I’ve often talked about fantasy football being like a stock market. Which player or team are you investing in over the course of the regular season? That question doesn’t have a simple answer given the nature of the NFL. All we can do is use the information we have and the history we have seen in order to make educated guesses to make our investment.

The key is to understanding what you are investing in and the risks that come with it. Sure, you can snag a target monster in a bad offense, but he’s likely the only guy there, which means he can be shut down on a given week. The same goes for grabbing a key player in a prolific offense. You know there will be consistency, but will he really hit his potential ceiling, or remain close to the high floor his offense provides?

Last season, people bought heavily into the Green Bay offense and they flopped from a fantasy perspective (I was one of those poor souls). Jacksonville didn’t win many games but they were a stellar fantasy offense. Minnesota was a playoff team, but outside of Adrian Peterson, there wasn’t anyone that could be a great fantasy player for you. I could do this all day, but you essentially get the point. A great fantasy offense doesn’t always translate to actual success in the NFL. Don’t be so quick to dismiss the prospect of taking a guy from a bad team, more times than not you may have found yourself something.

Before I get too far off track, today I will be taking a look at the top five offenses that you should be buying stock in this season.

(1) Green Bay Packers

 

Okay so remember when I said Green Bay flopped in fantasy last year? Well they did. However that is in the past, it’s a new year and this offense will be bolstered by the return of the key player in the offense, Jordy Nelson. In 2014 when this offense was healthy you could make the argument that this was the #1 fantasy offense, and it wasn’t even close. Aaron Rodgers was a top-3 quarterback, Nelson was a top-3 receiver, Randall Cobb was a top-15 receiver, and Eddie Lacy was a top-10 running back.

This year, Nelson is healthy again, which slides Cobb back to his natural spot as the slot receiver. It also lightens the box for a slimmer Lacy, who is also in a contract year. Oh, and Rodgers is still one of the best quarterbacks in the game. It’ll cost you high value picks, but the rate of return should be very worthwhile for you. Invest with confidence in the Packers offense.

(2) Pittsburgh Steelers

 

Pittsburgh has it all on offense, even without Martavis Bryant as he serves a one-year suspension. Antonio Brown is flat-out the best receiver in football, and given the way the rules are in the secondary is almost impossible to cover. He’s the number one overall player regardless of the format you play. Ben Roethlisberger can put up some serious numbers in the passing game, he’ll feed Brown with consistency and will find the other receivers for big plays. Sammie Coates is being tabbed as a breakout player this year, and he should slide right into the Bryant role opposite Brown on offense.

The running backs are fantastic here as well. Le’Veon Bell is serving a three-game suspension but once he returns will be a top-5 running back if healthy. DeAngelo Williams is the backup and has found the fountain of youth in Pittsburgh. Williams will fill in nicely for Bell during the suspension and in the case of an injury. Unless Big Ben goes down, this offense will be humming all year long.

(3) Carolina Panthers

The reigning MVP Cam Newton put up insane numbers last season, and from the looks of it finally had things click in the passing game. Newton’s running ability makes this rushing attack lethal and aids whoever is in the backfield with him. Jonathan Stewart is currently the starter and had a nice season prior to his late season injury. Cameron Artis-Payne is the guy to target late in a draft, or in free agency later this year if you want in on this running game.

The passing attack is where the big improvement was last year. Carolina gets its top receiver Kelvin Benjamin back from an injury, and adds another dimension to this offense. Tight end Greg Olsen was Mr. Reliable for the Panthers and will be a top-5 option at his position. Devin Funchess is having an amazing training camp and is a guy to target in the middle-to-late stages of the draft.

(4) Arizona Cardinals

This is the most aggressive offense in football, as head coach Bruce Arians is always looking to push the ball down the field. That is good news for us in fantasy. Quarterback Carson Palmer is getting up there in age and has some injury concerns, but when he is healthy will put up gaudy passing numbers. John Brown, Michael Floyd, and Larry Fitzgerald all had solid fantasy seasons last year and are primed to replicate those performances.

The x-factor for this offense and the guy that has dominated the preseason talk about the Cardinals is second-year running back David Johnson. This guy is a home run hitter and can score any time he touches the ball. Johnson is electric in the passing game, which will give him a high scoring floor in compliment with his rushing ability. Again, this all hinges on the health of Palmer, but you can’t deny the production when this offense is running on all cylinders.

(5) Seattle Seahawks

 

This one comes with a bit of a clarification. The numbers this offense put up last season were ridiculous in terms of volume, but even more so in terms of efficiency. The touchdown-to-attempts ratio was incredibly low compared to the rest of the league, so lets temper expectations a bit. That being said, Russell Wilson is the engine that makes this offense go. He is a magician in the pocket and is able to make impossible plays happen on the run. This is where that touchdown-to-attempts ratio comes into play. Wilson makes something out of nothing regularly and when he throws off of scrambling he will make defenses pay dearly for not keeping discipline. That means potentially big plays for Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockette (another breakout candidate for this season).

The running game will be an interesting area to watch. Thomas Rawls looked like “Beast Mode-lite” until he went down with a season-ending ankle injury. He has yet to do anything this preseason, but in his absence, Christine Michael has looked more than capable of filling the void should Rawls stumble out of the gates.

If there is one guy to avoid here, its tight end Jimmy Graham, who is returning from a patellar tear. This is one of the most difficult injuries to come back from, and even if he does, Graham didn’t look like a good fit in this offense.

 

 

Tomorrow I’ll be looking at the limited player offenses, and some more breakout players to target. Join in the conversation in the comments section or on social media. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

It’s Monday so that means its time to recap the weekend that was in sports. No there wasn’t an absolute showstopper this weekend although it was another good weekend my fellow sports fanatics.

