Fantasy Sports Blogger

My over/under for this is 15 points for QB & RB, 10 for WR & DST and 5 for K & TE.

Judge
me
on Tuesday.

Surprise Starts
QB: Pennington
RB: W. Dunn
WR: Welker
TE: Des. Clark
K: N. Folk
DST: DET

Bizzare Benches
QB: Bulger
RB: R. Brown
WR: Fitzgerald
TE: Gonzalez
K: Kasay
DST: NE

To recap this season, I’m one game below .500.

22-23-3.

Not doing well so far but not flopping ala Hammerin’ Hank style just yet.

Picks Against the Spread
CLE (+4.5) vs. BAL - Another Ravens winner at the gun.
DET (+3) vs. CHI - Bears are all sorts of banged up on defense
GB (-2) @ MIN - Usual House of Horrors for Favre but I’m bucking tradition
ATL (+3) vs. HOU - Texans very dinged on offense
NYJ (-3.5) @ BUF - Sorry Bills fans but this will be a long year
OAK (+3.5) @ MIA - Close game of FGs until Raider busts long TD
DAL (-12.5) vs. STL - Rams have MASH unit on Offense and Cowpies are solid
PIT (-5.5) @ ARI - Steelers on a roll right now
SF (+2) vs. SEA - 49ers should squeeze out a win
TB (+2.5) @ CAR - Does anyone trust David Carr less than me?
DEN (+9.5) @ IND - Doesn’t Shanahan always find a way versus Indy?
SD (-12) vs. KC - LT should go medieval on Chiefs
PHI (-2.5) @ NYG - McNabb has awoken and should have field day again
CIN (+7.5) vs. NE - Bengals pull within 7 late to cover

My Survivor pick this week is Dallas. It pains me to no end that I need Dallas to be 4-0 to advance in my survivor league.

Warning of the week: Indianapolis. Shanahan always seems to know how to control the tempo against Indy.

Team 1 Roster of 10 team veteran league
(2-1 but still off to a good start.)

QB: Pennington, V. Young on bye and Leinart is shaky
RB: F. Gore, L. Jordan, C. Williams, L. White, K. Watson - Going with best matchups
WR: S. Smith, R. Williams, S. Holmes, W. Welker - Williams and Smith still best options.
TE: D. Clark, J. King, LJ Smith (IR) - Clark best matchup
K: Reed - Best K so far this year
DST: SD - Should turn KC over many times
(Made many opportunistic moves this week…Picked Pennington for start against Bills, Deuce is on permanent IR, picked up Kenny Watson for that roster spot, Picked up Jeff King for better TE option, cut Mare and picked up hottest kicker Reed.)

Team 2 Roster of 12 team PPR league
(3-0 thanks to Brees’ demise on Monday)
QB: Schaub, Leinart - Schaub doesn’t look good on paper but Leinart is shaky.
RB: Parker, Jordan, Bush, Dunn - Bush is on bye
WR: Wayne, R. Williams, Welker (flex), L. Coles, Randle El, Evans - Toss up at flex but Wes is hot right now
TE: Witten - Continues to impress
K: Gostkowski - Shoot out awaits on Monday night
DST: Chicago - Should get multiple TOs even though dinged up
(0-3 team dropped Jones-Drew but my 12th place waiver position didn’t let me get him.)

Team 3 Roster of 10 team, auto-draft, 3rd year, work league
(1-2 and worst of my teams right now, also thanks to Brees demise.)
QB: Smith, Brees, Leinart - Brees is on bye and Leinart is still shaky
RB: Gore, Parker, Jordan, D. Williams - Gore back in with 120 yd/game avg vs. SEA
WR: Welker, R. Williams, A. Johnson, Branch - Going with hot Welker on Monday night.
TE: Schobel, Scaife - Scaife on bye or I would play him given TD last week
K: Reed - Reed is hot!
DST: Baltimore - CLE should be good for some turnovers!
(Picked up Alex Smith for start this week, Picked up Welker and dropped Gould, Picked up Reed and dropped Mare)

Team 4 Roster of 10 team, auto-draft, 2nd year, work league
(2-1 with easy win last week.)
QB: McNabb, Leinart - McNabb put up last week and should this week again.
RB: Gore, Parker, J. Lewis, D. Williams, Norwood - Gore and Parker have best matchups.
WR: R. Wayne, R. Williams, D. Branch (flex), D. Stallworth - Branch better option at flex
TE: Daniels - Only receiving option left for HOU.
K: Akers - Best available kicker
DST: Baltimore, Jacksonville - Good matchup for BAL.
(Dropped Schobel for Norwood, Dropped Mare for Akers, Trying to get S. Moss on waivers and drop JAX defense.)

