In fantasy football, there are times when you can do no wrong, and there are times when everything you do will blow up in your face.
A week after a 30-point win over the Houston Wreckin' Crew the People's Pigskin finds itself trailing the Hawaiian Surfriders by a score of 69-36. The Surfriders have Laurence Maroney and John Carney in the Monday night matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the New England Patriots. We have Jeremy Shockey. It's not an entirely lost cause, but it is certainly time for a Hail Mary.
We'll be back tomorrow to review this game and get ready for the next one.
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Sunday Update: Executive Decision
Every democracy has procedures in place for an emergency. In this fantasy football democracy, one of those emergency procedures is being put in place.
At about 3:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals reported that Kurt Warner would not play against the Tennessee Titans. In light of this, the People's Pigskin has benched Warner in favor of Matt Cassel. You can see the updated lineup here and follow our matchup against the Hawaiian Surfriders here.
At about 3:30 p.m. EST on Sunday, the Arizona Cardinals reported that Kurt Warner would not play against the Tennessee Titans. In light of this, the People's Pigskin has benched Warner in favor of Matt Cassel. You can see the updated lineup here and follow our matchup against the Hawaiian Surfriders here.
The People's Choice (and a New Poll)
Another week has passed, and you, the Internet, have spoken again. In our latest fantasy football poll, you decided that our team should bench Steve Slaton in favor of Matt Forte. Slaton has been benched, and Forte has moved into the starting lineup for our Landshark Maniacs matchup against the Hawaiian Surfriders. You can follow that match live here.
Our latest poll deals with something that has haunted fantasy football pretty much since its creation. Last year I played in an online league where one team was ... and there's no pleasant way to put this ... abandoned. How do we know it was abandoned? By looking at the starting quarterback for all 17 weeks of last year's NFL season: Tom Brady. (You might remember he had a problem with his knee in the season opener that year.)
I remember being frustrated about the fact that whoever was playing this team (which I will not identify here) was getting what was essentially a head start, if not an outright gift of a win, because it seemed as if one fantasy player had suffered a setback and decided that the team was a lost cause.
Nothing happened to that player as far as I can tell. Was that right? This poll is your chance to answer. Please vote now, and enjoy the Sunday games. The lineup poll results can be seen below.
[polldaddy poll=2304605]
Our latest poll deals with something that has haunted fantasy football pretty much since its creation. Last year I played in an online league where one team was ... and there's no pleasant way to put this ... abandoned. How do we know it was abandoned? By looking at the starting quarterback for all 17 weeks of last year's NFL season: Tom Brady. (You might remember he had a problem with his knee in the season opener that year.)
I remember being frustrated about the fact that whoever was playing this team (which I will not identify here) was getting what was essentially a head start, if not an outright gift of a win, because it seemed as if one fantasy player had suffered a setback and decided that the team was a lost cause.
Nothing happened to that player as far as I can tell. Was that right? This poll is your chance to answer. Please vote now, and enjoy the Sunday games. The lineup poll results can be seen below.
[polldaddy poll=2304605]
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Saturday Afternoon Reading
If you're reading this, let me congratulate you on surviving your Thanksgiving dinner and Black Friday.
The People's Pigskin got off to a disappointing start against the Hawaiian Surfriders. Greg Jennings and Nick Folk scored 5 fantasy points each, giving us a 10-0 lead heading into Sunday's games. There is still time to vote on the rest of our lineup. That poll will close late Saturday night.
So before you settle into a plate of leftover turkey and a slate of college games, here are some fantasy football links to peruse.
Forget the budget! I've gotta set my lineup! Who says politicians can't make tough decisions? Twelve mayors from across the country are competing in the Yahoo Sports Mayoral Face-Off. The grand prize: a $15,000 donation to a nonprofit of the winning mayor's choice. One of the participants is Oklahoma City's Mick Cornett, a former sportscaster. How much has his sports background helped him in this competition? At the time the article was posted, his team was 11th.
Another set of opposing views. A couple of WordPress bloggers make this week's list. First, there's Big Rips, who offers this comparison of fantasy football versus gambling. The thesis: fantasy football "has turned many people into “that guy” at the bar." In this case, "that guy" means the guy who annoys everyone else in the bar, to the point where the barkeep tosses the guy out on his Oshiomogho Atogwe.
Another blogger, Glenn's World, offers some thoughts on having NFL games on Thursday. In a nutshell, Glenn would prefer to have games on Sunday or Monday only. "With every Sunday spent watching football, I really don’t want to devote more time to watching more football other days."
(Glenn also invited me to give him a set of confidence picks to compare with his own. My picks, which skipped the already-played Thursday games, can be found in the comments section of his post.)
And just in case... you haven't seen this yet, here is video proof that Ray Lewis hasn't cornered the market on big defensive plays.
We'll be back tomorrow with an update on our lineup.
The People's Pigskin got off to a disappointing start against the Hawaiian Surfriders. Greg Jennings and Nick Folk scored 5 fantasy points each, giving us a 10-0 lead heading into Sunday's games. There is still time to vote on the rest of our lineup. That poll will close late Saturday night.
So before you settle into a plate of leftover turkey and a slate of college games, here are some fantasy football links to peruse.
Forget the budget! I've gotta set my lineup! Who says politicians can't make tough decisions? Twelve mayors from across the country are competing in the Yahoo Sports Mayoral Face-Off. The grand prize: a $15,000 donation to a nonprofit of the winning mayor's choice. One of the participants is Oklahoma City's Mick Cornett, a former sportscaster. How much has his sports background helped him in this competition? At the time the article was posted, his team was 11th.
Another set of opposing views. A couple of WordPress bloggers make this week's list. First, there's Big Rips, who offers this comparison of fantasy football versus gambling. The thesis: fantasy football "has turned many people into “that guy” at the bar." In this case, "that guy" means the guy who annoys everyone else in the bar, to the point where the barkeep tosses the guy out on his Oshiomogho Atogwe.
Another blogger, Glenn's World, offers some thoughts on having NFL games on Thursday. In a nutshell, Glenn would prefer to have games on Sunday or Monday only. "With every Sunday spent watching football, I really don’t want to devote more time to watching more football other days."
(Glenn also invited me to give him a set of confidence picks to compare with his own. My picks, which skipped the already-played Thursday games, can be found in the comments section of his post.)
And just in case... you haven't seen this yet, here is video proof that Ray Lewis hasn't cornered the market on big defensive plays.
We'll be back tomorrow with an update on our lineup.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Pick the People's Team - Week 12 (and Thanksgiving Help)
First of all, Happy Thanksgiving to all of you who have kept this blog going with your visits, comments and votes. We couldn't do it without you.
We had two polls close last night. The first one was about whether Greg Jennings and/or Nick Folk should start for the People's Pigskin today or be benched. You voted to keep them both in the lineup, so they'll stay right there.
The second poll was about how much football you plan to watch this weekend. As the results (at the bottom of this post) show, you won't exactly be camped out at your local retailer all weekend.
While you're waiting for the turkey to roast -- or fry; I'm not one to look down on those of you daring enough to do this -- it's time to consider the rest of this week's lineup for our matchup against the Hawaiian Surfriders. (And at the end of this post, we'll have a link to help you deal with relatives today. Stay tuned.)
Quarterback. At the moment we have Kurt Warner as our starter. He reportedly expects to play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, despite last week's injury. If you're nervous enough to bench him, Matt Cassel can start in his place.
Running back. Our current starters are Steve Slaton, who missed practice Wednesday with a shoulder injury, and Chris "Beanie" Wells, who is asserting himself more and more each week. If we bench one of these runners, we'll start Matt Forte.
Flex. Greg Jennings is in this slot and should be carving up the Lions at about the time you're carving up your poultry.
Wide receiver. Our starting lineup has T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Ochocinco, who hopefully won't fumble any boxing references (or footballs) this week. If either receiver is benched, Nate Washington will move into that spot.
Defense. At the moment, we have the Philadelphia Eagles ready to go against the Washington Redskins. If you would rather insert the San Francisco 49ers (who face the Jacksonville Jaguars), vote accordingly.
You already know about the kicker, and there is no change at tight end (Jeremy Shockey).
The new poll is up. Please vote.
Now a public service announcement from the People's Pigskin. If you're a fantasy football player who's visiting or hosting some non-fantasy players today, it's possible that you'll be asked the question, "What is this fantasy football everyone's talking about?" The likelihood of this skyrockets in one of the following scenarios.
1. You excuse yourself from a conversation about Uncle Henry's surgery to go to your computer and adjust your lineup.
2. You hear over your shoulder that your quarterback is out, and you immediately ask your host for permission to use his/her computer to fix your lineup.
If they ask about fantasy football while you're at the computer, you could try to fumble your way through an explanation yourself, or you could just click here for a quick video tutorial and thank the People's Pigskin later.
[polldaddy poll=2257311] [polldaddy poll=2292722]
We had two polls close last night. The first one was about whether Greg Jennings and/or Nick Folk should start for the People's Pigskin today or be benched. You voted to keep them both in the lineup, so they'll stay right there.
The second poll was about how much football you plan to watch this weekend. As the results (at the bottom of this post) show, you won't exactly be camped out at your local retailer all weekend.
While you're waiting for the turkey to roast -- or fry; I'm not one to look down on those of you daring enough to do this -- it's time to consider the rest of this week's lineup for our matchup against the Hawaiian Surfriders. (And at the end of this post, we'll have a link to help you deal with relatives today. Stay tuned.)
Quarterback. At the moment we have Kurt Warner as our starter. He reportedly expects to play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, despite last week's injury. If you're nervous enough to bench him, Matt Cassel can start in his place.
Running back. Our current starters are Steve Slaton, who missed practice Wednesday with a shoulder injury, and Chris "Beanie" Wells, who is asserting himself more and more each week. If we bench one of these runners, we'll start Matt Forte.
Flex. Greg Jennings is in this slot and should be carving up the Lions at about the time you're carving up your poultry.
Wide receiver. Our starting lineup has T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Ochocinco, who hopefully won't fumble any boxing references (or footballs) this week. If either receiver is benched, Nate Washington will move into that spot.
Defense. At the moment, we have the Philadelphia Eagles ready to go against the Washington Redskins. If you would rather insert the San Francisco 49ers (who face the Jacksonville Jaguars), vote accordingly.
You already know about the kicker, and there is no change at tight end (Jeremy Shockey).
The new poll is up. Please vote.
Now a public service announcement from the People's Pigskin. If you're a fantasy football player who's visiting or hosting some non-fantasy players today, it's possible that you'll be asked the question, "What is this fantasy football everyone's talking about?" The likelihood of this skyrockets in one of the following scenarios.
1. You excuse yourself from a conversation about Uncle Henry's surgery to go to your computer and adjust your lineup.
2. You hear over your shoulder that your quarterback is out, and you immediately ask your host for permission to use his/her computer to fix your lineup.
If they ask about fantasy football while you're at the computer, you could try to fumble your way through an explanation yourself, or you could just click here for a quick video tutorial and thank the People's Pigskin later.
[polldaddy poll=2257311] [polldaddy poll=2292722]
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Fearless Predictions - Week 12
Somebody should cue Al Michaels -- we have a miracle. Last week the Landshark Maniacs predictions went (hang on, this is gonna require the Caps Lock) FIVE-AND-OH, BABY!!! OH, YEAH!!! This lifts the season record to 31-24.
With the dinner-busting tripleheader on Thanksgiving, we have to get this week's predictions in early. Let's see if the short week affects the forecasts as much as it does the New York Giants.
Peoples Pigskin vs. Hawaiian Surfriders. If the forecasts can have a perfect week, then the Pigskin can make the playoffs.
Ravens Fan T Sizzle vs. T-bay jacks 151rum stumblrs. It comes down to one letter: Q. That's the letter you'll see next to Calvin Johnson's name. The Lions may either inactivate him or hold down his playing time. That will be enough for the stumblrs to squeeze out a win.
Big Lough O vs. Houston Wreckin' Crew. You'll see another Q next to Michael Turner's name, but that one won't matter as much. The Lough Os have too many weapons and will cruise to a victory.
Southern Rebels vs. D.C. Destroyers. This is your wishbone game of the week -- the one that could go either way. The difference? Chris Johnson. He's heading for a rushing title, and the Destroyers are heading for the winner's circle.
Northeast Dragons vs. Tinks Revenge. There are two indisputable facts to remember this week: One of your relatives will attack Thanksgiving dinner the way these folks attack hot dogs, and the Dragons will chalk up another win.
Please remember to vote in our polls, both of which will close tonight. Have a happy Thanksgiving, and be sure to save me some pie.
With the dinner-busting tripleheader on Thanksgiving, we have to get this week's predictions in early. Let's see if the short week affects the forecasts as much as it does the New York Giants.
Peoples Pigskin vs. Hawaiian Surfriders. If the forecasts can have a perfect week, then the Pigskin can make the playoffs.
Ravens Fan T Sizzle vs. T-bay jacks 151rum stumblrs. It comes down to one letter: Q. That's the letter you'll see next to Calvin Johnson's name. The Lions may either inactivate him or hold down his playing time. That will be enough for the stumblrs to squeeze out a win.
Big Lough O vs. Houston Wreckin' Crew. You'll see another Q next to Michael Turner's name, but that one won't matter as much. The Lough Os have too many weapons and will cruise to a victory.
Southern Rebels vs. D.C. Destroyers. This is your wishbone game of the week -- the one that could go either way. The difference? Chris Johnson. He's heading for a rushing title, and the Destroyers are heading for the winner's circle.
Northeast Dragons vs. Tinks Revenge. There are two indisputable facts to remember this week: One of your relatives will attack Thanksgiving dinner the way these folks attack hot dogs, and the Dragons will chalk up another win.
