About Kurt Backert

Kurt's passion for the game began in the 60's watching the Colts on TV and at Memorial Stadium in Baltimore. He began following the statistics of not only his beloved Colts but also those of the Colts opponents, with a keen eye on Vince Lombardi's Packers. His thirst for and attention to statistical detail would eventually lead Kurt on a journey to the world of fantasy football in the late 1980's where he's captured more titles than John Wooden's UCLA Bruins Kurt carries a distinction that no other fan of the NFL can boast about. He is the reigning NFL National Trivia Champion and he credits his Dad for passing on such passion for the game, something Kurt also hopes to pass along to his 9-year-old son.

Thanksgiving Revenge

Posted on November 24, 2011 by Kurt Backert

Green Bay at Detroit Aaron Rodgers and the defending champion Packers are 10-0 and appear to be favorites to win the NFC and defend their Super Bowl title. The surprising 49ers could get in their way as could the resurgent Detroit Lions whom the Packers meet today in Detroit. The tradition of the Lions taking the field on Thanksgiving Day dates back to 1934. Recently those games haven’t meant much but this year with the Packers being 10-0 and the Lions led by All-World WR Calvin Johnson and Matthew Stafford, … Continue reading →

Fantasy Positional Rankings ~ Week 11

Posted on November 18, 2011 by Kurt Backert

Here are the Fantasy Blitz positional rankings for Week 11 · Quarterback · Running Back · Wide Receiver · Tight End · Kicker · Defense

FANTASY BLITZ: News, Notes & a Trip Down Memory Lane

Posted on November 11, 2011 by Kurt Backert

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When you view this week’s NFL Schedule, the Rams at the Browns appear to be one of the few games that will have no playoff implications. While that is true, these teams have a rich history of not only sharing the same city but facing each other in three classic title games in the 1950’s The Cleveland Rams were an expansion team in 1937. They won the NFL title in 1945 led by the passing and place kicking of rookie of the year quarterback Bob Waterfield. They packed up a … Continue reading →

WEEK 9: Fantasy News, Notes & Positional Rankings

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Kurt Backert

Panthers, Lions, Jaguars, and Vikings have the bye Cardinals, Kevin Kolb is still slowed by a foot injury, Jon Skelton could start vs. the Rams this week…Chris Wells and Alfonso Smith have a great match up vs. the 32nd ranked run defense of the Rams, they are allowing 165.6 yards a game on the ground and 5.2 yards a carry Falcons, RB Michael Turner has rushed for 317 yards and three scores his last three games…he faces the 31st ranked run defense of the Colts, who allow more than 140 … Continue reading →

FANTASY BLITZ: Week 8 News, Notes & Positional Rankings

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Kurt Backert

The Saints set a team record for most points scored in a game, by compiling 62 against the hapless Colts Sunday Night, with injured Colt quarterback Peyton Manning watching from the sideline…….there is a common thread here, the most points the Saints have ever allowed in a game is also 62, in a loss 62-7 loss to the Falcons opening day 1973 at Tulane Stadium, Archie Manning, Peyton’s Father was the Saints starting quarterback on that forgettable day; Archie completed 5 passes on thirteen attempts, and threw five interceptions…..on another … Continue reading →

FANTASY BLITZ: News, notes & Week 7 positional rankings

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Kurt Backert

Bills, Bengals, Patriots, Giants, Eagles, and 49’ers are on the bye this week, week nine is the last week with byes. Ravens, Ravens defense had no turnovers Sunday vs. Houston, the last regular season game they did not record a turnover was, Week 12, November 28, 2010, a 17-10 win over the Buccaneers Bears, WR Earl Bennett should return to the lineup this week against the Buccaneers Browns, With Seahawk DB Marcus Trufant on the IR with a back injury, Colt McCoy’s match up this week appears to be more … Continue reading →

