Key win booked in Fantasy Football's Week 8

Thanks to almost 300 yards passing and three TDs from Mike Vick and 163 yards receiving with 2 TDs for New Orleans rookie Marques Colston, my team holds a lead of 92-85 heading into Monday night. My opponent has played all his games and I have Laurence Maroney going tonight for a shot at the weekly pot. Whichever team has the most points each week wins $50. I need a big game from Maroney, but I am 29 points behind this week's leader. I will go to 5-3 and knock my opponent to 4-4.

I should also give props to the Jacksonville Defense as they held McNabb and Westbrook in check in defeating the Eagles.

Week 8 Match Up

My Match Up for this week is as follows

QB Michael Vick vs Donovan McNabb
RB Jamal Lewis vs Brian Westbrook
RB Laurence Maroney vs Deshaun Foster
Flex Marques Colston vs Dominic Rhodes
WR Anquan Boldin vs Randy Moss
WR Laveraneus Coles vs Isaac Bruce
TE Jeremy Shockey vs Kellen Winslow
K David Akers vs Shayne Graham
Def Denver D vs Philadelphia D

Again I am picked to lose by 9. Both of our teams are 4-3 so this is a key game.
I am benching Maurice Morris in favor of Jamal Lewis for two reasons. One, with Hasselbeck out, the Chiefs D will key on stopping the run even more so I don't expect Morris to put up numbers. Also, Brian Billick has taken over offensive play calling for the Ravens. I think he will do everything he can to get Lewis touches to see if he really can play. This may be his last chance. Big for this matchup will be how the Eagles play against the Jaguars. After the ass kicking they got from the Texans, I have a feeling Jack DelRio will have his squad fired up.

NFL Injury Report

Make sure to check out the injury report and player news this week.
It looks like Matt Hasselbeck is out a minimum of three weeks with a knee sprain.
This will obviously affect Seattle's passing game and Deion Branch and Darrell Jackson.

Drew Bledsoe was benched in favor of Tony Romo.
Lavar Arrington tore an Achillies which could affect the Giants D.
Larry Fitzgerald and Donte Stallworth may be close to returning from hamstring pulls.
Santana Moss may have pulled his hamstring on Sunday.
Ben Roethlisberger suffered a concussion so Charlie Batch may get the start this week.

Tied for 4th in Fantasy Football League

Thanks to the horrible running game of Julius Jones my team won 78-67 this week. Shockey added a touchdown for good measure. I am now 4-3 on the league and am in a three way tie for fourth place. I am squeaking by so far, but now all my key players have been through their bye week. I am hoping to put a run together.
If I can ever get the Ravens running game to produce I might be ok. I now must make a decision of whether to play Jamal Lewis, Mike Anderson or Maurice Morris. I think a lot of that may be decided in Ravens practice this week and if Shaun Alexander is able to return from injury this week. There is a runningback controversy brewing in Baltimore. Many are wondering if Jamal Lewis is past his prime and the time has come to reduce his carries in favor of high priced free agent Anderson or upstart backup Musa Smith. I will need to monitor this situation.

Big NFL Game Monday Night will affect my Fantasy game

After a unspectacular day for my Fantasy Football team I thank God I am playing the worst team in my league.

I hold a 9 point lead heading into Monday night's game on the strength of 4 PASSING TDs from Mike Vick in a great game and the Denver D having 5 sacks, a INT and only allowing 7 points.

I have Jeremy Shockey playing tonight and my opponent has Julius Jones. This match up could go either way. In a smart move, my opponent started Chad Johnson and Matt Hasselbeck, however Hasselbeck got injured and never returned.
My thought that Joey Harrington might pass for big numbers playing from behind was definitely right. Harrington passed for 414 yards but only38 of them went to Wes Welker, whom I started thinking he would benefit.
Oh well, I will have my fingers crossed for Monday night.

Week 7 Match Up

This is a must win for my club against the cellar dwelling 0-6 team.
This is my match up.

QB Michael Vick vs Aaron Brooks
RB Laurence Maroney vs Julius Jones
RB Maurice Morris vs Reuben Droughns
Flex Wes Welker vs Stephen Davis
WR Anquan Boldin vs Eddie Kennison
WR Laveraneus Coles vs Donald Driver
TE Jeremy Shockey vs Marcus Pollard
K David Akers vs Neil Rackers
Def Denver D vs Carolina D

The team I am playing has Chad Johnson and Matt Hasselbeck but hasn't started them in two weeks. Last week they both had good games, but because the owner of this fantasy team went on vacation, he forgot to set his lineup. Who knows whether he will do it this week.