Please remember to vote in our polls, both of which will close tonight. Have a happy Thanksgiving, and be sure to save me some pie.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Some Pre-Thanksgiving Reading
Here are some links to peruse while you consider what to do with our lineup for our upcoming matchup against the Hawaiian Surfriders.
Champ, why don't you stop talking for a while? In his always-essential "Monday Morning Quarterback," Peter King alerted football fans to a tweet he got Monday morning from our very own Chad Ochocinco:
"Good morning to all, top of the morning on this awesome football Sunday ALI-HOLMES=OCHO CINCO-NNAMDI'' I damn sure ain't HOLMES either.''
In case you missed yesterday's post, Chad got only 6 fantasy points Sunday and was kept out of the end zone by Nnamdi Asomugha and the rest of the Oakland Raiders.
Maybe Chad knew he was headed for a mediocre fantasy football performance. After all, Larry Holmes beat Muhammad Ali.
Cause for alarm. The New York Jets had to know they would need all the help they could get facing the New England Patriots in Foxboro. What they got instead was dragged out of their hotel rooms early Sunday morning when someone pulled a false fire alarm.
Once again, this is something that one of the pregame television shows could have flagged before fantasy players set their rosters. (And you can't argue that the networks didn't know about this. Players were sending out tweets starting practically the moment it happened.) Seriously, if you had known that the Jets were being pulled out of their beds that late, would you have started any of them?
The only Jet I would have started in those circumstances is Joe Namath, since he would have just been getting back to the hotel at that time, anyway.
Well, there's a switch. Unless you live in Buffalo or Jacksonville or had players from the Bills or Jaguars in your fantasy lineups, you probably did not see Eric Wood of the Buffalo Bills break his leg and end his season. That's because CBS decided that the injury was too gruesome to show in a replay. (If you want to see it for yourself, you can click here.)
It's interesting that CBS made that decision about that injury. Those of us old enough to remember Joe Theismann as something other than a TV personality remember how his playing career ended. When the Washington Redskins were playing the New York Giants on Monday night, Lawrence Taylor sacked Theismann and broke his leg in a way that probably still send chills down Joe's spine when he thinks about it. However, no one felt any qualms about replaying the hit immediately afterward or in the days, months and years that followed.
(You can see Taylor's hit, and a replay of it, by clicking here.)
We'll be back tomorrow with an early edition of the Landshark Maniacs predictions.
Champ, why don't you stop talking for a while? In his always-essential "Monday Morning Quarterback," Peter King alerted football fans to a tweet he got Monday morning from our very own Chad Ochocinco:
"Good morning to all, top of the morning on this awesome football Sunday ALI-HOLMES=OCHO CINCO-NNAMDI'' I damn sure ain't HOLMES either.''
In case you missed yesterday's post, Chad got only 6 fantasy points Sunday and was kept out of the end zone by Nnamdi Asomugha and the rest of the Oakland Raiders.
Maybe Chad knew he was headed for a mediocre fantasy football performance. After all, Larry Holmes beat Muhammad Ali.
Cause for alarm. The New York Jets had to know they would need all the help they could get facing the New England Patriots in Foxboro. What they got instead was dragged out of their hotel rooms early Sunday morning when someone pulled a false fire alarm.
Once again, this is something that one of the pregame television shows could have flagged before fantasy players set their rosters. (And you can't argue that the networks didn't know about this. Players were sending out tweets starting practically the moment it happened.) Seriously, if you had known that the Jets were being pulled out of their beds that late, would you have started any of them?
The only Jet I would have started in those circumstances is Joe Namath, since he would have just been getting back to the hotel at that time, anyway.
Well, there's a switch. Unless you live in Buffalo or Jacksonville or had players from the Bills or Jaguars in your fantasy lineups, you probably did not see Eric Wood of the Buffalo Bills break his leg and end his season. That's because CBS decided that the injury was too gruesome to show in a replay. (If you want to see it for yourself, you can click here.)
It's interesting that CBS made that decision about that injury. Those of us old enough to remember Joe Theismann as something other than a TV personality remember how his playing career ended. When the Washington Redskins were playing the New York Giants on Monday night, Lawrence Taylor sacked Theismann and broke his leg in a way that probably still send chills down Joe's spine when he thinks about it. However, no one felt any qualms about replaying the hit immediately afterward or in the days, months and years that followed.
(You can see Taylor's hit, and a replay of it, by clicking here.)
We'll be back tomorrow with an early edition of the Landshark Maniacs predictions.
Monday, November 23, 2009
The People's Win (and Plans for Thursday)
The People's Pigskin bounced back this week by defeating the Houston Wreckin' Crew by a score of 68-38. The Crew didn't get any favors from Michael Turner, who was ruled inactive for the Atlanta Falcons, but even with a typical Turner performance, you, the Internet, would have prevailed in this fantasy football contest. Here's the breakdown.
Kurt Warner, QB. The stats: 15 of 19 passing, 203 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 fumble and 14 fantasy points. The big news here, of course, is the injury Warner suffered shortly before halftime. He's saying that the injury wasn't serious, but it's well worth monitoring this week.
Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 14 rushes for 34 yards, 4 receptions for 20 yards, a 2-point conversion and 7 fantasy points. No member on the Chicago Bears covered himself in glory Sunday night, except perhaps for Robbie Gould.
Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB. The stats: 14 rushes for 74 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 receptions for 11 yards and 14 fantasy points. Wells' campaign for Pleasant Fantasy Surprise of the Year continues and may even get a lift if Warner can't go Sunday.
Greg Jennings, Flex. The stats: 5 receptions, 126 yards, 1 touchdown and 18 fantasy points. Whew. That's more like it.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR. The stats: 4 receptions, 36 yards and 3 fantasy points. It seemed as if the Seattle Seahawks offense was swallowed whole by the Minnesota Vikings.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 4 receptions, 67 yards and 6 fantasy points. Another high-powered offense fell flat against the Oakland Raiders. Can anyone figure that out?
Jeremy Shockey, TE. The stats: 2 receptions, 17 yards and 1 fantasy point. The New Orleans Saints spread the ball around in their thumping of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Can't decide whether they spread it too much or not enough.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 0 for 1 on field goals, 1 for 1 on extra points and 0 fantasy points. Ugh.
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 1 interception, 1 sack, 1 blocked kick, 20 points allowed and 5 fantasy points. The Eagles late plays on defense and special teams saved their game and their fantasy value at the same time.
Bench. Matt Cassel scored 15 points, while Jamal Lewis scored 10. The 49ers defense/special teams had minus-2.
Now let's talk about Thanksgiving. The People's Pigskin has two players who will be working on that day: Greg Jennings, whose Green Bay Packers visit the Detroit Lions, and Nick Folk, whose Dallas Cowboys entertain the Oakland Raiders. A poll about whether to bench either (or both) of these players is now up and will close on Thanksgiving morning. If we bench Jennings, Nate Washington will be moved into the starting lineup, though there will be time to switch him for someone else by Sunday. If we bench Folk, a kicker will be picked up from the waiver wire.
Again, the poll is up. Please vote. We'll be back later with more football thoughts.
Kurt Warner, QB. The stats: 15 of 19 passing, 203 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 fumble and 14 fantasy points. The big news here, of course, is the injury Warner suffered shortly before halftime. He's saying that the injury wasn't serious, but it's well worth monitoring this week.
Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 14 rushes for 34 yards, 4 receptions for 20 yards, a 2-point conversion and 7 fantasy points. No member on the Chicago Bears covered himself in glory Sunday night, except perhaps for Robbie Gould.
Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB. The stats: 14 rushes for 74 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 receptions for 11 yards and 14 fantasy points. Wells' campaign for Pleasant Fantasy Surprise of the Year continues and may even get a lift if Warner can't go Sunday.
Greg Jennings, Flex. The stats: 5 receptions, 126 yards, 1 touchdown and 18 fantasy points. Whew. That's more like it.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR. The stats: 4 receptions, 36 yards and 3 fantasy points. It seemed as if the Seattle Seahawks offense was swallowed whole by the Minnesota Vikings.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 4 receptions, 67 yards and 6 fantasy points. Another high-powered offense fell flat against the Oakland Raiders. Can anyone figure that out?
Jeremy Shockey, TE. The stats: 2 receptions, 17 yards and 1 fantasy point. The New Orleans Saints spread the ball around in their thumping of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Can't decide whether they spread it too much or not enough.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 0 for 1 on field goals, 1 for 1 on extra points and 0 fantasy points. Ugh.
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 1 interception, 1 sack, 1 blocked kick, 20 points allowed and 5 fantasy points. The Eagles late plays on defense and special teams saved their game and their fantasy value at the same time.
Bench. Matt Cassel scored 15 points, while Jamal Lewis scored 10. The 49ers defense/special teams had minus-2.
Now let's talk about Thanksgiving. The People's Pigskin has two players who will be working on that day: Greg Jennings, whose Green Bay Packers visit the Detroit Lions, and Nick Folk, whose Dallas Cowboys entertain the Oakland Raiders. A poll about whether to bench either (or both) of these players is now up and will close on Thanksgiving morning. If we bench Jennings, Nate Washington will be moved into the starting lineup, though there will be time to switch him for someone else by Sunday. If we bench Folk, a kicker will be picked up from the waiver wire.
Again, the poll is up. Please vote. We'll be back later with more football thoughts.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
The People's Choice - Week 11
Another week has passed, and once again you, the Internet, have spoken. Though some voted to switch defenses, you voted to leave the lineup alone. Here's how our lineup looks for this week's matchup against the Houston Wreckin' Crew. You can follow that matchup live by clicking here.
The Thanksgiving-related poll will stay up until Thanksgiving. We'll be back tomorrow with a breakdown of this week's game and a look at next week's action. In the meantime, here are the results of our lineup poll. Enjoy today's games.
[polldaddy poll=2272260]
The Thanksgiving-related poll will stay up until Thanksgiving. We'll be back tomorrow with a breakdown of this week's game and a look at next week's action. In the meantime, here are the results of our lineup poll. Enjoy today's games.
[polldaddy poll=2272260]
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Saturday Afternoon Reading
This would have been posted earlier, but we were unavoidably detained at Sofia Restaurant, the unofficial second home of the People's Pigskin. Anyway, here are some links to peruse while you decide how you will vote in our polls. (Reminder: the lineup poll will close Saturday night.)
Maybe he and the producers should huddle. I wish I could find video to support my point here, but I can't, so you'll just have to trust me on this one.
The NFL Network has a show called Playbook, where several National Football League veterans, including the inimitable Sterling Sharpe, analyze game film and try to use what they see on that film to predict the outcome of the upcoming games. If it sounds familiar, it's because ESPN has been using that format for years for its "NFL Matchup" show with Ron Jaworski and Merrill Hoge. (If you're looking for that show on your TV listings, it's easy to find -- just look in the boxes marked "3:30 a.m. EST Sunday" and "7:30 EST Sunday." You know, the times when every football fan's TV is on.)
Anyway, this week on Playbook, Sterling and company were analyzing this week's titanic matchup between the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions. Sterling was telling us that the Lions would prevail, because he likes what he's seeing from the Lions defense. While he was praising the defense, the producers were showing three plays from last week's game between the Lions and the Minnesota Vikings. The plays: a long Sidney Rice touchdown, a long reception by Percy Harvin and a touchdown run by Adrian Peterson. In at least two of the plays, the Vikings player broke at least one Lions tackle.
I still don't know whether the producers were paying tribute to Alanis Morissette's take on irony, or whether they didn't get the memo that all three analysts were picking the Lions to beat the Browns. Or maybe it was just easier to find three plays where the Lions were schooled.
Conflict of interest? By now you know that Maurice Jones-Drew's taking a knee at the 1-yard line last week hurt a lot of fantasy football players last week. Well, the Chicago Tribune learned that one of the players burned by the decision was Robbie Gould of the Chicago Bears. He has a team in the NFL Players Association league, and his team had Jones-Drew in its lineup.
That's right. The NFL Players Association has a fantasy football league. Now, it would be the height of hypocrisy for me to criticize NFL players for playing fantasy football. But it is interesting that a league that sued to keep Delaware from taking bets on football games allows its players to play fantasy football, a game where inside knowledge about who's starting and who's healthy (and who's lying about their injury reports) would be worth a king's ransom.
Your weekly "opposing view" update. A fellow WordPress blogger, Pigskin Is the New Pink, has something to say about fantasy football. In the post "Fantasy or Loyalty," the blog (which, to be fair, is written by a fantasy player) tells us that fantasy football "has shamed the way fans treat their rivals." The thesis: Playing fantasy football encourages you to root for players on your archrival's team, in the hopes that said players will reward you with points and victories.
"I encourage you all to stop playing fantasy football for money and start cheering for what really matters, when your most hated team and/or player has a TERRIBLE GAME and LOSES!"
Ummm...good luck with that.
Now to the important stuff. Remember what's truly important about football: the chance to enjoy whatever your favorite beverage may be, even if you feel the same way as this guy.
We'll be back Sunday morning with an update on our lineup.
Maybe he and the producers should huddle. I wish I could find video to support my point here, but I can't, so you'll just have to trust me on this one.
The NFL Network has a show called Playbook, where several National Football League veterans, including the inimitable Sterling Sharpe, analyze game film and try to use what they see on that film to predict the outcome of the upcoming games. If it sounds familiar, it's because ESPN has been using that format for years for its "NFL Matchup" show with Ron Jaworski and Merrill Hoge. (If you're looking for that show on your TV listings, it's easy to find -- just look in the boxes marked "3:30 a.m. EST Sunday" and "7:30 EST Sunday." You know, the times when every football fan's TV is on.)
