Sammy Knight Elected to Saints Hall of Fame

Sammy Knight was a hard-hitting playmaker who roamed the Saints' secondary at safety for 6 successful years from 1997 to 2002.

Here is the full roster of inductees to the Saints Hall of Fame, listed by year:

1988 - Archie Manning and Danny Abramowicz
1989 - Tommy Myers and Tom Dempsey
1990 - Billy Kilmer
1991 - Tony Galbreath and Derland Moore
1992 - George Rogers, Jake Kupp and John Hill
1993 - Joe Federspiel
1994 - Henry Childs and Jim Finks
1995 - Doug Atkins and Bob Pollard
1996 - Dave Whitsell and Dave Waymer
1997 - Stan Brock and Rickey Jackson
1998 - Dalton Hilliard and Sam Mills
1999 - Bobby Hebert and Eric Martin
2000 - Pat Swilling and Vaughan Johnson
2001 - Jim Wilks and Hoby Brenner
2002 - Jim Mora and Frank Warren
2003 - Jim Dombrowski and Wayne Martin
2004 - Rueben Mayes and Steve Sidwell
2006 - Joel Hilgenberg
2007 - Joe Johnson
2008 - William Roaf
2009 - Morten Andersen
2010 - Joe Horn
2011 - Sammy Knight

Todd Walker

Todd Walker graduated from Airline High School in Bossier City, LA in 1991. He then went on to spend three legendary years playing second base for the LSU Tigers. Walker hit for batting averages of .400 his freshman season, .395 his sophomore season, and .396 his junior season. The Tigers won the national championship in 1993, with Walker being named the Most Outstanding Player of the College World Series. The 2-time 1st team All-American became the 8th overall pick of the 1994 Major League Draft by the Minnesota Twins. Walker went on to enjoy a 12 year career in the big leagues, playing for each of the Twins, Rockies, Reds, Red Sox, Cubs, Padres and Athletics. A career .289 hitter, Walker never made the All-Star team but he certainly held his own, becoming somewhat of a cult hero in Boston for hitting 5 post-season home runs for the Red Sox in 2003.

2010's Top15 Fantasy Defenses

2010's Top15 Fantasy Defenses by: Total Points per 16 Games

1. Packers, 15.75
2. Patriots, 15.13
3. Steelers, 15.00
4. Giants, 12.69
5. Raiders, 12.63
6. Jets, 12.06
7. Bears, 12.00
8. Chargers, 11.88
9. Lions, 11.44
10. 49ers, 11.00
11. Cardinals, 11.00
12. Eagles, 10.88
13. Falcons, 10.25
14. Seahawks, 10.19
15. Rams, 10.19

Scoring System: 2 points per Sack, interception, and/or defensive fumble recovery, 6 points per return touchdown, 4 points per safety, 20 points per shutout, 10 points for allowing 1-9 points, -5 points for giving up 40 or more points.

While it's important to have a sturdy defense in your line-up at all times, the slight deviation between the top15 defenses isn't worth spending a high draft pick on any one of them.

2010’s Best Fantasy Draft Values

Took the first 120 picks from a fantasy draft from last season and weighted each player’s total fantasy points for the season by their draft position in order to indicate the best value picks. Then ranked them by position.

Position:
Rank. Name, Draft Position, Total Fantasy Points, Weighted Fantasy Points by draft position

Quarterbacks:
1. Philip Rivers, 33, 386.6, 439.76
2. Eli Manning, 66, 343.08, 437.43
3. Tom Brady, 21, 396, 430.65
4. Peyton Manning, 10, 404.8, 421.67
5. Matt Ryan, 73, 321.4, 419.16
6. Drew Brees, 8, 393.5, 406.62
7. Carson Palmer, 68, 316.8, 406.56
8. Jay Cutler, 105, 281.16, 404.17
9. Aaron Rodgers, 2, 397.48, 400.79
10. Ben Roethlisberger, 119, 266.6, 398.79
11. Joe Flacco, 61, 300.28, 376.6
12. Matt Schaub, 14, 341.6, 361.53
13. Brett Favre, 67, 146.16, 186.96
14. Tony Romo, 22, 137, 149.56
15. Kevin Kolb, 108, 91.38, 132.5

The point here is that there was no pressing need to take Aaron Rodgers with the 2nd pick of the draft if you could instead wait to take someone with a similar total score as late as the 8th (Drew Brees), 10th (Peyton Manning), 21st (Tom Brady), and 33rd (Philip Rivers) positions.



