Well NFL fans, were in week 6 of the NFL season and teams are starting to show their true colors. Over the first 5 weeks of the season I have went 57-20 in correctly picking winners. Also I am 5-0 in picking my “Under Dog Pick of the Week”. Pretty solid if I do say so myself. On to the week 6 games.Last weeks record 10-3.

Favorite…………Underdog

@Atlanta vs Carolina – Atlanta is my pic. They will rebound and remember to hand the ball to Michael Turner.Because Carolina is struggling stopping the run.

@Cincinnati vs Indianapolis – Cincinnati is the pick. Andy Dalton has being playing well, and fellow rookie WR AJ Green has been outstanding. Don’t forget that Cincinnati is currently the #1 defense in the NFL.

@Detroit vs San Francisco - San Francisco is the pick. San Francisco will be able to run the ball consistently as Detroit struggles to stop the run. This will be a great game though.

@Green Bay vs St. Louis - Green Bay is the pick. Really if this game is even close it will be more of a testament of GB overlooking the Rams than anything else.

@New York (NYG) vs Buffalo – Buffalo is the pick. Buffalo is a very aggressive and opportunistic defense. Eli and the Giants have struggled with turnovers. I see this being the difference in the game.High scoring where every possession counts.

@Pittsburgh vs Jacksonville – Pittsburgh is the pick. No offense to Jacksonville fans, but the Jags might just be the least talented team in the league.

Philadelphia vs @Washington – Washington is the pick. After an embarrassing loss last season at the hands of Vick and the Eagles. The Redskins have had a extra week to prepare for this game. Bottom line I just don’t trust the Eagles defense in key situations. Or the Eagles Offense to not turn the ball over.

@Oakland vs Cleveland - Oakland is the pick. Even though the Browns are coming off a bye week. The Raiders are simple the better team. Browns struggle to stop the run which could be a major issue against Oakland and Darren McFadden.

@Baltimore vs Houston – Baltimore is the pick. I like Houston this year,but the loss of both Andre Johnson and Mario Williams is huge in this game. Your big time playmakers need to make plays when it matters most, and I don’t know how Houston responds without Mario and Andre. Baltimore is physical, and well rested off their bye.

@New England vs Dallas – Dallas is my “Under Dog Lock of the Week” After a disappointing second half agianst the Lions two weeks ago, Romo has been eager to erase them memory. Dallas is strating to get healthy with Miles Austin back and Felix Jones at full strength. Bottom line Rob Ryan’s D will slow down the Patriots more than the New England D will slow down the Boys offense.

New Orleans vs @Tampa Bay – New Orleans is the pick. Tampa is a mess right now. After getting blown out by the 49ers last week. They now face a better offense without star running back Legarrette Blount. Freeman seems to have regressed some this year which will be a problem agianst the high octane Saints.

@Chicago vs Minnesota – Chicago is the pick. Chicago has the home field advantage which should be enough to hold off the rushing on slot of Adrian Peterson. Field Position could play a big role in this match up. Hester could be a game changer here.

@New York (NYJ) vs Miami – New York Jets are the pick. The Jets have struggled this year to find their identity. A team that prides it’s self on stopping the run and being able to run the ball. They have failed to do either very well so far this year. On Monday night though I think we see a more confident Jets team that looks more like the 201o version.Besides Miami is pitiful and maybe exactly what the Jets need to get going again.

Today in preparation for the week 6 marque match up, of San Francisco (4-1) @ Detroit (5-0) we have Ashlee Palmer stopping by. At the beginning of the season not many people would have predicted that these two teams would be where there are right now through 5 weeks of play. Combined they are 9-1, a very different start to the season than last year when at this time these two teams were a combined 1-9. Ashlee will be joining our hosts to talk about this pivotal match up this week, and what’s going on in Detroit. Show starts today at 3:30pm pacific time // 6:30pm eastern time. Here is a link to listen to the show enjoy!!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/sportcitychefs/2011/10/14/the-round-table

Welcome NFL sports fans, and gamblers alike. Week four of the NFL season is here, and if you haven’t been paying attention, this years NFL action has been anything but predictable. We have seen the Buffalo Bills beat the New England Patriots, the Tennessee Titans beat the Baltimore Ravens, and two teams in the Bills and Lions who are undefeated, after three weeks for the first time in a decade. The NFL is changing, it’s a pass first league. A league predicated on stars, and big plays, in big moments.I have followed these trends carefully for the last 7 years or so and feel confident in my ability to pick winners each week. My pick success is well documented this year. I am currently 38-10 through the first 3 weeks of play.To put that in perspective. Of the “big network names” Mike Golic currently enjoys the best record through three weeks at 35-13. I guess they should give me a call for some advice on picking winners.. but on to the games! I have formatted these games so that the first team you see is the favorite, and the second team is the underdog. Regardless of which team has the home team advantage. The @ symbol represents the home teams. Lets now take a look at our week 4 match ups.