Anyway, this week on Playbook, Sterling and company were analyzing this week's titanic matchup between the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions. Sterling was telling us that the Lions would prevail, because he likes what he's seeing from the Lions defense. While he was praising the defense, the producers were showing three plays from last week's game between the Lions and the Minnesota Vikings. The plays: a long Sidney Rice touchdown, a long reception by Percy Harvin and a touchdown run by Adrian Peterson. In at least two of the plays, the Vikings player broke at least one Lions tackle.
I still don't know whether the producers were paying tribute to Alanis Morissette's take on irony, or whether they didn't get the memo that all three analysts were picking the Lions to beat the Browns. Or maybe it was just easier to find three plays where the Lions were schooled.
Conflict of interest? By now you know that Maurice Jones-Drew's taking a knee at the 1-yard line last week hurt a lot of fantasy football players last week. Well, the Chicago Tribune learned that one of the players burned by the decision was Robbie Gould of the Chicago Bears. He has a team in the NFL Players Association league, and his team had Jones-Drew in its lineup.
That's right. The NFL Players Association has a fantasy football league. Now, it would be the height of hypocrisy for me to criticize NFL players for playing fantasy football. But it is interesting that a league that sued to keep Delaware from taking bets on football games allows its players to play fantasy football, a game where inside knowledge about who's starting and who's healthy (and who's lying about their injury reports) would be worth a king's ransom.
Your weekly "opposing view" update. A fellow WordPress blogger, Pigskin Is the New Pink, has something to say about fantasy football. In the post "Fantasy or Loyalty," the blog (which, to be fair, is written by a fantasy player) tells us that fantasy football "has shamed the way fans treat their rivals." The thesis: Playing fantasy football encourages you to root for players on your archrival's team, in the hopes that said players will reward you with points and victories.
"I encourage you all to stop playing fantasy football for money and start cheering for what really matters, when your most hated team and/or player has a TERRIBLE GAME and LOSES!"
Ummm...good luck with that.
Now to the important stuff. Remember what's truly important about football: the chance to enjoy whatever your favorite beverage may be, even if you feel the same way as this guy.
We'll be back Sunday morning with an update on our lineup.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Fearless Predictions - Week 11
Well, it's nice to see that the Landshark Maniacs predictions are getting more love than Allen Iverson has lately. Last week the predictions went 4-1 for the second straight week, raising the season record to 26-24. Just call them butter, cause they're on a roll. (mmm...dinner rolls...must be getting close to Turkey Day)
Anyway, here's this week's batch of fantasy football forecasts.
Peoples Pigskin vs. Houston Wreckin' Crew. Greg Jennings' absence from the injury report makes me feel better about the Pigskin's prospects. The call here is for ... wait for it ... a Pigskin win.
D.C. Destroyers vs. Hawaiian Surfriders. The Surfriders got off to a strong start with the help of Steve Smith's touchdown Thursday night. And the Bengals defense must be salivating over the prospect of facing Bruce Gradkowski & Co. That should be enough to seal the deal for the Surfriders.
Northeast Dragons vs. Southern Rebels. Just what the Rebels were probably hoping to avoid: Ricky Williams doing the work of two running backs in the Miami Dolphins victory Thursday night. That 30-point hole is probably too deep for the Rebels to overcome. Chalk up a tenth win for the Dragons.
T-bay jacks 151rum stumblrs vs. Big Lough O. This one will be closer than a lot of people think, but the Lough Os will record another win. And poor Jack may reach the point where he wishes his fantasy game was blacked out.
Tinks Revenge vs. Ravens Fan T Sizzle. It was a solid start for the Revenge courtesy of DeAngelo Williams, but this one will come down to the Monday night game. Rob Bironas of the Tennessee Titans will have a late kick that delivers an upset win for the Sizzle.
We'll be back tomorrow with some reading material. In the meantime, be sure to vote in our polls. Your vote counts.
Anyway, here's this week's batch of fantasy football forecasts.
Peoples Pigskin vs. Houston Wreckin' Crew. Greg Jennings' absence from the injury report makes me feel better about the Pigskin's prospects. The call here is for ... wait for it ... a Pigskin win.
D.C. Destroyers vs. Hawaiian Surfriders. The Surfriders got off to a strong start with the help of Steve Smith's touchdown Thursday night. And the Bengals defense must be salivating over the prospect of facing Bruce Gradkowski & Co. That should be enough to seal the deal for the Surfriders.
Northeast Dragons vs. Southern Rebels. Just what the Rebels were probably hoping to avoid: Ricky Williams doing the work of two running backs in the Miami Dolphins victory Thursday night. That 30-point hole is probably too deep for the Rebels to overcome. Chalk up a tenth win for the Dragons.
T-bay jacks 151rum stumblrs vs. Big Lough O. This one will be closer than a lot of people think, but the Lough Os will record another win. And poor Jack may reach the point where he wishes his fantasy game was blacked out.
Tinks Revenge vs. Ravens Fan T Sizzle. It was a solid start for the Revenge courtesy of DeAngelo Williams, but this one will come down to the Monday night game. Rob Bironas of the Tennessee Titans will have a late kick that delivers an upset win for the Sizzle.
We'll be back tomorrow with some reading material. In the meantime, be sure to vote in our polls. Your vote counts.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
The People's Pro Bowl
At this time of year, the People's Pigskin is not the only football team seeking your help in choosing its lineup. (Hint: the polls are on the right.) The National Football League is soliciting fans' help in picking the players who will be invited to play in the Pro Bowl. The official ballot is here. The winners will be invited to play in Dolphin Stadium (not Landshark Stadium; the NFL has its own beer sponsor) the week before the Super Bowl.
Of course, the fans won't have the final word on the lineups. At least officially, the fans, players and coaches get an equal say in who goes to the Pro Bowl. But that doesn't mean fans can't put a little thought into their votes.
One of the consistent knocks against pro football's all-star game is that reputations count more than results -- a player who gets more TV interviews and films more commercials (or one who simply has been going to the Pro Bowl since the "Seinfeld" finale) will be chosen over a player who actually made the mistake of having a better season. But you, the Internet, have the power to overcome that, and you don't have to watch 40 hours of game film to do it.
Here's where fantasy football comes in. There are few better ways to compare one player to another heads-up without the bias of team logos or Nielsen ratings. This year, instead of simply voting for your favorite team's players or the first players that pop into your head, I would encourage you to vote for the players who are putting up the best fantasy numbers this year. If you do that, here's how your Pro Bowl ballot might look.
OFFENSE
Quarterback (3 from each conference). If you use ESPN fantasy points as your guide, your NFC passers would be Aaron Rodgers (185), Drew Brees (159) and Brett Favre (147, just 1 point above Tony Romo). Your AFC picks would be Peyton Manning (178), Tom Brady (176) and Matt Schaub (155).
Running back (3). Again, using ESPN points, your NFC backs would be Adrian Peterson (163), Michael Turner (138) and DeAngelo Williams (137). Your AFC picks: Chris Johnson (181), Maurice Jones-Drew (169) and Ray Rice (142).
Wide receiver (4). From the NFC: Larry Fitzgerald (115), Miles Austin (104), DeSean Jackson (103) and Roddy White (99). From the AFC: Reggie Wayne (130), Randy Moss (128), Vincent Jackson (112) and Andre Johnson (102).
Tight end (2). From the NFC: Vernon Davis (89) and Brent Celek (78). Yes, that means saying no to a certain PETA fan. From the AFC: Dallas Clark (90) and Antonio Gates (74 -- he's behind Owen Daniels but isn't on injured reserve).
Fullback (1). Here you can vote for the fullback with the most fantasy points or the fullback who helped his fellow running back get to the top of the fantasy heap. In that case, you would pick Minnesota's Naufahu Tahi for the NFC and Tennessee's Ahmard Hall for the AFC. (And if you haven't heard of either one until now, you're welcome.)
Offensive line (2 centers, 3 tackles, 3 guards). Here's where things get tricky. Most fantasy formats don't have scores for individual linemen. Your options: vote for the lines that got their running backs to the top, vote for the lines that got their quarterbacks to the top, or register for a site like Trench Fantasy that actually tracks blocking stats. For example, in the first half of the season, Trench Fantasy's top-scoring lines were the New England Patriots, the New Orleans Saints, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts.
DEFENSE
If you play in a league that treats defense/special teams as a single entity (as most leagues do), you can simply vote for the players on the top-scoring defense/special teams. In ESPN's case, that would be the Saints, Eagles and Vikings on the NFC side and the Ravens, Broncos and Bengals on the AFC side. However, you can make more precise votes if you have access to IDP (individual defensive player) stats. These numbers come courtesy of FFToday.
Defensive end (3). NFC: Jared Allen (98), Andre Carter (80) and Julius Peppers (76.5). AFC: Robert Mathis (76), Aaron Schobel (65) and Dwight Freeney (59).
Defensive tackle (3). NFC: Kevin Williams (55.5), Jonathan Babineaux (48) and Albert Haynesworth (42). AFC: Marcus Stroud (52), Tommy Kelly (40) and Shaun Rogers (32.5).
Outside linebacker (3). NFC: Lance Briggs (74.5), Chad Greenway (74) and Mike Peterson (74). AFC: James Harrison (97.5), Brian Cushing (94) and Elvis Dumervil (85.5).
Inside linebacker (2). NFC: Patrick Willis (111.5) and Curtis Lofton (86.5). AFC: David Harris (85.5) and D.J. Williams (85.5).
Cornerback (3). NFC: Charles Woodson (92.5), Tracy Porter (75.5) and Terence Newman (74.5). AFC: Leon Hall (80.5), Johnathan Joseph (72) and Chris Johnson (68).
Strong safety (1). NFC: Roman Harper (73.5). AFC: Tyvon Branch (71.5).
Free safety (1). NFC: Darren Sharper (97). AFC: Antoine Bethea (92).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker (1). Going back to ESPN stats, you get David Akers (90) for the NFC and Stephen Gostkowski (84) for the AFC.
Kick returner (1). If you can find a fantasy league that credits receivers with return points, you get votes for Percy Harvin (only 889 yards, but 2 touchdowns to put him past Danny Amendola) for the NFC and Joshua Cribbs (1,236 yards, 2 touchdowns) for the AFC.
Punter (1). Here you can simply go with the NFL leaders: Andy Lee (2,665 yards) for the NFC and Shane Lechler (2,938 yards) for the AFC.
Special team player (1). OK, there are some areas where fantasy football can't help you. Pick your personal favorite.
You'll notice that this list is missing some famous names -- players who have spent so much time in Honolulu that they should probably be registered to vote there. But when you make your Pro Bowl picks according to fantasy stats, you realize something: Reputation is not a fantasy stat.
We'll be back tomorrow with the Landshark Maniacs predictions.
Of course, the fans won't have the final word on the lineups. At least officially, the fans, players and coaches get an equal say in who goes to the Pro Bowl. But that doesn't mean fans can't put a little thought into their votes.
One of the consistent knocks against pro football's all-star game is that reputations count more than results -- a player who gets more TV interviews and films more commercials (or one who simply has been going to the Pro Bowl since the "Seinfeld" finale) will be chosen over a player who actually made the mistake of having a better season. But you, the Internet, have the power to overcome that, and you don't have to watch 40 hours of game film to do it.
Here's where fantasy football comes in. There are few better ways to compare one player to another heads-up without the bias of team logos or Nielsen ratings. This year, instead of simply voting for your favorite team's players or the first players that pop into your head, I would encourage you to vote for the players who are putting up the best fantasy numbers this year. If you do that, here's how your Pro Bowl ballot might look.
OFFENSE
Quarterback (3 from each conference). If you use ESPN fantasy points as your guide, your NFC passers would be Aaron Rodgers (185), Drew Brees (159) and Brett Favre (147, just 1 point above Tony Romo). Your AFC picks would be Peyton Manning (178), Tom Brady (176) and Matt Schaub (155).
Running back (3). Again, using ESPN points, your NFC backs would be Adrian Peterson (163), Michael Turner (138) and DeAngelo Williams (137). Your AFC picks: Chris Johnson (181), Maurice Jones-Drew (169) and Ray Rice (142).
Wide receiver (4). From the NFC: Larry Fitzgerald (115), Miles Austin (104), DeSean Jackson (103) and Roddy White (99). From the AFC: Reggie Wayne (130), Randy Moss (128), Vincent Jackson (112) and Andre Johnson (102).
Tight end (2). From the NFC: Vernon Davis (89) and Brent Celek (78). Yes, that means saying no to a certain PETA fan. From the AFC: Dallas Clark (90) and Antonio Gates (74 -- he's behind Owen Daniels but isn't on injured reserve).
Fullback (1). Here you can vote for the fullback with the most fantasy points or the fullback who helped his fellow running back get to the top of the fantasy heap. In that case, you would pick Minnesota's Naufahu Tahi for the NFC and Tennessee's Ahmard Hall for the AFC. (And if you haven't heard of either one until now, you're welcome.)
Offensive line (2 centers, 3 tackles, 3 guards). Here's where things get tricky. Most fantasy formats don't have scores for individual linemen. Your options: vote for the lines that got their running backs to the top, vote for the lines that got their quarterbacks to the top, or register for a site like Trench Fantasy that actually tracks blocking stats. For example, in the first half of the season, Trench Fantasy's top-scoring lines were the New England Patriots, the New Orleans Saints, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts.
DEFENSE
If you play in a league that treats defense/special teams as a single entity (as most leagues do), you can simply vote for the players on the top-scoring defense/special teams. In ESPN's case, that would be the Saints, Eagles and Vikings on the NFC side and the Ravens, Broncos and Bengals on the AFC side. However, you can make more precise votes if you have access to IDP (individual defensive player) stats. These numbers come courtesy of FFToday.
