Huddle Tip of the Day – Chasing Black Boosts

Posted on October 8, 2014 by SCUncensored

They are all the rage, and for good reason. The black boosts have come on strong like a hurricane of points, and I am salivating at the potential to score some major wins thanks to these cards. As a Bunt player, I have really had a huge attraction to chasing these cards because of what they represent in the sister app. Here in Huddle, its a bit different, but just as fun. Here is my take.

Top Black Boosts – Collectability

If you are a collector rather than a points player, here are the Black Boosts you are going to need to chase down first.

1. Calvin Johnson (100 copies)

Megatron is one of those cards that started it all, so its going to carry more value. Even though he is hurt, like the Trout Sig in Bunt, there is an aura around this card now that everything has switched to action shots.

2. Jordy Nelson (25 copies)

Because this card was only in packs for a day, there are very few of them on the market. Nelson is having a crazy good start to the year which makes it more attractive.

3. Jake Locker (30 copies)

Same situation as Nelson, but with a player that isnt on the same points value level. Locker is still a card to get.

4. Jamaal Charles (250 copies)

Now that the Chiefs offense seems to be coming around, and he is back from injury, this card is becoming more valuable by the day.

5. Mathew Stafford (255 copies)

I am putting this above Cobb and Jennings despite the fact that there are more of these. Cobb and Jennings just dont have the points potential that Stafford does, and his team’s performance combined with rarity has made this a tough get. Trust me, I have tried.

Top Black Boosts – Points Potential

If you are a points player that is looking to get an advantage, these are the ones I would be chasing.

1. Demarco Muray (500 copies)

Murray is an MVP candidate right now, which is great for the Cowboys and great for his card value. The only issue is that Garrett said he was going to reduce the workload, and he is playing Seattle this week. Neither should have a huge effect, but its worth mentioning.

2. Le’Veon Bell (500 copies)

I really like what Bell has done this year, although he hasnt had the TDs that Murray has, or a team that is winning like the Cowboys are. Both Murray and Bell have yet to play on Thursday night, which means these cards will help.

3. Peyton Manning (500 copies)

It should be no surprise that Manning is off to a hot start, as it is clockwork every single year. He has put up multiple TDs in just about every game, and plays regularly in the PM games that have only about 3-4 games playing at a time. Nice to be able to set him and forget him.

4. Arian Foster (500 copies)

Foster has had injury issues, but his card is playing Thursday night, and he is has had some top TD performances in the last two games. Im definitely chasing this one long term.

5. Russell Wilson

When I posted this article the first time around, I completely missed set one, including Wilson. The crazy thing is that his rushing attack is beyond valuable for a huddle card, as the yardage on the ground is worth much more points than the air.

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Bunt Tip of the Day – How Does Kershaw’s Loss Affect Bunt Value?

Posted on October 8, 2014 by SCUncensored

Throughout most of the Bunt season, Kershaw was the guy everyone chased. His Black Boost, his sig, his golds, all traded above the price of some inserts. It was insane. Most of it stemmed from the fact that he was basically untouchable, and will likely win the Cy Young award. His point totals per card were like 3 other pitchers combined.

With the Dodgers losing to the Cardinals thanks to another Kershaw blown opportunity to shine, how does this hurt his offseason and more long term value for his Bunt cards? Funny that the biggest pitchers of the year save Adam Wainwright are all eliminated, with King Felix, Kershaw, Lester, and others all watching the championship series from their living rooms.

Basically, Bunt has shown that the focus on playoff cards are going to separate the regular season cards from the huge boosts of the post season. That’s understood. Similarly so, Kershaw’s LOW count sig at 250 is still going to be valuable through to next year and potentially beyond. Unlike last year where the collectors who came through from 2013 really had to compete with a bunch of new blood, there is likely going to be significantly more users who will be legacies in 2015. This could add more value to the existing cards, of which Kershaw should maintain his superhero status – rightfully so.

Let’s face it people, the 2014 sigs look really cool, and have a reason to maintain value going into 2015 regardless of playability. Although we could see vast improvements in the look and feel of the app, there will be hundreds of people that still have the thrill of opening the pack and pulling that super rare card.

Kershaw’s base will still trade above other base, just from reputation alone. Now that it has no potential to score further points, the value will drop just like every other player. What we will see is a mass exodus of casual players when the season ends, which could put a strain on the availability of cards they have until the next season starts and they come back. It serves as quite the situation to plan for, no doubt.

