Back in the day, the fantasy basketball player you wanted on your NBA squad was the Admiral, David Robinson. Plying his trade in an era stacked with other great fantasy beasts in the paint (Hakeem Olajuwon, Shaquille O'Neal, Patrick Ewing, Brad Daugherty for starters), Robinson was durable and gave you great statistics across the board.

Robinson's career averages are crazy-ridiculous. Over the course of 987 NBA games, the Spurs big man put up 21.1ppg, 10.6rpg, 3.0bpg, 1.4spg and 2.5apg. And he shot 51.8% from the field, despite being double and triple teamed on a nightly basis. It was the fact that he not only did the big man things well that made him special, but that his agility and smarts allowed him to also contribute mightily in the steals and assists department, normally reserved for the smaller citizens of the league.

In 1993/94, his best scoring season (29.8ppg), the Admiral put up one of only two quadruple doubles of its kind in the modern era -- a points-rebounds-assists-blocks masterpiece that included 34 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists and 10 blocks as his Spurs defeated the Detroit Pistons on 17 February, 1994.

For your viewing pleasure, we have footage of Robinson's great performance. Things to take note of:

• The Admiral's agility in his prime makes Dwight Howard look like he's standing still;
• Vinny Del Negro!
• Dennis Rodman in Spurs colours, on this occasion with blonde hair. A true rebounding machine, the likes of which we may never see again.

We're now up to week 9 in the NFL, and the bye weeks continue. As such, it remains vital for fantasy teams to scourer the waiver wire for hidden gems. Here are those players The Fantasy Dudes believe are worth picking up:


Andy Dalton: Has started to play well of late, with 5 td passes over his past 3 games, most of them going to AJ Green. Owned in less than 20% of leagues. Up against the Titans this week.

Matt Cassel: Won't put up stellar numbers each week, but he does have a favorable matchup against the Dolphins this week, so worth considering. He is still available in 40% of fantasy leagues.

Kevin Faulk: The guy basically isn't owned by anyone... and for good reason, he has just came back onto the Pats active roster. He does know the system, and led the team in carries over the weekend.

Javon Ringer: Frustration is starting to set in with Titans management about Chris Johnson, and this has been felt by fantasy owners. Ringer is starting to see more opportunities. If you own CJ, he is a must add.



Kregg Lumpkin: The recent bye week of the Bucs following their trip to the UK may have thrown owners off, but remember, Graham is out the season, and Blount is banged up.

Jackie Battle: A nice game against the Chargers, including a touchdown. Still unowned in over 40% of fantasy leagues.

Victor Cruz: Some owners may have hastily dropped Cruz. If this is the case, and he is sitting on waivers, pick him up now.

Nate Washington: One of our starts of the week last weekend, and he didn't disappoint. To our surprise, he is still available in over 40% of leagues.


Malcom Floyd: Production has increased lately as Rivers has been looking his way. The touchdowns will come.

Antonio Brown: Another of our suggested starts for week 8... hope you followed our advice. He should be picked up, especially in deeper leagues.

Jake Ballard: Slowly moving his way up the Tight End list in terms of production. Eli spreading the ball around now. Owned in less than 10% of leagues.


Dustin Keller: Owned in just over 60% of leagues, we like him this week against the Bills.

Kansas City Chiefs D/ST: You won't see us mention these guys much here, but they are coming off two strong weeks, and face the Dolphins this week, so a nice replacement.

Dallas Cowboys D/ST: After a demoralising loss to the Eagles, they should bounce back at home against the Seahawks.

Jay Feely: Should have plenty of opportunities given they face the Rams this week.

Lawrence Tynes: Playing the Patriots. Eli will move the ball against them, he we like him to score some points this week.

Have a roster question? Need advice? Then ask us now! Follow us on twitter and facebook to keep informed.

The Quarterback: Usually the position that many fantasy owners bank on for having stability... at least in the form of health. Rules have even been introduced in an effort to protect this elite position, however, players still continue to go down. Management also plays a critical role... the world is changing, and success is needed yesterday, placing current day quarterbacks under even more pressure to perform or else. Just look at Tim Tebow... it was only a couple of games ago that he was called upon to start ahead of Orton. The result, two mediocre efforts, and now the Broncos are scratching their heads.

