Fantasy Fix

Owens, Evans don't make the list

The fantasy football rankings and lists are coming out by the dozens these days. On foxsports.com, Mike Harmon unveils his projections for the top 15 receptions leaders.

No surprise at No. 1 with Andre Johnson, but a few of Harmon's picks were head-scratchers. T.J. Houshmandzadeh at No. 3 ahead of Larry Fitzgerald? Torry Holt and Laveranues Coles on the list at 13 and 14?

Rounding out the top 15 is Antonio Gates of San Diego, who Harmon has pegged for 77 catches.

Not on the list are Bills receivers Terrell Owens or Lee Evans. What do you think of Harmon's list? Any big omissions or oversights?

---Jay Skurski

Yahoo, NFLPA settle their differences

Yahoo Inc. will be allowed to use NFL players' statistics, likenesses and other data in its fantasy football leagues after reaching an agreement Monday to drop a lawsuit against the NFL Players Association.

Yahoo had sued the NFLPA last month in U.S. District Court in Minnesota, claiming it shouldn't have to pay royalties for data that is already publicly available.

That stance makes sense when you consider the NFLPA doesn't charge media outlets a fee for publishing or broadcasting the information.

Officials from both sides declined to offer specifics on the settlement.

This should be viewed as good news for fantasy football participants like myself who use Yahoo for their leagues. If the NLFPA was successful in charging fees to fantasy providers like Yahoo, it would be only a matter of time until those costs were passed along to participants. 

---Jay Skurski

McKitish sees potential in Flynn

ESPN fantasy basketball analyst Brian McKitish recently compiled a list of 10 soon-to-be NBA rookies who he thinks can make an impact in their rookie years.

Included on that list is Niagara Falls native Jonny Flynn. Writes McKitish of Flynn, "... he could end up being the steal of the draft if he falls out of the top 10 on draft day. His fantasy value will depend largely on where he lands, but Flynn certainly has the potential to be an immediate contributor in the NBA. He will need to work on his long-distance shooting to become a complete fantasy player, but Flynn has the talent to be a major force in points, assists and steals if he can earn consistent minutes in his rookie season."

Flynn continues to improve his stock leading up to the draft, which will be held June 25 in Madison Square Garden. He's got the potential to be a top-10 pick, and has even been speculated to go as high as fourth overall, to the Sacramento Kings. Such a destination would be perfect in a fantasy scenario, since his playing time would be extensive.

---Jay Skurski

The guys who ruin fantasy leagues

In Sunday's Fantasy Sports column, Jay Skurski wrote about the Bleacher Report's list of "Six Guys That Ruin Fantasy Baseball." 

The six personalities are universal, really, not just for baseball. We've seen them in all of our leagues: football, baseball, hockey, basketball, golf, and so on... 

We all could do a little word association with our friends and co-workers, I'd bet. Heck, we might even be one or two of them ourselves.

So, who are they?

1. The Guy that Loves the Draft Just a Little Too Much

2. The Guy that Drafts All Prospects

3. The Guy that Overvalues People from his Favorite Team

4. The Guy that Sends Terrible Trade Proposals

5. The Guy that Picks Up 10 People a Week

6. The Guy that Never Checks his Team

Check out the full descriptions at the Bleacher Report.

Anyone that the Bleacher Report has left out?

I'll throw one out:

The Guy that severely underdrafts one position thinking he's outsmarting everyone else, then gets offended when you won't trade your surplus player at that same position to him for nothing when he's in a jam.

A little wordy, I know. 

-- Dave Valenzuela

Wieters ready for Friday

Greetings and apologies for the delay between posts. I examined this topic in a recent print article, but we've reached the time of year when Major League Baseball teams begin calling up their best prospects.

Here in Buffalo, that included 20-year-old Fernando Martinez leaving the Bisons to get a shot with the New York Mets. On Friday, the best prospect in the minors, at least according to several national outlets, will make his Big League debut.

