Author Archives: Bryce Johnson

SPORTS YAPP: Week 8 Power Rankings

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1. Green Bay Packers- They probably had the best bye week, too, since they are the best at everything else.

2. Pittsburgh Steelers- Troy Polamalu is all over the field on defense. He’s amazing, and the Steelers need to be taken seriously again.

3. San Francisco 49ers- They are making plays by throwing the ball to lineman. Are you kidding me? The 49ers are unbelievable at this point. Wow, I’m impressed.

4. Detroit Lions- The defense was the story this week by absolutely dominating the Broncos. The Lions really needed a win after they dropped two in a row.

5. Buffalo Bills- The offense has gotten most of the attention this year, but the defense put together an impressive shutout against the Redskins this week.  The Bills continue to roll.

6. New England Patriots- It’s weird to me how bad their defense is. Tom Brady is still excellent, but the defense lets the Patriots down in close games.   

7. Baltimore Ravens- Something might have clicked in the second half against the Cardinals on Sunday. They needed to get their passing game going by getting the ball to Anquan Boldin more often, and that’s exactly what they did. He had a big game against his former team with seven catches and 145 yards.

8. Philadelphia Eagles- The Eagles were extremely exciting on Sunday night, and they quieted their critics for now. I’ve been on the bandwagon, so I’m expecting things to continue to get better for them.

9. New Orleans Saints- Did they really follow up a 62-point performance with a loss to the Rams? I love the NFL!

10. New York Jets- If the running game continues to be solid and Mark Sanchez limits his mistakes, they will be in the playoff mix again.

11. Cincinnati Bengals- It’s time I give them some major respect on the power rankings.  They keep getting it done week after week. I’m impressed that they decided to keep their head coach, Marvin Lewis, around this year, and it’s definitely paid off.

12. Atlanta Falcons- Will they have a strong second half of the season like they did last year? They should be able to if they get wide receiver Roddy White playing at a high level again each week.

13. Dallas Cowboys- They were embarrassed against their rival on Sunday Night Football, but they will be fine. Their defense got dominated by the Eagles offense, and the Cowboys must fix those problems.

14. Chicago Bears- Will Matt Forte be able to carry the offense as much as he has the rest of the way? They need to find other answers on offense.

15. Oakland Raiders- I expect Carson Palmer to play much better after the bye week.  We shouldn’t give up on the Raiders just yet.

16. Houston Texans- They are starting to establish themselves as the team to beat in the AFC South, even though that may not be saying too much.

17. New York Giants- I still don’t know what to make of this 5-2 team, but they keep finding ways to win so you have to respect that.

18. Kansas City Chiefs- As bad as they looked early in the season, they have made the right adjustments and are playing much better. They pulled out the victory they needed last night against the Chargers to stay even with the Chargers and Raiders in the AFC West.

19. San Diego Chargers- During Monday Night Football I learned that Phillip Rivers has six kids! He married his high school sweetheart, too. I also learned that the Chargers offense isn’t as strong as it has been in years past, and I can’t figure out why. They played a fun game against the Chiefs, but Phillip Rivers fumbled at the worst time.

20. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- I’m intrigued to see how the NFC South shakes out this year with the Saints, Falcons and Bucs all putting in a good fight.

21. Tennessee Titans- They realize they can’t rely on Chris Johnson, but Matt Hasselbeck and the passing game have been solid. I’m still surprised any time they win though.

22. Carolina Panthers- They should have beaten the Minnesota Vikings at home, but they fell short at the end. The Panthers are a fun team to watch, but there is a lot of frustration when a team loses so many close games.

23. Jacksonville Jaguars- They continue to be competitive, but they are still too young to be a consistent winner each week.

24. Minnesota Vikings- Christian Ponder has given the Vikings the spark they needed, and they have looked much better the last two weeks. This is a year to watch him develop, and fans can see that their future is bright with him under center.

25. St. Louis Rams- I was really glad they pulled the big upset over the Saints. I know it sounds crazy, but I think they have the talent to put together a nice winning streak.

26. Cleveland Browns- They aren’t a very good team, and they can’t keep their running backs healthy.  Plus their division is one of the toughest in the league. On a positive note, Josh Cribbs had a great game against the 49ers.

27. Washington Redskins- They are a mess. It will be tough to find many answers for their problems this season.

28. Seattle Seahawks- Marshawn Lynch averaged 1.5 yards per carry. If your starting running back puts up those kinds of numbers, it’s not good.

29. Denver Broncos- The defense must improve, Tebow needs more time, and the media/fan frenzy surrounding Tebow is crazy.

30. Arizona Cardinals- It’s going to be a long season for the Cardinals.

31. Miami Dolphins- On a positive note, Reggie Bush ran for over 100 yards. It’s amazing that he’s only done that twice in his career.

32. Indianapolis Colts- It’s hard to feel bad for a team that has had so much success in the last decade, but it’s painful to see how far they have fallen.

Email SPORTS YAPP radio host and Sports Spectrum staff member at bryce.johnson@sportsspectrum.com. Also, follow him on Twitter – @sportsyapp

SPORTS YAPP: Podcast No. 4 And Ten Things We’re Yappin’ About

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1. Tim Tebow and the Broncos had a terrible game, but it doesn’t mean he should be benched already. He moves to 1-1 on the season, and he needs to improve. But the Lions have a really tough defense, and they dominated. Give Tebow time. The Broncos also need to understand the lack of weapons that he has to work with, and yes, I’m a Tebow apologist.

