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.

FANTASY FOOTBALL: Pre Camp Notes and Depth Charts, Wide Receivers

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Kurt Backert

This two part article will view the depth of all 32 teams at the wide receiver position. All of my articles are based on a twelve team league that uses three wide receivers. If I list a player as WR I, he is one to twelve on my board, WR II, thirteen to twenty four, WR III, 25 to thirty six. All of my position rankings will be ready by the end of July and will be changed accordingly. I will also list each team’s wide receivers in … Continue reading →

FANTASY FOOTBALL: Pre Camp Notes and Depth Charts, Wide Receivers

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Kurt Backert

This is the second part of our 2 part article on the wide receiver situations of all 32 teams as they head into camp. NFC East Dallas, Roy Williams mid WR II, Patrick Crayton, Miles Austin, Sam Hurd Although Terrell Owens is a knucklehead he put up great fantasy statistics in Dallas, replacing his 1,029 yards and 10 scores from 2008 will be tough. Roy Williams never asserted himself after being obtained from the Lions but has shown flashes of fantasy stardom during his career, he had … Continue reading →

FANTASY FOOTBALL: Pre Camp Notes and Depth Charts, Tight Ends

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Kurt Backert

This two part article will view the depth of all 32 teams at the TE position. All of my articles are based on a twelve team league that starts one TE. If I list a player as TE I, he is one to twelve on my board and a fantasy starter. TE II, thirteen to twenty four, TE III, 25 to thirty six. All of my position rankings will be ready by the end of July and will be changed accordingly. I will also list each team’s TE’s … Continue reading →

FANTASY FOOTBALL: Pre Camp Notes and Depth Charts, Tight Ends

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Kurt Backert

This is the second part of our 2 part article, viewing the Tight End situations of all 32 teams as they head into camp, part 2, the NFC TE’s NFC East Dallas, Jason Witten, high TE I, Martelius Bennett Witten, while scoring just 4 touchdowns in 2008 moves to 1 on the board. He has the capability to put up WR I statistics. With Terrell Owens gone and his strong rapport with quarterback Tony Romo, Witten should become his favorite receiver. He has the athletic ability to … Continue reading →

FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS: Quarterback

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Kurt Backert

Pro Football24x7’s Spotlight: Fantasy Quarterback Along with our player rankings we will highlight one player at each position who has the possibility of a monster fantasy season. We start with football’s most important position, quarterback. Houston was the only team in the NFL last year to have 2 wide receivers, a TE, and a running back each having at least 50 receptions. They also had the third highest amount of total offensive yards last year. They have perhaps the deepest wide receiving corps in football that most fans … Continue reading →

FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS: Running Back

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Kurt Backert

Pro Football24x7’s Spotlight Fantasy Running Back Every fantasy football player knows Steven Jackson and that he is included in every top ten list of projected fantasy running backs that has been published this year. In the drafts I have been able to poll so far, his average draft position has been 5th over all. The earliest I have seen him taken has been third, the latest 10th. He is on everyone’s radar, the reason he is my spotlight running back is that I have him 2nd over all. … Continue reading →

FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS: Wide Receiver

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Kurt Backert

Pro Football24x7’s Spotlight Fantasy Wide Receiver Few players I have seen play or researched in NFL history have the pure athletic skills of Detroit wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Raymond Berry had John Unitas throwing to him, Lance Alworth had John Hadl, John Stallworth had Terry Bradshaw, and Jerry Rice had both Joe Montana and Steve Young. Great receivers, logically have generally needed great quarterbacks to put up great statistics. Johnson is that rare breed, a great receiver who will score fantasy points both in bunches and consistently … Continue reading →

FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS: Kickers

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Kurt Backert

Pro Football24x7’s Spotlight Fantasy Placekicker The draft strategy for place kickers is very simple. Draft one with your last pick. History has shown us that the point differential between the top and the twelfth kicker is very small. Stephen Gostkowsi of the Patriots led all fantasy kickers with one hundred and fifty nine points in 2008, Josh Brown of the Rams was twelfth, he scored 134. This breaks down to 1.6 points a game for a sixteen week season. That type of difference has been consistent for the past … Continue reading →

FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS: Defenses/Special Teams

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Kurt Backert

Pro Football24x7’s Spotlight Fantasy Defense/Special Teams This is toughest position to project fantasy rankings for. Leagues vary in their scoring methods for the defense/special teams. My rankings are based on basic scoring, one point for every turnover and sack, six points for every defensive or special teams return for a touchdown. With so many scoring variations for yardage and points allowed it would not be possible to serve every league’s needs in one article. If your scoring method does involve yardage and points allowed, my rankings would change … Continue reading →

FANTASY FOOTBALL RANKINGS: Tight End

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Kurt Backert

Pro Football24x7’s Spotlight Fantasy TE The importance of the TE position in fantasy football seems to change every couple of years. Of course this has to do with the NFL being a copy cat league and the talent level of the players themselves. For recent memory, Tony Gonzalez and Antonio Gates have been almost in a league of their own, then there was a few in the second tier, after that a subtle constant drop in points. Gonzalez and Gates are in the top three, with Dallas’ Jason … Continue reading →