Fantasy Football Week 6 Recap

So much for the Gamecenter preview thinking I would lose.
Thanks to great games from my WR studs Laveraneus Coles and Anquan Boldin and a breakout game from Jeremy Shockey my team won 131-96. Mike Vick ran for another TD and my Denver Defense did not allow a touchdown for the 4th time in five games.

Fantasy Waiver Wire Pick up

I picked up Miami WR Wes Welker off waivers this week and released Atlanta WR, Michael Jenkins. With Marty Booker injured, Welker is the number 2 receiver in Miami and is putting up decent numbers. I actually picked him up to use next week when my receivers have a bye.
With Atlanta only throwing 22 times a game, Jenkins is not getting many opportunities. The Dolphins are playing from behind in most games so Welker should get many looks his way.

Week 6 Match Up

My Match Up for this week is as fallows

QB Michael Vick vs Drew Bledsoe
RB Jamal Lewis vs Lamont Jordan
RB Maurice Morris vs Larry Johnson
Flex Marques Colston vs Marion Barber III
WR Anquan Boldin vs Santans Moss
WR Laveraneus Coles vs Chris Chambers
TE Jeremy Shockey vs Chris Cooley
K David Akers vs Mike Nugent
Def Denver D vs NY Giants D

I am again favored to lose this week. I am happy Vick is back in my lineup. My pick up last week of Maurice Morris may prove fruitful. The Seahawks are going up against a bad St. Louis rush defense so hopefully Morris has a good week subbing for Shaun Alexander.

Pitiful Fantasy Performance by the Ravens

I ended up losing my match up this week and scoring the fewest points in the league.
I lost 78.6 to 58.9. I guess Mike Vick means a lot to my team.

This week should be interesting. For the first time, 6 NFL teams have a bye this week. Many teams are without their fantasy studs this week.

Laurence Maroney is on bye this week so I am replacing him with Maurice Morris. I assume Shaun Alexander is still out with a broken foot. Morris vs the Arizona D is a lot different than Morris vs Chicago D. You see what the Bears did to McGahee last week? That is why Morris only rushed for about 30 yards. I expect much better numbers this week from him.

On a side note, Jamal Lewis is either horrible, or the Ravens O-line is horrible, or the offense is horrible. In any event, my first two draft picks, Domanick Davis and Jamal Lewis were horrible. I wouldn't doubt if Mike Anderson or Musa Smith see more carries soon.

Fantasy Football Week 5 Recap

My team is absolutely aweful this week. I picked up Mark Brunell and he absolutely laid an egg. I am guessing Steve McNair could sleepwalk tonight and score more points than Brunell.
Maroney-nothing
Shockey-nothing
Colston-nothing
Lav Coles-nothing
Actually, my kicker David Akers has scored the second most points on my team this week.
I am losing
I have Jamal Lewis and the Denver D playing tonight and my opponent has Tatum Bell.
I think it is safe to say I am going to lose, but you never know. If the Ravens D shuts down Bell, picks off McNair for a couple of tds and Jamal Lewis runs for 100 and a score or to I have a chance. Yeah, I have about as much a chance as the Tigers do of beating the Yankees.

Fantasy Football Week 5 Recap

I wasn't too bad in my Bearish and Bullish fantasy picks of week 5
Bullish
Drew Bledsoe-223 yards, 3 picks, 1 rush TD-not great numbers to say the least
Chester Taylor-154 total yards-I thought 150 total yards
Reggie Wayne-He did score his first TD of the year as I predicted but his yardage numbers were horrible(24 yards)
Bearish
Rex Grossman-182 yards and 2 TDs
Willis McGahee-65 total yards
Chris Chambers-29 yards receiving 18 rushing yards

Bullish and Bearish

Bullish
QB Drew Bledsoe

Drew is playing a marquee game against Philadelphia. T.O. will be ready to make a statement. With the Philly D and Brian Dawkins looking to hit T.O. in the mouth I have a feeling Terry Glenn will have some good opportunities. Bledsoe looks like he is getting in sync with T.O., Jason Witten, and Terry Glenn. I Drew to have about 250 yards and 2-3TDs.

RB Chester Taylor

Chester is coming off two games where he failed to score and rushed for under 75 yards in both games. Good thing the Detroit Lions come to town. The Lions D rejuvinated Marc Bulger, Isaac Bruce, and gave many opportunities both running and receiving to Stephen Jackson. Expect Taylor to score a couple of TDs and have about 150 total yards.

WR Reggie Wayne

Reggie is quietly putting up 90 yards a game through four games but has yet to reach the endzone. I think this is the week. The Titans D is not great and the offense is not moving the ball. This should give Peyton a lot of time to throw down field. The Titans should look to keep Harrison under wraps and Manning will find Reggie for about 100 yards and his first TD of the year.

