There's still time to vote on the Nate Washington and Christmas football polls (both of which will close tomorrow) and the lineup poll (which will close Sunday). In the meantime, it's time for one last set of predictions for the Landshark Maniacs fantasy football league. Again, these are two-week matchups, so week 17 will be in play here, too.
Last week's predictions went 4-1, raising our season record to 41-29. The only miss was the win by the Southern Rebels, our opponent in the final round. Here's hoping the Rebels don't hold that against us.
Let's start with the ninth-place matchup between the Houston Wreckin' Crew and Ravens Fan T Sizzle. In this game, it will be important to mind your Ps and Qs--that is, the "probable" and "questionable" statuses throughout both lineups. This matchup will hinge on Michael Turner, who could put up big numbers for the Crew or injure himself on his first carry and put up a doughnut (as he did in last week's game against the Pigskin). My guess is that Turner will show up for the last two weeks and fuel a victory for the Crew.
Next is the seventh-place match between the D.C. Destroyers and T-bay jacks 151rum stumblrs. Both sides have plenty of players fighting for playoff spots, but the most intriguing player is Chris Johnson, who is chasing a postseason bid, a 2,000-yard season and possibly Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record. Since the Titans need to win both games to get into the playoffs, they'll be motivated to feed Johnson the ball early and often. That will mean big fantasy points for him and a victory for the Destroyers.
The fifth-place match for the title of Best Landshark Maniacs Team Not to Make the Playoffs (yes, I just made that title up) pits the People's Pigskin against the Southern Rebels. Which team is the pick here? Let me give you a hint: In the immortal words of Terrell Owens, "I'd love me some of me."
In the playoff consolation game for third place, we have the Hawaiian Surfriders facing Tinks Revenge. As of this writing, the Surfriders have not selected a kicker, but it probably won't matter. Ray Rice is a contender for fantasy football find of the year, and his team is in a "We need to win both games to get into the playoffs" situation, so he'll get the ball early and often. The Revenge gets the win and the proverbial bronze medal.
Finally, we have the Landshark Maniacs championship game, Northeast Dragons vs. Big Lough O. One thing that's striking about this matchup is the proliferation of 1s and 2s under the "position rank" column. We can honestly say that the two best teams are meeting for the title. (Note to college football fans: We used a playoff to get here. We did not need a fraudulent set of polls and computer numbers. Remember: Playoffs rule.)
Anyway, it's hard to find a player who won't be in a position to put up a ton of points over the next two weeks. Even Drew Brees has a reason to keep slinging the ball in the fourth quarter. (The New Orleans Saints have not wrapped up home-field advantage.) The difference here may be the wide receivers. Given the choice, I'll take Brandon Marshall, Andre Johnson and Vincent Jackson over Roddy White, Terrell Owens and even Wes Welker. As a result, I'll take the Dragons to win it all.
We'll be back tomorrow with poll results. Have a merry one.
Showing posts with label D.C. Destroyers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label D.C. Destroyers. Show all posts
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
The People's Assessment
The Landshark Maniacs regular season has come to an end, and for the People's Pigskin, it came to an end with a 74-70 loss to the D.C. Destroyers. Here's a breakdown of this week's results.
Matt Cassel, QB. The stats: 10 of 29 passing, 84 yards, 2 interceptions, 3 rushes for 17 yards, and 0 fantasy points. Cassel was pressed into service by the questions surrounding Kurt Warner's concussion. Maybe we would have been better off with this guy in the starting lineup.
Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 24 rushes for 91 yards and a touchdown, 1 reception for 5 yards, 1 fumble and 13 fantasy points. Another day of many touches and fewer yards than you might have a right to expect.
Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB. The stats: 13 rushes, 28 yards and 2 fantasy points. These stats are all the more glaring when you consider the way the Arizona Cardinals beat up the Minnesota Vikings.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Flex. The stats: 5 receptions, 37 yards and 3 fantasy points. Another underwhelming performance for T.J. and the rest of the Seattle Seahawks offense, despite their win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Greg Jennings, WR. The stats: 6 receptions, 77 yards and 7 fantasy points. Jennings was targeted time and time again on Monday night, but he drew more than his fair share of pass interference penalties in an ugly contest against the Baltimore Ravens. These penalties were good for the Packers, but not the Pigskin.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 9 receptions, 137 yards, 1 touchdown and 19 fantasy points. If everyone else on the Pigskin had performed as well as Ochocinco, we might be contending for the title.
Jeremy Shockey, TE. The stats: 4 receptions, 47 yards and 4 fantasy points. You'd think an offense like the New Orleans Saints would find more use for its tight end, especially when that offense needs overtime to beat the Washington Redskins.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 1 for 3 on field goals, 3 for 3 on extra points, and 4 fantasy points. It's a good thing Folk doesn't kick for Jim Zorn, or he'd be on the street right now.
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 2 interceptions (1 returned for a touchdown), 1 fumble recovery, 2 sacks, 7 points allowed and 18 fantasy points. Whew. That's better.
Bench. Kurt Warner scored 28 fantasy points. (Yes, that makes me want to scream, too.) Steve Slaton was inactive. Nate Washington scored 4.
The People's Pigskin ends the regular season in 7th place with a record of 5-9. However, our work is not over yet.
In 10-team ESPN fantasy football leagues, the top four teams make the playoffs. (Congratulations to the Northeast Dragons, Big Lough O, Tinks Revenge and the Hawaiian Surfriders for making the real postseason.) The other teams are put in a consolation bracket where No. 5 plays No. 6, No. 7 plays No. 8 and No. 9 plays No. 10. It's kind of like those holiday basketball tournaments where the winners meet in the championship in prime time while the losers have to be at the gym at the crack of dawn for their consolation match.
In our case, that means facing the Houston Wreckin' Crew in a two-week battle (kind of like a Jeopardy tournament final) for the right to play in the fifth-place match to end the season. And as you might have guessed from the recent poll about abandoned teams, the People's Pigskin does not believe in abandoning its fantasy football obligation simply because a team is in the consolation bracket. We will fight to the bitter end. (Insert your favorite rallying speech here.)
Be sure to vote in the waiver and trophy polls. We'll be back tomorrow with a ridiculously early set of predictions, followed by a poll on what to do with our lineup for week 1 against the Wreckin Crew.
Matt Cassel, QB. The stats: 10 of 29 passing, 84 yards, 2 interceptions, 3 rushes for 17 yards, and 0 fantasy points. Cassel was pressed into service by the questions surrounding Kurt Warner's concussion. Maybe we would have been better off with this guy in the starting lineup.
Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 24 rushes for 91 yards and a touchdown, 1 reception for 5 yards, 1 fumble and 13 fantasy points. Another day of many touches and fewer yards than you might have a right to expect.
Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB. The stats: 13 rushes, 28 yards and 2 fantasy points. These stats are all the more glaring when you consider the way the Arizona Cardinals beat up the Minnesota Vikings.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Flex. The stats: 5 receptions, 37 yards and 3 fantasy points. Another underwhelming performance for T.J. and the rest of the Seattle Seahawks offense, despite their win over the San Francisco 49ers.
Greg Jennings, WR. The stats: 6 receptions, 77 yards and 7 fantasy points. Jennings was targeted time and time again on Monday night, but he drew more than his fair share of pass interference penalties in an ugly contest against the Baltimore Ravens. These penalties were good for the Packers, but not the Pigskin.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 9 receptions, 137 yards, 1 touchdown and 19 fantasy points. If everyone else on the Pigskin had performed as well as Ochocinco, we might be contending for the title.
Jeremy Shockey, TE. The stats: 4 receptions, 47 yards and 4 fantasy points. You'd think an offense like the New Orleans Saints would find more use for its tight end, especially when that offense needs overtime to beat the Washington Redskins.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 1 for 3 on field goals, 3 for 3 on extra points, and 4 fantasy points. It's a good thing Folk doesn't kick for Jim Zorn, or he'd be on the street right now.
