Category Archives: Style

Ranking the 4 NFC East Quarterbacks

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Ranking the 4 NFC East Quarterbacks
31 Mar

Our run through the top starting quarterbacks in the NFL for 2015 makes it’s first stop in the NFC. The verdict is in for all four divisions in the AFC, as we’ve ranked the top starting signal callers in each division, with Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger, Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning all understandably taking the crown in their respective divisions. Which NFC quarterbacks will appear on their conference’s Mount Rushmore? Let’s kick things off in the NFC East to find out:

4. Robert Griffin III (Washington Redskins)

Once a supremely hyped rookie sensation, RG3 hasn’t been the same ever since tearing his ACL back in 2012. Since then he’s had issues with pocket presense, timing, mobility and turnovers. The Redskins went from a playoff team to one of the worst teams in the NFC and suddenly Robert Griffin III is facing a make or break season. On the surface he has the talent to be an elite threat, but he needs to be 100% healthy in both mind and body. That hasn’t been the case, and while the reports have been somewhat positive in camp, RG3 may not have enough time to fully rebound from his steep regression. RG3 used to rely on his speed and athleticism, but with that sapped, his pocket presence and awareness may have to rise to an elite level for him to re-establish himself as a dangerous weapon. Until we see that happen, he’s going to be fairly grounded in an increasingly tougher NFC East.

3. Sam Bradford (Philadelphia Eagles)

If there are questions about RG3 there are certainly questions about Bradford, who has missed most of the past two seasons with torn ACL’s and enters 2015 at less than 100% with a new custom football jerseys and team. All of the change could help the former #1 overall pick, though, as he was at the worst a steady pocket passer who showed solid arm strength, good decision-making and enough accuracy to think he could eventually match the hype. Bradford is still fairly young and has some untapped potential, and in a Chip Kelly offense it’s possible he has a career year. He has a lot to prove and simply staying on the field for the entire year will go a long way in helping him do that. He’s only a hair above RG3 at this point, but his only true knock is his health. If he’s good to go, he has a realistic shot at reviving his career.

2. Eli Manning (New York Giants)

Manning has won two Super Bowls and has had a few elite statistical seasons, but what has he really done for the Giants lately? He did drop 30 touchdowns on the league in 2014, but he hasn’t been overly efficient or consistent over the past three years, while the G-Men haven’t been regular participants in the playoffs, either. While things haven’t been great lately, New York seems to be trending upwards with the rise of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. last year, while the less predictable offense of coordinator Bob McAdoo seems to have helped Manning get the ball out of his hands faster and more accurately. A second season in that system could be huge for Manning and the Giants, and it just might make for a return trip to post-season play, as well. Manning enters a lame duck year at 34 years old and it’s still totally possible his best days are behind him, but we saw a glimmer of his old self last year. If he still is that guy in 2015, the Giants will be better for it and he’ll have easily earned his #2 spot in these NFC East quarterback rankings.

1. Tony Romo (Dallas Cowboys)

Romo has had his failures in the clutch and in post-season play, but for the most part he’s been taken for granted by Cowboys fans. Romo could easily start to regress in his age 35 season, but if we’re to learn anything from an extremely efficient 2014 season, that probably won’t be happening just yet. Romo benefited immensely from a studly rushing attack led by DeMarco Murray, which helped him pick his spots more than ever and allowed him to limit turnovers and be more efficient (just 9 picks and 69.9% completion rate). Things could change with Murray gone, but Dallas still has a bone-crushing offensive line and if they can continue to run the ball, Romo’s play should remain at a very high level. With at least 28 touchdowns in each of the past four years, Romo is without a doubt the statistical dominator in the NFC East at the quarterback position, while a return to the playoffs (along with a win) in 2014 has pushed him back up over the sluggish Manning. Another (deep) playoff run in 2015 could cement Romo here for good.

Think the order of the NFC East quarterbacks is all wrong? Give us your rankings in the comments below!

2015 NBA Draft: Analyzing the Biggest Winners and Losers

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NBA Draft: Analyzing the Biggest Winners and Losers
31 Mar

The 2015 NBA Draft went down on June 25th and may have built a foundation for one crazy free agency period this summer. We didn’t see quite as many trades as rumors suggested we would, but we did see some top prospects fall and a few teams make picks we never saw coming.