2. The Baltimore Ravens are the worst great team right now. They lost to the Jaguars on Monday Night football and then struggled all day against the Cardinals to barely escape with the win. I think they are really great when they want to be, but they fall asleep too often.

3. The Steelers are lighting it up right now and are no longer “under the radar” after beating the Patriots. New England’s defense has some serious issues, but the Steelers and Ben Roethlisberger look amazing.

4. The Eagles showed a national audience that their issues are figured out. I know it’s just one game, but that was a big game against a rival. The Eagles not only won, but they dominated. Vick looked like he did last year, and LeSean McCoy looked like the best running back in the league last night.

5. What team will we still be talking about at the end of the season…the Bengals or the 49ers? I like what the Bengals are doing, but I think it’s tough to expect rookies to play this great all season long. The Bengals would have to be better than the Ravens and Steelers to win the division, and I don’t see that happening. However, the 49ers are so far ahead of the rest of their division that they can coast the rest of the season. I don’t expect the Cardinals or the Seahawks to catch them anytime soon.

6. The St. Louis Rams pulled the upset of the day by beating the Saints. It was convenient that it happened the same weekend that the Cardinals won the World Series. I have to admit that I believe the Rams will make a nice run this year and win a lot more games.  With Steven Jackson running the way he did yesterday, they can surprise some more teams along the way.

7. The Colts are the most consistent team in the league. We can count on them to lose every week.

8. Cam Newton had another amazing performance for the Panthers by throwing three touchdowns. However, their kicker, Olindo Mare let everyone down after he missed a game-tying field goal opportunity. The Panthers are close every week and that’s positive, but it’s hard when you lose a game you should win against the Vikings.

9. The Giants are 5-2?! I’m not counting on them to keep that pace up. They had a rough time against the Dolphins yesterday.

10. The Bills are here to stay and one of the more fun teams to watch. The Redskins are done and missing too many playmakers to move the ball.

Click here to listen to Podcast No. 4. And if you missed last week, be sure to check out our interviews with ESPN’s Dave Pasch and Switchfoot’s Tim Foreman here.

Email SPORTS YAPP radio host and Sports Spectrum staff member at bryce.johnson@sportsspectrum.com. Also, follow him on Twitter - @sportsyapp

SPORTS YAPP: Podcast #2

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Today we are joined by broadcaster Dave Pasch from ESPN and bassist Tim Foreman from the band Switchfoot.

We also yapp about Owens, Bartman and do a segment called “Tap Drill.”

Click here to listen.

Look for Bryce’s NFL power rankings column to return next week.

SPORTS YAPP: Week 6 Recap and Week 7 Fantasy Predictions

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Week 6 Recap:

Most Impressive Performance: Ahmad Bradshaw had three rushing touchdowns and over 100 yards rushing against Buffalo. The goal line carries usually go to Brandon Jacobs, but since he was out on Sunday, Bradshaw was the beneficiary, and so was your fantasy team if you own him.

Pleasant surprise: It’s amazing that anyone kicks or punts to Devin Hester. When the ball is in his hands, he’s one of the most dangerous players on the field. On Sunday night he had two touchdowns, one receiving and one returning, to go along with 91 receiving yards. I doubt many fantasy owners started him, but if you did you were rewarded big time.

Disappointing surprise: Steve Smith (Panthers) only had 66 receiving yards and zero touchdowns on Sunday against the Falcons. He has had a monster season, and there is no need to panic, but it was a down week for him.

Walk the Plank: I must “walk the plank” for my poor predictions about Jermichael Finley. He was supposed to have a big game against the Rams, but the Packers tight end only had one catch for 20 yards. He has been very quiet this year while the rest of the Packers offense has been putting up huge numbers.

I was right: I dared you to bench Darren Sproles last week because the Saints were trying to get Mark Ingram more carries. I was right about that because Sproles only had one carry. However, in PPR leagues Sproles was pretty valuable with eight catches.

What’s Boiling Bryce: Santana Moss has not had much of a fantasy impact this season, and I was counting on him to be one of my key wide receivers. Rex Grossman hasn’t gotten the job done, especially last week, and now there is uncertainty on the chemistry between Moss and the new starting quarterback John Beck. I’ll hope for the best, but I’m frustrated with the recent lack of production.

Convinced he will improve: I see so much potential in Dez Bryant even though he only had 71 yards and zero touchdowns against the Patriots. He is so athletic and has shown glimpses of greatness. He needs to be more consistent to be an elite fantasy receiver each week, and I think he will.

Week 7 Predictions:

Best Matchup: The Saints are coming off of a loss and they are playing against the winless Colts. I expect really strong days all around for the many weapons on the Saints offense. I even think it’s worth starting New Orleans’ defense this week as well.

Sleeper of the Week: Demaryius Thomas has not been a very productive wide receiver for the Broncos since being drafted in the first round, but part of that has been due to injuries. With Brandon Lloyd getting traded and Tim Tebow taking over at quarterback, I like Thomas to be a sleeper.

