Fantasy Nascar Sleepers & Busts

Welcome to TimersSports

We are at Pocono this weekend. For some reason , I always score poorly at the first race and blast a monster score out of the park in the second race. You could say I am Kasey Kahne 2.0 at this racetrack. Its difficult to consistent score well here. Its the tricky triangle for a reason. Drivers and fantasy players needs to be on their toes during the race. Going with relatively safe lineup should be the way to go. But throwing in a sleeper or two is always intriguing at an place such as Pocono.

Sleepers-

Kasey Kahne: Kahne was one of the guys I said to watch out for last week to several people who asked for a sleeper via email/twitter. He finish 6th. He is risk/reward type guy. Kahne won't dominate , but he will have a shot at win regardless. I love what I saw last weekend. Also Kahne has finishes of 1st and 2nd (August Pocono races) since 2012.

Kyle Busch: Surprised?  Shouldn't be. He made my sleeper list at Kentucky , New Hampshire and Indianapolis. What those tracks in common? He finish 2nd in each race. I might make it number 4 on Sunday. His Pocono record is pretty solid. Busch finish 12th earlier this season. I bet he improves.

Kevin Harvick: Harvick is undervalued. He been a threat to get a pole almost every week. No excuse for leaving him off your team in Yahoo. 4 Pole in 20 races. That is 5% of all poles. Impressive. His percentage is pretty low in Yahoo , too. Less then 20% right now. Also it should be noticed that Harvick was stupid fast all weekend back in June. Do you recall where he started? 4th. I know where I am putting my money.

Busts -

Tony Stewart: Smoke haven't impressed me in 2014. I thought for sure he would heat up after at Dover. But haven't yet. Indianapolis was the breaking point for me. Luckily I haven't used too many Smoke starts after 20 races. His Pocono record is stout , but same thing can be said about his Indy record though. I will put "The Smoke project 2014" on hold for a few weeks. See how things unfold.

Danica Patrick: Two flats (2.5 mile in length). Results? Outside the top 40. Do I need to say anymore? Don't think so. Danica isn't worth the gamble. Not even in Yahoo. Save her for Michigan , The glenn or Bristol. Tracks she have had solid results on (or significant good runs). Her percentage is much too high in multiple formats so far this week. Expect the worse case possible with Danica.

Denny Hamlin: Not so much a bust , rather then a risky gamble. With the latest news of CC Grubbs being suspended. He will appeal it though. Some people think it shouldn't be a issue. I vastly disagree. A Crew Chief is more then a guy who sit on a pit box. He makes those gut wrenching calls that win or finish in the top 5. At Pocono pit strategy is critical. I don't feel confident in him.

Twitter: @Gbriggs12

Fantasy Nascar Early Rankings

Welcome to TimersSports

Ranks -

1. Kevin Harvick
2. Jeff Gordon
3. Brad Keselowski
4. Jimmie Johnson
5. Kyle Busch
6. Joey Logano
7. Kasey Kahne
8. Dale Jr
9. Matt Kenseth
10. Tony Stewart
11. Ryan Newman
12. Kurt Busch
13. Denny Hamlin*
14. Clint Bowyer
15. Kyle Larson
16. Jamie Mac
17. Austin Dillon
18. Brian Vickers
19. Paul Menard
20. Carl Edwards
21. Greg Biffle
22. Danica Patrick
23. Marcos Ambrose
24. Martin Truex Jr
25. Aj Dinger
26. Aric Almirola
27. Justin Alliager
28. Michael Annett
29. Casey Mears
30. David Ragan

Twitter :@MichelleRizzo5

Thanks for reading

Michelle

Fantasy Nascar: The Smoke Problem

Welcome to TimersSports

Yahoo Fantasy Racing is an 7 day a week game. The best players always thinking ahead about the upcoming race. Even if only Monday. Today we will examine Tony Stewart aka Smoke. His unimpressive performances at terrific tracks have got me scratching my head. There a good possibility I will leave him off.

Of course like any good expert , I have supporting reasons to back my claim. Below represents Stewart best 5 racetracks where he underperformed. Note his overall performance on that day is more relevant then his finish:

-Indianapolis: Last weekend race at IMS may have been his worst performance of the summer. Not because how he ran. More because his awesome track record there. He started 6th and finished 17th. At times during the race , he didn't even have a 17th place car. It was frustrating to watch really.

-New Hampshire: Stewart finished 7th in this race. Don't be fooled though. He wasn't very good. In fact , he would have finished in the middle teens. If that late caution didn't wave. He wasn't happy with his car much at all. This was one of his worst races at New Hampshire.

-Sonoma: 75% of the Sonoma race , Tony spent outside of the top 20. He ended his day at P18. He wasn't very competitive overall in that race. He struggled mightily to even be relevant. I forgot he was in the race. Until he was mentioned for receiving a speeding penalty.

-Daytona: Tony finished about 40th. Didn't really have a chance to complete. As Ricky Stenhouse Jr triggered the big one just before the competition caution on lap 20. Hard to tell how he would have performed. But again another missed opportunity.

-Charlotte: He finished top 10 at Charlotte. But he wasn't very good overall. Smoke ran most of this race a lap down. Got a lap back late and rally to finish solidly.  Wasn't impressed by him in this race.

By point being , Smoke isn't what he once was (before his injury). Until he proves he is that driver again, he will just be a secondary option in my mind.

Twitter - @JeffNathans

Also check out:

NBTW Power Rankings

Fantasy Football: Initial Preseason Ranks

Welcome to TimersSports

Initial PreSeason Top 100 -

1. LeSean McCoy
2. Jamaal Charles
3. Arain Peterson
4. Matt Forte
5. Eddie Lacy
6. Marshawn Lynch
7. Calvin Johnson
8. Jimmy Graham
9. Arian Foster
10. Montee Ball
11. Peyton Manning
12. Dez Bryant
13. AJ Green
14. Demaryius Thomas
15. Brandon Marshall
16. Demarco Murray
17. Aaron Rodgers
18. Drew Brees
19. Zac Stacy
20. Julio Jones
21. Alshon Jeffery
22. Jordy Nelson
23. Le'Veon Bell
24. Gio Bernard
25. Alfred Morris
26. Antiono Brown
27. Randall Cobb
28. Doug Martin
29. Rob Gronkowski
30. Julius Thomas
31. Andre Ellington
32. Reggie Bush
33. Vincent Jackson
34. CJ Spiller
35. Larry Fitzgerald
36. Ryan Matthews
37. Pierre Garcon
38. Victor Cruz
39. Wes Welker
40. Andre Johnson
41. Keenan Allen
42. Michael Crabtree
43. Andrew Luck
44. Matthew Stafford
45. DeSean Jackson
46. Roddy White
47. Vernon Davis
48. Frank Gore
49. Toby Gerhart
50. Cordarrelle Patterson
51. Percy Harvin
52. Bishop Sankey
53. Rashad Jennings
54. Robert Griffin III
55. Chris Johnson
56. Ben Tate
57. Cam Newton
58. Nick Foles
59. Seattle Defense
60. Jordan Cameron
61. Jason Witten
62. Tom Brady
63. Shane Vereen
64. Ty Hilton
65. Michael Floyd
66. Torry Smith
67. Ray Rice
68. Matt Ryan
69. Trent Richardson
70. Colin Kaepernick
71. Julian Edelman
72. Stevan Ridley
73. Joique Bell
74. Greg Olsen
75. Emmanuel Sanders
76. Steven Jackson
77. San Fran Defense
78. Dennis Pitta
79. Jeremy Maclin
80. Mike Wallace
81. Kendall Wright
82. Marques Colston
83. Carolina Defense
84. Tony Romo
85. M-Jones Drew
86. Golden Tate
87. Sammy Watkins
88. Jordan Reed
89. Eric Decker
90. Pierre Thomas
91. Reggie Wayne
92. Kyle Rudolph
93. Russell Wilson
94. Fred Jackson
95. Terrance Williams
96. Jay Cutler
97. Lamar Miller
98. Knowshon Moreno
99. Stephen Gostkowski
100. Matt Prater

*This list of rankings is based on recent mock drafts on variety hosting sites. ADP is heavily factored in by our rankers.

* Rankers: Chase Edwards and William Frang

*Every site have their own set of rankings. As do every owner. Example: We have Seattle Defense at 59 , while some sites have Seattle D going a few rounds later then that.

Fantasy Nascar Picks

Welcome to Timerssports

Indy Recap: Last week at Indy , I had solid scores across the board. My Yahoo team nailed down an 280 (Gordon , Newman, Smoke and JPM). I correctly picked Gordon to win. Also Kenseth was my dark horse.

Now lets look ahead to Pocono. Last time here I was able put together some strong lineups. I will try to repeat that performance.

2014 Ranks-

Yahoo: 4343th

Live: 158th

Yahoo-

A:

Start : Jeff Gordon (4)

Bench: Kevin Harvick (5)

Reason: I believe Harvick will be just as good as Gordon. But I want the safe pick. 46% Vs 17% is a no brainer. There will be plenty of places to use Harvick. Like at Michigan in two weeks.

B:

Start:

Ryan Newman (4) , Tony Stewart (4)

Bench:

Joey Logano (5) , Denny Hamlin (4)

Reason: Pretty simple here. Newman have a fast car which should be able to march to the front. Smoke not quite as good. But still better then most. Not high on Hamlin. Thought he struggled overall. He made a few nice runs. Not consistent enough though. Logano doesn't look top 5 based on happy hour. He was just a bit off. He will need to keep track position to win.

C:

Start: Kyle Larson (4)

Bench: Austin Dillon (4)

Reason: Larson on pole. So my hand is pretty much force. Plus I don't mind use one of my starts at Pocono. The kid have been phenomenal at larger tracks such as Michigan, Pocono and Indy. Dillon is better saved for the 1.5 milers.

Fantasy Live: Gordon , Johnson , Harvick , Ragan and Annett

Race Winner: Brad Keselowski

Dark Horse: Kyle Busch

Thanks for reading

@MattAleza1

Fantasy Nascar Preview Pocono

Welcome to Timerssports

After back-to-back down races (Daytona and New Hampshire) , I was able to rebound at my hometown track of Indy. Now our attention turns to Pocono. The track known as the tricky triangle is another flat surface layout. Its rewards drivers who respect every aspect of the track. This week again will be about horsepower and strategies. Let get started!

1-JMac: Jamie does not really standout. He finished 19th at Indy. Finished 10th earlier this season at Pocono. His stats over the recents races at Pocono aren't horrible though. In the past 5 races here , JMac have compiled an 13.2 average finish , 2 Top 10s , 5 Top 20s , and 80.1 driver rating. I found it very interesting among active drivers with 5 starts. Jamie ranks 9th in terms of average finish (4th best among Yahoo B-listers). Hint hint dark horse potential. 

2-Brad Keselowski: Back in June , BK led 95 laps. But gave up the lead to Dale Jr in the last 10 laps. Last week , Brad finished 12th at Indy. Anyone who started him got to be frustrated. Anyhow he should be a top 5 option going in the weekend. I am waiting to unload my remaining Penske starts until the chase. Trust me its will pay off huge. BK been solid recently at Pocono though. In the 5 previous races here , he have complied an 9.2 average finish , 2 Top 5s , 3 Top 10s , 121 laps led , and 104.1 driver rating.