While teams aren’t done putting work in on their rosters for the 2015-16 NBA season, we can an least reflect on the damage done in this year’s draft. We won’t know for sure how the draft went until years from now, but there’s nothing like grading a draft. With that, let’s take a look at the biggest winners and losers from this past Thursday night:

Winners: Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, New York Knicks

Los Angeles was involved in DeMarcus Cousins trade rumors for the past week but that deal never went down and yet they still opted to pass on big man Jahlil Okafor at second overall. That could go badly, but with a plethora of talented bigs hitting free agency (Brook Lopez, Marc Gasol, Kevin Love and LaMarcus Aldridge being the big ones), the Lakers bet on themselves being able to lure one of them into the bright lights of Los Angeles. It wasn’t a bad bet, and they also were able to spend their second overall pick on D’Angelo Russell, an elite scorer who has the size and skill-set to man the point or play the two spot. Larry Nance Jr. was a minor reach at the end of round one, but should provide instant offense off the bench for a Lakers team that badly needed depth. Overall, the Lakers exit the draft with an impact guard and should be in position to make a play for one or two big free agents.

Miami may be the top overall winner here, as Justise Winslow was easily a top-four prospect entering this draft and he slid all the way down to them at the 10 spot. Winslow has an NBA-ready game and body and should be able to start right away if the Heat will let him. Heat GM Pat Riley was said to be coveting Winslow and when he fell to the Heat, the move was a no-brainer. Winslow looked very confident and comfortable in his one and only season at Duke, where he helped the Blue Devils win a national title. That should help him fit in nicely in South Beach, where the Heat are still trying to find a way to win without LeBron James. With Goran Dragic, Dwyane Wade, Luol Deng, Chris Bosh and Hassan Whiteside already in place, Winslow could push the Heat over the top.

It’s anyone’s guess if Kristaps Porzingis is the real deal, but many draft experts felt he was the top talent in the entire draft, so it’s highly possible the Knicks got a mega steal at four overall. He certainly offers a good amount of upside, as he’s a true seven footer than can run the floor and shoot from outside. Phil Jackson is banking on him being a cornerstone for the franchise, as he tries to rebuild the Knicks back into a winner. New York was also able to add the versatile and athletic Jerian Grant, who can score and pass the ball at a high level. With the right moves in free agency, a horrid Knicks team could suddenly have the right pieces to push for a playoff spot again.

Losers: Atlanta Hawks, Boston Celtics

Atlanta started this year’s draft with the 15th overall selection and ended with two second round picks. They traded away their best asset in this draft to save cash to possibly retain both DeMarre Carroll and Paul Millsap, but if they can’t they end up being big losers here. The 15th pick could have ended up being a solid get like Sam Dekker or Kelly Oubre, but instead the Hawks bet on keeping the veteran guys that helped them get the Eastern Conference’s top seed this past season. Maybe it ends up working out, but as far as the draft goes, they failed to come away with a tantalizing prospect or a high impact player.

Boston actually got some nice offensive talent in this draft, as they picked up three quality guards in Terry Rozier, R.J. Hunter and Marcus Thornton. Unfortunately, Hunter can really only play the two and Thornton is a combo guard. The Celtics remain stacked at the wing spot and they badly needed a true impact player. They still might get one or two in free agency, but their log-jam at the point and on the wings only gets worse. Hunter is a lights out shooter that could develop into a star, but overall the Celtics’ draft class lacks pizazz and overall looks bland.

Think there was a bigger winner or loser on draft night? Let us hear it in the comments below!

2015 NBA Draft: 7 Players That Could Be Traded on Draft Night

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NBA Draft: 7 Players That Could Be Traded on Draft Night
31 Mar

The 2015 NBA Draft is just two days away and the trade rumor mill is about as hot as ever. While the NBA Draft is naturally all about the top new prospects entering the league and where they’ll go, it’s also always been about huge trades going down. Big names are surfacing as key pieces that could be on the move, and depending on who gets traded and exactly how things unfold, it could directly impact where specific draft selections go and could ultimately change team needs and prospect value.