Week 4 schedule

Favorite……..Underdog

@Chicago….. vs….. Carolina – The line has Chicago favored by 6.5 points. Chicago is coming off a tough loss to their division rival, the Green Bay Packers. Chicago has also struggled along the offensive line this year allowing 14 sacks through 3 weeks, which ties them for the league high. Running back Matt Forte needs to be more involved in the Chicago game plan this week, and I think he will. Lovie Smith  had a talk this week with Mike Martz about what his “vision” for this offense is. Plan on seeing a more run heavy offense in Chicago this week. Carolina is flying high right now. Cam Newton is playing exceptionally well right now for a rookie, and the offense is moving the ball. The Panthers have a big task this week. Playing on the road, in a hostile environment, against a pretty good Defense that just lost to one of their rivals.Can Cam Newton and Steve Smith continue their success this week?? It’s possible, but they may have a great day and still lose this game. The Panthers defense is already getting banged up. Thomas Davis the OLB has once again tore his ACL and is out for the year. Chris Gamble, the teams best cover corner has missed two straight games, and likely will miss his third game this week. On top of all that this defense had only managed 5 sacks through 3 weeks. Chicago is a tough place to play. Their fans are loud the field is terrible, and the weather may be a factor. Cutler has been beat up the first 3 weeks of the season but this might be the week Cutler can stand tall in the pocket. I like  Chicago in this game to make a statement. Chicago wins  27 -10.

Buffalo….. vs….. @Cincinnati  Buffalo is riding high after a huge divisional win over New England. A team they had not beaten in the last 15 tries. Ryan Fitzpatrick Buffalo’s QB is for real. He’s thrown 9 touchdowns and has a QB rating over 103. Both good for top 5 stats in the NFL. The running game in Buffalo is solid as well. Led by running back Fred Jackson this team is averaging 155 yards per game on the ground. Also top 5 in the league. Defensively Buffalo is talented and young. They have given up more yards than you would like to see from a undefeated team, 387 yards a contest or 26th best in total defense in the NFL. The fact that this defense is very opportunistic with 6 interceptions and three fumble recoveries  makes them a tough D to deal with. On the other side you have the Bengals a team who is currently the number 3 team in the NFL in total defense. They have also given up some plays but their young QB Andy Dalton has played very well to start the season. Dalton became only the second passer in NFL history to start his career with back to back 100 passer rating days. What did he he do for an encore in week three against a underrated 49ers team?? He threw two picks completed 15% less of his passes and ended the day with a 40 QB rating ouch. I expect more of the same this week for Dalton against a very underrated Bills secondary. Cincinnati has no real home field advantage here, as fans are just not supporting the team right now. The Bills can hurt you through the air or on the ground, and they should do a little of both. I like the Bills here, to much offense. Bills 28-14.

@Cleveland….. vs….. Tennessee  Both these teams are 2-1 on the season. Cleveland has won their last two games in a row, and looks to continue a impressive start to the 2011 season. Lead by QB Colt McCoy and RB Peyton Hillis on offense this gritty group will not quit.On Defense the Browns are pretty solid against the pass, but struggle to stop the run. This could be a issue and a key component this week in this match up. Chris Johnson the All-Pro RB for the Titans has gotten off to a very slow start to the season. Most contribute this to the fact that Johnson held out and missed all of training camp. now four weeks into the season, Johnson should be getting his legs back and his football conditioning. Kenny Britt the talented WR is lost for the season which is a major blow to the passing attack of the Titans, and QB Matt Hasselback. This week the Titans did sign former second round draft pick Donnie Avery formerly of the Rams. Avery can flat fly, and may provide enough of a deep threat to give Chris Johnson room to run. On defense the titans are the #1 total defense in the league. They play both the run and the pass well.I look for the Titans to take their show on the road this week, and win in Cleveland. Even though Cleveland is a 1 point favorite, Look for the Titans to establish their running game early and win this game. Titans 21-14.

@Dallas….. vs….. Detroit   Detroit is a team many people are buying into at this point. There 3-0 and have a great young offense. Also their defensive line may be one of the best in the league, led by Suh and Vanden Bosch. The question marks I have surrounding this team, stems from the fact that they just have not played the level of competition that most of the other “top teams” have. Lions opponents currently have a 2-7 record on the season, and the Lions have struggled a little on the road this year. Allowing the Bucs to come back in the fourth quarter and almost win that game. Also the Vikings were up 20-0 on the Lions at halftime yet they failed to give their stud runner (Adrian Peterson) the ball more than 5 times in the second half of that game. Detroit is the 4^th most penalized team in the NFL which could be a factor this week on the road in a loud Dallas Cowboy stadium. Enter the Cowboys. No team has been more injured through the first three weeks of the season. Missing many stars like Miles Austin, Terrance Newman, Orlando Scandrick, not to mention guys who have played though a lot of pain Tony Romo, Mike Jenkins, Jason Witten, Anthony Spencer, Dez Bryant, etc. This Cowboys team is grinding out victories against decent teams.  The Cowboys defense under the watchful eye of new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, is currently leading the NFL in sacks at 14 through 3 games. Also Dallas is the least penalized team in the league. Overall I look at this game and see a young team in Detroit that is heading into a hostile environment, and taking a big step up in competition. Detroit will hold tough for a while but ultimately I see Dallas handing Detroit their first loss of the season. Dallas wins 26-21.The line on this game is Dallas minus one and a half. They will cover.

