Welcome to START/ SIT based on the coolest fantasy concept in The RedZone Madden sim football league. Speculating from the eyes of yours truly I'll take a look at who I think you should START and who you should SIT. LET'S GET IT!!

START:

*QB Lamar Jackson came out with week 1 guns blazing. We all know how hard it is to contain Lamar and the Chiefs gave up 37 points to the Browns. I look at Action Jackson to be Amazon prime this week delivering in the air and on the ground on time.

*QB Justin Herbert was sensational against a talented Washington Football team, racking up 34 BB points off of a 450-yard 5 touchdown day. Dallas struggled opening night against TB12 and I’m not sure how prepared the defense is.

*QB Teddy Bridgewater returns to Florida to face Duval. Rookie QB Davis Mills had a day against the Jacksonville defense. Teddy played decent against the Giants throwing for 309 and 3TDs. With CB Shaquill Griffin being traded to Washington Dot City should be in full effect. That’s if the coach can schedule his game.

*RB Dalvin Cook ran 165 yards 2 touchdowns along with 7 receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown. Arizona shut down Derrick Henry but with JJ and Thielen keeping the secondary on their toes, Cook will continue to eat.

*RB Nick Chubb/ Kareem Hunt a two for one with Batman and Robin who are clearly the best running back duo in RedZone. Houston travels to Cleveland and if the coach's game plan remains the same success continues. Who has more points at the end? Give me Chubb.

*RB Chris Carson ran for 137 yards and a touchdown against Indy. James Connor ran for 119 yards and a touchdown on the road. The 12th man will be loud Titans will struggle. Look for Carson to get it going often and early.

*WR Devante Adams looks to break out this week against Detroit. Detroit contain Kittle last week but still allowed him in the end zone twice. The best corner on the Lions roster is 75 overall Amani Oruwariye. Adams is a 99 goodnight.

*WR Odell Beckham was quiet against the Chiefs with a 4 receptions 68-yard game. D.J. Chark had 126 yards against Houston. Beckham will find his way to dance into the end zone alongside Chubb and Hunt.

*TE Darren Waller is a matchup nightmare going against a Steelers team that struggled against Stefon Diggs. Carr will find the holes in the defense and Pittsburgh will again struggle to contain another XFactor player.


SIT:

*QB Patrick Mahomes has a tough go this week against Baltimore. Patty threw for 335 yards but he also had 3 interceptions against the Browns. Baltimore's defense will do their best to force 3 more.

*QB Daniel Jones lead all quarterbacks with fantasy points last week against a stingy Denver secondary. I know, I know Washington gave up a shit ton of yards to Herbert last week. I believe with the recent trade The Football Team will be looking to change Danny Dimes into nickels.

*QB Justin Fields honestly this feels like a trap game meaning it can go either way. Fields struggled against a tough Rams defense with a juicy matchup against Cincy. Robinson will be doubled leaving Fields to rely on others that I don’t trust. If Fields plays like Mond did last week, I can see me eating my words until then TRUST IS EARNED!

*RB Alvin Kamara torched the Packers last week with 130 yards 4 touchdowns. Panthers will look to limit Kamara forcing Jameis to throw which doesn't look to be a good thing.

*RB Derrick Henry wait! Did he play last week? Unfortunately, yes he did with an underwhelming 49-yard touchdown performance against Arizona. Seattle held Jonathan Taylor in check last week and I look for them to do the same thing to Henry.

*RB James Connor has been a name to watch during the preseason. This is another matchup where I believe the coach's philosophy will be to stop the run and force the pass.

*WR John Ross had a breakout game against Denver with 5 receptions 186 (averaging 37.2) yards and a touchdown. As mentioned above Griffin will likely shadow the speedster limiting big plays from Ross.

*WR D.J. Chark as mentioned above Chark had a day against Houston. This week the matchup is completely different and the pressure will get to Lawerence OUT.

*TE George Kittle saw the end zone twice against Detroit which was very close at the beginning until a few mistakes later. Philly will key in on Kittle forcing Lance to look for his second and third options.


That’s all for this week's START and SIT. I’m looking to watching the matchups. Until next time!

