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Friday, November 6, 2009

Fantasy Football Friday: Week 9

By Jim Ingram
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff
It's week 9, and how is your team faring? Are you in the playoff hunt, or are you already planning for next season? If you're like me, than you have several fantasy football teams. While I'd like to have winning season in all of my leagues, it's just not working out the way I'd like this season. Either way, this is a very interesting week with superstar running backs on the bye. The teams on the bye this week are the Bills, Browns, Jets, Raiders, Rams and Vikings. Yes, that means Adrian Peterson, Thomas Jones, Marshawn Lynch and Steven Jackson are on the bye. Ouch.
Best Match Ups of the Week:
1. Lions at Seahawks - Two weeks ago I traded for Ben Roethlisburger. Now that he's finally off the bye I can use him for the first time, right? Wrong. Matt Hasselback is my backup and he'll be getting the start at home against the Detroit Lions. With so many good running backs on the bye, it's a perfect time to start Julius Jones. Also look for John Carlson to bounce back with a good week this week as well as Nate Burelson and TJ Houshmandzedah.
2. Packers at Buccaneers - If you're a offensive player on the Packers this week, then odds are you're going to have a good fantasy week. The obvious plays are Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Donald Driver, Greg Jennings and the Packers Defense. I also like Donald Lee this weekend. I wouldn't start a Tampa player if you paid me. They're starting a rookie QB for the first time. If that's not bad enough, Josh Freeman spent his bye week back on his old college campus partying with friends and former teammates.
3. Cowboys at Eagles - Despite both defenses playing well lately, I look at this game as a great offensive game. Lots of points, and therefore fantasy points, will be scored by both teams. I like both Tony Romo, and Donovan McNabb at QB. I still like LeSean McCoy over Brian Westbrook. I'm not a fan of any of the Cowboys running backs though. Most of their damage will come throught he air. Forget about Roy Williams and his moaning about being the #1 receiver. Miles Austin is still the best option for Romo. On the other side, I love DeSean Jackson and do like Jeremy Maclin.
Put em' in the Starting Lineup:
QB - Matt Ryan, Kurt Warner, Matt Hasselback
Look for a bounce back game for Matt Ryan against the terrible Redskins. Same thing for Kurt Warner. There is now way he puts up back to back bad games. I just love Hasselback against the Lions. Who wouldn't
RB- Jamaal Charles, Julius Jones, Steve Slaton
Jamaal Charles is now the man, temporarily, in KC and watch out for a big game against the Jaguars. In the limited amount of carries he's had in his young career, he's average 5.3 yards. If you read about the Lions/Seahawks game above, then you know why I like Jones. Nobody likes to be benched. Slaton will have a very good game against a very hurt Colts defense.
WR- Michael Crabtree, Malcolm Floyd, Steve Breaston
Crabtree is already a must start in my opinion. Make sure you keep him if you're in a keeper league. Malcolm Floyd is now a starter opposite Vincent Jackson. He will see more balls come his way. Anquan Boldin is a game time decision. Breaston has no problem stepping in and producing.
TE - Donald Lee, Fred Davis, Ben Watson
It looks like Finely will not play again this week. I love Fred Davis because who else is Jason Campbell going to have time to throw to. Ben Watson is a touchdown machine this season. Look for that to continue at home against the Dolphins.
DEF - Seahawks, 49ers, Falcons
Seattle plays the Lions. Enough said. Despite the win last week, I still hate the Titans offense besides Chris Johnson. The Falcons can take a relieved sight they line up against the Redskins and not the Saints again this week.
Make em' ride the Bench:
QB - Kyle Orton, Joe Flacco
The Steelers defense is back, and will be in full effect in Denver on Monday night. It's not that I am down on Orton. The Bengals will beat the Ravens this weekend, and play very well against the pass. Mark my words
RB- Ryan Moats, Brian Westbrook
Slaton will get the bulk of the carries, so don't play Moats unless you're desperate. Even if Westbrook plays, I don't trust a running back with a concussion
WR- Antonio Bryant, Ted Ginn, Steve Smith (CAR)
Did you read above about Josh Freeman? There is no way Ted Ginn abuses the Patriots on special teams. It's just not going to happen. Steve Smith is just not getting the ball.
TE - Kevin Boss, Jermichael Finley
Boss has been way too inconsistent for me. Until he does it a few weeks in a row, I will not play him. It looks like Finley will not play.
DEF - Chargers, Colts
Big bounce back week for the NY Football Giants this week. I am not a fan of the Chargers D anyway. The Colts have lost Tyjuan Hagler and Marlin Jackson for the remainder of the season and that is just this week. They're already a very hurt defense and take on Matt Schaub and the high flying pass attack of the Texans. The Colts will win the game, but this could be a shootout.

Rooting against Florida Bama and Cinci

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Rememeber the old adage "To be the best, you have to be the best?"

Well, according to the BCS, that really isn't true.

With strength of schedule not having any real impact on the BCS standings, teams have taken to playing weak schedules with one "signature" game that the masses remember while forgetting they beat up on a BCS team and a half-dozen sub-.500 teams along the way.

Alabama does it. Of the top 5 BCS teams as of this week, Alabama has the second-lowest opponent winning percentage at .492 (32-33). They have played just one team that has reached bowl eligibility with six wins to this point and their "signature" win came in week one against Virginia Tech, who has sunk all the way to No. 23 in the BCS rankings and was unimpressive in a 16-3 yawner against East Carolina yesterday. They at least play LSU this week, giving them two ranked opponents, but if you are going to whine that you don't get enough credit and should be called the best team in the country, you shouldn't be wasting your time with Florida International and North Texas.

But one of the biggest culprits of the cupcake schedule is the No. 5 team in the BCS standings, who are whining they are not getting more respect - Cincinnati. The Bearkittens so far this season have played eight teams whose combined winning percentage is .466. Yep. Cincinnati has gained national fame by beating up on teams that are a combined 30-35. They did beat South Florida, ranked 25th in the BCS rankings, but other than that, they have beaten no one of note. You can't blame them for playing Louisville and Syracuse in league play, but you most certainly can hold Southeast Missouri State (FCS), along with a WAC opponent (Fresno State) and one of the worst teams in the MAC (Miami). Their "signature" game is a final-week matchup with Pitt.

But the biggest thief is Cincinnati. Other than LSU, the so-called best team in college football has not played a ranked team and decimated the FCS' Charleston Southern and Troy out of the Sun Belt, certainly not known as a breeding ground for powerhouse college football programs. The Gators and their fans legitimize this by pointing to the fact they play in the SEC. The only problem with that argument is the SEC is completely overrated. Ole Miss and Georgia, both in the ranked in the preseason polls, both turned out to be patsies, leaving the SEC with as fewer ranked teams than the Pac-10. The Gators have played six SEC opponents and FIVE of them do not have winning records to this point this season. South Carolina next week will make two.

It is what it is, but it's hard to crown a team the best in the nation when they don't play the best schedules. So if you believe in that old adage, join in and root for Florida and Cincinnati's opponents this week. Vandy doesn't stand much of a chance against Florida, but then again, we thought that about Arkansas and Mississippi State, too. Connecticut is a talented unit, who suffered a heartbreaker last week and is still looking to win one for Jasper Howard. Could a big win over Cinci be a fitting tribute? But LSU has the most legitimate shot, but it is hard to root for them and their matching .492 opponent winning percentage.