How the People Won (and How We Keep Winning)

Once again, the fantasy football gods made us wait until the very end for a resolution, but once again, you, the Internet emerged victorious.

The People's Pigskin recorded a 54-45 victory over Tinks Revenge, raising our record to 2-1. Here's a breakdown of the results.

Trent Edwards, QB. The stats: 20 of 35 passing for 156 yards, 1 interception, 2 rushes for 13 yards, and 5 fantasy points. The Buffalo Bills have to be disappointed in those stats. His longest completion against the New Orleans Saints was only 18 yards. And none of his completions went to Terrell Owens, who, to his credit, refused to throw anyone under the bus afterward.

Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 21 rushes for 66 yards, 6 catches for 40 yards, and 10 fantasy points. These are not the stats of a first-round fantasy pick, but they are getting better as the season progresses.

Steve Slaton, RB. The stats: 12 rushes for 76 yards, 3 receptions for 37 yards, and 10 fantasy points. Again, not the type of production the Houston Texans would want from their primary running back, though he is clearly being targeted.

Donald Brown, Flex. The stats: 14 rushes for 40 yards, 1 reception for 72 yards, and 11 fantasy points. These numbers were mostly generated late in the game, as the Indianapolis Colts played keepaway with the Arizona Cardinals. Still, that was the highest point total among our starters.

Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 5 receptions, 54 yards, and 5 fantasy points. Our favorite baby kisser also had several drops, but his Cincinnati Bengals did pull out a victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers and are an early contender for Most Improved Team.

Brandon Stokley, WR. The stats: 0 receptions, 0 yards, and 0 fantasy points. The Denver Broncos didn't need his help in whipping the Oakland Raiders. Hopefully, things will be different this week against the Dallas Cowboys.

Kellen Winslow, TE. The stats: 3 receptions, 14 yards, and 1 fantasy point. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers looked like a JV squad against the New York Giants on Sunday. It was so bad that the Bucs will start Josh Johnson instead of Byron Leftwich at quarterback this week. We have to hope Johnson knows that a good tight end can be a young quarterback's best friend.

Nick Folk, K. The stats: 2 for 3 on field goals, 1 PAT, and 6 fantasy points. I have to admit I got nervous when Folk missed his first field goal attempt of the night, since our team was docked a point. But Nick was solid the rest of the way and managed to avoid a Mora-style tirade.

Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 1 fumble recovery, 14 points allowed, and 6 fantasy points. The Eagles controlled the Kansas City Chiefs all day long and remain the top-scoring defense in fantasy football.

Bench. Kurt Warner got 13 points, while Greg Jennings got 10, so you Warner fans (or anti-Stokley fans) can go ahead and feel vindicated.

Our defense provides us with our first bye week challenge of the season. The Eagles are off this week (music to the ears of both Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid, I'm sure), so we need another defense. Rather than waiving the top-scoring defense in fantasy football, the plan is to bench the Eagles, waive Rashard Mendenhall (call us when/if your team figures out its running game), and pluck a defense off the waiver wire. Here are the leading candidates.

New Orleans Saints. Believe it or not, this defense racked up 12 fantasy points last week and are sixth in fantasy points this season. They face the New York Jets this week.

San Francisco 49ers. Mike Singletary is clearing putting his stamp on this team, which got 11 fantasy points from its defense last week. They face the St. Louis Rams this week.

Cincinnati Bengals. Yes, Carson Palmer got the headlines, but his defense also played a major role in the Steelers upset, getting 9 fantasy points for their effort. They face the Cleveland Browns this week.

Once again, we have until Thursday morning to get the waiver requests in, so this poll will close Wednesday night. Please vote now.

[polldaddy poll=2054226]

Early Results and Monday Preview

It was an ... interesting Sunday for the People's Pigskin. Thanks to a second-half surge by Donald Brown, who was fed the ball as the Indianapolis Colts tried to squeeze the clock, our team currently enjoys a 10-point lead over Tinks Revenge. For those of you who voted for benching Brandon Stokley, the Denver Broncos receiver was held scoreless. But then again, so was Terrell Owens; he was held without a catch for the first time in 185 games. And if I were on his team, I wouldn't be smiling either.

I've always enjoyed fantasy games where the issue wasn't settled until Monday night. So somebody cue Hank Williams Jr. -- we're ready for more football. Tinks Revenge will have DeAngelo Williams of the Carolina Panthers. We will counter with a kicker, Nick Folk of the Dallas Cowboys. If Folk can stay within 9 fantasy points of Williams, the People's Pigskin will emerge victorious.

A more detailed analysis is coming Tuesday. Until then, feel free to comment or answer Sunday's poll question.

Gameday Thoughts

As we get ready for our epic clash with Tinks Revenge, here are some random thoughts, some of them related to fantasy football.

