Light at the End of the Tunnel?

This post is being written on the evening of June 17. As of this writing, we don't know:

• Where Donovan McNabb and a bunch of other players will play their next game.
• If Randy Moss and many others have a next game in them.
• What will happen with Chase Beeler and the host of undrafted free agents waiting (impatiently) for a chance to impress an NFL club and turn into one of those "I can't believe no one drafted him" stories.
• When the National Football League, despite its fictional-for-now schedule, will see its next action.

Despite all of the uncertainty that has descended over the football world like smog over Los Angeles, some people are showing signs of optimism.
For one thing, Yahoo Sports, one of the many Web sites that host fantasy football, sent out an e-mail Wednesday inviting folks to sign up for this year's fantasy football game. Now, it's possible that this was an automatic e-mail set to go out on a certain date, and that Yahoo simply forgot to tell its computers to put that e-mail on hold.
Then there are the magazines.
This week, the people who bring you this fine blog were in a bookstore that has a sizable magazine section. We wandered by the sports section of that magazine section, and we saw at least four freshly printed magazines on one of our favorite topics: fantasy football. You might not know where Carson Palmer will throw his next pass, but there are several publishers willing to tell you right now whether you should bother drafting him as a backup.
Now, it's possible that these publishers had to put out these magazines because of advertiser or printer obligations--that it would have cost too much money to wait for a definitive agreement between players and owners. It's quite possible that neither the magazine people nor the Yahoo people know anything more about the NFL situation than you do.
It's also possible that someone has heard something about the negotiations of the past few days, and even if the owners aren't presented a united front, maybe there is reason to believe we will have football this fall, after all.
Either way, it makes no sense to ignore the negotiations altogether.
It also makes no sense to miss your chance to vote on the People's Pitstop lineup. The polls will close Friday night. Just pick 2 A List drivers, 4 B List drivers and 2 C List drivers to represent the Internet's favorite fantasy NASCAR team Sunday at Michigan International Speedway.
We'll be back with the results.

Playoff, Waiver Updates

First of all, thanks to all of you who voted in our latest poll about which quarterback should take Shaun Hill's spot on the People's Pigskin roster. The vote was split down the middle between Jon Kitna and Donovan McNabb. We used the week 14 projection as the tiebreaker, and Kitna beat McNabb by a single point. The results appear at the bottom of this post.

Kitna's now on our roster and will be available for selection this weekend (if Peyton Manning doesn't win his "Should we start him Thursday?" poll).

Now, it's time to turn our attention to the People's League playoffs. As we said before, the Pigskin earned the top seed with a 10-3 regular season record. This week, we will begin a two-week semifinal against the 9-4 Hudson Valley Hawks.

The Pigskin and the Hawks met twice in the regular season. Back in week 2, the Internet's favorite fantasy football team defeated the Hawks by a score of 101-82. Peyton Manning led the way for the Pigskin with 22 fantasy points, while the Hawks got only 1 point (and 4 turnovers) from Brett Favre. In week 11, the Hawks got their revenge by beating the Pigskin by a score of 123-112. Fred Jackson and Santonio Holmes produced 24 points apiece for the Hawks, and the Pigskin had to absorb a donut from Randy McMichael, filling in for the injured Antonio Gates.

In other words, this matchup could go either way, so we do need your help. The polls for the Thursday night game between the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans are still open. They will close before kickoff, and we'll offer the rest of the lineup polls then. Please vote. I'd hate to have to suspend you because you refused to do so.

[polldaddy poll=4199936]

So About That McNabb Thing

There is still some time for you, the Internet, to vote on the People's Pitstop lineup for Saturday's NASCAR Sprint Cup race in Phoenix. In the meantime, it's time for another reminder that, yes, Virginia, this is still a fantasy football Web site, too.

Most of the offseason trades, cuts and signings have little or no value for the fantasy football enthusiast. No matter how much you like Jason Taylor, on the football field or on the dance floor, his flirtations with the New York Jets likely are not going to change how you feel about the Jets or Dolphins defense/special teams come draft time.

Donovan McNabb's trade to the Washington Redskins? That's another story.

Of course, the fantasy football player will have to worry about McNabb's own production at his new home. He ranked 10th among quarterbacks in ESPN fantasy points. However, like George in "It's a Wonderful Life," McNabb's production affects so many other people in the National Football League.

DeSean Jackson. The Philadelphia Eagles may have all the confidence in the world in Kevin Kolb, Michael Vick and/or whichever quarterback gets drafted to be the "next Kolb/Vick." But Jackson, who ranked 4th among wide receivers in fantasy points, has to be at least a little nervous.

Washington's receivers. Here the sentiment may be more upbeat. The Redskins wide receiving corps did not exactly set the fantasy world on fire last year.

Chris Cooley. The Redskins tight end was having a decent season until a broken ankle ended it in October. And Brent Celek of the Eagles ranked 4th among tight ends in fantasy points, so you know McNabb enjoys throwing to a healthy tight end.