If you care about the draft, you care about the trade rumors that go along with it. Several big names could be switching teams before or during the draft and every die hard fan will be on the edge of their seat as they wait to find out who will be playing in a new city and what it means for everyone else. Let’s give in to the hype as we take a look at seven big names that are involved in draft day trade rumors and could be on the move:

DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings)

Boogie is far and away the superstar that tops the list and he could very well be on the move. Cousins reportedly asked for a trade about a month ago and new head coach George Karl also has expressed a desire for the two sides to split. Kings ownership doesn’t feel the same and to this point is not allowing a trade to go down, but the Lakers have shown serious interest and could have the ammo to get a deal done. The Orlando Magic have been pegged as a potential third team to help facilitate a three-team deal and in that scenario, the likes of Julius Randle, Cousins, Nikola Vucevic and L.A.’s #2 overall pick in this year’s draft could all be on the move.

Ty Lawson and Wilson Chandler (Denver Nuggets)

Notice it’s not or, but and when we talk about Lawson and Chandler being traded. The Nuggets have been rumored to be interested in blowing up their current squad for a long while now and these two are by far the most popular trade candidates. Lawson wants to play for a winner and he doesn’t seem happy in Denver, and the Nuggets have grown tired with his attitude. I like the Mavericks and Rockets as potential suitors so he has a shot at winning, while Chandler would be perfect for the Clippers or Pistons – two team that badly need small forward help.

Brandon Jennings (Detroit Pistons)

Jennings tore his Achilles last year and may not be the same guy when he returns next season. On top of that, the Pistons traded for Reggie Jackson last year and seem to have gotten behind him as their franchise point guard. With the two unlikely fitting together perfectly, one probably has to go. That’s probably going to be Jennings, who could still be a top shelf starter in the right situation. His health is questionable, but rebuilding teams like the Knicks or Lakers could show interest if he can be had at a discount price, while a healthy Jennings could also end up being the missing link in a city like Houston.

Eric Bledsoe (Phoenix Suns)

Where Bledsoe would go is anyone’s guess. The Suns just seem done with this three-point guard thing and even though they just signed him to a massive deal, it looks like he could be on his way out of town. Phoenix could be gearing up for a full rebuild and it’s highly possible the inconsistent Bledsoe is no longer part of their plans. If that’s the case, numerous teams could still see him as a difference-maker at point guard and pay a king’s ransom to land him. The Kings, Celtics, Knicks and Lakers could all show interest.

Michael Carter-Williams (Milwaukee Bucks)

Milwaukee just traded away Ersan Ilyasova last week and it doesn’t sound like they’re done making moves. They landed versatile point guard Michael Carter-Williams in a trade last year with the Philadelphia 76ers, but MCW didn’t light the world on fire and has a history of knee issues. That trade seems to be more about getting something in return for Brandon Knight, who was set for restricted free agency. That’s led the Bucks to gauge MCW’s trade value, as they try to move up in this year’s draft. Milwaukee currently holds the 17th selection this year, but would like to move into the lottery. How high they want to go could dictate who/what they give up, but it sounds like they’re willing to part with the talented Michael Carter-Williams if need be. MCW isn’t yet a lock to be on the move, but the Bucks want to land another marquee talent and he could be the ticket to making it happen. It’d potentially open up a hole at the point, but it could be a necessary risk to improve across the board.

Marcus Smart (Boston Celtics)

It’s tough to gauge whether the Celtics aren’t high on Smart or if they just want to move up in the draft. They’ve already been linked to the Philadelphia 76ers, as they offered Smart and two first round picks (16th and 28th, overall) for Nerlens Noel and Philly’s #3 overall pick. Philly wisely declined that lop-sided offer, but Smart being part of their first offer could be telling. Smart has the talent to be a solid lead guard and ace defender, but his offensive game came along slowly as a rookie and Boston has a log-jam at the point. Trading Smart to land more talent elsewhere could help them in the long run and would free up Isaiah Thomas, Evan Turner and/or Avery Bradley to man the offense more. Smart may just be the temporary face of Boston’s trade efforts, but we can probably bank on them working some type of deal out at some point to get higher up in the draft.

David Lee (Golden State Warriors)

The 32-year old Lee became expendable this year thanks to the versatile Draymond Green, but he proved his worth yet again during the playoffs when called upon a couple of times in the NBA Finals. Lee also showed he can be a total team player, but it sounds like the Warriors will now grant him his wish and trade him somewhere he can actually see quality time on the floor. Golden State is so interested in shedding Lee’s pricey salary ($15 million against the books next year) that they’ve been said to be willing to include the 30th overall selection in the 2015 NBA Draft. Lee can still provide a solid source of points and rebounds and also has an expiring deal, so while no clear cut suitor has emerged, he should have several teams trying to pick him up.