Guess who's coming to kickoff? A lot is being made about Michael Vick's return to active duty. Of course, most of the fuss is being made by folks who don't talk about fantasy football for a living. You would be insane to put Vick into your fantasy lineup at this point, and your sanity would also be questioned if you played Kevin Kolb, given the possibility that he'll get pulled for Vick (or even Jeff Garcia) on any given play.

No Brownie points for you. How far behind the curve are the Cleveland Browns? Most teams take care of their rookie pranks during training camp. This team waits until week 3 of the regular season to pull a prank that starts a locker room fight. Of course, if I were the Browns, I'd worry less about pranks and punches than I would about who's going to carry the ball with Jamal Lewis hurt. And we don't have to worry about discipline issues in Cleveland, right? After all, this is the place that issues four-figure fines for forgetting to pay for a $3 water bottle. Any prank or fight that caused serious damage would likely be punished this way.

Fantasy triage. By this point every year, no matter how many rules are changed or how many hits are outlawed, every fantasy team is dealing with injuries. ESPN is even offering a blog just for keeping track of the wounded warriors. As of 10:45 a.m. EDT, we know that Donovan McNabb, Jamal Lewis and LaDainian Tomlinson are out. Matt Hasselbeck is doubtful (which, for fantasy players, is just as good as being out). Brian Westbrook, Clinton Portis, Marion Barber, Wes Welker, Randy Moss and a cast of thousands are questionable.

What does this mean? It means if you're a serious fantasy player, you're either watching a pregame show so you can set your lineup at the last minute, or you're driving the people around you crazy because you're worrying about your lineup.

Isn't fantasy football fun? ;)

Anyway, we'll be back later with an early look at our results. In the meantime, here's a new poll. Enjoy your Sunday.

[polldaddy poll=2045824]

The People's Choice - Week 3

Once again, you, the Internet, have spoken in our grand fantasy football democracy experiment. We asked what we should do with the lineup, and the majority of you said Trent Edwards should start in Kurt Warner's place. So he shall.

Since Tinks Revenge is playing DeAngelo Williams of the Carolina Panthers and we have Nick Folk of the Dallas Cowboys, this Landshark Maniacs clash won't be settled until Monday night's game between the Panthers and the Cowboys.

As far as the other poll is concerned, it's unanimous: You, the Internet, say betting on NFL games should be legal. Frankly, I'm not surprised, since you are following a fantasy football blog, after all.

We'll be back Sunday (hopefully before game time) with another poll and pregame thoughts.

Saturday Morning Reading

Don't forget to vote on our lineup and the gambling question. While we wait for college football (aka the fantasy football scouting league) to get started, here are some links to visit.

Signs you have too much money. In fantasy football, "insurance" usually means drafting the backup for your stud running back in the event of injury. But these folks are taking it a step further -- they will sell you a policy that will pay you money if your team's star suffers a season-ending injury. (Be warned: This link offers no geckos, no cavemen, no former "24" actors, and no women named "Flo" who heart insurance.)

And this is different ... how? Right now, betting on NFL football games is legal in only two U.S. states: Nevada and Delaware. But when we were in Atlantic City last weekend, I noticed brochures for a Tropicana Football League. In a nutshell, you pick which teams will win each week, and if you pick correctly, you can win cash and "EZ Slot Dollars" (essentially, reward points that can be used at the Tropicana casino and hotel). Anyone who's read this far can figure out my stance on gambling, but I'm wondering why this is allowed in an Atlantic City casino but, say, going to the casino and betting $50 on the Packers is not.

Commitment to incompetence. The Oakland Raiders decided that the way to get Rich Gannon (now a CBS analyst) to stop pointing out his former team's flaws was to try to ban him from pregame production meetings. The Raiders relented (likely after hearing from someone in Roger Goodell's office) but maintain that the problem is not the message but the messenger. In case someone with the Raiders is reading this, let me say something: I think that your team botched the Lane Kiffin firing, that your first-round draft pick has been a bust so far, and that JaMarcus Russell (the quarterback you kept in the starting lineup while letting Jeff Garcia walk out the door) couldn't hit a cow in the rear end with a snow shovel right now. Are you going to try to ban me, too?

How lame is lame? Unlike the Raiders, I'm willing to listen to opinions that disagree with my own. For example, I'm willing to post a link to this blogger who asked which hobby is lamer: fantasy football or fan fiction (writing or posting stories exploring topics such as what would happen if Harry Potter married Hermione). His verdict: fantasy football is lame, but fan fiction is even lamer.

(I'm glad we won that matchup, at least.)

We'll be back later with the verdict on our lineup.

Fearless predictions: week 3

Another week, another 3-2 record for the fearless predictions, leaving us at 6-4 for the season. Time to tempt fate with another batch of forecasts for the Landshark Maniacs league.

