The Little One…

Team RB’s…

In the eleven years I’ve been playing fantasy football now, the landscape has changed.  There was a day when having Marshall Faulk could all but guarantee you a championship (I know, I have one…). And just a few years back having LaDanian would sure up your RB spot for sure. But as the league changes your fantasy team changes as well. Running backs are built to take a load of a whole game anymore. 20+ carries a game is rare. It’s also a domino effect. If you match up against a team that has two efficient backs they always have fresh legs out there, and that causes you to look into the same type of system. Now almost all teams have gone to 2 runners. This trend makes picking up a consistent back hard for your fantasy team. If you have a guy that averages 3 or 4 yards a carry, but would get the ball 20 times, you are looking at 60-80 yds a game.  Throw in a touchdown and you had a decent day.  Now that same back only gets 12-15 carries it dramatically drops his overall production, even if he averages the same amount. This makes it hard to keep your running back numbers consistent. All this brings me to my point of this post…

Will we see fantasy leagues moving to “Team RB’s”? There wouldn’t be a shortage of teams to fill out your 10 team league.  You would need 3 team RB’s to fill out your roster for bye week purposes. Instead of starting Marion Barber, you could start “Cowboys RB’s” and get there overall production for the backs. It still shouldn’t be a problem to include their receiving yards. This could really improve the consistency at the position. It’s much like IDP leagues VS. team defense leagues. Picking out a IDP is pretty hard, and a lot of the time luck of the draw.

Saying this, I still don’t know if I’m for it. Maybe it takes a little skill or strategy out of fantasy football, but if nothing else it’s some food for thought.

Them Boys…

Training camp isn’t but a couple of weeks away and I’m ready for some football. I’m just pretty scared that I’m going to start the new season with the same horrible feelings about the Cowboys I had at the end of last year. There is so much talent on this team, and so much potential, but I’m getting the feeling they are never going to reach it. First thing I’m scared about is Romo. He shows flashes of genious, and the last couple years we spend time saying that’s the kind of quarterback he’s going to be. But I’m afraid he is what he is. A decent quarterback that does some nice things sometimes. He’s not going to be Roger or Troy. The second thing that really scares me is the WR corps. I think Roy has about 4 weeks to either impress me or I’m over it. Now is his time. Everyone talks about how good he can be, and he’s out of time getting around to it. But, I am overall really excited about the offense. The big players we have like Witten and Barber, but I’m really excited about Felix Jones and Marty B. I think these two guys are going to really blow us away this year. I really hope Felix stays healthy and Jason Garrett gets creative. There are so many ways you can use two great backs, and so many ways you can use two tight ends. I guess overall I’m ready for it to start but I’m scared to get too excited. I’ll be cussing the TV shortly, I’m sure.

The Little One…

Well, we got our 3 month sonogram, and it finally looks like a actual baby so I had to post it!  Here is little Owen or Aubrey…

Jerry’s World…

So I spent 7 hours at Cowboys Stadium yesterday (for LeAnn Womack, Blake Shelton, Reba, and George Strait), and you cannot imagine how big this stadium is until you’re inside of it.  It’s phenominal! I knew the video boards were huge, but I didn’t know anything until you see them live in action, they are monsters.  We were at the far end zone from the stage and even the “small” screens on the side are plenty big enough, so that makes the two big screens WAY too big!  It’s just insane.  Anyway, thought I’d share a couple of pictures.

Logos for 2009

Good Morning, KKFL.  I wanted to update you on a project I have been working on for the last week or two. Football fever is killing me, and I have to keep my Fantasy Football hopes and dream alive.

I have had my “Militia” logo for a few years now.  Since I work doing graphic design, I enjoy making the logos and such. Last year I made a KKFL logo (the one that looked “grungy”).  This year, I have changed a few things on my logo, subtle things, but made a change.  I took a look back at the KKFL logo, and thought I could do better, and make a more modern logo. “Web 2.0″ logos have really taken over the landscape of online logo design.  I took some of those aspects and made a new KKFL that is shiny, slick, sharp and could most likely impale you.   After doing these logos, I thought it would be great if we all had a nice one.  So I took on the project of making one for everyone.  First, take a look at the NEW KKFL logo…

Nice, huh?  Following are the team logo’s I have got approved.  I have links to  hi-res options as well, just let me know and I  can get those to you.  I have sent emails to the teams that have not approved logos, so let me know what you think!

 

 

 Here is a preview of what the whole league catalogue would look like.  Like I mentioned  before, I’m waiting for approval on Nemesis, Misfits, and Evil Bob’s… but here are the ideas I had…

 

Hope y’all enjoy these, it has been fun working on them.  Wouldn’t it make a bad ass shirt??  Once everything is approved, I’m going to print some full size posters of all the logos that I will bring to y’all at the draft.

Happy off season!

—Kyle Van Deusen
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Top 25 Available Players

Here is a list off of Faball of the top 25 available players sorted by total points last season. I wonder how this years draft is going to go…. It should be a little less structured since we have the added position this year. Who’s going to go #1???

