1) Indiana Ignition (2-0) You can’t argue with results, and that’s just what the Ignition get, results. Sure being undefeated after two weeks isn’t exactly the most difficult task; after all, Chewton is 2-0 also. What is impressive is the league high 205 points scored by Indiana, 26 points more than runner up Allentown. Indiana is well armed at every position, anchored by Priest Holmes and Edgerrin James at running back. However, this week it may be rough for the Ignition as both Holmes and The Edge are hurting, and may be held out of their respective games. Last week they embarrassed Akron, thanks to impressive performances from James, Pennington and the Seattle defense. Injuries aside, this team is built for speed, and can be explosive each week.
2) Allentown Iron Men (1-1) Seven of Allentown's ten players were in double digits last week, and each week this team has the ability to light up the scoreboard. Chalking their game one loss up to opening week jitters, the Iron Men are beginning to step their game up, as QB Aaron Brooks is about to be heavily relied up on in New Orleans, Laveranues Coles looks catch more balls from Patrick Ramsey, and the best backfield in the LFFL consisting of Tomlinson, Lewis, Brown and Griffin take on favorable matchups in the coming weeks. If this team can find one consistent producer at WR, and QB Brooks can play within himself, this team will roll. Don't discount Allentown’s oddball positions as Shockey, Adam Vinatieri and the Dallas D all have the potential to overachieve at their positions. This week the Iron Men take on the Assault, who hope to deliver a measure of revenge against an Allentown team that was very critical of Akron's draft and team management. Conversely, the Iron Men will hope to bury and further embarrass the Assault. This one will be settled on the field starting Sunday.
3) Chewton Champs (2-0) For all practical purposes, this team should be further down the power poll, as their total points is 4th lowest, and a glace at their roster shows the presence of Eddie George and Charlie Garner, signifying a desperate team. However, the most important stat suggest otherwise, as this team is 2-0. The Champs are strong, having key players at each position, McNabb, Mason, Ahman Green, Heap, Vanderjagt and Denver. The problem however is the players who back up these studs. Marcus Robinson, Charlie Garner and Eddie George don’t exactly strike fear into the hearts of their opponents. That said, on weeks when the key players really produce, their shortcomings are overcome, and this team wins. Chewton takes on injured Latrobe this week, but wont get away with the poor performance they put together last week prior to McNabb's taking of the field. This team can’t expect a 24 point effort each week from McNabb, so they'll need to get production of some sort from bye week players and backups. That remains to be seen though, despite their 2-0 standing. For now though, until they get an L, Chewton is #3.
4) Koppel Koonhunters (1-1) Koppel is riding high after last week's big win over arch-rival Prospect. They've got a powerful assembly of starters, including Culpepper and Moss, Brian Westbrook (who is due to find the end zone soon), and Daniel Graham is proving to be a valuable asset. That said, this team is not the offensive juggernaut it was last year. There is a significant talent drop off at WR after Moss, and at RB Westbrook has yet to find the end zone, and Barlow may have 2 injuries to concern himself over, his and his offensive line's. WR Jerry Porter may suffer from a feast or famine Oakland passing attack that likes to spread the ball around, and Kicker Josh Brown has only connected on one field goal thus far this year. Taking this into consideration, along with this week's off players Daniel Graham and Justin McCareins, Koppel will probably have their hands full with Ellwood this week, who are looking to prove that last week was not a fluke. Perhaps though the Power Poll is being too critical, it is very likely that Koppel will soon begin to klick, and if that happens, Koppel may be able to compare itself to last year's stellar team.
5) Akron Assault (1-1) It's funny how in the NFL Tom Brady was a backup who took over behind the wheel of the Patriots offense and put Drew Bledsoe in the rear view mirror. The same thing has happened it would seem in the LFFL. Owner Ryan Alessio took QB Michael "Don’t call me Mike anymore" Vick with the third pick overall in the draft this year, but has found that Brady is his starting man on game day. Vick has yet to start a game, but that changes this week, as Brady has a bye. Was taking Vick with the third choice overall the best decision ever? Many have criticized this move on the record, including the owner of the Assault's opponent this week, Allentown. Overall though, Akron isn’t a bad team. Far from it. Marvin Harrison is of course an all world receiver, and Terry Glenn, Plaxico Burress and Qunicy Morgan are serviceable receivers. The loss of Charles Rogers though has hurt the receiving corps. At running back Rudi Johnson will be solid this year, and while during the draft it was clear Akron didn’t know who Thomas Jones was, he may prove to be Akron's best pick. Randy McMichael is a perfect example of the strategy of picking the best player on a bad team, and for Akron, it works. As stated before, as Akron takes on Allentown this week, Brady, DeShaun Foster and the New England D are all off with bye weeks, making this game a little more difficult for the Assault, who are looking to leap to the head of the LFFL class. They'll need solid performances from every position though, because Allentown is a powerhouse that can't be beaten by only one player (read: even if Vick throws for 200 yards and rushes for 100 of his own).