Peoples Pigskin vs. Tinks Revenge. Yes, I see the 2-0 record for Tinks, and I see the name "Drew Brees" in her lineup. Neither fact scares me. You, the Internet, will rally us to another win.

Southern Rebels vs. Hawaiian Surfriders. The Surfriders, of course, are the team formerly known as the Hawaiian MaiTai Guzzlers, famously chosen here in this blog as "my personal favorite among the league names." I don't know if this is a Johnson-to-Ochocinco vanity move on the Hawaiians' part. All I know is that as long as Adrian Peterson is on the roster, I'm picking the Surfriders to win.

Northeast Dragons vs. Houston Wreckin' Crew. The Crew did the smart thing having Felix Jones ready to go in case Marion Barber's injury is truly serious. That kind of preparedness will be rewarded with a Crew victory.

T-Bay Jacks 151rum Stumblrs vs. D.C. Destroyers. It's the three words that no fantasy player ever wants to hear: "game time decision." And it looks like Percy Harvin will be under that category this Sunday. That may be enough to doom the Stumblrs and give the Destroyers the edge in an otherwise close matchup.

Big Lough O vs. Ravens Fan T Sizzle. The two previous opponents of the People's Pigskin face each other. We know that both teams are strong. What we don't know is how Fred Jackson can be expected to produce 32 points. This one goes to the Lough Os.

Don't forget to help us pick our lineup, and remember to vote in our gambling poll. More later.

Pick the People's Team - Week 3

Thanks to your votes, the People's Pigskin picked up Brandon Stokley off the waiver wire. Now it's time to set our lineup for this week's game against Tinks Revenge. She brings an imposing lineup, but I think it can be beaten.

Quarterback. Right now our starter is Kurt Warner, and my gut feeling is to stick with him, even though ESPN's "experts" expect him to get fewer points than Trent Edwards.

Running back. OK, last week's switch blew up in our collective faces, so for the moment we have Matt Forte and Steve Slaton back in the starting slots. Waiting in the wings (should you, the Internet, will it) is Rashard Mendenhall.

Flex. Our current lineup features Donald Brown, the rookie from UConn who has earned regular playing time for the Indianapolis Colts. Here's hoping Peyton Manning & Co. don't make a habit of holding the ball for less than 15 minutes. Again, Mendenhall waits on the bench.

Wide receiver. Since we got him, I see no reason not to use Brandon Stokley right away. Also, I'd say Chad Ochocinco deserves another starting spot, even if he did rig that "Lambeau Leap" thing by planting Bengals fans in the end zone. Waiting in the wings is Greg Jennings, who got a grand total of 0 points last week.

Again, no changes at tight end (Kellen Winslow), kicker (Nick Folk, playing Monday night) or defense (Philadelphia Eagles).

Here's the poll for this week's lineup. Feel free to leave a comment if you think we should do something else. And remember to vote in our gambling poll. We'll be back later with predictions for the Landshark Maniacs games.

[polldaddy poll=2034029]

The People Speak on Waivers

Well, I guess I should attach Gus Johnson-narrated videos to every potential waiver wire pick from now on.

You, the Internet, have spoken, and you have asked that the People's Pigskin pick up Brandon Stokley on waivers. So we will drop Josh Morgan to make room for the Broncos reciever. Thanks for voting. We'll be back later with predictions and a poll on how to adjust the lineup for this week's game against Tinks Revenge.

How We Did (and What We Do Next)

The People's Pigskin is now 1-1 after a 67-50 loss to Big Lough O. Kudos to the Os, who are now also 1-1. Here's a breakdown of our team's performance.

Kurt Warner, QB. The stats: 24 for 26 passing, 243 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 17 fantasy points. The press may be gaga over Kurt's record-setting accuracy, but a stellar accuracy percentage does not translate into stellar fantasy stats. I don't want to sound ungrateful, but you'd think a game like that would have delivered something more.

Derrick Ward, RB. The stats: 9 rushes for 32 yards, 1 reception for 5 yards, and only 3 fantasy points. Clearly, this player will have a ceiling at Tampa Bay. But one would hope it's not this low.

Jamal Lewis, RB. The stats: 14 rushes for 38 yards, 1 reception for 8 yards, and another 3 fantasy points. This against a Denver Broncos team that, despite its 2-0 record, still seems vulnerable.

Chris "Beanie" Wells, Flex. The stats: 7 rushes for 44 yards, 1 fumble lost, and 2 fantasy points. With a day like that, he's going to remain behind Tim Hightower on the depth chart for a while.

Greg Jennings, WR. The stats: 0 catches, 0 fantasy points. He was targeted five times and didn't make a single catch. The only Packers-related people who covered themselves in glory this week were the fans who didn't flip the bird when Chad made his leap.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR. The stats: 4 receptions, 62 yards, and 6 fantasy points. In fantasy, it's not just about the health of your players. It's also about the health of your player's teammates. Matt Hasselbeck's rib fracture will certainly hurt T.J.'s value for weeks to come.