There is also no guarantee that 2014 WONT be playable in 2015, but we have to take historical precedent into consideration. With that in mind, Kershaw’s playoff performance may not factor in at all. One playoff meltdown does not degrade someone who is still the best pitcher in baseball.

Im interested to see how this turns out, because there are still some guys worth chasing that are left. How some may give up Kershaw to get those individuals will be quite intriguing.

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SCAM ALERT: Hide the Black Boost and Loaned Cards Reminder!

Posted on October 7, 2014 by SCUncensored

51070-scam-alert1

Just because I am very aware of the scams, and because I know how these people work, I am not immune to their effects. In the last few days, I have been taken twice by scams, and both times I have felt like an idiot because I should have known better. I want to make sure everyone gets a reminder, because it only takes one moment of distraction.

Hide the Black Boost

On both Bunt and Huddle, Black Boosts are a type of card that really bring out the worst in  people. In Bunt, there arent as many of them, so its easier to keep them on lockdown and not worry about having to deal with this. In huddle, there are just way too many and I felt the brunt of it today.

Here is how it works. In both apps, a scammer will hide the black boost in a bunch of commons in Bunt or red cards in huddle. Because the contrast and design is so similar, its easy to miss them being in there. The scammer will offer a bunch of cards that are worth way more than the commons or the reds and the fan will be so excited that they will hit accept before looking closely.

This happened to me in Huddle today when user JAWZ21 decided he wanted to play the game with me. Being that I was in the middle of something, I hit accept before looking. Wonderful – my Demarco Murray black boost was now traded for a bunch of worthless gold cards that have no playable value. Kickers and lineman. I needed them all, and had a bunch of dupes of the other cards in the trade, so I hit accept before really looking.

I hate people that pull this crap, but this is an aspect of the game that everyone needs to be aware of.

Capture

Loaned Cards Scam

Because most of the cards are now given out as a one time award, this issue hasnt been as much of a challenge to turn down because so many of the cards dont give instant awards any longer.

What happens is that the user will ask to borrow the card for the award. Instead of trading it back, they walk away and either lock it, or trade it to another account so you cant access it any more.

For me, I had two of a card that wasnt really playable, but came with a big award. I loaned it out with collateral to another user, and when I traded away my second, he wouldnt give me the card back at all. Yeah, that sucked.

I have never really had an issue with this in the past, but I have also been extremely cautious in loaning out cards. I thought I would give someone the benefit of the doubt and look what happens. I also didnt take collateral that was worth the card if he did walk away, so that’s on me. Luckily a user was nice enough to hook me up because he had a few of them and was extremely nice.

Lesson is that you should never loan out cards you arent prepared to lose, and dont do it unless you have comparable collateral to hold until it is returned.

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Monday Throwdown – Player Primer

Posted on October 6, 2014 by SCUncensored

Once again, we come to a close of a week with a pretty interesting game. On one hand we have a Seattle team that is primed for another run at the division title and a deep playoff run. On the other side we have Washington that seemed all sorts of messed up last week in their loss. The NFC East has become all sorts of competitive lately and this game could put it out of reach for the Redskins. Here is how I would chase tonight.

Marshawn Lynch – Seattle 5x Boost

In the opening thursday matchup, he lit up fantasy boards with 2 TDs and over 100 yards rushing. He had another good game last week, and I expect that to continue now that he is playing a defense that will likely be on their heels all night. I would chase the silvers and reds just to get yourself set up nicely.

Verdict: Vital Piece

Percy Harvin – Seattle 3x Boost

Seems like Harvin is the piece of the Seahawks offense that no one can figure out. Not only is he a threat in the passing game, but he can be used all sorts of different ways. Harvin has been a good piece to have all year, and with the Seahawks likely going to get flexed to Sunday night more often, he is a great under the radar pickup.

Verdict: Vital Piece

Kirk Cousins – Washington 5x Boost

I am torn on Cousins because he either looks amazing or horrible. Tonight he has potential to look pretty bad against Seattle’s bump and run defense, and I would be cautious just leaving his cards in play if you can manage to get one. He only has a BoH card so far, so this is a good one to get just because of that reason.