3-Austin Dillon: There is no expected legitimate start saver in the field this weekend. So we are pretty much forced to use one of our golden eggs. Dillon finish 17th back in June. I expect him to improve on that mark. Top 15 sounds reasonable.

4-Kevin Harvick: Harvick finish 14th earlier this season at Pocono. He had a top 5 car. Little past half way , he had a flat tire and had to pit. Cost him a shot at the win. If he looks dominate in practice  , look for me to use him. Over past 5 races here , Harvick have compiled an 14.0 average finish , 1 Top 10, 5 Top 20s , 0 laps and 88.6 driver rating.

5-Kasey Kahne: Pocono , August and Kahne mix well together. There probably a player in every league who doesn't know the meaning "too risky". That probably the same player who start Kahne on Sunday. Kahne will either finish top 5 or 40th-ish. In fact I would even put a wager on that. Pocono August average (Since June 2012) is 1.5 (2 Top 2 finish ; Including a win in last year event. June Average is 39.0. Over past 5 races at Pocono , KK have compiled an 22.0 average finish , 1 win , 2 Top 5s , 2 Top 10s , 2 Top 20s , 67 laps led and 97.2 driver rating.

10-Danica Patrick: Danica is like a unhealthy cheeseburger. Its looks delicious from the outside , but we know it bad for us. Danica was running top 20 at Pocono earlier this season and got a flat tire. Eventually finish near the back. Last weekend at Indy , she finished 42nd after a broken axel. While running top 10 by the way. I would put my money on a repeat Indianapolis performance.

11-Denny Hamlin: Okay I screwed up last weekend. I said to avoid Denny on Friday night. He goes out and finishes 3rd. Nevertheless Pocono is a good place to use him. He started 1st and finish 4th earlier this season. I don't expect a repeat performance of those outcomes. But he will be a top 10 guy heading in. Over the past 5 here , DH have compiled an 17.8 average finish , 2 Top 5, 3 Top 10s , 28 laps led and 85.9 driver rating.

14-Tony Stewart: Smoke got me puzzled honestly. He seems off lately. Struggled at Somona , Kentucky , Daytona and last weekend at Indy. Heck he got track position late at New Hampshire , otherwise he would have finish in middle teens. On the plus side , he was really strong at Pocono earlier this season. Over past 5 races here , Smoke have compiled an 6.8 average finish , 3 Top 5s , 4 Top 10s , 27 laps led and 97.9 driver rating.

16-Greg Biffle: If you follow me on Twitter (@JeffNathans) , I hinted around that The Biff would be a good option at Indy. He finish 13th. Ahead of a few noticeable names. The Biff on my radar again. I think there potential with him as a legit start save. Remember Pocono is a strategy type track. The Biff have been very consistent on flats this year (Finishes of 13th - 18th). I will take a flier on a consistent driver all day long. Doesn't hurt he holds an 13.4 average finish here since 2012. Ranks 5th best among all Yahoo Group B drivers.

18-Kyle Busch: Rowdy is a second place machine right now. Outside of Daytona , Rowdy have wheeled off 3 straight 2nd place finishes. He gonna break through again. I expect another top 5. The Glenn or Bristol may be the places he goes to VL again.  Rowdy been good here , but not great. He qualified 6th qualified earlier this season. Sent Kahne for a ride late in the event. Then eventually rallied for a 12th place finish.

20-Matt Kenseth: To be honest , Kenseth doesn't jump off the page. He been average here most of his career. Been better with JGR. Still doesn't have the abilities to challenge for the win. He will qualify in the teens. Finish latter top 10. Over past 5 races here , MK have compiled an 20.4 average finish , 1 Top 10 , 1 Top 20, 16 laps led and 88.5 driver rating.

22-Joey Logano: Logano finish 5th last weekend at Indy. Joey was also strong earlier this season at Pocono. Of course he blew up before the race was over. Joey probably will be a top 10 guy heading in with top 5 potential. Pocono is a good track for him overall. Over the past 5 races here , JoLo have compiled an 14.2 average finish , 1 win , 1 Top 5 , 3 Top 10s , 4 Top 20s , 49 laps led and 94.8 driver rating.

24-Jeff Gordon: I have a Fantasy Nascar man crush on Jeff Gordon. Only twice since Texas , I have taken him off my roster (Talladega and Daytona). Gordon must have found the fountain of youth. Because he driving like a 21 years old. He is the man at HMS right now. Don't look for that to change either. Pocono is another great track for him. Over the past 5 races here , Gordon have compiled an 8.4 average finish , 1 win , 2 Top 5s , 3 Top 10s , 17 laps led and 104.5 driver rating. If I am a betting man, I would put my money on Gordon.

27-Paul Menard: Menard was a terrific value deal earlier in the season. Unfortunately he now falling off to much to be legit option. Also he been horrible at the flats in 2014. Only 1 top 15 , which was his 10th at Martinsville. Heck his 19th at New Hampshire was only his second top 20 on a flat track. He was sent into the wall at Indy and finished 34th. Over past 5 races here , Menard have compiled an 21.6 average finish , 1 Top 10, 2 Top 20, and 75.9 driver rating. There are better options to consider

31-Ryan Newman: Newman is quietly having himself a great season. Outside of Daytona , his past three finishes: 3rd , 5th, 11th. That is awesome. Pocono may be his best track left on the schedule. He may not lead a lot of laps. But he's a good bet for a top 10. Over the past 5 races here ,Ryan have compiled an 6.8 average finish , 2 Top 5s , 4 Top 10s, 21 laps led and 98.5 driver rating.

41-Kurt Busch: To be honest , I don't hate Busch this week. But I don't like him either. Facts remains , Kurt cannot be trusted. Inconsistency is the name of the game and Kurt 2014 season have been quite the opposite. There are better options.

42-Kyle Larson: The big question is for me every week , is this the week to pull trigger? Pocono could be a great place to do it. Earlier this season , Larson had a impressive top 5 run. Will be interesting to see how he runs the second time around.

48-Jimmie Johnson: The 48 team seems off at the moment.  His last top 5 was at site of his last win (Michigan). Since he have had 3 finishes outside the top 10. I don't care how good your record is , you cannot roster a guy who is considered the most valuable driver. Especially when a driver in a slump. Over past 5 races here , Johnson have compiled an 7.6 average finish , 1 win , 2 Top 5s, 3 Top 10s , 220 laps led and 113.4 driver rating.

55-Brain Vickers: Vickers actually was pretty good earlier this season. He finished 19th, but ran in the lower teens much of the event. Vickers won't dazzle you with his impressive driving skills and techniques. He does not need to. He a nice option this week.

88-Dale Jr: Dale Jr won last time we visited Pocono. He probably shouldn't have won , if Brad didn't pull over to let Dale pass. Anyhow a win is a win. I doubt he can back that up. Look for Dale to finish inside the top 10 on Sunday. Over the past 5 races here , Dale have compiled an 9.8 average finish , 1 win , 3 Top 5s, 4 Top 10s, 66 laps led and 115.5 driving. Found it interesting that Dale holds the best driver rating.

99-Carl Edwards: Edwards and RFR made it officially on Sunday. They will be parting way. Since he technically under contract with Ford for 5 more years. I expect him to stay with Ford. Last weekend at Indy , Edwards ran in the late teens to just outside the top 20. Got a little track position and finished 15th.  Pocono earlier this season , Edwards finish outside the top 40. Of course , he was running 8th before getting heavy damage.

*All stats from DriverAverages. com

Twitter - @JeffNathans

Fantasy Nascar Final Ranks (IMS)

Welcome to Timerssports

Final Rankings -

1. Kevin Harvick
2. Jeff Gordon
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Tony Stewart
5. Brad Keselowski
6. Matt Kenseth
7. Kyle Busch
8. Joey Logano
9. Ryan Newman
10. Dale Jr
11. Kasey Kahne
12. Clint Bowyer
13. Juan Pablo Montoya
14. Kyle Larson
15. Paul Menard
16. Jamie Mac
17. Brain Vickers
18. Greg Biffle
19. Carl Edwards
20. Denny Hamlin
21. Trevor Bayne
22. Danica Patrick
23. Kurt Busch
24. Marcos Ambrose
25. Martin Truex Jr
26. Aj Dinger
27. Justin Alliager
28. Casey Mears
29. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
30. Aric Almirola

Twitter - @Jeffnathans

Fantasy Nascar Update (IMS)

Welcome to Timerssports

Notes -

1-Jamie Mac: Wasn't very impressed by JMac. He should be avoided in all formats. Really lack speed. He was complete junk on Friday. Looked better on Saturday. Unfortunately Friday practice will more similar to raceday conditions. Also falls off way too much in a run. He will be lucky to finish 15th on Sunday.

2-Brad Keselowski: Keselowski been fast all weekend. Isn't the driver to beat though. In limited starts leagues, Keselowski may be a bit overvalued this week. Mainly because he a top 5 car , but unlikely to score max points (like he did at Vegas ,Pocono, Kentucky and New Hampshire).

3-Austin Dillon : Dillon was average in practice. He complained about being loose mainly. He was just outside the top 20 in practice. So top 15 could be within reach this weekend. Depends on your other options , Dillon could make a nice play this weekend.

4-Kevin Harvick: Harvick car been pretty good since unloading. He starts from the pole. Looks like the man to beat. Sadly I don't think he does. The outcome may come down to how many issues/mistakes the 4 team makes. In Yahoo , 22% selected him. If he finish at front , you will likely get max points. If not you're basically a setting duck.

5-Kasey Kahne: Kahne starts inside the top 10. Looks to have a good enough car to stay around his starting position. That about it though. He really have limited upside this weekend. But could be a nice value deal , if a few big names mess up.

10-Danica Patrick: Danica have finish 22nd or better since Michigan. So I bet an top 20 is in her future at Indy. She was okay. That about it. Don't think she can muster anything better then 18th though.

11-Denny Hamlin: Hamlin looked completely lost on Friday. Somehow worse on Saturday. Not sure how he manage that , but he did. Denny was asked why he is struggling. His response , "ESPN doesn't have enough airtime to break that down." Yeah it pretty bad. Starts deep in the 20s too. Could be a long weekend for anyone banking on Hamlin.

12-Juan Pablo Montoya - On Wednesday , Garry Briggs (@Gbriggs12) said "Doesn't matter the format, JPM = Good." Cannot put it simpler then that. Juan looks good for a top 15. By far the best value deal this weekend. Juan will be a popular starter in Yahoo on Sunday.

14-Tony Stewart: At start of the green flag , the temps will be close to 84°. Smoke is licking his chops. If I had one start left with Smoke , I would burn it here. Smoke looked pretty good all weekend. He will start 6th. What not to like? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Especially with 60% in Yahoo selecting him.

18-Kyle Busch: Rowdy looks to be top 10. Maybe top 5 , but it unlikely. Gibbs cars are just slightly off. Not horrible , but they (Kenseth and Busch) won't be able to say with the HMS powered engines. I have Busch crossing the line at 7th.

20-Matt Kenseth: Kenseth was little better then Busch overall. He should be able to run top 10 easily. Top 5 is a possibility. He would probably need a short run at the end. Fell off on the long run too much to be a true contender.