Kellen Winslow, TE. The stats: 7 receptions, 90 yards, 1 touchdown, and 15 fantasy points. At least we know we can get points from the tight end spot.

Nick Folk, K. The stats: 1 field goal, 4 extra points, and 8 fantasy points. The best part: If he hits the scoreboard at Cowboys Stadium, his fantasy points won't be hurt at all.

Eagles D/ST. The stats: 1 interception, 1 safety, 48 points allowed, and minus-4 fantasy points. We have no right to expect 35 fantasy points from the defense every week, but even if we had gotten a decent day from the Eagles, we would have been in the running for a win, despite the lack of production elsewhere. This game was brutal for those wearing green. I'm not ready to panic, though. Drew Brees is off to a stellar start this year, and I have to think the Eagles will bounce back now that Drew is in the rear view mirror.

I'm not ready to sit still, though. As baseball managers like to say, it's time to make a change. The People's Pigskin plans to dump Josh Morgan, who didn't get so much as a target this week and clearly isn't part of the 49ers offense right now. And this wouldn't be the People's Pigskin if we didn't have a poll. Here are the three contenders to take his WR spot from the waiver wire.

Brandon Stokley, Denver. He has 21 points this season and a penchant for long touchdowns, as Cincinnati learned in week 1.

Louis Murphy, Oakland. This rookie Raider has come up with 16 points of his own (while the other one has only 1) , and his value doesn't fall when JaMarcus Russell throws a pick.

Chansi Stuckey, N.Y. Jets. This guy has 15 points, and since Mark Sanchez isn't peeing his pants in big games, he could have some value.

We have until Thursday to make waiver wire requests, so this poll will close Wednesday night. Please vote now.

[polldaddy poll=2022265]

The Good, the Bad, and the People's Results

First of all, Dover Downs was worth the driving and ferry time. The Race and Sports Book, which now takes NFL parlays of at least three teams along with horse bets of all stripes, is small enough not to be intimidating but big enough to handle the NFL crowd. There are as many TV screens as you'll find in a large sports bar. The chairs were comfortable, the staff was friendly and helpful, and we won enough money to make back what we bet.

The one issue with this place, which clearly is still figuring out how to do things. The screens were covered with NFL games at 1 p.m. EDT, but at about 4:30 I counted five screens that read "Thank You for Watching NFL Sunday Ticket," three others with a DirecTV logo screen saver, and one showing ... a dog show. If I were running this facility (or a sports bar/restaurant/book of similar size), I would have one person whose primary job -- whose only job, in fact -- is to keep football on the TV screens. When one game ends, that person would be in charge of getting another one on right away. If there were five games on at 4 p.m. (as there were this Sunday), that person would be in charge of making sure all five was available for viewing.

Now, the ugly: the People's Pigskin took it on the chin this week, losing to Big Lough O by a score of 67-50. I'll have a more extensive analysis later, but for now let's say that the Eagles defense giveth, and the Eagles defense taketh away.

I also wanted to get this poll up, so folks could chime in on the gambling issue. More later.

[polldaddy poll=2019875]

The People's Choice - Week 2

Another week is in the books, and the Internet's decision on the People's Pigskin lineup is to leave it alone. So we shall.

In the other poll, we asked what you watch before kickoff. The answer: ESPN. Boomer and company will share a laugh in your honor.

We'll be back Sunday evening (or Monday morning, depending on how it goes) with an update on the Delaware NFL experience. Until then, may your lineups be injury-free.

The 25th-floor view (and the 3.5-point elephant)

It's been too long since I've been in Atlantic City. Some friends were kind enough to lend us a time share right on the boardwalk. The waves crashing below our balcony produce an unbelievable sense of serenity and relaxation.

And then you lose a quick $75 at the blackjack table and feel like you were sacked by Lawrence Taylor.

Speaking of gambling, the People's Pigskin will be traveling this Sunday to Delaware to take advantage of a recent confusing development: the only legalized football gambling east of the Rocky Mountains.

There's no denying that some of the people ... OK, a lot of the people involved in fantasy football are involved at least in part because of the potential of money changing hands. It's also a major reason NFL Sunday Ticket sells so well among both homeowners and restaurant owners. Yet we seem to live in one of the few countries around that says betting on football games is illegal (in most parts of the country, anyway).

This year the state of Delaware, seeing both a loophole in federal law and an opportunity to generate some revenue from a thoroughly willing source, passed a law allowing its casinos to take bets on NFL games. Naturally, the NFL objected and took Delaware to court. As a result of an appellate court's ruling, as of this morning (Saturday, Sept. 19) the only types of bets the Delaware casinos can take are three-team "parlay" bets. Why that's allowed but single-game bets are not is anybody's guess. Of course, all this is temporary until Sonia Sotomayor and the rest of the Supreme Court rule on the inevitable appeal.

