Doggedly searching for the crux of the biscuit.
I'm turning to the accumulated brainpower of the folks here to help me set my lineup for this weekend. Fantasy football has been described to me as Dungeons and Dragons for the failed jock set, and let me just say, touché and congratulations on a clever and completely accurate metaphor.
Anyhow, for those who care, my dilemma is after the cut.
It's a 14-team league and six NFL teams are on bye, so everybody's talent is thin.
Quarterback
Philip Rivers vs St. Louis
Matt Leinart at Green Bay
Leinart looked awful against the Raiders last week and his wife just had a kid this week. I've read columnists who say he will be "inspired," but I wonder if it's not more "distracted and tired." Still, he's facing one of the worst pass defenses in the NFL and the Cardinals can't run at all, so both teams are likely to be heaving the ball all afternoon.
San Diego-St. Louis has all the makings of a shootout, the Rams' defense is beat up, SD has the home crowd, and Rivers is probably the safer choice. But, the Chargers also have the best RB in the game and he tends to get the ball around the end zone.
I've gone back and forth on this one all week.
Running Back
Chester Taylor vs New England
Maurice Jones-Drew at Philadelphia
Reuben Droughns vs. NY Jets
Wali Lundy at Tennessee
Taylor and Jones-Drew are the big performers so far this season, but I'm strongly leaning toward Droughns and Lundy, who are facing the only two teams in the NFL to give up double-digit rushing TDs so far this year. Just seems like if you are ever going to start those guys, this should be the week.
FWIW, the rest of my lineup is Andre Johnson, Berrian, Colston, Scobee, and the Pats defense. The guy I'm playing will be fielding Brad Johnson, Dillon, Barber, Harrison, Bruce, Gonzalez, Gould, and the Bears.
Eh, one guy's thoughts:
Rivers. He's been chucking the ball around a lot lately, and StL is actually pretty good against the run. Leinart didn't look so hot against Oakland, and the Cardinals look like a crash and burn type team.
RB - I'd go with Taylor and Droughns. Mo-Jo splits carries and the Texans just don't inspire my - I think they will be playing from behind and Carr will be thorwing a lot.
Posted by: boxman at October 28, 2006 12:56 PMFantasy football has been described to me as Dungeons and Dragons for the failed jock set, and let me just say, touché and congratulations on a clever and completely accurate metaphor.
Nice pre-emption, apo. Let's hope your team's defense is this good.
And man, is this totally the week for blegs or what?
I enjoy watching football if it's on, but not enough that my advice would be of any use to you whatsoever. Best of luck though.
Posted by: M/tch M/lls at October 28, 2006 01:05 PMOh yeah, and I've had the two closest wins in my league this year. In both Week 1 and Week 7, I won by 0.26 points. Weird, huh?
Posted by: apostropher at October 28, 2006 01:49 PMI'd go with Rivers, Taylor and Lundy. I just picked up Taylor in my league (dumping "Fragile"* Fred Taylor), and have my own conundrum:
Brees or Brad Johnson, Taylor or Travis Henry, and which one of the two I don't choose for flex player? Thoughts?
*All NFL players should have nicknames from Yes songs/albums. Terrell "Close to the Edge" Owens, Bret "Leave It" Favre, Adam "Yours Is No Disgrace" Vinateri, the possibilities are endless.
Posted by: Dr Paisley at October 28, 2006 05:22 PMI miss Vinatieri with my Patriots. I have seen so many, many games decided not by sweat and blood, but by just a little oomph and whooosh from the kicker.
That knucklehead just HAD to leave for the arch rival, did he?
Posted by: Jon at October 28, 2006 07:56 PM"and let me just say, touché"
But wouldn't "Yeah, but, at least Football is REAL!" be more in keeping with, ya know, the lingo?
Posted by: Sterling at October 29, 2006 05:06 PMOK
In the midst of composing my Opus Magnus, on the degeneracy of classics majors and fantasy NFL dorks as opposed to the native purity of SPI-subscribing wargamers, my wife calls me off to bed.
See you at the factory, losers!
Posted by: Theophrastus Bombastus von Hoehenheim den Sidste at October 29, 2006 07:55 PMQuite well, actually. I posted the 2nd highest score in our league so far this season.
Rivers 12.14
Droughns 19.2
Lundy 14.9
Johnson 13.8
Berrian 4.1
Colston 33.3 (!)
Scobee 8.0
Patriots 16.0
Final score 121.44 - 72.70. I'm at 5-3 and tied for 3rd place (out of 14).