32 teams started the season with their quarterback in mind. Now, after almost 8 weeks of football, we have 10 new faces (and likely to be more as season progresses) leading the charge for their respective teams. As you would be aware, the quarterback is critical to a team's success, both in fantasy and reality... generally, as the quarterback goes, as does the team (and your fantasy team). If the quarterback struggles, the the flow-on effect occurs with others players on the team, be it the running backs, tight ends or wide receivers (added pressure in the box or less accurate passes for example)... just look at the Colts without Peyton marshalling them around.


So, what does all this mean from a fantasy perspective? Well with the second half upon us, if you want to achieve success in fantasy football this season, you need a quarterback that will provide you with stability. Inconsistency is not something you should accept. Sure, there will be one offs like Drew Brees against the Rams, but more often that not, he steps up to the plate. As such, The Fantasy Dudes have broken down the current crop of starting quarterbacks into four different tiers: Tier 1 - Will likely provide you with the best chance of winning your league, Tier 2 - Serviceable, but capable of not showing up on any given Sunday (or Monday), Tier 3 - Can achieve the off-success, but not dependable by any means, and Tier 4 - Should only be relied upon as a bye week replacement, i.e. we would not suggest running with them unless desperate or in a deeper league. Here is where they sit (in no particular order):

The Fantasy Dudes - Fantasy Tiers:

Tier 1: T.Brady, D.Brees, A.Rodgers, M.Vick, C.Newton, P.Rivers, B.Rothlisberger, M.Stafford
Tier 2: T.Romo, M.Schaub, E.Manning, M.Ryan
Tier 3: T.Tebow, M.Sanchez, J.Freeman, J.Flacco, A.Dalton, R.Fitzpatrick
Tier 4: C.Ponder, B.Gabbert, C.Painter, C.Palmer, M.Hasselbeck, A.Smith, C.Whitehurst/T.Jackson, K.Kolb, J.Cutler, S.Bradford, M.Cassel, M.Moore, J.Beck, C.McCoy 

Should your quarterback be someone sitting in Tier 3 or 4 (SELL SELL SELL), then we suggest making a move for a Tier 1 or 2 player now (BUY BUY BUY)... before it's too late! Don't believe us? Then try reviewing the stats of the season thus far.

Have a roster question? Need advice? Then ask us now! Follow us on twitter andfacebook to keep informed.

Not sure who to start this week for your fantasy football team? We have done the numbers and held a discussion as to who to start. Here is what The Fantasy Dudes came up with for week 8 in the NFL:

Cam Newton: Back at home against the Vikings, a team that has allowed over 2,000 yards passing on them so far... needless to say we like this matchup.

Eli Manning: Dolphins give up the second most fantasy points to QB's in the league. Back at home, coming off a bye week, we like Eli and his receivers this week.


Andy Dalton: Nice matchup against a Seahawks team that is struggling with injuries. His connection to AJ Green has been money so far. Cash-in if you need a bye week replacement.

Darren Sproles: Ingram's status is in question, meaning Sproles is in-line for more work against the Rams. Yes, DeMarco Murray ripped them apart this weekend and the Saints are rolling.

Ryan Mathews: Despite the Chiefs strong performance last week on the defensive end, they still rank in the top 10 of most points given up to RB's. We like Ryan to set the pace for the Chargers, and sneak into the endzone.


Frank Gore: The only one really worth watching in this game. The Browns have been ok at stopping the run thus far, but we see the niners pounding the ball at home.

Steve Smith (Car): See Cam Newton above. Vikings top 10 in most points given up to WR's.

Nate Washington: The Colts secondary has been terrible all season, and have leaked a lot of points. Step-up to the plate Nate.


Marques Colston: As per Sproles above, the Saints are coming off a huge scoring week. Colston is back, and Brees will look to him often.

Dwayne Bowe: Cassel did not look good last week, but when he does complete passes, they are usually to Bowe. We think they'll hook up again this week for a score.

Antonio Brown: As they say in NBA Jam, he's heating up!!! Patriots are terrible against the pass, so expect Big Ben to exploit this.

Jake Ballard: Has quietly been going under the radar, but has seen a number of looks lately. Well worth a start this week.

Jason Witten: Massive rivalry game between the Eagles and the Cowboys. Look for Romo to get Jason involved often, especially as DeMarco will move the ball for them on the ground.