The NFL preseason gave us a full slate of dress rehearsals with mixed results for many teams (more on that later this week). For my money, the best thing I saw this weekend was the show that Packers quarterback Joe Callahan put on in San Francisco on Friday night. The Wesley College product showed poise in the face of pressure and lit up the 49ers defense. His numbers would have been gaudy if his receivers could have cut out a few drops. Callahan earned some high praise from Aaron Rodgers, who called him a “gamer.” From the looks of things, he may have earned himself a spot with the Packers this season, most likely on the practice squad to start the year.

Overshadowed by the Colin Kaepernick/National Anthem protest reaction from this weekend was the Cowboys loss of quarterback Tony Romo due to a broken vertebra in his back. Romo suffered the injury on the third play of the Cowboys opening drive against Seattle. On the surface this could spell doom for Dallas if you recall how bad things looked last season, however there is a glimmer of hope. Fifth-round pick Dak Prescott has impressed this preseason and will be given the reigns until Romo is able to return midseason (unless of course he wins the job in the eyes of Stephen Jones).

College football officially kicked off this past weekend (although the big boys won’t be playing until this coming weekend). I’m kicking myself for not putting North Dakota State vs. Charleston Southern on the Weekend Viewer Guide. NDSU won in an overtime thriller against the sixth ranked FCS team in the country to kick off another title defense for the five-time defending champion Bison.

I just wish the FBS opener met the excitement level of this game. Cal vs. Hawaii was a high-scoring snooze (which is apparently a thing). Once the novelty of the game being played in Australia wore off, the game ceased to interesting.

Getting away from football, I want to give a shout-out to the team from Maine-Endwell, New York for winning the Little League World Series yesterday. What a game that ended up being as the US champions held off a late rally from the International champions from South Korea to win 2-1. By the way, the winning run was scored on a past ball (doesn’t get more little league than that). It’s the first LLWS championship won by an American team since 2011 and the first win by a Mid-Atlantic region team since 1998 when a team from Toms River, NJ won it all (and produced All-Star third baseman Todd Frazier).

As awesome as that was to see, it wasn’t the coolest moment from baseball this weekend. I’ll leave you with a moment from north of the border in Toronto. Blue Jays third baseman Josh Donaldson hit three home runs in Sunday’s game against the Twins. Donaldson’s power surge was the cap on a three game sweep for Toronto. After the third home run in the eighth inning, the fans in Toronto celebrated the only way they knew how, start throwing hats on the field. A hat trick in baseball, what a sight.

It’s going to be a big week of fantasy football coverage this week as the season approaches, so stay tuned for a few different articles over the next few days. Send me your thoughts in the comments section or on social media. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

Happy Friday everyone! With the end of the work week brings another edition of the Weekend Viewer Guide. There is a lot of football on tap with week 3 of the preseason currently underway, and is the closest thing we’ll get to real football for a couple of weeks. Here are some of my picks for your sports viewing pleasure this weekend.

Tonight (8/26)

ArenaBowl XXIX, Philadelphia Soul vs. Arizona Rattlers (7:00 PM, ESPN)

The Rattlers are going for its fourth title in five years while the Soul look to avenge ArenaBowl losses to Arizona in 2012 and 2013. Philadelphia is also seeking its first championship since 2008. This should be a high scoring affair since this is arena football but these are the two best teams in the AFL in the past few seasons so expect this to be quite the shootout.

Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers (11:00 PM, NFL Network)

 A nightcap from the west coast tonight includes our first look at Aaron Rodgers this preseason. That isn’t the reason why you should be watching though. With quarterback Brett Hundley injured, expect to get another look at quarterback Joe Callahan as he fights for a spot on the roster. The former Wesley College standout has looked good in running the offense and has showed his learning curve going from Division III to the NFL is not too steep. Callahan has been one of the most interesting stories to watch this preseason.

Saturday (8/27)

Little League World Series (International Title and US Title Games) (12:30, ABC)

One of the best events every summer, the Little League World Series has finally reached the “semi-finals” with the International and US championships and a berth in the LLWS Championship game on Sunday on the line. South Korea and Panama square off in the International championship while Kentucky and New York play for the US championship.

Tennessee Titans vs. Oakland Raiders (8:00 PM, CBS)

A matchup of two of the up and coming teams in the NFL will give us a good look at quarterbacks Marcus Mariota and Derek Carr. The Raiders have the opportunity to be one of the surprise teams in the NFL this season while the Titans are in year two of its rebuild around Mariota. This is the national game tomorrow night, there are five other games slated for Saturday so check your local listings for the regional coverage.

Sunday (8/28)

Little League World Series Championship Game (3:00 PM, ABC)

The championship game of the Little League World Series from Williamsport, PA is the matinee on Sunday. The representative from the United States will be looking to bring the championship back to the US for the first time since 2011. A team from the Asia-Pacific region has won the past 4 LLWS championships.

Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (4:15, TBS)

A potential National League Championship Series preview between the NL Central-leading Cubs and the NL West-leading Dodgers. Chicago is trying to put the finishing touches on home field advantage with September looming. LA currently holds a two-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the NL West, and has benefitted from a historic slide from the Giants since the All-Star break.

 

Enjoy the weekend everyone! I will be back on Monday with fantasy football coverage all week in preparation for the start of the season. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

Well folks, I’m powering through this post today. Unfortunately it has been a busy week for me, so I can’t really get cute and wordy today. The all-important third week of the preseason starts tonight. It will be the final look at the starters in what is essentially considered the dress rehearsal for Week 1. What a perfect reason to continue my NFL season previews with a look at the AFC East (finally!). The main storyline is Tom Brady’s four game suspension, and what the rest of this division does with the opportunity to gain ahead of the Patriots. Do I think the suspension puts this division up for grabs? Not really, but it should make things a little more interesting so let’s dive right in a see what this division will look like.