21-Trevor Bayne: Bayne starts 12th. Won't be able to stay there for long. Doesn't sustain enough speed on the long run. He could knock off a top 20. Just outside the that is more realistic. I have him at 21th when the checkers waves.

22-Joey Logano: Logano wasn't bad. Doesn't look to be top 5 though. Latter top 10 seems most realistic. He doesn't fall off a lot (like other drivers) , but doesn't have the raw speed to challenge for the win either. There are better  tracks to use him. Pocono and Michigan comes mind. In which we will be visiting over the few weeks.

24-Jeff Gordon: Gordon looks to be one of the guys to beat. Maybe the safest option this weekend. It funny because we all thought that at New Hampshire too. Nevertheless the important thing is , he is capable of winning and have awesome track position to start.

27-Paul Menard: Menard is a tough guy to figure out. He looked high teen in practice. But he always races better he practices. So expect a finish of 12th-18th place range. Cannot expect much more then that. There are better options.

31-Ryan Newman: Newman looks top 10 or close to it. I expect Newman to be a contend early on. But I have a feeling he's get knocked down the running order after awhile. Especially since he doesn't have a car with raw speed like Harvick or Gordon. I have him coming home 9th. Hoping he leads a lap during a green flag pit cycle. Could really help his value. We will see though.

42-Kyle Larson: He starts top 15. Doesn't look to be top 10 material. Top 15 is definitely manageable. The rookie is having a phenomenal season. This should be a great week to rest Larson in Yahoo. Same goes for the cap salary leagues. Wish he started further back though. Could have been a terrific value in fantasy live.

48-Jimmie Johnson: Johnson looks to be a top 5 guy. Doesn't look dominate though. Thought his teammate (Gordon) was better still. He probably doesn't give you max points. So I will save Johnson for Pocono. Still should make an fantastic option.

55-Brian Vickers: Vickers was okay. Nothing to write about really. He will hover around 13th-22nd all day long and likely finish about 15th. Really how Vickers been all season on flats. Just good enough to be fantasy relevant on a weekly basis.

78-Martin Truex Jr: Don't think Truex can finish inside the top 10 nor top 15. He just too inconsistent to be fantasy relevant at the moment. He could be the surprise of the weekend. Or be on a plane to Pocono before half the race over. Point being there safer options. He was average in practice.

88-Dale Jr: Dale was good overall. Not sure how good. Dale never really show what he has in practice or qualifying. I bet we will forget he even in the race until 35 to go. Then BANG , Dale is running inside the top 5. He always does that. Well sometimes.

99-
Carl Edwards: Edwards was actually decent for a change in practice. Looked top 20 overall. I have him crossing the line 19th. So top 15 is definitely within reach. Realistically I have him penciled in as a 20 option.

Twitter - @JeffNathans

Fantasy Nascar Picks

Welcome to TimersSports

We are at Indy this weekend. I am historically having my best year in every single game so far. I will use this weekend to build on my already strong 2014 campaign. Below represents my picks for both Yahoo Fantasy Racing and Fantasy Live.

* My picks will be updated throughout the weekend. Check back often.

My 2014 Rankings:

Yahoo Overall Rank: 5077th

Fantasy Live Season Rank: 64th

Yahoo:

A-

Start: Jeff Gordon (5)

Inactive: Kyle Busch (7)

Reasoning: Gordon was a smokescreen. But after two practices and 50% of yahoo siding with him. My hand is really forced. Too many unknowns to gamble. I prefer the "safe" strategy this weekend. In other words , I rather not gain any ground then lose a bunch. Especially since teams will be maxing their equipment to the edge.

B:

Start: Ryan Newman (5) and Tony Stewart (5)

Inactive: Carl Edwards (4) and Joey Logano (5)

Reasoning: Easy decisions here. Smoke (60%) and Newman (55%) represents the highest two selected drivers. Fits perfectly into my "safe" strategy. Smoke will have a shot at a win. Newman will make a fantastic top 10 option. Logano won't get me max points. So I will wait on pulling the trigger. Edwards was just thrown on my roster because I needed 4 drivers (should put Kes on instead though).

C-

Start: Juan Pablo Montoya (8)

Inactive: Kyle Larson (4)

Reasoning:

Another easy one. JPM gives me at least a shot at top 15. Cannot pass it up. Larson will be good , but no reason to burn a start. Unless he looks top 10. Larson doesn't so..easy call.

Fantasy Live: Harvick , Johnson , Gordon, Montoya and Sorenson

Reasoning: Passing is difficult. I expect Reed can finish around 33rd. Which is 9 spot up from his starting spot. Should help out if Harvick or Gordon drops spots. Plus I believe Harvick or Gordon will end up in VL.

Dark Horse Pick: Matt Kenseth. Kenseth is a terrific dark horse for Sunday race. He been strong all weekend. Expect him to drive through the field from 13th.

Race Winner: I believe Jeff Gordon goes to Victory Lane ultimately. I have a feeling Harvick cough up the lead late after a critical mistake.

Twitter : @MattAleza1

Thanks for reading Matt Aleza

Fantasy Nascar Sleepers & Busts (IMS)

Welcome to TimersSports

After a nice long off week , we will now make a final dash to the finish at Homestead. Over the next five races , we will see who are the contenders and pretenders in our leagues. The first 19 races were about using drivers to their maximum value. The final 17 races will be about finding value deals and avoiding deadly busts. Sleepers and Busts really comes factors in this final stench. Its just may be the determining factor in a fantasy championship in mid November.

Sleeper -

Kyle Busch: Remember two weeks ago at New Hampshire? Yeah that 2nd place made me look really good. Indianapolis is another great track for Mr. Rowdy. Expect majority to take Gordon, Harvick and Johnson. While far less then 20% will select Kyle Busch. Busch been at his best at Flats tracks in 2014. He started off the year slow. But been very stout lately. Top 4 at Richmond and New Hampshire. Top 10 at Pocono. Not to mention , no driver named Keselowski have more momentum then Kyle Busch. The Joe Gibbs cars are up to speed. Yet most haven't realized this. This is a golden opportunity.

Bust-

Ryan Newman: I like Newman , but as much as everyone else this week. His 4.0 average finish since 2012 is a bit misleading. Especially if you're not looking at the full picture. In 13 career starts , Newman only 3 times have scored a top 10. Top 15 is in his wheelhouse. I just don't see Newman knocking off a top 10 this week. He haven't been very good until recently. Which makes me doubt him. Looking for a top 15? This is your guy. If not, keep looking.

Sleeper -

Joey Logano: There is nothing quite like a value deal with a top 10 option. It odd because only 35% have selected Joey so far this week in Yahoo. His record isn't great here , but he have proven "track history" means nothing. Honestly I think the starts factor playing a role in limited number of players selecting Logano and Keselowski. At end of the day , Its about how you maximum studs like Logano. Practice could be the indicator of Logano value for the weekend. Friday lone practice session could set the tone for Logano upcoming trip at Indianapolis.

Bust -

Denny Hamlin: Hamlin is a must pick at all flat tracks. Well almost all. Ironically its this week at Indianapolis. You cannot tell by his recent effort here. Denny actually isn't very good here. His career average here is outside the top 15. Heck his last 5 races here is only a 15th place average finish. Including only 1 Top 10. Facts remains , most people will overlook these stats just suggests how good Denny is at Flats. Don't be most people. There are better tracks to use Denny. Much better tracks like Pocono, Atlanta , Bristol , Richmond , New Hampshire , Martinsville, Charlotte , Texas and Phoenix. At end of the day , I see Hamlin as a top 15 driver. With some great tracks coming up , I would rather leave him off.

Sleeper-

Juan Pablo Montoya: Guess who back? Yep JPM. I know most aren't his biggest fan (unlike myself). But fantasy nascar is all about putting aside your differents and personal feeling towards an individual. Juan in the past have had some terrific runs at Indy. Most recently in 2013, when Juan finish 8th in the 42 car. Of course we all recall his dominating performance in 2009. Before getting penalized late in the event. My point being , Juan can be found at a great value this week. His value/price will be down because he is on a limited scheduled. Doesn't matter the format. JPM = Good.

Bust-

Jimmie Johnson: No that not a typo. Jimmie Johnson is a potential bust this weekend. Few weeks ago , we saw what happen in New Hampshire. I really believe team 48 have decided go into test mode early. Its was quite odd nobody else had any tire issues. Which makes me speculate that Johnson could be a liability this week and in the upcoming. Of course I could be wrong and then look like a idiot. Overall just a gut feeling.

Twitter - @Gbriggs12

Fantasy Football WRs Rank 1-5

Welcome to TimersSports

Rankings -

1. Calvin Johnson: If you pass up a RB in the first Round. Johnson is probably the reason why. His size , speed and Lions heavy pass offense makes him a top option at his position. Johnson not only can burn a defense with his intense speed. But his usually size makes him the ultimate mismatch. Johnson is almost a lock to be a top 5 Wide Receiver. The addition of Golden Tate remains a mystery. Especially when it comes to how its will effect Johnson's fantasy value.

2. AJ Green: Green is a real threat when it comes to Wide Receievers. Very few defenders can stay with Green one-on-one. His abilities to dodge tackles , spin, and get into open space makes him very fun to watch. If this guy get the jump on a undersized defensive back , you can start hitting the drawing board again. I would probably draft Green in the early second Round. Andy Dalton will look towards Green all day long.

3. Dez Bryant: Dez have a loud mouth and a bad attitude. But he is super talented. Very owners will pass him up. He can do it all. With no fantasy relevant second WR on the Cowboys , he holds a bit more value then most do. Tony Romo absolutely loves this guy. But who wouldn't? I know I would.

4. Julio Jones - Say what you want , but Julio is a deadly player. He was a monster in his limited playing time in 2013. His usually characterizes make him as a dynamite candidate for any squad. Yes he is a risky option , but the potential is high for Julio. He was on pace for 1800 yards receiving before getting injury early last year. If he's stay healthy ,  could be a top 3 WR.

5. Brandon Marshall - Marshall should be a bit higher , but I feel like Jeffery brings down his value overall. The top 4 guys don't have a second standout Wide Receiver. Which is a positive/negative at the same time. Its makes double coverage less likely on a consistent basis. But it also take receptions and yardage away from Marshall as well. Which balances out at the end. I would select Mashall in Mid 2nd Round in most draft. Unless a legit RB is still on the board or something.

Thanks for reading

Chase Edwards

Fantasy Nascar Early Ranks (IMS)

Welcome to TimersSports

Early Rankings-

1. Jeff Gordon
2. Jimmie Johnson
3. Brad Keselowski
4. Kevin Harvick
5. Tony Stewart
6. Kyle Busch
7. Matt Kenseth
8. Joey Logano
9. Dale Earnhardt Jr
10. Kasey Kahne
11. Denny Hamlin
12. Ryan Newman
13. Clint Bowyer
14. Paul Menard
15. Jamie Mac
16. Carl Edwards
17. Kyle Larson
18. Juan Pablo Montoya
19. Brain Vickers
20. Greg Biffle
21. AJ Dinger
22. Marcos Ambrose
23. Aric Almirola
24. Martin Truex Jr
25. Austin Dillon
26. Justin Alliager
27. Tevor Bayne
28. Danica Patrick
29. Casey Mears
30. Ricky Stenhouse JR

Twitter - @MichelleRizzo5

Thanks for reading

Michelle Rizzo

Fantasy Football Basics

Welcome to timerssports

Fantasy Football back in my rookie year (2000) was much simpler. The options were less complicated (draft formats , leagues formats , etc). I could select redraft standard H2H and be done with it. Nowadays you have multiple options in just about every category. So today , I will breakdown the basic. Pay attention Class of 2014.

