Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Season 2010 Week 03 Recap

BARN-BURNER OF THE WEEK:
** Pack Men (Brett) DEF Sexual Chocolate (John) by 0.30 points **
This game was so close that a statistical correction could alter the outcome, so take note. Anyway, I think we’d all agree that without Chris Johnson (RB – Ten / 34.25), Sexual Chocolate would be in a world of trouble. Most of his team was unusually quiet this week, with Johnson earning over 40% of the points for the 7-man roster. Though Mike Sims-Walker (WR – Jac / 2.20) just plain sucked and Larry Fitzgerald (WR – Ari / 7.80) only had 2 receptions, PM squeaked by with the win thanks to a wild Monday Night shootout. Next week SC (0-3) looks to get to .500 against G-Unit (0-3) and PM (1-2) looks to upset the favored Sobchak (3-0).

** Play to Win the Game (Jeff) DEF G-Unit (Sam) by 6.04 points **
Winless Sam showed some real signs of life this week, nearly toppling the undefeated PTW thanks to huge games from Cedric Benson (RB – Cin / 30.50) and Brandon Marshall (WR – Mia / 17.95). If not for some weak sauce from Vernon Davis (TE – SF / 1.85) and the San Fran Defense (2.30), she might have pulled off the upset. Her receivers certainly out-played PTW’s Wes Welker (WR – NE / 3.25) and Dez Bryant (WR – Dal / 3.74), anyway. This is a huge step in the right direction for Sam, and I think she’s going to start climbing the standings. Next week PTW (3-0) plays Two Hand Touch (1-2) and G-Unit (0-3) plays Sexual Chocolate (0-3).

** Sobchak Security (Rick) DEF Two-Hand-Touch (Rex) by 11.77 points **
Rick had a handle on this one from the get-go, with 4 of 7 players in double digits. Sebastian Janikowski (K – Oak / 13.00) had a good fantasy week despite a nightmare of a professional one. Darren McFadden (RB – Oak / 25.10) also had a nice one. Rex was plagued by inactivity this week with the exception of Matt Ryan (QB – Atl / 27.56) and the Steelers Defense (21.84) Next week SS (3-0) plays Pack-Men (1-2) and THT (1-2) plays Play to Win (3-0).

** Favre Failure Wagon (Steve) DEF Boycott LA (Matt) by 12.36 points **
This one was over on Sunday night, but that didn’t stop FFW from piling on already strong games from Peyton Manning (QB – Ind / 34.99) and Ahmad Bradshaw (RB – NYG / 18.65) with Greg Jennings (WR – GB / 7.40). Matt was bolstered by Kyle Orton (QB – Den / 28.40) and Antonio Gates (TE – SD / 13.20) but couldn’t get enough points to get the job done. Next week FFW (3-0) looks to stay undefeated against a vengeful Mad Max’s Mama (2-1) and Boycott LA (1-2) will try not to suck against Boss Hogg (0-3).

** RN to the Rescue (Megan) DEF Mad Max’s Mama (Kerri) by 12.41 points **
In what is surely the upset of the week, winless RN took on her undefeated juggernaut sister and won with a well-rounded roster. 5 of RN’s starters scored in the double-digits, compared to just 3 of MMM’s. Even Percy Harvin (WR – Min / 13.07) had his first big game for RN. Further complicating matters for Kerri was a quiet week from Visanthe Shiancoe (TE – Min / 0.60) and Jahvid Best (RB – Det / 5.95). Next week RN (1-2) plays Brown’s Backups (2-1) and MMM (2-1) will have a test against Favre Failure Wagon (3-0).

** The Little Guy (Kyle) DEF Boss Hogg (Jordan) by 12.71 points **
With a triple-digit, season-saving performance, TLG drastically improved his league standing. He finally got breakout games from Adrian Peterson (RB – Min / 34.25) and Anquan Boldin (WR – Bal / 27.18) to help offset some weaker performances on the roster. Boss Hogg has nothing to be ashamed of, however – with a strong game from Tom Brady (QB – NE / 32.75), he scored in the top levels of the week. Next week TLG (1-2) plays Undefeated (3-0) and BH (0-3) looks to turn it around against Boycott LA (1-2).