Running Backs:
1. Arian Foster, 47, 439, 524.98
2. Darren McFadden, 100, 300.4, 425.57
3. Lesean McCoy, 40, 318.2, 371.23
4. Matt Forte, 65, 284.6, 361.68
5. Jamaal Charles, 36, 304.5, 350.18
6. Ahmad Bradshaw, 52, 263.9, 321.08
7. Chris Johnson, 1, 314.9, 316.21
8. Adrian Peterson, 3, 301.9, 305.67
9. Ladainian Tomlinson, 85, 221.2, 299.54
10. Ray Rice, 4, 286.6, 291.38
11. Rashard Mendenhall, 31, 258, 291.33
12. Steven Jackson, 17, 263.4, 282.06
13. Maurice Jones-Drew, 6, 273.1, 279.93
14. Michael Turner, 9, 262.6, 272.45
15. Felix Jones, 95, 189, 263.81
16. Knowshon Moreno, 60, 208.1, 260.13
17. Cedric Benson, 34, 214.9, 245.34
18. Michael Bush, 117, 160.9, 239.34
19. Jahvid Best, 39, 202.2, 235.06
20. Frank Gore, 5, 229.5, 234.28
21. Thomas Jones, 97, 160.8, 225.79
22. Brandon Jacobs, 102, 157.2, 224.01
23. Darren Sproles, 114, 146.7, 216.38
24. Ronnie Brown, 56, 158.6, 195.61
25. Tim Hightower, 78, 144.2, 191.07
26. Cadillac Williams, 82, 142.2, 190.79
27. Ryan Mathews, 18, 148.3, 159.42
28. Justin Forsett, 70, 122.5, 158.23
29. Ricky Williams, 83, 114.4, 153.96
30. Jonathan Stewart, 59, 119.3, 148.63
31. Shonn Greene, 37, 119.6, 138.04
32. Joseph Addai, 35, 108.9, 124.78
33. Marion Barber, 74, 77.3, 101.13
34. Pierre Thomas, 29, 88, 98.63
35. Reggie Bush, 53, 74.8, 91.32
36. C.J. Spiller, 50, 71, 85.79
37. Beanie Wells, 42, 64.1, 75.32
38. Jerome Harrison, 75, 50.3, 66.02
39. Deangelo Williams, 19, 58.2, 62.81
40. Clinton Portis, 64, 45.2, 57.25
41. Ryan Grant, 24, 4.5, 4.95

It appears that Ray Rice and Matt Forte had much better fantasy seasons than many realize. It’s also interesting to see that Lesean McCoy, picked in the 40th position, played to the level of the 1st overall pick Chris Johnson. Of course, so did Arian Foster and Darren McFadden from much lower positions. And as I mentioned earlier in the week in regard to rookies, Ryan Mathews was about as ill-advised a 2nd round pick as there has ever been.



Wide Receivers:
1. Santana Moss, 111, 252.9, 369.87
2. Dwayne Bowe, 49, 303.6, 365.59
3. Roddy White, 13, 343.2, 361.79
4. Mike Wallace, 62, 284.6, 358.12
5. Hakeem Nicks, 72, 270.2, 351.26
6. Mike Williams, TB, 106, 230.4, 332.16
7. Greg Jennings, 23, 299.4, 328.09
8. Reggie Wayne, 16, 306.5, 326.93
9. Jeremy Maclin, 87, 239, 325.64
10. Terrell Owens, 76, 244.3, 321.66
11. Calvin Johnson, 15, 284.2, 301.96
12. Andre Johnson, 7, 286.6, 294.96
13. Larry Fitzgerald, 26, 254.7, 282.29
14. Miles Austin, 25, 254.4, 280.9
15. Derrick Mason, 112, 188.2, 276.03
16. Marques Colston, 28, 243.4, 271.8
17. Percy Harvin, 51, 218.5, 264.93
18. Johnny Knox, 96, 181.2, 253.68
19. Austin Collie, 116, 169.6, 252.02
20. Santonio Holmes, 109, 172.3, 250.55
21. Mike Williams, Sea, 118, 167.1, 249.26
22. Hines Ward, 80, 183.3, 244.4
23. Brandon Marshall, 20, 224.7, 243.43
24. Pierre Garcon, 71, 187, 242.32
25. Wes Welker, 27, 217.8, 242.30
26. Desean Jackson, 11, 229, 239.5
27. Nate Burleson, 107, 164.6, 237.98
28. Jabar Gaffney, 90, 169.5, 233.06
29. Anquan Boldin, 32, 203.9, 231.09
30. Eddie Royal, 120, 148.8, 223.2
31. Chad Ochocinco, 41, 184.1, 215.55
32. Michael Crabtree, 55, 175.1, 215.23
33. Robert Meachem, 94, 149.2, 207.64
34. Malcolm Floyd, 81, 154.7, 206.911
35. Steve Breaston, 115, 138.3, 204.57
36. Dez Bryant, 93, 141.1, 195.78
37. Jacoby Jones, 103, 130.9, 187.08
38. Mike Sims-Walker, 58, 150.2, 186.5
39. Lee Evans, 92, 122.8, 169.87
40. Devin Hester, 110, 114.5, 166.98
41. Donald Driver, 57, 130.5, 161.49
42. Steve Smith, NYG, 30, 128.9, 145.01
43. Steve Smith, Car, 54, 112.3, 137.57
44. Jerricho Cotchery, 91, 96, 132.4
45. Randy Moss, 12, 97.3, 102.17
46. Sidney Rice, 104, 62, 88.87
47. Bernard Berrian, 77, 53.2, 70.27

Look at Santana Moss sitting there at the top of the list. For such a steady performer to have slipped all the way down to the 111th pick, just wow! It’s also interesting to see Brandon Marshall and Desean Jackson ranked so low in value. And Randy Moss, shouldn’t you have just retired before laying that egg of an awful season?