FANTASY BLITZ: Tough plays and sits for Week 6

Posted on October 14, 2011 by Kurt Backert

Fantasy Plays QB, Colt McCoy, Browns at Raiders McCoy has attempted at least thirty nine passes in three of his 4 games in 2011. He has thrown for a score in every game this year and has two multiple touchdown pass games. The Raiders have allowed 4 consecutive multiple touchdown pass games, are ranked 30th against the pass, allowing 300 yards and ten scoring throws. Rookie wide receiver Greg Little has a great match up, as does TE Evan Moore, the Raiders are weak near the goal line in pass … Continue reading →

FANTASY BLITZ: Tebow draws comparisons to a legend

Posted on October 13, 2011 by Kurt Backert

Cardinals, Broncos, Chiefs, Chargers, Seahawks, and Titans are on the bye this week With John Fox naming Tim Tebow the starting quarterback for the Broncos’ when they come back from their by this week all but ends Kyle Orton’s stay in Denver. Brady Quinn will be the backup; we should see Orton dealt in the near future. Tebow’s statistics seem to make him a worthy fantasy player. In three starts last year he compiled some good stats, although he lost two of the three games. He had multiple touchdown games … Continue reading →

Fantasy 2011 Week 5, Some Not So Obvious Sits and Plays

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Kurt Backert

Fantasy Plays TE Jermaine Gresham, Bengals at Jaguars Gresham is second on the Bengals with 28 targets behind AJ Green. He has been thrown to at the goal line in every game this year, scoring twice; he is the 11th ranked fantasy TE. The Jaguars have allowed the most fantasy points to TE’s in 2011; the last several weeks have seen the Jaguars allow Jimmy Graham 10-132-1, Greg Olsen 7-57-1, and Dustin Keller 6-105-1. Andy Dalton is getting more comfortable every week at quarterback, it all adds to what should … Continue reading →

Fantasy News and Notes ~ Week 5

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Kurt Backert

Ravens, Browns, Cowboys, Dolphins, Rams, and Redskins are on the bye Week 5 Panthers, TE Jeremy Shockey will probably miss this week’s game with concussion symptoms… meaning more targets for Greg Olsen, he has scored in each of the last two games and has twelve receptions for 107 yards in that span….this week’s match up against the Saints favors him and WR Steve Smith, the Saints have allowed 8 scoring passes Browns, Head coach Pat Shurmur said Peyton Hillis will carry the ball more; he had just ten carries against … Continue reading →

Fantasy News, Notes, and a Splash of NFL History

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Kurt Backert

While on the surface there does not appear to be much in common between the surprising Detroit Lions and the Buffalo Bills, there is a clear link at the top their respective organizational food chains. Ninety two year old Ralph Wilson, the Bills owner, the league’s oldest owner and Hall of Famer in his own right, was once a minority owner of his hometown Detroit Lions in the 1950’s. He sold his share in the Lions to bring football back to Buffalo when he formed the Bills in the new … Continue reading →

Fantasy 2011 Week 4, Some Not So Obvious Sits and Plays

Posted on September 29, 2011 by Kurt Backert

Fantasy Plays WR Lance Moore, Saints at Jaguars The Jaguars are ranked 7th in pass defense, allowing just 196 yards a game, in the Jack Del Rio era they play soft coverages to take away the big play, this plays into Moore’s hands, he had nine receptions for 88 yards and a score last week against Houston, who play a similar pass defense as the Jaguars, also his two receptions for the pair of 2 point conversation did not list on his stat line. Moore is to Drew Brees what … Continue reading →

Fantasy News and Notes

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Kurt Backert

Panthers, Cam Newton has played just two games but has become a viable starting Fantasy QB. His two 400 yard passing games to start this season has to be most improbable fantasy start any fantasy owner has ever seen, Steve Smith is his go to receiver but WR Bandon LaFell, has 8-119-1 after two weeks, he is getting single coverage and has fantasy value. Bills, Harvard’s Ryan Fitzpatrick has attempted seventy two passes and has 7 TD throws and has been sacked just once, Buffalo had just one TD toss … Continue reading →

