As the webmaster has found himself busy with school and managing his fantasy team over the past three weeks, the LFFL homepage has gone without an update. In an attempt to rectify this, here is a recap of the last four weeks.
Week 4 (Final)
The Latrobe Brewers took on the undefeated Chewton Champs in a battle that went back and forth, only to be decided on Monday Night Football. Leading the Brewers was running back LaDainian Tomlinson with a pair of touchdowns and nearly 170 total yards, and the two touchdown effort of Stephen Davis on MNF put Latrobe over the top. Chewton kept it close though, with solid efforts from Marc Bulger, Tiki Barber and Anquan Boldin. However, close as it was, Latrobe wins by 3.
Allentown handed Prospect another loss this week, despite some underwhelming performances on both sides. The Cadillac was sidelined with injury, and was under 1.5 points, and Steve Smith had barely 1 point. However, the Iron Men had just enough and got the W.
Edinburg got their first win of the year, thanks to the ineptitude of the Farrell Mooncrickets.
Scores for Week 4:
Allentown 74.93 defeats Prospect 66.69
Edinburg 78.77 defeats Farrell 50.93
Latrobe 90.43 defeats Chewton 87.44
Koppel 119.48 defeats Greenville 78.50
Indiana 93.72 defeats Akron 73.83
Week Three (Final)
Chewton Champs (3-0) 113.74
Allentown Iron Men (2-1) 105.99
It was billed the game of the week, and these two teams didn’t disappoint. Entering the game both teams were 2-0, and only one thing was certain, there would be a winner left undefeated and a loser who would take on its first loss. Both squads had strong days from their playmakers, but at the end of the day, Chewton scored more points. The Champs had six players in double digits, and received strong performances from Marc Bulger (17.99 pts), Brian Westbrook (23.9 pts), Adam Vinatieri (13 pts), and the Seattle defense (11 pts). Even Edgerrin James found the end zone and Keyshawn Johnson played for a full 60 minutes.
Allentown, on the other hand had a solid day as well, but key players failed to live up to expectations. QB Tom Brady had solid yards, but handing the ball off robbed him of a passing touchdown (5.44 pts) and tight end Tony Gonzalez’s slump continues (2.7 pts). Perhaps the biggest disappointment was kicker Ryan Longwell who scored a measly 3 points, and missed an extra point. Bright spots included stud RB Shaun Alexander with 4 TDs (31 pts), Chad Johnson (16.55 pts) and Rod Smith (11.75 pts). Despite the strong efforts though, Allentown couldn’t get it done, scoring 105.99 in their loss to Chewton. Allentown falls to 2-1, Chewton stays undefeated at 3-0.
Latrobe Brewers (2-1) 105.22
Indiana Ignition (1-2) 87.64
While there were no other LFFL games this week as close or entertaining as Allentown vs. Chewton, Latrobe vs. Indiana proved to be the next closest.
Indiana continues to struggle, oddly enough, due in part to a lack of production on the part of their wide receivers, and a failure to get Priest Holmes the ball. This week the WRs were poor, as Marvin Harrison, Michael Clayton, and Mushin Muhammad scored a combined 11 points. While each has their reasons(reborn defense, excellent running game, Kyle Orton) these guys have got to get it done. Of note though, QB Jake Plummer finally played like an NFL QB (15.49 pts) and Julius Jones (16.65 pts) and Jason Whitten (11.75 pts) had a good day.
Latrobe however is clicking, getting big days from the key postions: QB, RB, WR and Defense. Not to be outdone by Shaun Alexander’s 4 touchdowns earlier in the day, running back LaDainian Tomlinson tore it up, rushing for 3 TDs, tossing 1 TD, and having a combined 220 yards in total offense. His 35.02 points were best league wide. The recipient of that Tomlinson TD pass was McCardell, who himself had a great day (17.0 pts). A minor problem on the day was Larry Johnson who scored negative points (-1.32 pts). However, despite that slight blemish, Latrobe had enough, and got the win, 105.22 – 87.64. Latrobe goes to 2-1, Indiana falls to 1-2.
