Sports Guy: Football Preseason Week 3
Fantasy Football: Somewhat in-depth analysis
Ho ho ho! It's Draft Day gang. Sports Guy returns for a preseason wrap up and provide you readers with a few tips to help survive the draft. If you've already drafted, oops.
Draft day, a time when you have a game plan going in only to completely discard it by the 2nd pick; a day where you look over your team proudly until you receive the inevitable C+ rating from Yahoo! and see that your crew has the lowest projected point total for the first week of play. Truly, a wonderful time. Let Spots Guy help you with some drafting tips, but first, who's up and who's down after preseason week 3?
Who's UP?
Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars, QB): 139 passing yards, 2 TDs...Preseason week 2: unsure about Trevor, preseason week 3? Pretty sure. He took a huge step forward and showed sad Jacksonville fans a glimpse of hope after years of sorrow. Sports Guy likes Lawrence as a backup QB taken late with hopes of becoming a break-out player.
David Johnson/Mark Ingram (Houston, RBs): With a touchdown from Ingram and a 20+ yard run from Johnson, one of these guys will have a decent season sitting on your bench. These two are buried in the charts and that's why they're a good buy. Both could be grabbed in the last 3 rounds of a draft and what are you really rolling the dice on? Two great players, sharing a spot on a team that needs to run the ball. Keep an eye on them this season even if you don't draft'em.
Chris Godwin (Tampa Bay, WR): 84 reception yards, 1 TD...Brady (Bucs, QB) gave Godwin all the love this weekend and look for this trend to continue. Last year his season was interrupted with injury but look for him to surpass Evans as the #1 receiver for the Bucs. Godwin's ADP (average draft position) is buried because of his injury, take advantage, snag him as your #2 receiver and get some #1 value.
Who's DOWN?
Tyrod Taylor (Houston, QB): 6/9 throws, 31 yards...Troubles abound this season for Houston. Sports Guy thinks Tyrod will bounce back against worse teams this season but prepare for Brandin Cooks (Houston, WR) to suffer and anyone else catching passes above 10 yards this season.
Saquon Barkley (Giants, RB): Things are not looking good for New York, Daniel Jones (Giants, QB) showed off some nice interceptions this past weekend and made Sports Guy scared to take any Giants player. Barkley is still not guaranteed to start week 1 and if he does, with no passing improvements from Jones, look for Barkley to get boxed all year long.
CeeDee Lamb (Cowboys, WR): Lamb is talented and would be fire on most teams but until the Cowboys figure out what's going on with their QBs, his ADP is too high to justify. Between a shoulder and ankle injury, Sports Guy is wary that Dak starts week 1, and there is no QB in the Dallas wheelhouse that can get the job done. DiNucci, Rush, Gilbert (all Dallas, QBs): all not enough to support Cooper, Lamb, and Gallup.
Team Spotlight: Pirates go "Arhhh"
The Bucs are here to stay, if preseason and a super bowl can be trusted. Brady looked like Brady, despite being 65. Their run game even grabbed a TD. Lots of good picks here, including a strong defense.
Hot Takes
Welcome to the kitchen, Chef Sports Guy will whip up some hot bakes and takes for the 2021 season, feel free to remind Sports Guy at the end of the year when all of these soufflés fail to rise.
- Jets finish with a better record than the Pats. Lets face it, Belichick's psyche split in two when Brady won a super bowl without him, much like Dr. Strange in the latest Marvel What if? one of the Bill's is still winning AFC Championships at Gillette Stadium and the other is, well, the one we're seeing. He made a mistake when he gave up on Super Bowl contending, 1st round pick, Cam Newton (Free Agent) and Zach Wilson (Jets, QB) will lead the Jets to at least 6 wins this season.
- Washington Football Team will choose for their new team name, The Washington Football Team. Surpassed in lack of imagination only by the Houston Texans, Washington will blow their fans away with the addition of a "The" to their team name. It's hard to admit when you're wrong and this organization did the right thing by bravely waiting until their bottom line was affected before acting.
- Kirk Cousins will get vaccinated. Albeit accidentally, a run-of-the-mill Toradol injection will actually be a rouse by head coach Mike Zimmer to finally get his team fully vaxxed. When having a higher vaccinated team presents a clear advantage to win games during the regular season, teams will start to employ these devious methods more often.
Draft Map
1. First rule of drafting is: If you got a good inkling about a player, take'em! If you've done some research on them, you know they're a good player, go with your gut. This shouldn't apply to every pick.
2. Pivot, don't follow. If three people ahead of you take some QBs, do a sharp turn and take the next highest value off the board. Don't feel like you need to grab a position because others are. Sometimes, you need a position filled and you can't help it but usually when a pattern develops that means there's opportunity to be had.
3. Players from good teams are good players. Bucs, KC, Buffalo, Green Bay, Ravens, these teams put up points and some individual player has to get them. Need a kicker? Grab them from a good team. When in doubt, pick from the hot teams.
4. Grains of salt. Take everything you read/hear with those salty grains. Nobody knows for sure, hear out the sensible but look for yourself. Nothing beats watching a player or a team. Are they actually good? It's easy to look at stats but harder to watch entire plays. Actually, it's not hard at all, it's pretty friggin' easy to watch stuff.
5. There will be breakout players and there are ways to spot them. Watch some highlights from preseason, someone looked good and most people in your draft didn't notice. Spend a late rounder on them and pray. Don't just stick to names you are familiar with.