ASS-KICKING OF THE WEEK:
** Undefeated (Bob) DEF Brown’s Backups (Josh) by 17.64 points **
A battle of the undefeated teams came down to Monday night, when UD held off BB thanks to a phenomenal game from Mike Vick (QB – Phi / 40.06). BB was doomed byweakness from Miles Austin (WR – Dal / 1.50) and Robert Meachem (WR – SF / 0.50). Jay Cutler (QB – Chi / 17.66) and Mason Crosby (K – GB / 5.00) were not enough to help BB. Next week UD (3-0) plays a resurgent Little Guy (1-2) and BB (2-1) plays the surprising RN to the Rescue (1-2).

** Superstars of the Week **
1. Michael Vick (QB – Phi – Undefeated) 40.06 pts
2. Peyton Manning (QB – Ind – Favre Failure Wagon) 34.99 pts
3a. Chris Johnson (RB– Ten – Sexual Chocolate) 34.25 pts
3b. Adrian Petersen (RB – Min – The Little Guy) 34.25 pts
5. Joe Flacco (QB – Bal – Boycott LA / DNS) 32.79 pts

** AKOTW Standings **
1. Undefeated (2-0) - Week 2 +39.78 vs GrNeGgSnHaM, Week 3 +17.64 vs Brown’s Backups
2. Mad Max’s Mama (1-0) - Week 1 +24.05 vs GrNeGgSnHaM

Monday, September 20, 2010

Season 2010 Week 02 Recap

BARN-BURNER OF THE WEEK:
** Favre Failure Wagon (Steve) DEF RN to the Rescue (Megan) by 6.36 points **
It’s becoming pretty clear that RN’s Percy Harvin (WR – Min / 3.73) is not going to be the fantasy juggernaut that he was last year. It’s not RN’s fault that Brett Favre is struggling so much, but it is what it is. The Dolphins (23.74) tried to keep her in it, but the surgical Peyton Manning (QB – Ind / 31.64) provided all that FFW needed to take the week. Next week FFW (2-0) plays Boycott LA (1-1) and RN plays her sister, MMM (2-0).

** Two-Hand Touch (Rex) DEF Pack-Men (Brett) by 11.04 points **
Two-Hand Touch was the only team that reversed a week 1 loss into a week 2 win this week, thanks to Matt Ryan (QB – Atl / 30.98) and the Steelers Defense (32.96). Pack-Men had a good showing as well, with Aaron Rodgers (QB – GB / 33.54) and even Neil Rackers (K – Hou / 19.00) showing up. Like Kyle, Brett would have beaten most other teams this week but he had the misfortune of playing THT. Next week THT (1-1) plays Sobchak Security (2-0) and Pack-Men (0-2) looks to stop the skid against Sexual Chocolate (0-2)

** Sobchak Security (Rick) DEF Boycott LA (Matt) by 15.62 points **
Boycott LA got their re-naming privileges revoked this week because they used forbidden words on the league message board. Evidently Hines Ward (WR – Pit / 0.70) and Stephen Gostkowski (K – NE / 0.00) were offended as well, because they negated the game from Antonio Gates (TE – SD / 16.10). Sobchak and his band of anarcho-syndicalists had pretty even showings from most of his roster. Next week SS (2-0) will play Two-Hand Touch (1-1) and BLA (1-1) will go against Favre Failure Wagon (2-0)

** Brown’s Backups (Josh) DEF Sexual Chocolate (John) by 22.51 points **
The loathsome Jay Cutler (QB – Chi / 33.81) had an interception-free game for BB to help lead them over SC, who was hampered by uncharacteristically bad games from Chris Johnson (RB – Ten / 9.90). Not helping matters was Matt Hasselbeck (QB – Sea / 20.21), who had the audacity to throw in Champ Bailey’s direction. HERESY! Next week BB (2-0) takes on Undefeated (2-0) and SC (0-2) plays a winless-but-surging Pack-Men (0-2).