 

New England Patriots

I’m not going to lie, I really don’t think it matters that Brady is suspended this year. I feel the same way this year that I did last year when he was originally suspended. The only way the Pats don’t win this division is if they go 0-4 and suffer a couple key injuries before Brady gets back. They upgraded the offense this offseason by trading for tight end Martellus Bennett, which signals a return to the two-tight end offense that dominated defenses a few years ago. When Brady gets back, watch out. He will be playing with that chip on his shoulder yet again this year. I guess we’ll have to call this season the “Gronk You Tour Part 2” which starts in Cleveland against the Browns.

Defensively for the Pats it is the same story as the last few seasons. They may struggle at times in the early part of the season, but as the year progresses they’ll become a tough unit to beat. It’s the Belicheck way. The guy is always a step ahead of opposing coaches. This defense will certainly miss linebacker Chandler Jones, but if there is any team that can get away with trading away a stud player, it’s the Patriots.

The key part of the schedule is the four games without Brady. They likely lose the opener against Arizona, but they follow that up by playing two of their division rivals (Dolphins and Bills) before Brady’s return in Week 5. Brady will come back and likely win this division handily.

New York Jets

The Jets look to build on last season’s surprise 10-6 record. They blew a playoff berth in the end but it’s a new year. It took a while but the Jets finally brought back quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, rather than take three steps back by starting Geno Smith. With Fitzpatrick back in the fold, this offense looks ready to roll. Chris Ivory may be gone, but the addition of Matt Forte at running back gives this offense another dimension.

New York should be solid once again on the defensive end despite the losses of cornerback Antonio Cromartie and some of their depth. However they sport one of the best defensive lines in football and still have Derrelle Revis, which should give head coach Todd Bowles plenty of firepower to work with in his 3-4 scheme.

I would feel a lot better about the Jets chances to win this division if they played the Patriots during the Brady suspension. Unfortunately, they play them twice in the second half of the season. Even worse, they play the Bills, Chiefs, Seahawks, Cardinals, and Steelers in a brutal stretch of games early in the season. I like this roster, but the schedule could be what keeps this team out of the playoffs again.

Buffalo Bills

The Bills sport one of the most intriguing offenses this season. I say that because I am a big fan of quarterback Tyrod Taylor. He has the potential to be a special player now that he’s cemented himself as the quarterback of the future in Buffalo. Taylor and running back Lesean McCoy could be lethal if the Bills consider using the pistol offense that Greg Roman ran in San Francisco. The receiving core could be in trouble if Sammy Watkins has complications in his surgically repaired foot after suffering a Jones fracture. Between Taylor, McCoy, and Watkins this offense is an injury or two away from being in serious trouble.

Rex Ryan’s only real addition on the defensive side of the ball was bringing in his brother Rob to be the defensive coordinator. I say that because their first and second round picks, defensive end Shaq Lawson and linebacker Reggie Ragland, are both out for the season. This defense lost defensive end Mario Williams and cornerback Leodis McKelvin to free agency as well. The Ryan brothers will have to get extremely creative to mask some of their losses.

Much like the Jets, the Bills have an important but difficult stretch in the beginning of the season. Buffalo has two division games early in the season against the Jets and Patriots with a game against the Cardinals sandwiched in between. If the Bills stumble in this stretch, they could kiss the division goodbye.

Miami Dolphins

Miami enters this season with a new head coach after a season of turmoil last year following the midseason firing of Joe Philbin. Adam Gase is now at the helm and his hoping to turn this offense into a force in this division. They lost running back Lamar Miller in free agency, which they may live to regret after he was comically misused last season. This offense will have to rely on a quick passing game, meaning quarterback Ryan Tannehill is under the microscope. He’s been hyped as a breakout player in previous season, and if he can finally live up to the hype this offense has some serious potential. Receiver Jarvis Landry turned into Mr. Reliable for the Dolphins. Miami is also hoping that second-year receiver DeVante Parker becomes a dynamic weapon.

The Dolphins defense underwent a facelift this offseason. They key losses include defensive end Olivier Vernon and cornerback Brent Grimes. Miami traded for cornerback Byron Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso after both went through disappointing seasons in Philadelphia last year. It’s a risky bet they are taking on the pair of former Eagles. The Dolphins also brought in defensive end Mario Williams to fill the void left by the loss of Vernon. This unit is in a precarious position, and the uncertainty lurks in the acquisitions to fill some pretty hefty losses.

The schedule for Miami is interesting. Opening with Seattle is less than ideal, but there is not a stretch of games where the Dolphins play a bunch of elite teams. If they can stay under the radar and in the mix, playing all three division foes at the end of the season could be the deciding factor for this division. That being said, I’m not too confident that happens due to the potential issues on defense and a learning curve on offense.

 

Next week I’ll jump back into the NFL previews with a look at the NFC South. Tomorrow is Friday, which means another edition of the Weekend Viewer Guide. Keep the conversation going in the comments or send me your thoughts on social media. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

The final full week of August means it is draft week for many of you out there playing fantasy football (me too!). In my experience, a title isn’t won with your first three picks, but with the subsequent picks that follow. It’s all about finding a diamond in the rough in the middle-to-late stages of the draft and avoiding fool’s gold.