Defensive end (3). NFC: Jared Allen (98), Andre Carter (80) and Julius Peppers (76.5). AFC: Robert Mathis (76), Aaron Schobel (65) and Dwight Freeney (59).
Defensive tackle (3). NFC: Kevin Williams (55.5), Jonathan Babineaux (48) and Albert Haynesworth (42). AFC: Marcus Stroud (52), Tommy Kelly (40) and Shaun Rogers (32.5).
Outside linebacker (3). NFC: Lance Briggs (74.5), Chad Greenway (74) and Mike Peterson (74). AFC: James Harrison (97.5), Brian Cushing (94) and Elvis Dumervil (85.5).
Inside linebacker (2). NFC: Patrick Willis (111.5) and Curtis Lofton (86.5). AFC: David Harris (85.5) and D.J. Williams (85.5).
Cornerback (3). NFC: Charles Woodson (92.5), Tracy Porter (75.5) and Terence Newman (74.5). AFC: Leon Hall (80.5), Johnathan Joseph (72) and Chris Johnson (68).
Strong safety (1). NFC: Roman Harper (73.5). AFC: Tyvon Branch (71.5).
Free safety (1). NFC: Darren Sharper (97). AFC: Antoine Bethea (92).
SPECIAL TEAMS
Kicker (1). Going back to ESPN stats, you get David Akers (90) for the NFC and Stephen Gostkowski (84) for the AFC.
Kick returner (1). If you can find a fantasy league that credits receivers with return points, you get votes for Percy Harvin (only 889 yards, but 2 touchdowns to put him past Danny Amendola) for the NFC and Joshua Cribbs (1,236 yards, 2 touchdowns) for the AFC.
Punter (1). Here you can simply go with the NFL leaders: Andy Lee (2,665 yards) for the NFC and Shane Lechler (2,938 yards) for the AFC.
Special team player (1). OK, there are some areas where fantasy football can't help you. Pick your personal favorite.
You'll notice that this list is missing some famous names -- players who have spent so much time in Honolulu that they should probably be registered to vote there. But when you make your Pro Bowl picks according to fantasy stats, you realize something: Reputation is not a fantasy stat.
We'll be back tomorrow with the Landshark Maniacs predictions.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Pick the People's Lineup - Week 11
The People's Pigskin doesn't have any players in Thursday night's game between the Miami Dolphins and the Carolina Panthers. However, this team does need to get on a winning streak in a hurry, so we'll need your help.
This week's opponent is the Houston Wreckin' Crew. Here is how our lineup looks now.
Quarterback. The one and only Kurt Warner is starting. He's now in the top 10 among fantasy quarterbacks, and he gets the St. Louis Rams this week. If that matchup isn't to your liking, you can vote to start Matt Cassel instead.
Running back. Last week's starters are, at least for now, this week's starters. Matt Forte gets the Philadelphia Eagles this week. Chris "Beanie" Wells gets the Rams. If you wish to bench one of these players, we can start Jamal Lewis, who gets to play the Detroit Lions at least once more before he hangs up his cleats.
Flex. For now we have Greg Jennings in this spot. If he plays, he gets the San Francisco 49ers this week. The Green Bay Packers have said he'll miss practice time with his knee injury, but so far there's no indication that he'll miss playing time. If you think Jennings should sit, Lewis can come off our bench.
Wide receiver. Yes, it's the old Bengals duo of Chad Ochocinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Ochocinco gets to face the Oakland Raiders this week, and he might be doing this now that both the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers are in his rear-view mirror. Houshmandzadeh gets the Minnesota Vikings. If you wish to bench one of these players, Nate Washington (whose Tennessee Titans play Monday night) is ready to play.
No changes at tight end (Jeremy Shockey) or kicker (Nick Folk). But we have to discuss one more position.
Defense/special teams. We've started the Philadelphia Eagles every week except their bye week. They are in the starting lineup now, and they get the Chicago Bears on Sunday night. Facing the Bears with Jay Cutler at the helm can be feast or famine for a fantasy football player, and the Eagles haven't exactly covered themselves in glory in games shown on NBC.
This week, and for the rest of the season, the defense/special teams will appear in our lineup poll. If you want to sit the Eagles, we can call on the 49ers, who face the Packers.
The poll is up. Please vote. This fantasy football team is counting on you.
By the way, you may remember that the folks at Fantasy Sports Shack invited me to play their Name Your Sleepers game. The result: the People's Pigskin defeated the Shack. Thanks to the Shack for inviting me to play, and yes, I'll remember next time to follow the rules, or they'll do this to me.
We'll be back tomorrow with some thoughts about everyone's favorite game of all-stars.
This week's opponent is the Houston Wreckin' Crew. Here is how our lineup looks now.
Quarterback. The one and only Kurt Warner is starting. He's now in the top 10 among fantasy quarterbacks, and he gets the St. Louis Rams this week. If that matchup isn't to your liking, you can vote to start Matt Cassel instead.
Running back. Last week's starters are, at least for now, this week's starters. Matt Forte gets the Philadelphia Eagles this week. Chris "Beanie" Wells gets the Rams. If you wish to bench one of these players, we can start Jamal Lewis, who gets to play the Detroit Lions at least once more before he hangs up his cleats.
Flex. For now we have Greg Jennings in this spot. If he plays, he gets the San Francisco 49ers this week. The Green Bay Packers have said he'll miss practice time with his knee injury, but so far there's no indication that he'll miss playing time. If you think Jennings should sit, Lewis can come off our bench.
Wide receiver. Yes, it's the old Bengals duo of Chad Ochocinco and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Ochocinco gets to face the Oakland Raiders this week, and he might be doing this now that both the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers are in his rear-view mirror. Houshmandzadeh gets the Minnesota Vikings. If you wish to bench one of these players, Nate Washington (whose Tennessee Titans play Monday night) is ready to play.
No changes at tight end (Jeremy Shockey) or kicker (Nick Folk). But we have to discuss one more position.
Defense/special teams. We've started the Philadelphia Eagles every week except their bye week. They are in the starting lineup now, and they get the Chicago Bears on Sunday night. Facing the Bears with Jay Cutler at the helm can be feast or famine for a fantasy football player, and the Eagles haven't exactly covered themselves in glory in games shown on NBC.
This week, and for the rest of the season, the defense/special teams will appear in our lineup poll. If you want to sit the Eagles, we can call on the 49ers, who face the Packers.
The poll is up. Please vote. This fantasy football team is counting on you.
By the way, you may remember that the folks at Fantasy Sports Shack invited me to play their Name Your Sleepers game. The result: the People's Pigskin defeated the Shack. Thanks to the Shack for inviting me to play, and yes, I'll remember next time to follow the rules, or they'll do this to me.
We'll be back tomorrow with some thoughts about everyone's favorite game of all-stars.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Behind the People's Loss
The People's Pigskin needed the Baltimore Ravens defense/special teams to come up small against the Cleveland Browns on Monday night. They didn't, and as a result, the Internet's favorite fantasy football team lost by a score of 104-84 to Big Lough O, lowering the season record to 4-6. Here's the breakdown.
Kurt Warner, QB. The stats: 29 of 38 passing, 340 yards, 2 touchdowns and 21 fantasy points. Warner remains the straw that stirs the Arizona Cardinals. But as we'll see in a moment, he's getting some help.
Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 20 rushes for 41 yards, 8 receptions for 120 yards and 16 fantasy points. Lost in the tumult over Jay Cutler's performance was the fact that Forte put up solid numbers and did not turn the ball over.
Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB. The stats: 16 rushes for 85 yards, 2 receptions for 32 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 23 fantasy points. A tremendous call by you, the Internet, to put Wells in our starting lineup. He started the year as a backup, but now he's earning at least equal time in the backfield with Tim Hightower. And you have to love it when the guy you just put into the lineup is being called a "big weapon."
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Flex. The stats: 9 receptions, 165 yards and 16 fantasy points. T.J. continues to be a frequent target for the Seattle Seahawks, and his targets may rise even higher if Julius Jones misses significant time with his lung injury. (And to tell you the truth, "lung injury" is painful even to type.)
Greg Jennings, WR. The stats: 4 receptions, 45 yards and 4 fantasy points. The Green Bay Packers say Jennings suffered a knee contusion in Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys. He may miss practice time, but he's expected to be ready to play against the San Francisco 49ers.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 2 receptions, 29 yards and 2 fantasy points. Chad goes from facing the Pittsburgh Steelers to facing the Oakland Raiders. We'll have to hope his numbers benefit from the switch.
Jeremy Shockey, TE. The stats: 3 receptions, 42 yards and 4 fantasy points. The New Orleans Saints flirted with disaster against the St. Louis Rams, and Shockey paid the price. Drew Brees threw two interceptions, and Shockey was the target both times.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 1 missed field goal, 1 extra point and 0 fantasy points. The Dallas Cowboys were shut down most of the day (scoring only a garbage time touchdown), so Folk got few opportunities.
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 2 sacks, 31 points allowed and minus-2 fantasy points. The team that entered week 10 ranked second in fantasy points got pummeled by the San Diego Chargers. One factor was Philadelphia's inability to run, and that concern could be a permanent one if Brian Westbrook can't bounce back from his concussions.
Bench. Nate Washington scored 9 fantasy points. Jamal Lewis (who was benched in favor of Wells) scored 3. The San Francisco 49ers defense/special teams, who I thought would draw at least one trade offer during bye weeks, scored 17.
We'll be back tomorrow with our game plan for week 11.
Kurt Warner, QB. The stats: 29 of 38 passing, 340 yards, 2 touchdowns and 21 fantasy points. Warner remains the straw that stirs the Arizona Cardinals. But as we'll see in a moment, he's getting some help.
Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 20 rushes for 41 yards, 8 receptions for 120 yards and 16 fantasy points. Lost in the tumult over Jay Cutler's performance was the fact that Forte put up solid numbers and did not turn the ball over.
Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB. The stats: 16 rushes for 85 yards, 2 receptions for 32 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 23 fantasy points. A tremendous call by you, the Internet, to put Wells in our starting lineup. He started the year as a backup, but now he's earning at least equal time in the backfield with Tim Hightower. And you have to love it when the guy you just put into the lineup is being called a "big weapon."
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Flex. The stats: 9 receptions, 165 yards and 16 fantasy points. T.J. continues to be a frequent target for the Seattle Seahawks, and his targets may rise even higher if Julius Jones misses significant time with his lung injury. (And to tell you the truth, "lung injury" is painful even to type.)
Greg Jennings, WR. The stats: 4 receptions, 45 yards and 4 fantasy points. The Green Bay Packers say Jennings suffered a knee contusion in Sunday's game against the Dallas Cowboys. He may miss practice time, but he's expected to be ready to play against the San Francisco 49ers.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 2 receptions, 29 yards and 2 fantasy points. Chad goes from facing the Pittsburgh Steelers to facing the Oakland Raiders. We'll have to hope his numbers benefit from the switch.
Jeremy Shockey, TE. The stats: 3 receptions, 42 yards and 4 fantasy points. The New Orleans Saints flirted with disaster against the St. Louis Rams, and Shockey paid the price. Drew Brees threw two interceptions, and Shockey was the target both times.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 1 missed field goal, 1 extra point and 0 fantasy points. The Dallas Cowboys were shut down most of the day (scoring only a garbage time touchdown), so Folk got few opportunities.
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 2 sacks, 31 points allowed and minus-2 fantasy points. The team that entered week 10 ranked second in fantasy points got pummeled by the San Diego Chargers. One factor was Philadelphia's inability to run, and that concern could be a permanent one if Brian Westbrook can't bounce back from his concussions.
Bench. Nate Washington scored 9 fantasy points. Jamal Lewis (who was benched in favor of Wells) scored 3. The San Francisco 49ers defense/special teams, who I thought would draw at least one trade offer during bye weeks, scored 17.
We'll be back tomorrow with our game plan for week 11.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Monday Update and Reading
It's Monday, and the People's Pigskin is alive and well. We currently lead Big Lough O by a score of 84-80. That means that if the Baltimore Ravens defense/special teams can be held to under 4 fantasy points tonight, the Pigskin will record a victory. How hard could that be? After all, it's not as if the Cleveland Browns have a head coach who has ticked off enough players to draw the union's attention, right?
While we wait to learn about our fantasy football team's fate, here are some links for your surfing pleasure.
Better take a knee for this one. There are countless ways to lose a fantasy football game. It's painful, for example, when your running back is tackled on the 1-yard line and his backup scores the touchdown. It has to be even worse when your running back takes a knee at the 1-yard line on purpose, as Maurice Jones-Drew did Sunday, following the orders of his head coach.
The Jacksonville Jaguars wanted to deny the New York Jets a chance to get the ball back (sound familiar?), so they told Jones-Drew to take a knee if he was in a position to get into the end zone. He apologized later to those who had him on his fantasy team. One of those teams: the Big Lough Os. I'm just saying...
Well, that was quick. As I'm typing this list up, ESPN is reporting that the Cincinnati Bengals will sign Larry Johnson to a contract. The Bengals were pushed into the LJ market by Cedric Benson's hip injury Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
What kind of first impression will Johnson make in Cincinnati? Hopefully, it will be better than the last impression he made in Kansas City. (Not that the bar is set particularly high.)
On a more positive note. If you used your first-round fantasy pick to draft LaDainian Tomlinson, you're probably starting him no matter what. Still, wouldn't you have liked to know before the game that LDT would have extra motivation after learning that he was going to be a father? It reminds me of when Brett Favre had a monster game a day after his father died. Emotion has a well-deserved reputation for fueling big performances like Favre's and LDT's.
If you're running an NFL pregame show, would it kill you to squeeze a few more notes like this into your broadcast in between the analysts' efforts to talk over one another and laugh hilariously at the drop of a hat? I'm sure fantasy players would really appreciate actually learning something from your shows every once in a while.