Olindo Mare: With the Panthers moving the ball, Mare should get plenty of opportunities.

New Orleans Saints: The Rams just can't score. Saints are therefore a solid start based on that factor alone.

Tennessee Titans: Much like the Saints above, they face the Colts, a team that really has nothing... at least they are in the running for Andrew Luck.

Have a roster question? Need advice? Then ask us now! Follow us on twitter and facebook to keep informed.

Here are The Fantasy Dudes week 8 waiver wire targets:

Andy Dalton: With the number of QB's being replaced or going down, and with the bye weeks, some may be left with little options. Coming off a bye week, and with AJ Green to throw to, he could be nice value.

Tim Tebow: He should be owned in all leagues, but in case he isn't, add him. That is still 25% of leagues!



DeMarco Murray: We hope you listened to our advice last week. The guy blasted away the Rams. He will be the hottest player on the wire this week. 253 yards... wow!

Delone Carter: Addai did not last long, which is not a good sign. Sure, it's the Colts, but Carter did play better than Brown, so should be given more looks moving forward.

Roy Helu/Ryan Torain: Hightower is out the season (he did look good on the weekend). It is anyone's guess who will be the top performer each week in the backfield, but both should now be owned.

Alfonso Smith: Should Beanie Wells miss any time, we like Smith to shoulder the load. Must be picked up if a Wells owner.

Leon Washington: Surprisingly it was Washington, and not Forsett that was handed the running back duties when Lynch pulled out.

Lance Ball: Take a chance on him if in a deep league. McGahee injured, meaning Moreno will likely get the start, but Ball should get some chances.



Antonio Brown: Stepped up in a big way in week 7. Big Ben likes him, and you should too. Quickly moving into 2nd WR for the Steelers, esp with Ward injured. New England on deck.

Demaryius Thomas: Came through with the goods for the Broncos. Well worth a look.


Jake Ballard: 2 TD's in his past 3 games. Manning starting to rely on him.

Heath Miller: As Big Ben goes, so does Heath. You could do worse as a bye week replacement, esp as he is heating up. 2 TD's over past 3 games.

Giants D/ST: Have been getting a few takeaways of late. Up against the struggling Miami at home.

Dan Bailey: He keeps connecting... need a kicker? Add Dan the man!

Missed anyone? Let us know in the comments section. Follow us on twitter and facebook to keep informed

Six weeks in the books... and already, we have a number of new quarterbacks under center. Tebow, Palmer, Beck, Ponder, Feeley, Whitehurst... and that is just this week, how Moore and Painter are fairly recent changes too. Fantasy Football has a funny way of throwing a spanner in the works... just look at the Chiefs backfield: Is it Jamaal Charles? No. Is it Thomas Jones? No. Okay okay, I got it, it has to be Dexter McCluster??? Aahhh, wrong again... how about Jackie Battle? Yep, right on, at least for week 7 (and he is a decent start too!).

Anyways, here are The Fantasy Dudes starts for week 7:



Tim Tebow: It was about time. Orton wasn't getting it done, so why not give Tebow a go. He has a great matchup against the Dolphins (they give up 2nd most points to QB's), and should find the end zone both throwing and running the ball. If I'm a fantasy owner, look to trade him after this week. His stock is already high (he was just on waivers last week) and we have seen some crazy trades go down for him.

Matt Cassel: The Raiders give up the 3rd most fantasy points to QB's, and actually, Matt has been pretty decent of late, courtesy of some nice Dwayne Bowe receptions. A more than suitable bye week replacement for a team that has given up 12 td passes thus far.

Ryan Mathews: The Jets, surprisingly, have not been good against the run, ranking in the top 5 for most fantasy points allowed to RB's. They have been very good at stopping the pass, hence expect to see the Chargers run the ball, and often.

Marshawn Lynch: The Browns have allowed quite a few rushing yards to RB's lately, and Marshawn has quietly been going under the radar. We like him as a low-value pickup for the rest of the season, especially whilst Whitehurst is running the show.


Daniel Thomas: Whilst the spotlight will be on Tebow, on the other side, with Bush hampered, and Henne down, the Dolphins will have to rely on DT to do the heavy lifting. The Broncos have leaked a lot of points this season.