Week 3: Fantasy 2011, Plays & Sits Beyond the Obvious

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Kurt Backert

Fantasy Plays WR, Mike Sims-Walker Rams vs Ravens The Ravens’ weakness is their secondary and they are banged up, they have allowed a 100 yard receiver in each of the first two games. With Danny Amendola out for the Rams last week, Walker was targeted with 11 passes in their loss to the Giants. With the fact that the Rams will not be able to run on the Ravens, Sam Bradford could throw 40 passes, it all adds to a solid day for Walker. RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis at Bills Green-Ellis … Continue reading →

FANTASY BLITZ: Some Not So Obvious Plays & Sits in Week 2

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Kurt Backert

Saint WR Marques Colston will not be back for several more weeks, giving more value to Robert Meachem and Devery Henderson and Bronco RB Knowshon Moreno will be out Sunday, Willis McGahee will be the feature back against the Bengals. Fantasy Plays RB Michael Bush, Raiders at Bills Bush is a great flex start this week. Darren McFadden will get his normal share of carries playing a Buffalo run defense that allowed 169 yards a game rushing last year and last week allowed 108 yards on just eighteen carries … Continue reading →

Fantasy News & Notes

Posted on September 14, 2011 by Kurt Backert

Fantasy News and Notes · Falcons, Roddy White had 8 receptions for 61 yards and no scores, Chicago’s Charles Tillman had tight coverage all day, White was not able to get open more than fifteen yards downfield all day, due to that bad pass protection for Matt Ryan, it will not get easier for White, he has the Eagles this week · Bills, TE Scott Chandler had 5 catches for sixty three yards, with 2 scores, the Bills have not thrown to the TE consistently since Jim Kelly in … Continue reading →

FANTASY BLITZ’ Plays & Sits

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Kurt Backert

With Peyton Manning out for who knows how long, stay with WR Reggie Wayne and TE Dallas Clark. They are elite players even with Kerry Collins. This is the same as starting Calvin Johnson when Shaun Hill replaced Matt Stafford – good receivers find the ball and goal line sometimes despite the quarterback. Word from the Houston Chronicle is that Arian Foster will be a game day decision. But which back is on deck, Ben Tate or Derrick Ward? The matchup is great against the Colts so if Foster is … Continue reading →

FANTASY BLITZ: Gonzo still kicking in the red zone!

Posted on September 2, 2011 by Kurt Backert

Despite many industry tabloids writing off TE Tony Gonzalez entering his 15th season because of age, he is still a viable starting fantasy TE. I know rookie sensation Julio Jones is now a Falcon and Roddy White is the clear favorite of QB Matt Ryan, but consider this. Gonzalez led all TE’s in targets in 2010 inside the 20 yard line and the 10 yard line. He is durable, thrown to near the goal line, and a future Hall of Famer. If you want steady performance and want a player … Continue reading →

THE FANTASY BLITZ: News, notes and a top secret sleeper

Posted on September 1, 2011 by Kurt Backert

If you are in search of that third WR or flex player, select Texans’ WR Kevin Walter He’s not flashy but is steady and he will hold off Jacoby Jones to stay as the second Houston WR. You want any receiver on a team with Matt Schaub as QB who guides an offense that chucked it on 58% of their offensive plays in 2010. Do not let the return of a healthy TE Owen Daniels scare you. Walter has actually had MORE productive seasons with Daniels on the field than … Continue reading →

Super Bowl XLV Snapshot

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Kurt Backert

AFC Champion Pittsburgh Steelers vs. NFC Champion Green Bay Packers Cowboys Stadium, Arlington Texas, seats 80,000 for football Line, Packers favored by 2.5 points, Over- Under 45 The NFL/NFC have won 23 of the 44 Super Bowls….the AFC has won 5 of the last 7….this is the third Super Bowl played in the state of Texas, the first in the Dallas area… Super Bowl VIII was played in Houston at Rice Stadium, a 24-7 Miami victory over the Vikings, Super Bowl XXXVIII was played at Reliant Stadium in Houston, a … Continue reading →