This Bud's for you. Imagine if you're the owner of a National Football League team. Imagine that your team just recorded its third straight victory -- and did so in front of its home crowd, the folks who buy your tickets and merchandise and allow you to live the lifestyle you are currently living. Now imagine that you live in a world where cameras are everywhere, and that every single fan in that stadium, friend or foe, could have a camera-equipped phone in his/her pocket.
Knowing all that, how would you celebrate after your team's hard-earned victory? If you're Bud Adams, the owner of the Houston Oil...er, sorry, the Tennessee Titans, you do this. (Warning: This link shows an unsafe-for-work video.)
Bill Belichick is being called stupid in many circles for what he did Sunday evening, but at least his decision had a chance of working out in his favor. I can't say the same for Adams.
We'll be back tomorrow with an update on our matchup with the Lough Os. Until then, enjoy the Monday night game. (And get comfortable with Jon Gruden's voice. You'll be hearing it for a while.)
While we wait to learn about our fantasy football team's fate, here are some links for your surfing pleasure.
Better take a knee for this one. There are countless ways to lose a fantasy football game. It's painful, for example, when your running back is tackled on the 1-yard line and his backup scores the touchdown. It has to be even worse when your running back takes a knee at the 1-yard line on purpose, as Maurice Jones-Drew did Sunday, following the orders of his head coach.
The Jacksonville Jaguars wanted to deny the New York Jets a chance to get the ball back (sound familiar?), so they told Jones-Drew to take a knee if he was in a position to get into the end zone. He apologized later to those who had him on his fantasy team. One of those teams: the Big Lough Os. I'm just saying...
Well, that was quick. As I'm typing this list up, ESPN is reporting that the Cincinnati Bengals will sign Larry Johnson to a contract. The Bengals were pushed into the LJ market by Cedric Benson's hip injury Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
What kind of first impression will Johnson make in Cincinnati? Hopefully, it will be better than the last impression he made in Kansas City. (Not that the bar is set particularly high.)
On a more positive note. If you used your first-round fantasy pick to draft LaDainian Tomlinson, you're probably starting him no matter what. Still, wouldn't you have liked to know before the game that LDT would have extra motivation after learning that he was going to be a father? It reminds me of when Brett Favre had a monster game a day after his father died. Emotion has a well-deserved reputation for fueling big performances like Favre's and LDT's.
If you're running an NFL pregame show, would it kill you to squeeze a few more notes like this into your broadcast in between the analysts' efforts to talk over one another and laugh hilariously at the drop of a hat? I'm sure fantasy players would really appreciate actually learning something from your shows every once in a while.
This Bud's for you. Imagine if you're the owner of a National Football League team. Imagine that your team just recorded its third straight victory -- and did so in front of its home crowd, the folks who buy your tickets and merchandise and allow you to live the lifestyle you are currently living. Now imagine that you live in a world where cameras are everywhere, and that every single fan in that stadium, friend or foe, could have a camera-equipped phone in his/her pocket.
Knowing all that, how would you celebrate after your team's hard-earned victory? If you're Bud Adams, the owner of the Houston Oil...er, sorry, the Tennessee Titans, you do this. (Warning: This link shows an unsafe-for-work video.)
Bill Belichick is being called stupid in many circles for what he did Sunday evening, but at least his decision had a chance of working out in his favor. I can't say the same for Adams.
We'll be back tomorrow with an update on our matchup with the Lough Os. Until then, enjoy the Monday night game. (And get comfortable with Jon Gruden's voice. You'll be hearing it for a while.)
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The People's Choice - Week 10
You, the Internet, have spoken, and you have said a change needs to be made.
Apparently, enough of you were concerned about Jamal Lewis' injury to vote that Chris "Beanie" Wells should take his place. Wells is now in the starting lineup for our fantasy football matchup against Big Lough O. You can follow that matchup here.
You were also all over the map on our fantasy league prize poll. You can see the results for both polls at the bottom of this post.
Last night, the good folks at Fantasy Sports Shack invited me to participate in their Name Your Sleepers Matchup. Basically, the Fantasy Sports Shack and a guest picked some under-the-radar fantasy players. You can see our choices here. By the way, I think I messed up. They define sleepers as someone owned in less than half of fantasy leagues, and I think on some of the choices I was looking at how many leagues were starting that player. If the Shack is reading this, all I can say is I guess I picked the wrong week to stop doing this.
A new poll is up, and this one will stay up until Thanksgiving. We'd appreciate your vote. Enjoy the games, everyone.
[polldaddy poll=2237347] [polldaddy poll=2228017]
Apparently, enough of you were concerned about Jamal Lewis' injury to vote that Chris "Beanie" Wells should take his place. Wells is now in the starting lineup for our fantasy football matchup against Big Lough O. You can follow that matchup here.
You were also all over the map on our fantasy league prize poll. You can see the results for both polls at the bottom of this post.
Last night, the good folks at Fantasy Sports Shack invited me to participate in their Name Your Sleepers Matchup. Basically, the Fantasy Sports Shack and a guest picked some under-the-radar fantasy players. You can see our choices here. By the way, I think I messed up. They define sleepers as someone owned in less than half of fantasy leagues, and I think on some of the choices I was looking at how many leagues were starting that player. If the Shack is reading this, all I can say is I guess I picked the wrong week to stop doing this.
A new poll is up, and this one will stay up until Thanksgiving. We'd appreciate your vote. Enjoy the games, everyone.
[polldaddy poll=2237347] [polldaddy poll=2228017]
Saturday, November 14, 2009
The Weekend Batch of Links
Remember that our polls on our fantasy football team's lineup and your fantasy league's prizes will close tonight. While you think about how you will vote, here are some stories to explore.
Don't cram ads down fans' throats. That's our job. The first time I saw Brent Celek strike the "got a little captain in ya" pose, I remember thinking it was the lamest touchdown celebration since this one. In fact, I agreed with Tony Kornheiser when he said the pose "looks like a guy is about to pee on a fire hydrant."
But now we've learned that it wasn't just Brent trying to impress the ladies. He was part of a marketing campaign for Captain Morgan rum. The makers of the rum said they would donate money to the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund for every time an NFL player struck the pose on television.
The National Football League quickly put the kibosh on that plan, saying "A company can’t pay a player to somehow promote its product on the field." This means we'll have to settle for the National Football League telling us which beer to drink and which shampoo to use if you have more hair than Bigfoot. And Brent will have to settle for being a start-him-every-week tight end for fantasy players.
Smile, fantasy players. You've got the power. If you've played fantasy sports for any length of time, you've answered questions ranging from "What is that?" to "Do you simply not have a life?" But you can take comfort in this Bloomberg article in which fantasy football gets credit (some of it, at least) for increasing the reach of NFL Network. Neal Pilson, the former president of CBS Sports, said the network's RedZone Channel, which cuts immediately to games where a team is in the red zone, is a popular feature with fantasy players.
Urban Legend, the Gridiron Version. Earlier in the week we discussed the dangers of believing what you read in preseason publications. Now the folks at NFL Soup point out another danger: believing what you see at the start of the season. The blog's point (and a very valid one) is that some early defensive "trends" don't hold water as the season progresses. "The Houston run defense got better. It got much better." That's true. Of course, it's also true that the Browns defense...well, it's not good.
Let's hear it for the big uglies. If you're the type of person who says quarterbacks get too much credit for what happens on the football field, here's a Web site for you to check out: TrenchFantasy.com. This site offers a different type of fantasy football. Instead of drafting running backs, receivers, etc., you draft a team consisting of an offensive line, a defensive line, a secondary, a punting unit, a defensive special team, a field goal unit, and a kickoff squad. One example of the scoring: an offensive line gets 2 points for a first down, with a 5-point bonus if the first down was made on fourth down.
I can't believe I benched Scalia this week. And for a truly different fantasy experience, you can check out a fantasy Supreme Court site, FantasySCOTUS. This site lets you predict the outcome of each case considered by the high court, what the split will be (8-1, 7-2, etc.), and whether each justice will side with the majority or the minority. Credit to fellow WordPress blogger La Flog for the assist on this one.
We'll be back tomorrow with the results of our polls. In the meantime, enjoy the college games.
Don't cram ads down fans' throats. That's our job. The first time I saw Brent Celek strike the "got a little captain in ya" pose, I remember thinking it was the lamest touchdown celebration since this one. In fact, I agreed with Tony Kornheiser when he said the pose "looks like a guy is about to pee on a fire hydrant."
But now we've learned that it wasn't just Brent trying to impress the ladies. He was part of a marketing campaign for Captain Morgan rum. The makers of the rum said they would donate money to the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund for every time an NFL player struck the pose on television.
The National Football League quickly put the kibosh on that plan, saying "A company can’t pay a player to somehow promote its product on the field." This means we'll have to settle for the National Football League telling us which beer to drink and which shampoo to use if you have more hair than Bigfoot. And Brent will have to settle for being a start-him-every-week tight end for fantasy players.
Smile, fantasy players. You've got the power. If you've played fantasy sports for any length of time, you've answered questions ranging from "What is that?" to "Do you simply not have a life?" But you can take comfort in this Bloomberg article in which fantasy football gets credit (some of it, at least) for increasing the reach of NFL Network. Neal Pilson, the former president of CBS Sports, said the network's RedZone Channel, which cuts immediately to games where a team is in the red zone, is a popular feature with fantasy players.
Urban Legend, the Gridiron Version. Earlier in the week we discussed the dangers of believing what you read in preseason publications. Now the folks at NFL Soup point out another danger: believing what you see at the start of the season. The blog's point (and a very valid one) is that some early defensive "trends" don't hold water as the season progresses. "The Houston run defense got better. It got much better." That's true. Of course, it's also true that the Browns defense...well, it's not good.
Let's hear it for the big uglies. If you're the type of person who says quarterbacks get too much credit for what happens on the football field, here's a Web site for you to check out: TrenchFantasy.com. This site offers a different type of fantasy football. Instead of drafting running backs, receivers, etc., you draft a team consisting of an offensive line, a defensive line, a secondary, a punting unit, a defensive special team, a field goal unit, and a kickoff squad. One example of the scoring: an offensive line gets 2 points for a first down, with a 5-point bonus if the first down was made on fourth down.
I can't believe I benched Scalia this week. And for a truly different fantasy experience, you can check out a fantasy Supreme Court site, FantasySCOTUS. This site lets you predict the outcome of each case considered by the high court, what the split will be (8-1, 7-2, etc.), and whether each justice will side with the majority or the minority. Credit to fellow WordPress blogger La Flog for the assist on this one.
We'll be back tomorrow with the results of our polls. In the meantime, enjoy the college games.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Fearless Predictions - Week 10
It's time once again for the often ridiculed, rarely imitated Landshark Maniacs predictions. Last week's version went an impressive 4-1, missing only the game involving the People's Pigskin. (What's that saying about an infinite number of monkeys?) The season record is now 22-23, and it's time for the forecasts, along with our fantasy football team, to break the .500 barrier.
Peoples Pigskin vs. Big Lough O. The headlines from Thursday night focused on Jay Cutler, but Matt Forte quietly had a solid night, producing 16 fantasy points for you, the Internet. That strong start will fuel a victory for the Pigskin.
Northeast Dragons vs. D.C. Destroyers. The Destroyers are also off to a solid start, getting 7 fantasy points from Greg Olsen. This one will be very close, but the Minnesota Vikings defense will make the difference and secure a win for the Dragons.
Houston Wreckin' Crew vs. Tinks Revenge. Thursday night was disappointing for both of these teams. Vernon Davis, who had the bright idea of running his mouth before the game, produced only 1 fantasy point for the Revenge. Cutler had an even worse night, giving the crew only 2 points. It will be easier for the Revenge to get over Davis' shortfall, so the call here is for a Revenge win.
T-bay jacks 151rum stumblrs vs. Southern Rebels. The Rebels got a windfall from Frank Gore, who scored the only touchdown in Thursday's night game and produced 18 fantasy points. That lead will prove insurmountable, and the Rebels will get another win.
Hawaiian Surfriders vs. Ravens Fan T Sizzle. The Surfriders are starting three Vikings against the Detroit Lions, who are currently 31st in scoring defense. This strategy is the ticket to a victory for the Surfriders.
We'll be back tomorrow with some more recommended reading. In the meantime, be sure to vote in the polls on the right side of the page.
Peoples Pigskin vs. Big Lough O. The headlines from Thursday night focused on Jay Cutler, but Matt Forte quietly had a solid night, producing 16 fantasy points for you, the Internet. That strong start will fuel a victory for the Pigskin.
Northeast Dragons vs. D.C. Destroyers. The Destroyers are also off to a solid start, getting 7 fantasy points from Greg Olsen. This one will be very close, but the Minnesota Vikings defense will make the difference and secure a win for the Dragons.
Houston Wreckin' Crew vs. Tinks Revenge. Thursday night was disappointing for both of these teams. Vernon Davis, who had the bright idea of running his mouth before the game, produced only 1 fantasy point for the Revenge. Cutler had an even worse night, giving the crew only 2 points. It will be easier for the Revenge to get over Davis' shortfall, so the call here is for a Revenge win.
T-bay jacks 151rum stumblrs vs. Southern Rebels. The Rebels got a windfall from Frank Gore, who scored the only touchdown in Thursday's night game and produced 18 fantasy points. That lead will prove insurmountable, and the Rebels will get another win.
Hawaiian Surfriders vs. Ravens Fan T Sizzle. The Surfriders are starting three Vikings against the Detroit Lions, who are currently 31st in scoring defense. This strategy is the ticket to a victory for the Surfriders.
We'll be back tomorrow with some more recommended reading. In the meantime, be sure to vote in the polls on the right side of the page.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
They Predicted WHAT?