Bandwagon Riding: Anquan Boldin had his first 100-yard receiving day of the season, and I believe we will see more production like that the rest of the year from him.

Bandwagon Jumping: Ryan Grant has only had one good game all year for the Packers and at this point he’s pretty much fantasy irrelevant. James Starks is the better Packers running back to own on fantasy teams.

Dare you to start: Carson Palmer is now with the Oakland Raiders, and since they decided to start him this week, I dare fantasy owners to do the same. The Raiders offense has been playing well, and I know it will take Palmer some time to get acclimated with his new team, but I think it would be fun to take the risk this week because I’m expecting good things the rest of the season from Palmer and the Raiders.

Dare you to bench: Jermichael Finley continues to struggle like I mentioned earlier, and I don’t think it’s out of the question to bench him this week. The Packers will probably get an early lead on the Vikings and then just hang on the rest of the way. I hate to say it, but Finley MIGHT have another bad fantasy day.

Player I’m counting on this week for my own team: Beanie Wells needs to keep up what he’s been doing all year long (when healthy) because he’s been a huge bonus on my fantasy team. Wells and the Cardinals are coming off a bye, and I hope their offense is clicking on all cylinders for a big fantasy day.

Email SPORTS YAPP radio host and Sports Spectrum staff member at bryce.johnson@sportsspectrum.com. Also, follow him on Twitter – @sportsyapp

SPORTS YAPP: Thoughts and Power Rankings

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Ten Things We’re Yappin’ About

1. The Carolina Panthers are a tough team every single week to beat, but they can’t seem to pull out the wins. Cam Newton has brought new life to the franchise and has helped make the Panthers’ games one of the most entertaining games each week. They always have a chance in the fourth quarter, but the more veteran teams routinely find a way to seal the victory.

2. The Green Bay Packers are clearly the best team in the league. I wondered if their motivation and drive would be the same as last year, but I’m convinced they’re even more focused and determined. Aaron Rodgers completes passes each week that I can’t even comprehend.

3. Speaking of the Packers, did you see the jerseys they wore on Sunday? I’m not a huge “jersey guy,” and I’m more concerned about football than fashion, but I have to admit I like old school jerseys. It let’s everyone remember the history of the team and may trigger memories of former players and coaches. Some of the new jerseys are too cute. Just stick to the classics.

4. The 49ers and Lions game was great, especially the ending. It’s not good for coaches to have a “scuffle” during the handshake, but it certainly adds to the storyline and potential rivalry between Coach Harbaugh and Coach Schwartz. There is a good chance they meet each other again in the playoffs, which would be fantastic. Coaches do need to have better self-control and class after a game, and I personally didn’t think that Coach Harbaugh did anything that deserved Coach Schwartz to go after him…but either way, I’m hoping they meet again.

5. I’ve been really intrigued with how well the young quarterbacks across the league have been playing. Andy Dalton has helped the Bengals win three in a row, Blaine Gabbert has kept the Jaguars in games, Cam Newton is putting up huge numbers, and Christian Ponder was sharp late in the game against the Bears last night. Even Curtis Painter played pretty well yesterday.

6. The Eagles finally won again, but I was surprised they didn’t capitalize more on the four interceptions they forced against Rex Grossman. The best play of the day was when LeSean McCoy celebrated a great run by punching his coach in the gut. It was hilarious to see Andy Reid’s reaction.

7. Mike Tomlin, head coach of the Steelers, gives the best press conference interviews every week. He’s so passionate that it’s hard to tell if he just won or lost.

8. I’m really surprised that Rex Grossman, Alex Smith and Jason Campbell began the season as their team’s starting quarterbacks. Rex Grossman helped the Redskins get a couple early-season victories, but now he’s playing like he used to and might lose his starting gig. Alex Smith may not be putting up huge numbers for the 49ers, but he is playing well enough for the team to be 5-1. Jason Campbell got injured yesterday, but he has helped restart the Raiders’ offense this year. All three have had up and down careers, and I’m curious to see how this season turns out for all of them.

9. Finally, the Bengals traded Carson Palmer.  I think Palmer will be really good in Oakland.

10. Predicting the AFC South champion is usually easy because of the Colts. But not this year. I pick the Texans to pull it off even though they’re 3-3.

Week 6 Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers- Aaron Rodgers puts on a show every week. It’s not unrealistic to wonder if they can go undefeated.

2. Baltimore Ravens- I think the Ravens are the best team in the AFC. Ray Rice is a top running back that can hurt opposing defenses in so many different ways.

3. New England Patriots- Many people thought the Cowboys would knock them off this weekend (me included), but the Patriots continue to role. The Patriots are now 2-0 against the “Ryan Brothers,” too.

4. San Francisco 49ers- Jim Harbaugh is Coach Of The Year at this point. He’s brought such an inspiring and positive attitude to the organization.

5. Detroit Lions- They probably should have held on to the lead against the 49ers, but one loss may be beneficial for them. They were starting to get a lot of attention, and this loss can be a mini wake up call.

6. New Orleans Saints- Drew Brees has been such a clutch quarterback in New Orleans, but he was the opposite of that down the stretch against the Bucs. No need to panic, but it was surprising.

7. Oakland Raiders- They held on to get the win despite Jason Campbell going down and a Cleveland onside kick. They’ve continued to impress me this season. They will keep rolling with Carson Palmer now.