Scoring-

Scoring can/will vary from the commish rules/formats. While some leagues will heavily favor TDs. Others will favor QBs in a sense. Especially leagues with Two QBs. Those are just a few examples. Before you join any leagues , check the scoring on each position. Its very important to know the ins and outs of the league. Because you're only strong as your strongest weakness.
Leagues Types -

Redrafts: This type of league is for those owner whose like fantasy football. But don't essentially love the game. Redrafts also are good for owners which like having new players each season. Redraft leagues are simplify leagues that redraft year after year.

Keepers: Unlike redrafts , Keeper leagues allows you to keep a certain amount of players year after year. Anywhere from 1 to whatever. Rest of the players are thrown into a pool and are up for grab. These leagues are for owners , who don't like dynasty leagues. But not a fan of redrafts either. In some sense , it a combo of both. Or the complete opposite.

Dynasty:

Unlike redraft leagues , your original draft will be the team you have to work with in the years to come. An Dynasty league is really the closest thing to the real thing. This type of league requires 365 day a year attention. Especially when FA rolls around. This specific league type is for the hardcore owners. Just know its very time consuming.

Draft type -

Live: Live drafts are most common among today's owners. Participating in a Live draft makes the draft interesting , plus you can get to know your fellow leaguemates better. A live draft basically is exactly what the name represents.

Autopick: Uncommon choose for most leagues. But some owners would select this option to make the upcoming season. Since your draft picks aren't in your hands. Its quite interesting though.

Offline: emails and offline drafts are commonly confused. Email drafts draft aren't really drafts at all. Even though most people say otherwise. These email drafts are done by email , then eventually entered in the system. Offline drafts are conducted by the commiss. The comiss typically enter all of the draft picks for everyone in the leagues. So keeping a good line of communication would be a great idea.

Those are the main basics. Would have liked to gone into greater detail , but don't have the time. Enjoy your Tuesday

Thanks for reading

Eric Wayne

Fantasy Football RBs Ranks (11-15)

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Rankings (Continued) -

11. Le'Veon Bell - Bell was one of the many impressive rookies. Bell wasn't as good as ROY Eddie Lacy (Packers). But still made an impact on the fantasy football world. The Steelers signed Blount during the FA period. Which will hurt his value just a bit. Expect Bell to handle majority of the workload though. Bell won't blow anyone away with his raw speed on every single pl.ay , but he doesn't have to. He just need make a few guys miss and then Bell can do serious damage in open space.

12. Zac Stacy: Zac carried many fantasy teams into the playoffs in 2013. He was one of the brightest breakout star last year as well. Zac was able to put up RB1 numbers more often then not. Unfortunately the Rams drafted Tre Mason which could mean possible timeshare workload. Especially with a stacked position like the Rams have. Of course this is only speculation. We will know more once we actually get into the preseason.

13. Andre Ellington: I love what Ellington brings to the table. I think he will be least a top 15 back. Rumors are he could get 20-25 carries/g. What not love about this young man? Absolutely nothing. He does so much very well. I say handoff and handoff to phenomenon young man. Good thing can and will happen. He was impressive in a limited role last year. Give him a full role , watch what happens.

14. Alfred Morris - Morris have been very productive in his short NFL career. Without doubt. Which is good. But he mainly puts up RB2 numbers. Understandable he is about a 3rd RD pick. The legitimate backs are in such short demand , owners tend to reach for backs such as Morris. So if you're targeting Morris , better keep tabs on players like Morris. As finding a solid back after Round 3 is quite difficult.

15. Toby Gerhart - Gerhart have spent his entire career in Minnesota. Until the past off season. Gerhart made the move to Jacksonville. Now he is the feature back in Jacksonville. This should finally make Gerhart fantasy relevant. The early reports are , Gerhart should get 15 to 20 carries per game. Solid amount a carry which should translate to RB2 numbers.

Well that conclusions my top 15 backs. Tomorrow we will look at 16-20.

Next Schedule Article for this writer - Fantasy Football RBs Ranks 16-20 (6/21)

Thanks for reading

Chase Edwards

Fantasy Football Ranks RBs (6-10)

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Rankings (Continued)

6. Adrian Foster - I am extremely high on Foster. Most experts have him to 7-9 among backs. I disagree. Lynch and Ball are projected No.6 and 7. Neither excites me. Ball is inexperienced and have proven to be a fumbler (look back at 2013).  Lynch carries are rumored to be decreased. While Foster is primed for a heck of a year. Unlike last year when he was coming off surgery (in the off season). The Texans will likely heavily lean on their superstar. Especially with no more Tate.

7. Montee Ball - Its no secret that I am no fan of Montee Ball heading into the season. Especially after he was projected as 5th RD or 6th RD pick in 2013 (to only lose the starting job). Which goes back to the fumbles. I don't think he loses the starting job this time. I think he have a bright season ahead. Especially with Peyton Manning leading the offense. Ball can do a lot for a young talent. His main flaw is trying to do too much. We saw it last year.

8. Marshawn Lynch - Lynch is a terrific running back. Unfortunately he isn't ranked high because how crowded his position is in Seattle. Sure , Lynch will get majority of the carries. But I do believe , his workload get decreased from the recent years. So RB1 numbers are still reachable on consistent basis. Its may be hard to be a top 3 back though (if his workload is indeed decreased).

9. DeMarco Murray - For a long time , Murray have been known as injury prone. Which is one of the reasons I put Ball and Lynch ahead of Murray in my rankings. Murray yet to finish entire 16 game season. Its real concerning. Early reports are Murray wants to have 300+ carry. Weather he can manage that is questionable. If he can stay healthy , watch out. This dude could be a top 5 back. I absolutely love watching Murray play. He big , fast and hard to bring down.

10. Gio Bernard -I love Gio. He impressed me as a rookie. His limited role in the Cincy offense should increase in 2014. He finish 8th among backs last season in receptions. His potential could be even better. But that would take the Bengals to fully commit to Gio. I don't see that happening though. Gio is on the fine line of RB1/RB2. How he is used will be the ultimate decider. I expect the Bengals to continue increasing the workload. How much is the unknown though.

Well that's it for the top 10 backs. Tomorrow we continue our rankings with 11-15. Followed by 16-20 on Monday.

Next Scheduled article for this writer: Fantasy Football Running Backs 11-15 (6/20)

Thanks for reading

Chase Edwards

Fantasy Nascar Preview (IMS)

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Race number 20 is up next at Indianapolis. This is my hometrack , so I know it like back of my hand. I will definitely be gunning for the win in my league this week. As we always try a little harder at a track close to home. Indy is a 2.5 mile racetrack. Its another flat though. Analysing data from other flats seems to be a good idea (especially Pocono). Also using past track data from 2013 and 2012 might also be useful.

1-Jamie Mac: JMac haven't been horrible here , but he haven't been great either. His middle of the road stats back that up. Over past two races here , JMac have complied a 18.5 average finish , 1 Top 20, 5 laps led and 70.3 driver rating. He been up and down at similar tracks.

2-Brad Keselowski: Keselowski been awesome all season long. He is useable just about anywhere. But the big question is: Does he holds more value at upcoming tracks? Over past two races here , BK compiled an 15.0 average finish , 1 Top 5, 1 Top 10, 27 laps led , and 88.9 driver rating.

3-Austin Dillon: Dillon been one of the most consistent drivers in the Sprint Cup Series in 2014. He always races better then he practices. So expect a top 20 this weekend. That's about it though.

4-Kevin Harvick: Harvick will have a fast car , start up front , lead laps , get upset at his pit crew, and have a misleading finish. That's how majority of Kevin's races plays out. Over past 2 races here , KH have compiled an 16.0 average finish , 2 Top 20s , 2 laps led, and 78.8 driver rating. Kevin never have ran up front here , expect that to change.

5-Kasey Kahne: I don't trust Kahne , but I do think there upside with selecting him. Kahne have some terrific tracks coming up. And typically the HMS cars look really good at Indy. Over past two races here , KK have compiled an 7.5 average finish , 1 Top 5, 2 Top 15s, 0 laps led and 103.8 driver rating. Fyi he finish 3rd last year. Had one of the strongest cars outside of Ryan Newman and Jimmie Johnson.

10-Danica Patrick: Danica been a somewhat reliable option over the recent weeks for my team. Surprising since I said I would rather be burned alive , then use Danica again (after the Pocono race). Nevertheless , she isn't the ideal option this week. She finished 30th last year. So that isn't really impressive. I will probably leave her off.

11-Denny Hamlin: Hamlin knows how to get around the flats. Also its seems the JGR cars are coming to full circle (like Michelle stated multiple times in past few weeks). Hamlin should be one of the popular choice (again). Over past two races here, DH have compiled an 12.0 average finish , 1 Top 10, 2 Top 20s , 31 laps led and 94.9 driver rating.

12-Juan Pablo Montoya: JPM knows how to get around Indy. He been close to VL. Few years ago he had the dominated car , but got penalize late in the race. He finish 18th back at Michigan. Expect a similar finish (if not better). This may be Juan last Cup race ever (unless Penske decides to use him again in 2015).

14-Tony Stewart: Another Indiana native, Smoke will try extra hard this week with entire state in his corner. Smoke may go down as the best driver ever at Indy. He pretty good here lately. Over past 2 races here , 7.0 average finish, 1 Top 5, 2 Top 10s, 2 laps led and 98.2 driver rating.

18-Kyle Busch: Rowdy been solid here as of late. Not to mention , JGR have improved a ton since beginning of the season. Over past two races , Rowdy have compiled an 6.0 average finish , 1 Top 5, 2 Top 10s, 3 laps led and 109.4 driver rating.

20-Matt Kenseth: Kenseth doesn't really excite me as an option at Indy. I mean there are clearly worst choices , but there are better places to use him as well. He finish 5th last year , but I am not in love with him this week. Still will have top 10 potential heading in though.

21-Trevor Bayne: Bayne typically would without question get a slot on my team (outside of Daytona and Talladega). This week that remains in question. Trevor is on the outside looking in. His stats at Indy: 25.0 average finish (3 starts), Best finish of 17th. Hard to leave him off , but same goes for Larson (always a threat for Qualifying points).

22-Joey Logano: Logano hurt his wrist in a crash at New Hampshire. Honestly I would rather step back for a few races and see how he does overall. As I did when Gordon injuried his back and Hamlin eye problem. I want max value from Logano. Over past 2 races here , JoLo have compiled an 20.5 average finish , 1 Top 10, 11 laps led and 86.6 driver rating.

