FANTASY FOOTBALL DRAFT 2011 ~ Free Agent Signing Thoughts 7/30/11

• The Colts have landed some great low-risk, possible high-reward Offensive UDFA's in Ashland WR Joe Horn, Kentucky QB Mike Hartline, Northern Illinois RB Chad Spann and Virginia Tech RB Darren Evans. None of these players have scored at a potential elite-level in our computer analysis, but all had some key data points in common with NFL elites...that make them worth taking a look at. Actually, Mike Hartline was very close to rating as a potential very good NFL QB (but we are missing some info on him, since he was not invited to the NFL Combine). See more info at =  Colts UDFA Signings — Mike McNeill, Darren Evans, Chad Spann, David Gilreath, Joe Horn, Mike Hartline | Fantasy Football Metrics – RC Fischer Blog

• As we mentioned before, the second the Dolphins brought in another big-name RB that the "Daniel Thomas as the best 2011 rookie RB" excitement would suddenly fade...get ready for the fade...

• Between team need and the forced need to spend money under the new rules, doesn't Tampa Bay almost have to sign Ahmad Bradshaw? If you're Bradshaw, don't you have to accept a Tampa Bay offer that is anywhere close to the Giants offer...based on tax burdens in NY vs. TB/Florida?

• I wasn't a believer in the John Beck/Rex Grossman talk a few weeks back, but now I am beginning to believe that Mike Shanahan is really going to go through with this. Conjure up the image of a cheap, local car sales commercial...and the owner "slashing high prices"  -- that is what is about to happen with us as we slash the projections of all Redskins RBs, WRs, and TEs. "All players must go"..."half off"..."inventory reduction sale"...making way for the 2012 models"....

• AFC East activity has been exciting between the Jets, Pats and Dolphins...and oh yeah, the Bills nabbed Brad Smith -- that should help close the gap. How far are the Bills going to fade away in this division? We really love the metrics on CJ Spiller, but the potential of facing the Jets and Patriots 25% of each season is going to perpetually hold Spiller back from great Fantasy Football statistical output.

• The Bears are without Greg Olsen now...does that leave Kellen Davis as the top receiving TE on the Bears? Davis is a monster TE at 6'6+, 260+, and actually has some decent TE speed. I know that the Bears do not feature the TE, but what about Davis as a Fantasy Football relevant TE as a low-catch/high-TD TE...like Marcedes Lewis or Rob Gronkowski (although we think Gronkowski advances beyond that in 2011+)? Davis has 10 receptions in 2 seasons in the NFL...and 4 of them are for TDs.

• Johnny Lee-Higgins is a potential steal for the Eagles, pulling him away from Oakland. Higgins returned 3 punts for TDs in his rookie season. Higgins had 82 rec, 1,319 yards and 9 TDs in his final season at UTEP in 2006. Higgins is a great athlete with top speed/agility. Do not be 100% shocked if the Eagles play hardball with DeSean Jackson, and find comfort in Jeremy Maclin, Jason Avant, and Higgins.

• Why would Mike Sims-Walker's agent sign a one-year deal with the Rams, if they want to use 2011 to show off Sims-Walker's high-end capabilities? The Rams have about 100 of the same-sized WRs on their roster (except 6'5 Danario Alexander). The Rams are turning into the Saints for Fantasy Football on WRs...exactly which WR and TE will be the big performer consistently for you to count on?

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