Rashard Mendenhall: Adrian Peterson 3 td's against the Cardinals last week... Rashard's mouth must be watering at this matchup.

Nate Washington: The Texans have had trouble shutting down the WR pass all season, and we like Matt Hasselbeck to exploit this. Washington has been his favorite target, and we expect this to continue this week.

Nate Burleson: Another Nate, this time in Detroit. Stafford continues to progress well this season, and lately, Burleson (in addition to Megatron) has been a key beneficiary. He could find the pay dirt once again this week.

Pierre Garcon: To our surprise, it has been Garcon, and not Wayne or Clarke that has been the best on the Colts. You gotta ride the hot hand, especially against the Saints.


Miles Austin and Dez Bryant: Both should be started this week. The Rams give up the most fantasy points to WR's in the league. Also good news for Romo, who is also a solid option this week.

Ed Dickson: The Jags D has improved, especially against QB's, so it will be likely Flacco will be put under pressure. Flacco has been looking Ed's way of late, and we like this week to come off for the partnership.

Graham Gano: The Skins will move the ball with their backs, but may falter in the red zone. Enter Gano.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: They arrived early in ye ole London town, where as the Bears only arrived in late. Cutler doesn't do well on the road, and the Bucs will be buoyed by their big win against the rival Saints.

Dallas Cowboys: Rams lost their starting QB, and they can't score. Should be a nice outing for the Cowboys D/ST.

That's it for this week. What do you think? Let us know your thoughts...

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Here are The Fantasy Dudes waiver wire targets for week 7 (based on low levels of league ownerships):


Quarterback: Tim Tebow and Matt Cassel

Running Back: Earnest Graham, Jackie Battle, DeMarco Murray and Montario Hardesty


Wide Receiver: Greg Little, Darrius Heywood-Bey, Kevin Walter and Doug Baldwin. If spare room on roster, add Demetrius Thomas of the Broncos - could work out to be a nice sleeper.

Tight End: Benjamin Watson and Fred Davis

Def/Spec Teams: Dallas Cowboys


Kicker: Dan Bailey

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We get questions from fantasy owners who say they are 2-3, 1-4 and even 0-5, and if their season is over? No, it is not... sometimes injuries come into play (see Charles, Jamaal), and other times, it just is luck (or lack there of), with the opposing team ripping you apart with the likes of Wes Welker, Calvin Johnson, Tom Brady or Adrian Peterson. My point is, fantasy sports is a funny game, and you should never give up... make trades, hit the waiver wire, change your bench up... with teams on byes, it may be a ideal time to sneak up on those teams performing strongly. If you are looking for assistance, just ask The Fantasy Dudes, we're more than willing to help... we do it for the love of the game.

So enough of that talk, here are our fantasy starts for week number 6 in the NFL:


Tony Romo: A lot of eyes will be on this game... Pats give up 4th most fantasy points to QB's, and we see this as an ideal game for Romo to silience his critics. His receivers have been banged up, but will be back on deck this week. He should have a nice outing this week as he airs it out.

Mark Sanchez: For owners in a bind because of the bye week, then chances are that Sanchez is available on the waiver wire. In fantasy, a lot comes down to matchups, and this week, he has a favorable one against the Dolphins, a team that has leaked points to quarterbacks.


Cedric Benson: Benson has been somewhat of a disappointment thus far this season (a reason why we have him on our 'sell' list), and perhaps that is due to his pending suspension. However, he's up against the Colts, a team that has given up the 8th most fantasy points to RB's so far this season... his value unfortunately is not as strong in PPR leagues. Should be good for at least one TD.

Michael Turner: Another on our 'sell' list, but owners may want to wait until after this week as we see his stock going up. Panthers give up the second most points to running backs, and history suggests that they are a team Michael likes to play.

Earnest Graham: With Blount out, Graham comes in at running back. He will be a nice waiver wire pick-up for the next couple of weeks, and should do ok against the Saints.


Daniel Thomas: Surprisingly the Jets have been one of the worst at stopping the run in 2011. Thomas has looked great... when he has played. With a new quarterback, they'll likely rely on Thomas as they return from the bye week.

Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Steve Johnson and David Nelson: Yes, there are a lot of wide receivers for the one game, but neither has been great at stopping the pass, and both quarterbacks like to pass... will be a great game to watch. Yes, we do like Cruz ahead of Manningham right now... and so does Eli.