Season 63 Impact Rookies

This is a breakdown of who I believe has the potential to become future faces of each franchise based on intangibles and user ability. Let's dive in!

Bears SS Zach Wilbon

Chicago used their 2nd round pick (18th) in the 2021 draft to select Zach Wilbon. Wilbon will be a plug-in-play guy filling the hole left by SS Tashaun Gipson Sr. The defense is stout as is but with help from Mack, Jackson, Hicks, Smith, Goldman & Fuller the rookie should be able to come in and make plays.

Bengals LOLB Rob Cutler

Cincinnati used their 1st round pick (5th) in the 2021 draft to select Rob Cutler. Considered as the best LOLB in the draft Cutler takes his talents to #WhoDey nation. Cutler was highly regarded as a run stopper at Michigan and in a gritty AFC North it should help out. As Cincy continues to rebuild this guy will be a critical part of their success.

Bills DT Will McDonald

Buffalo used their 1st round pick (17th) in the 2021draft to select Will McDonald. I wonder if Coach Panos gets hyped once he hears Stunna Girl? When it comes to throw in rotation you automatically think about the Bills defensive line. Sack lunches are served daily in Buffalo and it’s ironic this man’s last name is McDonald look for him to eat!

Broncos CB Terrell Kendricks

Denver used their 1st round pick (7th) in the 2021 draft to select Terrell Kendricks. The REAL no fly zone resides in the Mile-High season 62 the Broncos lead the league in takeaways. With old man Talib no longer snatching chains look for the Superstar corner to continue to make a positive impact.

Browns LE Brian Torrence

Cleveland used their 1st round pick (14) in the 2021 draft to select Brian Torrence. Anyone on the opposite side of Myles Garrett is a win just ask Oliver Vernon how he’s holding up in New England after having 10 sacks the previous year. The Browns also have a secondary that can cover giving Torrence more love for sacks.

Buccaneers Kion Jones

Tampa Bay used their 3rd pick (24) in the 2021 draft to select Kion Jones. Getting groomed by All-Pro J.J. Watt is always a plus but when you have a defensive minded coach like Bubba Reid anything is possible. Coach Reid has made something out of nothing over the years with younger guys and I can see Kion having a similar development to Marc Rainey.

Cardinals Josh Kershaw

Arizona used their 1st round pick (27) in the 2021 draft to select Josh Kershaw. What a pick I can see Coach Ballard’s reaction now. The Cards fill a major hole with another top tier rookie. With Kyler at the head, Nuk with a few years left & Drake carrying the load once this offensive line is solidified, we will see a high-powered offense with Kershaw being the key piece.

Chargers Andrew Keyes

Los Angeles used their 3rd round pick (13) in the 2021 draft to select Andrew Keyes. I could’ve easily gone with DT Braydon Stringer who’s a complete stud by the way, but we can’t let the development of wide receivers go unnoticed when we mention Coach John’s players. Remember Amari Adkins? If you don’t know you might want to ask. Adkins is currently coaching the wideouts in Cali and I can see him handing the keys over to Keyes.

Chiefs Donte Aiken

Kansas City used their 1st round pick (10) in the 2021 draft to select Donte Aiken. The gloves are bright and the speed is tight but will it translate on the field? In a division with Ruggs, Jeudy & Keyes having a speedy corner definitely matters. Aiken should have plenty of reps against teammates Hill and Hardman to develop into one of the top DB’s in the future.

Colts Kamryn Killings

Indianapolis used their 1st round pick (1) in the 2021 draft to select Kamryn Killings. It’s literally killing me to do this write up. The Colts send the Vikings a shit ton of picks to get their QB of the cycle. The pressure sits on Coach Chapstick but can’t we all agree that the league is better when Ricky’s excited about a player. The hitman will have to kill or be killed maybe I should kill the Killings bit but the future is bright for the kid out of Oregon State.

Cowboys LE Jamie Woodbury

Dallas used their 1st round pick (15) in the 2021 draft to select Jamie Woodbury. We've all heard the rumors and it sounds like DeMarcus Lawrence won't be returning to America's team. Insert Jamie Woodbury and with help from the original NO FLY ZONE, Vander Esch, Smith & Tavai time on the field could help Jamie's development.