6) Ellwood Dishsoaps (1-1) This is a good team. Not a deep team, but a good team none the less. Last week the 'Soaps crossed the century mark against the Epidemic and got solid games from all but two of their players. Ellwood has the goods at QB with Air McNair, skill and speed at WR with all world Tory Holt, power at running back with Stephen Davis, Dunn and ever young Curtis Martin. Sure, Boo Williams' worth is up in the air, and Pittsburgh laid an egg last week against Baltimore, but Ellwood wont make that mistake again, and will look to start the Philly D from here on out. This week Ellwood takes on Koppel and will really need to put together a strong roster to get a W. As of this writing they are without a starting running back because of Martin's bye week and Davis' inactivity due to bye week and injury. Should they find someone to plug that hole and get at least some production from them, the rest of the Dishsoaps roster could still make it a long day for the Koonies. The top two receivers (Holt and Horn) and running back Dunn have favorable matchups this week, and assuming that Steve McNair is due to get back to his MVP caliber game play, Ellwood may be able to hold off Koppel and go above .500. This is an early season test for the 'Soaps and their coach, who hopes to prove to all that he's as good a fantasy player as he is an asshole (that is to say, a very very good asshole).
7) Prospect Pioneers (1-1) I know, you have questions about this team. Chances are it sounds something like this: So, what's the deal with Prospect this year? Are they good? Are they bad? Doug Gabriel? Why? Yeah, the fact of the matter is, this team is up in the air. A quick glance of their roster would suggest that they're awesome. As awesome as last year? Ah,no. But still awesome. However, these awesome players may not produce awesome numbers. Last week, only two starters turned in double digit performances, QB Joey Harrington and the Baltimore D. This week, Prospect has elected to not even start Harrington, opting instead for Jake Plummer against the San Diego secondary. The main reason for the problems with this roster though is probably owner Dan Coulter's obsession with the use of the waiver wire. Every flavor of the week is picked up and inserted into the following week's starting line up. For example: Doug Gabriel catches a long bomb in the first half of the Raiders Steelers game. By the middle of the 3rd quarter he had been picked up by Prospect, and by the next week started at the #3 WR slot, where he collected exactly zero points. Poor as their performances were, Keyshawn Johnson and Ashley Lelie could have improved upon that. Team bright spots include Coulter's main man Clinton Portis, Marshall Faulk, Alge Crumpler and the Baltimore defense. This week the Pioneers will take on the Ignition, who are nursing injuries, and ripe for an upset by a Prospect team that is feeling surprisingly desperate this early in the season.
8) Latrobe Brewers (0-2) Latrobe is the exact opposite of rival Chewton. On paper, they look very strong, but in reality have been on the receiving end of two losses. Chewton however, looks weak on paper, but has managed to win twice this year. At QB Latrobe has one of the best in Peyton Manning, and a top 5 receiving threat with Hines Ward at WR. Javon Walker and Mushin Muhammad round out the receivers, and Fred Taylor anchors the backfield with uber tough Travis Henry making for an excellent #2 back. However, these position players have yet to produce this year, leaving Latrobe at 0-2. The injury to Kellen Winslow II hurts the Brewers who were counting on his wide receiver like production. This doesn’t bode well for owner Lisa Andrews who did some house cleaning this week in hopes to turn around her injured team. Andrews brought in Aaron Stecker who will be playing for the injured Deuce McAllister in New Orleans, and Tennessee's tight end Erron Kinney. Will these moves pay off? The answer comes this week as Latrobe takes on arch-rival Chewton. A Chewton win would put the Champs at 3-0 and the Brewers at 0-3, a place Latrobe doesn't want to be so early in the season.
9) Eastbrook Mooncrickets (1-1) This team could very well be in trouble. We're talking serious, legitimate peril. Eastbrook boasted the lowest point total last week, a shade over 48, and may not do much better this week. They still have the best wide receiving corps in the league, that hasn't changed. What has changed is the surrounding cast of characters around those three ball catchers. Trent Green and the Chiefs are in trouble, McAllister is injured (and Eastbrook is without his backup), Duce Staley will be the recipient of a stacked line of scrimmage to force Pittsburgh's rookie QB to throw, Eddie Kennison is horrible, TJ Duckett has to deal with ball hog Michael Vick, and William Green is always a knife fight away from the IR. This week though, the 'Maniacs take on equally hapless Edinburg, and may luck out in this basement battle. This week's game will come down to the play of Eastbrook's ball catchers, who will all need to have a big day to make up for the deficiencies the rest of the offense brings to the table.
10) Edinburg Epidemic (0-2) If Eastbrook MIGHT be in trouble, then Edinburg IS in trouble. With injuries to top players Shaun Alexander and Deon Branch, no production thus far from position players, and an underwhelming showing so far from Matt Hasselbeck the Epidemic have problems. Even Tony Gonzalez is hoofin it. If the production from the starters has been poor, the bench has been even more dismal, with backups such as Ron Dayne, Brandon Lloyd and Justin Fargus. The thing is, there's no hiding the fact that this is a not a great team. Shaun Alexander can't be expected to carry the load each week, and if past performances are any indication, he won't. However, until the team management can work out a trade or a plan to get this team back into it, they may be the recipient of a team's poor outing, and squeak out a win or two here or there. This week may prove to be one of those weeks, as the Epidemic take on a hurting Eastbrook team that is vulnerable.
No comments:
Post a Comment