Verdict: Worth picking up

DeSean Jackson – Washington 3x Boost

As a deep threat, Jackson may be able to find some holes in the defense tonight, but its going to rely on Cousins to get him the ball. That’s where he has struggled, as for some of the games he has been a ghost. Interesting to see if his speed can match up against the physical nature of the Seahawks corners.

Verdict: Low priority

Honorable Mentions:

Russell Wilson – because he has so many golds and now 500 BB as well, Wilson may be necessary to pick up just because of what might happen if he scores. You will be left in the dust because everyone has so much of him.

Pierre Garcon – he just got a BB as well, and its worth checking him out because Cousins likes to go to him more than anyone. I still dont think Washington will muster much of a threat.

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Huddle Tips – Running Black Boost Checklist

Posted on October 6, 2014 by SCUncensored

Okay everyone, this is getting very confusing, so I am going to be keeping a running checklist here. Feel free to let me know if I have missed any.

  1. Calvin Johnson – 100
  2. Jamaal Charles – 250
  3. Jordy Nelson – 25
  4. Jake Locker – 30
  5. Randall Cobb – 67
  6. Greg Jennings – 68
  7. Matt Stafford – 255
  8. Jay Cutler – 500
  9. Jimmy Graham – 500
  10. Demarco Murray – 500

Set 1 (all 500)

  1. Peyton Manning
  2. JJ Watt
  3. Russell Wilson
  4. Le’Veon Bell
  5. AJ Green
  6. REWARD: Andy Dalton – 271

Set 2 (all 500)

  1. Andrew Luck
  2. Larry Fitzgerald
  3. Doug Martin
  4. DeAndre Hopkins
  5. Luke Kuechly
  6. REWARD: Cam Newton – 250

Set 3 (Varied Numbers)

  1. Drew Brees (350)
  2. Alshon Jeffrey (350)
  3. DeSean Jackson (300)
  4. Trent Richardson (250)
  5. Eddie Lacy (150)
  6. REWARD: Emmanuel Sanders

Set 4 (all 500)

  1. Earl Thomas
  2. Alfred Morris
  3. Doug Baldwin
  4. Pierre Garcon
  5. Richard Sherman
  6. REWARD: ??

Set 5 (all 500)

  1. Tom Brady
  2. Golden Tate
  3. Vincent Jackson
  4. Dwayne Allen
  5. Arian Foster
  6. REWARD: ??

Set 6 (all 500)

  1. Tony Romo
  2. Giovani Bernard
  3. Michael Floyd
  4. Steven Ridley
  5. Jeremy Maclin
  6. REWARD: ??

Set 7 (all 500)

  1. Andre Johnson
  2. TY Hilton
  3. Ahmad Bradshaw
  4. Brian Cushing
  5. Reggie Wayne
  6. REWARD:

Set 8 (all 500)

  1. Teddy Bridgewater
  2. Ben Roethlisberger
  3. Jason Witten
  4. Julius Peppers
  5. Brian Hoyer
  6. REWARD:

Here a Google Doc with all the info you will need, including my valuation of each card.

Posted in Huddle Tips | 2 Comments

Bunt Tip of the Day – Rare Post Season Cards and Their Value

Posted on October 6, 2014 by SCUncensored

Let me start out by saying that the post season has been quite the wild ride so far, and Bunt is definitely along for the journey. We have had a ton of card releases over the last few days, and its clear that they are really pouring it on knowing that the end of the year is in sight. I always like when they go nuts with inserts as it makes opening packs a lot of fun. The question is, how much value will the cards have after the season?

As we saw with the transition to 2014 from 2013, the game changed so drastically that the old cards didnt really even make sense to play regularly. Although at first it would have been nice to have cards to play, the 1x common scoring would have taken a lot for a 2013 to remain valuable in that sense.

Now that 2014 is on its way out, are the post season cards going to remain valuable in the next version of the game? I think a few things will have to be sorted out, and that likely wont happen for months and months. Because of the enormous boosts attached to some of the post season cards, its safe to say they are likely going to be playable just for 2014, and it may be that 2015 is not even going to have a place where boosts could fit in.

Be careful in giving up your awesome sigs and nice looking inserts for these cards, unless you are making a deal to pick up something similarly awesome looking. Cool cards retain their value year over year, especially the sigs, and that should always be a consideration. I know our competitive nature can get the best of us, but its clear that a playoff series of points may not be worth giving up your best cards that will remain valuable next year.

