Mike Shanahan, head coach of the Denver Broncos brought a new style of offense to the rocky-mountain region when he signed with the team in 1995. Along with a very effective zone-blocking scheme, Shanahan implemented a new NFL strategy where the star of the offense isn’t playing running back. For years, NFL teams scouted, drafted, traded, and signed for players who were sincerely skilled at reading defenses, making swift cuts, and hitting holes quickly (not to mention breaking tackles).

In Shanahan’s offense, though, it doesn’t matter who carries the ball. Since Terrell Davis’ run as champion Bronco back ended after the 1998 season, six different guys have led the Broncos in rushing yards. In the last nine seasons, only Mike Anderson in 2000 and Clinton Portis in ‘02 and ‘03 have led Denver in rushing yards AND accounted for at least 60 percent of the team’s rushing touchdowns. Read more »

Week 4 is the first for bye weeks, and that means many owners will be missing their full complement of players. You may be reaching for your bench for the first time this year, especially at the flex position. This is where your late-round drafting or early-season free agent pickups will come in handy.

Regardless, every week owners are put to the test with the critical decisions in the flex spot that can determine the outcome of their matchups. If you have guys like RB Chris Perry going against the Browns’ suspect run defense or WR Ike Hilliard facing a banged up Green Bay secondary, feel comfortable putting them, among others, into the flex slot in Week 3. Read more »

The ever-important “Flex” position doesn’t even exist in real life, but then again, that’s why they call it fantasy football. If lineup decisions weren’t hard enough between just one position, the flex option is even harder because it forces you to choose from your secondary options at RB and WR.

Every week, owners are put to the test with the critical decisions that can determine the outcome of your game. This week, if you have guys like Fred Taylor going against the Colts’ suspect run defense or Roddy White facing Kansas City’s inexperienced secondary, feel comfortable putting them, among others, into the flex slot.
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We like to consider the needs of fantasy owners before our own here at ImaginaryGridiron.com. Your fantasy needs are important, yes, but we also care a great deal about your emotional well-being and stability during a rollercoaster ride of a season. Tom Brady and Marques Colston owners are especially in need of a hug this week, and we’re here to lie and tell them that everything will be OK.

We’re also here to set your sights on the proper things this weekend. First, Sunday’s must-see games, the ones that should be watched and/or recorded, if at all possible. Next, we’ll optimistically tackle the players who got out of the gates strong and look to have the staying power to go well beyond preseason expectations. And lastly, we’ll talk about 10 not-so-fortunate players who could prove to be 2008 busts. Read more »

As the start of the dreaded pre-season games looms closer and closer, fantasy owners are getting the first few indications on which players have come out of camp looking impressive which ones have been lacking.

Tradition dictates that at least one fantasy star per year will have his season ruined by a pre-season injury. But, beyond that, there are plenty of players who right now only factor in as bits and pieces on a fantasy bench, but could very well turn out to be the difference between the consolation bracket and gunning for the league championship. There are also trades to be dealt with, and there have been some very big ones as of late. Read more »