Week 8 was defined by a plethora of near-upsets and another miserable week for the Bolden Picks. All games but one were close- five of the six games were decided in the Monday night game.
Besides Leonard Weaver (??), there were no surprising players who had great performances- Brian Westbrook was the only 30+ point player in the league, and only Santana Moss and David Garrard eclipsed 25 points.
It could have been a week that created incredible parity in the middle of the standings, but in the end, the good teams got better, the bad teams got worse, and two once-good teams (Rob College and SINS Bolden) continue their free-fall.
1 Suit Killers (7-1)
Beat out Jackson by less than two points to avoid what would have been one of the biggest upsets of the year. No serious weakness is apparent, though Ronnie Brown has slowed down, and #2 pick Chad Johnson is the weakest player on this team's bench. Kurt Warner unleashed dragons all over the field against Carolina in a losing effort, but continues to show that he's a decent fantasy QB. How many ways can I say that this is the best team?
2 Beer to the Dean (6-2)
While the Suit Killers were nearly knocked off by a mediocre opponent, BD almost lost to Who Dey in what could have been an even bigger upset. They were hobbled by losing Steven Jackson, but still put up 108 points (and this was with Kevin Walter on the bench; how many times do I need to tell you people to fade the Bengals whenever possible?) Dallas Clark's huge game on Monday night gave them win number six, and kept them in control of the number two playoff spot.
3 Ja (6-2)
Ja was yet another near-victim of an upset, as Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Brandon Jacobs, Hines Ward, and Derrick Mason all had very poor weeks- Ja put up only 80 points, the lowest total of any winner this week. It was still good enough to beat a depleted Goldsmiths roster, however. Next week is a matchup against Rob College that would tremendously help this team's playoff chances if Ja can bounce back from a poor showing this week.
4 Soak-n-suds (5-3)
Recurring theme of the week continues: Soak-n-Suds may not yet be one of the league's elite just yet, but they nearly lost to the woeful Team Marketing. Vernon Davis has done nothing all year, and will likely do a lot less- S-n-S cut him last night and will turn to a different answer at TE. TJ Houshmanzadeh failed to do much in his debut, bringing in 63 all purpose yards and no touchdowns- with Carson Palmer likely done for the season, his numbers will stay weak. Ryan Grant and Michael Pittman come back next week.
5 Taking the Reins (4-4)
While not an upset, this one was certainly another case of a Bolden Pick being way off-target- I thought this would be a close game, and I gave TJ the edge if Colston and Shockey were playing...it turned out to be the only game that wasn't remotely close all week, as Taking the Reins poured it on SINS Bolden, nearly doubling their score. Santana Moss and LT were the big stars, scoring 26 and 23 points respectively- those two along with Marshawn Lynch outscored TJ this week. Hightower and McGahee add great depth to the running back spot- TNR is on the outside looking in on the playoff picture for now, but is built to win some games in the coming weeks.
6 Rob College (5-3)
Sound familiar? Rob gets off to a hot start (4-1 this season, 7-0 last year,) and suddenly injuries and bye weeks derail the team everyone thought was unbeatable. Skittles is on a "skid," so to speak, having now dropped two of three. This week they put up just under 69 points in a loss to The Real Schafer. Not having Jay Cutler in the lineup hurt this week, and he will be back next time, but the loss of Sammy Morris and Larry Johnson for at least a few weeks in both cases will cripple this team's dimming playoff hopes if Rob doesn't try to pull off a trade for running back depth.
7 The Real Schafer (4-4)
Not the best win- only three players went over ten points, the Pittsburgh D was miserable, and Edgerrin James actually lost points. Boldin returned- but was seated on the bench while the fading Muhsin Muhammad instead got a start. With Boldin coming in the lineup, this is a better team, but they face an uphill battle, with games against the Suit Killers and Soak-n-Suds looming in the next two weeks.
8 Brooklyn Goldsmiths (3-5)
Almost beat Ja in a game I considered unwinnable, with my large contingent of Packers along with Matt Forte on a bye. Close or not, this week was a poor effort that would rival Team Marketing's level of failure- four players (Hank Baskett, Jason Elam, Marvin Harrison, and Robert Royal) scored two or fewer points. Next week could be a challenge, as the Goldsmiths take on the recently dangerous Who Dey.
9 SINS Bolden (3-5)
Epic fail- I pick this team in a minor upset, and they shit the bed in remarkable fashion, getting doubled by Taking the Reins. This team is on life-support after being considered an elite team just a few weeks ago; they've lost three straight. When Brett Favre can throw three picks and is still your top player of the week, you have problems. This team needs to start looking to next year.
10 Megatron & Co (2-6)
Thanks to a huge game from Brian Westbrook, Megatron nearly upset the heavily-favored Suit Killers, but fell short on Reggie Wayne's anemic Monday night performance. On paper, this remains a decent team, but is plagued by inconsistent play- another candidate for rebuilding.
11 Who Dey (2-6)
The first 100+ point game of the week wasn't enough to give this team a much-needed win. With this team clearly going nowhere, Clinton Portis would be an elite addition to some of the second-tier competitors looking for a ticket to the playoffs. Next up: a fixture with the Goldsmiths.