24-Jeff Gordon: Gordon is a four time winner here. Haven't won in awhile , but last time I was there (2011). He had the dominate car, to only be outsmarted by young Paul Menard. Gordon is having a similar season to 2011 , so I wouldn't be shocked to him dominate again. Gordon is my early pick to win. Over past two races here , Gordon have compiled an 6.0 average finish , 1 Top 5 , 2 Top 10s, 12 laps led and 110.9 driver rating. In 20 career starts , Gordon have 16 Top 10s (11 Top 5s , 4 wins , 3 poles). That insanely good.

27-Paul Menard: Menard is a former winner. He outdueled Jeff Gordon and his dominate racecar in 2011. Of course that was on fuel mileage. Over past two races here , Paul compiled an 13.0 average finish , 2 Top 20s, 1 lap led and 85.3 driver rating. In 7 career races , Paul only have 1 Top 10. But 5 of those races were finished inside top 20 though.

31-Ryan Newman: Newman originally from South Bend , IN. He started on the pole in 2013. Led laps early on , before Johnson took over. Newman won the race in the pits with a genius call from his pit crew. Over past two races here , Newman have compiled an 4.0 average finish , 1 win , 1 Top 5 , 2 Top 10s, 41 laps led and 114.1 driver rating. In 13 career starts , Newman have only 3 Top 10s. Which is about 23% of the time.

42-Kyle Larson: Larson will make my team this week , but for qualifying only. Larson will probably start up front and finish in the top 15 at least. Larson can be used anywhere. But how you use him is what matters. Iam saving him for Bristol and Atlanta. Two tracks , he can win at.

48-Jimmie Johnson:  Johnson been one of the most reliable drivers over the past 5 years at Indy. He dominated in 2012 and won. Dominated in 2013 and finish 2nd. He will be unquestionably one of the top picked drivers this week. Over past two races here , JJ have compiled an 1.5 average finish ,1 win, 2 Top 5s , 2 Top 10s, 172 laps led and 144.2 driver rating. In 12 career starts , Jimmie have 4 wins , 5 Top 5s , and 6 Top 10s.

78-Martin Truex Jr: Martin probably isn't worth consideration this week. Just wait a few weeks to the Glenn to use him. Trying to get fancy normally doesn't end well here. Especially since the same teams always run in front.

88-Dale Jr: Want to get off sequence this week? How about Dale Jr? He doesn't have 4 wins like his teammates , but he been pretty stout here lately. His stats in his previous two starts at Indy: 5.0 average finish , 1 Top 5 , 2 Top 10s, 0 laps led and 103.6 driver rating. He have finishes of 4th and 6th.

99-Carl Edwards:  I haven't been in love with Edwards since Sonoma. So don't expect me to use him at Indy either. Edwards been at best top 15 value since June 2. He haven't been great at Indianapolis either. His stats suggests that , too. His best finish since 2012 was 13th. In 9 career starts , Edwards have collected 1 finish 1st-5th (11%)  and 3 finishes 6th-10th (33%). But 5 of 9 finishes were in the 11th-20th range. I know where I am putting my money.

Twitter - @JeffNathans

Thank for reading

Jeff Nathans

Fantasy Football Ranks RBs (1-5)

Welcome to TimersSports

Running Backs Rankings -

1. Jammal Charles: JC was a monster for owners in 2013. His first round draft status was sustained. He is one of the best backs I have ever seen catching ball out of the backfield. He can take short gainer and turn it into 20+ yards. Its also helps he get a boatload of goal line carries. Especially since the Kansas City offenss is all about short passes and letting Charles carry the offense.

2. LeSean McCoy - Shady arguably have the quickest reaction when avoiding tackles. He so good at spinning , turning and everything in between. His football pedigree may be his ability to break consistent long gains on catches out of the backfield. I love what he brings to the table. The arrival of Sproles hurt his draft value a bit. Which is the main reason he doesn't make a case for number one overall.

3. Adrian Peterson: AP went from near record breaking (2012) to disappointing in 2013. He wasn't bad last season. But his numbers weren't what were expected out of the number 1 overall selection. Peterson now is primed to get back on track with a new coach (Turner) and quarterback (Waterbridge). Peterson can do it all. His abilities to break tackles and gain yardage after the first hit is unbelievable.

4. Matt Forte: Fotre is a legit back. In the past , he have had trouble staying healthy for 16 games. Last year he broke that trend. I consider him the complete back in some sense.  He is terrific out of the backfield. The bears love featuring Fotre in different place. Matt will normally lineup at running back. But often , Matt will lineup as a Wide Out. What I love most about him, he can block downfield unlike any other.

5. Eddie Lacy: Lacy is one of my favorite backs. What a season he had for the Green Bay Packers. Before Lacy came around , Ryan Grant was the last Packer to rush 100 yards in a game (let alone 1000 yards in a season). Many view Lacy as overweight , but he just a power back. He is tough as nails. You aren't gonna bring this freak of nature down without a fight. Can he repeat his 1200 yards year? Definitely. Least 1000 is in his wheelhouse.

Next scheduled Article for this writer: Running Backs 6-10 Rankings

Thanks for reading

Chase Edwards

Fantasy Football Discussion 1.0

Welcome to TimersSports

The Fantasy Football season is upon. The boys here at TimersSports are hard at work as the preseason approach. Today , we will take a closer look at specific topics. As Chase Edwards , Matt Aleza (@MattAleza1) and Jeff Nathans (@JeffNathans) give their opinions and thoughts. Sit back and lets get started!

Chase - Welcome Gents. Ready for some football!?

Matt - Yes sir.

Jeff - Heck yeah. Btw thanks for inviting me to take part in the discussion. You boys better have ice cold beer on hand.

Chase - Getting drunk and chatting about fantasy football. I like it. Lets roll.

Q- Is it better to draft early or late?

Chase: Depends. There benefits on both sides. Drafting in say July , will help give you some nice bargain deals. Which may no longer be bargain deals at end of August. Personally I like doing few drafts in July and then a few in August. Hey that's me.

Matt: Totally agree. I am for drafting really anything in the summer months. Drafting late is more beneficial though. When you take into consideration: Potential injuries , battle for positions on depth charts, etc.

Jeff: Late. Its only make sense. I mean , sure there perks of drafting early. But there also risks. If you are gonna draft early , then you better draft perfectly.

Q- For or against leagues which allows trading drafts picks?

Chase: I think it creates a unfair advantage in the long term. I am against it. Its really makes trades wins/losts that much more important.

Matt: I like it. Trading draft picks makes the game that much more interesting. Especially around the trade deadline. Just imagine a team with Peyton Manning , McCoy, Calvin Johnson and Julio Jones. With draft picks trading that is a possible lineup.

Jeff: Is it unfair that bacon so good? Is it unfair that LeBron James double crossed the Cleveland Cavs in 2010..to only repeat his actions 4 years later? Is it unfair I have to work 15 hours a day? Guess what life isn't fair. Bottom line is there are positives and negatives of trading draft picks. Your point of view will be the ultimate determination.

Q- Quarterbacks late or early?

Chase: I like taking mine in the middle. It can help improve an overall team. Well maybe not in 2013. Manning was golden.

Matt: Honestly it depends how the draft unfolds. If Manning/Brees/Rodgers still available in Late RD 3. You aren't gonna past them up. Your strategy may have been to wait ,but heck there some value. Like I said a few weeks ago , before the draft and during the draft are different things. We don't know the drafts will play out. Until its happens.

Jeff: Manning was so golden last year..his owners were shitting golden bricks. Too far?

Matt: Lmao. Just stop Jeff. Just stop. I have beer all over me.

Jeff: hehe

Chase: Lmfao. This have gotten way off topic. Next question!

Q- Final Question..Number One overall? And why?

Chase: Charles. He can do it. Catch. Run. Jump. Spin. You name it. He terrific.

Matt: McCoy. I like McCoy a lot. He was animal last year. Hoping for similar results. He is a great offense in Philly. He will get the ball even more now. With no Jackson.

Jeff: Charles. I like McCoy , Peterson and Forte. All fantastic backs. At end of the day , Charles will get a ton goal line carries. Catches out of the backfield. Unlimited numbers of carries as well. What not to love? Nothing that what. Peace.

Chase: Good chat Matt. Jeff.

Twitter-

@Timerssports
@MattAleza1
@JeffNathans

Fantasy Football Ranking QBs (11-15)

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Quarterbacks Rankings (Continued) -

11. Colin Kaepernick - CK7 rides the fine line between starter and backup. He isn't a bad quarterback at all. Unfortunately lacks huge upside. Lets be honest , Colin will throw for around 220 yards/g and 1-2 TDs/g. Which about middle of the road when compared to other quarterbacks. He also have the ability to run , so thats helps. 2013 stats: 243/416 (58.4%) , 3197 (199.7 yards/g) , 21 TDs (1.3 TDs/g) , and 8 Ints (0.5 Ints/g). Not horrible stats. But his yards and TDs needs to improve before he is considered a legit option.

12. Jay Cutler - I think Cutler is a terrific quarterback. But he isn't a starter in fantasy land. Least not until , he proves he can stay healthy for 16 games. Will he put up Rodgers or Manning stats? No unlikely. Nor should he be held to that standard. 2013 Stats: 224/355 (63.1%) , 2621 (238 yards/g) , 19 TDs (1.7 TDs/g), and 12 Ints (1.1 Ints/g). Probably doesn't look impressive. Actually it really is. That was in only 11 games. Given he kept this pace. His final stats could have been: 3808 yards , 32 TDs , and 17 Ints.

13. Tony Romo - Romo won't set the world on fire with stout playmaking decisions. But he does makes a fine backup for any owner. Romo have one that I love: Dez Bryant. Bryant may not be one of the popular guys in the NFL. Cannot deny he is one of the wide receivers in the game. Romo will always have a chance to produce double digit fantasy points. Least when Bryant is making plays on the field. He's a nice value deals in most leagues.

14. Russell Wilson - I personally think Wilson is underrated as a quarterback. Look I don't believe he's a elite quarterback. I also believe he doesn't get enough credit for their super bowl run last year. Without Wilson , they would be eaten alive in the NFC West. He worth least a 8th Round selection (as of right). Expect his draft stock to rise as we approach September. So if you want Wilson as a bargain deal , you better hurry. Because that window of opportunity is slowly closing.

15. Big Ben - The final spot in my Preseason rankings came down to Big Ben , Philip Rivers and Andy Dalton. Went with Big Ben. He is a freak of nature. For crying out loud , 6"5 and 260 lbs is Linebackers size. Very difficult to bring down on a consistent basis. Also he can move pretty well for a big guy. Big Ben seems very excited about the new fast pace offense. I would be willing to take a chance on him. Given the draft position/ Round is right.

Well there the top 15 for QBs. Tomorrow we will look at the Top 5 Running Backs. If we stay on schedule , we should have all of the rankings done by the first preseason game. Which works out perfectly.

Next Article Scheduled for this writer: Fantasy Football Rankings Running Backs (7/18)

Thanks for reading

Chase Edwards

Fantasy Football Ranks (6-10)

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Quarterbacks Ranking (Continued)

6. Nick Foles - In just 13 games , Foles stabilize himself as solid option last year. I wouldn't consider him a must-draft , but taking a chance could be worth it. In 2013 , Foles was 203/317 (64%) , 2871 Yards , 27 TDs (8.5%) and , 2 Ints (0.6%). His stats were terrific. His numbers could have been much better. Given he stayed on this pace. In 13 games , he averaged 222.4 yards/g , 2.1 TDs/g and 0.2 Ints/g. His final stats could have been: 3558 yards , 33 TDs and 3 Ints. Those are some sick good numbers.

