Some Bad Signs Are Easy to See

Not everyone can win a fantasy sports championship. Somebody has to end up on the bottom. And it's not always that person who abandons the team after two or three bad weeks. Sometimes, it's someone who failed to see the warning signs.
For example, it's a bad sign if your starting quarterback is the subject of a billboard campaign to be replaced by this guy.
It's also a bad sign if your starting receiver has to deal with Darrelle Revis after the receiver's injured teammate called him overhyped. All-Pro defensive backs tend to take their anger out on whichever receiver is handy.
It's certainly not a good sign if you mistakenly based your drafting strategy on Grantland.com's Bad Quarterback League draft. ("Hmm, Simmons says he's worth a first-round pick. I'm glad I...what? Their scoring is based on what?!?)
On a related note, it's not the best of signs if your starting quarterback just inspired Bill Simmons to coin a new term to describe a truly awful play.
Of course, the bad signs aren't limited to fantasy football. They can also pop up in fantasy NASCAR.
For instance, one bad sign would be if your driver's sponsor were planning to pull out of the sport, and most fans responded with a collective shrug.
Another bad sign would be if one of your starting drivers were accused of spinning out on purpose to help your teammate win a race.
It's also a terrible sign if your star driver got suspended for testing positive for marijuana, and your driver reacted by saying it was medical marijuana. (Right, and that stuff in Michael Waltrip's engine was food coloring, too.)
Avoid signs like these, and maybe you can add a trophy like this to your mantle this fall.
In the meantime, help us get our own glory by voting in the lineup polls on your right. The fantasy NASCAR polls will close tonight. The fantasy football polls will close Saturday night.
We'll be back with the racing results.

A People's League Halftime Report

While the National Football League waits to see a puff of white smoke from Minnesota, this is as good a time as ever to look at what has happened in the People's League so far this season.

(Yes, I realize this isn't quite the halfway point for the fantasy season. Work with me here.)

Most valuable fantasy players: Right now, only one player in this league is averaging over 20 points per game: Peyton Manning of the People's Pigskin (20.2). Excuse us while we congratulate ourselves. If you want to go by total points, Aaron Rodgers of Feely Her Up ... is leading the way with 129.

Surprise of the year: Here's what ESPN predicted for Arian Foster in its season preview: 456 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns. So far he has 6 touchdowns and leads all running backs by averaging 19.3 fantasy points a game. The nuckin' futs must be proud.

Disappointing player, non-injury category: The futs probably also thought Larry Fitzgerald was a steal in the third round, even with Kurt Warner working on his foxtrot. So far he's found the end zone twice and is averaging 7.2 fantasy points a game, ranking him 40th among wide receivers.

Disappointing player, injury category: Plenty of potential picks here, but this has to go to Ryan Grant, whom the Hudson Valley Hawks picked in the second round (right before the futs picked Foster) and lost to injury in the very first game, after he scored 4 points.

Best late round pick: Yes, the futs are getting this award, too. They got Kyle Orton in the 14th round, after 6 kickers came off the board. So far, Orton has scored 11 touchdowns and is averaging 17.6 fantasy points a game, good enough for 3rd place among quarterbacks.

Most curious stat: Home must be paradise for the Fighting Amish. They're 5-0 so far in "home" games and 0-2 in "away" games.

Quick reminders -- The People's Pigskin needs a lineup for its matchup against the aforementioned nuckin' futs. We've already picked up Jason Hanson to be this week's kicker. The rest of the starters will be determined by the polls, which will close Sunday morning.

Also, the People's Pitstop needs to pick drivers for Sunday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Talladega Superspeedway. Those polls will close tonight. Please vote now.

We'll be back with the NASCAR poll results.

Week 3 notes

Here are some random thoughts about the dress rehearsal weekend that is week 3 of the NFL preseason.