12 Team Marketing (1-7)
As bad as it seems they are now, remember that Manos was a playoff team last year. If Team Marketing wants to avoid the ignominious fate of tying Torpey's mark of ineptitude from last year (1-13,) next week's game against SINS Bolden could be their best chance all year.
I said it in week three, and I'll say it again: if your team sucks, make trades, either to get better this year, or to add quality keepers for next year.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Week 7 Recap & Power Rankings
Running backs dominated this week, which helped Beer to the Dean win a big game against Ja, and ensured that Team Marketing would not upset the Suit Killers. Quarterback numbers were so unusually low this week, Dan Orlovsky outscored any other QBs (expect him to be signed by Manos anytime now.)
The Ja vs Beer Dean matchup was high-scoring (as predicted,) as it featured the two top running backs of the week, Steven Jackson and LenDale White on opposing sides. Ja had a great game and would have beat almost any other team, but the contributions from Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson, and Ben Roethlisberger were too much, and the Beer Dean rolled to a win.
This week's Failure for Inattention Award goes to Rob, who apparently did not know that Larry Johnson was suspended for this week's game. Rob claims that he did not have any other running backs to start, but this only speaks to the weakness of his bench that already caused him to lose to Manos last week. PROTIP FOR SKITTLES: you have two defenses and two tight ends on your roster. You need these spaces for players who can play in the flex spot during bye weeks and injuries.
Yours truly was responsible for one of the bigger mistakes of judgment, as I decided in the last minute to start Marvin Harrison over Mewelde Moore. Moore ended up the number three points leader of the week, behind only Jackson and White.
The Bolden picks looked better this week; I'm 5-for-5 in the games that have likely been decided. One game remains up in the air- Skittles needs 28 points from Cutler, Moss, Morris, and Stokley, who all go tonight.
Power rankings:
1. Suit Killers, 6-1 (Haubert)
Won again despite not having a starting QB. Next week, Kurt Warner will be available, and Tony Homo looks like he might come back to the lineup sooner than originally thought.
2. Beer to the Dean, 5-2 (Schaffer)
Right now, this is the team in the best position to beat the Suit Killers; this team has depth at the running back spot to rival the number one team, but is much weaker at wide receiver. Maybe they should trade for TJ Houshmanzadeh...
3. Ja, 5-2
Lost despite putting up 110 points, this remains an upper-echelon team. They will take on an emaciated version of the Goldsmiths next week and should easily win.
4. Rob College, 4-2 (Skittles)
Has a decent shot at being the fourth five win team if they can get a good game out of a few of the players going tonight. This team will remain a step below the higher-ranked teams as long as the bench stays as weak as it is.
5. Soak-n-Suds, 4-3 (Joe C)
Edged out SINS Bolden to keep pace in the playoff race. A well-balanced team that could take advantage of an easy schedule in the next three weeks and bye week problems for unbalanced teams and jump even higher. Losing Reggie Bush will hurt, but not be overly costly.
6. Taking the Reins, 3-4 (Otten)
Who Dey put up a fight, but TTR outscored every other team in the league except BD to get back on track. An impressive seven players scored in double digits this week. They have work to do to get back in the playoff chase, but my preseason pick for champ is at least still afloat.
7. Brooklyn Goldsmiths, 3-4 (Bolden)
Narrow victory (barring a big game from Eddie Royal tonight) to remain one of the better mediocre teams. The Bears and Packers have a bye in the upcoming week, so 3-5 is almost inevitable. Once again, the entire roster besides Aaron Rodgers is available in exchange for value keeper players.
8. Megatron & Co., 2-4 (Jackson)
Hurt by Philadelphia's bye week, Megatron put up only 75 points, but management mistakes from Skittles could still give this team their third win.
9. SINS Bolden, 3-4 (TJ)
Almost outscored by Team Marketing in a loss to Soak-n-Suds. This team seems stacked with inconsistent players, but they don't have any upcoming weeks that will force out more than a few starters due to byes, so they aren't dead yet.
10. The Real Schafer, 3-4 (Jo)
Could conceivably end up 4-3, but this is still a fairly weak team, and the next three weeks form a brutal part of the schedule. Anquan Boldin may come back next week.
11. Who Dey, 2-5 (Quinn)
Played decent this week, getting 94 points, but fell short and remain trapped in the cellar in the league. The waiver pickup of Trent Edwards was a good move- what was Manos thinking? Next week they face Beer to the Dean- not a good place to look for their third win.
12. Team Marketing, 1-6 (Manos)
The fifth different starting quarterback of the season (Kyle Orton,) but the same result. There is no matchup in the coming weeks that look good for Manos- the next competitive game could come in December against Who Dey, in the last week of the season.
The Ja vs Beer Dean matchup was high-scoring (as predicted,) as it featured the two top running backs of the week, Steven Jackson and LenDale White on opposing sides. Ja had a great game and would have beat almost any other team, but the contributions from Adrian Peterson, Chris Johnson, and Ben Roethlisberger were too much, and the Beer Dean rolled to a win.