A perfect example of this came last year in a very competitive keeper league that I’m in with a bunch of my friends. It was the ninth round and I was looking for a running back to be a flex option or a backup to Eddie Lacy and Justin Forsett (boy did that go so wrong for me last year). I had the choice between two teammates who were both suffering from a minor injury and there had yet to be a clear decision about the starter. Luckily, I saw a tweet from the fantasy guru himself, John Hansen, who had talked to one of the veterans on the team and gave him the inside scoop at the position. With confidence I put my pick in, but little did I know at the time I just selected a top-three running back. That was Devonta Freeman from the Falcons, and the guy after me took Tevin Coleman, Freeman’s backup.

It’s those little things in fantasy that can steer you towards a potential steal in the draft. Admittedly, I got extremely lucky with the way that Freeman panned out for me last year. That being said I still picked the right guy regardless.

So now that I’ve tooted my own horn a little bit I’m going to give you three guys to keep an eye on in your draft, and three guys to stay far away from.

Target: Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants (Average Draft Position – 83)

I’m really going out on a limb on this one. Normally I’m not a big fan of drafting rookies, but it’s not often you see a guy in this situation. A second round pick out of Oklahoma currently looks like he’ll be the #2 receiver in New York opposite Odell Beckham Jr. He has reportedly been turning heading in training camp. Eli Manning has thrown for over 4000 yards in each of the last two seasons, so there is a lot of potential here for Shepard, especially in PPR.

Avoid: Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Arizona Cardinals (ADP – 54)

It pains me to write this after a solid season last year, but be weary of Larry Fitzgerald. He is currently dealing with an MCL sprain, which could hamper his production. Add to the mix the injury history of his quarterback, Carson Palmer, and you begin to see a few red flags this high in the draft. Arizona’s offense was prolific at times last season. This year, either grab John Brown or Michael Floyd if you’re interested in a receiving option in Arizona.

Target: Gary Barnidge, TE, Cleveland Browns (ADP – 94)

Gary Barnidge literally came out of nowhere last season and turned into one of the most productive fantasy options at tight end. Now I know that it doesn’t sound like a sexy option but this guy can play. Even better? It didn’t matter who was at quarterback last season (which is good since RGIII likely won’t play every game given his history).

Avoid: Baltimore RBs (Forsett, Allen, West, Dixon) (ADP below 97)

There is zero clarity as to who will be starting, and what the carries split will ultimately look like. This has the makings of a nightmarish running back by committee at the moment. I’m avoiding this situation entirely in the draft and early portions of the season. We need more information, and the risk of picking the wrong guy is way too high. Let someone else in your league step on this potential landmine.

Target: Michael Crabtree, WR, Oakland Raiders (ADP – 80)

Amari Cooper may have led the Raiders in receiving yard last season, but it was Crabtree who led them in targets, catches, and receiving TDs. He may be mediocre in the eyes of Richard Sherman, but I’ll gladly take him for my fantasy team as a WR3/Flex with upside as a potential WR2 if he replicates last season’s numbers (85 catches/922 yards/9 TDs).

Avoid: Sammy Watkins, WR, Buffalo Bills (ADP – 30)

Remember earlier when I said you don’t win a championship with your first three picks? Well you certainly can prevent yourself from winning one by missing with one of those top three picks. Sammy Watkins is recovering from a Jones fracture in his foot, but his ADP remains way too high to take a risk he remains healthy. He isn’t damaged goods, but he is one of a few injury risks that are a part of this offense. Even if healthy, he’s one bad play away from E.J. Manuel stepping in at quarterback.

I’ll be doing some more fantasy football prep on Thursday. Tomorrow I’ll be previewing the AFC East in part four of my 2016 NFL preview. Keep the conversation going in the comments section or send me your thoughts on social media. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

 

Another week of preseason football is behind us as we inch closer to the start of the regular season. This week’s preseason action will feature the dress rehearsal for many teams, giving one last look at the starters before turning their attention to the regular season.

Today, I continue my 2016 NFL preview with a look to the NFC North. Last season ended in heartbreak for the Vikings and Packers in the playoffs, but both teams look ready to make another run at the Lombardi Trophy this year. It’s shaping up to be another battle at the top of the division between these two rivals, as the Lions have to adjust to life without Calvin Johnson and the Bears continue to rebuild. Let’s look at where these teams stand going into the regular season.

Green Bay Packers

The Packers enter this season with a ton of championship potential with the return of a healthy Jordy Nelson to the lineup. Without Nelson, who suffered a season-ending ACL tear in the preseason, the offense lacked the punch that we are used to seeing from Green Bay. Aaron Rodgers getting his favorite target back should make this a top offense once again. Rodgers willed this team into the playoffs last season, showing yet again why he is one of the best in the business.

You could also make the argument that Green Bay basically played without running back Eddie Lacy last season. He battled through inconsistent play, injuries, and was even benched the night before a game for a team rules violation. Lacy spent all offseason working with P90X creator Tony Horton. He looks slimmed down and ready to reclaim his starting spot in the backfield. It’s a contract year for Lacy as well, so look for him to be playing with a serious chip on his shoulder.

Green Bay’s defense dodged a bullet with linebackers Clay Matthews and Julius Peppers avoiding suspensions from the league last week for not complying with the NFL’s investigation in the Al Jazeera PED story from last year. With both of them presumably clear of punishments for now, this defense looks ready to build on some of the successes from last season. This unit ranked near the middle of the NFL in points and yards allowed, 12^th and 16^th respectively (via Pro Football Reference). This doesn’t have to be a shutdown unit, and playing bend but don’t break suits them well playing in complement to a prolific offense.