Minnesota….. vs….. @Kansas City  Minnesota let a 20-0 half time lead over rival Detroit evaporate in route to their third consecutive lossThe more alarming thing if your a Vikings fan is that the Vikings have had a 10+ point lead in each contest thus far and just cant seem to hold the lead late. Kansas City showed a lot of heart the way they came out last week against their division rival the San Diego Chargers. After Losing star running back Jammal Charles and safety Eric Berry.Some would argue that the Chiefs lost their best player on both offense and defense. The main point to this game? The Chiefs struugle to stop the run, and the Vikings lead by Adrian Peterson will run the ball. When the Vikings jump out to an early lead this week don’t expect to see them stop giving Peterson the ball. They won’t make that mistake again. Minnesota wins this game 24- 13.

@St. Louis….. vs….. Washington  Washington lost a tough game last Monday night. Their defense played well and they lead for most of the game. Brian Orakpo and rookie Ryan Kerrigan are creating a lot of pressure on the outside and Safety Laron Landry, now that he is health should add alot to the back end of that defense. On offense the Redskins like to utilize the running backs and tight ends. St. Louis has been a major disappoint this year. With WR Danny Amendola, CB Ron Bartell, and RB Steven Jackson all out it will be hard to win this match up agianst a much more physical team. Look for the Redskins to run the ball early and often and be in Sam Bradford’s face all day long on defense. Washington wins 24-9. Washington is the underdog here and are my underdog lock of the week.

@Philadelphia….. vs….. San Francisco  Ah.. the Dream Team… or so they said. The Philadelphia Eagles have a lot of holes. This team has not had the same linebacker combination for two consecutive games this year, and that streak will continue this week as Casey Mathews will exit the starting lineup in favor of a more veteran presence. The Eagles have a difficult time stopping the run, on defense. Their Line backers, and Safeties are a weakness right now due to inexperience. Also this dream team has 12 sacks on the year but all of these sacks have come from the D line. Not the type of numbers you would expect from a eagles team. The Eagles defense needs to get more aggressive and stop trying to prevent the big play. On Offense it has really been the LeSean McCoy show. The Eagles running back has carried this team on his shoulder despite the fact that most of the other playmakers Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson, and Brent Celek have really under preformed so far this year. McCoy is a great back. He has really made the Eagles offensive line look much better than it really is. McCoy’s cut back ability has allowed him to really make his own rushing lanes. McCoy is also adept pass catcher out of the backfield, something the 49ers struggle with. The niners are a tough team to figure out. On one hand they have one of the best run defenses in the NFL. As they have not allowed a 100 yard rusher in 25 consecutive games a league record. Also they have gotten much healthier over the last two weeks in their secondary. With corner Shawntae Spencer and safety Dashon Goldson returning to the starting lineup. The 49ers offense is the really reason I can’t buy into this team. The 49ers have been unable to run the ball, nor protect QB Alex Smith. Smith has played well thus far but he has also not been allowed to really open up the offense. Look for the Eagles defensive line to con troll this game. I see Alex Smith being sacked at least 6 times this week, and the offense sputtering. Eagles win a game they must have 24-10. Eagles are favored by 9 point.

New Orleans….. vs….. @Jacksonville New Orleans wins this one big 34-10

@Houston….. vs….. Pittsburgh Houston wins a statement game 27-20

New York (NYG)….. vs….. @Arizona  Giants take car of business on the road and win 23-14