7. Robert Griffin III - RGIII is a bit of risk for 2014 for anyone drafting him. Based on mock draft results , he is projected to go around 64th (10-teams). Thats actually a nice bargain deal. Especially if he can turn into his 2012 self. Last year wasn't the year for RGIII. Now a full year past surgery , he could be primed for a fantastic season. The addition of DeSean Jackson gives him a great arsenal of weaponry to his disposal. Robert most dangerous weapon could his ability to gain yards by using his legs.

8. Cam Newton - I really don't know if Cam deserves to be this high. I believe any great Qb can use less than stellar talent and work them to his advantage. At the same time , I don't like what Carolina have given Cam to work with. Expect Cam ranking to drop , but how far is the question before my season ranking comes out. Luckily we get a few glances of the Carolina offense in the preseason.

9. Matt Ryan - Matty Ice slipped under my radar until just recently. But I don't expect , I was the only one. There no secret that Ryan had bad 2013. Nobody knows that better then Matt Ryan himself. With a healthy Roddy White and Julio Jones. He could be the top 10 guy , we all know and love. Ryan's stats before Julio Jones went down vs after : 329 yards/g (First 5 games) v 233 yards/g (last 11 games). 10 TDs (First 5 games) vs 16 TDs (last 11 games). 3 Ints (First 5 games) vs 14 Ints (Last 11 games). Yeah I know it invalid based on the 5 games/ 11 games sample size comparison. Still interesting though.

10. Tom Brady - I have a ton of respect for Brady. Fact of the matter is , Brady doesn't have the supporting cast as he did back in 2012. His numbers were really good because of the players around him. I am not saying Brady isn't great. But I do believe , he isn't at the elite status anymore. Can he be a top 10 quarterback? Sure why not. The young Pats Receiving core needs to help him out some though.

Next scheduled article for this writer: Fantasy Football Ranks Quarterbacks 11-15 (7/17)

Thanks for reading

Chase Edwards

Fantasy Football Sleepers : TEs

Welcome to TimersSports

On Monday and Tuesday , we focused-in on running backs and Wide Receiver. Today Tight ends are our targets. This is one of the most shallow position (terms of superstar power). Finding a nice bargain deal is the ultimate goal at this position. There are multiple options which don't get enough respect. Finding those options could help bulid a stronger overall squad.

Sleepers -

Jordan Reed: Reed first caught my attention week 4 (few weeks before the breakout performance vs Chi). He is a legit option at this position. He is big , strong and can cause problems for any defender. The addition of DeSean Jackson will only help him get open even more. RGIII absolutely love the potential Reed have for the upcoming season. Its been awhile since , I been this high on a Tight End coming off a injury. But man he have enormous upside.

Charles Clay - Charles Clay is the definition  of underrated at the Tight End position. He finished 7th last year among TEs and his draft stock barely improved. I understand that he haven't put up numbers like V.Davis , J.Graham or R.Gronkowski. But man he still doesn't deserves to be abused like he is among experts and fellow players. He is heck of a bargain deal (As of right now). I have high hopes for Mr.Clay.

Kyle Rudolph - Rudolph can be a fantasy monster in the red zone. Very few defenders can be expected to contain the 6"5 physical Tight End. He was a complete animal in 2012. Look for him to return to his old self very shortly. He missed multiple games last season. So he a bit of risk , but under a new offensive system. He have potential to be a handful for defenses.

Delaine Walker - Walker is a solid Tight End. He was in a bad place to his career (San Fran). After 2012 , he landed as a Titan last season. He was only the 12th best Tight End in fantasy land. You can expect similar results in 2014. He should be nice top 15 option. Depending on #'s of targets/receptions comes his way. May float with top 10, if Locker can stay healthy.

Well that's it for Tight Ends. Again really don't have much to go at this point. Glad preseason starts in 18 days.

Might take a look at Kickers and Defenses. But they are more difficult in the sleeper department. Especially with no current data to go on (terms of 2014 season).

Next Article Scheduled for this writer: Fantasy Football Quarterbacks Busts (7/21)

Twitter - @WilliamFrang

Thanks for reading

Will Frang

Fantasy Football Sleepers: Wrs

Welcome to TimersSports

Over the last few days , I have put together potential sleepers (Qbs and Rbs). Today our focus will be Wide Receivers. Once this was considered a primary position, but nowadays it considered secondary to running backs. There are clear gems in the 2nd/3rd Round like Johnson, Green, Bryant , Jones, Nelson ,etc. But there are hidden gems in the middle to late rounds. Let get started!

Sleepers-

Jarrett Boykin: Before the draft , Boykin was considered an legit sleeper at Wide Receiver. Then the Packers draft 2 more Wide Receivers. At first glance , its looks bad for Boykin. Especially with the Packers drafting additional talent at this position. But with James Jones departure , things looks better. Take into consideration, Rodgers is the starting quarterback. When Rodgers is your quarterback everyone get a shot to shine.

Ty Hilton: Hilton isn't quite the sleeper candidate he was last year. But he still doesn't get the respect , he truly deserves. Hilton clearly the No.2 WR for the Colts. Hilton is the playmaker in the receiving core. We saw flashes of that in 2012 and 2013. Sadly his inconsistently drags down his ADP and overall value. Don't be fooled , he is very capable of putting up big numbers. I am very high on this young man. Expect a breakout season from Mr.Hilton.

Marvin Jones - Jones impressed me at times in 2013. His 4 TDs game was standout moment in his campaign. Understandable there moments were he just disappeared. Rightfully so with Aj Green also on the field. The potential is definitely there. Andy Dalton and Beganals throw the ball a ton , so expect Jones to get his share of the cake. Mr. Green will have to learn how to share.

Tavon Austin - Austin was highly regarded as a top sleeper candidate last year. Ended up a bust. Now a year later here we are. All honestly I think he gonna do really well or really terrible. Also think how Sam Bradford uses Tavon will ultimately seal his fate. It not logical for the Rams to waste a talent such as Tavon Austin. Weather the Rams sees it that way , may be a different story. Austin could be a risky selection , but the reward may be worth it.

Golden Tate - Tate went from the defense-mindset Seahawks to the pass happy offensively Lions squad. I like it. The Lions don't have the right tools to win a ballgame from a defense philosophy standpoint. So they will lean on the offense. Expect great things from Tate. Especially since the defenses will try to slow down Megatron. Which will open more opportunities up for Tate. Cannot expect WR1 numbers , but WR2 numbers could be in Tate near future.

Well that's it for WRs sleepers candidates. Really wish the season was here already. Don't have much to go on (data wise). Rattling off stats from the previous season isn't my style.

Planned to released my sleepers for Tight Ends tonight as well. Forgot that my sister is getting married on Saturday. So I was busy getting things ready for the wedding. Long story short , I will have them posted by Thursday. Enjoy your Tuesday.

Twitter - @WilliamFrang

Thanks for reading ,

William Frang

Fantasy Football Qbs Ranks (1-5)

Welcome to TimersSports
Over the past few days , William Frang (@WilliamFrang) have been delivering potential sleepers candidates. So today , I will give you my Top 5 Quarterbacks. As we draw closer to September , look for my official Quarterback rankings for the 2014 season. Expect it to be dramatically different though.

1. Peyton Manning- After missing the 2011 season , many questioned weather Manning would ever be the same. 3 years later , we are wondering how can anyone slow him down. Manning put on a unbelievable show for his owners. 55 TDs and 5000+ yards alone was just incredible. In 16 games , Manning was 450/659 (68.3%) , 5477 yards, 55 TDs (8.3 TD %) , and 10 Ints (1.5 Int %). 9 times in 2013 , Manning had 4 or more TDs in a game. While topping 400 yards 3 times (300 yards 12 times and 250 yards 15 times). Very few owners will pass up a chance to draft Peyton Manning. He is easily worth every penny of a 2nd round pick (if not 1st round).

2. Aaron Rodgers - Brees could have gotten the slot , but no quarterback have a TD / Int Ratio such as Rodgers does. His accuracy , decision making and surprising athleticism is above average. With an improved Defense, additional added talented to already explosive offense. He could have a tremendous 2014 , but staying healthy will be key. Rodgers have unlimited talent at his fingertips within the Packers offense.

3. Drew Brees - Brees doesn't have the talented offenses individual like Thomas , Nelson , Welker and Cobb at Wide Receiver. But Jimmy Graham is just as good. Drew have one of the better arms in the NFL. He been a 5000+ yards machine in the recent years. Few Quarterbacks in this era will ever reach that mark. He is worth his draft position and then some.

4. Andrew Luck - Andrew Luck was drafted No.1 overall  in 2012. His numbers: 339/627 (54.1%) , 4374 yards , 23 TDs , and 18 Ints. 2 concerns I had was his relatively low completion % and his high Interception rate. In 2013 , Luck stats: 343/570 (60.2%) , 3822 yards, 23 TDs , and 9 Ints. Luck improved his completion % and lowered his Interceptions. Unfortunately dropped in yards (552 fewer yards) and passing attempts (52 fewer attempts). 552 yards seems like a lot , right? So lets do a quarterback experiment. In 2013 , Luck averaged 238 yards/g and 35 passing attempts/g. So that 357 yards in 52 attempts (238 + Half of that number which is 119). If those trends held , Luck would have ended with 4179 yards.

5. Matthew Stafford - Stafford may not be the right quarterback for everyone , but he knows how to get results year in and out. In 2013 , Stafford went 371/634 (58.5%) , 4650 yards , 29 TDs and 19 Ints. Not great overall numbers. Lets compare his first 8 vs last 8 games: 211/338 (62.4%) , 2617 yards , 16 TDs , and 6 Ints (First 8 games). 160/296 (54%) , 2033 yards , 13 TDs , and 13 Ints (Last 8 games). The purpose of that comparison was to show that Stafford significant dropped off in the second half. Was he a bad quarterback? No not at all. He was a nice bargain deal in the 8th round. Unfortunately , he cannot have a significant drop off like that based on his ADP of 51. I expect him to go in the 5th Round in most drafts though. Depending on your league format/setup. Ex: Some leagues rewards quarterbacks for X-amount of yards and/or X-amount of pass attempt/completions. Rather then zero-in on Tds/Ints.

Thanks for reading

Chase Edwards

Fantasy Football Sleepers: Rbs

Welcome to Timerssports

We are kicking off the TimersSports Fantasy Football Marathon with running back sleepers. This is easily one of premiere positions in the game. The limited legitimate running back outside of mid-round 3. So while guys like Peterson , McCoy , Foster , Lynch and Charles are the running backs gems. But there are hiddened middle of the road backs known best as role running backs (aka depth). So let get started!