Thanks to those of you who voted in our Matt Forte poll. You voted to leave him in the lineup, so he'll start for the People's Pigskin when his Chicago Bears take on the San Francisco 49ers tonight.
If you've read this far, then there's a good chance you invested some money this past summer in a fantasy football magazine or two (or five). All of them are filled with statistics and predictions about how everyone will fare in the upcoming NFL season. Well, the season is halfway over for most of the teams in the National Football League. (And for the Houston Texans and the New York Giants, it's more than halfway over.) Now is as good a time as any to see how those predictions are turning out.
In the first half of the 2009 season, the top-scoring quarterback in fantasy football, at least according to ESPN rules, is (drum roll, please): Aaron Rodgers, with 167 points. By the way, he's also the top-scoring player in fantasy football. In its fantasy preview, Sports Illustrated ranked him 2nd among quarterbacks. ESPN ranked him 5th.
The top-scoring running back is Maurice Jones-Drew. Sports Illustrated ranked him 3rd among running backs. So did ESPN.
So far, not bad, right? The top-scoring wide receiver is Vincent Jackson. Sports Illustrated ranked him 26th among wideouts and said "He's definitely worth a fourth- or fifth-round pick." ESPN ranked him 18th, despite calling him "the primary option in San Diego."
The top-scoring tight end is Vernon Davis. Sports Illustrated ranked him 14th among tight ends and called him "a gamble." That's kind compared with ESPN, which ranked him 22nd and said "We have a creeping sense that the main problem with Davis is the space between his ears."
The top-scoring kicker is Lawrence Tynes, who was ranked 5th by Sports Illustrated and 15th by ESPN. (Yes, he has the advantage of an extra game, so if you want to disqualify him, the No. 2 kicker is David Akers, who was ranked 3rd in both publications.)
The top-scoring defense/special teams is the New Orleans Saints. Sports Illustrated ranked them 22nd. ESPN ranked them 27th and said the Saints free agent acquisitions on defense "smacked of desperation." Oops.
Who did the magazines think would be No. 1? At quarterback, both picked Drew Brees (currently 5th). At running back, both picked Adrian Peterson (currently 3rd). At wide receiver, both picked Larry Fitzgerald (currently 3rd). At tight end, Sports Illustrated picked Tony Gonzalez (currently 6th), while ESPN picked Jason Witten (currently 15th). At kicker, Sports Illustrated picked Jason Elam (currently 24th), while ESPN picked Stephen Gostkowski (currently tied for 3rd). At defense, both picked the Pittsburgh Steelers (currently 6th).
None of this is meant to disparage the fine work of ESPN, Sports Illustrated, or anyone else. It's merely a reminder that these magazines should not be treated like Scripture.
Enjoy tonight's game. We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly Landshark Maniacs predictions. Here are the results of the Forte poll.
[polldaddy poll=2231829]
If you've read this far, then there's a good chance you invested some money this past summer in a fantasy football magazine or two (or five). All of them are filled with statistics and predictions about how everyone will fare in the upcoming NFL season. Well, the season is halfway over for most of the teams in the National Football League. (And for the Houston Texans and the New York Giants, it's more than halfway over.) Now is as good a time as any to see how those predictions are turning out.
In the first half of the 2009 season, the top-scoring quarterback in fantasy football, at least according to ESPN rules, is (drum roll, please): Aaron Rodgers, with 167 points. By the way, he's also the top-scoring player in fantasy football. In its fantasy preview, Sports Illustrated ranked him 2nd among quarterbacks. ESPN ranked him 5th.
The top-scoring running back is Maurice Jones-Drew. Sports Illustrated ranked him 3rd among running backs. So did ESPN.
So far, not bad, right? The top-scoring wide receiver is Vincent Jackson. Sports Illustrated ranked him 26th among wideouts and said "He's definitely worth a fourth- or fifth-round pick." ESPN ranked him 18th, despite calling him "the primary option in San Diego."
The top-scoring tight end is Vernon Davis. Sports Illustrated ranked him 14th among tight ends and called him "a gamble." That's kind compared with ESPN, which ranked him 22nd and said "We have a creeping sense that the main problem with Davis is the space between his ears."
The top-scoring kicker is Lawrence Tynes, who was ranked 5th by Sports Illustrated and 15th by ESPN. (Yes, he has the advantage of an extra game, so if you want to disqualify him, the No. 2 kicker is David Akers, who was ranked 3rd in both publications.)
The top-scoring defense/special teams is the New Orleans Saints. Sports Illustrated ranked them 22nd. ESPN ranked them 27th and said the Saints free agent acquisitions on defense "smacked of desperation." Oops.
Who did the magazines think would be No. 1? At quarterback, both picked Drew Brees (currently 5th). At running back, both picked Adrian Peterson (currently 3rd). At wide receiver, both picked Larry Fitzgerald (currently 3rd). At tight end, Sports Illustrated picked Tony Gonzalez (currently 6th), while ESPN picked Jason Witten (currently 15th). At kicker, Sports Illustrated picked Jason Elam (currently 24th), while ESPN picked Stephen Gostkowski (currently tied for 3rd). At defense, both picked the Pittsburgh Steelers (currently 6th).
None of this is meant to disparage the fine work of ESPN, Sports Illustrated, or anyone else. It's merely a reminder that these magazines should not be treated like Scripture.
Enjoy tonight's game. We'll be back tomorrow with our weekly Landshark Maniacs predictions. Here are the results of the Forte poll.
[polldaddy poll=2231829]
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A Midweek Link Batch
The NFL gets a head start on week 10 tomorrow, when the San Francisco 49ers will face the Chicago Bears. While you get your lineups ready (and decide what to do with ours), here is some recommended reading.
Further review? I've got your further review. If you feel your fantasy football team was robbed when Ryan Moats fumbled the ball last week against the Indianapolis Colts, think how Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak must feel. Kubiak said he has filed a report with the NFL about how the replay of that fumble was handled:
"The bottom line, they're saying that the ball was not touched by anybody who was out of bounds. Or if it was, it was only touched by Ryan (Moats), who was on top of another player. We thought looking at it that 41 (DB Antoine Bethea) is touching the ball and he's out of bounds."
How far will that report get Kubiak? I'm hoping he's not holding his breath (or anyone else's).
Well, they're both filled with large male human beings. That's a similarity. It can't be easy to be Eric Mangini right now. He has a quarterback with worse stats than JaMarcus Russell, his hand-picked GM is out, and he may be next to get the heave-ho if his owner brings in the football czar he wants.
But Mangini is mounting a defense. (Off the field, at least.) He claims that there are "remarkable similarities" between how his Browns are now and how the New England Patriots were when Bill Belichick arrived. "It was top-heavy financially, there were tough decisions that had to be made, and we didn't have much success that first year."
The Patriots went 5-11 in Belichick's first year there and 11-5 in his second. If Mangini thinks he can pull off something similar in his second year -- heck, if he thinks he can match that 5-11 record this year -- he might be sharing an office with these guys.
It's not just for slackers anymore. The Boston Globe has a nice story about a nursing home that started a fantasy football league for its residents. About a dozen people who are old enough to have watched Sammy Baugh are now monitoring Sammy Morris' stats. If anyone from that league is reading this, kudos to you (and don't be afraid to help our team out by voting in the polls).
If this isn't enough for you... The NFL Network, apparently afraid that some football fans may not feel invested in Thursday's tussle, is offering a Fan Challenge. It's basically a mini-fantasy football league in which you pick from the players involved in the NFL Network's eight Thursday and Saturday night games. No, this guy isn't available. But then again, neither is this guy.
We'll be back with more thoughts tomorrow.
Further review? I've got your further review. If you feel your fantasy football team was robbed when Ryan Moats fumbled the ball last week against the Indianapolis Colts, think how Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak must feel. Kubiak said he has filed a report with the NFL about how the replay of that fumble was handled:
"The bottom line, they're saying that the ball was not touched by anybody who was out of bounds. Or if it was, it was only touched by Ryan (Moats), who was on top of another player. We thought looking at it that 41 (DB Antoine Bethea) is touching the ball and he's out of bounds."
How far will that report get Kubiak? I'm hoping he's not holding his breath (or anyone else's).
Well, they're both filled with large male human beings. That's a similarity. It can't be easy to be Eric Mangini right now. He has a quarterback with worse stats than JaMarcus Russell, his hand-picked GM is out, and he may be next to get the heave-ho if his owner brings in the football czar he wants.
But Mangini is mounting a defense. (Off the field, at least.) He claims that there are "remarkable similarities" between how his Browns are now and how the New England Patriots were when Bill Belichick arrived. "It was top-heavy financially, there were tough decisions that had to be made, and we didn't have much success that first year."
The Patriots went 5-11 in Belichick's first year there and 11-5 in his second. If Mangini thinks he can pull off something similar in his second year -- heck, if he thinks he can match that 5-11 record this year -- he might be sharing an office with these guys.
It's not just for slackers anymore. The Boston Globe has a nice story about a nursing home that started a fantasy football league for its residents. About a dozen people who are old enough to have watched Sammy Baugh are now monitoring Sammy Morris' stats. If anyone from that league is reading this, kudos to you (and don't be afraid to help our team out by voting in the polls).
If this isn't enough for you... The NFL Network, apparently afraid that some football fans may not feel invested in Thursday's tussle, is offering a Fan Challenge. It's basically a mini-fantasy football league in which you pick from the players involved in the NFL Network's eight Thursday and Saturday night games. No, this guy isn't available. But then again, neither is this guy.
We'll be back with more thoughts tomorrow.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Pick the People's Team - Week 10
The final score of last week's matchup with the Northeast Dragons was 122-83. Our fantasy football team's record is now 4-5. Next up is a date with Big Lough O. And here is how our lineup looks now.
Quarterback. Kurt Warner, having rebounded from a 5-interception performance with a 5-touchdown one, gets the Seattle Seahawks this week. If that matchup isn't to your liking, Matt Cassel awaits on the bench.
Running back. We've already discussed Matt Forte, who gets his own poll because the Chicago Bears play on Thursday. Steve Slaton has a bye (and this, thank the deity of your choice, is the last week of bye weeks), so the other starting spot is currently being held by Jamal Lewis, who faces the Baltimore Ravens this week and may get Brady Quinn in his backfield. The Ravens aren't quite as scary for opposing running backs as they used to be. Just ask Cedric Benson. But if you don't want Lewis or Forte in our lineup, we can call on Chris "Beanie" Wells.
Flex. Once again, T.J. Houshmandzadeh occupies the flex spot. His Seahawks take on the Cardinals. If you want to send him to the bench, we can call up Mr. Wells to take this spot.
Wide receiver. Two more familiar faces occupies these slots: Greg Jennings, whose Green Bay Packers take on the Dallas Cowboys, and Chad Ochocinco, who gets the Pittsburgh Steelers and hopefully won't offer any gratuities to the officials this week. If you want to bench one of these receivers, we can insert Nate Washington into the lineup.
No changes at tight end (Jeremy Shockey), kicker (Nick Folk), or defense/special teams (Philadelphia Eagles).
The new poll is up. Please vote. We'll be back tomorrow with some recommended reading.
Quarterback. Kurt Warner, having rebounded from a 5-interception performance with a 5-touchdown one, gets the Seattle Seahawks this week. If that matchup isn't to your liking, Matt Cassel awaits on the bench.
Running back. We've already discussed Matt Forte, who gets his own poll because the Chicago Bears play on Thursday. Steve Slaton has a bye (and this, thank the deity of your choice, is the last week of bye weeks), so the other starting spot is currently being held by Jamal Lewis, who faces the Baltimore Ravens this week and may get Brady Quinn in his backfield. The Ravens aren't quite as scary for opposing running backs as they used to be. Just ask Cedric Benson. But if you don't want Lewis or Forte in our lineup, we can call on Chris "Beanie" Wells.
Flex. Once again, T.J. Houshmandzadeh occupies the flex spot. His Seahawks take on the Cardinals. If you want to send him to the bench, we can call up Mr. Wells to take this spot.
Wide receiver. Two more familiar faces occupies these slots: Greg Jennings, whose Green Bay Packers take on the Dallas Cowboys, and Chad Ochocinco, who gets the Pittsburgh Steelers and hopefully won't offer any gratuities to the officials this week. If you want to bench one of these receivers, we can insert Nate Washington into the lineup.
No changes at tight end (Jeremy Shockey), kicker (Nick Folk), or defense/special teams (Philadelphia Eagles).
The new poll is up. Please vote. We'll be back tomorrow with some recommended reading.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Looking Back (and Ahead)
Even though the Monday night game has yet to kick off, the People's Pigskin has racked up another loss. We currently trail the Northeast Dragons by a score of 93-83. The Dragons will start Brandon Marshall and the Steelers defense/special teams tonight, but unless Brandon has a few "Wrong Way" Marshall plays in him, the Pigskin's record will drop to 4-5.
Here's a breakdown of our results.
Kurt Warner, QB. The stats: 22 of 32 passing, 261 yards, 5 touchdowns, 1 rush for 3 yards, and 30 fantasy points. A week after his disastrous five-interception outing, Warner made mincemeat of the the Chicago Bears defense. If the rest of our fantasy football team played the way he did, we'd be talking about a resounding victory instead of a defeat.
Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 5 rushes for 33 yards, 6 receptions for 74 yards, and 10 fantasy points. For what it's worth, Forte is one of the few running backs who doesn't become irrelevant in fantasy football when his team gets behind, because he can do as much damage as a receiver as he does as a runner.