Jason Campbell. Oh, yeah, the man whose job McNabb is taking. Campbell's agent is exploring trade possibilities, but no matter where he goes, he's facing an uphill hike to fantasy relevance. Campbell ranked 16th among passers in fantasy points, and he's going to a place that either has an established starter (in which Campbell at least starts the season as a backup) or did so poorly last season that it's willing to take a chance on him.

And that's before we even consider the NFL Draft, but that's another topic for another post. In the meantime, remember to vote on our lineup polls. They will close Thursday night, so the lineup can be set in time for Friday's qualifying session. We'll be back with the results.

Fearless Predictions - Week 13

This week is the last week of the regular season for the Landshark Maniacs. All 10 teams will have matchups for the next four weeks, but only four will have a shot at the championship.

It's too bad these predictions are ineligible for the playoffs. They went a solid 3-2 last week, boosting the season record to 34-26.

Peoples Pigskin vs. D.C. Destroyers. Yes, I see the Q that appeared this morning next to Steve Slaton's name. You know what? Even if he doesn't produce, the other players will, and the end result will be a face-saving Pigskin victory.

Tinks Revenge vs. T-day jacks 151rum stumblrs. We have some dueling Qs here (DeAngelo Williams and Visanthe Shiancoe), but the biggest injuries may be to Donovan McNabb's receivers. Chalk up a win for the Revenge here.

Ravens Fan T Sizzle vs. Northeast Dragons. Steven Jackson will get his share of points, but so will Aaron Rodgers, who will fuel a bounceback victory for the Dragons.

Hawaiian Surfriders vs. Big Lough O. Justin Forsett was a shrewd pickup, and Tom Brady seems like the kind of guy who will take out his frustrations over a lousy game by shredding his next opponent. That adds up to a win for the Lough Os.

Houston Wreckin' Crew vs. Southern Rebels. One of the things for which I was thankful last week was that I did not have to ask myself "What on earth is up with Jay Cutler?" this fantasy season. The Rebels bring too much to the table and roll to a win here.

There's still time to vote in our polls. We'll be back with more thoughts tomorrow.

Preseason Week 3 preview

This week is often called "dress rehearsal" week, because this is when the starters will get their longest looks of the preseason. It's also when fantasy players either have a team drafted or are putting the finishing touches on their drafting plans.

Whatever the case may be, this will be a week of games worth watching. Here's a few of the things that should hold the attention of fantasy players for the next several days.

Microscope time. (Jacksonville @ Philadelphia, Thursday, Aug. 27, 7 p.m. EDT) Yeah, yeah, that Michael something-or-other will be getting a look, but my eyes will be on Donovan McNabb. After all, he is the starter -- at least, officially -- and I wouldn't waste a fantasy draft choice on a backup quarterback who may miss the first third of the regular season. Still, despite the positive words coming out of Donovan's mouth, there's got to be pressure on the dude to perform well right out of the gate.

Anybody want this job? (Miami @ Tampa Bay, Thursday, Aug. 27, 8 p.m. EDT, Fox) What do Josh Freeman, Josh Johnson, Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown have in common? They're all quarterbacks, and they're all on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers roster. Can Leftwich cement a spot in the starting lineup with a strong performance?

Hit me with your best shot. (New England @ Washington, Friday, Aug. 28, 8 p.m. EDT, CBS) Yes, Tom Brady took a good shot last week against Cincinnati, and yes, he will be taking hits as long as his career continues. But there's no getting around this: Everyone, especially fantasy players, will be studying how many hits Tom takes, and how well he shakes them off, physically and mentally, pretty much from now through January.

Maybe it was a fluke. (New York Giants vs. New York Jets, Saturday, Aug. 29, 8 p.m.) OK, Mark Sanchez did not set the world on fire Monday against the Baltimore Ravens. So how did the Jets brass respond? Naming him the opening day starter, of course. And how will he celebrate this early career achievement? By facing the one defense that might make people hesitate before spending that fourth-round pick on the Steelers. Good luck, kid.

You again? (Chicago @ Denver, Sunday, Aug. 30, 8 p.m. EDT, NBC) Here's hoping Kyle Orton resists the urge to throw any left-handed passes. And here's hoping Jay Cutler proves to be worth all those fifth- and sixth-round picks people are going to spend on him in the fantasy world. And speaking of quarterbacks with something to prove...

Uh, oh. (Minnesota @ Houston, Monday, Aug. 31, 8 p.m. EDT, ESPN) Now, no one is going to argue that the Vikings should have stood pat at QB. I wouldn't want to face a season of Tarvaris-or-Sage questions, either. But this Brett Favre experiment has the potential of exploding like the Hindenburg. At least, if the reports of a locker room "schism" are anywhere close to accurate. Of course, wins have a way of healing these wounds. And Brett needs to win quickly, for both his teammates and anyone who drafts him.