The Cincinnati Reds took an unprecedented 7-game lead in the N.L. Central on Tuesday with a 8-4 win over the Milwaukee Brewers. It is their biggest divisional lead since 1995, the last time they made the playoffs.

The team finished the month of August with a MLB-best record of 19-8 and appears to be in the driver’s seat inside the Central as they brace for what was supposed to be a huge showdown series in St. Louis this weekend.

As the Cardinals continue to fade, the Reds are really starting to take off.  Now they have released their not-so hidden weapon, rookie left hander Aroldis Chapman.

The Cuban defect, otherwise known as the Cuban Missle, has drawn rave reviews and was clocked at 105 MPH last week in Triple A. The Reds called him up just in advance of making him eligible for the post-season roster.

He made his big league debut by retiring the side, including a strikeout of his first-ever batter. Chapman's 8 pitches per MLB.com: 98, 86, 103, 87, 100, 103, 101, 99.

The team already boast a deep starting rotation and one of the league’s best bullpens, Chapman could be the icing on the cake.

MLB cincinnati reds, n.l. central, aroldis chapman

from Yahoo.com...

When the Cincinnati Bengals signed Terrell Owens, it looked like a sign that they had major concerns about Antonio Bryant's(notes) ability to contribute in 2010.

As it turns out, they did. So much so, in fact, that they cut him today. They just straight up, outright axed Bryant, eating the $8 million in guaranteed money that they gave him back in March on a four-year, $28 million deal. 

In the end, the Bengals gave Bryant that $8 million for 172 days of practicing. Poorly.

COMPLETE ARTILCE

NFL cincinnati bengals, antonio bryant, terrell owens

Winning NFL picks, odds and power rankings all from our friends at Doc's Sports Service.

Everyone wants to own all the top tier players they can for their fantasy team, but that's just not going to happen. So, it's best to pick the right top tier guys and then fill your roster with underrated players who perform as well as the bigger named guys. Here's a couple candidates to target:

Pierre Garcon, IND: The top pick for the Colts is obviously Reggie Wayne, but a closer look at Garcon shows that you should pass on Wayne and snag Garcon. Wayne did not even have 1,000 yards last year and has smallest yards per catch average of his career. His numbers are tailing off. Garcon had almost 800 yards receiving in limited action last year. This year, he's expected to start opposited Wayne. Expect Garcon to get to the 1,000 yard plateau this season. Garcon has an average draft position of 58 while Wayne has an ADP of 12. There's a lot of talent between those two numbers, so pass on Wayne and wait for Garcon, in the middle rounds (5-8).

Derrick Mason, BAL: Mason is one of the most unheralded fantasy producers. All he does is produce consistent (not stellar) fantasy numbers every week. This year, he has less pressure as Anquan Boldin is not expected to be the top receiver for the Ravens. Boldin will go before Mason, but it's Mason who makes for a better value. Boldin will probably get 1,000 yards, if he stays healthy (something he's had trouble with). Plus, Boldin will have to form chemistry with Joe Flacco and learn the new system. Mason has the relationship with Flacco. Mason is going, on average, in the 10th round of leagues while Boldin is going in round 3-4. Mason has a 3-year average of 85 receptions and 1,000 yards. Boldin has a 3-year average of 81 receptions for 900+ yards.

Jonathan Stewart, CAR: The Carolina Panthers have a duel threat in the backfield. Deangelo Williams is the top fantasy choice amongst the duo, but it's Stewart who carries the better fantasy value. Stewart has never gone a season without 10 touchdowns. Analyzing Williams' 3-year average reveals similar production, but when you take into account his freakish 18-TD output from 2008 and suddenly the two Panthers have the same numbers. But Williams is going in the first or second round in all leagues and Stewart is not going until round 4, on average. So why pay for Williams, when you can snag the same stats, touches, etc. with Stewart a couple rounds later?

Chester Taylor, CHI: All the talk is on Mike Martz and his affect on the Bears offense this year, but the Bears invested in Chester Taylor this offseason, for a reason. As all fantasy owners know, Forte was disappointment last season. So Taylor's presence puts pressure on Forte to excel or move aside. Forte will still go much higher in drafts than Taylor, as Forte as had a nice preseason and is technically the starter, but Taylor is a better value. Taylor's ADP is 126 while Forte's is 40. That's a huge gap. Taylor, who's been a part-time player his entire career, doesn't have the 3-year numbers to impress, but he has averaged 40 catches over the last three years. So in PPR leagues those numbers are more important. If you really believe in Forte, take him, but make sure you handcuff him to Taylor.