Atlanta….. vs….. @Seattle  Atlanta’s offense finally looks dynamic 34-17

@Green Bay….. vs….. Denver Greenbay is the better team and their home 42-14.
New England….. vs….. @Oakland One of the bigger match ups of the weekend is the New England Patriots traveling out to the west coast to take on the upstart Oakland Raiders. New England is a thing of Beauty to watch offensively. They Have arguably the best QB in the league in Tom Brady, two great young tight ends in Rob Gronkowski, and Aaron Hernandez, a stealer slot wide out in Wes Welker, and a decent running back by committee with Green-Ellis, Woodhead, Ridley, and Vereen. The problem is as great as the offense is there defense is just as bad. Currently the Pats defense is dead last in the league in total yards given up at almost 470 yards a game. On top of that they do not rush the passer that well, nor do they defend the run that well. New England will have to tighten up their run defense this week  against Oakland to slow the Raiders down. The Pats have allowed a ungodly 5.75 yards per rush attempt this season. Which is by far the worst in the league. Enter Darren McFadden and the Oakland Radiers. McFadden got off so to slow start when his career first began, mainly because of injuries. Now that Darren McFadden is healthy he is show all why he was such a highly respected runner coming out of Arkansas. McFadden currently leads the NFL in rushing yards, averaging just over 130 yards per game. Add that component to the Rookie phenom wide out Denarius Moore streaking down the field and suddenly the radiers become a much tougher team to game plan for. Oakland defensive line is a great one. Lead by Richard Seymour the former Patriot who was traded, Seymour and that defensive line will be the best line Tom Brady and the New England offense has faced thus far. This game should be a shoot out but I have a feeling the team who controls tempo will win the game. The Raiders have the better running game, and New England really will have a tough time stopping the Oakland attack. I’m picking Oakland in a high scoring nail bitter. Oakland wins 34-31.The line for this game is Oakland +3.5 take Oakland.

@San Diego….. vs….. Miami San Diego wins this one with both the running gane and passing game clicking 27-13.

@Baltimore….. vs….. New York (NYJ) Baltimore running game propels them to a win over the Jets 31-21

@Tampa Bay….. vs….. Indianapolis Tampa Bay wins a tight one 17-14.

Welcome NFL sports fan! Were three weeks into the season, and already the top teams are starting to separate themselves from the others teams in their conference. Today I’m rolling out my week 4 power rankings, based on what we have seen thru the first three weeks of the season.Small disclaimer here. I am not a fan of any of the teams in my top 10 so no e-mails about how bias I have been. I do encourage comments and rebuttals of why you believe you team deserves to be in the top 5.Without further a dew here are my power rankings.

NFC:

- The Packers are one of only two undefeated teams left in the NFC conference. Led by the Super Bowl MVP from last season Aaron Rogers, this team is tested and Tough. Rogers has already tossed 8 touchdown passes, to only 1 int. Aaron’s 120.9 passer rating and 71.8% completion percentage are both tops in the league. You add that to a very  good pass rushing defense (4th in the league in sacks) who get after the QB, and have play makers at all three levels of their defense, and you get the #1 team so far in the NFC.

The Saints Check in at #2 for me. Their only lost came against the Packers on the road week one of the NFL season. Beating the Houston Texans this last week, in a come from behind performance really showed me some resilience in this team. Drew Brees the unquestioned leader of this offense has them hitting on all cylinders right now averaging 34.7 points per game. Good for 3rd best in the league. On defense their is a great blend of veteran leadership in guys like LB Johnathan Vilma,CB Jabari Greer, and NT Aubrayo Franklin. Meshing with young guns like S Mike Jenkins, CB Tracy Porter, and rookie DE Cam Jordan out of cal.This team has a serious shot to be in the Super Bowl this year if they can stay healthy.

The Cowboys have bee a very resilient team so far this year. Starting the season 2-1 despite the fact that they have trailed in all three games in the 4th quarter. Dallas is one of those teams who have been decimated by injuries to this point. Players who have missed games, or have been injuried for Dallas so far( Miles Austin #1 WR, Terrence Newman #1 CB, Orlando Scandrick #3 CB, Dez Bryant #2 WR, Mike Jenkins #2 CB, Tony Romo #1 QB, Felix Jones #1 HB, Anthony Spencer Starting OLB, Jason Witten #1 TE. Looking at what Dallas has overcome so far this year injury wise, coupled with the fact that the combine record of the three teams Dallas has played so far is 6-3. I think Dallas has done well and deserves this spot for now.

Ah.. the Detroit Lions. Were to put them. Sure some will argue that a undefeated team deserves to be much higher in the power rankings, but I disagree. Looking at what they have accomplished this year, They have beat a 0-3 Kansas City Cheifs, a 0-3 Minnesota Vikings teams, and a 2-1 Tampa Bay team. I need to see more from this ball club before I put them any higher in my power rankings.

The Redskins were flying high heading into their Monday night match up with the Dallas Cowboys. They  were 2-0 and could take sole possession of first place in the division with a win. I thought the Redskins played well in that game, especially the defense. It’s hard to win on the road on Monday night, and it’s even harder when that Monday game is against your division rival. Tim Hightower and rookie Roy Helu out of Nebraska have really got the running game going thru the first three weeks of the season. The tight ends have also been a big part of this offense. My only grip, get your WR more envolved on offense, and stop playing man to man coverage so much on defense.