Think these guys are staying put or someone else is sure to get traded? Tell us in the comments below!

Related: Ricky Rubio Trade Rumors: 5 Teams That Could Use the Star PG

Johnny Manziel Ditches Money Sign Celebration

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Predicting the Top NFL Quarterback Battles
31 Mar

The summer is used for NFL rookies to get affiliated with their new teams, new free agents to find their role in new cities and veterans to establish the type of chemistry that will last for an entire year. While all of that is going down, Cleveland Browns quarterback Johnny Manziel is just trying to grow up.

After a rookie season where the troubled former Texas A&M star quarterback started just two games and did little to impress, Manziel had to know he was on thin ice with the Cleveland Browns. That may have been a huge reason why he spent over a month at a rehab clinic for unspecified reasons. But regardless of why, Manziel seems to finally be on the right track as training camp slowly approaches.

The latest sign that the second-year pro finally has his mind right? He’s ditching the controversial “money hands” touchdown celebration. Fans only got to see it in preseason play and one time on a touchdown run against the Buffalo Bills during the regular season, but the clearly wiser Manziel has decided to “retire” the much-hated (and also much-loved) celebration.

“The money sign will not be back”, Manziel confessed in a recent interview. “I will not be making it”.

Whether Cleveland’s coaching staff or front office suggested the money hands celebration to hang’em up or it was Manziel’s own idea, it may be a sign of maturation that Manziel is ready to move on from childish antics that aren’t necessarily becoming of a professional, successful NFL franchise passer.

So, what does it all mean? On the surface, it could mean that “Money Manziel” is no longer a thing and that the darkness that was previously hanging over the man the nation has come to know as Johnny Football may finally be lifted permanently.

It’s too early to tell if all of the would-be positive changes Manziel has processed will lead to better production on the field or if he’ll even get a true chance to prove himself. For now, Manziel is just a wide-eyed backup behind starter Josh McCown. He still doesn’t have the offense completely down and by all accounts has quite a ways to go in the next two months before he could give McCown even the slightest of pushes.

Ditching the money sign flash is a step in the right direction, though, and one Manziel absolutely needed to make. His persona was a colorful and entertaining one, but it was also one of a brash party boy who had little regard for himself or anyone else. That’s not the mark of a very good person and it certainly isn’t the foundation in which to build a long, successful NFL career. The fact that Manziel has realized that and is trying to do the right things speaks volumes. Now we can let his play do the rest of the talking.

Think Money Manziel’s disappearing act is a tease and Johnny Football is destined to be a bust? Let us hear your thoughts in the comments below!

2015 NBA Finals Preview and Predictions

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Why You Can't Help But Love Stephen Curry
31 Mar

The 2015 NBA Finals are finally here, as Thursday gives us game one between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors. It’s a very interesting series at first glance, with the Western Conference offering up the best team and the #1 overall seed and the Eastern Conference pushing a Cavs team that proved through the playoffs they were the true #1 seed in their conference.

In a very real sense, this is a battle of the two best teams in the league. The Cavs and Warriors wasted little time getting to the league’s title game, as the two lost five games combined in these playoffs, with Golden State losing just one game at home. Of course, when two dominant teams meet each other in the final series of the year, something naturally has to break. Let’s analyze this matchup from every possible angle and come away with a predicted winner of this year’s NBA Finals:

Who Wants it More?

The Warriors haven’t won a title in 40 years and Cleveland never has, so it’s safe to say it’s pretty close. Of course, winning a very long time ago pales in comparison to never winning at all, so the Cavs will want this more. Of course, wanting isn’t always having.

Season Series

Cleveland and Golden State split their two games during the regular seasons (1-1), with both teams taking care of business at home. If that’s how the Finals go, the Warriors would win in seven games. Odds are it’ll go down a little differently, while the Warriors are the better team both at home and on the road.

Path to the Finals

Cleveland has been more impressive technically, as they have two sweeps during the playoffs and lost just two games to Golden State’s three. Of course, they also faced a weak Boston Celtics in round one and swept probably one of the worst #1 seeds ever in the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference Finals. So, sure, on the surface, the Cavs’ path to the Finals has been more impressive. Golden State got here in the tougher Western Conference, though, as they moved past the Pelicans, Grizz, and Rockets.