This week's Failure for Inattention Award goes to Rob, who apparently did not know that Larry Johnson was suspended for this week's game. Rob claims that he did not have any other running backs to start, but this only speaks to the weakness of his bench that already caused him to lose to Manos last week. PROTIP FOR SKITTLES: you have two defenses and two tight ends on your roster. You need these spaces for players who can play in the flex spot during bye weeks and injuries.
Yours truly was responsible for one of the bigger mistakes of judgment, as I decided in the last minute to start Marvin Harrison over Mewelde Moore. Moore ended up the number three points leader of the week, behind only Jackson and White.
The Bolden picks looked better this week; I'm 5-for-5 in the games that have likely been decided. One game remains up in the air- Skittles needs 28 points from Cutler, Moss, Morris, and Stokley, who all go tonight.
Power rankings:
1. Suit Killers, 6-1 (Haubert)
Won again despite not having a starting QB. Next week, Kurt Warner will be available, and Tony Homo looks like he might come back to the lineup sooner than originally thought.
2. Beer to the Dean, 5-2 (Schaffer)
Right now, this is the team in the best position to beat the Suit Killers; this team has depth at the running back spot to rival the number one team, but is much weaker at wide receiver. Maybe they should trade for TJ Houshmanzadeh...
3. Ja, 5-2
Lost despite putting up 110 points, this remains an upper-echelon team. They will take on an emaciated version of the Goldsmiths next week and should easily win.
4. Rob College, 4-2 (Skittles)
Has a decent shot at being the fourth five win team if they can get a good game out of a few of the players going tonight. This team will remain a step below the higher-ranked teams as long as the bench stays as weak as it is.
5. Soak-n-Suds, 4-3 (Joe C)
Edged out SINS Bolden to keep pace in the playoff race. A well-balanced team that could take advantage of an easy schedule in the next three weeks and bye week problems for unbalanced teams and jump even higher. Losing Reggie Bush will hurt, but not be overly costly.
6. Taking the Reins, 3-4 (Otten)
Who Dey put up a fight, but TTR outscored every other team in the league except BD to get back on track. An impressive seven players scored in double digits this week. They have work to do to get back in the playoff chase, but my preseason pick for champ is at least still afloat.
7. Brooklyn Goldsmiths, 3-4 (Bolden)
Narrow victory (barring a big game from Eddie Royal tonight) to remain one of the better mediocre teams. The Bears and Packers have a bye in the upcoming week, so 3-5 is almost inevitable. Once again, the entire roster besides Aaron Rodgers is available in exchange for value keeper players.
8. Megatron & Co., 2-4 (Jackson)
Hurt by Philadelphia's bye week, Megatron put up only 75 points, but management mistakes from Skittles could still give this team their third win.
9. SINS Bolden, 3-4 (TJ)
Almost outscored by Team Marketing in a loss to Soak-n-Suds. This team seems stacked with inconsistent players, but they don't have any upcoming weeks that will force out more than a few starters due to byes, so they aren't dead yet.
10. The Real Schafer, 3-4 (Jo)
Could conceivably end up 4-3, but this is still a fairly weak team, and the next three weeks form a brutal part of the schedule. Anquan Boldin may come back next week.
11. Who Dey, 2-5 (Quinn)
Played decent this week, getting 94 points, but fell short and remain trapped in the cellar in the league. The waiver pickup of Trent Edwards was a good move- what was Manos thinking? Next week they face Beer to the Dean- not a good place to look for their third win.
12. Team Marketing, 1-6 (Manos)
The fifth different starting quarterback of the season (Kyle Orton,) but the same result. There is no matchup in the coming weeks that look good for Manos- the next competitive game could come in December against Who Dey, in the last week of the season.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Monday, October 13, 2008
Week 6 Recap & Power Ranking
So the first week of my predictions...was a bit off. 4-2 is pretty bad...though to be fair, I almost called the Manos upset, and I possibly wasn't being objective when I picked my own team. Still, it was a pretty weak round of predictions- Schaffer escaped with a win in a game I thought was over before it began. Even Quinn, who started three people who didn't set foot on an NFL field, kept it somewhat competitive against the other half of Joja.
Jackson compared my predictions to Bill Simmons, while I am prepared to compare myself even a notch lower- I'm entering Shannon Sharpe territory. (Did anyone watch The NFL Today with him before the 1:00 games? He was trying to make a joke, and didn't know what number came after 500,000.) If I start bringing up rivalry games and saying how "these teams don't like each other" I want you all to impeach me posthaste.
It was a big week for running backs, but Maurice Jones-Drew, Clinton Portis, and Thomas Jones all went for a losing effort in our league. Someone named Patrick Cobbs had 138 receiving yards and two touchdowns, so TJ signed him right away (Commissioner Protip: one game != trend.) Two of the three top receivers, Marvin Harrison and Vincent Jackson, sat on the benches while their owners also went down to defeat.
No games will be decided tonight, unless Jamal Lewis gets negative points or Derrick Ward has the game of his life.
Power rankings:
1. Suit Killers (5-1)
Not their most dominating performance of the season, but the Homo-Barber combination gets it done again. Even when these two have a bye, they will be a tall order to take on. Next week they take on Team Marketing. Even my predictions won't sway how that one turns out.