Philadelphia Eagles, D/ST. The stats: 2 interceptions (1 returned for a touchdown), 1 fumble recovery, 2 sacks, 7 points allowed and 18 fantasy points. Whew. That's better.
Bench. Kurt Warner scored 28 fantasy points. (Yes, that makes me want to scream, too.) Steve Slaton was inactive. Nate Washington scored 4.
The People's Pigskin ends the regular season in 7th place with a record of 5-9. However, our work is not over yet.
In 10-team ESPN fantasy football leagues, the top four teams make the playoffs. (Congratulations to the Northeast Dragons, Big Lough O, Tinks Revenge and the Hawaiian Surfriders for making the real postseason.) The other teams are put in a consolation bracket where No. 5 plays No. 6, No. 7 plays No. 8 and No. 9 plays No. 10. It's kind of like those holiday basketball tournaments where the winners meet in the championship in prime time while the losers have to be at the gym at the crack of dawn for their consolation match.
In our case, that means facing the Houston Wreckin' Crew in a two-week battle (kind of like a Jeopardy tournament final) for the right to play in the fifth-place match to end the season. And as you might have guessed from the recent poll about abandoned teams, the People's Pigskin does not believe in abandoning its fantasy football obligation simply because a team is in the consolation bracket. We will fight to the bitter end. (Insert your favorite rallying speech here.)
Be sure to vote in the waiver and trophy polls. We'll be back tomorrow with a ridiculously early set of predictions, followed by a poll on what to do with our lineup for week 1 against the Wreckin Crew.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Monday Update and Waiver Poll
The People's Pigskin walks into the Monday Night tussle at Lambeau Field with a sense of hope, if not exactly unbridled optimism.
The Internet's favorite fantasy football team currently trails the D.C. Destroyers by a score of 74-63. The Destroyers have no players in tonight's game between the Green Bay Packers and the Baltimore Ravens. The Pigskin has one player: Greg Jennings, who must score 11 fantasy points for a tie and 12 points for the win.
While we wait for the frozen cliches of Monday Night Football, it's time to discuss the waiver wire. Jamal Lewis has been placed on injured reserve, so there's no sense in keeping him on the roster. Therefore, we have a new poll asking you, the Internet, who should be picked up to take his spot. Here are the choices.
David Garrard. Currently 16th among quarterbacks with 134 fantasy points.
Jason Campbell. Currnelty 19th among quarterbacks with 126 fantasy points.
Julius Jones. Currently 34th among running backs with 74 fantasy points. (And apparently recovered from his lung injury, since he got 25 touches Sunday.)
Mike Bell. Currently 36th among running backs with 73 fantasy points.
Steve Breaston. Currently 35th among wide receivers with 72 fantasy points. (It's too bad our league doesn't credit him with return yards.)
Lee Evans. Currently 37th among wide receivers with 70 fantasy points.
This poll will close Wednesday night, so that a waiver claim can be processed in the wee hours of Thursday morning. Please vote, and enjoy the festivities from Wisconsin tonight.
The Internet's favorite fantasy football team currently trails the D.C. Destroyers by a score of 74-63. The Destroyers have no players in tonight's game between the Green Bay Packers and the Baltimore Ravens. The Pigskin has one player: Greg Jennings, who must score 11 fantasy points for a tie and 12 points for the win.
While we wait for the frozen cliches of Monday Night Football, it's time to discuss the waiver wire. Jamal Lewis has been placed on injured reserve, so there's no sense in keeping him on the roster. Therefore, we have a new poll asking you, the Internet, who should be picked up to take his spot. Here are the choices.
David Garrard. Currently 16th among quarterbacks with 134 fantasy points.
Jason Campbell. Currnelty 19th among quarterbacks with 126 fantasy points.
Julius Jones. Currently 34th among running backs with 74 fantasy points. (And apparently recovered from his lung injury, since he got 25 touches Sunday.)
Mike Bell. Currently 36th among running backs with 73 fantasy points.
Steve Breaston. Currently 35th among wide receivers with 72 fantasy points. (It's too bad our league doesn't credit him with return yards.)