The schedule looks pretty light for a potentially elite team in the NFC. The stretch to watch is the final four games against Seattle, at Chicago, Minnesota, and at Detroit. Expect this team in the playoffs come January, and they’ll be pushing for home field advantage all season.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings were one of the surprises of the NFL last season, winning the NFC North with an 11-5 record. They will have to put the gut-wrenching playoff loss behind them and continue to build upon last season (Laces out!). Minnesota is locked and loaded this season playing a tough brand of ground and pound football led by running back Adrian Peterson. The x-factor for this offense lies solely on quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. He will have to make progress in the passing game to keep this offense from being too one-dimensional (They ranked 31^st in passing yards last year). Peterson is the best running back in the game, but is getting up there in age. The Vikings did draft wide receiver Laquon Treadwell to help bolster the receiving core, and showed flashed of being a special player at Ole Miss.

Minnesota sported one of the better defenses in the league last season, and expects much of the same. This unit ranked fifth in points allowed, and turned into one of the best defenses in the league under head coach Mike Zimmer. Linebacker Anthony Barr, defensive end Everson Griffen, and safety Harrison Smith all made the Pro Bowl last season, and are the headliners of a young core this defense is built around. If they can get to the passer more effectively and create more turnovers, this defense has the potential to be a top-five defense overall.

There are a few tough games on the schedule for the Vikings, but luckily there is some distance between those games. The issue is two of the tougher games are paired with games against Green Bay. Weeks 2 and 3 features games against Carolina and Green Bay while weeks 15 and 16 are against Indianapolis followed by the rematch with the Packers. I fully expect the Vikings to be in the mix for a playoff spot again this season.

Detroit Lions

Life without future Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson begins this season in Detroit. All of the pressure rests on quarterback Matthew Stafford to be the motor of this offense. Detroit signed receivers Marvin Jones and Anquan Boldin to help fill the void left by Megatron. Golden Tate now becomes the go-to target in this offense, and he showed that he is capable of lead guy. The Lions will have to find some balance to this offense however. The running game was non-existent at times, and need a rebound season from the running backs to get things going on the ground after finishing last in the league in rushing yards. Running back Theo Riddick was a pleasant surprise in the passing game, but he was the lone highlight for this group.

Defensively, the Lions missed the presence of Ndamukong Suh after losing him in free agency. This unit is nothing to write home about, and could be the Achilles’ heel for this team this season. They ranked in the bottom third of the league in most of the key categories last season, and no moves were made to bolster this unit.

The Lions avoid playing the upper-echelon teams in the NFL outside of division rival Green Bay, which is the only reprieve this team may get. There are a lot of question marks about this team. Offensively they may be able to mask some of the deficiencies of the defense but it won’t be enough to make a playoff run. This is a team in turnaround that needs to figure out what they have going forward.

Chicago Bears

Last season was a lost year in Chicago. Injuries and poor play hampered the Bears all year. This season looks a little better but I don’t believe it is enough to put them in contention with the Packers and Vikings at the top of the division. Chicago traded Martellus Bennett to New England, then let running back Matt Forte leave in free agency. The receiving core should be better this season with Alshon Jeffery and Kevin White leading the way after an injury filled season. The only issue is that Jay Cutler still plays quarterback in Chicago. This isn’t to say that Cutler doesn’t have the talent, but he has shown time and again that he is not a guy that can take a team all the way.

Chicago spent the offseason adding to its defense with the money saved by subtracting Bennett and Forte from the salary cap. Resigning cornerback Tracy Porter, signing linebackers Danny Trevathan, Jerrel Freeman, and Sam Acho were among some of the moves made to bolster a defense that struggled last season against the run. The secondary took a major hit last week with star cornerback Kyle Fuller undergoing an arthroscopic knee surgery. Fuller is out indefinitely and will leave a hole in the back end of this defense.

Much like the Detroit Lions, Chicago doesn’t have an impossible schedule. There are some winnable games, but the uncertainty in how this team will perform doesn’t inspire much faith in this team. They went 6-10 last season, I would expect something similar in Chicago this year. Don’t buy into the “team in year two under head coach John Fox” hype that is out there.

 

I will be continuing my NFL previews on Wednesday as I look at the AFC East (finally). Tomorrow I will go over some potential sleepers and busts for fantasy football. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney and give the Shooting the Moon page a like on Facebook. Keep the conversation going on in the comments and send me your thoughts.

Welcome back everyone. I hope you all had a terrific weekend but now we have to get back to the grind of the work week. If you’re suffering from a case of the Monday’s, I think I’ve got something to sooth the pain.

It’s the first weekend recap from Shooting the Moon! Every Monday I’ll recap a few of the best stories from the weekend. What a weekend it was by the way. The Summer Olympics in Rio drew to a close, in spectacular fashion (seriously, the Japanese Prime Minister arriving via Super Mario warp pipe was a clever touch to the closing ceremonies). Team USA showed up when it mattered most in men’s basketball to blow out Serbia with a dominant performance. The Ryan Lochte controversy continued to spin its wheels.

However, the biggest story of the weekend came from the UFC. Conor McGregor and Nate Diaz stole the show this weekend with their epic five round clash at UFC 202 on Saturday night. This certainly goes a long way in washing the bad taste left over from a disappointing UFC 200. Both men left it all in the octagon and McGregor avenges his loss to Diaz, presumably setting up the rubber match in a few months. McGregor may have claimed that “the king is back” but he still needs to finish this trilogy with Diaz before he can get back to chasing titles in multiple weight classes.

I have to give all the credit in the world to McGregor for this victory. He chose to move up two weight classes again to prove he could defeat Diaz. If you recall the “build-up” to the first fight was Diaz stepping in on short notice for an injured Rafael dos Anjos, turning a lightweight championship fight (155 lbs) into a welterweight bout (170 lbs). This was the make or break fight for McGregor as he is back on track to becoming the pound-for-pound best fighter in the UFC. A third fight with Diaz does put a rematch with Jose Aldo for the featherweight championship and a lightweight championship opportunity on the backburner. If Saturday night was any indication, I don’t think any of us will mind seeing McGregor-Diaz III.