2. Ja (5-1)
It wasn't the most impressive win, and it was against a cupcake. I still think this team has just above average talent, but they keep winning. If they play .500 from here on in, they could make the playoffs.
3. Beer to the Dean (4-2)
My prediction of the Beer Dean violating Jo in an unholy manner hardly proved accurate- Nate Kaeding's game against the 18-1*'s was the only thing that kept this from being the second big upset of the week. The marquee players- Campbell, Cotchery, Peterson, and Jackson, were all held to ten points or less, despite some favorable matchups.
4. SINS Bolden (3-3)
A weak effort in a big game that could have propelled them to elite status- Frank Gore was the only player in double digits (I'm going to go way out on a limb and say that Braylon Edwards won't do much tomorrow night either.) You would have never known Brett Favre just turned 39- if you didn't listen for more than three consecutive minutes to Enberg, Dierdorf, and Cross- and if you didn't see him throwing wounded duck picks to the miserable Bengals. This team has Eli Manning, but looks hesitant to put him in, for some reason. I saw they picked up Patrick Cobbs from the free agent cesspool- how do I signed fluke?
5. Rob College (4-2)
Remember how Skittles had a great team out of the gate that fell apart later in the season? This is why you want depth. A great game from Maurice Jones-Drew but nobody else contributed a thing. If he had any additional receivers, (even someone as bad as a waiver wire pickup or Chad Johnson) he could have won. Skittles' fast start looks eerily reminiscent of his 8-0 start last year, when he failed to even make the playoffs.
6. Soak-N-Suds (3-3)
Big games from places you don't expect , as Joe C got 16 and 21 point games, respectively, from the Tampa D and David Akers. Reggie Bush and Andre Johnson had big games as well, as he goes on to edge out Otten. This team has a good starting line, but probably not enough depth (backups include Derek Anderson and Michael Bush) to hang in during the bye weeks.
7. The Real Schafer (3-3)
Had John started Matt Jones instead of Bobby Engram, he would be 4-2 right now. Fail. They're an average team that can occasionally get big games out of the roster, so they aren't completely out of the picture, but .500 would be an accomplishment.
8. Taking the Reins (2-4)
8,9,10 are all pretty tightly bunched- they were the three teams, along with Haubert, that I saw competing for the title this season. While he has been nearly unbeatable, Taking the Reins keeps struggling. McNabb looked OK, but now the Patriots look miserable, with Wes Welker not being a great #2 receiver. LT is only an above-average performer at RB this season. They are still dangerous, and played close against a similarly talented team, so I give them a slight edge over the other 2-4 teams.
9. Megatron & Co. (2-4)
My reaction when I saw that Peyton Manning decided to put together a great game:
http://i38.tinypic.com/iqka2q.jpg
And then when Correll Buckhalter gained 186 total yards and two TDs:
http://i33.tinypic.com/27y0myo.jpg
Megatron not only won a must-win game- they put up the most points of any team this week (and that was with Patrick Crayton on the bench.) 2-4 is a big obstacle to overcome, but they are a deep enough team to run off some wins and get back in the chase. However, the upcoming schedule is not forgiving: games against Rob, Haubert, Joe C, and TJ in the next month.
10. Brooklyn Goldsmiths (2-4)
First to worst? The Goldsmiths' only wins this year came against the hapless Team Marketing, and against the Suit Killers, which was all because of DeSean "N-Bomb" Jackson- I could easily be managing the worst team in the league. A loss next week against the Real Schafer could break the camel's back, but the Smiths should come in with the full starting roster intact. Want to challenge the Suit Killers but need a pro bowl wide out? TJ Houshmanzadeh is yours for a young running back. Make it interesting and you can get Chris Cooley too. Aaron Rodgers is the only untouchable on the roster.
11. Who Dey (2-4)
Carson Palmer: 0/0, 0 yards passing, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, QB rtg: N/A
Chris Chambers: 0 catches, 0 yards, 0 TDs
Selvin Young: 0 attempts, 0 yards, 0 TDs, 0 catches, 0 fumbles
Injury reports are your friend
12. Team Marketing (1-5)
Even Elgin Baylor won the Executive of the Year one time. Not the prettiest win- just 66+ points; but enough to avoid the threat of going 0-14. I came really close to ranking them #11 this week though.
Jackson compared my predictions to Bill Simmons, while I am prepared to compare myself even a notch lower- I'm entering Shannon Sharpe territory. (Did anyone watch The NFL Today with him before the 1:00 games? He was trying to make a joke, and didn't know what number came after 500,000.) If I start bringing up rivalry games and saying how "these teams don't like each other" I want you all to impeach me posthaste.
It was a big week for running backs, but Maurice Jones-Drew, Clinton Portis, and Thomas Jones all went for a losing effort in our league. Someone named Patrick Cobbs had 138 receiving yards and two touchdowns, so TJ signed him right away (Commissioner Protip: one game != trend.) Two of the three top receivers, Marvin Harrison and Vincent Jackson, sat on the benches while their owners also went down to defeat.
No games will be decided tonight, unless Jamal Lewis gets negative points or Derrick Ward has the game of his life.