Dolphins FS Zach Breaston

Miami used their 1st round pick (2) in the 2021 draft to select Zach Breaston. I was tempted to go with RB Alex McMillian but Breaston is just too damn good. Dominating the NFL combine the Dolphins gave up future assets to move up one spot to secure the Nitty lion. A former corner turned safety Zach is a Hybrid player at the NFL level. Look for this guy to move all around the field making play after play. We should hear all cycle about how much of a difference-maker Breaston truly is.

Eagles Jeremiah Barrett

Philadelphia used their 1st round pick (18) in the 2021 draft to select Jeremiah Barrett. The Eagles trade away star TE Zach Ertz to the Jets to have Barrett fall right to them in the draft what the hail? Sorry, I'm still baffled by the Alex Sharp game-winning TD. Jeremiah will be behind Goedert on the depth chart but when you have a QB like Wentz and a coach like Adelman distribution comes easy like cheese on a steak.

Falcons Andrew McKee

Atlanta used their 1st round pick (9) in the 2021 draft to select Andrew McKee. Who said running backs don't matter? Andrew went in the top 10 and one thing I've noticed is that Coach Sowers is installing the same thunder and lightning approach to running the ball as Coach Honeycutt likes to use.

49ers

The season 62 Super Bowl champions traded away all of their draft capital for the 2022 draft. With 6 picks within the top 100, I'm sure San Fran will having plenty to talk about in season 64.

Giants Stephen Silvers

New York used their 1st round pick (4) in the 2021 draft to select Stephen Silvers. The Giants were able to move back and take arguably the most talented player of the draft. With Williams and Lawrence, the G-Men will be set upfront for a while. At only 22 Silvers will be a nightmare for opposing teams.

Jaguars Isaiah Clifton

Jacksonville used their 1st round pick (13) in the 2021 draft to select Isaiah Clifton. I still can't believe this guy went 13th overall but it is what it is. The Jaguars have youth surrounding the trenches with Allen, Ngakoue, Chaisson & Bryan. Clifton is developing at a quicker pace I expect him to hit his peak by the end of the season.

Jets Will Turner

New York used their 1st round pick (3) in the 2021 draft to select Will Turner. Turner, another top tier player could've been the top pick if it weren't for an altercation with a teammate that made scouts weary. Even with the concerns of Turner being undiscipline you can tell the jets were planning to select the DE. Veteran Geno Atkins and Superstar Quinnen Williams will fill the big brother role to help the rookie mature into a star.

Lions Tevin Wofford

Detroit used their 1st round pick (25) in the 2021 draft to select Tevin Wofford. Out goes Stafford in comes Wofford. One a few QB needy franchises the Lions maneuvered the draft boards to select what they hope to be the face of the franchise. With help from superstar X-factor WR Kenny Golladay, rookie WR Marcus Peterson & superstar TE T.J. Hockenson expect Wofford to develop fast.

Packers LaMont Bowers

Green Bay used their 1st round pick (23) in the 2021 draft to select LaMont Bowers. Yeah, I know I know lEfTy DoEsNt ThRoW... But I can say this nothing else sets up the pass more than an efficient run game. Insert Bowers who blazed the combine with his 40, 3 cone & shuttle. With possibly 2 more years left with Rodgers, LaMont should benefit from accurate balls and become a decent safety blanket for the Love era.

Panthers Dalton Truman

Carolina used their 2nd round pick (6) in the 2021 draft to select Dalton Truman. Coach Parelli moves in silence and you should watch out for those individuals. Even though he may face criticism for the moves he makes I believe there is a method to his madness. The Panthers run a base 4-3 defense with minimal blitzing ideal for speedy linebackers in coverage. Truman is the missing puzzle piece to solidify the fastest LB group in the league.

Patriots Rashaun McGee

New England used their 1st round pick (8) in the 2021 draft to select Rashaun McGee. In Season 62 the Patriots showed flashes on defense but with the loss of Solomon Thomas in free agency it forced New England to use a pick to replace another guy at the same position early. The Pats signed Oliver Vernon & John Simon to go along with Chase Winovich and Jonathan Allen so look for McGee to be a rotating piece until the leash is removed.