At this point, no one expects Bill Belichick & Co. to reveal anything more about his plans and players than the National Football League forces them, but at some point don't you have to play the BS card on this stuff? The "football decision" regarding Tom Brady was "making sure New England's Meal Ticket isn't flattened like a flapjack in a meaningless game by Albert Haynesworth." Frankly, I'm surprised New England admitted that the Tom Brady part that was sore was his shoulder.

(What does this have to do with where and whether to draft Brady? Umm, I'll get back to you.)

I was driving friends home from the airport Sunday evening, so I did not see Kyle Orton's injury. But after what happened with Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall this season, would anyone blame the Broncos for saying, "Um, we're cancelling the rest of our preseason. The reason? Ummm...snow! That's it!"

I'm not concerned at all about the fact that LaDainian Tomlinson, Terrell Owens, Willie Parker and Carson Palmer have been taking time off this preseason. If those folks don't know how to play with their teammates by now, it's time for them to just hang em up, already. Michael Crabtree? That's another story. He's running the very real risk of becoming irrelevant to fantasy players this season. Clearly, his agent is not a fantasy player.

Speaking of fantasy, by the time many of you read this, The People's Pigskin will have drafted its team. Expect a new poll shortly.

(One more thing: We got an award. You like me! You really, really like me! Check it out on the right.)

Preseason Week 3 preview

This week is often called "dress rehearsal" week, because this is when the starters will get their longest looks of the preseason. It's also when fantasy players either have a team drafted or are putting the finishing touches on their drafting plans.

Whatever the case may be, this will be a week of games worth watching. Here's a few of the things that should hold the attention of fantasy players for the next several days.

Microscope time. (Jacksonville @ Philadelphia, Thursday, Aug. 27, 7 p.m. EDT) Yeah, yeah, that Michael something-or-other will be getting a look, but my eyes will be on Donovan McNabb. After all, he is the starter -- at least, officially -- and I wouldn't waste a fantasy draft choice on a backup quarterback who may miss the first third of the regular season. Still, despite the positive words coming out of Donovan's mouth, there's got to be pressure on the dude to perform well right out of the gate.

Anybody want this job? (Miami @ Tampa Bay, Thursday, Aug. 27, 8 p.m. EDT, Fox) What do Josh Freeman, Josh Johnson, Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown have in common? They're all quarterbacks, and they're all on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster. Can Leftwich cement a spot in the starting lineup with a strong performance?

Hit me with your best shot. (New England @ Washington, Friday, Aug. 28, 8 p.m. EDT, CBS) Yes, Tom Brady took a good shot last week against Cincinnati, and yes, he will be taking hits as long as his career continues. But there's no getting around this: Everyone, especially fantasy players, will be studying how many hits Tom takes, and how well he shakes them off, physically and mentally, pretty much from now through January.

Maybe it was a fluke. (New York Giants vs. New York Jets, Saturday, Aug. 29, 8 p.m.) OK, Mark Sanchez did not set the world on fire Monday against the Baltimore Ravens. So how did the Jets brass respond? Naming him the opening day starter, of course. And how will he celebrate this early career achievement? By facing the one defense that might make people hesitate before spending that fourth-round pick on the Steelers. Good luck, kid.

You again? (Chicago @ Denver, Sunday, Aug. 30, 8 p.m. EDT, NBC) Here's hoping Kyle Orton resists the urge to throw any left-handed passes. And here's hoping Jay Cutler proves to be worth all those fifth- and sixth-round picks people are going to spend on him in the fantasy world. And speaking of quarterbacks with something to prove...

Uh, oh. (Minnesota @ Houston, Monday, Aug. 31, 8 p.m. EDT, ESPN) Now, no one is going to argue that the Vikings should have stood pat at QB. I wouldn't want to face a season of Tarvaris-or-Sage questions, either. But this Brett Favre experiment has the potential of exploding like the Hindenburg. At least, if the reports of a locker room "schism" are anywhere close to accurate. Of course, wins have a way of healing these wounds. And Brett needs to win quickly, for both his teammates and anyone who drafts him.