Power rankings:
1. Suit Killers (5-1)
Not their most dominating performance of the season, but the Homo-Barber combination gets it done again. Even when these two have a bye, they will be a tall order to take on. Next week they take on Team Marketing. Even my predictions won't sway how that one turns out.
2. Ja (5-1)
It wasn't the most impressive win, and it was against a cupcake. I still think this team has just above average talent, but they keep winning. If they play .500 from here on in, they could make the playoffs.
3. Beer to the Dean (4-2)
My prediction of the Beer Dean violating Jo in an unholy manner hardly proved accurate- Nate Kaeding's game against the 18-1*'s was the only thing that kept this from being the second big upset of the week. The marquee players- Campbell, Cotchery, Peterson, and Jackson, were all held to ten points or less, despite some favorable matchups.
4. SINS Bolden (3-3)
A weak effort in a big game that could have propelled them to elite status- Frank Gore was the only player in double digits (I'm going to go way out on a limb and say that Braylon Edwards won't do much tomorrow night either.) You would have never known Brett Favre just turned 39- if you didn't listen for more than three consecutive minutes to Enberg, Dierdorf, and Cross- and if you didn't see him throwing wounded duck picks to the miserable Bengals. This team has Eli Manning, but looks hesitant to put him in, for some reason. I saw they picked up Patrick Cobbs from the free agent cesspool- how do I signed fluke?
5. Rob College (4-2)
Remember how Skittles had a great team out of the gate that fell apart later in the season? This is why you want depth. A great game from Maurice Jones-Drew but nobody else contributed a thing. If he had any additional receivers, (even someone as bad as a waiver wire pickup or Chad Johnson) he could have won. Skittles' fast start looks eerily reminiscent of his 8-0 start last year, when he failed to even make the playoffs.
6. Soak-N-Suds (3-3)
Big games from places you don't expect , as Joe C got 16 and 21 point games, respectively, from the Tampa D and David Akers. Reggie Bush and Andre Johnson had big games as well, as he goes on to edge out Otten. This team has a good starting line, but probably not enough depth (backups include Derek Anderson and Michael Bush) to hang in during the bye weeks.
7. The Real Schafer (3-3)
Had John started Matt Jones instead of Bobby Engram, he would be 4-2 right now. Fail. They're an average team that can occasionally get big games out of the roster, so they aren't completely out of the picture, but .500 would be an accomplishment.
8. Taking the Reins (2-4)
8,9,10 are all pretty tightly bunched- they were the three teams, along with Haubert, that I saw competing for the title this season. While he has been nearly unbeatable, Taking the Reins keeps struggling. McNabb looked OK, but now the Patriots look miserable, with Wes Welker not being a great #2 receiver. LT is only an above-average performer at RB this season. They are still dangerous, and played close against a similarly talented team, so I give them a slight edge over the other 2-4 teams.
9. Megatron & Co. (2-4)
My reaction when I saw that Peyton Manning decided to put together a great game:
http://i38.tinypic.com/iqka2q.jpg
And then when Correll Buckhalter gained 186 total yards and two TDs:
http://i33.tinypic.com/27y0myo.jpg
Megatron not only won a must-win game- they put up the most points of any team this week (and that was with Patrick Crayton on the bench.) 2-4 is a big obstacle to overcome, but they are a deep enough team to run off some wins and get back in the chase. However, the upcoming schedule is not forgiving: games against Rob, Haubert, Joe C, and TJ in the next month.
10. Brooklyn Goldsmiths (2-4)
First to worst? The Goldsmiths' only wins this year came against the hapless Team Marketing, and against the Suit Killers, which was all because of DeSean "N-Bomb" Jackson- I could easily be managing the worst team in the league. A loss next week against the Real Schafer could break the camel's back, but the Smiths should come in with the full starting roster intact. Want to challenge the Suit Killers but need a pro bowl wide out? TJ Houshmanzadeh is yours for a young running back. Make it interesting and you can get Chris Cooley too. Aaron Rodgers is the only untouchable on the roster.
11. Who Dey (2-4)
Carson Palmer: 0/0, 0 yards passing, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, QB rtg: N/A
Chris Chambers: 0 catches, 0 yards, 0 TDs
Selvin Young: 0 attempts, 0 yards, 0 TDs, 0 catches, 0 fumbles
Injury reports are your friend
12. Team Marketing (1-5)
Even Elgin Baylor won the Executive of the Year one time. Not the prettiest win- just 66+ points; but enough to avoid the threat of going 0-14. I came really close to ranking them #11 this week though.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Week 5 Recap & Power Rankings
Trivia time. What NFL quarterback, through the first five weeks of the season, has thrown for nearly 1,500 yards, 10 TDs, and 4 interceptions? If you guessed Carson Palmer, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, or Eli Manning, you should be relegated from this league for your Brian Torpeyesque knowledge of the league. The answer is Kurt Warner, who languishes on the Suit Killers bench. If my own QB wasn't a deep value pick, I would be all over Warner, who is pretty much made for the fantasy game- his stats this year are nearly identical to Jay Cutler.
No big surprises around our league this week- decent matchups, but the better team typically came out on top. The haves are slowly pulling away from the have nots, and both JoJa teams are the only surprising teams currently in the playoff picture, while yours truly and Jackson struggle for respectability.
