The New Haven Register and its nationwide newspaper group 21st-Century Media/Digital First Media is ramping up its fantasy football coverage this season.
One feature for fantasy football team owners to key on for some in-depth advice is the weekly Fantasy Football Lunchtime Chat held on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m. The chat is conducted through our Michigan newspaper group with fantasy football experts Drew Ellis of the Oaland Press and Don Gardner of the Macomb Daily with yours truly serving as the third host.
The first chat was held on Wednesday (Aug. 21) and you can access the complete transcript at the following link: http://bit.ly/1arbpjk

Various subjects were discussed to help fantasy football owners get the edge in their upcoming league drafts from sleepers and injuries to what round is the most advantageous in drafts this season.

Throughout this week the New Haven Register has been publishing my top 10 fantasy football rankings with a different position published each day. My overall top 50 ranking (all positions combined) will be published on Sunday.

Here are the links to the top 10 rankings published through Thursday:

Top 10 quarterbacks: http://bit.ly/16H47GP

Top 10 running backs: http://bit.ly/13KFCTd

Top 10 receivers: http://bit.ly/13OLTgM

Top 10 tight ends: To come

Top 10 kickers: To come

Top 10 defenses: To come

Dan Nowak is a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association and has been covering fantasy sports for over 20 years. He won the FSWA Insiders Fantasy Football League national championship in 2010.

 

 

With a week to go for the start of the NFL season, the biggest push of the draft phase of football is going on from coast to coast. If you draft with a top-five pick, it's a great way to start your season. But don't always think the concensus No. 1 pick by most fantasy football experts is the way to go.

While Arian Foster is the No. 1 overall pick in the majority of drafts, my top five picks begin with a player who is a bit more consistant when it comes to fantasy football production.

Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice is my No. 1 pick. He is reliable, has a solid offensive line to give him the holes he needs to run through and he produces as a receiver coming out of the backfield.

At No. 2, I’m still not thinking Foster.

After starting last season as a holdout and then struggling the first half of the regular season, I think Tennessee back Chris Johnson will be on a mission to make amends for 2011. He’s a guy who still has breakaway speed and he’ll also have a fair amount of balls thrown his way too.

I’m looking at Foster as my No. 3 guy. I think Andre Johnson is healthy enough to take a chunk of touches away from Foster. Don’t get me wrong, Foster is solid. But I think Andre Johnson lowers Foster’s production a bit.

Philadelphia back LeSean McCoy signed a new contract and is ready to roll at No. 4. He was a touchdown machine last season and he is another back that produces on he ground and through the air.

At No. 5, I’m looking for the maximum fantasy points I can compile at this stage and that’s why my pick is Detroit receiver Calvin Johnson. He is being projected by most fantasy football websites to produce anywhere from 300-350 fantasy points this season depending if you are in point-per-reception league or a standard NFL league.

My top five:

1.      Ray Rice

2.      Chris Johnson

3.      Arian Foster

4.      LeSean McCoy

5.      Calvin Johnson