Coaching Edge

Is there an edge when it comes to coaching? If we’re talking experience, it’s not even close. David Blatt has years overseas and he’s even won titles. However, both Blatt and Steve Kerr are rookies, so it’s a borderline tie. That being said, Golden State’s Kerr has a better coaching staff, with Alvin Gentry as a headlining act. The Warriors might have the slight edge here, while Kerr has also been a total master when it comes to roster and in-game management.

Stephen Curry vs. LeBron James

Which star is bigger in this series? Who has more pressure? Who is easier to stop? The answers are: equal, James, and neither can probably be stopped. I think both could have their way in this series, but if one is going to struggle it’s going to be James. Not only is there easily more pressure on him (weight of that of a city, and all), but he’s also a one-man wrecking crew now that Kevin Love is down and Kyrie Irving is far less than 100%.

Biggest X-Factor?

J.R. Smith is easily the biggest x-factor for the Cavs and for the Warriors it’s got to be Andrew Bogut. Bogut has been solid on the boards and has blocked shots at a solid rate, but he can’t suddenly come up lame – or even worse – get hurt. He needs to own Timofey Mozgov just as he should and also keep Tristan Thompson off the offensive boards. For Cleveland, they need to be sure to help James offensively and a lot of that is going to come down to the floor spacers knocking down open jumpers. Smith is the key guy here, as he’s rather streaky at times. He’ll be good for 1-2 big games, but for the Cavs to win this series he might need 3-4 of them.

The Verdict?

The odds (quite literally) say the Warriors win this, and it might not even be close. I personally badly want that to be the case, but there is a methodic marching from these Cleveland Cavaliers. Even with Love down and the rest of his team looking like a fairly weak supporting cast, something tells me LeBron James simply won’t be denied. The Warriors are great and could easily win in five or six, but they have a rookie head coach and have never been here before. This is the fifth straight Finals appearance for James, and sixth in his career. That experience and James’ drive could be the ticket.

Think the Warriors are destined to win it all? Tell us why in the comments below!

Ranking the Best Dual Threat Quarterbacks in NFL History

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Ranking the Best Dual Threat Quarterbacks in NFL History
31 Mar

Cam Newton just became a very rich man on Tuesday afternoon, as the Carolina Panthers handed the 26-year old quarterback a six-year contract extension worth roughly $103.8 million. Newton is slated to earn well over $60 million in guaranteed money over the next three seasons and is now entrenched as “the guy” for the Panthers for the foreseeable future.

It’s hard to blame the Panthers for handing out such a massive deal, as Newton definitely deserved to get paid after putting up solid stats through his first four NFL season and helped Carolina reach the playoffs in each of the past two years. Newton’s deal has some thinking about the Panthers in the Super Bowl, but all we can think about is how great of a dual threat quarterback he is and where he might rank with the other great dual threat passers in NFL history.

We decided to put it to a ranking:

Note: Our ranking considers athleticism, rushing ability and numbers, passing ability and success as a pro quarterback.

10. Kordell Stewart (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Stewart was never a great quarterback, but for a while he was a competent one. He was good enough to play a hand in the Steelers getting to a Super Bowl and he passed for over 14,000 yards, while running for another 2,874 rushing yards and 38 touchdowns on the ground. He’s not just on this list because he played quarterback and could run. He was one of the most versatile and dynamic players the league has ever seen. Slash would be much higher on this list had he been a better pure passer and not flamed out of the league, but we can’t ignore the impact he had as a dual threat runner.

9. Roger Staubach (Dallas Cowboys)

Stewart was a better athlete than Staubach and he had better rushing numbers, but Staubach was easily the superior pocket passer and he also won two Super Bowls. On top of being one of the better flat out quarterbacks the league has ever seen, he also contributed over 2,200 yards and 20 touchdowns with his legs.

8. Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers)

Newton had to make our list, both for what he’s done already and what he still could very well do. Newton has tasted the playoffs at a young age and has plenty of time to add to his stats and playoff record. What he’s already done is astonishing, as he holds the record for rushing touchdowns in a season (14) and has rushed for at least 500 yards in every season he’s played. Newton has already made a name for himself as one of the best dual threat quarterbacks and he’s nowhere near finished.