Raiders Delvin Givens

Las Vegas used their 1st round pick (6) in the 2021 draft to select Delvin Givens. Delvin joins the black hole in sin city, during his time in Oregon Givens was known for his speed, coverage & toughness which is heavily welcomed by Coach Brown. Raiders acquired CB Steven Nelson to shadow the opposing team's number one option allowing Givens a ton of opportunities to make plays on the field.

Rams

Sorry, Los Angeles Rams traded away picks to acquire Jalen Ramsey, Chandler Jones & Casey Hayward we have to wait until season 64.

Ravens Paul Wilson

Baltimore used their 1^st round pick (28) in the 2021 draft to select Paul Wilson. Tight end was very limited in the draft so you had to grab a good one early. Wilson was considered a top 3 prospect at his position and falls into the hands of Coach Sampson. With the development of Brown & Boyle, the Ravens have no issue with feeding guys the ball. Mark Andrews is in the final year of his contract I can see the organization moving on which will solidify Wilson with more playing time.

Football Team Darryl Skinner 3rd 32

Washington used their 3rd round pick (32) in the 2021 draft to select Darryl Skinner. Skinner joins a speedy secondary that consist of Ronald Darby, Fabian Moreau, Kendall Fuller & Troy Apke to name a few. This group shouldn’t get to close because with a season under his belt Skinner could develop into a superstar corner making one of the two or both expendable. One thing we know for sure Coach loves press man corners and Darryl has the size & intangibles that fit the bill.

Saints Fernando Giraldo

New Orleans used their 1st round pick (12) in the 2021 draft to select Fernando Giraldo. It’s simple, out with the old in with the new. Imagine a scenario where you see the guy you want, trade up for him, to then trade back for him, to then trade up again did I mention he’s a Bama guy? Could you even imagine a team snatching him before New Orleans? Saints grab the guy to replace Brees and with the best young offensive line in the lead along with Michael Thomas & Alvin Kamara this is a match made in heaven for a rookie QB.

Seahawks

The third out of four teams in the NFC West without draft capital. Seattle was able to bring in SS Jamal Adams & WR Brandon Cooks.

Steelers Kendrick Babineaux

Pittsburgh used their 1st round pick (21) in the 2021 draft to select Kendrick Babineaux. The Boston College product comes to the steel city looking to make a name for himself. Pittsburgh used a heavy rush attack with James Conner & Devonta Freeman but allowed them to walk in free agency. Kendrick will have a ton of opportunities to carry the load look for him to be a possible rookie of the year candidate.

Texans Darrelle Timmons

Houston used their 2nd round pick (3) in the 2021 draft to select Darelle Timmons. Timmons played 4 seasons for the Fighting Irish earning the Heisman award. Timmons takes his talent to Houston pairing up with Justin Reid to make a solid safety duo. Again, with a hole lingering at strong safety Timmons job is for him to lose or develop into a superstar.

Titans Shawn Kelly

New York Giants used their 3rd round pick (21) in the 2021 draft to select Shawn Kelly. During the scouting process Coach Dub came across a speedy linebacker out of Youngstown State hoping the league would look pass allowing Tennessee to take him with a later pick. The Giants must have witnessed the same as the reached early in the third to select him. Soon after the 53 man rosters were set Coach did his due dillengence and looked over the practice squad spotting Kelly. At that moment it was pure destiny for Shawn to be a Titan. With savvy veterans Jayon Brown and Rashaan Evans mentoring him it will provide Kelly opportunity to make plays now and moving froward.   

Vikings Jonathan Stockton

Minnesota used their 1st round pick (11) in the 2021 draft to select Jonathan Stockton. Vikings finished the year with the number one overall pick and then shipped it to Indy to take Kam Killings. Along with the haul they acquired pick 11 from Indy taking Stockton to pair with Hunter and Pierce. Stockton was a stud at Ole Miss and will continue to be a star in Minnesota.

                Meet the 2020 Tennessee Titans draft class. These guys will look to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster some with the upside to land a starting job.

1st round pick, Isaiah Wilson...