This blog entry could have been a bit funnier if my wife had actually let me name our boys Ace and Deuce (and eventually Trey for a third) like I preferred. I thought it was brilliant (Costanza-style) and it would simplify keeping track of them while making introductions very easy at public events or company picnics. I wouldn’t have to remember who was the oldest son. I would just say meet my sons Ace and Deuce. Plus, imagine the sports names!

But I digress…

The real reason for the Ace comment is that I went and scored my first ever hole-in-one on the first hole of the company tournament yesterday on my first swing of the day (showed up too late for a bucket of balls ala Tin Cup minus the hangover). After 20 years of playing the game and maybe a thousand rounds of golf, I finally plunked one (a 4 iron to a pin tucked in the back over a bunker on a 177 yard hole slightly uphill into a crosswind) and I never saw it. Damn morning sun was in my eyes but I got the gallery reaction from the group in front of us and it was a moment. The beauty of doing it at a company tourney is that you get congratulations every hour at work. It’s kind of nice to have to explain and relive it each hour.

Oh and I won a golf vacation for two. Do I share it with the guy who gave up his spot on that team so I could play that hole at that moment or my brother who loaned (bequeathed at this point) his irons to me? You’re right, it will be my wife.

Anyway, no more Deuce in 2007. Probably no more Rex either after he has rightfully lost his starting job this afternoon to Brian (my dad will never leave the spotlight) Griese. Poor guy. 10 years in the league, a Probowl in 2000, winning record overall (39-33) and all we remember to say is “oh yeah, Bob’s kid”. Neither Rex or Deuce will be missed really after their horrible starts to the season. Probably makes decisions a little easier.

Now bigger ramifications will be felt by those RBs who will could miss games or be affected negatively in their next start include S. Jackson (groin), F. Gore (hand again), R. Johnson (hammy), S. Alexander (wrist), Westbrook (ribs, knee) and J. Jones (concussion). Brian Leonard (STL) and Maurice Morris (SEA) have been flying off the waiver wires this week. I slyly picked up Kenny Watson (CIN) in front of my co-commish (owns Rudi) in one league to replace Deuce. The wily veteran Aaron Stecker (NO) should be getting some looks in deeper leagues as well. Keep an eye on these guys in the next week or two. There might be gold and there might be a lump of coal in that stocking. You never know.

By the way, I cut Olindo Mare in every league I owned him (3 of 4). Unfortunately he is a product of his team and that is horrible right now.

I managed to go 2-2 this week in my leagues. On Brees’ 4th pick last night, I lost one game by one point and won another by two points. That’s how it rolls in FF.

Well, I’m off to practice up for my next charity tourney in a couple weeks. I hear they’re giving away a car for a hole in one. That would be good.

Condensed version below as I need some sleep.

My over/under for this is 15 points for QB & RB, 10 for WR & DST and 5 for K & TE.

Judge me on Tuesday.

Surprise Starts
QB: J. McCown
RB: M. Lynch
WR: B. Jones/Roydell Williams (tie)
TE: M. Schobel
K: S. Suisham
DST: TB

Bizzare Benches
QB: Rivers
RB: F. Gore
WR: M. Harrison
TE: Winslow
K: Akers
DST: SEA