8. Buffalo Bills- Ryan Fitzpatrick took the blame for the loss to the Giants. Fitzpatrick continues to understand what it takes to be a starting quarterback. It’s all about leadership and owning mistakes. The Bills have a lot of good things going for them despite the loss.

9. Pittsburgh Steelers- At least they’re winning again, but they need to beat top teams in the league to prove they’re here to stay.

10. San Diego Chargers- They better get Phillip Rivers playing at a higher level if they want to hang on to the division lead. The Raiders are right at their heels.

11. New York Jets- It was nice to see them beat the Dolphins, but their true tests are coming up with games against the Chargers, Bills and Patriots.

12. Chicago Bears- They needed a game like they had against the Vikings on Sunday night. They were dominant in all aspects of the game, and it was good to see the defense play better, too.

13. Atlanta Falcons- I still can’t figure out why their offense isn’t more dynamic, but they did pull out a good win against the Panthers by giving the ball to Michael Turner. The Falcons desperately need a winning streak.

14. Philadelphia Eagles- The turnaround has begun. I think this team will get it together and start winning games. Their bye this week should really help.

 

15. New York Giants- I still can’t figure this team out. One week I’m impressed, and the next week I’m disappointed in their performance. They rattled the Bills on Sunday and pulled away with a nice win.

16. Cincinnati Bengals- They finally traded Carson Palmer, and now they can completely move forward with their solid young team.

17. Dallas Cowboys- They need to stop talking and start winning. Dez Bryant must become more involved.

18. Houston Texans- When everything clicks and they are healthy…they are a really good team. However, injuries have held them back so far this year, and inconsistency has been a big issue.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Josh Freeman seemed to look more like he did last year in Tampa’s solid divisional win against the Saints. They showed that we can’t rule them out just yet.offense and young receiving core.

20. Cleveland Browns- They deserve credit for recovering an onside kick and giving themselves a chance against the Raiders, but they need more production out of their

21. Washington Redskins- The Rex Grossman experiment was cute, but the team needs to transition to John Beck.

22. Carolina Panthers- It’s the same story every week with the Panthers: playing good teams down to the wire. Cam Newton showed he’s only a rookie by throwing three interceptions, but he continues to make dynamic plays.

23. Denver Broncos- We have to wait a whole extra week to see Tim Tebow as the starter. That’s better for him and the Broncos, though, because it gave them two weeks to prepare.

24. Tennessee Titans- The biggest question for them is…will Chris Johnson be an elite running back at all this year?

25. Jacksonville Jaguars- They may be competitive, but they won’t win many games this year.

26. Arizona Cardinals- Let’s wait and see how the bye week helped them.

27. Seattle Seahawks- They’ve been better than I thought they would be, but what production will they get out of the quarterback position moving forward?

28. Kansas City Chiefs- They can throw the ball all over the field, but will that translate into wins?

29. Minnesota Vikings- Christian Ponder is their future at quarterback, and I’m curious to see how Donovan McNabb will handle being benched.

30. St. Louis Rams- I hoped they could turn it around, but it’s not looking very good.  With Sam Bradford banged up, they take a step back. Steven Jackson ran the ball well on Sunday which is obviously a positive sign.

31. Miami Dolphins- Who will they spend their top draft pick on?

32. Indianapolis Colts- They still can’t win a game without Peyton Manning. It’s truly amazing how important he’s been to their success.

Email SPORTS YAPP radio host and Sports Spectrum staff member at bryce.johnson@sportsspectrum.com. Also, follow him on Twitter - @sportsyapp

SPORTS YAPP: Week 5 Power Rankings

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1. Green Bay Packers- The Packers aren’t blowing teams out by any means, but they will soon. We’ve only seen a hint of their dominance.

2. Detroit Lions- In a nationally televised game, the Lions proved to the entire country that they’re the real deal and that they’re here to stay. Sure, the Bears aren’t an elite team, but the Lions took care of them and showcased their well-roundedness on both sides of the ball.

3. New Orleans Saints- They had a tight game against the Panthers, but the Saints can count on Drew Brees to get the job done. Jimmy Graham is becoming a top tight end as well.

4. Buffalo Bills- They did a nice job responding to their loss against the Bengals in Week 4. Jackson is doing a wonderful job at running back right now, and their defense was really impressive against the “high powered” (haha) Eagles. Dream Team. Psh.

5. New England Patriots- They aren’t the dominant team that they used to be, but they’re still a well-oiled machine with Tom Brady as their quarterback.

6. Baltimore Ravens- This is a team I truly believe will catch fire after their bye week. They’ve been quiet and inconsistent so far this year, but that’s about to change.

7. Oakland Raiders- This could end up being a really special season for the Raiders as they deal with the emotions of losing their owner. They’re gelling well, and they’re playing for more than themselves.

8. San Francisco 49ers- It’s time to take the 49ers seriously. I’m certainly taking them seriously, and that’s why they’re making the biggest jump in my power rankings this week. I’m shocked at how well Alex Smith is performing, and their defense is playing consistently every game.

9. San Diego Chargers- They barely hung on to the win over the Broncos on Sunday after Tim Tebow almost put together a comeback. Phillip Rivers hasn’t put up his usually big numbers yet this year, and you have to wonder what the problem is.

