Week 9 Ramblings

EATING CROW

Maurice Jones-Drew is making me eat my words. Before the season started I was shocked at how highly ranked he was in fantasy projections and aghast that in some drafts he was even going first overall. I didn't see him as a #1 RB, let alone worthy enough to be taken with the very first pick. 8 weeks later he leads the NFL in rushing TDs with ten and is gaining 5.5 yards per carry. His EIGHT carry game last week against the Titans netted him over 170 yards rushing. Yikes! My comments about him being a Darren Sproles/Leon Washington type that could not function as a lone feature back in an NFL offense was obviously very narrow minded. And the fact that he's only 5'8" has nothing to do with his abilities or his toughness.

Normally I wouldn't bother admitting I was wrong, but this one was waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay off. Although I did say he wouldn't make it through the season and the season is not over yet ... I have a feeling he'll be just fine for the remainder. Pass me a wing please.

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STUDS, DUDS, AND SLEEPERS: WEEK 9

STUDS

QB Aaron Rodgers (GB @ TB) The Packers are ticked about losing to the Vikings again. Rodgers going to come into this week with a chip on his shoulder. Look for him to take it out on a very bad Tampa D.

RB Frank Gore (SF vs. Tenn) Okay, if Maurice Jones-Drew and light up the Titan run defense with just eight carries, think about the damage Gore can do with a steady workload. Gore already has three TD runs of 50 yards or longer.

RB Maurice Jones-Drew (Jac vs. KC) Speaking of MJD ... again .... KC's run defense not much better than Tennessee's. I suspect Jones-Drew will get more than eight touches this time.

WR Randy Moss (NE vs. Mia) Two rookie CBs starting for the Dolphins, need I say more?

DST New Orleans Jake Delhomme avoided turnovers last week in Arizona .... but an opportunistic Saints defense has a pretty good chance of scoring again on an INT return.

DUDS

QB Matt Schaub (Hou @ Ind) The loss of Owen Daniels is a huge blow to this offense. There's only so many times you can throw it to Andre Johnson.

RB Ronnie Brown (Mia @ NE) Think the Patriots have forgotten how Brown singlehandedly destroyed them in Gillette Stadium last year? Nope. Think they'll let it happen again? Nope. Can you say "Mildcat"?

RB Cedric Benson (Cin) Benson was the first RB to hit the Ravens with a 100 yard rushing day in almost two years back in week 4. The Ravens came out of the bye week breathing fire and lit Denver up .... stopping Benson from doing it again will be a top priority.

WR Miles Austin (Dal @ Phil) CBs Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown have a knack for countering a team's best WR. If Austin HAS been playing over his head ... this is the game he comes back to earth.

WR Antonio Bryant (TB vs. GB) With a rookie QB vs. CBs Charles Woodson and Al Harris? No thanks, I'll pass.

SLEEPERS

RB Jamaal Charles (KC @ Jac) Getting the start and has the speed to break one. With what Chris Johnson did to the Jags defense last week, Charles could make a play or two.

WR Michael Crabtree (SF vs. Tenn) Has had two weeks to warm up and has looked good doing it. Could see his first score against a weak Titans secondary.

WR Malcolm Floyd (SD @ NYG) Giants d-backs are beat up. Chris Chambers has hit the road. Floyd has a chance for some big things in the Meadowlands.

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IFFL UPDATE

Improved my record to 6-2, gained some ground in total points scored, and slid into third place in the Glory Division with a 97-55 victory over the Bruney Broncos. Chris Johnson's huge game was the difference. This week is a HUGE matchup against the division rival West Virginia Dolphins, who are also 6-2 and just a few points ahead of me.

Glory Division	W	L	PS
Green Bay Dynasty	7	1	546
West Virginia Dolphins	6	2	528
Miami Waves	6	2	515
Buckete Wrecking Crew	5	3	471
Pennsylvania PimpDaddies	3	5	533

Dolphins owner Roger Miller is one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet, but his luck in fantasy football has been atrocious over the years. This is his best start ever and while I wish I could root for him ... NOT THIS WEEK ROG! The Dolphins have QB Matt Ryan, RB Maurice Jones-Drew, RB Steve Slaton, and WR Andre Johnson as it's main weapons. My lineup should lok like this:

TMQB	Cincinnati (Carson Palmer)	vs. Baltimore
RB	Chris Johnson (Tenn)	@ San Francisco
WR	Randy Moss (NE)	vs. Miami
WR	Devin Hester (Chic)	vs. Arizona
WR	DeSean Jackson (Phil)	vs. Dallas
WR	Chad Ochocinco (Cin)	vs. Baltimore
PK	Nick Folk (Dal)	@ Philadelphia
DST	Denver Broncos	vs. Pittsburgh

I do have other options to consider. Should I start Romo @Philadelphia over Palmer at QB? Should I start Laurence Maroney vs. Miami or Mike Sims-Walker vs. KC (both good matchups) instead of Hester? This IS a key game. If I win I move up into second place and gain leverage in the run to the playoffs, if I lose I risk falling back into fourth and having to play catch up all over again. I play the Dolphins again in two weeks and need to at least split with them to keep up.