Despite having never played for the Baltimore Orioles, catcher Matt Wieters is owned in a vast majority of fantasy leagues. He's expected to immediately take over the starting job from Gregg Zaun, and should be done with life in Triple-A.

What are your expectations for Wieters and some of the other game's top prospects who will be joining parent clubs in the weeks ahead?

---Jay Skurski

 

Chien-Ming Wang, what's going on?

That's the question anyone unfortunate enough to own New York Yankees starter Chien-Ming Wang in fantasy baseball is asking. That list includes Dennis Danheiser, Assistant Sports Editor here at the Buffalo News, who owns him in our work fantasy league.

Danheiser offered Wang in a trade for "a stick of gum" after Saturday's meltdown against the Cleveland Indians, but not surprisingly found no takers. To recap, Wang's ERA is now an astronomical 34.50. He's 0-3 in three starts this year and gave Danheiser -8.17 points Saturday. For the week, Wang is 18.17 points in the negative.

The numbers get more incredible. No pitcher in Yankees history has ever given up more earned runs in his first three starts and to match his ERA of 3.79 last year, Wang would need to pitch 48 2/3 scoreless innings.

The Yankees are likely to skip Wang's next schedule turn in the rotation, which mean he won't pitch again until April 28. He's out of minor-league options, however, so he won't be headed that route, since the Yankees would have to expose him to waivers, and would surely lose him.

If a better replacement can't be found on the waiver wire, fantasy owners will have to let Wang sit on the bench until he sorts himself out.

---Jay Skurski

Swisher lands full-time job

Xavier Nady's loss is Nick Swisher's gain. Nady, the New York Yankees' starting right fielder, is likely out for the season after tearing an elbow ligament this week against Tampa Bay.

That means that one of the season's hottest fantasy players, Swisher, will get a permanent home in the outfield. Swisher has made the most of his opportunities so far this season, wherever they've come, hitting .458 with four home runs and 11 RBIs.

At his best, which he's at right now, he has 30-homer power, and can plate and drive in 100 RBIs. There's a fairly decent chance he's available in your league, so grab him now if that's the case.

---Jay Skurski

Wright goes No. 1

The much-anticipated (at least for me) Buffalo News fantasy baseball draft took place Saturday morning, with David Wright going first overall, to Geoff Nason. The 30-round draft (30!) was completed in a smooth 3 and a half hours.

My team, which I co-own with Greg Connors, picked fifth overall. We were happy to see New York Mets shortstop Jose Reyes available when we picked.

The 360th and final player chosen, our version of Mr. Irrelevent, was Chicago Cubs starter Ryan Dempster, also to Nason. Dempster, however, was a keeper from last year, so the "real" last pick of the draft was New York Yankees center fielder Brett Gardner.

---Jay Skurski

White Sox make Wise decision

Journeyman outfielder Dewayne Wise has earned the starting center field job for the Chicago White Sox. Wise, 31, will also take over leadoff duties in a White Sox lineup that should score plenty of runs.

In 57 games last year, Wise hit .258 with 6 home runs in 129 at-bats. He also stole 9 bases (in 9 tries)and scored 20 runs.

His career numbers, however, are less than impressive. He's got a .254 on-base percentage in more than 500 MLB at-bats. He might steal a few bags for you, but he's got to get on base first.

---Jay Skurski

Motte to get shot as Cards closer

Jason Motte will get the first opportunity to close games for the St. Louis Cardinals after 2006 first-round pick Chris Perez was sent to the minors Monday.

Motte, a former catcher in the minor leagues, made his MLB debut last season. He had a 0.82 ERA in 11 innings of work during a September call-up, striking out 16. In 10 appearances so far this spring, he's pitched 10.1 innings with a 1.74 ERA, 15 strikeouts and 4 saves.

If Motte struggles out of the gate, however, St. Louis manager Tony LaRussa made it clear he won't hesitate to make a change.  If you're desperate for a closer, though, Motte is a good option in the later rounds, or possibly on the waiver wire.

---Jay Skurski