Farrell Mooncrickets(1-2) 84.97
Koppel Koonhunters(1-2) 65.70
In the battle of the racist mascots the Mooncrickets trumped the Koonhunters this week. The win for Farrell was due in no small part to the roster mixup, as the ‘Crickets benched the just plain terrible Michael “Ron Mexico” Vick, and the injured David Akers. This last minute switch gave Farrell the edge they need to whip Koppel. Of course, big games from QB Ben Roethlisberger (17.17 pts), and RB Corey Dillon (16.7 pts) didn’t hurt either.
Koppel, like Indiana, has some WR problems, with their three starters scoring a combined 6.1 points. Also underperforming were tight end L.J. Smith (1.75 pts) and former stud Curtis Martin (4.05 pts). However, the running game and quarterback remain strong: McAllister 11.1 points, McGahee 13.0 points, McNabb, 17.7 points. Yet, that was not enough as the ‘Crickets escape the ‘Hunters 84.97 to 65.7. Both teams are now 1-2.
Greenville Trojans (2-1) 93.15
Akron Assault (1-2) 66.06
Two ships, passing in the night, that’s these two teams. At season’s start it looked as if Greenville would be the basement dweller while Akron might finally head toward the top. However, it looks as if that was premature. Greenville finally rebounded from “Culpepper Syndrome,” and responded with a big win. Akron though continues to struggle while Peyton Manning waits to turn it up.
The Trojans are not without their problems though, they started Kyle Johnson (.25 pts) at RB, and Alex Smith (.45 pts) at TE this week, much to the surprise of many, including Kyle Johnson, who has never been a fantasy player, let alone starter, until Greenville picked him up.
Akron’s best players were Antonio Gates (12.1 pts) and Jason Elam (14 pts). That should tell you enough right there. However it’s too soon to count out this team yet, even if they do have problems.
Greenville gets the W, 93.15 – 66.06. The Trojans are now 2-1, the Assault fall to 1-2.
Prospect Pioneers (2-1) 96.71
Edinburg Epidemic (0-3) 52.23
Why this game even needs recapped, I don’t know. Edinburg lost. There, I wrapped it up.
Seriously though, Edinburgh woes continued this week, but nothing less could be expected when the Epidemic start players such as Lee Evans, Marty Booker, Brandon Jacobs, and Dallas Clark, all four of which combined for 3.3 points total! One hightlight was QB Carson Palmer (21.23 pts), who replaced a benched Brett Favre.
Prospect however keeps having good games thanks to big days from big players. QB Drew Bledsoe was solid again (23.51 pts), but the real gem was WR Steve Smith (27.15 pts). These big days were enough to give Prospect the 96.74 – 52.23 win. Prospect moves up to 2-1, and Edinburg remains in the basement at 0-3.
Week Two (Final)
Koppel Koonhunters (1-1) 106.84
Prospect Pioneers (1-1) 68.24
In what promised to be the first major match up of this young season between two heavyweight rivals, the result was decidedly one sided. The Koppel Koonhunters lambasted the Prospect Pioneers yet again, this year on the shoulders of a career game for quarterback Donovan McNabb. McNabb passed for 5 touchdowns and bundle of yards on his way to a 34.84 point day. Prospect countered with Kurt Warner and his 2.54 point performance. That alone suggested it was going to be a long day for the Pioneers. Prospect did have a couple bright spots, including the strong play of Joe Horn on Monday Night Football (13.4 pts) and another strong showing from Willie Parker (11.6 pts). Koppel also had strong performances from its wide receivers, and tight end L.J. Smith benefited from McNabb’s tour de force. For those who need a refresher, this is not the first time Koppel has humiliated Prospect, in 2003 Koonies’ QB Peyton Manning threw for 6 touchdowns and over 300 yards on his way to a record 42.33 point performance against the Pioneers (A record which still stands today). That year Koppel also had the services of Marvin Harrison, who was on the receiving end of three of those six TDs, adding 27.4 points. Needless to say Prospect lost that game as well. However of note, Prospect used that loss as a catalyst to turn their season around. Prospect went on to run the table, winning their final two months of games, and earning the #1 seed in the playoffs. That year though, they were no match for eventual champion Allentown, whom Prospect lost to in the first round of the playoffs. Will Prospect use yet another loss to rival Koppel as the vessel they need to cross the river Styx and step foot upon the promise land that is the LFFL Championship? Only time will tell.
