Sorry Matt, my intent was not to be disrespectful (despite the tone of the posts). Rather, I was just looking to see what your opinion was on 1) who you nailed that no one else really did; and 2) who you just completely whiffed on. Obviously, I respect your hard work and dedication which is evidenced by the fact that I purchased the 2011 RSP and also own the 2009-2010 RSPs (I owned 2008 too, but did not save it to my computer). I love the work you do and it is fun to read, but I am just trying to see if it actually correlates to fantasy success (which is the purpose of the RSP and FBG).
Your RSP has "dynasty rankings" so I assume the readers here take your rankings and apply them to their rookie drafts (otherwise why would people purchase the RSP or have a FBG subscription). I can just imagine all the owners who got burned in rookie drafts by Peerman, Hagan and DHB and others being ranked so high so I just wanted to see who you ranked high that no one else really did. For example, I see you are all over Spann this year so I'm wondering if he is the next Pearman or Bradshaw (I guess only time will tell).
In any event, I love the RSP publication and appreciate the work you do. I was just wondering if your RSP rankings correlated to actual success in fantasy football.
For the people who say that the RSP is not intended for fantasy purposes that makes no sense. We are not NFL GMs, we are fantasy owners, so everyone absolutely uses the RSP when they are drafting rookies and probably rely heavily on Waldman's conclusions (again, why would you pay for the RSP and an FBG subscription if you are not relying on some or most of their analysis).
ps The RSP is awesome for viewing on an Ipad, just FYI.
First, thanks for the apology. Second, thanks to everyone on this thread who felt compelled to respond here. I would never deny that the RSP isn't designed to provide a set of rankings and info for fantasy football users. However, the primary purpose is to give a reader my takes on a player's potential with as much analysis as I can provide to back up those conclusions.
Because the rankings are pre-draft, the place a player goes will often drastically change the potential for that player's career success. However, I try to rank the players based on talent and potential if they get to the right situation. As most have mentioned here, I'm going to have hits and misses. I'm also going to have misses where I will probably be stubborn with my stance and maintain I'm still correct despite the lack of production/opportunity.
Just off the top of my head, here are some players I believe I had a correct assessment and they have performed well for flashed skills:
Some Hits
Ahmad Bradshaw
Matt Forte
Rashard Mendenhall
Ray Rice - he was No.2 on my list when people thought he was too small and not quick enough
Jamaal Charles - I said if he could hold onto the football consistently and matures w/his vision he'd be much higher than 8th on the list. Compared his rare big play ability to Marshall Faulk.
Dwayne Bowe
Steve Smith
Hakeem Nicks
Aaron Hernandez
Adrian Peterson
Deangelo Williams
Arian Foster - I didn't rank high, but I scored him high and explained why he was ranked low (more questions about attitude than ability)
Greg Olsen
Sam Bradford
Matt Stafford
Jahvid Best
MJD
Tashard Choice - thought Chester Taylor type back. Think I'm right there too.
Kevin Smith - prior to his injuries - looked good.
Jimmy Graham - might be too early, but I don't think so based on what he did last year.
C.J. Spiller, LeSean McCoy and Darren McFadden - I said they had things to learn and they would initially struggle. The first two with patience issues. The third with patience and pad level. Still think McFadden's pad level doesn't make him a great YAC runner when working between the tackles and he doesn't break through a clean hole. Probably wrong on my lower ranking of McFadden, but not the substance of what he needed to address. Still think he's not on the same plain as an Adrian Peterson.
Matt Leinart - Thought he was overrated.
Jay Cutler
Robert Meachem and Buster Davis - thought both needed to work on technique and weren't going to be that great.
Joseph Addai - I had him higher than most and I wasn't shocked with the Colts picked him and he had a terrific rookie year.
Brandon Jackson - wasn't impressed.
Steve Slaton - wasn't impressed and thought he had a lucky rookie year. Still think I'm dead-on.
