Each preseason I make 10 bold predictions that you might not read anywhere else. I'm willing to look like an idiot in the short term if it helps people win in the end.
How bold are we talking about? Last year included ranking Adrian Peterson 5th among RBs when you couldn't find a website ranking him anywhere below 1st overall. Antonio was my 7th ranked WR when ESPN, Yahoo!, and nearly everyone else placed him no higher than 21st. An unknown Michael Floyd would be a top 25 WR, while every other big site placed him 40th or worse.
Clicking back to August 2014, you can find this year's bold preseason predictions. It's looking like only 5 or 6 will be right. But I'd like to think this year's picks were bigger and bolder than those in 2013. Matt Ryan a top 3 QB? The Niners finishing outside the top 10 DSTs, while the Texans finish in the top 5? Devonta Freeman and Jordan Matthews posting top 25 numbers at their respective positions? Greg Zuerlein a top 5 kicker? Jordan Reed a top 4 TE and Michael Floyd a top 12 WR? Toby Gerhart finishing outside the top 30 among RBs, while Pierre Garcon wouldn't crack the top 25 among WRs?
As always, I practiced what I preached, drafting the Texans late in each of my drafts and Matthews in one; grabbing Zuerlein in both leagues and Reed in one; and avoiding Gerhart and Garcon regardless of where they fell. As with all sets of predictions, it's nearly impossible to hit them all. Injuries (Atlanta's offensive line) and other factors take their toll.
But with the season winding down and the readership on this site more than tripling since August, it's important to remind folks that nothing on this site is deleted or brushed under the rug. We live with our predictions, right or wrong. Those who capitalize on the most well-placed risks often are in the best position to win big.
How bold are we talking about? Last year included ranking Adrian Peterson 5th among RBs when you couldn't find a website ranking him anywhere below 1st overall. Antonio was my 7th ranked WR when ESPN, Yahoo!, and nearly everyone else placed him no higher than 21st. An unknown Michael Floyd would be a top 25 WR, while every other big site placed him 40th or worse.
Clicking back to August 2014, you can find this year's bold preseason predictions. It's looking like only 5 or 6 will be right. But I'd like to think this year's picks were bigger and bolder than those in 2013. Matt Ryan a top 3 QB? The Niners finishing outside the top 10 DSTs, while the Texans finish in the top 5? Devonta Freeman and Jordan Matthews posting top 25 numbers at their respective positions? Greg Zuerlein a top 5 kicker? Jordan Reed a top 4 TE and Michael Floyd a top 12 WR? Toby Gerhart finishing outside the top 30 among RBs, while Pierre Garcon wouldn't crack the top 25 among WRs?
As always, I practiced what I preached, drafting the Texans late in each of my drafts and Matthews in one; grabbing Zuerlein in both leagues and Reed in one; and avoiding Gerhart and Garcon regardless of where they fell. As with all sets of predictions, it's nearly impossible to hit them all. Injuries (Atlanta's offensive line) and other factors take their toll.
But with the season winding down and the readership on this site more than tripling since August, it's important to remind folks that nothing on this site is deleted or brushed under the rug. We live with our predictions, right or wrong. Those who capitalize on the most well-placed risks often are in the best position to win big.