10. New York Jets- People will hop off their bandwagon, but I still believe they will get things turned around. Their defense has to improve, but I think it will.

11. Dallas Cowboys- They needed the bye week to get healthy. The division title continues to be up for grabs, especially with the Eagles and Giants losing over the weekend. Tony Romo is the player to watch because the team will go as far as he takes them.

12. Pittsburgh Steelers- Big Ben shut everybody up after his five-touchdown performance against the Titans. Will this game get the Steelers heading in the right direction?

13. Chicago Bears- Matt Forte is playing as well as any running back in the league, but the rest of the team needs to step it up. The atmosphere was crazy last night in Detroit, but the Bears still had their opportunities.

14. Washington Redskins- They still have to prove what type of team they are. Will Rex Grossman continue playing well enough for the Skins to win games?

15. Houston Texans- This was supposed to be their year (as always), but now with Mario Williams out for the season and Andre Johnson banged up, it’s hard to have high hopes for them at this point.

16. Cincinnati Bengals- This is a young team that continues to impress. They are here to stay.

17. Atlanta Falcons- I think Atlanta’s problems stem from their offensive strategy and play-calling. We know how many offensive weapons they have, and they are underachieving. The season is flying by, and it’s time for the Falcons get it together.

18. Philadelphia Eagles- They remind me of the Miami Heat in the NBA. Do you remember when everyone doubted the Heat midway through the season? Things finally clicked for them once they figured out how to mesh their talent, and I think the same will be true for the Eagles. I realize its Super Bowl or bust for the Philly, but there is still time for a turnaround.

19. Cleveland Browns- Let’s see what adjustments they make coming out of the bye week and look to see if Greg Little can be a key target in the passing game.

20. Carolina Panthers- They are so close to turning the corner and actually winning games. They’re playing elite teams (like the Saints and the Packers) down to the wire. Cam Newton continues to show why he’s one of the next great quarterbacks, but it’s time to squeak out some wins.

21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- They are the “mess” of the week. They played so bad against the 49ers, and their offense isn’t close to looking as strong as it did last year.

22. Denver Broncos- The Broncos finally made the right decision by naming Tim Tebow their starting quarterback. He is exactly what they need on this team. He will bring confidence and energy, and I think they will make a nice run the rest of the season. Tebow is a winner even if he plays the QB position differently than most.

23. New York Giants- That was an ugly loss to the Seahawks, especially the way it ended. I’m not a believer in the Giants this year.

24. St. Louis Rams- If Steven Jackson is back to full strength after the bye, I expect the Rams to look much better.

25. Tennessee Titans- The Steelers game was a wakeup call for the Titans. They have some nice pieces, but overall they don’t have enough.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars- Jack Del Rio has had a nice run in Jacksonville, but he will have a difficult time keeping his job after this year.

27. Minnesota Vikings- It’s simple. Get the ball to Adrian Peterson as much as possible, and the Vikings will be in a position to win the game.

28. Arizona Cardinals- Kevin Kolb is playing too mediocre for the Cards right now, and that must change if they want to have any success this season.

29. Seattle Seahawks- They deserve some credit for making a really ridiculous interception at the end of the Giants game to hold on to the victory, but they are still one of the worst teams in the league.

30. Kansas City Chiefs- Dwayne Bowe made some incredible catches on Sunday. But it’s hard to get too excited about beating the Colts.

31. Miami Dolphins- Matt Moore is the new QB, and I think he will be a good change for the Dolphins. He was never good at being “the guy” in Carolina, but he was always a good replacement QB. With Henne out for the year, look for Moore to get the offense moving a little better.

32. Indianapolis Colts- The Colts are better off losing the rest of their games and drafting Andrew Luck with the top pick. The players would never admit to that or want to do that, but it doesn’t really matter because they aren’t good enough anyway. It’s going to be a long season, but there’s the potential for a wonderful prize at the end.

Email SPORTS YAPP radio host and Sports Spectrum staff member at bryce.johnson@sportsspectrum.com. Also, follow him on Twitter – @sportsyapp

SPORTS YAPP: Ten NFL Thoughts to YAPP About on Monday

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1. The NFL does a great job bringing awareness to breast cancer. For a league that is so concerned about the uniform code, they allow great pink integration. But in all seriousness, we all know someone that has been affected, and it’s important to continue to fight against it.

2. When I heard the news that Tim Tebow was coming in to save the day, I got excited. He put together a nice comeback and provided Broncos fans with hope. Even though they came a bit short, Tebow got me off my couch and on my feet in anticipation of an epic finish. I truly believe that Sunday was the start to something special in Denver. Move over, Kyle Orton. It’s Tebow Time!

3. It’s been crazy to me how many matchups this early in the season have had players going up against their former teams: players like John Kasay, Jeremy Shockey, Michael Vick, Richard Seymour, Roy Williams and Justin Smith. Then we also saw former teammates Kevin Kolb and Donovan McNabb go up against each other, too, on Sunday.

4. It’s easy for me to say this from the comfort of my own couch, but I see too many wide receivers go down right after a catch, instead of trying to stay up and gain a few extra yards. The most impressive wide receivers, to me, are the ones that fight for the tough yards instead of going to the ground or stepping out of bounds. Calvin Johnson always falls to the ground, but he falls into the end zone…and that’s a different story.

