Date Archives January 2012

2012 RSP Update

With the NFL well into its postseason, I’m steadily working my way through draft prospects for the 2012 Rookie Scouting Portfolio, which will be sold exclusively through a link to a secure shopping page you can access from this blog. If you’d like to purchase the 2011 RSP it is still available for $9.95. Back issues are available for $5.95 apiece until April 1.

To buy past RSPs, email me at mattwaldmanrsp@gmail.com and include the years you wish to purchase (2006-2011 are available) and the email I can use to send you a PayPal invoice as well as the publications once the invoice is paid. After March 31, Continue reading

Free Playoff Fantasy Football

Didn’t get to draft Calvin Johnson this year in your fantasy league? Draft him weekly (or as long as the Lions remain alive) at Fantasy Throwdown. Photo by MattBritt00.

You can’t beat the intensity of the NFL playoffs, but you can add to it with one-on-one fantasy football. Mike MacGregor and I are holding playoff fantasy football all the way through the Super Bowl at Fantasy Throwdown.

That’s right, you can have a Super Bowl fantasy match up. In fact, we’re holding a playoff tournament right now with 24 players participating in four, one-on-one games this week. If you missed the tourney, you can still challenge a friend or someone on the site – its easy to play and difficult to stop!

Here’s the basics (for more complete directions go here):

  • Challenge a friend or another person on the site.
  • You and your opponent determine the three games for that week that will comprise your player draft pool.
  • Pick your games wisely as well as your draft order, because you each get to block a player from the draft pool during the draft. If there’s only two good QBs from those games you selected, you can set it up to force your opponent to settle for a scrub.
  • Draft your team.

Drafts take 10 minutes if you and your opponent are both online. Or you can stretch out the draft throughout the course of the week or even do predraft settings. Play standard or IDP, PPR or non-PPR while chatting live with your opponent if you wish.

Keys to a Good Back-Shoulder Fade

Keshawn Martin was one of two receivers I watched in recent months that got me thining about the techniques required to execute a good back-shoulder fade. Photo by Mattradickal.

The back-shoulder fade can be an unstoppable weapon if a receiver understands how to run the route and the quarterback throws the ball with timing and confidence. Here are components of the route that make the play successful. Continue reading

RSP Cutting Room Floor: College RB and WR Notes

Jarrett Boykin has NFL athleticism but the Hokie offense didn't demand him to develop NFL receiver skills. Photo by Gary Cope.

If you haven’t noticed, the RSP blog is often my catchall area to write about anything I can relate to football. Nonetheless, rookie evaluation is still far and away the headliner. With the regular NFL season in the books I’ve ramped up my film study of college players. Here’s a few odds and ends about several players I’ve watched recently. For much more in-depth analysis, get the Rookie Scouting Portfolio publication available April 1.

Western Kentucky RB Bobby Rainey is the best running back prospect you’ve never heard of. Continue reading