Steve Slaton, RB. The stats: 6 rushes for 17 yards, 3 receptions for 12 yards, 1 touchdown, and 8 fantasy points. This week it was Ryan Moats' turn to fumble the ball for the Houston Texans. Slaton held the ball long enough to get it in the end zone -- always a plus for fantasy players.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Flex. The stats: 6 receptions, 34 yards, 1 touchdown, and 9 fantasy points. The Seattle Seahawks were able to beat the Detroit Lions, but no Seahawk covered himself in fantasy glory.
Greg Jennings, WR. The stats: 5 receptions, 61 yards, and 6 fantasy points. Jennings should have had a much bigger day against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who got their first win of the season in spite of their ugly Popsicle-colored uniforms.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 5 receptions, 66 yards, 1 fumble, and 4 fantasy points. It's never a good sign when the most memorable part of your starting receiver's day is his attempt to give an official a dollar in exchange for a replay call. (He may end up giving the NFL more than a dollar for that stunt.)
Jeremy Shockey, TE. The stats: 3 receptions, 26 yards, and 2 fantasy points. You would think Shockey would have gotten more involved in the New Orleans Saints come-from-behind win over the Carolina Panthers.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 2 for 2 on field goals, 2 for 2 on extra points, and 8 fantasy points. Folk made the most of his chances in a surprising Dallas Cowboys victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Speaking of which...
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 1 interception, 4 sacks, 20 points allowed, and 6 fantasy points. The Eagles did everything right except keeping the Cowboys out of the end zone.
Bench. Matt Cassel got 20 fantasy points in his debut on the People's Pigskin bench, while Derrick Ward earned 11.
Now, while we wait for the Monday night game, it's time to look ahead to another night: Thursday night. The NFL Network Thursday slate starts this week with the Chicago Bears taking on the San Francisco 49ers. That means we can't wait until Saturday night to make the call on whether Matt Forte should start. As a result, this week we'll have a special poll for Forte alone. This poll will close Wednesday night. Please vote.
We'll be back tomorrow with a more detailed look at next week's matchup.
Here's a breakdown of our results.
Kurt Warner, QB. The stats: 22 of 32 passing, 261 yards, 5 touchdowns, 1 rush for 3 yards, and 30 fantasy points. A week after his disastrous five-interception outing, Warner made mincemeat of the the Chicago Bears defense. If the rest of our fantasy football team played the way he did, we'd be talking about a resounding victory instead of a defeat.
Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 5 rushes for 33 yards, 6 receptions for 74 yards, and 10 fantasy points. For what it's worth, Forte is one of the few running backs who doesn't become irrelevant in fantasy football when his team gets behind, because he can do as much damage as a receiver as he does as a runner.
Steve Slaton, RB. The stats: 6 rushes for 17 yards, 3 receptions for 12 yards, 1 touchdown, and 8 fantasy points. This week it was Ryan Moats' turn to fumble the ball for the Houston Texans. Slaton held the ball long enough to get it in the end zone -- always a plus for fantasy players.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Flex. The stats: 6 receptions, 34 yards, 1 touchdown, and 9 fantasy points. The Seattle Seahawks were able to beat the Detroit Lions, but no Seahawk covered himself in fantasy glory.
Greg Jennings, WR. The stats: 5 receptions, 61 yards, and 6 fantasy points. Jennings should have had a much bigger day against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who got their first win of the season in spite of their ugly Popsicle-colored uniforms.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 5 receptions, 66 yards, 1 fumble, and 4 fantasy points. It's never a good sign when the most memorable part of your starting receiver's day is his attempt to give an official a dollar in exchange for a replay call. (He may end up giving the NFL more than a dollar for that stunt.)
Jeremy Shockey, TE. The stats: 3 receptions, 26 yards, and 2 fantasy points. You would think Shockey would have gotten more involved in the New Orleans Saints come-from-behind win over the Carolina Panthers.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 2 for 2 on field goals, 2 for 2 on extra points, and 8 fantasy points. Folk made the most of his chances in a surprising Dallas Cowboys victory over the Philadelphia Eagles. Speaking of which...
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 1 interception, 4 sacks, 20 points allowed, and 6 fantasy points. The Eagles did everything right except keeping the Cowboys out of the end zone.
Bench. Matt Cassel got 20 fantasy points in his debut on the People's Pigskin bench, while Derrick Ward earned 11.
Now, while we wait for the Monday night game, it's time to look ahead to another night: Thursday night. The NFL Network Thursday slate starts this week with the Chicago Bears taking on the San Francisco 49ers. That means we can't wait until Saturday night to make the call on whether Matt Forte should start. As a result, this week we'll have a special poll for Forte alone. This poll will close Wednesday night. Please vote.
We'll be back tomorrow with a more detailed look at next week's matchup.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
An Update and a Poll
As we get ready for Sunday night's game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles, the People's Pigskin finds itself in a hole. We trail the Northeast Dragons by a score of 84-69. Tonight, we have Nick Folk and the Eagles defense/special teams. The Dragons have Brent Celek tonight, along with Brandon Marshall and the Steelers defense/special teams tomorrow.
While you wait for Al Michaels and the dulcet tones of Cris Collinsworth, here's a new poll. Please vote. We'll be back tomorrow with an update on your favorite fantasy football team (other than your own, that is.) Here are the results of the poll on your team.
[polldaddy poll=2196022]
While you wait for Al Michaels and the dulcet tones of Cris Collinsworth, here's a new poll. Please vote. We'll be back tomorrow with an update on your favorite fantasy football team (other than your own, that is.) Here are the results of the poll on your team.
[polldaddy poll=2196022]
The People's Choice - Week 9
Once again, I'd like to thank those of you who voted in our lineup poll. The majority of you voted to leave our lineup the way it is now. If you'd like to follow this week's fantasy football matchup against the Northeast Dragons, click here.
You can see the results of our lineup poll below. The other poll will stay up for now. We'll be back later with a new poll and an update on our matchup.
[polldaddy poll=2210047]
You can see the results of our lineup poll below. The other poll will stay up for now. We'll be back later with a new poll and an update on our matchup.
[polldaddy poll=2210047]
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Weekend Reading
The polls on the right side of this page will close Sunday morning. While you consider what to do with our lineup and the question about your own fantasy football team, here are some links to visit in between your college games.
Not exactly a fan favorite, is he? The Kansas City Chiefs were having a rough season even before Larry Johnson decided to make a fool of himself. Now some fans have had enough of LJ. They've started a petition asking the Chiefs not to let him get the 75 rushing yards he needs to supplant Priest Holmes as Kansas City's all-time leader. How awkward would it be to have him on your fantasy team and learn that his own team's fans don't want him to put up 75 yards. Of course, with the way he's been producing lately, that could be a moot point.
What do you think you are, a quarterback? There were questions for the Jacksonville Jaguars after Maurice Jones-Drew got only 8 carries (and 177 yards) last week against the Tennessee Titans. Now the Jaguars are saying the fault lies not with the coaches, but with David Garrard, who had been audibling out of run plays and into passing plays. Jack Del Rio says he told his quarterback "Look, just hand it to him and let him run the ball."
If you have Jones-Drew on your fantasy team, I suppose this is good news. Of course, if you have Garrard, being told he can't call a pass play if he's sees an opportunity for one at the line is not very good news. Whether this is good news for the few remaining Jaguars fans remains to be seen.
Need a trophy for your league? You could go to your local trophy shop or to eBay, but now there's another alternative: the Arena Football League, which is selling pretty much everything it has left. Maybe you and your buddies can compete for the right to keep the Arena Bowl trophy in your living room for the next 12 months.
Down with the Drew Brees-loving capitalist horde! In the never-ending quest to provide you with alternative opinions on the game we love, I present a thought from a fellow Wordpress blogger, the Langston Escape Plan. The post's title: "Why the Third World Hates Us: Fantasy Football." The premise: People who spend their day scrounging up enough food to survive and protecting themselves from rampaging thugs don't have the time or resources to worry about whether the Steelers defense can stop the Denver Broncos.
"Imagine, if you will, that you are a fantasy football fan trying to explain to someone from the slums of India, the streets of oppressed Pyongyang or just about anywhere in Somalia why you spend any amount of time on it. What would you say? Because your bros do it? Because you can win even more disposable income? Because it’s fun?"
I imagine the same thing could be said about people who worry about things like Jennifer Aniston's love life, but the point is an interesting one, nonetheless.
Anyway, we'll be back tomorrow with poll results. Until then, enjoy the games.
Not exactly a fan favorite, is he? The Kansas City Chiefs were having a rough season even before Larry Johnson decided to make a fool of himself. Now some fans have had enough of LJ. They've started a petition asking the Chiefs not to let him get the 75 rushing yards he needs to supplant Priest Holmes as Kansas City's all-time leader. How awkward would it be to have him on your fantasy team and learn that his own team's fans don't want him to put up 75 yards. Of course, with the way he's been producing lately, that could be a moot point.
What do you think you are, a quarterback? There were questions for the Jacksonville Jaguars after Maurice Jones-Drew got only 8 carries (and 177 yards) last week against the Tennessee Titans. Now the Jaguars are saying the fault lies not with the coaches, but with David Garrard, who had been audibling out of run plays and into passing plays. Jack Del Rio says he told his quarterback "Look, just hand it to him and let him run the ball."
If you have Jones-Drew on your fantasy team, I suppose this is good news. Of course, if you have Garrard, being told he can't call a pass play if he's sees an opportunity for one at the line is not very good news. Whether this is good news for the few remaining Jaguars fans remains to be seen.
Need a trophy for your league? You could go to your local trophy shop or to eBay, but now there's another alternative: the Arena Football League, which is selling pretty much everything it has left. Maybe you and your buddies can compete for the right to keep the Arena Bowl trophy in your living room for the next 12 months.
Down with the Drew Brees-loving capitalist horde! In the never-ending quest to provide you with alternative opinions on the game we love, I present a thought from a fellow Wordpress blogger, the Langston Escape Plan. The post's title: "Why the Third World Hates Us: Fantasy Football." The premise: People who spend their day scrounging up enough food to survive and protecting themselves from rampaging thugs don't have the time or resources to worry about whether the Steelers defense can stop the Denver Broncos.
"Imagine, if you will, that you are a fantasy football fan trying to explain to someone from the slums of India, the streets of oppressed Pyongyang or just about anywhere in Somalia why you spend any amount of time on it. What would you say? Because your bros do it? Because you can win even more disposable income? Because it’s fun?"
I imagine the same thing could be said about people who worry about things like Jennifer Aniston's love life, but the point is an interesting one, nonetheless.
Anyway, we'll be back tomorrow with poll results. Until then, enjoy the games.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Fearless Predictions - Week 9
If it's Friday, it must be time for another round of forecasts for the Landshark Maniacs fantasy football league. Last week's predictions went an embarassing 1-4, lowering the season record to 18-22. Comeback time, baby!
Peoples Pigskin vs. Northeast Dragons. You, the Internet, have gotten this team this far. The prediction here is for a Pigskin victory that sets the tone for a playoff drive.
D.C. Destroyers vs. T-bay jacks 151rum stumblrs. Too bad the Vikings are on a bye week. DeSean Jackson will fall short of the "experts" 21-point target, leading to a close win for the Destroyers.
Houston Wreckin' Crew vs. Hawaiian Surfriders. Regardless of which Dallas receiver is truly No. 1 (or playing like No. 2), the receivers will put up points and deliver a win for the Crew.
Ravens Fan T Sizzle vs. Big Lough O. The Sizzle bye week holes are a bigger issue than the Lough O injuries. The win goes to the Lough Os.
Tinks Revenge vs. Southern Rebels. This is a game that won't be settled until the Monday night game is over. Roethlisberger will put up just enough points to get the Rebels over the top.
We'll be back tomorrow with some more recommended reading. In the meantime, be sure to vote in our polls. Every vote counts.
Peoples Pigskin vs. Northeast Dragons. You, the Internet, have gotten this team this far. The prediction here is for a Pigskin victory that sets the tone for a playoff drive.
D.C. Destroyers vs. T-bay jacks 151rum stumblrs. Too bad the Vikings are on a bye week. DeSean Jackson will fall short of the "experts" 21-point target, leading to a close win for the Destroyers.
Houston Wreckin' Crew vs. Hawaiian Surfriders. Regardless of which Dallas receiver is truly No. 1 (or playing like No. 2), the receivers will put up points and deliver a win for the Crew.
Ravens Fan T Sizzle vs. Big Lough O. The Sizzle bye week holes are a bigger issue than the Lough O injuries. The win goes to the Lough Os.
Tinks Revenge vs. Southern Rebels. This is a game that won't be settled until the Monday night game is over. Roethlisberger will put up just enough points to get the Rebels over the top.
We'll be back tomorrow with some more recommended reading. In the meantime, be sure to vote in our polls. Every vote counts.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Thursday Afternoon Reading
Thanks to all of you who voted in our quarterback poll. The winner was Matt Cassel, who is now part of our roster. Remember that you still have time to vote in our lineup and fantasy team polls on the right side of this page. In the meantime, here are some interesting links to peruse.
Talk about your 'boob tube.' A new series will debut tonight at 10:30 p.m. EDT. It's called "The League," and it follows a group of friends as they deal with marriage, relationships, family issues, and their fantasy football league. This review suggests that this series may not last very long. Nevertheless, it might interesting to see how the folks in Hollywood view those of us who sweat over our starting lineups each week.
No 'Quiet please' signs here. I stumbled on an interesting blog the other day. It's called Fantasy Football Librarian, and it's like a K-Mart for fantasy thoughts. (Yes, that's meant to be a compliment.) It's run by an actual librarian, who offers a compilation of fantasy football lists and rankings from across the Internet. If you're looking for a dozen different opinions on whether to start Jay Cutler and whether to cut Tashard Choice, this site would be helpful. Plus, it's a far better way to waste your time than this.
We'll be back tomorrow with the one and only Landshark Maniacs predictions show. Here are the results from the quarterback poll.