Greenville Trojans (1-1) 78.32
Farrell Mooncrickets(0-2) 41.21
Despite poor play from players at key positions, the Greenville Trojans rebounded from last week’s tough loss to Prospect in the season opener to win this week against a poor Farrell squad. Greenville again suffered from the terrible play of QB Daunte Culpepper, who threw 5 interceptions. Culpepper did however toss one TD and a 2pt conversion, which kept his head above water, scoring Greenville a paltry 3.22 points. The bright spots however were the Trojans wide receivers, Tory Holt and Hines Ward, who combined for nearly 30 points. The Cincinnati defense stepped up big contributing 20 big points. Farrell however had zero bright spots, and leaves this game scratching their heads, wondering if there are any positives they can take away from this loss. The Mooncrickets’ only double digit scorer was “quarterback” Michael Vick, who earned 10.61 points. Several key players scored so few points that it almost looks as if a flu worked its way around the Farrell locker-room. Reggie Wayne, Corey Dillon, Jamal Lewis and Jermaine Wiggins all scored less than 2 points each, and Andre Johnson was the highest scorer of the marquee players, racking up an even two. As a result of this game, Farrell falls to 0-2, and Greenville goes to an even 1-1.
Allentown Iron Men (2-0) 87.45
Indiana Ignition (1-1) 47.71
Despite a below average showing from QB Tom Brady, the rest of the Iron Men put together a solid game to propel Allentown to a 2-0 record, and a tie for the league lead, after their win over Indiana. Allentown received touchdowns from each of their running backs, including rookie sensation Cadillac Williams. Also, WR Chad Johnson and the Dallas defense were solid in the win. For Indiana, the lone bright spot was, as usual, running back Priest Holmes. Quarterback Jake Plummer is becoming more of a liability than an asset, as he provided a mere 3.06 points this week. The Ignition also suffered from underperformance of key players, like Marvin Harrison and Julius Jones. While a 47.71 point showing is by no means a respectable showing, this team is not yet ready to hit the panic button, as they have the players, they just need for them to start clicking. This week Allentown takes on Chewton in a battle of undefeateds, to decide who will solely stand atop the league. Indiana will attempt to bounce back against Latrobe.
Akron Assault (1-1) 57.39
Latrobe Brewers (1-1) 87.76
The Latrobe Brewers put it together this week and notched their first win of the year as they defeated the Akron Assault by over 30 points this week. Latrobe had a strong showing from WR Terrell Owens and RB LaDanian Tomlinson, who each had two touchdowns apiece. Also playing strong was the Tampa Bay defense, which recorded an infrequent safety, and RB Larry Johnson, who handled carries briefly enough to score a touchdown. Akron however was a disappointment, suffering from the poor play of QB Peyton Manning. Manning scored what must be a career low 0.44 fantasy points this week, and the running backs failed to get it started, with none reaching 6 points. Wide receiver was a bright spot, as Randy Moss and Derrick Mason had 13.6 and 11 points respectively. Both Akron and Latrobe exit this game at a record of 1-1.
Edinburg Epidemic (0-2) 67.04
Chewton Champs (2-0) 89.04
This game actually turned out to be closer than was expected until Chewton’s Santana Moss broke the game wide open with his 21.2 point performance. Edinburg continued its’ slide with the loss, as wide receiver Keary Colbert and tight end Courtney Anderson both put up zeros, and WR Lee Evans and running back Kevin Jones scored 1.1 and 1.6 points respectively. Despite a strong showing from QB Brett Favre (21.79 pts) and the Philly defense (16 pts) the Epidemic are clearly in trouble. Chewton however had a fairly well rounded game, with respectable points coming from most positions. Next week will be the true test for Chewton, as they take on the other undefeated team in the LFFL, the Allentown Iron Men.
Week One (Final)
Allentown Iron Men 88.87
Latrobe Brewers 71.20
The Iron Men took were impressive in their first week of action, picking up the win against Latrobe. Jimmy Smith led all scorers with 20.25, and Tom Brady was strong with his own 18.07. Allentown received roughly 70 yards a piece from each of their running backs, and of note was the strong game of Fred Taylor, who may return to his old form. Latrobe had big games from Kerry Collins and Tampa Bay’s defense, with 21.40 and 16 points respectively. They were the Brewers only double digit scorers. Allentown goes to 1-0, Latrobe falls to 0-1.