Sleepers -

Stevan Ridley: If you drafted Ridley (like myself..luckily I manage to get a 3rd pick for him), then I can understand your doubt. Ridley was clearly a bust at No.21 overall in 2013. Mainly because he cannot hold onto the ball. Fortunately there a few things to like about him in 2014. The noticeable would his average draft position (ADP). His ADP is 62. In other words , you aren't giving up a lot with selecting him. At best he just added depth at rb. Heck if he does start the year off well , he would be a fantastic trading piece to upgrade at other positions. The departure of Blout also helps his cause. As Veneer is no more then a pass-catcher out of the backfield. Ridley easily could be the primary back for the Pats with a great camp and preseason.

Ben Tate: After being draft in 2010 to become the starting running back for Houston. He got plagued with injuries his rookie year. Which allowed unknown  undrafted rookie Arian Foster to pounce on the ultimate opportunity. Four years later , he finally get his shot in the spotlight and out of Foster shadow. Tate have all of the potential to be a terrific value deal. He's most likely go in the 7th round (as right now). There were clearly a few times in 2013 where he showed flashes of what he can bring to the table.

Steven Jackson: The former St. Louis Rams star back finds himself to be under the radar after a lackluster 2013. Its wasn't 100% Jackson fault ,but his absent on the field had a effect with his overall stats. Probably why he dropped like a rock (In ADP and Overall value). Staying healthy will be key. He could have a great bounce back season. Given the line can hold up and the star Wrs can stay on the field.

James Starks: JS is arguably one of the most underrated backups in the league. Eddie Lacy tore it up last season as a rookie. While James led all backs with 80+ carries in YPC category. Also rushed for over 500 yards in a limited role. That alone should make him a desirable draft pick. Need more? Lacy suffered multiple injuries as a rookie and rumors are his workload to decrease in 2014. Which means JS will get more playing time.

Fred Jackson: CJ Spiller was a 1st Round bust , while Jackson was able to make the most out his opportunities. Jackson was on my short list sleepers at rb in 2013. As I expected , he made me look good. He managed to stay healthy as well. Clearly that was something both Spiller and Jackson have had problems with in previous seasons. In 2013 , He rushed 206 for 890 yards and 9 TDs. Spiller rushed 202 for 933 yards and 2 TDs. Spiller missed one game though.

Well that's all for Rbs. Tomorrow we finish up on sleepers with Wide Receivers and Tight ends.

Twitter -@WilliamFrang

Twitter- @liveocgirl

Also check out:

Fantasy Football Chick Sleepers

Thanks for reading

William Frang

Fantasy Nascar Raceday Thoughts

Welcome to Timerssports

Happy Raceday. Setting your fantasy team can be difficult , especially with everything being factored in. Below our group of experts give their thoughts on day race (Including their final picks).

Michelle Rizzo (@MichelleRizzo5) :

- Expect track position to huge. Teams who can keep their up front will have a good shot at finishing there.

- Brad Keselowski been in his own zip code all weekend long.

- One mistake can screw up your whole day. Remember last year? Menard spun Gordon out. Finish 15th with a top 5 type car.

- Look for all sort of pit strategies to gain track position.

- The cars which have the best long run speed will be able to pass the best. Mainly because over a long run , some cars will lose significant amount of speed to others.

Garry Briggs (@Gbriggs12):

-Keep your eyes on the 1 car in today race. He have the best sleeper potential. Shown nice long run speed in both sessions on Saturday.

-I don't buy into Vickers this weekend. He was unimpressive in happy hour. He was on my list of busts earlier this week. He was really falls off on the long run.

-Smoke was horrible in happy hour. Noted that Smoke was on old tires for the entire practice. So it tough to tell what he really have.

-Brad Keselowski is my pick to win today. It his race to lose.

Jeff Nathans (@JeffNathans):

-Jeff Gordon have an awesome racecar for today race. Less cautions = Increase chance Gordon could win. Mainly because he been almost unstoppable on long runs in 2014. Plus he straight down horrible on restarts.

-Harvick is the man nobody is talking about. Harvick posted a great ten lap average in happy hour. Only thing better then that..he also posted a sick 15-lap average. Which ranked 1st on the charts. Longer a run = Faster he get.

-Track position may be the outcome factor. Given we get a late caution.

-This is short race, so the gambling will probably start with the first pit stop.

Yahoo Lineups:

Gordon , Hamlin, Smoke and Burton - @MichelleRizzo5

Harvick , Smoke , Newman and Burton - @JeffNathans

Johnson, Hamlin , JMac and Burton - @Gbriggs12

Fantasy Live:

Keselowski , Hamlin , Gordon , Cassill and Burton - Michelle

Keselowski , Ky Busch , Harvick , Annett and Burton - Jeff

Keselowski, Gordon , Harvick , Burton and Annett - Garry

Dark Horse:

Jamie Mac - Michelle

Kasey Kahne - Jeff

Kyle Busch - Garry

Race Winner:

Brad Keselowski - Michelle

Brad Keselowski - Jeff

Kevin Harvick - Garry

Fantasy Nascar Final Rankings

Welcome to Timerssports

Final Rankings -

1. Brad Keselowski
2. Jeff Gordon
3. Jimmie Johnson
4. Kevin Harvick
5. Kyle Busch
6. Denny Hamlin
7. Joey Logano
8. Matt Kenseth
9. Kasey Kahne
10. Kyle Larson
11. Clint Bowyer
12. Tony Stewart
13. Jamie Mac
14. Paul Menard
15. Dale Earnhardt Jr
16. Brain Vickers
17. Ryan Newman
18. Carl Edwards
19. Austin Dillon
20. Jeff Burton
21. Aj Dinger
22. Martin Truex Jr
23. Kurt Busch
24. Greg Biffle
25. Marcos Ambrose
26. Aric Almirola
27. Justin Alliager
28. Danica Patrick
29. Ricky Stenhouse Jr
30. Casey Mears

Twitter - @JeffNathans

Thanks for reading

Jeff Nathans

Fantasy Nascar Update (NHMS)

Welcome to Timerssports

Notes-

1-Jamie Mac: JMac have impressed me in every practice session and will start from 5th. He have a good car for Sunday. He was near top of the charts among the Best-ten lap averages. Got looser on the long runs though.

2-Brad Keselowski: Keselowski was in his own zip code on Saturday. He won both practice sessions. He is the favorite heading in. BK seems very happy with his car. To nobody surprise.

3-Austin Dillon: Dillon looked average in practice. Which is normal for him. Typical he races better then he practices. Expect top 20 finish from Dillon.

4-Kevin Harvick: Harvick starts 12th. Wasn't very with the car on Friday. Thought the car was horrible during qualifying. On Saturday , he wasn't completely happy with the handling until end of Happy Hour. He commented ," Its takes off really good"

5-Kasey Kahne: Kahne looks pretty good this weekend (he was one of 3 @Gbriggs12 's sleeper picks from Tuesday). Kahne tested here recently , so its isn't too shocking. Kahne rolls off from 10th.

10-Danica Patrick: Danica wasn't very good in either session on Saturday. Her lap times were around 25th overall. It probably wouldn't be worth using her on Sunday.

11-Denny Hamlin: Hamlin been strong all weekend. First time all season , I liked Denny chances to possibly win. Hamlin seems to have a good handling car with a nice balance of speed. He posted terrific best-ten lap average in both sessions on Saturday. He starts two spots behind teammate and pole sitter Kyle Busch.

14-Tony Stewart: Smoke starts 4th. He was decent on Saturday. But not great. I have him penciled in around 7th-12th range. Which is where most had him ranked earlier in the week.

15-Clint Bowyer: Clint starts 8th. He was okay overall. I was expecting to see a bit more out of him though. His lap times were just outside the top 10 really. It would be difficult to start him in Yahoo this week. Especially with Grouping A being stacked with top 5 potential drivers.

16-Greg Biffle: RFR cars are junk again this weekend. What a shocker. The Biff might be the worst of them all. I don't even think , he have top 20 potential. Unless he gambles late in the race.

18-Kyle Busch: Busch starts from 1st. Busch looked good in both sessions on Saturday. Which makes him a nice gamble this weekend. Didn't see him make any major long runs though (I am sure he did.. probably miss it).

20-Matt Kenseth: Kenseth starts from just outside the top 12. He didn't standout in practice. But rarely he does. He's really good at making his way through the field on a consistent basis. Expect a top 10 from the 20 car.

22-Joey Logano: Logano wrecked his primary car in practice 1 (on Friday). Qualified 6th in his backup. Looked top 10 on Saturday. He said his primary had top 5 potential. Probably wouldn't recommend him here. Especially in limited usage formatted leagues. I want max value out my starts , he doesn't give us that opportunity this weekend.

24-Jeff Gordon: Gordon had the second best car to Keselowski overall. Gordon displayed wicked long run speed. He is a top 5 guy going in. Its will be hard to leave him off for Sunday race.

27-Paul Menard : Back on Thursday in the Fantasy Nascar Discussion , Michelle Rizzo (@MichelleRizzo5) said Menard was her weekend sleeper. And he haven't disappointed. Its seemed every practice session , the 27 of Menard have gotten better and better.Top 15 is likely. Maybe a top 10 even.

31-Ryan Newman: Newman was a popular pick this week (in Yahoo). Unfortunately a poor qualifying effort have him under everyone radar. He wasn't very happy with his car on Friday. But he seems to have gotten better on Saturday. Lacked long run speed though. Ended P22 on Best ten lap average chart.

42-Kyle Larson:  Larson looks really good (like his teammate JMac). Larson starts 13th. He have top 10 potential. Nevertheless I don't plan to use him though. He holds too much value.

48-Jimmie Johnson: Johnson wasn't very good until Chad tuned the ole 48 car to Jimmie boy liking. He rolls off 2nd. Probably be smart to save him , since he doesn't have a dominate car like he did back at Charlotte or Dover.

55-Brain Vickers : Didn't really buy into Vickers this week. And so far I been spot on. He have at best top 15 chance. I have him penciled in at 16th. There are better choices to use.

66-Jeff Burton: Burton started off slow on Friday (with a poor qualifying effort). Nevertheless , he looked stout on Saturday. Legitimately have a shot at top 20. Wouldn't rule out top 15. Hard to pass up a value deal like this. Also this is likely Jeff Burton final race.

88-Dale Jr: Dale wasn't very good on Friday. He even admitted it on Twitter. But Steve and the boys got that 88 in the right direction in Happy Hour. But his car still not where he wants it. Fyi Dale leads all driver in average finish on flats in 2014.

99-Carl Edwards : Edwards have been quiet most of the weekend (like normal). Really couldn't get a good read on him. He didn't make any long runs (real shocker there). Its really a risk/reward deal with starting Edwards. He may finish top 10. Or may finish in the mid to late teens. Take your pick.

Well that wraps up my notes from the weekend. Check back later for my Final Rankings. And check back again tomorrow for the Raceday Thoughts from our group of expertises.

Twitter - @JeffNathans

Thanks for reading

Jeff Nathans

Fantasy Football Sleepers: Qbs

Welcome to Timerssports

Today we will start looking at potential  sleepers for the upcoming season. For most , draft day is still a few weeks away. But having a few sleepers on your mind at each position isn't a horrible idea. The quarterback position is arguably the most important (outside of the running back). So finding a nice quarterback at a value price can really boast your team overall potential.

