Second, Rashard Mendenhall. I said not to draft him until the 2nd round. And boy, do I look good having said that. I’d look even better had I said wait until the 3rd or 4th round. He’s been quite underwhelming this year. And that’s because the Steelers have gone pass heavy. They throw the ball so much that they just aren’t giving Mendenhall the same number of touches.

Third, my sleepers: 1)Larry Fitzgerald – well it’s been better than last year, but not great. Fitz is only the number 7 WR in the game. It would be nice if he had a QB that would target him 10+ times a game, but that’s just not the case. 2)Wes Welker – you can thank me now for telling you to draft him. The number 2 WR in fantasy football is on track to break all sorts of receiving records and he is clearly the catch and yardage guy for a potent passing offense. It would be nice to see a few more TDs, but I’m happy with this prediction. 3) Matt Stafford – I told you so. You got a top 5 QB in the 9th round. And with the next 4 games being indoors or in good weather, he is primed to keep slinging the ball and getting you loads and loads of points. 4) Reggie Bush – Again, you are welcome. He’s currently the #20 RB in fantasy, but has been getting more work and been more productive than most RBs in the past 3 weeks. He’s going to continue to produce and is finally showing some of the promise from the USC glory days.

Finally the flyers: And I hit on exactly one of them, like I said. Greg Olsen is currently the #9 TE in fantasy. You could have had him easily in the 13th or 14th rounds of your draft. And that my friends is a good value.

So what do you do moving forward the rest of the season?

Here’s a few sleepers that may just be worth your while: Maurice Morris – the only RB in Detroit that seems to be able to stay healthy. He’s catching passes and starting to run the ball. C.J. Spiller – the starting job in Buffalo is now all his. Look for some solid production from this man moving forward. Antonio Brown – WR for the Steelers is really starting to come into his own. Runs good routes, great hands, and works the entire game. Victor Cruz – It’s probably too late to pick him up, but Victor has been the best receiver for the Giants this year. He makes some mistakes, but has improved and is a lock to put up 10+ points a game. Jake Ballard – TE Giants – This guy is unimpressive, but gets it done. If you need someone, he’s worth a look. DEF – Don’t sleep on Seattle. Just because their offense is terrible doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t look at these guys. The special teams are also one of the better units in football. Pick them up.

Good luck with the rest of the year! As always, stay healthy!

My current emphasis is on increasing my overall strength levels, so lifting more weight for fewer reps will help me achieve that goal. Surprisingly, I’ve enjoyed the change of pace. I find that it lets me be very intense during my workouts without having to fight off fatigue. This allows me to put my full effort into increasing my strength, instead of focusing on increasing endurance. And surprisingly, I also tend to feel more tired and sweat more during these workouts.

There are other ways to add additional variety to your workouts. I hear it from many of you that you love the variety we offer at the HIT Center. We strive to keep things fresh, to add new challenges, and to make your workouts effective and enjoyable. While we aren’t trying to leave you feeling confused, we do want you to experience growth during your workouts. So, keep training hard, but don’t forget that variety is the spice of life!

First round: It’s hard to go wrong in the first round, unless you draft a quarterback, Arian Foster (yeah, I said it) or Rashard Mendenhall. There is too much depth and value at quarterback to take someone in the first round unless your league gives insane amount of points to quarterbacks. So just don’t do it. Trust me on this one.

Arian Foster was someone that I tabbed to get in the early rounds last year, and if you can get him in the 2nd round (fat chance), I’d say he’s worth it. However, this is my bold call of the year: Arian Foster will not be a top 15 running back. He has a back-up that is starter-capable, he is in an offense that is a top 5 passing offense, and I don’t think he’ll stay healthy or fumble-free. Feel free to draft him in the top 3, but I’m saying I don’t buy in. And my money is where my mouth is: I didn’t keep him in one of my keeper leagues. Even though he is ranked #2 overall.

Rashard Mendenhall: Another guy I like in the 2nd round, but not in the first. The passing offense of the Steelers is always underrated (Hint: Ben Roethlisberger is a great QB that you can get in the later rounds). They’ll throw a lot because they pay Big Ben too much money not to use him. In addition, they’ve shuffled around their O-line, Mendenhall had a LOT of carries last year, and his average per carry dipped during the season. 2nd round, yes, but don’t base your 1st round on him.

Guys who will perform better than last year (in no particular order): 1) Larry Fitzgerald – he has someone who can throw him the ball in his general vicinity. Larry will take care of the rest. 2) Wes Welker – Tom Brady loves him. He’s been healthy and recovered from the ACL injury fully. Everyone wants to talk about Ochocinco. This guy has 1200+ yards and 8+ touchdowns potential. 5th or 6th round would be a great spot for him. 3) Matt Stafford – The Lions QB is poised for a huge year IF he stays healthy. The offense has shown they can move the ball. He’s had a high completion rate, and he’s finally grasping the offense. If you can get him in the 9th or 10th round, great value. 4) Reggie Bush – People are sick of him. But he’s looked great as the Dolphins starter. Remember, this is a rushing-oriented offense, and when healthy, he can be a devastating force. Rounds 8-10 are a good spot for Reg.

And for those late round flyers, people that you can gamble on hoping for 1 good player: Lee Evans, Greg Olsen, Pierre Thomas, Bernard Scott, Todd Heap, Sam Bradford, Mike Sims-Walker, Deion Branch

So that’s a little bit of info for you, I’d write more, but I’d get in trouble for taking up too much space. If you have any questions, I’m always game for talking fantasy football. And as a caveat: The worst I finished in any league I played in last year was 2nd. Good luck!

1. I Will Possess Your Heart – Death Cab for Cutie – The bass line in this gets you into a zone to get ready for some action.
2. Roll Away Your Stone – Mumford and Sons – If you can’t get into this song, you may want to flip over your left wrist, put two fingers on where your pulse should be, and check it.
3. Your Love Is My Drug – Ke$ha – Guilty pleasure, yes. Great beat, yes. Starting to really wake up now.
4. Shake Ya Tailfeather – Nelly – Now we’re almost in game mode. After the beats from this song, your body should be fully awake and nearly ready for the hardest workout you’ve ever done.
5. The Edge of Glory – Lady Gaga – Now that you’re on the Edge of Glory, do something about it. Make this workout happen.

Music can be a powerful motivator. Use this playlist carefully. And let me know if you have any suggestions, or give me your playlist!