AFC:

At #1 I have no choice but to put the Buffalo Bills. They have beaten in my opinion two top five teams from the AFC conference in back to back weeks. Beating the Oakland Raiders and the New England Patriots should let you know this is not the Buffalo Bills from the last 10 years. Buffalo’s offense is led by Harvard grad QB Ryan Fitzpatrick who thru three weeks has orchestrated two fourth quarter comebacks against top tier teams, and who currently is tied for second in the NFL in touchdowns tosses 9, and sixth in QB rating at 103.5. Defensively Buffalo is very opportunistic, ranking second in the league with nine takeaway thru three games.Look for Buffalo to continue this trend this week against a very young Cincinnati Bengals offense.

The Ravens have the #1 score against defense in the NFL. This defense lead by Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Haloti Ngata, have looked solid against division rival Pittsburgh, and the upstart St. Louis Rams. The big surprise so far this year is how solid the offensive passing game has looked. Joe Flacco QB has thrown 7 touchdowns and just threw for a career high 389 passing yards last week on the road. The running game is solid. Ray Rice is one of the better duel threat running backs in the league. With the addition of  FB Vonta Leach during the offseason, who is the best run blocking FB in the league in my opinion. The Ravens have alot to be hopeful for. My biggest question mark for this team… can they stay healthy.

The New England Patriots have been a mainstay among playoff teams for the better part of the last decade. New England has been prolific on offense through three weeks. #1 in total offense. #2 in points scored. #1 in passing offense by a wide margin, and #1 in touchdown passes. So why are they ranked so low? Their defense thus far is so bad, it is almost hard to watch them play. Defensively they are ranked dead last in total yards given up. At a whopping 468.7 yards per game..wow. Also this defense is near the bottom of the league in penalties given up. Perhaps the most telling sign though New England ranks near the bottom of the league in 3rd down %. This defense just can not get off the field allowing almost 47% conversion on 3rd downs. Bottom line is New England’s offense will cover up many of the deficiencies of this teams defense, until they play the better teams.

Houston is a very good team, make no mistake about it. They are 2-1 for a reason, and could easily be 3-0. On Offense this is one of the most explosive teams in the NFL period. Andre Johnson, Matt Schaub, Arian Foster, Owen Daniels need I say more? Houston has averaged an impressive 138 yards per contest on the ground. Despite the fact that last season’s leading rusher Arian Foster has played only a handful of snaps this year. My questions come on the defensive side of the ball. Houston is transitioning to the 3-4 scheme and so far so good. If Houston wants to be considered an elite team, they need to beat other elite teams. Twice last week Houston had the lead against New Orleans, and twice Drew Brees and that offense went down the field and scored. Houston’s defense played well but faltered big time when the team needed them the most.

The last time the Oakland Raiders made the playoffs, was back in 2002. The poor play of  this franchise has been well documented by many. It is now 2012, and I think it’s time to except the fact that the Oakland Raiders may just be for real. Oakland’s only lost came in week two on a short week, on the road, to my #1 team in the AFC, The Buffalo Bills. Oakland is currently the #1 rushing team in the NFL and Darren McFadden is averaging a crazy 6.5 yards per rush attempt. The front four on defense for the Raiders may be as good as any team in the league. They will get pressure on the opposing QB and make life difficult. After physically man handling the New York Jets they have a tough task taking on the New England Patriots this week. If they can pull the upset win though, that just might be the signature win this team needs to make everyone believe.

 Well it’s that time of year Fantasy Football is here! We have seen more and more people participating in Fantasy Football each of the last ten years. Fantasy Football is here to stay. This is the second installment of my Fantasy Football rankings for Sport City Chefs! After tackling the QB’s, I feel blitzing the TE should be next. I have received alot of questions about the TE position this year. When studing the TE position this year there is alot of question marks that have not been there in years past.Antonio Gates a lock, as the number one TE for the last 4 years. Has had some injury concerns over the last few seasons which could drop his value this year. Dallas Clark the Colts TE is also recovering from injury, and Manning(the Colts QB) could miss a few games himself.The reality is, that many of the guys who are considered top five fantasy TE this year, will have question marks surrounding them. I have looked at many different stats to compile my list of the best fantasy TE for 2011. My list may look vastly different, than the so called “experts”. That is because I don’t follow what others do. I try to give you the best insight possible for you the fantasy players who are looking to compete at a high level.

 With out much further jargin, I will get to my rankings. I just want to thank the staff and the readers, for making this column so sucsessful. With you guys and gals, none of this would be possible.Now on to the Rankings….