Sleepers-

Sam Bradford : Bradford is easily one of the most underrated Quarterbacks in the entire NFL. I absolutely loved what I saw in 2013. Of course before having a season ending injury. Lets look at his stats from the 7 games , he did play in: 159/262 (60.7%) , 1687 yards, 14 TDs and 4 Ints. If I remember right , before suffering an torn ACL , he ranked among the top 10 of all Quarterbacks. Last month , Bradford said the knee is really good.

Jay Cutler : Cutler isn't a starting Quarterback for 16 games in my opinion. Mainly because he cannot stay healthy. But selecting him as a backup would be a fantastic idea. Jay didn't play every game , but he was pretty effective when he did. He improved on his TD/INT ratio and yardage in 2013. He is making smarter and more reasonable decisions when the defense get to him as well. Cutler 2013 stats: 224/355 (63.1%) , 2621 yards , 19 TDs and 12 INTs. He matched his TDs from 2012 (played in 4 fewer games) and lower his Ints from 14 to 12. Throw for 412 fewer yards in 11 games. Definitely would have improved , if he played in more games. He also had 6 20-pts game for owners. Which is as many as some big time names like Andrew Luck , CK7 and Tom Brady (all played more games). So there definitely potential with Cutler.

Matt Ryan: Its isn't a secret that Matt Ryan been on my radar since beginning of 2014. So no surprise that he lands on the list of sleepers candidates. What I really love about him is the potential he progresses in 2014. Just look at his receiving core: Julio Jones , Roddy White , Devin Hester and Harry Douglas. That's is a sick good group of weaponry. His value was clearly killed after Julio Jones went down in the early stages of 2013. But with a healthy Roddy and Julio , defenses may be in for some long afternoons.

Josh McCrown : After leading the Cutler-less Bears to wins in the mid to late stages of the 2013 season. Josh now finds himself in a new role with a new team in Tampa Bay. The Bucs were horrible in 2013. But a healthy Doug Martin and recently added McCrown makes this team a prime breakout candidate squad. McCrown won't win a throwing contest against Peyton Manning , but Josh is easily a nice backup. Not to mention , He is throwing to Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson. They are basically Tampa version of Alshon Jeffery. Big , fast and strong.

Robert Griffin III : RGIII is considered a steal by some and a bust by others for the upcoming season. He is expected to get drafted in late 6th Round/Early 7th Round in most drafts. The report out of Washington is that RG3 is returning to his 2012 form. If that the case , then I am extremely excited to see him on the field in September. What really make a steal is all the talent around him. Just think about the potential. RG3 at Quarterback. Morris at Rb. Jackson/Garcon at WR. Reed at TE. From a fantasy point of view , his arsenal of weapons could make him a top 5 value at Quarterback (realistic Top 10). Snatching another reliable backup wouldn't be a bad idea to pair RG3 with. His best asset of all could his Average Draft Position (ADP). Realistically speaking , I much rather waste my pick on a Quarterback in the 6th or 7th Round then 2nd or 3rd Round. Especially if that player lose time on field due to injury (as every player brings that risk).

Well that wraps up the sleepers (least for the Quarterbacks). Next week , I will focus on the running backs and Wide Receivers.

Twitter: @WilliamFrang

Thanks for reading

William Frang

Fantasy Football Draft Results

Welcome to TimersSports

Draft Results :

Qb(s)-

Robert Griffin III

CK7

Rb(s) -

Arain Foster

Doug Martin

M. Jones-Drew

Ray Rice

Wr(s) -

Calvin Johnson

Julio Jones

Victor Cruz

James Jones

TE-

Rob Gronkowski

Jordan Reed

Defense -

Arizona

Kicker -

Mason Crosby

Notes: This could be one of my most stacked teams ever. Also could be the most injuries prong team as well. You are probably thinking , "how did you draft Johnson , Jones, Martin and foster?" Good question. That's the beauty of trading draft picks. I traded the 4th , 17th, 37th OA picks for the 10th, 11th and 33rd. Johnson happened to fall into my arms at No.10. Foster the following pick. Jones fell to No.24. I expect there a concern with Jones overall health. Overall solid draft. This squad have unlimited potential , but staying healthy will be key.

Thanks for reading

Garry Briggs

Fantasy Nascar Early Rankings

Welcome to TimersSports

Early Rankings -

1. Jimmie Johnson
2. Kevin Harvick
3. Jeff Gordon
4. Brad Keselowski
5. Denny Hamlin
6. Kyle Busch
7. Kasey Kahne
8. Dale Jr
9. Joey Logano
10. Clint Bowyer
11. Matt Kenseth
12. Carl Edwards
13. Ryan Newman
14. Tony Stewart
15. Greg Biffle
16. Jamie Mac
17. Kyle Larson
18. Brain Vickers
19. Jeff Burton
20. Paul Menard
21. Kurt Busch
22. Austin Dillon
23. Aric Almirola
24. Martin Truex Jr
25. Marcos Ambrose
26. Danica Patrick
27. Justin Alliager
28. Ricky Stenhouse jr
29. Casey Mears
30. Michael Annett

Fantasy Nascar Discussion

Welcome to Timerssports

We are headed to New Hampshire this week. As the initial lockdown looms for Yahoo, burning question and concerns rapidly grows among players. Is this the week to rest Penske? Is Smoke worth consideration? That and much more as Matt Aleza (@MattAleza1) and the gang looks ahead the week. Let get started!

Q- Thoughts on Daytona?

@MattAleza1 : Meh..The Roush boyz ruined the fun really. 37 cars all in total. That right there was every fantasy player nightmare. Glad we at New Hampshire.

@Gbriggs12: Haha man that race was definitely entertaining. I mean threat of rain + drama + wrecks = heck of a weekend. Plus I had a outstanding day with my Yahoo team.

@MichelleRizzo5 : Lol Garry..You are still going on about your above average score at Daytona. I didn't like Daytona very much. Mainly because I missed most of it.

@Gbriggs12 - Haha yeah, but my season have had very few bright spots. Got to enjoy them much as possible.

Q- Do we select Smoke for NHMS? Explain your reasoning.

@MattAleza1: Yes. I mean I don't think he gonna be as great as everyone is thinking. But rather  be safe then get completely burn. In case he looks unbelievably good in practice.

@Gbriggs12 : No. Everyone have their own opinions. But if you read my article post (Sleepers and Busts). I stated some interesting stats that suggests Smoke could be a disappointment. Will everyone agree with me? Heck no. My point being , go with your gut.

@MichelleRizzo5 : No. Honestly I haven't seen enough out of Tony Stewart to confidently say he is an top 10 option after 18 races. And after reading Garry's sleepers and busts article , It officially made up my mind. Tony needs to prove himself before he get consideration from me.

@MattAleza1: Hmm..Okay. Next Question.

Q- Yay or Nay on resting Penske at NHMS?

@MattAleza1: Yes. I would rest the Penske cars this week. Especially with several useable options to choose from. I mean Edwards , The Biff , Smoke, Hamlin , Newman , Menard , etc to name a few off top of my head. All have legitimate shot at top 15 a least.

@Gbriggs12: Yes. I really think resting them here will benefit us later on down the road say at Atlanta or Chicagoland.

@MichelleRizzo5: Yes as well. Unless you have 5 or more with least one of them. Their value is unbelievable in Yahoo. Having a sum total of four or five in the chase will give you a significant edge.

@MattAleza1 - Heck even having any starts left itself should give you advantage in the chase. It all about using the right drivers at the right places.

@MichelleRizzo5 - How many starts do you want for the Chase?

@MattAleza1 - Right now I have Nine (4 Brads and 5 JoLo). So around 6.

Q- Sleeper Pick?

@MattAleza1 - JMac. He been fantastic at similar tracks. Had a great car at Phoenix. Finish 15th. Running close to the top 5 at Martinsville , before Dale Jr wrecked him. Had top 10 potential at Richmond , but faded at end to around 13th.

@Gbriggs12 - Kyle Busch. I absolutely loving that everyone is overlooking Rowdy. This cat can drive. Expect him to be mixing it up at the front all weekend long. He have finishes of 9th , 14th , and 3rd at similar tracks. Not bad right?

@MichelleRizzo5: Paul Menard. I just like Menard this weekend. Got a really good feeling about him. Probably a gut feeling though.

Q- Yahoo Lineups?

@MattAleza1 : 24,4. 2,11,14,31. 66,3.

@Gbriggs12: 48,15. 2,27,99,1. 66,42.

@MichelleRizzo5: 18,48. 31,11,22,2. 66,3.

@MattAleza1: Interesting B-list Garry..care to explain?

@Gbriggs12: Definitely. Doing the math and if I can start save here , I can mathematically make it to Homestead without start saving (or close to it).

@MattAleza1: Ah okay. I am not even close. Lol.

Thanks for reading!

Fantasy Nascar Sleepers and Busts

Welcome to TimersSports

Sleeper:

Kyle Busch - Busch will be overlooked by most for Harvick , Gordon , Johnson. Busch finish 2nd in both races last season. He haven't showned much of his 2013 self. Fortunately he been at his best at similar flat tracks. His 9.0 average starting position and 8.6 average finishing position is pretty stout. If you haven't realize , his 8.6 average finish is 6th best. While his 9.0 average starting position also ranks near the top. Cannot beat that , especially with less then 20% will roaster him.

Bust -

Tony Stewart: Stewart 19.3 average finish position on similar flat tracks doesn't impresses me. You could argue that none of those races (Martinsville , Phoenix and Richmond) were held in the summer months yet. And valid point , given that Stewart does his best work in the summer. Lets go all the back start of 2010. In his previous 31 similar flat tracks races , Stewart have only recorded 13 Top 10s. Which is about 42% of the time. So a 40/60 chance of nabbing a top 10 this weekend. With Indy , Pocono, The Glenn, Chicagoland, etc to name a few coming up still. I don't know about anyone else , but I see some fantastic tracks coming up to use Smoke.

Sleeper-

Kasey Kahne: Kahne is quite underrated. He is a former winner at the 1-mile track. He may surprise people this weekend with a strong top 5 effort. I believe that is very possible. His efforts on flat tracks in 2014 haven't been great. But his results is misleading due to extremely bad luck. I wouldn't recommend this anyone near top of their league overall points. But for those all but out of the championship hunt. Here your high risk/high reward pick.

Bust-

Brain Vickers: Vickers may have finish 1st and 7th last year. But unfortunately that was with the mastermind CC on flat tracks atop his pit box. His flat tracks efforts reflects the change. He have recorded zero top 10 in 4 attempts. New Hampshire may be his best shot though. Unfortunately it unlikely. Vickers actually isn't that good on these type of tracks. Having a terrific setups last few years made him overrated. I am not buying the Vick bait.

Sleeper -

Jeff Burton: In case , you haven't heard Burton in the 66. Most people automatically think the 66 is always junk equipment wise. That is a misleading and inaccurate. It depends on the driver. Burton will have MWR equipment this weekend. Which makes him gold in Yahoo. Unless you ton of Dillon and Larson starts. Burton is a 4-time winner at New Hampshire. This is his best track from a career point of few.

Bust-

Danica Patrick: Do I think Danica a bust? No. Do I think her percentage is way too high in Yahoo? Without question yes. Her percentage is way too high this week. Especially with Burton entered. She about a top 25 option. Anything better is bonus.

Twitter - @Gbriggs12

Thanks for reading

Garry Briggs