7. Steve McNair (Tennessee Titans)

McNair was a highly effective and productive rusher early in his career, as he leaned heavily on that aspect of his game until he developed into a very strong pocket passer. That’s obvious by his career stats, as he put up nearly 3,600 yards and 37 touchdowns on the ground. McNair was actually even better through the air, though, and even helped his Titans to a foot within a Super Bowl win.

6. Donovan McNabb (Philadelphia Eagles)

McNabb never won a Super Bowl, but he got to one and played in three straight NFC title games. He was easily one of the more menacing quarterbacks to face in the NFC for most of his career and he was especially a terror on the run. McNabb had the athletic ability and build to run over or around defenders, while he also had a cannon that could keep the defense guessing. His running numbers aren’t good enough for a top-five spot, but his collective production and talent bring him awfully close.

5. John Elway (Denver Broncos)

Longevity and winning help Elway in the end, as the ageless wonder still used his legs in big moments even at the ripe age of 37. Elway ended his long, illustrious career with two straight Super Bowl wins, bt was known long before that as a deadly dual threat passer who has one of the league’s best arms. Elway ended his career high in the ranks as a rusher (3,407 rushing yards and 33 running scores), but his elite play under center has him cracking the top-five.

4. Randall Cunningham (Philadelphia Eagles)

The first true freak athlete to play quarterback, Randall Cunningham was a highlight reel runner who could avoid the rush or spring big plays with his legs. He had the best single season rushing performance by a quarterback and also had the most career rushing yardage before Michael Vick came along. Mostly known for his terrorizing days in Philly, Cunningham resurfaced later in his career with one magical season with the Minnesota Vikings. Cunningham will always be known as a special player and a legit top-five candidate for best dual threat passer of all-time, but injuries and inconsistency under center keep him from going any higher.

3. Michael Vick (Atlanta Falcons)

Criteria is a big thing with rankings. If you want to go by single-season or career rushing stats, then Vick should be #1 on this list. He holds all of the main yardage records and also has 36 career rushing scores. The problem? Vick was the definition of a tuck and run quarterback, as he relied almost solely on his athleticism for the majority of his career and never once topped 3,500 passing yards or 21 passing touchdowns. Vick also proved to be extremely fragile and struggled with accuracy, touch and reading defenses. More of a running back playing the quarterback position, Vick sticks at #3 due to an inability to have the necessary balance.

2. Steve Young (San Francisco 49ers)

Easily one of the more balanced dual threat passers of the modern era, Young brought the 49ers a Super Bowl post-Joe Montana and was a highlight reel waiting to happen when on the run. As gifted and productive of a runner as he was, though, he never abandoned the importance of accuracy and pocket presence and was routinely one of the highest rated passers in the league. It took him time to develop, but had he not spent so much time behind Montana, we could have seen an even greater player from a statistical perspective. Regardless, Young ranks third all time with over 4,200 yards on the ground and still holds the NFL record for quarterbacks with 43 rushing scores. The Michael Vick before Vick existed, Young wasn’t quite the athlete Vick was, but he was just as productive and a vastly superior passer.

1. Fran Tarkenton (Minnesota Vikings)

As great as Young and a lot of these other quarterbacks were, there still doesn’t seem to be a match for Tarkenton. Tarkenton never won a Super Bowl but he led his Vikings to the big game three times and when he retired he held the majority of the passing records in the NFL. On top of all of that, there truly was not a better scrambler to exist and Tarkenton even proved his worth as a true runner, piling on 3,674 rushing yards and 32 running scores.

Think another dual threat quarterback deserves the #1 nod more? Let us hear who it is in the comments below!

MLB Predictions: Who Wins MVP in 2015?

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MLB Predictions: Who Wins MVP in 2015
31 Mar

The 2015 MLB season is still pretty young. It’s only May, after all. We have a long, grueling regular season to enjoy yet, but with the first quarter of the year out of the way, fans and experts alike are already wondering which guys can keep up with their torrid paces and which will slide back to the mean. Even better, which guys are serious candidates to be crowned the MVP of their respective leagues? Let’s break down the top threats and make our own picks:

AL MVP Candidates: Nelson Cruz, Mike Trout, Miguel Cabrera

Who has truly been better than Cruz? He’s almost single-handedly keeping the Seattle Mariners afloat, while converting on a remarkable .340 of his trips to the plate and also knocking out 16 dingers. If Cruz can keep this up, the Mariners could make some noise late in the year and he just might be a finalist for AL MVP.