1) Jason Witten – The Dallas product finds himself atop my fantasy football projections here at the TE spot. I know most will gasp but here is a little food for thought. Witten found himself as the #1 TE in fantasy football last season despite the fact that Tony Romo the starting QB in Dallas was out after week 5. Witten may not have the upside of guys like Gates, Davis, Finley, and Clark, but he is more consistent and healthly. A combination that is a must for fantasy studs. Also Witten scored 6TD’s over the last five games which shows that Witten is the guy Dallas favors in the red zone. The real difference for me is that Witten is a constant contributor week in and week out. Witten has not missed a start since 2006. An actually he played in that game, he just did not start. My point?? you can rely on Witten. One more stat to put you mind at ease here. Witten’s number of targets in the red zone have went up each of the last three years. Meaning even in this high octane offense with weapons everywhere, Romo still prefers Witten when it matters most. Projection: 98 catches 1088 yards  13 TD’s

2) Antonio Gates – What can be said about the man who is always considered the #1 TE in fantasy football? for me the foot injury he suffered last season is just to scary to draft Gates where you would need to select him. Gates is going on average in the mid third round range. Way to high for a man who has battled foot injuries in 4 of the last 5 seasons. I will admit though that up until last season Gates had never missed more than one game due to the foot issues. Could this be a sign that Gates health is deteriorating ? Maybe, but he is still a monster in fantasy football. Before becoming injured last season, Gates was on track to shatter his career highs in both TD’s and receiving yards. His pace you ask?? How about 1326 yards and 18 TD’s. Those type of numbers would rank Gates as the top WR as well as TE. The talent is there no doubt, but investing a high pick in a guy who has missed time 4 of the last 5 seasons due to injuries is a risk. Are you willing to gamble?? Projection: 72 catches,  1044 yards, 12 td’s

3) Vernon Davis – Many will say this is where Dallas Clark belongs. I say to them, that they have not seen Vernon Davis this offseason, nor have they seen the new Jim Harbaugh (TE friendly) system. Davis is sure to get a lot of looks in the new offensive scheme that the former Stanford HC is installing. With the addition of Braylon Edwards, and Delaine Walker (#2 TE) on the field more. Davis should have more room to maneuver in 2011. Davis and Gates currently hold the record for the most Td’s in a season at 13. I think Davis has a chance to eclipse that mark this year. Rare combination of size, speed, and maturation have all come together here. Projection: 82 catches, 1008 yards, 14 Td’s

 4) Dallas Clark – In doing research for this article a couple things I found interesting about Dallas Clark. First he is known as a receiving TE. Meaning in run situations he comes off the field a lot. something that we do not see with a lot of the other top tier TE’s. This definitely hurt him in my rankings. Also unlike most of the other top tier TE’s, Dallas Clark has only had more than 850 receiving yards once, and more than 10 TD’s twice.What does this mean to you the fantasy player?? despite the fact that Dallas Clark is considered one of the best receiving TE, and he has arguable the best QB in the history of the game throwing him the ball he is still not dominate. I like Clark, but at this point in his career with where you would have to draft him I think Clark may disappoint. Projections: 81 catches, 799 yards, 6 TD’s

5) Jermichael Finley – Coming of a torn meniscus in his knee is not a easy injury to recover from. Finley like Vernon Davis is a physical freak for the position. He plays in a pass happy offense in Green Bay and has a all pro QB in Aaron Rogers. So why is he not rated higher on my list?? I think the process to acclimate Finely back as a receiving threat will be a slower process than most think. Finley should have a solid year and the second half of the year should be better than the first half.Another guy who is often over drafted in fantasy circles because of his upside. I like Finley but I am cautiously optimistic.Projection: 54 catches 766 yards 7 Td’s

Sleeper – Owen Daniels

 Many who know me, know that I believe in Daniels. Apparently so do the Texans who gave Daniels a 4yr 22mil with 13.5mil paid in the first two years. Not the kind of contract you pay a guy if your concerned with injuries to the knees. Daniels got off to a very slow start in 2010 mainly because he was still recovering from the torn ACL injury he suffered back in 2009. Daniels production did get better as the season wore on, and by the end of the season. Flashes of what makes Daniels a great TE were apparent. Over the final four weeks of the regular seasons, Owen Daniels had 22 catches, 271 yards, 2td’s not bad at all from the TE position. If you were to expand those numbers out over a full season you would be looking at 88 catches, 1084 yards, 8td’s.Right now Daniels is being drafted on average in the 7th round. If Daniels produces like I think he can, you will have stolen a top 5 TE at a top 15 TE price!

Larry Fitzgerald has been one of the top 5 fantasy football receivers for the last 7 years, but will he be this year?

Well it is that time of year again. Fantasy football is here! Every year thousands upon thousands of hopeful contestant line up to take their crack at becoming the next great fantasy football player. The skill range of these contestants vary from first time player to seasoned veteran. Many fantasy football owners will spend countless hours doing their “pre draft rituals” in preparation for their upcoming draft. Some will draft a certain way(ex. always go RB,RB in the first two rds.), or draft players based on what their upcoming schedule may look like. Also I have seen players draft guys very high expecting the same production that they had the year before, when they final had their “brake out season”. Their are definitely rules that players should follow in fantasy football, but experienced players know when it is time to go against the trends. This is really the reason why you usually see experienced players bringing home the crown of Fantasy Football Champion! Just the sound of it makes me want to do a little more research before finishing this article, but I digress.