Anyway, last week, despite this odder-than-odds setup, the state says that its casinos took over 14,000 football bets during the first week of the NFL season.

We'll be back later today to announce results for the lineup and TV pools. Get your votes in, and feel free to leave comments (and suggestions for our bets) at the bottom of this post.

Quick Thursday links

First of all, say what you will about my focus on fantasy football, but at least I never asked anyone to pay money to watch a musical based on it. Can't wait for that hit love song, "You Make Me Feel Like My Defense Got Me 35 Points."

And while I'm here calling attention to things done by other people, I should pitch a book I just read: "Rose Bowl Dreams" by Adam Jones. The author has a not-quite-healthy relationship with the University of Texas football team, and this book takes us through that relationship from the time he saw Earl Campbell shred defenses as a kid to the Longhorns' 2005 national championship run on the back of Vince Young. Along the way, he also discusses how his relationship with the Horns influences his relationship with God, and vice versa.

If you want a sample of Adam's writing style without committing money to it, you can read Jones Top Ten, his weekly take on the goings-on in college football.

We'll be coming to you next from Atlantic City, but until then, you can find the lineup poll here and a TV poll here.

Fearless predictions: week 2

The predictions went a respectable 3-2 last week. And since no one painted anything on my lawn as a result, it might be safe to take a look at this week's games in the Landshark Maniacs league.

Peoples Pigskin vs. Big Lough O. You, the Internet, are on a hot streak. (Granted, a one-week streak, but still) And I'm picking us to win again.

Houston Wreckin' Crew vs. t-bay jacks 151rum stumblrs. I nearly stumbled just typing that name. But Peyton won't stumble. He'll rack up enough points to erase all the injuries on the stumblrs roster.

Northeast Dragons vs. Hawaiian MaiTai Guzzlers. In case you haven't noticed, that Adrian Peterson guy is a beast. The Guzzlers go to 2-0.

Tinks Revenge vs. D.C. Destroyers. Drew Brees won't repeat last week's six-touchdown effort. Fortunately for Tinks, he won't have to. He'll do enough for the win.

Ravens Fan T Sizzle vs. Southern Rebels. With LaDainian Tomlinson nursing a sore ankle, the Chargers offense will go through Philip Rivers more than ever. And the Rams have three offensive plays: Steven Jackson to the left, Steven Jackson to the right, Steven Jackson up the middle. The Sizzle gets the win here.

Remember to vote on our lineup (and your TV preferences) in the posts below.

Pick the People's Team - Week 2

The worst thing a winning fantasy football team can do is stand still, because that's when you're most likely to get passed.

In light of that, you'll see the lineup for the People's Pigskin looks different this week. This week the 1-0 democratically selected team takes on Lough O. Here's a rundown of the contenders for our starting roster.

Quarterback. Kurt Warner is back for a second helping. He had 11 points last week against the San Francisco 49ers and faces the Jacksonville Jaguars this week. Trent Edwards waits in the wings.

Running back. Derrick Ward (who earned 14 points last week) and Jamal Lewis (who earned 9) are coming off the bench, at least for the moment. If you disagree, Matt Forte and Steve Slaton are eager to get their spots back.

Flex. A rookie, Chris "Beanie" Wells, gets his moment in the spotlight. He got 2 points last week but gets the Jaguars to feast on this week.

Wide receiver. Greg Jennings (18 points last week) and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (4 points) face the Cincinnati Bengals and the 49ers, respectively. Once again, Chad Ochocinco, a favorite of our Internet voters last week, waits in the wings.

No changes at tight end (Kellen Winslow), kicker (Nick Folk) or defense/special teams (Philadelphia Eagles).

Here's the poll. As always, feedback is welcome.

[polldaddy poll=1998679]

The People's Victory!

If you're reading this, give yourself a pat on the back. You've earned it.

And if you're reading this, send Philip Rivers and Norv Turner a note of thanks. The Chargers' game-winning drive nearly gave Rivers enough points for Ravens Fan T Sizzle to catch the People's Pigskin. But the decision to hand the ball to Darren Sproles instead of throwing it to him on the touchdown-scoring play wrapped up a 104-103 victory for you, the Internet.

There will be times when we're on the short end of games like that. But right now is a time for us to celebrate (and, if you watched that game on the east coast, find a way to catch up on your sleep).

Next on the schedule: Lough O, which lost 99-91 last week to the Northeast Dragons. I'll be back later with a poll on that matchup.

Week 1 Breakdown

The People's Pigskin finished the first week with 104 fantasy points and a 41-point lead over Ravens Fan T Sizzle heading into the Monday night games. Before someone asks me for my brain, here's a look at our players and their results.