Quickly getting back to the Olympics before I wrap this article up, I want to delve into Team USA’s victory over Serbia in the men’s basketball gold medal game. I’ll be the first one to tell you that I was a little worried about Team USA coming into this game after looking vulnerable towards the end of the preliminary round and even in the semifinals against Spain. Kevin Durant showed why he is the second-best player in the world behind LeBron James, putting in a dynamic performance. He was all over the court for the Americans wreaking havoc on both ends. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the contribution from DeMarcus Cousins in this game as well. “Boogie” Cousins notched a double-double by halftime and was a force inside for Team USA. It all added up to a golden sendoff for Carmelo Anthony and coach Mike Krzyzewski.

Stay tuned to Shooting the Moon all week for plenty of NFL and fantasy football coverage. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.

The work week is in the books which means it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the weekend. At Shooting the Moon, the weekend means enjoying everything the sports world has to offer. Every Friday I’ll be highlighting some of the key events for you to watch in the Weekend Viewer Guide. Here are just a few things to keep an eye on.

Tonight (8/19)

Usain Bolt’s final race in the 4x100m Relay – 9:35 PM (NBC)

The Jamaican speedster looks to win his third gold medal at the Rio Olympics. Another gold would give him a historic nine for his career, tying him with Carl Lewis for the most by a track and field athlete. Even more impressive, it would clinch a perfect 9-for-9 for Bolt, who lines up for his final Olympic race.

Preseason Football – Various times (1 game on NFL Network/regional coverage)

The preseason rolls on in the NFL with 3 games on the slate for tonight. The NFL Network will be airing the Dolphins and Cowboys live from Jerry’s World at 8:00 PM. In other action tonight, the Jets and Redskins square off at 7:30 PM in Landover, MD. The nightcap features a contest between the Chargers and Cardinals in San Diego at 9:00 PM. Unfortunately, due to the TV schedule in the regular season if you aren’t in any of the media markets, you will have to wait for these replays on the NFL Network.

Saturday (8/20)

 UFC 202: McGregor v. Diaz 2 – Main Card @ 10:00 PM (PPV)

Originally slated as the main event for UFC 200, Irish bad boy Connor McGregor finally gets his rematch with Nate Diaz on Saturday night. There is no love lost between these two foes. No titles are on the line, just a lot of personal pride between two of the biggest smack talkers in the sport. Think I’m kidding? Just watch this, I’ll wait. (NSFW) Doesn’t get more ridiculous than that for a pre-fight press conference.

The co-main event of the evening features a light heavyweight bout between Anthony Johnson and Glover Teixeira in what could be a virtual number one contender’s bout for Daniel Cormier’s light heavyweight championship. Both men have knockout power, so expect some serious fireworks in this fight.

Toronto Blue Jays v. Cleveland Indians – 7:10 PM (MLB Network by region)

This is a potential playoff preview between the leaders of the AL East and AL Central divisions. Toronto features one of the best lineups in the American League and is in a dead heat with Baltimore for the top spot in the division. Cleveland has been the surprise leader in the AL Central and is trying to fend off a late charge from Detroit. Depending on where you are watching this is one of the two games that will be on MLB Network on Saturday night.

NFL Preseason – Tripleheader starting at 4:00 PM (NFL Network)

 The NFL Network will be airing three preseason games Saturday night featuring:

– New York Giants at Buffalo Bills – 4:00 PM

– Baltimore Ravens at Indianapolis Colts – 7:00 PM

– Kansas City Chiefs at Los Angeles Rams – 10:00 PM

Sunday (8/21)

USA Men’s Basketball Goes for Gold – 2:45 PM (NBC)

Sunday afternoon, Kevin Durant and company aims to win a third straight Olympic gold medal for USA Basketball in Rio. They will face either Serbia or Australia in a rematch from the preliminary round (as I’m currently writing this the semifinal between these teams is being played). Both of the potential opponents for Team USA challenged the gold medal favorites, who have looked surprising vulnerable compared to previous iterations of this team. Team USA will still be the odd-on favorite to bring home the gold medal, but are not nearly the lock that they usually have been in Olympic competition under coach Mike Krzyzewski.

I’ll be back on Monday to recap the major stories from this weekend as well as continuing my NFL season preview. Follow me @thereal_jmooney and go like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook. Enjoy the weekend everyone!

It’s day 2 of the NFL preview and I am already making changes to the schedule. With some uncertainty around the injuries to Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman in New England (according to reports its nothing too serious), I wanted to hold off on previewing the AFC East until next week. So rather than leave you all high and dry with no preview for today, I’m going to give the people what they want. I’m going to look at the AFC West, home of the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos.

Denver Broncos

Before the confetti could even settle down in Denver following its Super Bowl victory over Carolina the Broncos were faced with some uncertainty going into its title defense. Peyton Manning rode off into the sunset into retirement. His heir apparent, Brock Osweiler, left in free agency to lead the new look Houston offense. Now the Broncos are left with even more question marks at the most important position in the game. Mark Sanchez and Trevor Siemian are locked in a battle for the starting job, and you have to wonder how it even got to that point.

As last season showed the Broncos defense could carry this team to the Promised Land but can they do it again? The short answer is yes. This defense has “all-time great” potential as they showed last season. Resigning Von Miller to a huge contract should be evidence to this team’s commitment to the defensive side of the ball.

This is a team that should squarely be in playoff contention in a perfect world, but as professional wrestling icon Sting used to say, “the only thing for sure is that nothing is for sure.” The Broncos have won this division five years in a row for the first time in franchise history, but a sixth is not quite a forgone conclusion.