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Fantasy Football fantasy advice, fantasy bargains, chester taylor, derek mason, jonathan stewart, pierre garcon

Emmanuelle Chriqui made a splash in Entourage and you see why...

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So many owners new to PPR-formats think that it is only wide receivers that gain a boost in leagues where points are awarded for receptions. However, running backs that catch the ball also become quite more valuable.

Here's a look at the top 10 reception leaders out of the backfield from 2009:

Ray Rice (BAL) - 78 
Tim Hightower (ARI) - 63
Matt Forte (CHI) - 57
Maurice Jones-Drew (JCK) - 53 
Frank Gore (SF) - 52
Joseph Addai (IND) - 51
Steven Jackson (STL) - 51
Reggie Bush (NO) - 47
Fred Jackson (BUF) - 46 
Darren Sproles (SD) - 45 

The ability to catch so many balls out of the backfield made Rice even a better commodity.  MJD, Gore, and Jackson make already top 10 runners even stronger plays in PPR formats. Receptions in PPR leagues made  Hightower, Forte, Bush and even Sproles relative and legitimate contributors.

Fantasy Football fantasy advice, fantasy strategy, ppr, rb receiving leaders, ray rice

We continue to get you ready for the upcoming fantasy season with some helpful advice:

In this session we’ll be covering some things to look out for in players when creating your rankings, and different ways to get the upper hand on other owners. Open up your notebooks and start paying attention, class is now in session.

Before an owner is able to draft a team, they have to know how they would rank certain players based on their position, and when they would take them in the draft. When figuring out a ranking sheet, more factors than just “last year’s stats” come into play. Here are a few things that an owner should consider when ranking a player:

Are they injury prone? This is one of the most important factors as a player cannot get you points when they are watching from the sidelines.

Are they on a new team? It may take no time, a few games, or even a few years in order for a player to feel comfortable with a new system. A player that has been with a team/coach for numerous years is a lot more likely to not have these adjustment troubles.

Are they in a position battle? It would be a shame to draft a player that you think may start, only to see him get beaten out or split time with another player. On top of that, if that player struggles, it is likely that they could get replaced easier than a player that is unquestionably the starter.

Are they in a contract year? As if a player needs any more motivation, playing for a bigger paycheck can always help.

How old is the player? Obviously a rookie has more potential than a 15-year veteran, but they are also limited because of a lack of experience. For an older player injuries become more of a concern, and the likelihood of having a career year declines.

Anything that an owner can think of to determine how a player will perform should be used. These are just a few of the factors that need to be taken into consideration when determining how a player will perform in the upcoming year.

When drafting a fantasy football team it is likely that a player who you have coveted will get taken right before you get a chance to select him. If this is the case then make sure that you don’t make too much of a stink about how you wanted this player so badly. The reasoning behind this is that it is much easier to acquire that player in a trade when the other owner doesn’t know that you want him so much. However, if on draft day you reacted like you were a schoolgirl watching a scary movie, then the opposing owner is going to garner more in a trade because they know that you want them so much. A good rule of thumb is to treat the fantasy draft like a game of poker. You don’t want other people to know what you are holding (or in this case, who you want).

Part of playing poker is knowing the tendencies of the other players. In fantasy football, it is always nice to know if an owner has an inclination to draft certain players. It is always nice to have players from your favorite team on your actual fantasy team. However, don’t let it stand in the way of drafting a good fantasy team. If you do find out that a certain owner likes to draft players from a certain team (or drafts the same player every year), then by all means take that into consideration and try and use it against them. Just like in poker, no one is stopping you from talking up a certain player, only to be bluffing that you want them. Make the opposing owner think that you want that player so that they select the player earlier than they should. Remember, being a successful GM isn’t just about drafting. It’s also about how you can manipulate the other players into doing things that you want them to do.

