Saturday, December 12, 2009

Week 14 Rumblings




It's finally playoff time!! Good luck to all of you out there in fantasyland ... except to those who are playing ME! HOOOOO HOOO HOOO!!!!!
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Stock Watch For 2010



It's never too early to look ahead to the following season. And there are more than a few players whose 2010 seasons are up in the air. Could their fantasy stock rise? Could it fall? Is it a complete mystery? Here is a look at a select few who should have their production either significantly increase, decrease, or whose future is totally up in the air.

RISERS

WR Michael Crabtree (SF) To come in as late in the season as he did due to his holdout and be as much a part of the 49er's offense as he has is pretty telling. 32 catches for 406 yards in just seven games projects to about 70 catches and nearly 1000 yards. Next year, with a full off-season program under his belt and Alex Smith fully entrenched as the starter, I could see Crabtree as a strong #3 WR in fantasy lineups.

RB Justin Forsett (Sea) Forsett made the most of his opportunity when Julius Jones sat due to injury and is still getting a few touches, even catching a TD last week as the third down change of pace back. Next year there is a strong possibility of him beating Jones out of the starting RB job.

QB Chad Henne (Mia) Last week Henne had a breakout game against the Patriots, throwing for over 300 yards and 2 TDs. It seems like he's developed quite the rapport with WRs Davone Bess and rookie Brian Hartline. Next year, with Ronnie Brown a huge injury risk and Ricky Williams fountain youth running dry ... the team may have to lean more on it's passing game.... which could see Henne posting decent numbers.

RB Chris Jennings (Clev) Unless Jamal Lewis "pulls a Favre" and retires, then unretires ... Jennings could find himself in the starting lineup over RBs Harrison and James Davis for the Brwons. Unless the Browns take C.J. Spiller in the draft that is.

FALLERS

RB LaDainian Tomlinson (SD) It's looking like the future Hall Of Famer jumped the shark in late 2007. He's done well for owners in TD only leagues this year, but yardage wise he will not hit 1000 yards rushing in a season for the first time in his career unless he averages more than 140 yards over the last three games. Next year, it's questionable whether he'll even be with the Chargers and may have to take a lesser role with another team.

RB Reggie Bush (NO) What can you say about Bush other than HUGE disappoinment? He can't stay healthy for a full season and even when he IS playing, he's Captain Sporadic ... getting the occasional two TD game but disappearing in others. With Mike Bell and Pierre Thomas both doing admirable jobs carrying the load, why would the Saints use Bush as anything other than a thrid down back and PR next year?

WR Ted Ginn Jr. (Mia) He's a first round bust that lost his chance to be a major impact player in the Dolphin passing game this year by dropping easy passes and running poor routes. Unless your league starts a KR/PR in 2010, I'd shy away from the former Buckeye.

QB Jason Campbell (Wash) He's actually suprised as far as decent numbers have been concerned. But the Redskins weren't sold on him to start the season ... and the team hasn't gotten any better. He might be the starter going into next year, but if the team drafts a QB in the first round and the season goes to hell quickly ... it might be over for Campbell.

ON THE BUBBLE?

WR Anthony Gonzalez (Ind) With the emergence of Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie in the Indy passing game, where does that leave the former first round pick? Injuries have ruined his season and allowed others to pass him by on the depth chart. Could he be traded and be a key cog in someone elses offense in 2010?

WR Terrell Owens (Buff) Will the Bills want to bring him back next year? If so, will T.O. WANT to come back? And in either case, will he still be effective at his age? You've got to keep in mind there will be a new HC and new OC for the Bills next year.

QB Jamarcus Russell (Oak) Will his benching a few weeks ago wake him up? The Raiders now have a plethora of potential pass catchers in Zach Miller, Louis Murphy, Chaz Shiliens, and even Darrius Heyward-Bey ... but has Bruce Gradkowski grabbed the starting QB job in a chokehold? If so ... where does that leave Russell? And the biggest question .. can he ever be a starting NFL QB?

QB Brady Quinn (Clev) He's shown glimpses this year but a lot of questions hang over the Browns as a whole. Will Mangini still be coach? Who will the new GM be? And will the Dawgs target a Jake Locker or Colt McCoy in the draft?
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IFFL UPDATE

A 63-38 victory over the Buckeye Wrecking Crew ups my record to 11-2 and all but eliminates the BWC from playoff contention, although they can still get in by beating the Green Bay Dynasty by 52 points or more. Improbable, but not impossible.

Glory Division
W
L
PS
Miami Waves
11
2
868
Green Bay Dynasty
9
4
798
Buckeye Wrecking Crew
8
5
747
West Virginia Dolphins
7
6
762
Pennsylvania PimpDaddies
5
8
883

This final week of the regualr season is almost meaningless to me. But to my opponent The Running Vikings it's a must win to get into the playoffs. I have mixed feelings about wanting my team to finish  12-2. If I score big this week, it could be a bad omen for the playoff game the following weekend. And I've seen it before ... the best team in the league has a huge game right before the playoffs ... then falls flat on it's face in the first round. The Vikings .. ironically enough ... is loaded with Minnesota players including Bret Favre, Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, and the Vikings DST. Add Steven Jackson and Vincent Jackson and you have the makings of a semi-dangerous lineup. My lineup for the week:

TMQB
Tony Romo (Dal TMQB)
vs. San Diego
RB
Chris Johnson (Tenn)
vs. Detroit
RB
Laurence Maroney (NE)
vs. Carolina
WR
DeSean Jackson (Phil)
@NY Giants
WR
Randy Moss (NE)
vs. Carolina
WR
Chad Ochocinco (Cin)
@ Minnesota
PK
Ryan Longwell (Minn)
vs. Cincinnati
DST
NY Jets
@ Tampa Bay

I won't be heartbroken if I lose, even though means my nine game winning streak comes to an end.