If you are a points player and that’s it, obviously go nuts, because this is the last gas for the season. If you play for more than points, be careful – you do not want to regret giving up that one card for one that is only going to be good for a few games.

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Huddle Tip of the Day – Black Boosts’ Effect on the Game

Posted on October 6, 2014 by SCUncensored

When the change was made from action shots to head shots, the Huddle team talked about how a focus would be put on the gameplay more than anything. Over the last week, we have finally gotten a view of what that looks like, and I am a fan. The release of the Black Boosts is a change from the previous type of weekly format that we saw in Bunt, and it might be something that some of the users may not like.

I have seen a lot of posts recently about the value and economy surrounding the boosts, and I think its a bit unfounded to say that releasing a ton of them will kill the value. People tend to look at these like Sigs and other inserts, but fail to realize that points cards have something that other inserts have not – value outside of rarity. Because so many of the Black Boosts are big scorers, they will be valuable regardless of how many BBs are released.

There are some effects though, I will not deny. It becomes a game of how many BB the individual users can collect, and without spending money on the game its very difficult to obtain them. It gives a distinct advantage to the people that will pour coins into the boost packs upon release, and I think that can cause some issues. However, it is really no different than other situations, as those people that spend money would get nicer cards regardless of what was available – the BB mania just widens that gap a bit more.

Now, there is an unintended consequence to this, and that is the VIP black level boost, which now becomes less of a true reward. Before, when there were only a few cards at that level, getting a rare one was a more special event. Now, its a bit less special, but still provides a top point scorer that under 50 people will have. If I had my guess, this will be an orange boost next month.

When you consider the state of the game and how it is changing due to the head shots, I think we need to consider how these cards can make the game interesting again. Because the head shots dont really lend the same aesthetics to the inserts, there has to be something else that keeps people coming back. These Black Boosts are a really good way to bring back some of the magic. Just my viewpoint, but I know there are others who will have very good reasons to disagree.

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New Partnership – BuntHuddleKick.com and Digital Card Central Team Up

Posted on October 5, 2014 by SCUncensored

A lot of the readers of this site are hungry for info surrounding the different Topps Digital Apps, one of the main reasons I have continued to have so much fun writing this site. I have talked a few times about how important it is to use the available resources and I want to announce a partnership with one that I find very helpful.

BuntHuddleKick.com has a site and a forum that has been around since the beginning of the apps, and they do a great job bringing users together. I want to make sure that my readers are aware of the site and the really good work they do. If you need to ask a question, get some trades done, or anything like that, BHK is a great place to go.

We have both decided to partner up to educate and inform for one reason and one reason only – make sure that the community has what they need to be engaged and successful. Neither site will change or transfer anywhere, just working together to make sure the Topps Digital community stays at the top of their game.

Check them out on the link to the right, you will not be disappointed!

Thanks everyone!

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Gridiron Unwrapped Special Edition – Black Boost Mania!

Posted on October 3, 2014 by SCUncensored

To say things have been crazy over the last few days in Huddle is like saying the Packers “really got away with one” last night against my Vikings. The amount of black boosts that have been released over the last few days has been nothing short of insane, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. My only curiosity is what happens when everyone has a 3x boost? I digress, we got some goodies.

BOOST SET – SR Peyton Manning 3x Black Boost

Collectability: Extreme
Playability: football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322

This one is probably the most coveted of the set of five, as Manning does put up some points. I would argue that Bell is likely the better choice for points, but its clear that people associate name recognition more with Manning. I would expect to give up two others to get this one.

BOOST SET – SR Russell Wilson 3x Black Boost

Collectability: Extreme
Playability: football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322

This is also a really good card to have right now for a few reasons. First, Wilson is playing on monday night, and second, he has a rushing element to his game, which can increase points above pocket passers like Manning. Of the set, he is number 2 of 5 in terms of value.

BOOST SET – SR AJ Green 3x Black Boost

Collectability: Strong+
Playability: football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322

Let me be clear – WR have the potential to score more points than QBs. If Andy Dalton throws a long TD pass to AJ Green, you play Green, not Dalton. The issue is that there are likely more chances to play a QB, as green is likely only going to have 5-7 catches per game. You want Dalton for the other 20-25 completions. Green is tied with Bell for the 3rd most valuable in the set from what my trading experience has been.