Onto the power rankings:
1. Suit Killers, 4-1 (Haubert)
Still the undisputed best team in the league. Any one of the five running backs on this team are better than any on a handful of teams- including mine. The only weak point continues to be Chad Johnson, the leading candidate for fantasy bust of the year. Ocho Stinko has fewer receptions and yards than his teammate Antonio Chatman. If that isn't enough, Tyler Thigpen has more fantasy points right now. An epic trade involving Romo or Warner for a top receiver could propel this team to unbeatable status.
2. Rob College, 4-1 (Skittles)
http://i36.tinypic.com/dfbuqd.jpg
3. Ja, 4-1
Destroyed Taking the Reins, thanks to the Seahawks' sieve-like defense allowing Brandon Jacobs to score two touchdowns. This team has been fortunate to have some huge performances from its best players, but is very top heavy- four players in the lineup this week scored fewer than five points.
4. Beer to the Dean, 3-2 (Peter)
Finally coming to life. Should go to 3-2 after tonight's game. Defense decided the matchup against Jackson, however- Carolina's D put up 19 points to seal the victory. Deeper than the two teams higher in the standings, but inconsistent.
5. SINS Bolden, 3-2 (TJ)
Could have gone to 4-1 this week, but Anthony Gonzalez and John Carlson combined for 0.3 points, and as a result, lost to Skittles by seven.
6. The Real Schafer, 3-2 (Jo)
Inexplicably continues to win. DeAngelo Williams was the star this week, adding 32 points. The latest news on Anquan Boldin has him out indefinitely; this is a crucial variable in how good this team really is.
7. Brooklyn Goldsmiths, 2-3 (Bolden)
At long last, win #2. TJ Houshmanzadeh had a breakout game, Aaron Rodgers went from questionable 90 minutes before the game to a 300 yard game against Atlanta, and even Ryan Grant made it into positive territory this week. Until Willie Parker decides to finally come back, this team is a pretender. The pickup of Kyle Orton looks good if Rodgers aggravates his injury.
8. Soak-n-Suds, 2-3 (Joe C)
Ran into the unstoppable force that is the Suit Killers. In all fairness, Soak-n-Suds played well enough to win, and has the talent to turn their season around.
9. Taking the Reins, 2-3 (Otten)
Only Larry Fitzgerald scored double digit points this week; until McNabb and LT being playing consistently (unless in their advanced ages this _is_ how they play), this team will struggle like they did to Ja in Week 5.
10. Megatron & Co., 1-4 (Jackson)
Peyton Manning finally played well and Brian Westbrook is back, but it wasn't enough to avoid becoming the only 1-4 team in the league. Injuries have hurt this team, but they should have been better than this. The Todd Heap pickup isn't bad, despite his lack of production so far (no TE has done much consistently this season aside from Jason Witten.) Next week they take on the Goldsmiths in the battle of the underachievers.
11. Who Dey, 2-3 (Quinn)
COMMISSIONER PROTIP: Don't start a kicker who is on a bye, especially when you have two kickers on the roster.
12. Team Marketing, 0-5 (Manos)
How bad is this team? Their average margin of loss this season is 44 points. Four starters on the team earned ZERO points.
Remember, if your team is struggling, somebody always needs a starter at a position in which you have depth. If you're hopelessly out of the playoff picture, remember it's a keeper league- build your teams for next year.
No big surprises around our league this week- decent matchups, but the better team typically came out on top. The haves are slowly pulling away from the have nots, and both JoJa teams are the only surprising teams currently in the playoff picture, while yours truly and Jackson struggle for respectability.
Onto the power rankings:
1. Suit Killers, 4-1 (Haubert)
Still the undisputed best team in the league. Any one of the five running backs on this team are better than any on a handful of teams- including mine. The only weak point continues to be Chad Johnson, the leading candidate for fantasy bust of the year. Ocho Stinko has fewer receptions and yards than his teammate Antonio Chatman. If that isn't enough, Tyler Thigpen has more fantasy points right now. An epic trade involving Romo or Warner for a top receiver could propel this team to unbeatable status.
2. Rob College, 4-1 (Skittles)
http://i36.tinypic.com/dfbuqd.jpg
3. Ja, 4-1
Destroyed Taking the Reins, thanks to the Seahawks' sieve-like defense allowing Brandon Jacobs to score two touchdowns. This team has been fortunate to have some huge performances from its best players, but is very top heavy- four players in the lineup this week scored fewer than five points.
4. Beer to the Dean, 3-2 (Peter)
Finally coming to life. Should go to 3-2 after tonight's game. Defense decided the matchup against Jackson, however- Carolina's D put up 19 points to seal the victory. Deeper than the two teams higher in the standings, but inconsistent.
5. SINS Bolden, 3-2 (TJ)
Could have gone to 4-1 this week, but Anthony Gonzalez and John Carlson combined for 0.3 points, and as a result, lost to Skittles by seven.
6. The Real Schafer, 3-2 (Jo)
Inexplicably continues to win. DeAngelo Williams was the star this week, adding 32 points. The latest news on Anquan Boldin has him out indefinitely; this is a crucial variable in how good this team really is.