5. I watched an Aaron Rodgers interview with Michael Irvin on the NFL Network, and I’m constantly amazed with the way Rodgers handles himself and deals with the constant Brett Favre cloud that hangs over his head. Favre needs to sit back and keep quiet because it’s all about Rodgers now. No need to keep Favre in the conversation at this point. Also, I hope you saw the Aaron Rodgers commercial for State Farm…it’s hilarious.

6. I enjoy a good end zone celebration, but I’m getting tired of the ones that are self promoting and obnoxious. I’m not anti-celebration, but enough of the dancing and chest pounding, please. Also, can we please stop the celebrating for routine plays like a five-yard run or a seven-yard catch?

7. I was really glad to see the Raiders win against Houston in honor of their owner Al Davis who passed away this weekend. It was also good to see somewhat recent Oakland draft picks Michael Huff and Darrius Heyward-Bey make key plays in the game as well.

8. TV Networks should stop going to commercial breaks after touchdowns and again right after the kickoff. Kickoffs are worthless now because they always result in a touchback. There is too much commercial time between action, and it frustrates me. It’s not like I’m going to turn the channel and start watching a TV movie, but hey, I could probably fit one in.

9. It’s officially time to start panicking if you are the Philadelphia Eagles. They appear to be a mess, and it’s hard to believe that everything is going to be fixed overnight. I still think they can make the playoffs, but they will have to string a ton of wins together in a row. We know they have the talent to do it, but they can’t brush off the losses anymore. They have to make some serious adjustments moving forward.

10. Will the Green Bay Packers ever lose a game? I don’t see any weaknesses.  They know what it takes to win, and they seem just as hungry as they were last year. I really thought Atlanta had a great chance to knock them off on Sunday Night Football, but the Packers are just too good. Atlanta, like the Eagles, is in a really bad spot at this point in the season. They have so much talent and they have yet to truly click.

Email SPORTS YAPP radio host and Sports Spectrum staff member at bryce.johnson@sportsspectrum.com. Also, follow him on Twitter - @sportsyapp

SPORTS YAPP: Week 3 Recap and Week 4 Fantasy Predictions

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Week 3 Recap:

Most Impressive Performance: Wes Welker had a monster day that will be tough to beat by anyone this year.  His stat line was: 16 receptions for 217 yards and two touchdowns. He single handily won fantasy matchups for owners.

Bandwagon Riding: Torrey Smith (WR) made a splash on Sunday for the Ravens. The rookie scored three touchdowns, and I think he will continue to be a deep threat all year long for Joe Flacco. He is a great compliment to Anquan Boldin on the other side.

Bandwagon Jumping: Mike Tolbert is losing carries and potential impact in the Chargers offense. He looked really strong the first week, but now Ryan Matthews is the running back you want to own in San Diego.

Convinced he will improve:  Last week I told you Mark Ingram will improve, and sure enough, he got into the end zone.  The sky is the limit with Ingram. This week, I’m convinced Matt Ryan will start putting up bigger numbers. I admit his offensive line is weak and he’s looked inconsistent, but I can’t deny the weapons that surround him. At some point this year, everything is going to start clicking for the Falcons.

Pleasant surprise: Mark Sanchez threw two touchdowns and ran another one in the end zone during Sunday’s loss to the Raiders. We need to pace ourselves before getting too excited, but I do like his chances of being a consistent fantasy starter moving forward.

Disappointing surprise: Kenny Britt is out for the year after looking like he and Matt Hasselbeck were going to have a ton of success together this year.  He was appearing to be one of the top receivers, but now fantasy teams (and the Titans) will be scrambling to replace his production.

Walk the Plank: I must “walk the plank” for my poor predictions last week. I thought Phillip Rivers and Antonio Gates would have much bigger games against the Chiefs. I also didn’t realize that Peyton Hillis was going to miss the game for being sick, so obviously he hurt a lot of fantasy owners last week.

I was right: I predicted Lance Moore as a sleeper last week, and he blew up for a really big game against Houston that included a touchdown and a two-point conversion. I also said that Wes Welker would be a stud against the Bills, and we already know how well he played.

What’s Boiling Bryce:  I’m really frustrated with running back C.J. Spiller because the Bills are playing great, and he’s not as involved as I expected.  He scored NEGATIVE points last week.

Week 4 Predictions:

Best Matchup: This is too easy. Look for the New Orleans Saints to put up even bigger numbers than usual. They are going up against the Jacksonville Jaguars this week, and we can expect Drew Brees and any number of other weapons to perform well.

Sleeper of the Week:

RB Studs: Matt Forte (Bears) and James Starks (Packers)

QB Studs:  Ben Roethlisberger (Steelers) and Josh Freeman (Bucs)

TE Studs: Vernon Davis (49ers) and Greg Olsen (Panthers)

WR Studs:  Brandon Marshall (Dolphins) and A.J. Green (Bengals)

Dare you to start: Brandon LaFell (Panthers) at wide receiver because Cam Newton could throw a lot in the game against the Bears. Chicago will try and stop Steve Smith, and that will allow LaFell to be open.  It’s a little crazy to start him because he didn’t even catch a pass last week. However, I think it’s worth the risk.