Bearish

QB Rex Grossman

Rex has been one of the biggest surprises in Fantasy Football this year leading the now explosive Chicago offense. Now Rex runs into his old coach Dick Juron and the decent Bills Defense. Juron know his tendancies and should have a gameplan that keeps this a low scoring affair as we know the Bears are not going to give up much on D. I think Grossman will be hurried into some stupid INTs and should be avoided in this matchup.

RB Willis McGahee

McGahee has been toting the rock for 97 yards per game. Here come Da Bears! No one runs on Chicago and Willis will not be the first. Look for under 75 yards from Willis and no TDs this week. If you have other alternatives at RB I would take a look.

WR Chris Chambers

This is a case where the player has stunk all year and should continue to stink. Chambers has big play ability but defenses are taking him away and Culpepper has been horrific. He holds the ball too long and has been sacked far too much to see Chambers down the field. Expect more of the same this week as Chambers only catches a couple of Culpepper throws against the Patriots D. The Pats always game plan well and they will make sure Chambers does not get behind the D as he is there only big play weapon.

Fantasy Football Trades

Sometimes the key to winning your fantasy football league is putting together a good trade at the right time. I have seen trades take a team to new heights and riddle others to throw in the towel.
I saw on ESPN fantasy show that the top 3 players traded this week were...
Shaun Alexander
Laurence Maroney
Chad Johnson
Two guys who owners have become frustrated with and one guy who has been outstanding.

I was offered a trade by another owner in our league.
The trade was Shaun Alexander, Charlie Frye, and Randy McMichael for
Michael Vick, Laurence Maroney, and Jeremy Shockey.

I think that Alexander will pick up the pace in about two weeks when he comes back from injury. Basically, I couldn't pull this trade. I didn't want to give up Maroney as he may turn out to be a week to week stud by the end of the year. Vick has been having a career year so far and Shockey hasn't done much. Trading Vick and Maroney for Alexander and Frye didn't seem to bad if it weren't for the fact that Alexander's age is getting up there and he carried such a big load the last three years injuries may be creeping up on him.

I also offered a trade which has not been accepted or declined yet. I offered Laveraneus Coles and Jeremy Shockey for Reuben Droughns and Chad Johnson....

My Fantasy Football week 5 Matchup

After a big win brought me back to .500 in my fantasy football league, I am expected to lose again by four. 7 of the 14 teams in the fantasy football league are 2-2 and three are 3-1.
Here is my match up...


QB Mark Brunell vs Marc Bulger
RB Jamal Lewis vs Vernand Morency
RB Laurence Maroney vs Tatum Bell
Flex Marques Colston vs Bernard Berrian
WR Anquan Boldin vs Torry Holt
WR Laveraneus Coles vs Terrell Owens
TE Jeremy Shockey vs Jason Witten
K David Akers vs Rian Lindell
Def Denver D vs Indianapolis D

I made another move this week and released Steve McNair in favor of the aging Mark Brunell. McNair has not been a good fantasy quarterback so far this season but his stats are getting a little better. He is up against the stout Denver D on Monday night. I figured I couldn't root for him since my defense is Denver. I released Steve and picked up Brunell, QB of a recently rejuvinated offense. While, I don't expect 300 yards passing and three TDs again this week, I think the offense will continue playing the G-Men.

Fantasy Football Week 4 Recap

With my opponent having no players left I have won to even my record at 2-2.
I am leading 101-52 and have David Akers kicking tonight. I rode another 100 yard rushing game from QB Michael Vick and outstanding games from rookies Lawrence Maroney(125 yards on the ground and 2 Tds) and Marques Colston(132 yards receiving and 1 TD) to victory. It looks like Maroney may turn out to be keeper material and Colston I feel lucky to have picked up this week. My receiver core of Colston, Anquan Boldin, and Laveraneus Coles is pretty solid.
I tell you what, if I would have chosen Willie Parker or Brian Westbrook instead of Domanick Davis my team would be pretty darn solid. Oh well.

Check out all the Week 4 leaders by clicking on the leaders link to the right.------>

Bullish and Bearish follow up

Bullish
Marc Bulger had 328 yards passing 3 Tds and a 2 point conversion
Chad Johnson had 6 grabs for 64 yards
Ronnie Brown had 49 yards rushing and 62 yards receiving

Bearish
Chad Pennington had 200 yards passing one TD, one INT and a fumble
Marques Colston had 132 yards receiving and an 86 yard TD
Reggie Bush had 22 yards rushing 48 yards receiving and a fumble

Not too bad for my first time. Colston would have been right but he broke the long one with about two minutes left in the game.