In the Fanatics 16 Man Brawl League, I have made the playoffs as the fifth seed and will be playing the fourth seeded Cape Fears. Off to a good start already as Rothlisberger did virtually nothing for him. Hoping for a big day from the Tom Brady to Randy Moss connection.

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Twas The Night Before Kickoff: Week 13 Rumblings


Twas the night before kickoff
and in Santas's workshop
Old Santa was cursing
 at his tiny laptop.

When from the door,
there came such a rumble,
you would have thought that
Steve Slaton had fumbled


In burst Mr. Jingle,
Santa's Head Elf
who blustered like Jon Gruden,
 in spite of himself

"Santa come quick!"
"Rudolph's not well!"
"The veterinarian just told me,
it's a torn ACL!"

Just then Santa's visage
became like that of Bill Cowher
His cheeks got more rosy 
and his grimace quite sour.

"Not now Jingle!" he bellowed,
"Can't you see I'm quite tied up?"
"I'm trying to figure out
my fantasy lineups!"

"But Santa!" said Jingle,
you've been busy for WEEKS!"
"You've been in here so long
you're really starting to reek!"

"Have some cookies!" begged the elf
"Or you'll lose all that girth!"
"If you get any thinner,
you'll be Cris Collinsworth!"

"I'm in twelve leagues!" bellowed Santa
"And most of my teams stink!"
"But I know I can fix this,
I've just got to think!"

"I drafted Matt Forte six times,
and he's been a huge dud!"
"But of course most of the experts
thought he'd be a big stud!"

"Detroit's Calvin Johnson,
should have had a big year!"
"But instead he's been as useless
as a three legged reindeer!"

"Eddie Royal of the Broncos,
was to be my PPR giant!"
But like Cleveland's run defense,
he's been most unreliant!"

"I had Ronnie Brown,
and he started out buff!"
Oh why didn't I grab
Ricky Williams to handcuff?

"I traded Thomas Jones to the Easter Bunny,
for Kerry Collins and Westbrook!"
"One got a concussion,
the other ...the hook."

"MJD has shined brightly,
like a big Christmas tree!"
"But wow, did he screw me,
when he took that darn knee!!"

"Oh Santa." whined Jingle
"Must you be controversial?"
"We've got more problems out there,
than Peyton Manning has commercials!"

"Speaking of  Peyton Manning,"
said Saint Nick with a stutter,
"I should have drafted HIM,
instead of that bozo Jay Cutler!"

"And doggonit I knew it,
Miles Austin was a sleeper!"
"But I lost out on the waivers,
to the friggin Grim Reaper!"

"Mark Sanchez looked promising,
interceptions aside.."
"Just wish when I grabbed him,
he had learned how to SLIDE!!"

Jingle sighed in frustration,
then made a loud cackle,
he rushed and hit Santa,
with a horse collar tackle!

"Please Santa!" begged Jingle
"Just listen to me!"
"You'll make the playoffs!
I promise, you'll see!!"


"But we need you out there,
it's time for THE trip!"
"Like Ditka might say,
dude, get a grip!!"

Santa slowly got up,
then started to laugh ,
"You're right Jingle!" he said,
"Can't miss the first half!!"

"The sleigh's ready!" said Jingle.
"And I'll get your labtop."
"You can keep track of the scores,
and you won't have to stop!"

So Santa got dressed,
in his suit of bright red..
while visions of championships
danced in his head.

And as he departed the Pole,
he cried a mighty "HO HO HO!"
"Merry Christmas to all!"

"GO OCHOCINCO!!!!"

                                                                                                           By  Chris Carwile
                                                                                                            December 2009
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IFFL UPDATE

With a 63-38 victory over the Pennsylvania Pimpdaddies, combined with a Green Bay Dynasty loss, I have clinched a playoff spot and will have the opportunity to possibly repeat as IFFL Champion. Even though the Dynasty and Buckeye Wrecking Crew are both only two games behind me with two games remaining, they face each other in the final week of the regualr season, so there is no way they both can catch me.

Glory Division
W
L
PS
Miami Waves
10
2
805
Green Bay Dynasty
8
4
753
Buckeye Wrecking Crew
8
4
708
West Virginia Dolphins
7
5
718
Pennsylvania PimpDaddies
5
7
772

The remaining playoff spot is still up for grabs between the Green Bay Dynasty, Buckeye Wrecking Crew, and the West Virginia Dolphins. The Dolphins and Dynasty play each other this week while the Wrecking Crew faces my Miami Waves. While I won't spill any tears if I lose this game, I'm not going to lay down for the BWC, whose lineup will include Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Greg Jennings, Jeremy Maclin, and Steve Smith (NYG). My lineup this week:
TMQB
Cincinnati (Carson Palmer)
vs. Detroit
RB
Chris Johnson (Tenn)
@ Indianapolis
WR
Laurence Maroney (NE)
@ Miami
WR
Mike Sims-Walker (Jac)
vs. Houston
WR
Randy Moss (NE)
@ Miami
WR
Chad Ochocinco (Cin)
vs. Detroit
PK
Ryan Longwell (Minn)
@ Arizona
DST
Denver Broncos
@ Kansas City

With DeSean Jackson unlikely to play this week, I'm inserting a second RB. Maroney seems the best start, but I'm mulling LeSean McCoy as well and could make a last minute switch.



In two of my other leagues I'm having sucess as well. In the FFTwitter League (Yahoo!) I'm 9-3 and have clinched a playoff spot, while in the Fanatics 16 Man Brawl League I am 8-4 and on the cusp of making the playoffs. Need to win this week to get in though.