 

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs looked dead in the water last season following a 1-5 start and losing star running back Jamaal Charles to a torn ACL. Just as everyone seemed to write off Kansas City, the regrouped and rattled off ten straight wins to clinch a Wild Card spot. The emergence of running backs Charcandrick West and Spencer Ware certainly played into that winning streak. The Chiefs backfield is loaded this season so expect to see a little bit of Charles, West and Ware each week. Jeremy Maclin produced another solid season in his first year in Kansas City finally giving Alex Smith an outside weapon to rely upon.

KC is rock solid on the defensive end, but the offense doesn’t exactly torch opposing defenses. The playoff loss to New England exposed this team’s biggest problem as currently constructed. The Chiefs need to play with a lead in order to rely on a dangerous defensive unit. That defense can be lethal to opposing offenses when they are let loose. Tamba Hali and Justin Houston are a pincer move waiting happen on the ends. Both can make life a living hell for opposing quarterbacks. Eric Berry anchors the secondary and is in a contract year after winning Comeback Player of the Year last season. Not to be forgotten is Marcus Peters, last season’s Defensive Rookie of the Year. Peters had an incredible season for the Chiefs and looks like a star in this league already.

The schedule could become a bit of a concern. An early bye week could spell some trouble for Andy Reid’s team since there won’t be an opportunity to regroup if they get off to another slow start. The make or break stretch comes midseason playing at Carolina, Denver and Atlanta with a home game against an upstart Tampa Bay. That being said this is a playoff team that will need to recapture that fire from last season to carry themselves deep into the playoffs. Kansas City is the team that can dethrone Denver in this division, and I believe they will.

 

Oakland Raiders

It is a little ironic that the Raiders are considering a move to Las Vegas in the future, and currently find themselves as the wild card of this division. Derek Carr and company showed promise last season, staying in the playoff hunt until late in the season. Amari Cooper showed flashes of stardom last season. Michael Crabtree is coming off a rebound season. The rankings from last season were nothing special but they looked good based on the eye test. Things are looking up for the silver and black, especially if they can improve in the running game which ranked near the bottom in every category last season.

On the other side of the football, All-Pro Khalil Mack anchors the Raiders. Mack emerged as one of the leagues premier defenders last season in the mold of Denver’s Von Miller. This defense did lose a future Hall of Famer in Charles Woodson but the front seven can hold up its end of the bargain. The loss of Woodson may mean a drop in the takeaway numbers, which will be a major area to watch for this defense.

The schedule down the stretch is downright scary, bookended by Carolina and the regular season finale in Denver. A hot start for the Raiders could be the key to getting into the playoffs for the first time in over a decade.

 

San Diego Chargers

San Diego will need some divine intervention to contend in this division. The defense lost its captain Eric Weddle to Baltimore in a Hollywood style divorce. Now they find themselves in a contract standoff with Joey Bosa, the team’s top draft choice. This is a defensive unit that lacks the ability to rush the passer (2^nd fewest sacks in the NFL) and ranked in the bottom half of the league in other key defensive categories.

Offensively the outlook doesn’t look too bright either. Phillip Rivers racked up good numbers on a bad team, but fell off the map as the season progressed. A sub-par offensive line and a litany of injuries held back this offense that showed some promise. The return of a healthy Keenan Allen and the acquisition of Travis Benjamin should help return some of the explosiveness on the outside. This is a team that is going to have to throw a ton to stay in games.

The Chargers look poised to finish at the bottom division again and find themselves drafting in the top five next May.

 

Check back Monday when I’ll look at the NFC North. Tomorrow I’ll be debuting the Weekend Viewer Guide. Keep the conversation going in the comments section. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmoney and give the Facebook page a like.

Football fans rejoice! In less than a month we are going to have meaningful football back in our lives. That isn’t to totally dismiss the preseason (well kind of), but it is only a tease for the main attraction. It’s been another wild offseason in the best reality show on television but we’ve finally made it. Peyton Manning gracefully rode off into retirement. Tom Brady accepted his Deflategate suspension, ending the 500+ day debacle (don’t worry, the NFL just started another ordeal with the Al-Jjazerra investigation).

Before I spin my wheels too much on what has already happened this offseason, it’s time to look forward to this season. This is a beautiful time of year where everyone has a sliver of hope sitting at 0-0. I will be going division by division over the next few days giving you a quick outlook for each team and a storyline or two to keep an eye on going into the 2016 season.

Today I will be looking at the NFC East, which always seems to be one of the most interesting divisions in the league, even when none of the teams look like a Super Bowl contender. This is always a tough division to predict year to year. There hasn’t been a repeat division champion since the 2003/’04 Eagles (sorry Washington fans). A 9-7 record was good enough to win this division last year but likely won’t be the case this year (sorry again Washington fans). So with that said lets jump right into the previews.

 

New York Giants

The Giants parted ways with Tom Coughlin after a disappointing finish to last season and promoted offensive coordinator Ben McAdoo to head coach. Then addressed some serious defensive needs signing defensive end Olivier Vernon to a huge contract and luring defensive back Janoris Jenkins away from the Rams. They added much needed talent to a defense that ranked 30^th in points allowed and last in the league in yards allowed. In addition to the free agent additions, the Giants drafted cornerback Eli Apple to help bolster the secondary.

New York has all of the offensive firepower to be in any game this season, especially with the addition of rookie Sterling Shepard in the draft and the possible return of a healthy Victor Cruz. This is an offense that ranked 6^th in scoring last season and is primed to repeat that type of performance this year. Shepard could be poised to have a great rookie season playing opposite of Odell Beckham Jr., giving Eli Manning another weapon to utilize as the season progresses.