BOOST SET – SR Le’Veon Bell 3x Black Boost

Collectability: Strong+
Playability: football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322

As mentioned above, Bell is probably the best points card in the set, but has the least amount of name recognition of any of them. Bell is putting up some REALLY good numbers this year so far, and that’s saying something considering that the Steelers just lost to Tampa.

BOOST SET – SR JJ Watt 3x Black Boost

Collectability: Strong
Playability: football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322

If you are going to pick a defensive guy for a black boost, Watt is that guy. He is a beast, but still a tough play because of how the game is skewed towards offense. I think its a fun card to have for collecting purposes, but Im not looking for opportunities to play him other than in national TV games. I play a lot based on the Red Zone channel, and there just isnt enough defense on there to see when the Texans are on the field. Its too risky for him to take up a slot under those circumstances.

SR Demarco Murray 3x Black Boost

Collectability: Strong+
Playability: football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322

Of all the boosts released this week, Murray is the best. Its not even a contest, because he has had so many TDs and long runs. You can literally set him and forget him and not worry. Sure he has fumbled a few times, but he more than makes up for it in yardage. I dont think his gold has scored less than 1500 points in any game this season. Monster year so far, and the only drawback is that people have so many golds from the rookie pack that one Black Boost may be a drop in the bucket.

SR Randall Cobb 3x Black Boost

Collectability: Extreme
Playability: football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322

Cobb is not only becoming a good card with how hot the Packers are playing, but he also does KR duties sometimes, which is an added element. He only has 300 copies as opposed to the 500 from each of the other boosts, so definitely be aware of that. You will likely not be able to trade straight up.

SR Greg Jennings 3x Black Boost

Collectability: Strong+
Playability: football-helmet-psd42322football-helmet-psd42322

Jennings is a bust this year, and I think it was a big mistake to make a boost of his. 300 copies are really the only redeeming factor, and unless Teddy decides he is his favorite target, this card will not get you many points.

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Thursday Throwdown Primer – Game Only Boosts Reveal!

Posted on October 2, 2014 by SCUncensored

This thursday is a big deal, mainly because it is a rivalry game between two teams with no love lost, and because both teams are playing very well. Although injury concerns surrounding Teddy Bridgewater may hamper the Vikings ability to win, they still need to play like its the Superbowl to keep the train moving. Of course, they are going up against two of the hottest players there are right now in Nelson and Rodgers.

Thank you to the team for providing the information ahead of time, and check back every Thursday for an exclusive sneak peak prior to the release of the cards!

Jordy Nelson  – 5x Boost

I dont think there is a Packers player off to a hotter start than Jordy Nelson, and with the Vikings depleated defense, he should have a monster game. Nelson leads the league with 33 receptions, including 3 TDs. He has 5 plays over 20 yards, including a 114 yard per game average. Not kidding, he could have a 4 touchdown night.

Aaron Rodgers – 3x Boost

There might not be another player in the league with as much success against one team than Aaron Rodgers against the Vikings. He has 2840 yards in 12 games, with 24 TDs and 4 INT. That is just nuts. His QB rating is just north of 116. That is dominance defined. Without their starting LB Chad Greenway and the weak safety play from Robert Blanton, Rodgers will go off.

Cordarrelle Patterson – 5x Boost

Patterson is a guy that has the highest KR average in the league right now, and is a dangerous player any time he has the ball. Although he hasnt had many catches, he does have a long TD run in Week 1 and a lot of success against the Packers from last year. Worth a shot at 5x.

Matt Asiata – 3x Boost

Although he has less than 4 yards per carry, he is a nice choice for the 3x boost for a few reasons. First, he has no other cards. That will make him a coveted addition to your collection, because even at 2x he is still valuable for the rest of the season. His 3 scores on Sunday put him near the top of the Fantasy boards, and Green Bay doesnt exactly have a stout rush defense giving up what they did to Forte last week against the Bears.

Other Considerations:

Teddy Bridgewater – A gametime decision on his ankle prevented him from being one of the game only boosts, but he is still worth picking up for a few reasons. One he looks like he will be back next week regardless of playing tonight, and he looks like his dual threat nature could be very valuable in Huddle points.

Randall Cobb – Although he struggled during the first few games of the season, he had a coming out party last week, and has torched the Vikings in the past.

Eddie Lacy – Lacy has not been able to figure out defenses so far this year, and has been stifled every time he touches the ball. Minnesota’s line and LBs has been weak in the run game, and this could be the time he breaks out.

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