End of the Line
Sports Guy will return in 2 weeks for week 1 of the NFL, baby! Ups, downs, and all arounds. Feel free to comment and let Sports Guy know why you hate Sports Guy! Goodbye!
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JLB
"Hitherto I have recorded in detail the events of my insignificant existence..." Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
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Wild Card Weekend Recap: What Happens Now?
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Alex Eala
Tennis has always been a sport where stories of discipline, sacrifice, and quiet resilience shape champions long before trophies do. In recent years, one name has steadily gained international attention for embodying those qualities with grace and ambition: Alex Eala. Still early in her professional journey, Eala represents more than individual success. She symbolizes a shift in global tennis, where talent now rises from regions once considered outside the sport’s traditional power centers. From junior Grand Slam glory to appearances on the professional tour, Eala’s path reflects patience, planning, and belief. Her performances, including moments connected to tournaments like the Auckland Open and the ASB Classic, show a player learning to translate promise into lasting impact. Early Foundations of a Rising Star Alex Eala’s story begins with a strong foundation built on family support and access to elite training. Unlike many players who rise through local circuits alone, Eala’s development was guided by a long-term vision. That vision led her to the Rafa Nadal Academy, an environment known for shaping technically sound and mentally strong athletes. At the academy, Eala refined her baseline game, improved her court movement, and learned how to compete with intention rather than emotion. These lessons were evident in her junior career, where she achieved milestones that placed her among the most promising young players of her generation. What stood out was not only her results but her composure. Eala played with a maturity that suggested she understood tennis as a marathon, not a sprint. Junior Success and Global Recognition Eala’s junior achievements opened doors to the international tennis spotlight. Winning major junior titles placed her name alongside players who would later become tour regulars. For many fans, this was the first time they encountered Alex Eala, and it quickly became clear she was not just another short-term prospect. Her left-handed style added variety to her game, creating angles that disrupted opponents. Combined with strong court awareness, this made her matches engaging to watch and difficult to predict. Junior success, however, is only a stepping stone, and Eala approached the professional transition with measured expectations. Rather than rushing into high-pressure events, she balanced growth with experience, a strategy that often separates sustainable careers from fleeting hype. Stepping Into the Professional Arena The move from juniors to the professional circuit can be unforgiving. Higher intensity, physical demands, and mental pressure test even the most gifted athletes. For Alex Eala, this transition has been deliberate rather than dramatic. She has taken part in ITF and WTA-level events, gaining experience against seasoned players. Each match has contributed to her understanding of pace, consistency, and endurance at the professional level. Losses have been treated as lessons, and victories as confirmation of progress. Events connected to the Auckland Open and the ASB Classic are particularly meaningful in this phase. These tournaments attract a competitive field while still offering young players exposure to high-quality opposition. For Eala, participation in such events represents an opportunity to measure herself against established professionals. Auckland Open and ASB Classic: Learning on a Bigger Stage The ASB Classic, held in Auckland, is more than just a warm-up event for the tennis season. It has a reputation for blending experienced tour players with emerging talent. Competing in or around the Auckland Open environment allows players like Eala to experience elite tournament structures, media attention, and crowd energy. For a young athlete, these elements matter. They teach how to manage nerves, expectations, and recovery over consecutive matches. Even brief appearances in such tournaments contribute significantly to development. Alex Eala’s connection with events like the ASB Classic highlights her gradual integration into the professional ecosystem. Each appearance adds confidence and clarity about what needs improvement, whether it is serve consistency, shot selection, or physical conditioning. Style of Play and Competitive Identity Eala’s game is built around controlled aggression. She prefers constructing points rather than rushing winners, relying on precision and movement. Her left-handed forehand remains one of her most effective weapons, creating angles that pull opponents off the court. Equally important is her defensive awareness. Eala often turns defense into offense, a trait that reflects her disciplined training background. While power tennis dominates many modern matches, her style emphasizes balance and adaptability. As she continues to evolve, adding strength and depth to her serve and net play will likely be key areas of focus. These improvements often come with time, experience, and physical maturity. Representation and Inspiration Beyond the Court Alex Eala’s rise carries significance beyond rankings and results. She represents hope for aspiring players from underrepresented regions, proving that access to global stages is possible with commitment and support. Her journey inspires younger athletes to believe that tennis is not limited by geography. Every appearance she makes, whether in major tournaments or developmental events, reinforces the idea that talent can emerge from anywhere. This broader impact gives Eala a unique position in the sport. She is not only building her own career but also helping expand tennis’s global narrative. The Road Ahead The future for Alex Eala remains open and full of possibility. Tennis careers are shaped over years, not seasons, and her measured approach suggests a focus on longevity rather than quick success. Continued participation in international tournaments, including those linked to the Auckland Open and ASB Classic, will provide valuable benchmarks for growth. As rankings fluctuate and competition intensifies, the true test will be consistency and resilience. Based on her journey so far, Eala appears well-equipped for both. Final Thoughts Alex Eala’s story is still being written, but its early chapters reveal a player grounded in discipline, learning, and quiet confidence. From junior triumphs to professional challenges, she has approached each step with intention. In a sport where pressure can derail even the brightest prospects, Eala’s calm progression stands out. Whether competing in global events like the ASB Classic or continuing her steady rise through the tour, Alex Eala represents a future built on patience, skill, and belief. 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By Saboor Brohi 8 days ago in Unbalanced
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