7. Brooklyn Goldsmiths, 2-3 (Bolden)
At long last, win #2. TJ Houshmanzadeh had a breakout game, Aaron Rodgers went from questionable 90 minutes before the game to a 300 yard game against Atlanta, and even Ryan Grant made it into positive territory this week. Until Willie Parker decides to finally come back, this team is a pretender. The pickup of Kyle Orton looks good if Rodgers aggravates his injury.
8. Soak-n-Suds, 2-3 (Joe C)
Ran into the unstoppable force that is the Suit Killers. In all fairness, Soak-n-Suds played well enough to win, and has the talent to turn their season around.
9. Taking the Reins, 2-3 (Otten)
Only Larry Fitzgerald scored double digit points this week; until McNabb and LT being playing consistently (unless in their advanced ages this _is_ how they play), this team will struggle like they did to Ja in Week 5.
10. Megatron & Co., 1-4 (Jackson)
Peyton Manning finally played well and Brian Westbrook is back, but it wasn't enough to avoid becoming the only 1-4 team in the league. Injuries have hurt this team, but they should have been better than this. The Todd Heap pickup isn't bad, despite his lack of production so far (no TE has done much consistently this season aside from Jason Witten.) Next week they take on the Goldsmiths in the battle of the underachievers.
11. Who Dey, 2-3 (Quinn)
COMMISSIONER PROTIP: Don't start a kicker who is on a bye, especially when you have two kickers on the roster.
12. Team Marketing, 0-5 (Manos)
How bad is this team? Their average margin of loss this season is 44 points. Four starters on the team earned ZERO points.
Remember, if your team is struggling, somebody always needs a starter at a position in which you have depth. If you're hopelessly out of the playoff picture, remember it's a keeper league- build your teams for next year.
How to not score 0 points
COMMISSIONER PROTIP: Don't start a kicker who is on a bye, especially when you have two kickers on the roster.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Week 4 Recap & Power Rankings
Another week, another round of losers getting worse and questionable trades. Thanks to the performances of the Mets, Brewers, Bengals, and pretty much everyone on my team, yesterday was one of the worst sports days I've had in a few years. Earlier in the week, Dwayne Bowe joined the Goldsmiths in a controversial trade with Manos, to add yet another QB to his flock- with the firing of his spiritual role model Matt Millen last week, it remains to be seen if Manos will continue to employ his strategy of stockpiling players at one position. The other trade, initiated last night, would send the possibly injured/possibly not Anquan Boldin and the deceptively good Muhsin Muhammad for a pair of wide receivers drafted in the twentieth century, one of whom played for the Los Angeles Rams. Never underestimate what desperation and the desire to pull off a dick-move trade out of the Jim Bowden playbook can do to a person.
I guess Brett Favre goes down as this week's MVP- that disingenuous hick threw 6 TDs to lead TJ to a blow-out win over my team. Larry Johnson came to life as well, as his performance was enough for Skiddles to "squeeze out" a victory over Curtin's struggling team. I am personally pushing for someone with a dire situation at QB to make a trade for Dave Krieg, Jr., better known as Kurt Warner. His performances are too fun to not have him start for a team in the league- 472 yards (on 57 passing attempts!), 2 touchdowns, three interceptions, and three fumbles lost. Monday night's game will decide just one contest in our league- Quinn should beat Jackson barring huge games from Santonio Holmes and Ray Rice. Onto the power rankings:
1. Suit Killers (Haubert), 3-1
Chad Johnson finally caught a touchdown, but the big winner for the SK sat on the bench this week- Laveranues Coles. Steve Slaton is the weakest starter on paper, and even he added 17 points. The team to beat.
2. Ja, 3-1
Lost to his brother, but had Plaxico Burress and Brandon Jacobs on the bench. Looks a lot more like the championship team from last year than Torpey's wrong-Adiran Peterson shitpile it descended from.
3. SINS Bolden (TJ), 3-1
Resounding win against the Goldsmiths, thanks to Brett Favre, TO, and Frank Gore. A good team, but they depend heavily on their top three and lack the depth of other teams.
4. Rob College (Skiddles), 3-1
Larry Johnson and Jay Cutler helped him get by a mediocre opponent; I'm still not sold on this team.
5. Beer to the Dean (Schaffer), 2-2
Climbing back to respectability after more than doubling his hapless opponent, Team Marketing. Adrian Peterson looks healthy, Steven Jackson looks like he is not trying to be this year's Frank Gore, and Chris Johnson would be the best running back on some teams (like yours truly.)
6. Taking the Reins (Otten), 2-2
Decent performances, and LT finally had a big game, but not enough to slip by the Suit Killers. Still a team to watch, and probably talented enough to be top three by the end of the season.
7. Soak-n-Suds (Curtin), 2-2
They have my vote for "Team most likely to trade for Kurt Warner".
8. Megatron (Jackson), 1-3
Better than their record indicates- Manning, Wayne, and Calvin Johnson had byes while Westbrook sat out with an injury. On paper, the second best team in the league, but 1-3 is 1-3.
