Michael Vick and LeSean McCoy (25)

Entering the NFL season the Philadelphia Eagles had the potential to be fantasy football gold with new coach Chip Kelly’s up-tempo philosophy and style of play.
And coach Kelly did not disappoint anyone who grabbed Eagles players in their fantasy football drafts.
I know I’m extremely psyched since I have Philadelphia back LeSean McCoy and receiver DeSean Jackson in three of my six leagues.
McCoy ended up with 184 yards on 31 carries and a touchdown. Jackson had seven receptions for 104 yards and touchdown. Tight end Brent Celek also produced with two receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown.
Quarterback Michael Vick wasn’t a dominating force out there but he produced some decent stats too, most notably in the touchdown department. He threw for 203 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 54 yards and had a rushing touchdown.
Now, if only these guys can stay healthy for 16 games......

As the opening day for the NFL's regular season approaches and the prreseason winds down, many fantasy football leagues are anticipating last-minute drafts.
I have had two drafts already with four drafts coming up over the next six days ( three online and one live draft on Labor Day that involves current and former members of the New Haven Register sports staff).

As the preseason winds down the stock of NFL players always rises and drops as the NFL playing environment comes into focus. What has drawn my interest recently is the rising stock of Philadelphia running back LeSean McCoy and I am planning on drafting him if the other elite backs (and Calvin Johnson) are gone in my upcoming drafts.

In July and early August McCoy was being drafted late first round to middle second round. Now, in many drafts he is among the top five backs taken. At MockDraftCentral.com, McCoy's average draft position has dropped to 11th overall but he has been taken as low as No. 5 to as high as No. 17.

There are durability concerns since he was plagued by injury last season (concussion late in season) and he tweaked his knee early this preseason. According to the Eagles' website the knee injury was minor. Last season he struggled with 840 yards rushing and two touchdowns. There are also concerns backup Bryce Brown will get his share of touches, although he had some fumbling issues last season.

A big plus for McCoy this year is new coach Chip Kelly who believes in an up-tempo offense with plenty of option scenarios. The big plus with McCoy is he can help you in both standard and point-per-reception leagues with his ability to catch the ball.
I see McCoy getting back to form and rushing for around 1,400 yards and 10 TDs and 50-60 receptions for 350-400 receiving yards.

DENVER QUARTERBACK KYLE ORTON



FANTASY FOOTBALL BLOG SCHEDULE

Mondays - recap of Sunday games, Wednesday - injury report, Thursday-waiver wire report, Saturday-who to start, who to sit
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Week 4 recap

Two names stick out this season when it comes to the top-rated fantasy football quarterbacks this season and they are names who were more of an afterthought when most of us drafted our teams in the preseason. Denver quarterback Kyle Orton and Detroit quarterback Shaun Hill have been among the top five rated quarterbacks in two of the last three weeks.
Orton had 341 yards passing and two touchdowns on Sunday and Hill had 331 yards and two touchdowns. The thing is, these guys look like solid plays again in Week 5 with solid matchups.
Other top quarterbacks in Week 4 were Carson Palmer (Cincinnati) 371 yards, 2 touchdowns;
Peyton Manning (Indianapolis) 352 yards, 2 touchdowns; Sam Bradford (St. Louis) 289 yards, 2 touchdowns; and Bruce Gradkowski (Oakland) 278 yards, 2 touchdowns

After a slow start Jacksonville running back Maurice Jones-Drew has been getting back on track and in Week 4 he had 105 yards and a touchdown. LeSean McCoy was one of the bright spots for Philadelphia with 64 yards rushing, 12 receptions and 110 yards receiving. Other top backs were LaDainian Tomlinson (Jets) 133 yards rushing, 2 touchdowns; Arian Foster (Houston) 131 yards rushing, 1 touchdown, 3 receptions, 56 receiving yards, 1 receiving TD; Ahmad Bradshaw (Giants) 129 yards rushing, 1 touchdown; Shonn Greene (Jets) 117 yards rushing; Peyton Hillis (Cleveland) 102 yards, 1 touchdown; and Mike Tolbert (San Diego) 100 yards, 1 touchdown.

When it comes to Cincinnati receiver Terrell Owens, you never kinow what you're going to get from week to week. In Week 4 he blew away all receivers with 10 receptions for 222 yards and a touchdown.
Go figure.
Other top receivers were Reggie Wayne (Indianapolis) 15 receptions, 196 yards; Brandon Lloyd (Denver) 11 receptions, 115 yards; Eddie Royal (Denver) 8 receptions, 113 yards, 1 touchdown; Hakeem Nicks (Giants) 8 receptions, 110 yards; and Roddy White (Atlanta) 7 receptions, 104 yards.

There were Joel Dreessen and Tony Scheffler sightings this week but don't expect it to happen every week. Houston tight end Dreessen had five receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown and Detroit's Scheffler had six receptions and 63 yards. Other top tight ends were Antonio Gates (San Diego) 7 receptions, 144 yards, 2 touchdowns; Zach Miller (Oakland) 11 receptions, 122 yards, 1 touchdown; Brandon Pettigrew (Detroit) 8 receptions, 91 yards; and Dallas Clark (Indianapolis) 7 receptions, 68 yards, 1 touchdown.

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