Another way in which you can manipulate other owners is thru trading. Throughout the course of an NFL season players are bound to get injured, not perform up to expectations, or just plain old suck. A successful GM will look into numerous things about a player that isn’t performing, and then evaluate if they may be able to steal him from the opposing owner. Even though the player isn’t performing well, it may be early in the season and the opposing owner is not patient. If this is the case then tempt that owner with a player that is off to a hot start (or has a few good games), but is likely to cool down as the season goes on. As for trading for an injured player, look at how much depth you have at that position. If you are able to take on that player, have him sit on the bench, and wait out the injury then by all means do so. Not every team is as deep as each other. Because of this certain owners may not be able to sit an injured player, and instead need the instant gratification.

A third way to manipulate other owners in trading is by giving them “more players in return for less” (ex. You are giving up 2 players in exchange for 1, or 3 for 2). This is usually an easy way to pull one over on inexperienced or unknowledgeable owners. Essentially what you are trying to do is make the statistics of the two players that you are giving up look better (when they are combined) than the one player that you are getting. Often you are giving up a player that is of above average skills and a player of average skills, for a player that is a superstar. The owner that is receiving fewer players now has an extra roster spot in which they can play with. What the opposing owner fails to realize is that it is very easy to replace a player of average skills. That’s what the waiver wire is for. On top of that, that owner is also going to have to drop someone in order to make space on their roster for 1 more player. On the other hand, it is very hard to find a replacement for a player that always puts up Pro Bowl numbers. Unless your team is decimated by injuries and you need the extra bodies, make sure that your trades are either in your favor (2 for 1, or 3 for 2) or straight up (1 for 1, 2 for 2). 

Fantasy Football fantasy 101, ranking players, fantasy advice

TotalProSports.com looks at 9 people you'll find at college football games...

The Frat Boy
He’s young, he’s dumb… and he is absolutely shit faced. He is mumbling Greek letters non-sequentially as he spills draft beer all over the row in front of him. He has opted to remove his shirt and write “Kappa Alpha” in his chest with catsup. He has what looks to be someone else’s vomit on his pants and also appears to have pissed himself. He loudly declares that he’d rather be watching a game of beer pong, and then, with almost no warning, passes out cold on the concrete steps. Then the game kicks off and one of his “boys” repeats the above sequence until they run out of dudes or the game ends, whichever comes first.

COMPLETE LIST

College Football, Just For Fun humor, college football douchebags

Did you miss my weekly segment on ESPN 1530 Thursday at 4:40? Here's what you missed:

Get your free football picks againt the spread and live football odds from our friends at Doc's Sports

CREAM OF THE CROP
--Drew Brees: Aside from being on the Madden cover I can’t find anything wrong with a signal caller that has a 68:28 TD-to-interception ratio over the past two years. He’s finished as a top-two fantasy QB in three of the last four years and there’s no reason not expect that in 2010.

--Aaron Rodgers: Rodgers actually finished ’09 as fantasy top-scoring passer despite taking a league-high 50 sacks. He threw for multiple scores in 10 of Green Bay’s last 14 contests while leading all quarterbacks in the league in rushing touchdowns and ranking second in rushing yards. He’s a safe bet in late Round 1 into early Round 2.

--Peyton Manning: Perhaps fantasy’s safest bet, Manning is an annual lock for to pass for 30+ plus touchdowns and 4,000 or more yards. He finished last year second in the league in both passing yards and passing TD’s.

OVERHYPED
--Jay Cutler: There’s no doubt that the arrival of Mike Martz as offensive in coordinator will increase Cutler’s pass attempts. However, it seems to being blown a bit out of proportion. The fact he has thrown 45 interceptions over the past two years and the lack of a legitimate No.1 wideout to throw the ball to raises serious flags. Keep in mind the Bears play in cold weather games in all but one week after No. 1, making the elements a factor too.

--Brett Favre: Last year was one of the best statistical seasons of Favre’s career, but now he’s 40, getting a late start to the season and coming off ankle surgery. Adding fuel to the fire, he will also be without last year’s top target, wide receiver Sidney Rice, who is expected to miss at least half of the season following hip surgery. This could be the year the bottom finally falls out for the future Hall of Famer.

--Donovan McNabb: I still can’t believe the Eagles traded McNabb inside the division to the Redskins. While I firmly believe that the veteran has a few good years left in the tank, the lack of talent around him D.C. is likely to lead to some mediocre numbers. Avoid drafting him as your QB1, but don’t be afraid to go after him as an early backup option.

