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    Running to Fantasy Football

    Belichick bonus: Danny Woodhead haunts the Jets in unexpected ways, while Torain& Hillis take over

    Jim Beviglia
    Oct 23, 2010 | 3:54 pm
    • It turns out Bill Belichick wasn't just playing mind games with the Jets when hesigned Danny Woodhead.
    • Danny Woodhead may look like a Hobbit, but he can run.
    • Ryan Torain is the real deal in D.C.

    You hear it time and again from fantasy football aficionados: I need a running back. They are the most prized commodities in the game, and when draft day comes around, it seems like anyone with a pulse and even the most remote chance of touching the football out of the backfield is scooped up as if they are the second coming of Jim Brown.

    So why is it that, six weeks into the season, there are a quartet of running backs around the league putting up serious numbers who likely went undrafted in even some of the deepest leagues? Let’s explore this phenomenon, along with the chances that these no-names can continue their unlikely ascension to fantasy starter status.

    Chris Ivory, New Orleans: Some lucky souls out there might have taken a flyer on Ivory based on a memorable run he had in a preseason game that hit the highlight reels. He still had about eight guys in front of him on the depth chart after making the team though, and it seemed a long shot that he would get a chance even with the everybody-touches-it aesthetic of the Saints.

    Lo and behold, injuries felled Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush, and there was Ivory last Sunday, rumbling for 158 yards on just 15 carries. The temptation is to sell high here, but I’m not sure that’s the play. For one thing, both Thomas and Bush are coming back from tricky injuries that may linger. In addition, there’s a chance that the Saints catch fire and play some meaningless games down the stretch, in which case Ivory could be in line for some major carries.

    Peyton Hillis, Cleveland: He had some chances to play the last few seasons in Denver but couldn’t manage to stay healthy. When he joined the Browns in the offseason, it wasn’t exactly the transaction heard ‘round the world. With Jerome Harrison coming up some huge games at the tail end of ’09 and rookie Montario Hardesty in the fold, it looked like Hillis might be nothing more than a fullback.

    But Hardesty was knocked out for the season in camp, and Hillis simply outplayed Harrison to win the job. He scored touchdowns in each of the first four games, ran for 100 yards in back-to-back games against rugged defenses, and likely crashed some computer networks as fantasy owners furiously tried to pick him up. Although he hasn’t had that success the last two games, he still caught some passes to help ease the blow for his owners. The guy is legit if he stays healthy.

    Ryan Torain, Washington: He was briefly one of Mike Shanahan’s revolving-door running backs in Denver in 2008, but got hurt immediately after winning the job. He sat out all of last year, and then came to training camp with the Skins behind former stars Clinton Portis, Larry Johnson, and Willie Parker.

    In my NFC-only league, 56 running backs were chosen, including fullbacks like Ovie Mughelli and Mike Karney. Torain was not one of the 56.

    On Sunday night, he stormed over the Colts to the tune of 100 yards and two scores. Even if Portis does come back, which should be well down the road, it’s hard to imagine him running with that kind of authority. Torain is no fluke and he should be an excellent complementary running back on a fantasy roster from here on out.

    Danny Woodhead, New England: With Bill Belichick’s seeming disdain for the running back position, you half expect the coach to suit up and take some pitchouts himself, his hoodie flapping in the breeze. His newest weapon may be the unlikeliest of all though. Woodhead was signed away from the New York Jets early in the season in what most assumed was a Belichickian ploy to gain information on a rival.

    Instead, Woodhead, who’s generously listed at 5-9 and 200 pounds but looks like Frodo Baggins on the field, has become a valuable weapon playing the Kevin Faulk role. On Sunday he totaled 115 yards of offense while current starter (and former no-namer) BenJarvus Green-Ellis had little success. It’s unlikely Woodhead will be a 20-carry guy at any point this year, but the former Chadron State star has solid value, especially in points-per-catch scoring systems.

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    pucker up

    Growing pickleball franchise smashes into Houston with 2 locations

    Jef Rouner
    Apr 29, 2025 | 5:30 pm
    Two men play pickleball on a Picklr court.
    Photo courtesy of The Picklr
    A Picklr court campus similar to the ones soon to open in Houston.

    Pickleball is one of the hottest sports sweeping the nation, and one of the biggest names in the game is setting up two new facilities in Houston. Picklr is scheduled to open indoor sports campuses in Cypress and The Woodlands in the coming months.

    “Bringing a pickleball facility to Cypress will not only provide a fun and engaging recreational outlet for residents of all ages, but will also foster a sense of community and promote a healthy and active lifestyle,” said Steve Nguyen, owner of The Picklr Cypress.“This facility will serve as a vibrant hub for social interaction, skill development, and friendly/competitive competition, enhancing community bonds and offering a welcoming space for everyone to enjoy.”

    Although the game is approximately 60 years old, pickleball saw a massive spike in popularity following the pandemic when people were looking for fun group activities with easy points of entry. Though a racket sport like tennis, it is far easier and slower thanks to using perforated balls, smaller courts, and lighter paddles. This means the game is open to players of all ages, and was originally most popular with retirees. Now, there are roughly 5 million players across America, with players under 24 making up the majority. Houston even has its own professional team, the Hammers (not the Texas Hammer; that's this guy).

    The court in Cypress will be located in the old ASI Gymnastics building at 8920 Barker Cypress. It's a relatively modest facility with only six courts including a practice court. By contrast, The Woodlands location will be much more opulent. At 66,517 square feet, it will have 20 courts, 4 private event spaces (one with an exclusive viewing area), as well as a shower, changing room, dry bar, and kitchenette. Picklr The Woodlands will be located at 16590 Interstate I-45 South.

    These locations are the first for Picklr in Houston. They have twelve locations all throughout Texas, including in Round Rock and McKinney, and many more nationwide. Picklr locations operate on a membership model similar to a gym. Memberships run $159 a month for adults and $89 for minors, with unlimited access to open play, league play, and tournaments , as well as four free clinics a month. Additional coaching is available.

    There is currently no set opening date for the two Houston-area Picklrs. Players interested in learning more may sign up for updates at ThePicklr.com.

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