9. Goldsmiths (Bolden), 1-3
Everybody panic. Rodgers threw three picks, Ryan Grant was the worst fantasy performer of the week- had I put in someone on a bye week, I would have done better than his negative contribution. TJ Houshmazadeh had the misfortune of playing catch with an Ivy Leaguer, but that still doesn't excuse his performance thus far. Willie Parker's return will help, as will Maroney if he ever stops dicking around and plays up to his performance, but trading Boldin is a risky move if he turns out to be alright. Rashard Mendenall goes tonight- it could be interesting to see how he plays, as this team slowly begins thinking about next season.
10. The Real Schafer (Jo), 2-2
Beat his brother's depleted squad (not an innuendo.) If Boldin is healthy, this could be a much better team, and clearing off two 30+ receivers is a step in the right direction.
11. Who Dey (Quinn), 2-2
Should Matt Ryan start in place of Carson Palmer once he comes back? Chris Perry could be headed for the bench on the Bengals, and Who Dey doesn't have much in the way of a bench to replace him. Give it a few more weeks, but this team should be part of a fire sale by the trade deadline.
12. Team Marketing (Manos), 0-4
For Team Marketing President and CEO Mike Manos, success in the Rapetime Football League is simple: "The team that wins the Championship is successful and the other 11 teams are not."
Be creative with your trade offers- I am in the mood to make some deals. If you're in the bottom tier, you need to be getting on this too- your teams won't get better overnight, and never underestimate what some people will give up for a name player.
I guess Brett Favre goes down as this week's MVP- that disingenuous hick threw 6 TDs to lead TJ to a blow-out win over my team. Larry Johnson came to life as well, as his performance was enough for Skiddles to "squeeze out" a victory over Curtin's struggling team. I am personally pushing for someone with a dire situation at QB to make a trade for Dave Krieg, Jr., better known as Kurt Warner. His performances are too fun to not have him start for a team in the league- 472 yards (on 57 passing attempts!), 2 touchdowns, three interceptions, and three fumbles lost. Monday night's game will decide just one contest in our league- Quinn should beat Jackson barring huge games from Santonio Holmes and Ray Rice. Onto the power rankings:
1. Suit Killers (Haubert), 3-1
Chad Johnson finally caught a touchdown, but the big winner for the SK sat on the bench this week- Laveranues Coles. Steve Slaton is the weakest starter on paper, and even he added 17 points. The team to beat.
2. Ja, 3-1
Lost to his brother, but had Plaxico Burress and Brandon Jacobs on the bench. Looks a lot more like the championship team from last year than Torpey's wrong-Adiran Peterson shitpile it descended from.
3. SINS Bolden (TJ), 3-1
Resounding win against the Goldsmiths, thanks to Brett Favre, TO, and Frank Gore. A good team, but they depend heavily on their top three and lack the depth of other teams.
4. Rob College (Skiddles), 3-1
Larry Johnson and Jay Cutler helped him get by a mediocre opponent; I'm still not sold on this team.
5. Beer to the Dean (Schaffer), 2-2
Climbing back to respectability after more than doubling his hapless opponent, Team Marketing. Adrian Peterson looks healthy, Steven Jackson looks like he is not trying to be this year's Frank Gore, and Chris Johnson would be the best running back on some teams (like yours truly.)
6. Taking the Reins (Otten), 2-2
Decent performances, and LT finally had a big game, but not enough to slip by the Suit Killers. Still a team to watch, and probably talented enough to be top three by the end of the season.
7. Soak-n-Suds (Curtin), 2-2
They have my vote for "Team most likely to trade for Kurt Warner".
8. Megatron (Jackson), 1-3
Better than their record indicates- Manning, Wayne, and Calvin Johnson had byes while Westbrook sat out with an injury. On paper, the second best team in the league, but 1-3 is 1-3.
9. Goldsmiths (Bolden), 1-3
Everybody panic. Rodgers threw three picks, Ryan Grant was the worst fantasy performer of the week- had I put in someone on a bye week, I would have done better than his negative contribution. TJ Houshmazadeh had the misfortune of playing catch with an Ivy Leaguer, but that still doesn't excuse his performance thus far. Willie Parker's return will help, as will Maroney if he ever stops dicking around and plays up to his performance, but trading Boldin is a risky move if he turns out to be alright. Rashard Mendenall goes tonight- it could be interesting to see how he plays, as this team slowly begins thinking about next season.
10. The Real Schafer (Jo), 2-2
Beat his brother's depleted squad (not an innuendo.) If Boldin is healthy, this could be a much better team, and clearing off two 30+ receivers is a step in the right direction.
11. Who Dey (Quinn), 2-2
Should Matt Ryan start in place of Carson Palmer once he comes back? Chris Perry could be headed for the bench on the Bengals, and Who Dey doesn't have much in the way of a bench to replace him. Give it a few more weeks, but this team should be part of a fire sale by the trade deadline.
12. Team Marketing (Manos), 0-4
For Team Marketing President and CEO Mike Manos, success in the Rapetime Football League is simple: "The team that wins the Championship is successful and the other 11 teams are not."
Be creative with your trade offers- I am in the mood to make some deals. If you're in the bottom tier, you need to be getting on this too- your teams won't get better overnight, and never underestimate what some people will give up for a name player.
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