Trout is closing in on Cruz, and if he hadn’t cooled down a bit in the month of May, he might already be all by himself in first on this AL MVP list. Even so, Trout is having himself another terrific season with 11 home runs and 22 RBI. The amazing thing is Trout is doing it largely by himself, as the rest of the Angels’ offense has been slow to catch up with his play. His hitting (.288) isn’t quite as impressive as some of the other candidates, but if he can heat up he’ll be more than in the mix later in the year.

Cabrera definitely deserves some recognition thanks to a staggering .313/.371/.524 line, along with a healthy 10 home runs and 30 RBI. He’s been the bulk of the power behind the explosive Detroit Tigers offense and is obviously a huge reason why they are in contention for the AL Central division title. If the Tigers take over first by the end of the year and his numbers still look this gaudy, he’ll be a strong contender to take home the AL MVP award.

AL MVP Winner: Mike Trout

Trout is arguably the most talented AL MVP candidate and he’s probably the least likely to experience a sudden, drastic drop-off. I think the fact that he gets such little help really beefs up his case, too, while the Angels’ rise in the standings over the course of the year should help, as well.

NL MVP Candidates: Bryce Harper, Adrian Gonzalez, Paul Goldschmidt, Anthony Rizzo and Dee Gordon

Harper just got tossed from yet another game recently, but that doesn’t take away from the Nationals stud’s power hitting. Harper is on pace for a ridiculous 58 homers, and even though he won’t get there, his batting average (.338), on base percentage (.476) and slugging percentage (.729) all combine to make him one of the more well-rounded MVP options.

Few players have been as efficient or as explosive as Adrian Gonzalez, who is hitting a blistering .345 with nine home runs. Gonzalez has been an elite offensive force for the Dodgers since day one, as he started the season unbelievably hot and really hasn’t cooled down much at all. He’s a long shot to win the NL MVP at 33 years old, as many will expect him to slow down eventually, but the voters can’t ignore him if he ends the year as hot as he started it.

Goldschmidt can’t be left out of the running, as he’s been absolutely huge for an otherwise weak Arizona Diamondbacks squad. All they have is offense these days, and Goldschmidt’s 10 homers and .302 batting average are a huge reason why.

Anthony Rizzo and Dee Gordon also deserve to be mentioned, although both are less serious MVP candidates. Gordon thrives on simply connecting (64 hits with an insane .395 average) and stealing bases (12), but he has zero home runs and plays for a pretty weak Miami Marlins club. Rizzo has a great line of .333/.460/.587 with eight homers and 23 RBI on the year, and he’s also been a big reason why the Cubs are somewhat important again. He hasn’t displayed the power or consistency as some of the other big names, though.

NL MVP Winner: Bryce Harper

The brash hot head is everyone’s favorite player to hate, unless you’re a fan of the Washington Nationals. Not only is he an efficient, powerful stat-stuffer, but he also is on one of the best teams in baseball. If Washington continues their rise and his numbers remain even remotely this elite, he’s a lock to win the NL MVP.

Got a different MVP in mind for either league? Let us hear about it in the comments below!

2015 Fantasy Football: 5 Players to Consider For the Top Pick

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2015 Fantasy Football: 5 Players to Consider For the Top Pick
31 Mar

Every year someone has to stare down the top pick in their fantasy football draft. Regardless of league size or type, the daunting task of picking that can’t-miss fantasy option can weigh on you. A year ago you could have swung and missed big time if you had picked someone like Adrian Peterson. However, this year Peterson just might be back in the mix, along with four other guys that carry low risk and unbelievably high reward.

Of course, you’re probably wondering who those guys are. Let’s take a look at the five safest picks you’ll want to consider if you’re the one to start your fantasy football league’s draft and custom football jerseys this summer:

5. Adrian Peterson, RB, Minnesota Vikings

It’s got to be tough to trust a guy who played one game a year ago and is 30 years old. Throw in that he plays a rigorous position like running back and we still don’t know for sure who he’ll play for this year, and it’s idiotic to put him on a top-five list with any positive light. Right? Maybe, but not when his name is Adrian Peterson. Despite all of the negativity and questions, this is still a guy that ran for over 2,000 yards in 2012 and was still a highly productive fantasy running back in 2013. Had he not gone through that ordeal and been suspended last year, we may have very well seen another huge season from one of the best fantasy options of all-time.