Lee Evans. Currently 37th among wide receivers with 70 fantasy points.
This poll will close Wednesday night, so that a waiver claim can be processed in the wee hours of Thursday morning. Please vote, and enjoy the festivities from Wisconsin tonight.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
The People's Choice (and Some Visual Aids)
Thanks to those of you who voted in our lineup poll. You voted to leave our starting lineup the way it is now for our Landshark Maniacs matchup against the D.C. Destroyers. You can follow that matchup live by clicking here.
In the poll about what to do with an abandoned team, you voted to have the commissioner take it over. (Just make sure your commissioner isn't this guy.) The results for both polls can be found at the bottom of this post.
Now let's talk about something near and dear to every fantasy football player's heart: winning your league. We know there are plenty of leagues that offer cash, free entry or just bragging rights to its champion, but there are also plenty that go with the time-honored tradition of giving its victor a trophy.
Of course, trophies come in all manner of varieties. There are the traditional YMCA-style ones, as well as trophies that look like footballs mounted on a pedestal. There are cups that look like something out of a European soccer match. There are mugs that can be used to hold your favorite beverage on game day. There are plaques that remind you about the idiotic name you chose for your team before you knew it would be a contender.
When it comes down to it, you can make a fantasy football trophy out of just about anything. Yes -- anything. A quick Google search of fantasy football trophy images generated more than a few pictures on this theme: toilets. Some were for a last-place team, but some advertise themselves as being usable for champions. This one even points out that you have room for "year-after-year of championship names."
Since the main purpose of a trophy is to be displayed in a place where friends and foes can see it and be reminded of your athletic triumph, I would wonder where you would display a toilet seat trophy and whether you would dust it with a feather duster or one of these.
Anyway, today's poll is about trophies. It will be open all week. Please vote. We'll be back with an update on this week's matchup.
[polldaddy poll=2325997] [polldaddy poll=2316757]
In the poll about what to do with an abandoned team, you voted to have the commissioner take it over. (Just make sure your commissioner isn't this guy.) The results for both polls can be found at the bottom of this post.
Now let's talk about something near and dear to every fantasy football player's heart: winning your league. We know there are plenty of leagues that offer cash, free entry or just bragging rights to its champion, but there are also plenty that go with the time-honored tradition of giving its victor a trophy.
Of course, trophies come in all manner of varieties. There are the traditional YMCA-style ones, as well as trophies that look like footballs mounted on a pedestal. There are cups that look like something out of a European soccer match. There are mugs that can be used to hold your favorite beverage on game day. There are plaques that remind you about the idiotic name you chose for your team before you knew it would be a contender.
When it comes down to it, you can make a fantasy football trophy out of just about anything. Yes -- anything. A quick Google search of fantasy football trophy images generated more than a few pictures on this theme: toilets. Some were for a last-place team, but some advertise themselves as being usable for champions. This one even points out that you have room for "year-after-year of championship names."
Since the main purpose of a trophy is to be displayed in a place where friends and foes can see it and be reminded of your athletic triumph, I would wonder where you would display a toilet seat trophy and whether you would dust it with a feather duster or one of these.
Anyway, today's poll is about trophies. It will be open all week. Please vote. We'll be back with an update on this week's matchup.
[polldaddy poll=2325997] [polldaddy poll=2316757]
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Last Week's Results (and This Week's Prospects)
The People's Pigskin had a simply awful week. The Internet's favorite fantasy football team was clobbered by the Hawaiian Surfriders by a score of 94-37. The Surfriders should get the credit for a great week, but the Pigskin got subpar results from everyone on its roster. Here's a brief breakdown:
Matt Cassel, QB. The stats: 19 of 31 passing for 178 yards, 6 rushes for 22 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, 1 fumble and 9 fantasy points.
Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 8 rushes for 27 yards, 4 receptions for 34 yards and 5 fantasy points.
Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB. The stats: 8 rushes for 20 yards, 1 reception for 21 yards and 4 fantasy points.