Kurt Warner, QB. The stats: 26 of 44 passing, 288 yards, a touchdown, two interceptions and 11 fantasy points. A surprisingly low total. As Michael Silver points out in his always-excellent Morning Rush, the Cardinals as a whole disappointed, despite Anquan Boldin's injury (and Steve Breaston's). In Silver's words, it's time "to shake off that hangover and get back to work."

Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 25 rushes for 55 yards and 5 fantasy points. The most telling number is zero. That's the number of passes Forte caught. If Jay Cutler & Co. expect to contend, Forte needs to be part of the passing game, too.

Steve Slaton, RB. The stats: 9 rushes for 17 yards, 3 catches for 35 yards, a fumble, and 2 fantasy points. The Houston Texans as a whole looked awful against Mark Sanchez and the Jets. We've gotta hope this was just a bad day against a great defense.

Chad Ochocino, Flex. The stats: 5 catches for 89 yards, 1 rush for 8 yards, and 8 fantasy points. As far as I can tell, no tweets. The good news is that he seems to be Carson Palmer's primary target. The numbers here will get better.

Greg Jennings, WR. The stats: 6 catches for 106 yards, 1 touchdown, and 18 fantasy points. The 50-yard game-winning touchdown may also prove to be our game-winning TD.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR. The stats: 6 catches for 48 yards and 4 fantasy points. Not sure what to make of this. Seattle scored 28 points with T.J. essentially as an afterthought.

Kellen Winslow, TE. The stats: 5 catches for 30 yards, 1 rush for 7 yards, 1 touchdown, and 9 points. Winslow is, for better or worse, a main cog of Tampa Bay's offense. And if they fall behind the way they did Sunday against the Dallas Cowboys, this cog will get plenty of action.

Nick Folk, K. The stats: 2 for 2 on field goals (including one for 50+ yards), 4 for 4 on extra points, and 12 fantasy points. A workmanlike effort.

Philadelphia Eagles D/ST. The stats: 5 interceptions, 2 fumble recoveries (one returned for a touchdown), one punt return for a touchdown, 10 points allowed, and 35 fantasy points. Were the Carolina Panthers that bad, or are these Eagles just that good? We'll find out soon enough.

Bench. 14 points from Derrick Ward, and 9 from Jamal Lewis.

Don't forget to vote in the TV poll. More thoughts and a poll on this week's lineup coming Tuesday.

Sunday Evening update

We're at halftime in the Sunday night game. The People's Pigskin leads Ravens Fan T Sizzle by a score of 85-63. Matt Forte has a single point, while Greg Jennings has 3, and given the shots being delivered by defenders on both sides, I'm surprised either of them is still upright.

The People's Pigskin will need to build a huge lead tonight, because the Sizzle has Fred Jackson (filling in for Marshawn Lynch during his three-game suspension) in the early Monday night game, along with Philip Rivers (a major fantasy threat) and Zach Miller (not so much) in the late Monday night game.

We'll have a more detailed look at our team tomorrow, but the big story for the People's Pigskin so far is the 35 points (that's right, thirty-freakin-five) by the Philadelphia Eagles defense. Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott is picking up where the late great Jim Johnson left off. And they'll need a strong defense if Donovan McNabb's injury is as serious as it looked.

It seems that every season there's at least one freak play that costs somebody a fantasy win (and possibly a playoff berth). Last year there was DeSean Jackson's dropping the ball before crossing the goal line. This year, we have a touchdown pass bouncing into Brandon Stokley's hands. If you hear someone outside the Cincinnati area mumbling "Stokley, Stokley...," don't panic. It's just a fantasy player getting it out of his/her system.

More on Monday.

Game Time, Baby (and New Poll)

The lineup is set, and you can follow the People's Pigskin's battle against Ravens Fan T Sizzle here.

Before I head to Sofia Restaurant, the unofficial second home of the People's Pigskin, here are a few story lines to follow early this Sunday.

Sigh of relief. The Kansas City Chiefs have confirmed that Matt Cassel will not play today against the Baltimore Ravens. Matt probably looked at this defense and said "Um, Coach, uh...my knee is acting up." Brodie Croyle is the likely starter. Great news if you have the Ravens D. Bad news if your opponent does.

You heard it here last. The Minnesota Vikings take on the Cleveland Browns, where, drumroll please ... Brady Quinn is starting at quarterback! I'm sure fantasy fans around the world are relieved to learn this and are racing to their laptops to get him in their lineup.

Oh, yeah, the other QB. Some guy named Brett is starting for the Vikings in the aforementioned matchup. But the question really isn't how many fantasy points he gets. It's how many points his backfield comrade will get.