** Mad Max’s Mama (Kerri) DEF The Little Guy (Kyle) by 27.56 points **
For the second consecutive week, Kerri’s team laid the hammer down on their opponent. Leading the way was newcomer Jahvid Best (RB – Det / 40.35), who bolstered a pretty consistent offense. In a similar fashion to last season, Kyle had a big week against the worst possible opponent – with huge games from Matt Schaub (QB – 40.30 / 40.30) and Adrian Peterson (RB – Min / 30.55), he would have won against nearly anybody else. But ultimately Kyle’s team fell short where Kerri’ s succeeded. Next week MMM (2-0) takes on her dear sister RN to the Rescue (0-2) and TLG (0-2) will battle Boss Hogg (0-2)

** Play to Win the Game (Jeff) DEF Boss Hogg (Jordan) by 30.26 points **
It’s pretty clear that although his skill is unquestionable, BH’s Tom Brady (QB – NE / 18.09) is not the same Quarterback he was before his knee injury. Two picks and a lost fumble helped to doom BH this week against a generally unremarkable PTW. Steve Breaston (WR – Ari / 1.25) didn’t help matters during the Cardinals’ beatdown from the Dirty Birds. PTW did get a superb game from Jeff Reed (K – Pit / 19.00), who is a big asset considering Pittsburgh can’t finish a drive. Next week PTW (2-0) plays G-Unit (0-2) and BH (0-2) looks to reverse fortunes against perennial early-season punching bag The Little Guy (0-2)

ASS-KICKING OF THE WEEK:
** Undefeated (Bob) DEF G… Unit (Sam) by 39.78 points **
Unknown is what UD plans to do next week with Michael Vick (QB – Phi / 30.71) on the sideline. Also unknown is why he’s got Tim Tebow (QB – Den / 0.00) on his bench. Is there something he knows about Kyle Orton’s health that we don’t? Only time will tell. ALSO UNKOWN: why Sam wants me to go crazy trying to type her team’s name each week. GEH was hampered by minicamp no-show Brett Favre (QB – Min / 3.93) and Brandon Marshall (WR – Mia / 4.55) who had at least one great catch that I saw, but no TDs. Next week UD (2-0) plays Brown’s Backups (2-0) and GEH (0-2) plays Play to Win the Game (2-0).

** Superstars of the Week **
1. Jahvid Best (RB – Det – Mad Max’s Mama) 40.35 pts
2. Matt Schaub (QB – Hou – The Little Guy) 40.30 pts
3. Jay Cutler (QB – Chi – Brown’s Backups) 33.81 pts
4. Aaron Rodgers (QB – GB – Pack-Men) 33.54 pts
5. LeSean McCoy (RB – Phi – Sobchak Security / DNS) 33.40 pts

** AKOTW Standings **
1. Undefeated (1-0) - Week 2 +39.78 vs GrNeGgSnHaM
1. Mad Max’s Mama (1-0) - Week 1 +24.05 vs GrNeGgSnHaM

Monday, September 13, 2010

Season 2010 Week 01 Recap

Welcome to the 10th season of The League! For the new guys, here’s how the recap works. The games are ordered from the smallest margin of victory (Barn Burner of the Week) to the largest (Ass-Kicking of the Week). AKOTW standings (for both the winners and the losers) are also kept season-long. Top scorers for the week will be highlighted, with a “DNS” designation if they were not on the active roster. On to the recap…

BARN-BURNER (sort of) OF THE WEEK:
** Boycott LA (Matt) DEF The Little Guy (Kyle) by 2.04 points **
Yawn. Both teams combined for a total of 2 touchdowns. One from TLG’s Matt Schaub (QB – Hou / 10.66) and one from BL’s Antonio Gates (TE – SD / 11.05). Good God, I’m getting tired just typing this. Sorry guys, but your teams were pretty boring this week – not your fault! Next week BL plays Sobchak Security and TLG plays Mad Max’s Mama.

** Sobchak Security (Rick) DEF RN to the Rescue (Megan) by 3.38 points **
This one was a battle to the end, and RN was ultimately doomed by a lack of touchdowns. Only Tony Romo (QB – Dal / 21.81) scored a TD for RN this week, and Percy Harvin (WR – Min / 2.27) was obviously hobbled by the new scoring structure. It seems that SS’s Chad Ochocinco (WR – Cin / 16.95) was a difference-maker in this one, with a 12-catch, 159-yard afternoon and a touchdown cherry on top. Also not hurting matters was the 3-sack, 2-pick game from Philadelphia’s defense (9.14). Next week SS will battle the poorly-named Boycott LA and RN will try to ramp up production when they take on Favre Failure Wagon.