[polldaddy poll=2201700]
Talk about your 'boob tube.' A new series will debut tonight at 10:30 p.m. EDT. It's called "The League," and it follows a group of friends as they deal with marriage, relationships, family issues, and their fantasy football league. This review suggests that this series may not last very long. Nevertheless, it might interesting to see how the folks in Hollywood view those of us who sweat over our starting lineups each week.
No 'Quiet please' signs here. I stumbled on an interesting blog the other day. It's called Fantasy Football Librarian, and it's like a K-Mart for fantasy thoughts. (Yes, that's meant to be a compliment.) It's run by an actual librarian, who offers a compilation of fantasy football lists and rankings from across the Internet. If you're looking for a dozen different opinions on whether to start Jay Cutler and whether to cut Tashard Choice, this site would be helpful. Plus, it's a far better way to waste your time than this.
We'll be back tomorrow with the one and only Landshark Maniacs predictions show. Here are the results from the quarterback poll.
[polldaddy poll=2201700]
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Pick the People's Team - Week 9
While you consider what quarterback to pick up off waivers (and that poll will close Wednesday night), it's time to start gearing up for our upcoming fantasy football game. This week's opponent is the 7-1 Northeast Dragons. You can look at our current lineup here. And here's the breakdown.
Quarterback. For the moment, Kurt Warner remains in the starting lineup. There's no question that he had a rough time last week, but the Arizona Cardinals are showing no signs of either shifting their offensive focus away from the passing game or benching Warner. Bonus stat: He's tied with Matt Schaub for most pass attempts this season. If you want to bench Warner anyway, we can start the QB we pick up off waivers. (You can still vote on that, btw.)
Running back. Right now our starters are Matt Forte and (take a deep breath here) Steve Slaton. Yes, Slaton was benched last week after an early fumble, but Gary Kubiak has said Slaton will get some playing time this week against the Indianapolis Colts. If you wish to bench either Forte or Slaton, we can call on Chris "Beanie" Wells.
Flex. We currently have T.J. Houshmandzadeh in this spot. He put up disappointing numbers last week but was still targeted 11 times last week and gets to face the Detroit Lions, whose fans seem to be turning on Matthew Stafford already. Nate Washington can be called into service if you want to bench Houshmandzadeh.
Wide receiver. We get to welcome back to the lineup Chad Ochocinco, who ranks in the top 10 in receiving yards per game. He joins Greg Jennings, who gets to face the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who probably wish they could be facing the Florida Tuskers instead. If you want to bench one of these receivers, T.J. Houshmandzadeh could fill one of these slots, and Nate Washington could take the flex spot.
No changes this week in tight end (Jeremy Shockey), kicker (Nick Folk), or defense/special teams (Philadelphia Eagles).
The new poll is up, along with the quarterback and fantasy team ones. Please vote. We'll be back with more tomorrow.
Quarterback. For the moment, Kurt Warner remains in the starting lineup. There's no question that he had a rough time last week, but the Arizona Cardinals are showing no signs of either shifting their offensive focus away from the passing game or benching Warner. Bonus stat: He's tied with Matt Schaub for most pass attempts this season. If you want to bench Warner anyway, we can start the QB we pick up off waivers. (You can still vote on that, btw.)
Running back. Right now our starters are Matt Forte and (take a deep breath here) Steve Slaton. Yes, Slaton was benched last week after an early fumble, but Gary Kubiak has said Slaton will get some playing time this week against the Indianapolis Colts. If you wish to bench either Forte or Slaton, we can call on Chris "Beanie" Wells.
Flex. We currently have T.J. Houshmandzadeh in this spot. He put up disappointing numbers last week but was still targeted 11 times last week and gets to face the Detroit Lions, whose fans seem to be turning on Matthew Stafford already. Nate Washington can be called into service if you want to bench Houshmandzadeh.
Wide receiver. We get to welcome back to the lineup Chad Ochocinco, who ranks in the top 10 in receiving yards per game. He joins Greg Jennings, who gets to face the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who probably wish they could be facing the Florida Tuskers instead. If you want to bench one of these receivers, T.J. Houshmandzadeh could fill one of these slots, and Nate Washington could take the flex spot.
No changes this week in tight end (Jeremy Shockey), kicker (Nick Folk), or defense/special teams (Philadelphia Eagles).
The new poll is up, along with the quarterback and fantasy team ones. Please vote. We'll be back with more tomorrow.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Behind the Week 8 Loss
No two ways about it -- this one hurt.
Despite the best efforts of you, the Internet, to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, the fantasy football gods decided it wasn't enough. The People's Pigskin lost its rematch against Ravens Fan T Sizzle by a score of 74-72. Here's a breakdown of our team's performance.
Kurt Warner, QB. The stats: 27 of 46 passing for 242 yards, 2 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 1 rush for 8 yards, 1 fumble, and 5 fantasy points. His Arizona Cardinals suffered a horrible loss to the Carolina Panthers. It felt like a fluke, and we have to hope it was.
Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 26 rushes for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns, 2 receptions for 31 yards, and 24 fantasy points. Now, that's the Matt Forte that was getting such high praise when everyone was having their drafts. It's too bad the Chicago Bears can't play the Cleveland Browns every week.
Steve Slaton, RB. The stats: 1 rush for 1 yard, 2 receptions for 10 yards, 1 fumble, and minus-1 fantasy point. It's one thing if you lose a fantasy player to an injury. It's another thing when your fantasy starter is benched for a fumble while his team rolls to an easy victory.
If Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak is reading this, let me say something on behalf of fantasy football players everywhere. We know you're in no rush to name a starting running back, and we know you're looking out for your team, not ours. But if you feel compelled to punish a player, we'd prefer it if you fined him or made him run extra laps or forced him to watch Cougar Town or something.
Chris "Beanie" Wells, Flex. The stats: 8 rushes for 47 yards and 4 fantasy points. Wells' fantasy stats will depend on scoring touchdowns, and the Cardinals fell far enough behind to have to throw the rest of the game.
Greg Jennings, WR. The stats: 8 receptions for 88 yards, 1 touchdown, and 14 fantasy points. It wasn't a happy homecoming as far as Green Bay Packers fans were concerned, but Jennings continued to show his value to his team and to fantasy football.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR. The stats: 4 receptions for 24 yards and 2 fantasy points. The Seattle Seahawks looked flat as a whole against the Dallas Cowboys.
Jeremy Shockey, TE. The stats: 5 receptions for 72 yards and 7 fantasy points. Shockey almost led the comeback against the Sizzle, but it ended up falling short.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 1 for 2 on field goals, 5 for 5 on extra points, and 8 fantasy points. Steady production is the best one can expect from a kicker.
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery, 2 sacks, 17 points allowed, and 9 fantasy points. These stats look better when you consider that they were compiled against the New York Giants, a preseason Super Bowl contender.
Bench. Nate Washington put up 8 points, while Jamal Lewis put up 6.
At this point, the People's Pigskin's record is 4-4, and I just have to hope you, the Internet, won't fire me like George Kokinis.
We'll be back tomorrow with a preview of our next matchup. In the meantime, be sure to vote, both in our polls and at your local precincts.
Despite the best efforts of you, the Internet, to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat, the fantasy football gods decided it wasn't enough. The People's Pigskin lost its rematch against Ravens Fan T Sizzle by a score of 74-72. Here's a breakdown of our team's performance.
Kurt Warner, QB. The stats: 27 of 46 passing for 242 yards, 2 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 1 rush for 8 yards, 1 fumble, and 5 fantasy points. His Arizona Cardinals suffered a horrible loss to the Carolina Panthers. It felt like a fluke, and we have to hope it was.
Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 26 rushes for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns, 2 receptions for 31 yards, and 24 fantasy points. Now, that's the Matt Forte that was getting such high praise when everyone was having their drafts. It's too bad the Chicago Bears can't play the Cleveland Browns every week.
Steve Slaton, RB. The stats: 1 rush for 1 yard, 2 receptions for 10 yards, 1 fumble, and minus-1 fantasy point. It's one thing if you lose a fantasy player to an injury. It's another thing when your fantasy starter is benched for a fumble while his team rolls to an easy victory.
If Houston Texans coach Gary Kubiak is reading this, let me say something on behalf of fantasy football players everywhere. We know you're in no rush to name a starting running back, and we know you're looking out for your team, not ours. But if you feel compelled to punish a player, we'd prefer it if you fined him or made him run extra laps or forced him to watch Cougar Town or something.
Chris "Beanie" Wells, Flex. The stats: 8 rushes for 47 yards and 4 fantasy points. Wells' fantasy stats will depend on scoring touchdowns, and the Cardinals fell far enough behind to have to throw the rest of the game.
Greg Jennings, WR. The stats: 8 receptions for 88 yards, 1 touchdown, and 14 fantasy points. It wasn't a happy homecoming as far as Green Bay Packers fans were concerned, but Jennings continued to show his value to his team and to fantasy football.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR. The stats: 4 receptions for 24 yards and 2 fantasy points. The Seattle Seahawks looked flat as a whole against the Dallas Cowboys.
Jeremy Shockey, TE. The stats: 5 receptions for 72 yards and 7 fantasy points. Shockey almost led the comeback against the Sizzle, but it ended up falling short.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 1 for 2 on field goals, 5 for 5 on extra points, and 8 fantasy points. Steady production is the best one can expect from a kicker.
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 2 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery, 2 sacks, 17 points allowed, and 9 fantasy points. These stats look better when you consider that they were compiled against the New York Giants, a preseason Super Bowl contender.
Bench. Nate Washington put up 8 points, while Jamal Lewis put up 6.
At this point, the People's Pigskin's record is 4-4, and I just have to hope you, the Internet, won't fire me like George Kokinis.
We'll be back tomorrow with a preview of our next matchup. In the meantime, be sure to vote, both in our polls and at your local precincts.
Monday, November 2, 2009
The Monday Update (and a New Poll)
The People's Pigskin could not seal the deal on Sunday afternoon. We walk into the Monday night matchup trailing Ravens Fan T Sizzle by a score of 74-65. The Sizzle has no one in tonight's game between the New Orleans Saints and the Atlanta Falcons. Our hopes are riding on the hands of Jeremy Shockey, who must score 10 points to secure a victory for you, the Internet.
And what would Monday be without a new fantasy football poll? This time, it's time to wave good-bye to the injured Trent Edwards and recruit a new backup quarterback. Even if he is slated to return after the Bills' bye week, his team is getting nothing done. It's time to find someone who can. Here are your nominees.
Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins. Yes, he's playing for America's favorite punching bag, but he put up 15 fantasy points against the Philadelphia Eagles, and he's 18th among quarterbacks with 74.
Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs. He's another under the radar passer, and if he had a better team around him, he'd be putting up bigger numbers. As it stands, he ranked 19th among quarterbacks with 69 fantasy points.
Mark Sanchez, New York Jets. His team is taking a tumble, but his numbers haven't. Mr. Sanchez scored 24 fantasy points against the Miami Dolphins, and he currently ranks 21st among quarterbacks with 57. (Fair warning: His team has a bye this week.)
Those are the choices. The poll is open. We'll be back tomorrow with a detailed look at our week 8 performance.
And what would Monday be without a new fantasy football poll? This time, it's time to wave good-bye to the injured Trent Edwards and recruit a new backup quarterback. Even if he is slated to return after the Bills' bye week, his team is getting nothing done. It's time to find someone who can. Here are your nominees.
Jason Campbell, Washington Redskins. Yes, he's playing for America's favorite punching bag, but he put up 15 fantasy points against the Philadelphia Eagles, and he's 18th among quarterbacks with 74.
Matt Cassel, Kansas City Chiefs. He's another under the radar passer, and if he had a better team around him, he'd be putting up bigger numbers. As it stands, he ranked 19th among quarterbacks with 69 fantasy points.
Mark Sanchez, New York Jets. His team is taking a tumble, but his numbers haven't. Mr. Sanchez scored 24 fantasy points against the Miami Dolphins, and he currently ranks 21st among quarterbacks with 57. (Fair warning: His team has a bye this week.)
Those are the choices. The poll is open. We'll be back tomorrow with a detailed look at our week 8 performance.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
The People's Choice - Week 8
Once again, you, the Internet, have spoken. You decided that we should leave our lineup alone for our matchup against Ravens Fan T Sizzle. You can follow that matchup here.
You also said that you watch "as many games as humanly possible" on Sunday. If that's the case, there's a good chance you'll watch Brett Favre return to Lambeau Field. You probably have heard and seen enough about this game, but let me direct you to Peter King's Game Plan anyway. Peter argues that Ryan Longwell, the Vikings kicker and former Packer, has some idea about the type of reception Favre can expect. (Sure, because we all view kickers and future Hall of Fame quarterbacks alike, don't we?)
The reception? Simple: They'll boo him until his ears bleed, and then they'll play football.
But enough about Brett. This week's poll asks about your fantasy football team. Be sure to vote. We'll be back later with an update. Here are the results of the two most recent polls.
[polldaddy poll=2180135] [polldaddy poll=2166095]
You also said that you watch "as many games as humanly possible" on Sunday. If that's the case, there's a good chance you'll watch Brett Favre return to Lambeau Field. You probably have heard and seen enough about this game, but let me direct you to Peter King's Game Plan anyway. Peter argues that Ryan Longwell, the Vikings kicker and former Packer, has some idea about the type of reception Favre can expect. (Sure, because we all view kickers and future Hall of Fame quarterbacks alike, don't we?)
The reception? Simple: They'll boo him until his ears bleed, and then they'll play football.
But enough about Brett. This week's poll asks about your fantasy football team. Be sure to vote. We'll be back later with an update. Here are the results of the two most recent polls.
[polldaddy poll=2180135] [polldaddy poll=2166095]
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