Early Doucet-didn't see him as the next Hines Ward-issues catching the ball.
Matt Ryan
Josh Freeman
Joe Flacco
James Hardy - thought he played soft. Hasn't proven otherwise.
Some Misses
Bruce Gradkowski - I thought he could be a Jeff Garcia type of player. He's a poor man's Jeff Garcia, but he is better than most thought.
Chris Johnson - He was way better between the tackles than what I saw in college. I needed to watch more film of him than I did.
Darius Heyward Bey - I learned here that technique is far more important than athleticism for a receiver.
Trent Edwards - Flashed some skills, but turned in captain check-down after getting the crap beat out of him in Buffalo. He was No.6 on my list behind STewart, Rice, Mendenhall, Smith, and Forte
Xavier Omon - This kid had skills, but I was told by a scout that he lost his confidence after getting booted in Buffalo and quit working at his game to land a gig. Too late for him? Probably.
Pick a TE between 2006-2009 and odds are I missed - I've really had to work hard to continue learning about the position and I'm admittedly need to get better. Definitely include Jermichael Finley.
Vince Young - See DHB's comment and apply to QB.
Laurence Maroney - Ability, but no maturity.
Jerious Norwood - Injury was part of the issue, but I thought he'd be more durable between the tackles.
Devin Thomas - wasn't willing to work, but he had the ability.
Limas Sweed - ditto
Adarius Bowman - ditto/off-field issues as well
Brian BRohm
Colt Brennan
Sam Keller
Players I'm stubborn about
Jason Hill - never got a chance and I think he's going to come through - flashed skills last year.
Cedric Peerman - He was drafted into a bad situation and then was hurt with the next two teams he signed with. I still believe he's capable of starting in this league.
Nate Davis - 24-year veteran scout Dave Razzano told me over the phone last week that Takeo Spikes said the locker room loved Nate Davis and believed he should have gotten PT to see what he could do.
Brian Hoyer - I thought he was an underrated player and he's getting a lot of pub as a potential starter in a couple of years who NE will trade away.
DeSean Jackson-didn't think he'd be another STeve Smith (CAR) or SAntana Moss. Gave him a decent score, but didn't think he had the skills to play over the middle. I'm right about that, but he's so good outside and fits so will in this Eagles scheme that it doesn't matter. One of those few athletic exceptions to the rule.
Sure, I'm going to be wrong and I'm subject to scrutiny. However, I will counter that if anyone is going to judge the value of the RSP mostly on the rankings when there's hundreds of pages of play by play observation and a defined process with defined techniques I'm watching for then they are missing the point of the publication.
It's a difficult concept to fully explain, but I'm pretty gratified that the posters here were able to communicate it well. It tells me that in many respects I'm communicating it more effectively than I feel I do.
Waldman's been dead on as well as dead wrong about many many players, just like every single scout, every single publication, and every single "expert". If you're looking for a publication to tell you in what order to draft your rookies, the RSP ain't it.. The RSP has always been about putting 1000's of hours of film study at a readers' fingertips, rather than simply looking up highlight films on Youtube where EVERY SINGLE PLAYER looks amazing. It's about giving readers the tools to make their own decisions about a player, not about telling them how to draft for FF. Reading the reports on some of those players is something that you can't get anywhere else IMO.
While I don't think it's necessary to kowtow to a staff member, I think you are crossing the line with your blatant disrespect and the mocking tone of your "question".Anyone that has read through the RSP will tell you that Matt puts a tremendous amount of work into it and it's chock full of helpful information and analysis. Does he get every player right? Of course not but there's many factors that come into play that are out of his control (since it's done pre-draft the situation may not always be ideal for one) and no one is going to get every player right.He has opened my eyes to a few hidden gems. The guys is simply the best in this business and while he's a nice enough guy that he'll probably come in here and answer your questions and give you some insight into his thoughts, you probably don't deserve it.