The schedule isn’t exactly a cakewalk, but the back half of the season is a spot where the Giants can make a run to clinch a division championship playing three out of the last four games against the Cowboys in Week 14 before closing the season at Philadelphia and at Washington in Weeks 16 and 17. The Giants are currently my pick to win this division, but nothing is set in stone with the way the NFC East tends to beat up on each other.

 

Washington Redskins

Washington enters this season as the defending champions in this division, but my faith in their chances to repeat just isn’t there. Quarterback Kirk Cousins put in a Herculian effort to will this team to a division title following his famous “You like that!?” outburst. Jordan Reed burst onto the scene as a game-changing target at tight end. Offensively the Redskins were ranked 10^th in scoring but aside from that there wasn’t a whole lot to love about this team. This is a passing attack that can’t be slept on, but don’t have much going on in the running game (20^th in yards, last in yards/attempt). Second year running back Matt Jones is poised to be the starter in the backfield. Jones showed some playmaking ability catching the ball out of the backfield, however I have doubts about him suddenly becoming a bell cow running back.

On the defensive side of the ball, the headline for Washington was the acquisition of All-Pro cornerback Josh Norman after his strange departure from Carolina. Norman is a much-needed addition to a defense that ranked 28^th in yards allowed and 17^th in points allowed. The question remains how Norman will fit in this defense going from a 4-3 scheme in Carolina to a 3-4 scheme in Washington. Both defenses like to play zone coverage but the talent difference is staggering. Norman won’t be able to gamble as much on passing plays and could see a drop in production. Reports out of camp haven’t been stellar for Norman either, so this is a situation to keep an eye on for Washington.

The schedule for Washington is brutal this season, having to play all of the NFC division winners in addition to the NFC North and AFC North. Following their Week 9 bye, the Redskins have to play against Minnesota, Green Bay, Arizona, and Carolina along the home stretch. The wheels could fall off in a big way, even if they play well against the NFC East.

 

Dallas Cowboys

 

The Cowboys are hoping to put the disastrous 2015 season behind them with quarterback Tony Romo returning from injury. If you ever doubted the value of a backup quarterback, last year in Dallas should be a prime example of that position’s value. Once Romo went down with a shoulder injury, this offense lacked any explosion (even after Dez Bryant returned from his own injury). A lost 2015 regular season netted the Cowboys the fourth pick in the draft, which they used to draft running back Ezekiel Elliot out of Ohio State. Elliot has all of the tools to be a workhorse for the Dallas offense running behind the best offensive line in the NFL. This running game has the potential to recapture the production from two years ago when DeMarco Murray led the NFL in rushing.

With all of that potential on offense, there isn’t much to be said about this defense. A rash of suspensions have ravaged this defense, which was not that great to begin with (middle of the pack in points allowed and yards allowed, ranked last in takeaways). Dallas will have to minimize the amount of time this unit spends on the field, similar to the 2014 season. Dominating time of possession is the only chance the Cowboys will have to make sure this defense won’t hold back a potentially electric running game.

Dallas’s schedule catches a bit of a breather playing the last place teams from the NFC. However the most realistic route to the playoffs for the Cowboys will be to win this division similar to Washington last season, as the Wild Card teams are likely to come from the North and the West divisions. While there is a route to the playoffs, expect the defense for Dallas to hinder its chances to return to the postseason.

 

Philadelphia Eagles

Where do I start with the Eagles? Chip Kelly didn’t even make it out of last season before getting the big ugly axe. Philadelphia went back to the Andy Reid coaching tree, bringing in Doug Pederson to take over as head coach. Then, after resigning Sam Bradford to a two-year deal the Eagles traded up to the second pick in the draft to take Carson Wentz (could be awhile before we see him in action). Former rushing king DeMarco Murray was dealt to Tennessee after a failed season in 2015. This leaves Ryan Mathews, Darren Sproles, and rookie Wendell Smallwood to carry the load.

Expect this offense to resemble the old Andy Reid offense in terms of scheme but there are question marks all over this side of the ball. Jordan Matthews had a down year in 2015, struggling with drops all season before finally breaking out of late in the season. He is currently dealing with a bone bruise in his knee. Aside from Matthews, the receiving corps is nothing to get excited over, although yesterday’s acquisition of Dorial Green-Beckham adds a bit of promise to the long-term outlook at this position. This offense won’t score a ton of points and will have to rely on controlling the clock (I just pray Pederson manages the clock better than Andy Reid for their sake).

During the Chip Kelly era, the Eagles defense was a joke at times. That might not be the case in the Doug Pederson era. The key addition here is the signing of Jim Schwartz as defensive coordinator bringing a return to the 4-3 scheme.

That scheme shift will highlight the team’s best unit, its defensive line. Led by Fletcher Cox, who is poised for a potential All-Pro season, the defensive line can wreak havoc on opposing offenses and protect the secondary, which has been royally exposed in recent seasons. Another name to watch on this defensive line is Vinny Curry, who was comically misused in the old 3-4 defense, and finally gets to play his natural position as a 4-3 defensive end. Middle linebacker Jordan Hicks returns from injury and will be the signal caller for the defense once again. Hicks was a pleasant surprise as a rookie before his season was cut short. The Eagles looked lost on defense without him after his injury. Philadelphia’s defense could be the surprise of this division.

The schedule is tough especially dealing with an early bye week and having to play 13 straight weeks to finish the year. We’ll know a lot more about the identity of this team in Week 3 when the Eagles host the Steelers. Much like the Cowboys, the Eagles will have to win this division to have a shot at the playoffs.

 

Check back tomorrow as I continue my NFL season preview with the AFC East. Leave your own thoughts on the NFC East in the comments. Follow me on Twitter @thereal_jmooney or like the Shooting the Moon page on Facebook.