Greg Jennings, Flex. The stats: 4 receptions, 53 yards and 5 fantasy points.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR. The stats: 2 receptions, 14 yards and 1 fantasy point.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 3 receptions, 38 yards and 3 fantasy points.
Jeremy Shockey, TE. The stats: 1 reception, 15 yards and 1 fantasy point.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 1 for 2 on field goals, 3 for 3 on PATs and 5 fantasy points.
Philadelphia Eagles, DEF/ST. The stats: 2 interceptions, 1 sack, 24 points allowed and 4 fantasy points.
Bench. Steve Slaton scored 9 fantasy points. Nate Washington scored 6. The San Francisco 49ers scored 17. Kurt Warner was inactivated shortly before his game.
The Pigskin's record is now 5-7. Next up is the D.C. Destroyers, another 5-7 team. Here's how our lineup looks now.
Quarterback. Matt Cassel remains in the starting spot for the moment, since Warner still seems to be battling concussion symptoms. If you believe he'll be cleared to play this Sunday, you can vote to move him into the lineup.
Running back. Matt Forte keeps his spot, and Steve Slaton returns to the starting roster. If you want either of them benched, Beanie Wells can take the spot.
Flex. This week's flex starter is Jamal Lewis. If you disagree with this, you can vote to put T.J. Houshmandzadeh in this spot.
Wide receiver. Back to the well we go with Greg Jennings and Chad Ochocinco. Again, Houshmandzadeh awaits if one of these receivers should be benched.
Defense/special teams. The Philadelphia Eagles remain in the starting lineup, unless you vote to put the San Francisco 49ers into that spot.
There are no changes at tight end (Jeremy Shockey) or kicker (Nick Folk).
The lineup poll is now open. Please vote. The lineup is in your hands. Thanks.
Matt Cassel, QB. The stats: 19 of 31 passing for 178 yards, 6 rushes for 22 yards, 1 touchdown, 1 interception, 1 fumble and 9 fantasy points.
Matt Forte, RB. The stats: 8 rushes for 27 yards, 4 receptions for 34 yards and 5 fantasy points.
Chris "Beanie" Wells, RB. The stats: 8 rushes for 20 yards, 1 reception for 21 yards and 4 fantasy points.
Greg Jennings, Flex. The stats: 4 receptions, 53 yards and 5 fantasy points.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh, WR. The stats: 2 receptions, 14 yards and 1 fantasy point.
Chad Ochocinco, WR. The stats: 3 receptions, 38 yards and 3 fantasy points.
Jeremy Shockey, TE. The stats: 1 reception, 15 yards and 1 fantasy point.
Nick Folk, K. The stats: 1 for 2 on field goals, 3 for 3 on PATs and 5 fantasy points.
Philadelphia Eagles, DEF/ST. The stats: 2 interceptions, 1 sack, 24 points allowed and 4 fantasy points.
Bench. Steve Slaton scored 9 fantasy points. Nate Washington scored 6. The San Francisco 49ers scored 17. Kurt Warner was inactivated shortly before his game.
The Pigskin's record is now 5-7. Next up is the D.C. Destroyers, another 5-7 team. Here's how our lineup looks now.
Quarterback. Matt Cassel remains in the starting spot for the moment, since Warner still seems to be battling concussion symptoms. If you believe he'll be cleared to play this Sunday, you can vote to move him into the lineup.
Running back. Matt Forte keeps his spot, and Steve Slaton returns to the starting roster. If you want either of them benched, Beanie Wells can take the spot.
Flex. This week's flex starter is Jamal Lewis. If you disagree with this, you can vote to put T.J. Houshmandzadeh in this spot.
Wide receiver. Back to the well we go with Greg Jennings and Chad Ochocinco. Again, Houshmandzadeh awaits if one of these receivers should be benched.
Defense/special teams. The Philadelphia Eagles remain in the starting lineup, unless you vote to put the San Francisco 49ers into that spot.
There are no changes at tight end (Jeremy Shockey) or kicker (Nick Folk).
The lineup poll is now open. Please vote. The lineup is in your hands. Thanks.
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