First a small disclaimer about myself, I have been playing fantasy football for about 8 years and have won my high stakes league 6 out of the last 8 years! Over that time period I have had the pleasure to play with both the inexperienced, and the experienced. I have played both for Fun and high stakes, and the one constant that seems to not change is that fantasy football owners are becoming more and more knowledgeable every year. This is mainly contributed to the internet and the ability for even new players to quickly get the same info that the seasoned vet will usually have. Think back to your first fantasy football live draft (if you have never done a live draft you are missing out). Remember the guy who drafted the wide receiver in the second round, but you knew that the wide receiver was on injured reserve for the year?? The fact is that fewer and fewer bone head decisions are being made every year, and the players who consistently win are the players willing to take chances. Generally speaking you can almost call out who will be drafted in the top 3 rounds. You should expect these players to produce.If your unsure about a players possible production in the first three rounds LEAVE HIM ALONE!! Let the next player take that chance.Your looking for solid contributors in rounds 1-3. Rounds 4-8 is generally where you start to see who has done their home work and who has not. It seems like every year I will find at least one top 5 player at his position in these rounds. Last year I grabbed both Jamaal Charles, and Hakeem Nicks in rounds 6,and 7 respectively.The tail end of the draft is where gold can be found!! I always find it ironic when a player will grab a injury prone player such as a running back in rounds 1 or 2, yet not grab their backup towards the end of the draft.You always need to be thinking about protecting your investment in rounds 1 – 3. Late round pickups should always be players with either massive upside, or who play in a scheme suited to their strengths.I have seen so many times players use round 11, 10 or even 9 picks and grab guys who ceilings have already been met or who are not in a great position to excel. A good rule of thumb for newer players, is if a athlete has been in the league for five years or more and is not selected by round 7 don’t draft him unless his situation has changed. The reason you ask? If a veteran athlete were worthy of being selected he would more than likely be selected in the first 6 rounds. Veteran athletes have already established what they are capable of on the field and a huge spike in production is highly unlikely unless their playing situation has changed. The only positions that this rule does not apply to is TE, and K. Usually TE and K are drafted later than other fantasy football positions.

I have spent the better part of the last two months trying(although this is a year around study) to compile the best and most accurate information for you the readers here at Sport City Chefs.I do have a few more rules I want to put out there before I go to my rankings. #1 I am a firm believer that playing match ups work! For those of you who do not know what this means it is simple playing the guy who has the best statistically match up. This rule should not apply to guys selected in the first three rounds, as these players should always start regardless of their match up. #2 Do not get sucked into following a developing trend at a position. To often I see a few players at a position chosen (like TE) and suddenly the mad dash to grab players at that position is on.#3 Do not over draft a player regardless of how bad the rest of the talent at that position is.#4 you can never have enough running backs! This is a rule you learn early on in fantasy football circles. Running backs usually produce the highest amount of points outside of the QB position and you can start three RB is your league, if they use the flex option.#5 Have a great time and have fun!! Remember that fantasy football is a game, and although none of us like losing, it only comes once a year and you should enjoy the experience.Now on to the rankings!!

QB:

1) Aaron Rodgers – Coming off a incredible season in which he captured a super title, and won the MVP Rodgers is young and just getting better. He has a talented core of wide receivers and one of the better tight ends in the game. His Head Coach Mike McCarthy is a former offensive coordinator, so don’t expect this offense to slow down anytime soon.

2) Peyton Manning - The Sheriff as he is appropriately named, is primed for a great year. Many will undervalue Manning coming of minor surgery, and one of his worst statistical seasons as a pro. Manning will have the good fortune of playing one of the easiest schedules of any QB in the league in 2011. The front office in Indianapolis made it a point to address the offensive line in this years draft. Something that really limited Manning’s effectiveness last year. With a healthy Pierre Garcon, Austin Collie, and oh yeah Dallas Clark, Manning is ready to reassert himself as one of the best fantasy QB in the game.

3) Drew Brees -  Many people will look at Drew and wonder what to expect from him. Is Brees the QB of last year who had the second highest total of interceptions with 22, and who has had 19 fumbles over the last two seasons? The highest fumble total of his career over any two year period. Or is Drew Brees the Passer from 2008 who threw for over 5000 yards and nearly broke Dan Marino’s record? I say the latter. Over the last three years Drew Brees in the only QB in the NFL to throw for 30 touchdowns and at least 4300 yards. Not Tom Brady, nor Peyton Manning, or even Phillip Rivers. Drew Brees has been the most consistent QB in fantasy football period.

4) Phillip Rivers – Rivers has been a top 5 fantasy QB for each of the last three seasons. Last year Rivers was missing his number one wide receiver for eleven games. His number one target in TE Antonio Gates for 6 games, and first round RB Ryan Mathews 4 games. That’s not even mention the fact that Marcus McNeil River blindside protector at left tackle also missed five games. Despite all of these hurdles Rivers went on to post career best in both completion percentage and yards. With many of the key pieces back and healthy for the San Diego Chargers offense, I see no reason why Rivers will not be a top five QB this year in fantasy football.