FANTASY FOOTBALL: Pre Camp Notes and Depth Charts, Running Backs

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Kurt Backert

The Backfields of the AFC, Part I In this two part article we will preview the running back situations of all 32 teams. Part I will be the AFC, part II the NFC running backs. Every year the top scoring quarterbacks score more points than the top running backs, but that said it has been statistically proven year after year that you still have to select a running back with your first pick in almost every circumstance. This year if you are holding a first round selection … Continue reading →

FANTASY FOOTBALL: Pre Camp Notes and Depth Charts, Running Backs

Posted on August 7, 2009 by Kurt Backert

NFC East Dallas, Marion Barber is a low RB I, his foot injury is healed, he averaged almost 5 yards a carry in 2008, he averaged 3.7 in 2007, handcuff Tashard Choice to him to be safe, he ran effectively while filling in for Barber, he had 90 yards and scored against the Ravens week 16. Felix Jones has all the tools but has a durability problem, He is at 43 on my board, he has greater value in point per reception leagues, Jason Garrett has him working … Continue reading →

FANTASY FOOTBALL: Wide Receiver depth charts

Posted on July 29, 2009 by Kurt Backert

FANTASY FOOTBALL: Pre Camp Notes and Depth Charts, Quarterbacks

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Kurt Backert

In this 2 part article we will spin you around the league and focus on all 32 teams quarterbacking situations, part one the AFC, part two the NFC. While the top quarterbacks outscore the top running backs every year, you still must draft solid running backs early to win a fantasy championship. There are a few exceptions at quarterback, players that you would use a lower first round choice for, Drew Brees and Tom Brady are the top two this year. Future Hall of Famer Peyton Manning still … Continue reading →

FANTASY FOOTBALL: Pre Camp Notes and Depth Charts, Quarterbacks

Posted on July 23, 2009 by Kurt Backert

Pre Camp Notes and Depth Charts, the Quarterbacks This is the second part of our 2 part article, viewing the quarterback situations of all 32 teams as they head into camp, part 2, the NFC quarterbacks… NFC East Dallas, Tony Romo threw a commendable 26 touchdown passes in thirteen starts with 8 multiple touchdown pass games. He has averaged twenty seven scores for the past three seasons. Of course now he has to continue on without his best wide receiver Terrell Owens, despite Owens being a constant … Continue reading →

FANTASY NEWS & NOTES: A look around the NFL prior to training camp

Posted on June 15, 2009 by Kurt Backert

Please note, my notes are based on a twelve team league, starting one quarterback, 2 running backs, three wide receivers, and one TE. If I list a running back as a starter or a RB, then he is among the top 12 on my board. AFC East Buffalo, The Bills will be starting rookie guards and RB Marshawn Lynch is scheduled to miss the first three weeks due to suspension, which after appeal will probably be 2 games; Lynch’s value has dropped, Fred Jackson will get the start … Continue reading →

OLD SCHOOL: The Best NFL Drafts, Part III of III

Posted on April 25, 2009 by Kurt Backert

The 1974 Steelers draft beat out the Packers draft of 1958 by the smallest of margins. Championships, then individual awards define great drafts and both the Packers of 1958 and the Steelers of 1974 had both. The Steelers 1974 draft just as the ‘58 Packers draft was vital to building each great dynasty. While the Packers teams of the 60’s were better than the Steelers of the 70’s, that is not the point. The focus here is to determine which individual draft contributed most towards building these dynasties. The … Continue reading →

Belichick’s blunder changed sports history in Baltimore

Posted on April 11, 2009 by Kurt Backert

There have been several defining moments in Baltimore’s rich football history, most of which happened on the field. All Baltimoreans know about the Colts overtime victory over the Giants in Yankee Stadium during an epic battle in 1958 commonly labeled “The Greatest Game Ever Played.” In what was hardly a great game, the Ravens’ crowning achievement occurred in Tampa where they dominated the Giants in Super Bowl XXXV. Neither of these moments would have taken place though if not for certain subtle personnel moves. One such move, … Continue reading →

The History of No. 26: The Best of the NFL Draft’s 26th pick

Posted on April 8, 2009 by Kurt Backert

Part three of our series will show the best player by position drafted with the 26th overall pick. To do so we have to go back to the early days of the draft to build a complete team. To better grasp the details of each drafted player, his drafting team will be listed. Games played for the drafting team will be listed first then games he played over the course of his entire career. For example 107/143, the player participated in 107 games for the team that drafted him … Continue reading →

The History of No. 26: Dan Marino was the 27th pick in ’83

Posted on April 7, 2009 by Kurt Backert

In part II of our three part series on the topic of the NFL Draft’s 26th overall pick we will drill down in two areas: Did the teams that drafted a player with the No. 26 choose for need or did they opt for the proverbial “best player available”; and secondly were these players busts or did they provide value for the drafting team? There is area that we would be remiss not to mention – players drafted at No. 26 who ultimately provided value to another team either … Continue reading →