Breaking them ... in. A couple of rookie quarterbacks get the starting nod today. Mark Sanchez of the New York Jets takes the field today against the Houston Texans, and Matthew Stafford of the Detroit takes the turf against the New Orleans Saints. Expect them both to take a few lumps, and here's hoping you're not pushed into a situation where you're starting either today.

New poll below. We'll be back later.

[polldaddy poll=1988522]

The People's Choice - Week 1

The people of the Internet have spoken. The most popular choice in this week's lineup poll was "change flex," and since two different people said I should do this, we will put Chad Ochocinco into the starting lineup in Derrick Ward's place. Keep the fingers crossed (unless you're part of whatever Chad has planned for Sunday).

Another poll has closed. And the most popular "go-to" snack food is pizza. Mmmmm, pizza...

Thanks for voting. I'll be back with an update sometime Sunday.

Friday update and thoughts

As was predicted here yesterday, last night was not a stellar night for offenses. Ravens Fan T Sizzle, our opponent this week, had Rob Bironas of the Tennessee Titans. He went 1 for 3 on field goals and made an extra point. That added up to 3 points for the Sizzle. This certainly won't kill my opponent, but it's not the best possible start, either.

The biggest story from last night's overtime win for the Steelers was Troy Polamalu's injury. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said he could miss the next 3 to 6 weeks. There's no doubting that the Pittsburgh Steelers are loaded with defensive talent, but Polamalu's injury is bound to affect this team. His talent and drive (did you see him make that tackle on about the 3 yard line?) cannot be matched. Don't be surprised if fantasy forecasts change for the Steelers' next few opponents (particularly for quarterbacks and receivers).

The poll on how to set the lineup is still open. (see below)

Opening Night

I'm not sure why the National Football League has decided to start its season on a Thursday night, taking away from the idea that the start of the season is a quasi-holiday. I also don't know why teams are allowed to pull shenanigans like this with their injury lists.

But right now, I DON'T CARE! IT'S FOOTBALL TIME!

According to the alleged experts at ESPN.com, the People's Pigskin is an underdog in the first weekend against Ravens Fan T Sizzle. I don't see any big numbers from either offense, but the Sizzle has Rob Bironas tonight, so we'll get a glimmer of clarity on our situation.

In the meantime, be sure to vote on our lineup, and leave a comment if you think I'm nuts.

Pick the People's Team - Week 1

OK, it's time for you, the Internet, to decide who should start for the People's Pigskin in Week 1. Our opponent for week 1 is Ravens Fan T Sizzle. We have no players in Thursday's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans, so we have until Sunday morning to pick a lineup. Here are the choices:

Quarterback. Kurt Warner, the ageless one, led his team to the Super Bowl last season. He has Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin at his disposal. And he's facing a 49ers team that didn't set the world on fire last season or this preseason. If we switch, it's to Trent Edwards of the Buffalo Bills.

Running back. Our current starters are Matt Forte, one of the hottest names in fantasy football, and Steve Slaton, who came in out of nowhere in his rookie year and should now be more comfortable with the Houston Texans offense. If they come out, it's for Jamal Lewis and Chris "Beanie" Wells.

Wide receiver. Our starters are Greg Jennings, the primary receiving threat for the Green Bay Packers, and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who's inheriting the primary job by default in Seattle. If they come out, it's for Chad Ochocinco and Josh Morgan.

Flex position. This one is a true dilemma. We currently have Derrick Ward, whose team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, can't be relying on Byron Leftwich's arm to score touchdowns. The other option is Morgan, who faces an Arizona Cardinals defense that was less than stellar last year, even in the Super Bowl.

We have Kellen Winslow at tight end, Nick Folk at kicker, and the Eagles defense/special teams. If you want to make changes there, you'll have to make suggestions about who should come in.

Here's the poll, which will close Saturday. And by the way, the snack poll will remain open until this weekend. In the meantime, feel free to ask questions.

[polldaddy poll=1969425]

Fearless predictions: Week 1

Every week during the season, I plan to offer some predictions about the match-ups in the Landshark Maniacs league. Take them with as many grains of salt as you wish, and please, no wagering.

Peoples Pigskin vs. Ravens Fan T Sizzle. I'm going to go out on a limb and predict a victory here. Forte and Warner should have a good day, and so should Rivers, but I can't say I expect the same for Willie Parker.

Hawaiian MaiTai Guzzlers vs. T-Bay Jacks 151rum Stumblrs. The battle of the mixed drinks. If ever there was a week where Peyton Manning was going to set the field on fire, this would be it. I'm taking the stumblers. (And if you're offering, I'll take a 151 and coke.)

D.C. Destroyers vs. Houston Wreckin' Crew. Jay Cutler is the real wild card here. I think he provides just enough offense to complement Michael Turner and give the Crew a victory. Long term, though, you've gotta hope the Broncos either get Brandon Marshall on the field or give Cutler someone else who can go deep.