Many fantasy football owners wonder where and when to draft Michael Vick for 2011.

5) Michael Vick - Vick has been some what of an enigma since his return to the NFL. Many fantasy football players will ask me where should Michael Vick be drafted? Is he a top five QB? My simple answer is yes. Despite missing 4 games last season he still finished the season in the top five among fantasy QB’s in 2010. In addition, Vick in 12 games ranked 35th in total rushing yards and tied for fifth in rushing touchdowns. That coupled with 21 passing touchdowns, and over 3000 yard passing is why Vick should go no Lower than round three in a ten team league.There is definitely upside, and potential with Vick which could easily vault him to number one in 2011, but on the flip side Vick always seems to be just one hit away from missing significant time. If your a gambler, this bet could pay big dividends or leave you wondering why you made the selection in the first place.

Best Value : Ben Roethlisberger -  Big Ben has always been a solid QB in the NFL, but many fantasy football players have avoided drafting him based on the fact that the Steelers have been known as a run first team. In 2010 despite missing the first four games of the season Roethlisberger still managed to finish at a top 10 fantasy football QB. The 2011 outlook for Ben Roethlisberger is very bright. Why you ask? Well for starters Ben has the easiest schedule of any passer in 2011, and all of the skill position players are expected to return on offense for the Steelers. Right now Big Ben is being drafted on average in round five of a standard 10 team league draft, and is ranked as the #10 QB this year. Grabbing Ben in round 4 or 5 will definately net you a solid QB who will not disappoint.

I will continue to roll out this series I hope you enjoy the read, and Thank You for your time!!

The MLB All-Star week is finally here Baseball fans.Find out what you need to know going into this week.

The MLB Food Fight Radio Show hosted by Brian Hughes and Caleb Parkinson is set to get you the fan ready for MLB All Star week.Find out what you need to know heading into the home run derby, All star game, and much more. Monday, July 11th at 9pm pacific time, 1am eastern time our chefs will go over all the info you need to know at the break.Also a brand new segment will be introduced that we are very excited about!! Our call in number is 1-917-889-9592 feel free to ask any of your baseball question you might have. A chat room will also be up for your convenience.So if you have a Baseball appetite that needs to be feed, then stop on by the Sport City Chefs kitchen because were serving up topics to satisfy the hungriest of fans!!

With a change of scenery LB Quentin Groves really flourished in 2010, will the production continue.

Quentin Groves has had a long road to some simblence of success in the NFL. Originally drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008 in the second round. He never lived up to the hype that was put on him as a pass rushing threat in Jacksonville. After a three year stint in Jacksonville, and a trade to the Oakland Raiders. Quentin Groves finally looks like he might live up to the hype of a 2nd round selection in the 2008 NFL draft.Join the chefs here in the kitchen as the Talk with Quentin about his journey thru his career in the NFL and what lies ahead for him and the Oakland Raiders.

With Aubrayo Franklin set to leave in Free Agency Ricky Jean Francois may be the starting NT this coming year for the 49ers.

Ricky Jean Francois has been with the San Francisco 49ers now for two seasons. Now he finally has an opportunity to start if Aubrayo Franklin the incumbent starter at nose tackle leaves via free agency.Ricky has been the primary backup at the 3-4 NT position for the better part of two seasons.He has learned behind Aubrayo Franklin ( one of the better 3-4 NT in the league) and now may be his best shot to start for the up and coming San Francisco 49ers. Ricky has alot to prove this offseason if he is to become the starting NT for the 49ers, but the numbers are on his side as three major contributors from the Defensive line from last season are set to become Free Agents in Aubrayo Franklin, Ray McDonald, and Demetric Evans. Listen in to the show and find out How Ricky Jean Francois views his chance of starting the upcoming season, and also how will his San Francisco 49ers fair this year!!

This Wednesday July 6th, 2011 Starting Running Back of the San Francisco 49ers Frank Gore will be stopping by The NFL Front Office show here on www.sportcitychefs.com. Frank Gore is coming off a severe hip injury that caused him to miss the final five games of the 2010 NFL season. 2010 was a rough year for Frank Gore and the San Francisco 49ers. The Niners went 6-10 on the year and Gore Rushed for 853 yards on 203 rushes, in just 11 games. Gore is coming off statistically his worst year in the NFL since 2005. Frank Gore and the San Francisco 49ers will look to bounce back in 2011 after a disappointing 2010 year. Stop by this Wed July 6th to find out all the question everyone wants to know about the star runner for the 49ers.Is the Hip ready to go? Are the Niners ready for a playoff run? Can Gore stay Healthy for an entire year?? All this and more this week on the NFL Front Office Show!!