As a five-star recruit, Wilson committed to the University of Georgia. Wilson went on to play in 25 games over the next two years, starting in 24 of them declaring to forgoing his final 2 seasons to head into the draft. Standing 6’6 350 lbs. Wilson's frame fits the mulling style the Titans like in the trenches. Along with top-notch strength don't be fooled by the size this guy is a freak of an athlete and can move for a big fella which is a plus in the Titans zone-blocking scheme. With the loss of Jack Conklin, Isaiah Wilson is expected to compete with Dennis Kelly for the open starting right tackle position. As of now, the arrow is pointing up for Isaiah but only time will tell if he will be exactly what the Titans anticipated when drafting him.

2nd round pick, Kristian Fulton...

A Louisiana native Fulton was rated a five-star recruit and consensus top-5 prospect at the cornerback position. He committed to play football at LSU with his only start entering his junior season leading to the Tigers winning the 2020 National Championship. Fulton 6’0”, 197 lbs., 4.46 40 speed is ideal height and speed to play in man coverage in the NFL. He’ll bring versatility, confidence, quickness, and a high-level IQ to contribute for the Titans. Being regarded as the” steal of the draft” the rookie sits 4th on the depth chart behind Adoree’ Jackson, Malcolm Butler & Johnathan Jones. Fulton County penitentiary is more than ready to lock it up on the field look for this kid to make an impact early.

3rd round pick, Darrynton Evans...

Evans committed to Appalachian State University. He was named the MVP of the 2018 & 2019 Sun Belt Conference Football Championship, 2x First Team All-Sun Belt (2018,2019), Sun Belt Offensive Player of the Year (2019) rushing for 1,480 yards with 2,064 all-purpose yards and 24 TDs. As the most dynamic RB you should know about with a one cut running style blazing speed (4.41 40-yard dash), which finished second amongst his position this former receiver, now running back is a versatile athlete. With Derrick Henry taking a bulk of the carries you could see a possible “Thunder and Lightning” 1-2 punch similar to Chris Johnson & LenDale White. Evans is expected to replace Dion Lewis as the team's No. 2 back looking to provide more play-making ability.

5th round pick, Larrell Murchison...

Out of Elizabethtown, North Carolina originally committing to Winston-Salem State Murchison opted to enroll in junior college where he would transfer to NC State earning Second-team All-ACC (2019). Murchison finished his final year of college racking up 7 sacks and 12 tackles for loss. At the combine, he ran 5.05 40 & 29 reps on the bench. Positives on Larrell he's stout against the run and can line up inside/out with a long wingspan to create separation. With the loss of Jurrell Casey, the opportunity at the defensive end position is wide open.

7th round pick Cole McDonald...

McDonald wasn’t recruited in high school so initially he didn’t receive many scholarships offers from Division I schools. JUCO was in the table for a year until he received a call from the coach at Hawaii. McDonald would spend 3 seasons in Hawaii winning Hawaii Bowl MVP (2019) & Second-All-Team-MWC (2019). Cole announced that he would forgo his senior year of NCAA eligibility to enter the 2020 NFL Draft. The former Hawaii QB would impress during the NFL combine displaying his speed and athleticism. With a 70/24 TD to INT ratio during his college season Cole’s arm as a passer gets overlooked by his ability to run. Titans draft McDonald after the departure of QB Marcus Mariota they completely mirror one another. While Tannehill is currently under contract for the next 4 years look for Cole to develop his game as a passer. He could possibly lineup under center in the near future.

7th round pick, Chris Jackson...

Jackson played four seasons at Marshall earning First team All-Conference USA (2019) his senior year. Jackson finished his collegiate career with 189 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, seven interceptions, 45 passes defensed and two fumble recoveries in 47 games. Jackson also displayed his athleticism at the combine with a 4.47 40-yard dash. This former multi-sport athlete was a Florida 2A all-State wide receiver who also ran track. Versatility is also something Jackson has with the ability to play corner as well as safety. With the current depth loaded at corner Jackson will get most of his opportunities on special teams. While age from Joseph & Butler could speed up the process solid play and development could solidify a starting spot in the future.

The game of Football has always been a fulfilling sport for me. The nature of the game is played with a set of rules, two teams of eleven players each that gets an opportunity to move the ball into the other team’s territory. Although nothing is more stimulating than the essence of team building. 