Big Lough O vs. Northeast Dragons. Some people have been less than enthusiastic about Tom Brady's return to the field. I'm not one of them. I don't care if the Patriots dig up Red Grange's corpse and line it up at running back. (Talk about your galloping ghosts.) I see a big Monday night performance and a win for the Lough O's.

Southern Rebels vs. Tinks Revenge. That "Q" next to Matt Cassel's name has to make you nervous. So does the fact that his team gets to start off against the Ravens defense. Combine that with Drew Brees' match-up against the Lions (making New Orleans a popular pick in suicide pools), I have to take Tink's side here.

Think I'm wrong? Feel free to comment. The snack poll is still open if you're hungry. Coming Tuesday, the first poll on the Peoples Pigskin lineup.

The last cut is the deepest

Who would have thought that fantasy football players would need to be paying attention the day the National Football League reduces its rosters to 53 players. After all, that's the day the fifth- and sixth-string wide receivers hope not to hear the words, "Coach wants to see you. Bring your playbook." It's not supposed to be the day name-brand players are told to clean out their lockers.

Is it?

I know of at least one fantasy player who had Dominic Rhodes on the roster when the Buffalo Bills showed him the door. Rhodes was brought in during the off-season to shore up a running back platoon hampered by Marshawn Lynch's three-game suspension. Rhodes was supposed to be the primary backup to Fred Jackson at the start of the season. Now, as of Sunday morning, the Bills have just two running backs with NFL experience available for the first three games, including the Monday night season opener against the New England Patriots.

Rhodes' cut was surprising, but surprisingly, it wasn't even the most surprising cut Saturday. (Yes, I just used some version of "surprising" three times in a sentence. It was that surprising.) That "honor" goes to the Oakland Raiders for telling Jeff Garcia that his services were no longer required. I haven't heard about it personally, but it wouldn't surprise me to learn that fantasy players had found a spot for Garcia on their rosters. After all, he was brought in to compete with JaMarcus Russell (you know, the guy who can throw the ball 60+ yards on his knees) for the starting job. And keeping Garcia would have made it easier for the Raiders to pull Russell if he stinks out the joint.

But of course, these are the Raiders we're talking about.

Anyway, I'll be back Monday with thoughts about week 1 and the People's Pigskin lineup. In the meantime, you can vote in our snack poll here. And if you have any cut day horror stories, feel free to leave a comment. Enjoy your Sunday.

Quick thoughts and new poll

I'm a big fan of Bill Simmons (the Sports Guy) on ESPN.com, and I'm reading part 2 of his latest Vegas diary. He's discussing the fantasy league in which he has participated since 1990. I just read this from his description of the league rules: "We remain the only league on the planet that still starts TWO quarterbacks. That's right, two." He calls it indefensible, but I still feel like that Boise State kid who got sucker punched last night. How can anyone in this day and age play 2 quarterbacks? Didn't we learn anything from the Browns?

I participate in a Yahoo! league with some friends, and our league had its autodraft this morning. (Yes, I'd prefer a live draft, but it just wouldn't be feasible in this case.) I had set my player list well in advance. Yahoo only lets you rank a certain number of players (I want to say 150 but I'm not sure), and I purposely put the kickers at the very bottom of the league, to ensure that I wouldn't be drafting a kicker until the last round. So what happened? It turns out Yahoo gave me my kicker ... you sitting down? ... in the ninth round!?! And some other players got their kickers in the seventh round! Anyone else have an experience like this?

(I've got one draft to go, a LIVE draft, thank goodness, scheduled for Monday evening. Wish me luck.)

By the way, since college football is back in session this weekend, here's a new poll for football lovers everywhere. Happy Labor Day, everyone!

[polldaddy poll=1955295]

Say my name

One of the things that always impresses me about fantasy football is the creativity people use when naming their teams. I'm not going to guess how many teams are named BadNewz Kennels or Child Please or <Insert Team Name Here> Sucks, but they are vastly outnumbered by the people who put some actual thought into their names.

And fortunately, we have 10 creative names in the Landshark Maniacs league. (Yes, I'm giving myself credit for creativity in using People's Pigskin. Sue me.) Here are the other teams and their lineups:

Northeast Dragons.

D.C. Destroyers.

t-bay jacks 151rum stumblrs. (Can't wait to hear the story behind this one.)

Houston Wreckin' Crew.

Southern Rebels.

Tinks Revenge. (Haven't learned who Tink is or why vengeance is required)

Big Lough O.

Hawaiian MaiTai Guzzlers. (My personal favorite of the league names)

Ravens Fan T Sizzle, who, by the way, is the People's Pigskin opponent in week one.

Anybody have favorite names? Feel free to share it, and don't forget to vote in the poll below.