Rank	Pos	Player, Team	Avg	Total
1	QB	Rodgers A, GB	17.8	284
2	RB	Williams D, CAR	17	272
3	QB	Warner K, ARI	16.8	269
4	QB	Cutler J, DEN	16.6	265
5	QB	Manning P, IND	15.3	245
6	QB	McNabb D, PHI	15.1	242
7	QB	Cassel M, KC	14.9	239
8	WR	Jennings G, GB	13.4	214
9	QB	Garrard D, JAC	13.3	212
10	QB	Pennington C, MIA	13.2	211
11	RB	Westbrook B, PHI	14.9	209
12	QB	Romo T, DAL	16.2	210
13	QB	Thigpen T, KC	14.8	207
14	RB	Jones-Drew M, JAC	12.6	201
15	TE	Gonzalez T, KC	12.6	202
16	WR	Marshall B, DEN	13.1	196
17	WR	Bryant A, TB	12.2	195
18	QB	Manning E, NYG	12.1	193
19	RB	Jacobs B, NYG	14.6	190
20	QB	Campbell J, WAS	11.8	189
21	QB	Ryan M, ATL	11.8	188
22	QB	Orton K, CHI	12.2	183
23	QB	Roethlisberger B, PIT	11.4	182
24	WR	Welker W, NE	11.3	181
25	WR	Moore L, NO	11.2	179

Chicago Trip Sports Highlights…

Got to visit (the outside) of Wrigley, and Soldier Field in Chicago this week.  Kind of surreal to be at Wrigley… Click to enlarge.

So Long My Popcorn Eating Friend…

Well from a Fantasy Football standpoint, I really hope TO signs somewhere with a good QB, and where he is going to be featured, but I kind of doubt it.  Maybe I will get one or the other…

But as a TO fan, I can’t say I’m not sad to see him go.  I love when he makes big plays with that star on his helmet.  I love the touchdown celebrations and whether you like him or not, the dude has passion.  Over the last three years he was the most productive WR.  While he is declining due to age, he isn’t done.  But what he did here in Dallas just can’t continue.

When we first signed him, philli, and san fran people told us this would happen.  They said he would divide this locker room.  I remember someone saying the first year he would play nice, but by year three there would be a civil war within the team.  They were right.  Owens is divisive.  I think, seriously, he has some emotional issues, and he cannot express them in a productive way.  He’s got heart, and I think he means well (most of the time) but this just doesn’t work in football.

I wish these athletes could cut out the 7th grade B.S., but it’s apparent they cannot.  And just because Terrell is gone, doesn’t mean problems are fixed.   There are a lot of players really unhappy with this move.  People looked up to TO, and TO got his followers deeply invested in his cause.  I think there are going to be players that are going to blame Romo and Witten. But like I said, the 7th grade drama is going to have to quit, and were going to have to go to work this season.

No more camp cupcake.  It doesn’t work, Wade.  I think coach can still be laid back, and keep his personality while also getting stricter and demanding more discipline out of these players.   They are children.  They need someone to keep them on track and keep them focused.  All the penalties has to stop.  We won’t make the playoffs if we have 100 yards in penalties a game.  The defense, although they look fairly good, has (and I mean HAS) to learn to tackle.  All the way back to the basics.  Wrap them up and drive them to the ground.  The Roy Williams (safety) style “drop them with a shoulder” just doesn’t cut it (remember the Baltimore game?)

We also have to get Felix fully integrated into the offense.  Running, catching, direct snaps, out of the backfield, split out wide… everywhere.  This guy is a faster Brian Westbrook.  It’s rare you find a talent like this.  We have to run the ball, effectively.  Roy Williams (11) is going to have to step up, Miles Austin will have to step up, and Crayton needs to be okay with being the #3 WR in the slot, working over the middle.  Romo has no more excuses.  He is no longer a “young QB”, he no longer has a loud-mouth WR on his ass.  This season will solidify what Romo is.  So far he is an average quarterback. That’s all.  If he can protect the ball, and work on mechanics a little he can be a great player, but if he insists on his “big play or bust” mentality, he’s going to be a bust.   I seriously will not be surprised if we have people calling for Kitna by week 7, but I won’t be surprised if Romo ends up back at the Pro Bowl; it’s all up to him.

Will the draft hurry up and get here already??

Whole Mess ‘o’ Stuff

Well, welcome to the site.  I started this site for something a little different, and I wish I could change the URL, but they do not let you edit it, and I don’t feel much like setting it all up on another account, so www.vandeusen.wordpress.com it is!

I got a whole bunch of information on here.  A lot of it I swiped from FanBall for a couple of reasons.

1. We most likely will not be using fanball next year.  I had a whole mess of problems with them this last season, and their customer service, like most, is a joke.

2. With our addition of the “Flex” position, we will have to find a new site to host, because FanBall does not have an option for a “Flex” spot.

If anyone has used some other sites, and has any opinion on them (good or bad) let me know.  I was trying to do some investigation but since the season is over they do not allow anyone to sign up at this time.   I know for the first few years we did it on Yahoo. I had no problem with that, it’s just a little less “fancy”.

We also have a big announcment.  KKFL has a new member!  Everyone please welcome Jack Veitch.  He is a buddy of Sams, and I let Jack know the only way we would let him in is if he helped kick Sam’s ass. If you need to update your email list, his contact info is at the top of this page, under the link “Contact Info” (and there is a bunch more pages up there for y’all to go explore). Jack will be inheriting the Broncomaniacs for the 2009 season.  Welcome, Jack!

The draft order for next year was also determined by our standings from last year.  We will again do a serpentine draft, and the order will be:

1. Misty Askin
2. MoJo Killers
3. Ron Repka
4. Kyle Van Deusen
5. Kyle Repka
6. Thomas Knapp
7. Jack Veitch
8. Sammy Wager

Make sure you keep in mind you will have another starting position this year, and the roster limit is 21.

Don’t forget your keepers (4) will be due Super Bowl Sunday.

If there is any more information people want me to pull of FanBall, I will do so. I don’t think the account will close, so you should be able to log on at any time, but I wanted to get this site up and going for when the time comes, we don’t have to pay them another $70 to keep it open.

Until next post,

Kyle Van Deusen