Fantasy Football Passport

Well it’s week 9 and I’m 2-7. I safe to say I haven’t had a lot to write about the last couple of weeks, but I’m not going to let this years poor performance bring me down but instead start looking ahead at next year.

I guess I’m not just looking ahead, but actually taking steps now to improve my team for next year. I am in a keeper in so it is important to think about who you end the season with. Obviously Marshaw Lynch is my first keeper. This guy is a stud and I think he will really fly next year. Peyton Manning is my other solid lock at a keeper, but the third position I am having trouble with. I don’t really have anyone else that has consistently shown good numbers this year. The next couple weeks I will scoop anyone who looks to be showing potential in homes they become a worthwhile keeper.

I have thought about grabbing Ronnie Brown off the waiver wire, in hopes he will be back next year with a similar start to the season. If nothing better comes along it might be worth the gamble.

So I am currently 2-5 in my fantasy pool. The weird thing is I have a damn good team. I put up good points every week but it seems that whoever I play seems to put up their best game of the year. This week isn’t looking much better.

If I knew then what I know now! I wanted to take a look back at the top 10 picks of most fantasy drafts and see where they are. I know if the draft was to take place now, there would be some very different results.

1. LaDainian Tomlinson RB,SD - The number one pick in everyones draft was of course LT and although he did have a horrible start to the season he has put up some decent numbers in past weeks. He currently sits at 73 points.

2. Steven Jackson RB,STL - Probably the biggest bust of the draft. I’m going to cut him a little slack cause he is hurt but owners can’t be too happy with the 22 fantasy points he has put up this year.

3. Shaun Alexander RB,SEA - Another bust for owners, 49 points in 5 games is good for a third round pick not a third overall pick. Unlike Steven Jackson he really doesn’t have a reason for the poor play. I know he has a broken hand but the way I see it, either bring your A game or sit on the bench.

4. Larry Johnson RB,KC - 35 points for the former unstoppable LJ. I am not sure what happened to LJ, maybe the holdout heart him but whatever it is, owners can’t be happy.

5. Frank Gore RB,SF - 53 points, Gore has only reached the 80-yard rushing mark once in five games this season and has gone without a touchdown in three games now.

6. Joseph Addai RB,IND - 73 points, probably exactly the start you had hoped for from Joseph Addai. He wasn’t a sure thing in the draft but as it turns out none of them where. If you own Addai you must be happy.

7. Peyton Manning QB,IND - 112 points, I used the 5th overall pick in our draft to grab Peyton Manning. He is consistent week after week and has put up some good points.

8. Brian Westbrook RB,PHI - 67 points, although he came out of the gate slow and had an injury Westbrook has put up some good numbers so far this season. As the Eagles get their game going a little more I think we can expect even bigger things from Westbrook.

9. Willie Parker RB,PIT - 54 points, you have to be disappointed if you own Parker, when he put up 18 points in week two owners where thinking this is the real Willie Parker but he unfortunately hasn’t done it since. I would expect him to have a decent season.

10. Rudi Johnson RB,CIN - 28 points, I own Rudi Johnson and can tell you first hand he has been a major disappointment. 28 points is ridiculous, now giving him the benefit of the doubt he has had an injury and a buy week but I would expect Rudi to put up pretty close to 28 points in a game no so far in the season.

So there you have it the ugly top 10 from most drafts. I think the only three guys that really deserver to be there would be LaDainian Tomlinson, Joseph Addai and Peyton Manning if you really tried hard you could probably convince me to include Brian Westbrook in that group but it would be a stretch!

Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme will miss  the rest of the season after deciding to undergo surgery on his right elbow. Coach John Fox said Delhomme, who was injured two weeks ago, had trouble throwing the ball early Monday, a day after he briefly threw on the side while sitting out Carolina’s win over New Orleans. Delhomme then made the decision to have surgery next week. He’s expected to recover in time for the start of next season. ”Anytime you lose your starting quarterback it’s a blow,” Fox said. “Jake was playing very well. I think that’s pretty well documented. He’s not only our starting quarterback, but what he brings to our football team will be missed.” The move leaves the Panthers (3-2) in need of another quarterback. Backup David Carr, signed in the offseason, suffered a back injury against the Saints on Sunday and his status for next week’s game at Arizona is uncertain.

It’s pretty bad when you get excited that your third overall pick gets 12 points on any given week, but that is what I have been reduced to with Cedric Benson. The first time I sit him and the first time he goes over 10 points in a single game. DAMMIT!

Early last week I dropped Detroit Lions running back Tatum Bell and picked up Oakland Raider  running back fresh off suspension Dominic Rhodes. Tatum Bell hasn’t done anything for me this year so I wanted to take a chance on Dominic Rhodes.Unfortunately, I needed a running back for this weeks games so Rhodes stay wasn’t very long. I dropped Rhodes yesterday and picked up Houston Texan running back Ron Dayne, they are going up against Miami Dolphins this week and I think that is a favorable match up.

Rhodes, Dominic RB OAK - Added
Bell, Tatum RB DET - Dropped
Dayne, Ron RB HOU - Added
Rhodes, Dominic RB OAK - Dropped

Well I came close this week putting up 101 points a season best for the Green Machine. Unfortunately it wasn’t enough to stop the team made up of Tom Brady, Randy Moss and the Patriots Defense. Although this puts me at 1-3 I am optimistic about the team I have managed to put together. My only real concern is Cedric Benson. I haven’t decided what I am going to do with him yet, but his consistent poor numbers week in and week out has put my team at a distinct disadvantage. Experts where calling this the break out week, and I really think if he was planning on breaking out he would have done it against the Detroit Lions defense. 

 Before I get into fantasy football news, I need to  give props to Brett Favre the poster boy of competitive sports and in my opinion life in general. Not only does he accomplish amazing goals and dominate his chosen arena but he has a damn good time doing it, which I think is the real reason he is the champion we all think he is. Brett watching you enjoy the game we all love Sunday after Sunday has been amazing, all I can say is thank you! I picked up a wicked Reebok Green Bay Packers Brett Favre TD Record Short Sleeve Tee from nflshop.com today you can find it here. 

I just sent Pittsburgh Steeler wide receiver Santonio Holmes and New England Patriot running back Sammy Morris packing and picked up Houston Texan running back Ahman Green and Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch.  I really didn’t want Ahman Green because I think the chances of him returning are slim, but I did need Marshawn Lynch this week with Rudi Johnson out for a god knows how long. Marshawn Lynch will definitely make the starting lineup this week.

The Vikings are giving both Kelly Holcomb and Chester Taylor the nod this weekend. This should be interesting. In my opinion (which might be a little biased because I am a huge packer fan) the amazing packer defense will eat both of them for breakfast.