** Undefeated (Bob) DEF Pack-Men (Brett) by 3.81 points **
Though UD’s Mike Sims-Walker (WR – Jac / 0.00) was essentially a no-show against the Broncos, PM’s Michael Crabtree (WR – SF / 1.10) might as well have been, so this was pretty much a wash. There was a lot of sadness, like UD’s Garrett Hartley (K – NO / -1.00) and PM’s Greg Olsen (TE – Chi / 0.85). Ultimately UD pulled ahead of the whippersnapper from Tucson by a couple of points. Next week UD will try to avoid the wrath of PM’s wife when he plays her Green Eggs team. PM will play Two-Hand Touch.

** Favre Failure Wagon (Steve) DEF Boss Hogg (Jordan) by 12.15 points **
Wow – both QB’s came to play in this one. FFW’s Peyton Manning (QB – Ind / 40.37) and BH’s Tom Brady (QB – NE / 31.62) put up stellar numbers, but Manning makes up a bigger piece of the offensive pie for his team and therefore was a bigger producer. Had Boss Hogg played the previously unknown Arian Foster (RB – Hou / 46.65) he would have won, but I’m not sure anybody would have started Foster over Maurice Jones-Drew (RB – Jac / 17.90), especially against the Broncos shitty defense. Next Week BH plays Play to Win the Game (may all of Brady’s passes go to Welker) and FFW plays RN to the Rescue.

** Brown’s Backups (Josh) DEF Two-Hand Touch (Rex) by 18.23 points **
Poutyface Jay Cutler (QB – Chi / 27.98) helped make the difference for Brown’s Backups on this one, as THT’s Matt Ryan (QB – Atl / 13.15) had a decent game but was held without a touchdown this week. As a matter of fact, only one player on THT’s squad scored a TD this week: Reggie Wayne (WR – Ind / 12.70). Of note was that both kickers had great games: BB’s Mason Crosby (K – GB / 16.00) and THT’s David Akers (K – Phi / 12.00). Next week BB’s looks to continue his success against Sexual Chocolate while THT will battle the Pack-Men.

** Play to Win the Game (Jeff) DEF Sexual Chocolate (John) by 22.19 points **
John (SC) was hampered in this one by pretty much every guy on his team. With the exception of Steve Smith (WR – Car / 11.00) and the Blue Jesus Chris Johnson (RB – Ten / 34.00), his players underperformed. Things were a little rosier on the other side of the matchup – PTW got favorable performances from Drew Brees (QB – NO / 21.22) and Wes Welker (WR – NE / 17.20), who was evidently forgotten about. Next week SC plays Brown’s Backups and PTW plays Boss Hogg.

ASS-KICKING OF THE WEEK:
** Mad Max’s Mama (Kerri) DEF Green Eggs (Sam) by 24.05 points **
This affair was over with pretty early Monday night. The only notable performance was MMM’s Hakeem Nicks (WR – NYG / 22.75). Aside from that, the performances were all pretty disappointing – until you get to the bench players, that is. GE would have benefited from the services of David Garrard (QB – Jac / 30.86) as much as MMM would have from Carson Palmer (QB – Cin / 30.81). Both teams could have used their bench RB’s, as well. Next week MMM plays The Little Guy and GE plays the so-far-accurately-named Undefeated.

** Superstars of the Week **
1. Arian Foster (RB – Hou – Boss Hogg / DNS) 46.65 pts
2. Peyton Manning (QB – Ind – Favre Failure Wagon) 40.37 pts
3. Chris Johnson (RB – Ten – Sexual Chocolate) 34.00 pts
4. Tom Brady (QB – NE – Boss Hogg) 31.62 pts
5. David Garrard (QB – Jac – GrNeGgSnHaM / DNS) 30.86 pts

** AKOTW Standings **
1. Mad Max’s Mama (1-0) - Week 1 vs GrNeGgSnHaM