Picks Against the Spread
ARI (+7.5) @ BAL - Something says close into 4th to me
SF (+8.5) @ PIT - Doesn’t seem logical I know
CIN (-3.5) @ SEA - Going with the AFC is better theory
SD (-4.5) @ GB - Breakout game for LT
IND (-6) @ HOU - Is Houston that good, I say not without A. Johnson
CAR (-4) @ ATL - Panthers have too much speed for division mate
NYJ (-3) vs. MIA - Don’t know why this line is less than 7.
TBB (-3.5) vs. STL - Surprising Buc get to show off again
DET (+6) @ PHI - Philly wins but by a FG
KC (-2.5) vs. MIN - KC wins going away
DEN (-3) @ JAX - JAX seems to be a no show this year so far
OAK (-3) vs. CLE - Can you believe this is second game this year OAK was favored?
WAS (-4) vs. NYG - WAS looks way better than NYG at this point in the season
BUF (+16.5) @ NE - Never like taking a Pro team to win by more than 11.
DAL (+3) @ CHI - I think Chicago wins by 2 on last second Gould kick
TEN (+4.5) vs. NO - TEN keeps games close

Team 1 Roster of 10 team veteran league
(I’m off to a good 2-0 start thanks to S. Smith.)

QB: V. Young, V. Young has better matchup than Leinart
RB: F. Gore, L. Jordan, D. McAllister, C. Williams, L. White - Yanking Mc for stellar Jordan matchup
WR: S. Smith, R. Williams, S. Holmes, W. Welker, D. Patten - Williams and Smith look good so far.
TE: D. Clark, Schobel, LJ Smith (IR) - Added Schobel
K: Mare - Last week for Mare before I turn to another K
DST: SD - Good matchup against Favre

Team 2 Roster of 12 team PPR league
(So far, I’m 2-0 thanks to good team effort)
QB: Schaub, Leinart - Schaub has better matchup than Leinart even without A. Johnson
RB: Parker, Bush, Jordan (flex), Dunn - Jordan is impressive so far
WR: Wayne, R. Williams, L. Coles, Welker, Randle El, Evans - Strong starters march on
TE: Witten - Small week 2 but always a threat to catch a TD each week
K: Gostkowski - Only kicker but this is a good week for him
DST: Chicago - Question mark of a matchup against Romo and Boys. Which Romo shows up?
(Amazingly picked up Evans in 12 team league when someone dropped him for Brandon Marshall)

Team 3 Roster of 10 team, auto-draft, 3rd year, work league
(Got back to 1-1 so a little less nervous)
QB: Brees, Leinart - Brees has to do better this week right?
RB: Jordan, Parker, Gore, D. Williams - Starting Jordan this week due to matchup over Gore. Cross my fingers.
WR: D. Branch, R. Williams, A. Johnson - Afraid that Johnson will be out for multiple weeks and I may need to make a trade.
TE: Schobel, Scaife - Dropped LJ Smith and picked up Schobel and emergency start him this week. Scaife hasn’t shown much yet.
K: Gould, Mare - Mare may be dropped after this week.
DST: Baltimore, Jacksonville - ARI should be good for some turnovers!
(No moves other than Schobel add/LJ Smith drop)

Team 4 Roster of 10 team, auto-draft, 2nd year, work league
(Got back to 1-1 start after gift of Roy Williams fumble taken away by Yahoo on Wed.)
QB: McNabb, Leinart - Time for putup or shut up for McNabb as Leinart’s schedule will get easier soon.
RB: Gore, Parker, J. Lewis, D. Williams - Missed on J. Lewis’ big week of the year. If he breaks a 100 again this season I will be plesantly surprised.
WR: R. Wayne, R. Williams, D. Branch (flex), D. Stallworth - If Braylon can do it why not Branch against CIN?
TE: Daniels, Schobel - Dropped LJ Smith for his backup due to injury.
K: Mare - Only kicker and may be out the door unless he has 8 point performance or better on Monday night.
DST: Baltimore, Jacksonville - Good matchup for BAL. Waiting for JAX to wake up.

My Survivor pick this week is Indianapolis. Rules for this survivor league I’m in don’t allow you to pick the same team or pick against the same team in consecutive weeks. Hence, I would have started NE or PIT this week if I had my drothers.

Warning of the week: Baltimore. They’ve been known to lay an egg at home and this could be that game. Everything points to a double digit win but something tells me this will be close in the 4th.