The ultimate achievement for a team is winning a championship but few (myself included) seem to stay off track to reach the goal. Anything in life has structure and the mindset matters the most. What are the successful ingredients for building a team? Let’s dive into the minds of great coaching. 

(Standard Of Performance)

The ability to do the fundamentals efficiently such as blocking, tackling, catching, and passing. 

(Setting The Tone)

The example set as head coach should be recognized as the standard that needs to be matched collectively. 

(Maintaining Natural Leaders) 

Build your team using dependable members who continue to push themselves to higher performance, production & continue to go beyond the highest standards set. 

(Adapt, Adapt, Adapt)

Work with what you have the biggest challenge comes when you try to be something you are not. 

(Stick To Your Job) 

All players have a job to do everyone contributes. Coaches are responsible for putting players in position for success. 

“Victory is produced by and belongs to all. You win and lose as one.”

As the confetti falls my dreams of being a champion seem to follow. My only Super Bowl appearance ended in a 7-0 defensive battle against Coach Astin and my hometown team the Baltimore Ravens. Given a talented 49ers team left behind by Coach Kelly, my adjustments to the league's style of play sent me on a remarkable playoff run. Only time would tell if I had the championship pedigree it took to go from one good user to another. Could I possibly maintain the legacy he built? 

As a wildcard, the playoff run gave me nostalgic feelings. The same feelings I gained while watching Ray Lewis’s last ride. But this time it was the beginning of my own, as a member of Red Zone. I was fully LOCKED IN! The first game was against Coach Metal’s beloved Philadelphia Eagles which he already claimed 3 titles that cycle, my hands seem to be full. We came away with a game-winning touchdown. I remember the play call vividly, single back doubles north slot corner on 2. The play went as anticipated and I threw a complete dagger to the hearts of Philly. Next week in the divisional round we would match up against Coach Black Magic’s Washington team that was built off of speed and power. Black Magic and I had our battles with one another during our time in MEE I felt we were somewhat prepared for the challenge. The game plan was ball security and keeping an eye on the deep ball, which we successfully executed leading to a victory. To think that advancing past our previous opponents was enough to get me to my goal I had one more opportunity. An NFC championship game against Coach Ernest and his Detroit Lions. I must admit, I’ve never played someone that made every dink so accurate and totally dunk when you least expected it. But I had to do what I do best run the ball and play defense. That lead to a field goal in an OT thriller. 

During that time leading up to the Super Bowl, I remember isolating myself from the chat.  I like to cancel all the noise until the job is done. I'm the kind of person that doesn’t like things too high or too low. Even though we got to the big dance, just being there wasn’t enough. Even with all the love and support from the Black GM’s, I still sat and wondered going up against the league's top juggernaut who’s not accustomed to losing.... Did I reach my peak? Was the moment too big for the newbie? I’d chase that feeling again the next cycle almost joining the NFC East to play with Philadelphia but I went with my heart and chose to go with Baltimore. I couldn’t pass up on the chance to use “Action Jackson” Lamar if your nasty. I’d get a chance to play at home and build a team to my liking. Jackson won multiple AFC player of the week awards, an MVP candidate and Baltimore would sit at the top of North making the playoffs consistently. The third season of that cycle a Wild card weekend loss against the Titans would be my last. I would retire from the league. 

After taking some much-needed time away from the game I got a call from Coach Ballard informing me about a coaching opportunity in Jacksonville. Max was the reason I joined the league; he knew my love for the game of football back when we use to have our NCAA rivalries Miami vs Florida St. I knew that I grew from my time away and accepted the job. I came into the cycle mid-season with a Super Bowl-winning organization as an intern coach. It was too far into the season to compete the way I’d like but the foundation was laid. In the last season of the cycle, we would make the necessary moves for the team to have us as the 2 seed in the AFC until losing 3 straight finishing as a 6 seed. Overtime in New York ended the season losing to the Jets. 

With all the rumbling out of the way, heading into Madden 21 ironically, I’ll be coaching the Tennessee Titans. A team that has continuously ended my season on and off the sticks. Until then the goal is still the same but, when it’s all said and done the question will forever be is Roc really a contender or pretender?