Tight Ends:
1. Jason Witten, 38, 253.2, 293.29
2. Antonio Gates, 43, 203.2, 239.61
3. Vernon Davis, 48, 199.4, 239.28
4. Chris Cooley, 79, 178.9, 237.79
5. Kellen Winslow, 86, 169, 229.56
6. Zach Miller, 84, 163.5, 220.73
7. Tony Gonzalez, 46, 176.6, 210.45
8. Visanthe, Shiancoe, 88, 112, 153.07
9. Brent Celek, 63, 117.1, 147.84
10. Heath Miller, Pitt, 89, 104.2, 142.84
11. Owen Daniels, 98, 97.1, 136.75
12. Dallas Clark, 44, 89.7, 106.15
13. Jermichael Finley, 45, 67.1, 79.68

The run on tight ends that occurred in the 4th round of the draft proved only 60% successful, with Jason Witten, Antonio Gates, and Vernon Davis meeting expectations, while Dallas Clark and Jermichael Finley succumbed to injuries. And rather than taking Tony Gonzalez with the 46th pick, Chris Cooley at 79th would have been a better selection.



Defenses:
1. Jets, 69, 193, 248.49
2. Eagles, 101, 174, 247.23
3. Cowboys, 113, 162, 238.28
4. Vikings, 99, 125, 176.56

Taking the Jets defense so early in the draft probably wasn’t the best idea, in that there wasn’t enough separation in total points over defenses drafted much later to justify pulling such a quick trigger.

2010’s Top15 Fantasy Rookies

2010's Top15 Fantasy Rookies by: Total Points per Games Played (Games Played in Paranthesis)

1. Sam Bradford 15.55 (16 games)
2. Mike Williams, TB 14.40 (16 games)
3. Colt McCoy 13.72 (8 games)
4. Tim Tebow 12.98 (9 games)
5. Jahvid Best 12.64 (16 games)
6. Ryan Mathews 12.36 (12 games)
7. LeGarrette Blount 12.32 (13 games)
8. Dez Bryant 11.76 (12 games)
9. Aaron Hernandez 10.16 (14 games)
10. Rob Gronkowski 10.04 (16 games)
11. Chris Ivory 8.94 (12 games)
12. Jimmy Graham 8.78 (11 games)
13. Jermaine Gresham 8.14 (15 games)
14. Tony Moeaki 8.04 (15 games)
15. Jimmy Clausen 7.50 (10 games)

Scoring System: 1 point per 25 yards passing, 6 points per passing touchdown, -1 point per interception, 1 point per 10 yards receiving/rushing, 1 point per reception, 6 points per touchdown rushing/receiving, -1 point per fumble lost, 5 bonus points per 300 yards passing or 100 yard receiving or rushing game.

The numbers prove that there was really only one rookie in 2010 who was worth drafting in order to fill a full-time starting position on your fantasy team. That would have been Tampa Bay WR Mike Williams. QB Sam Bradford, while enjoying a solid season, still had over 20 other QB's rank higher than him in fantasy points per game. RB's Jahvid Best, Ryan Mathews, and LeGarrette Blount would have served as ample back-ups on your fantasy roster, as would WR Dez Bryant and a full selection of middle-of-the-road tight ends, but the point clearly becomes: DON'T USE YOUR TOP DRAFT PICKS ON ROOKIES!

Those who were drafting Ryan Mathews in the 1st and 2nd rounds last year must have felt quite foolish as the season wore on. Every now and then a rookie does manage to post up big league numbers his 1st season in the league, but the proposition is always a risky one. Something else to note is the issue of durability, with only 4 of the top15 rookies listed playing in all 16 games of the season. Again, be hesitant to expect much fantasy-wise from NFL rookies...it can't be said enough.

Then again, kudos to those who drafted Mike Williams in the late rounds of their drafts last year...

Saints 2011 Draft Picks, Rounds 2-6:

Appropriately, the Saints picked 4 consecutive defensive players. CB Johnny Patrick may wind up being the steal of the bunch, although it will be crucial for the Saints that LB Martez Wilson contributes early and often. DE Greg Romeus and OLB Nathan Bussey could also prove to be nice additions.