UNDERVALUED
--Matt Ryan: A sophomore slump is causing Ryan to slip down in many drafts, but there is still a ton of upside. Last year’s struggles can be attributed to injuries and now Ryan and many of the team’s other weapons are healthy. His schedule is extremely favorable as well. If you miss out on the top guys and decide to wait until later to get a QB go with upside and draft Ryan.

--Ben Roethlisberger: The fact that he is suspended for at least four games is scaring many owners away from Big Ben altogether, but he is still a savvy pick as a QB2, particularly in keeper formats. He finished last season with career-highs in passing yards and passing attempts and could bring great trade value later in the year for your team if nothing else.

--Matthew Stafford: If you looking for late-draft value for a backup quarterback look no further than the former No. 1 overall pick of the Lions. Injuries hurt his production as a rookie and making through 16 games behind Detroit’s porous offensive line will be a challenge. He’s certain to be inconsistent, but with his arm and the talent around him expect 4 or 5 monster weeks from Stafford.

LISTEN TO THE SEGMENT (Homer247.com)

Fantasy Football fantasy advice, quarterback sleepers, quarterback busts, 1530 homer, fantasy segment

The following rankings are based off yardage+TD formats for year-to-year, non-keeper leagues...

*Last updated on Aug 30, 2010

 COMPLETE RANKINGS

Fantasy Football 2010 fantasy rankings, fantasy advice, gsi cheat sheet, fantasy projections

The news wasn’t good this week surrounding Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Sidney Rice as he underwent surgery on Monday after failing to recover from a playoff hip injury.

The team had hoped he would heal over the summer, but went little progress was made the wideout opted to go under the knife.  He’s expected to miss at least eight weeks and to start the season on the PUP list. The team could eventually opt to place him on the injured reserve, ending his season.

Rice emerged as a low-end fantasy WR1 during 2009 when he finished with 83 catches for 1,312 yards (15.8 avg.) and eight touchdowns (with 100 yards and/or a touchdown in 10 of his last 14 games).

In leagues where you can have 16 or more players on the roster, Rice could be worth a stab as a WR5 or WR6 and be stashed away for the season, but just be prepared to get nothing out of him for at least half of the NFL season. 

With Rice out, fantasy owners that already drafted him are left scrambling.  In addition, those that have yet to draft their teams must consider the impact:

QB Brett Favre – The veteran just got to camp and is likely going to need time to get into game speed and losing his No. 1 target is not going to help. Expecting Favre to equal last year’s output is unrealistic though he should still prove to be a capable low end fantasy quarterback No. 1 or solid QB2 in shallower leagues regardless of Rice’s presence.

RB Adrian Peterson – Peterson is going to see even more targets in the Vikings’ passing attack with Rice out. In addition, the team will likely run more often. With rookie Toby Gerhardt progressing slowly in the Vikings’ offense, A-Pete could approach 400 touches and get 50-plus receptions. He remains as one of fantasy football’s top options.

WR Percy Harvin – Assuming the second-year wideout can get over the migraine issues that have sidelined him in training camp, Harvin is in position to become the team’s No. 1 wideout.  While owners certainly need to keep their eyes on his medical concerns, Harvin projects to be a low-end No. 2 fantasy wideout and a mid-round draft selection (6-9th round). Just be prepared to deal with your own headaches if you take a flier on him.

WR – Bernard Berrian – Berrian’s stock is already on the rise with Rice sidelined and will stand to get an additional boost if Harvin misses time.  He won’t offer enough consistency though to be anything more than a WR3 or WR 4 option. You could do much worse when building the bench for your fantasy team.
WR – Javon Walker – There will likely be some owner in your league that takes a stab at Walker, but don’t let it be you.  He is 31 and has played in just 11 games during the last two seasons.  He hasn’t eclipsed 300 yards or scored multiple touchdowns in a season since 2006.

TE Visante Shiancoe – Shiancoe emerged in the fantasy world last year when he scored 11 times on just 56 catches. He will remain a red-zone target for Favre, who loves throwing to tight ends. In addition, with Rice sidelined his targets are certainly to rise.  Tight end is deep so he is still only low-end starting fantasy option but will provide nice value for owners that wait until the big guys go off the board.

Fantasy Football minnesota vikings, sidney rice, sidney rice injuyr, fantasy impact, percy harvin, adrian peterson