t celebrate touchdowns like they used to in the NFL.

 

#TheList: 5 NFL Teams Who Can Make Some Noise

By: Joe Siniscalchi (@Joe_Siniscalchi)

The NFL season is still four long months away, but as far as I’m concerned, everyday is a good day to discuss football. With the majority of the offseason over with, OTA’s and training camps are the only activities left. As rosters are beginning to shape into place, I’ve thought about which teams can surprise, and which teams can disappoint.

Look at the past few seasons. The 2007 Browns, the 2012 Colts and Redskins, the 2008 Dolphins, and the 2010 Seahawks all emerged as teams that came out of nowhere to make waves. On the flip side of that, we’ve seen teams completely fail such as the 2011 Cowboys and Colts, the 2012 Eagles, and the 2010 Chargers.

A Changing of the Tide

By: Joe Siniscalchi (@Joe_Siniscalchi)

Change. We all have to deal with change sooner or later in our lives. Some of us manage to get by with change, some thrive from it, and some of us can’t deal with it at all.

The Greatest Quarterback Nobody Talks About

By: Joe Siniscalchi

The NFL is going through changes. The days of the workhorse running back are over. Conventional wisdom to championships; running the ball, and defense, is being thrown out the window. Today, the NFL is dominated by pinball offenses that have quarterbacks posting video game type numbers. Whether it’s a game that features 1,000 yards of passing, or has a quarterback put up numbers in the air and on the ground, quarterbacks clearly make the NFL go round.

But something is lost in all of this. We praise guys like Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Drew Brees, and even Matt Ryan for their ability to drive the passing game down the field. Go ahead and list the 10 best passers in the NFL. Those guys can all be somewhere on that list. List the 10 best quarterbacks you’d want on your team. I’m sure you’ll add revolutionary phenoms RG3 and Cam Newton to that list as well. I’m going to tell you about the guy I’d take above almost any quarterback in the NFL besides a healthy RG3, Tom Brady, and Peyton Manning.

#RememberWhen

By: Joe Siniscalchi

Here at Going The Distance, we like to sprinkle in some randomness into your daily lives. A new theme, called #RememberWhen, allows us to refresh your memory by posting some of the most random events in sports. Whether it is an amazing stat line, an odd story, or just a funny moment, #RememberWhen will make you go “Oh Yea!”. With that, here’s our very first post. Remember when Kelley Washington scored a touchdown and did “the squirrel”?