Dare you to bench: Frank Gore (49ers) continues to struggle and is not worthy of being a fantasy starter. I’m sure you drafted him early, and it’s hard to give up on him already, but he’s averaging 2.5 yards per carry and it’s not looking promising.

Player I’m counting on this week for my own team:  Santonio Holmes (Jets) had a really bad week last week against the Raiders, but he complained about his role, and I hope that translates to Mark Sanchez making the effort to get him the ball more.

Email SPORTS YAPP radio host and Sports Spectrum staff member at bryce.johnson@sportsspectrum.com. Also, follow him on Twitter – @sportsyapp

SPORTS YAPP: Week 3 Power Rankings

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1. Green Bay Packers- I continue to count on them, and they continue to deliver. There might be a different star each week (Finley this week), but as long as Aaron Rodgers is back there…they are the team to beat.

2. Detroit Lions- Even when they struggle early, they find a way to win. They can score quick and often when they have to. I know they have more wins than some teams I have ranked higher, and that’s because I’m being cautiously optimistic.

3. Buffalo Bills- They can now be taken seriously after beating the Patriots.  They are a really fun team to watch and cheer for. Their team really seems to be on the same page. I loved seeing the Bills pull this out after another great comeback. How can you not like this team?

4. Oakland Raiders- It was really big that they beat the Jets, and they are quietly having a nice start to the season. They could end up winning their division if the Chargers slip up at all. It’s time I give them some respect in the rankings.

5. New Orleans Saints- The offense has so many weapons, and it was good to see Mark Ingram score his first touchdown. He’s a humble running back that will continue to get better as the season goes on. Drew Brees is making a case for the early season MVP too.

6. New York Jets- I have to move them down the rankings after their loss to the Raiders, but there is no need to panic. They have a really good team, but it’s tough for teams to travel from coast to coast. Also, I disagree with Joe Namath’s criticism that the Jets’ players think they are better than they are. They are confident and believe they will win the Super Bowl, which I have no problem with. It’s one loss, so pump the breaks there Joe!

7. New England Patriots- Tom Brady threw four interceptions which is very surprising, but they lost to the Bills and I choose to give the credit to Buffalo.

8. Baltimore Ravens- I love that the Ravens came out really strong after their terrible loss to the Titans the week before. The Ravens are a really good team and have a chance for a magical run this year.

9. San Diego Chargers-They played down to their weaker opponent, the Chiefs, on Sunday and had a tough time pulling away. They got the win, even if it wasn’t pretty.

10. Dallas Cowboys- Tony Romo continues to earn respect from his critics. He played well enough again while playing with backup players because of all the team’s injuries. Rob Ryan also deserves plenty of credit for the way the defense is playing.

11. Houston Texans- They need Arian Foster back healthy to win against the best teams. They had a chance against the Saints, which says a lot, but you have to win some big games like that to take the next step toward being top tier teams.

12. Pittsburgh Steelers- They don’t look hungry and fresh enough to me. It’s fair to question if their older age at certain positions is catching up to them. They are still good, but not elite.

13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers- Their defense did an excellent job against the Falcons. They held onto the lead and pulled out a tough win against a divisional opponent.

14. Chicago Bears- The Packers are too good. The Bears have some good things going for them, but it seems like something isn’t clicking completely. They still need a go-to receiver and a better offensive line. Their trick on the punt return that was called back was awesome! Make sure you see that video.

15. Atlanta Falcons- It’s not terrible to lose to the Bucs, but Atlanta has done a poor job protecting Matt Ryan this season, and the running game struggled big time on Sunday. I’m not giving up on Atlanta, but they have to improve quickly in a tough NFC South.

16. Philadelphia Eagles- Michael Vick is going to get hit, and the Eagles need him out there. What is the solution? They have to run the ball more with their talented running backs.

17. Washington Redskins- They needed to beat the banged up Cowboys on Monday night. They are still surprising people with how well they are playing, but they need to beat their rival.

18. New York Giants- They are a team that is tough to figure out. They got an impressive win against the Eagles and that should count for something, but can they really stay consistent?

19. San Francisco 49ers- Jim Harbaugh is adjusting nicely to the NFL so far. He’s getting as much out of his team as he can. They may not be a playoff team, but they are impressive so far.

20. Cleveland Browns- The Browns did it again. I’m anxious to see how they play against the tougher opponents in their division, but right now they are playing well. They won without their best offensive player (Peyton Hillis), so that is impressive.

21. St. Louis Rams- I’ll say it again. Wait until they get healthy, and then we can judge this team.  They are terrible right now, but they will get going in the middle of the season and fight for a playoff spot.

22. Arizona Cardinals- They really needed Beanie Wells to keep the offense balanced, but I still don’t know how they lost to Seattle.

23. Carolina Panthers- It was a nasty, rainy game with the Panthers doing a little bit more than the Jaguars to get the win. Running back Jonathan Stewart is a name to get used to hearing for the rest of the year.

24. Tennessee Titans- With Kenny Britt going on injured reserve, it’s going to be a really tough season. Chris Johnson continues to struggle, but they were able to pull out another win. I don’t think things are looking up for the team moving forward, but they have won two in a row so they might want to enjoy it while they can.