Now think of him as an angered man, out to prove all of his critics wrong. Some say he’s too old or that a year off will hurt him, but neither of those notions carry much weight. Peterson remains in the best shape of his life and we’ve seen plenty of running backs put up solid numbers heading into age 30. It also helps that he’s not a normal person, too. All things considered, there is enough reason to not draft him as the #1 option in fantasy football (which is why we rank him #5 overall) but as the picture gets a little more clear, our hesitance to name him the top guy to trust in grows weaker by the day.

4. Calvin Johnson, WR, Detroit Lions

Megatron took a break in 2014 as Golden Tate got acquainted, but it feels like fantasy football owners are forgetting just how dominant this guy has been. He missed three games and was banged up last year, yet he still finished as a top-15 producer. Going into the 2015 fantasy football season we can’t forget about Johnson, as he’s still very much in his prime and capable of taking over games on a weekly basis.

Johnson’s size, speed and ball skills continue to make him the top wide receiver in football, and despite the rise of guys like Antonio Brown, Jordy Nelson and Demaryius Thomas, he still needs to be seen as the #1 option at his position. History tells us this, as Johnson has finished as the top option two times in the last five years and inside the top-five three times during that span. The only thing ever holding Johnson bag is injury, yet he’s never missed more than the three games he missed a year ago.

Healthy again, Johnson could be set to take over the wide receiver ranks again. The depth at wide receiver may keep you from making him the top overall pick on draft day, but he’s absolutely at least worth considering.

3. Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers

Don’t want to put your trust in a 30-year old running back or a wide receiver? Perhaps last year’s top fantasy quarterback will do the trick. Rodgers took a dip in 2013 due to a broken collarbone, but stormed back in 2014 to take back a first place crown he had already held twice before. A-Rod has been so good, in fact, that in the two healthy seasons he wasn’t #1 or hurt, he was the #2 fantasy passer.

We have history and productivity on our side here. If you want a stable, elite presence on your team that gets it done every week, Aaron Rodgers is your guy and it might not be all that close. Rodgers even worked his way through a troublesome calf issue last year and still took the top spot, which makes his 2014 run all the more impressive.

The only reason to not take Rodgers with your first pick in 2015? Quarterback is as deep as positions get in fantasy football. While Rodgers was awesome with over 354 fantasy points in 2014, a whopping five other quarterbacks joined him with over 300 fantasy points. That being said, he’s the best of the bunch and worth heavy consideration for the top pick.

2. Le’Veon Bell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Thought to be the top running back for 2015 by many, we may need to pump the breaks on loving Bell’s fantasy upside just a tad due to a three-game suspension. He’ll start the first three games of the year on the sidelines, forcing fantasy football managers to ponder how that could impact their team to start 2015. On top of that, they’ll have to weigh the risk of Bell sitting out to start the season. Would that make him less ready to take on a big role and lead to a slow start? It’s possible, and those are some tough red flags to tackle for a proposed #1 pick in fantasy football.

That being said, Bell was a machine in 2014 and really stepped up as one of the more versatile and productive backs in the entire league. That obviously translated to the fantasy realm, too, as he nailed down the second overall spot among running backs. Back to back elite seasons are tough to put up – especially when you’re out for three games – so it’s hard to completely back Bell as the top choice going into the next season. As a per-game option, though, he’d still have a terrific chance at returning great value.

1. Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

Charles is one of the few fantasy football studs you can trust. Despite seeing 53 less rushing attempts in 2014 than he had the year prior, Charles still topped 1,000 rushing yards, notched his usual 5.0 yards per carry and scored 14 total touchdowns. Even when his role lessens, he’s still the focal point of his offense and it was all good enough to land him at the seven spot in last year’s rankings.

Charles was probably even better than the end of season ranks suggest, too, considering he had a rough start to the 2014 season (23 rushing yards and no scores in the first two games). With the Chiefs adding supporting talent and Charles much healthier now than he was in 2014, he could be set for another huge year. If his seventh place finish was a “down” year, we can only imagine what he would deem to be elite. You can make a strong argument for any of these five guys, but Charles is the most tried and true option. He should be the top pick in fantasy football drafts in 2015, and it may not even be that close.

Think we got it wrong? Let us hear who you would take first in your fantasy football draft via the comments below!