AJ Green: The rookie is smokin hot, and has been pure money in the bank. Colts give up 4th most fantasy points to wide receivers. Start with confidence.

Miles Austin: See Romo above. Austin is back, and should produce straight away. Patriots have given up the most fantasy points to wide receivers so far this season (they are just lucky they have Tom Brady and Co scoring more points than opposition).

Tony Gonzalez: With Julio Jones out, someone needs to step up besides White for the Falcons. We like Tony to be that man, especially in the redzone as Turner and Ryan move the ball.


Dustin Keller: Dolphins give up third most fantasy points to tight ends, and the Jets o-line are getting healthier.

Dan Bailey: With Romo moving the ball against the Pats, he should get a few FG looks.

Cincinnati Bengals: Colts, Painter, at home, enough said.

That's it for this week. What do you think? Let us know your thoughts...

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The Fantasy Dudes have received numerous queries relating to which players should be acquired and/or sold off. As such, The Fantasy Dudes sat down to discuss the potential Buy and Sell Fantasy Football stocks for the rest of the season. We have narrowed the list down to ten players in each category (in no particular order):


BUY NOW:
Shonn Greene - Jets will turn to the run, and LT hardly looks like he'll cause much damage. O-line expected to improve with players returning from injury.
Marshawn Lynch - Charlie Whitehurst now under center, expect the Seahawks to pound the ball. He does not have much competition either.
Tony Romo - Receivers have been dinged up. Now healthy, so expect him to perform.
DeSean Jackson - Slow start, but look for Vick to include him a lot more.
Jimmy Graham - He is the key target for Brees, and should remain so for the rest of the season.
Darren Sproles - Has been a great pick-up for the Saints. Involved in passing game and kick returns, making him a viable fantasy option.
Miles Austin - Should be back on deck this week. It won't be long until he is back into the swing of things.
James Starks - Taken over the RB duties at GB. Clearly passing game on fire, but should be opportunities for James, especially down the stretch.
Victor Cruz - Where has this guy come from? Manningham taken a back seat, and Eli is a big fan of his... check out his past couple of games
Tim Tebow - Will be given the start at QB after the bye. He certainly did a fine job running the show at the end of last season when he was controlling the ship. Strong opportunities running the ball as well.

Speculative: Darius Heyward-Bay - Has has a huge couple of last games. Worth adding, especially in deeper leagues.


SELL NOW:
Michael Turner - Stats have been skewed by some long runs. We aren't buying him or the Falcons right now. He isn't looking as strong as last season.
Rex Grossman - Has had a nice schedule to start the season, but we don't see him continuing his form. Shanahan will turn to the run with his 3 RB's of Torain, Hightower and Helu
Matt Ryan - Very slow start to the season. Injuries to his WR's haven't helped. See Turner above. SELL!
LeGarette Blount - Injuries and a far from impressive Bucs team... blown out by 49ers. Tough schedule.
Brandon Marshall - Henne done for the season. We aren't as optimistic about his fantasy performances moving forward. Patchy at best.
Fred Davis - Strong start to season as Cooley took a back seat. See above re: Grossman.
Cedric Benson - When will the suspension come? Worth getting rid of before it is too late
Mario Manningham - Talk about a drop off. Fallen out of favor with Eli. Performances will be up and down for the rest of the season. Moved to WR 3 on Giants.
Nate Burleson - Despite the form of Stafford and the Lions, he just isn't getting looks, and is losing out to other wide receivers. Don't see that changing.
Matt Schaub - Misses Andre Johnson... badly! Getting in Mason is not a good sign. Add to it that he has injured his throwing shoulder, the writing is on the wall.

What do you think? Let us know your thoughts...

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We're on to week 6 already! Here are The Fantasy Dudes top fantasy football waiver wire targets:


QB: Tim Tebow, Charlie Whitehurst and Andy Dalton

RB: Jackie Battle, Ryan Torain (in case you missed him last week due to bye), Delone Carter, Earnest Graham and Issac Redman


WR: Victor Cruz, David Nelson, Doug Baldwin, Greg Little, and Darrius Heyward-Bey

TE: Jake Ballard and Heath Miller

K: Mike Nugent

D/ST: Bengals


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