25. Cincinnati Bengals- Andy Dalton took a step back this week, but no need to worry because he’s only a rookie and he will have off-games.

26. Jacksonville Jaguars- They lost the battle of rookie quarterbacks to the Panthers, but at least Maurice Jones-Drew is the bright spot for the team this year.

27. Denver Broncos- When will it be TEBOW TIME!? Too soon?

28. Miami Dolphins- They are the mess of the week. It’s going to be an interesting season down in Miami, and it’s intriguing to see what changes end up taking place.

29. Minnesota Vikings- It’s hard to jump to dramatic conclusions after three weeks, but the Vikings are the worst team in the NFC North, and the Lions and Packers aren’t going anywhere.  They could possibly end up better than the Bears, but it doesn’t seem very likely.

30. Kansas City Chiefs- They finally showed up and played better against the Chargers, but they have too many holes to win games.

31. Indianapolis Colts- The Colts showed glimpses of being a decent team against the Steelers, but they are in so much trouble without Peyton Manning at quarterback. I have to admit, I’m glad the Colts are struggling because it shows just how valuable Manning really is.

32. Seattle Seahawks- I asked last week if they would ever win a game, and they proved me wrong by beating the Cardinals. However, I still think they are the worst team in the league for now.

Email SPORTS YAPP radio host and Sports Spectrum staff member at bryce.johnson@sportsspectrum.com. Also, follow him on Twitter – @sportsyapp

SPORTS YAPP: Week Two Recap and Week Three Fantasy Predictions

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Week 2 Recap:

Most Impressive Performance: Tony Romo (Cowboys) played with a punctured lung and missed part of the game, yet he still put up 345 passing yards and two touchdowns. This might be the performance that sends the Cowboys season in a really great direction. Look for Romo and wide receiver Dez Bryant to have a really good year when they both are fully healthy.  Miles Austin had a big game on Sunday, but I like Dez Bryant better moving forward.

Bandwagon Riding: Denarius Moore (Raiders) got tons of attention during the summer for his strong play in camp and on Sunday he had his first breakout game with 146 receiving yards. He is a rookie wide receiver whose bandwagon I have hopped on.

Bandwagon Jumping: Hines Ward has gotten off to a slow start this season. Mike Wallace is now the go-to-guy in Pittsburgh with Antonio Brown and Emmanuel Sanders getting more involved in the passing game too. That means Hines Ward’s fantasy value has decreased, and I don’t see it improving very much.

Convinced he will improve: Mark Ingram (Saints) is a rookie with a lot of upside. He continues to get the most carries for the Saints, but has yet to get in the end zone.  Be patient with him and you will be glad you did.

Pleasant surprise: Cam Newton (Panthers) had another monster game. I didn’t want to overreact to his first week performance, but what he did against the Packers defense was extremely impressive. He did turn the ball over too many times, but when you become the first NFL player to start your career with back to back games of 400-plus passing yards, fantasy owners must take notice. If you were able to pick him up off waivers, that’s awesome!

Disappointing surprise: Jamaal Charles (Chiefs) getting injured was very disappointing considering how many fantasy owners took him in the first round.  I do think that his replacement, Dexter McCluster, will be a nice fantasy player the rest of the year.

Walk the Plank: I must “walk the plank” for my poor predictions last week. I thought LeGarrette Blount (Bucs) would have another bad game, but he got into the end zone twice against the Vikings instead. I also thought Joe Flacco would be a stud last week, but instead the Ravens were a big letdown.

I was right: I predicted the Lions to have a great game against the Chiefs, and they even exceeded my expectations. Stafford, Best, Johnson and Burleson all had a huge game. I was also right about Forte, Mendenhall and McCoy.

What’s Boiling Bryce: I’m really frustrated that Reggie Bush (Dolphins) only had 21 total yards on Sunday. I thought he was going to have a bounce back year with a new team and situation in Miami, but I’m not so sure anymore.

Week 3 Predictions:

Best Matchup: Let’s keep the streak alive by picking the team playing against the Kansas City Chief’s defense. This week the San Diego Chargers get the chance to score a ton of points, and that means Rivers, Gates, Jackson and probably Matthews and Tolbert should all have impressive numbers.

Sleeper of the Week: Lance Moore (Saints) should be more involved with the offense this week and be on the receiving end of some great passes from Drew Brees. Receivers Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem had the good games last week, but I think it’s Moore’s week against the Texans.

RB Studs: LeSean Mccoy (Eagles) and Peyton Hillis (Browns).

QB Studs: Matt Schaub (Texans) and Kevin Kolb (Cardinals).

TE Studs: Dustin Keller (Jets) and Jason Witten (Cowboys).

WR Studs: Wes Welker (Patriots) and Greg Jennings (Packers).

Dare you to start: David Nelson (Bills) at wide receiver because Stevie Johnson is banged up and the Patriots have given up plenty to opposing wide receivers.

Dare you to bench: Chris Johnson (Titans) after two poor performances and sore ribs.

Player I’m counting on this week for my own team: Santana Moss (Redskins) against the Cowboys.

Email SPORTS YAPP radio host and Sports Spectrum staff member at bryce.johnson@sportsspectrum.com. Also, follow him on Twitter – @sportsyapp

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