Well audience, assuming I still have an audience, I must apologize for my limited posting until now. I just finished moving from one house to another and I must admit that there are fewer experiences that rival moving for frustration, exhaustion and irritation! At least I didn’t move the stuff myself in this 90 degree heat. Well, I’m online finally and I’ll be posting a condensed version this week.

Although painful, my moving issues set us up well for Moving Weekend!
If you’re a golfer or watched golf (admit it, there are few of you out there), you know the third day of a golf tourney is known as Moving Day. You either move into contention or move mentally on to the next tourney.

The third weekend of the fantasy year should be your litmus test for whether or not you should start moving guys or benching your top draft picks. Generally, those guys will have played a weak/moderate defense and a strong/superior defense by now. For instance, we’ll know a lot about guys including Donovan McNabb, Drew Brees, Larry Johnson, Lamont Jordan, J. Lewis, L. Coles, K. Curtis, Tony Gonzalez, Olindo Mare and the Minnesota defense. If your worthy of a start in week 4 after showing well in the first 3 weeks then you’re good for the year (Barring injury). As for poor performers, you should give your stars a little slack but get rid of guys (Mare, Jax Def) and don’t be afraid to bench McNabb or Brees if a better matchup comes along.

I’ll give you 3 examples of how it affects me. I’m starting L. Jordan this week (great matchup) instead of F. Gore in one league and D. McAllister/C. Williams in another. If he stays healthy, I consider this LJ to be the steal of the draft right up there with Romo and R. Moss. Now in another league, someone dropped Lee Evans after week 2. Week 2! Yours truly scooped him up. I mean the Bills played NE and PIT and some drops Evans. By the way, be aware of all your league’s transactions. Sometimes your co-owners will try to slip one under the radar for a one week start and try to get them back as soon as they can. Finally, I have Olindo Mare in 3 leagues. If he can’t perform at home this week, he’s gone! I’ll pickup a Jeff Reed or a Shaun Suisham if I fell like it.

Question of the day: Is this the “Circle the Wagons Game” for the Eagles and the Saints this week (ala Berman’s Bills)?

Coming early tomorrow… My picks for the week. I’m exhausted but I’m dedicated.

I had been preparing to write about the silver lining of losing by one point this week and what all of you could learn from close losses but then I noticed I didn’t lose by one point.  Yahoo credited my team with 2 points for a fumble that wasn’t and what do you know I won by a point.  So I went 4-0 this week afterall.  So all that gobbly gook I was going to write about learning from your close defeats goes out the window!!!  You never really learn anything anyway!  You sit there and kill yourself for playing one guy over another and it gnaws at you all week.  And then when you don’t make the playoffs by a game or a point, it gnaws at you all offseason and then…. well I digress.

 Question of the day:  When do you trade your underperforming Superstars?  I’ll be answering that one in the next post.

Some teams are really struggling to find their offensive rythym out there this year.  Philly, New Orleans, Jax and Buffalo are killing your fantasy teams early expectations so far.   Being an Eagle fan myself, it hurts to point out just how bad this team has been on offense with the exception of Akers and Westbrook.

The injury bug seems to jumping up as we wait for the dreaded MRI results on the 4th best WR so far this year, Andre Johnson.

Let’s have fun and see how Week 2 worked out for me.    I went 3-1 with a 1 point loss (due to said McNabb collapse last night).  Not bad.  I have 2 2-0 teams, a .500 team and a 0-2 team.  I’m worried about the 0-2 team but the others look good so far.

My survivor pick held up and I will advance to week 3 unlike you Cinncy pickers out there.  My picks against the spread were bad.  I know.   6-8-2 for a season total of 14-16-2.  All you have to do is look at my notes in the blog entry to see where I changed my mind and how it hurt me.  No need to twist the knife any further.   Go forward!

My bench starts and starters to bench didn’t fair much better…

Garcia and Clark worked out but the rest were not so flattering.  We’ll give it a try this week.  Hey, it’s new, I’m entitled to keep count when I feel like it.

This week’s topics will include Surviving 1 point losses and how to learn from them and What do I do with my poor performers.

 Question of the day:  What 0-2 team has the best chance at making the playoffs?