Indiana Ignition 69.92
Edinburg Epidemic 42.62
The Ignition didn’t have a particularly strong Sunday, but it was enough to put them in the middle of the pack and get a W. Jake Plummer looked less than good, and Mike Anderson could not have done much less before his rib injury. Besides Anderson though, the backfield looks good with Julius Jones and Priest Holmes both easily getting the rushes, catches, yards and TDs. Edinburg was saddled with injuries and poor performance this week. The only player in double digits was the Philly defense, and lost for the season was WR Javon Walker. Also, Brett Favre played badly (-2.03 points), and the running game never really got started. Indiana goes to 1-0, Edinburg falls to 0-1
Chewton Champs 79.54
Koppel Koonhunters 61.59
Chewton was pretty solid everywhere this week, with at least one good performance at each skill position. Marc Bulger led all scorers with 17.64 points, and Brian Westbook (13.30 pts) and Tiki Barber (12.60 pts) were the other two top players this week. Koppel, however, struggled in this early game, with only three total touchdowns to its credit, two of which came from Deuce McAllister. McAllister led the team with 15.95 points, Washington’s defense added 11, and the one man that was being counted on, Donovan McNabb had an off day, only adding 5.14 points of his own. Chewton goes to 1-0, Koppel falls to 0-1.
Prospect Pioneers 88.33
Greenville Trojans 79.51
In what turned out to be a surprisingly even and competitive match up, Prospect pulled out its first win of the year as it had the most players who kept their heads above water when they were in the deep end of the pool. Greenville, however, sunk like a rock thanks to one bad swimmer. Prospect got some pretty pedestrian numbers from most of its’ starters, Warner (9.83), Horn (4.55), Portis, (6.05). The bright spot was running back Willie Parker, who added 16.7 of his own points. Greenville however had good days from several players, Fitzgerald (17), Rudi Johnson (13.40), Branch (12.7). However all this effort, combined with good days from the kicker and defense, was all for not, as QB Daunte Culpepper “scored” a -4.74. Costing the team nearly four and three quarter points Culpepper easily cost Greenville the game. Had he just put in a below average day, say a mere 5 points, that would be over a 9 point swing, enough to win the game. However, even below average would have been an improvement over his showing on Sunday. Of note though, backup Chad Pennington himself was in the negatives this past weekend, nabbing -0.72 points. Prospect goes to 1-0, Greenville falls to 0-1.
Farrell Mooncrickets 59.92
Akron Assault 78.23
Most of Farrell’s squad put in sub-par games this past week, except for Corey Dillon who scored 17.15 points. However, most other positions underachieved, like Jamal Lewis (2.85 pts), Andre Johnson (2 pts), Reggie Wayne (3.5 pts). QB Michael Vick (aka Ron Mexico) has another blistering day passing, with a stellar 156 yards passing and no touchdowns. He did rush for one, which gave him 6.52 points on the night. Akron countered with a potent aerial assault, and not much else. Peyton Manning delivered 16.98 points, and Randy Moss grabbed enough for 13.75 points. A big surprise was TE Marcus Pollard, who recorded 10.15 points. While Akron could not run the ball (Brown 3.15 pts, Arrington 2.35 pts), a big help came from the Buffalo defense and their 19 points. Akron goes to 1-0, Farrell falls to 0-1.
Friday, October 21, 2005
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
2005 LFFL Week 7 Power Poll
This 2005 Week 7 Power Poll was written special to the LFFL Web Log by Prospect Pioneers owner Dan Coulter.
#1: Latrobe Brewers (5-1)
Latrobe is the crème de la crème this year, the team to beat for anyone contemplating a championship. Owner Lisa Andrews has managed to put together one of the deepest, most talented backfields that the LFFL has ever seen. The combination of Stephen Davis’ resurgence in Carolina, Thomas Jones’ motivation to hold off Cedric Benson, and LT’s flat-out domination of anything ever created by God, man, or animal has given Latrobe a solid base on which to win any game. Of course, just like an old woman waiting for the nuclear end of the world, Latrobe is storing some preserves in the root cellar, retaining the services of Ahman Green and Über-backup Larry Johnson just in case. Let’s not forget to mention TO and Keenan Ivory Waynes (woops! I mean McCardell) who have both been solid, but not amazing, producers for the Brewers this year at WR. This team’s one downside is the average play of its Quarterback (Collins has been solid, but he’s not producing big numbers) and 3rd Wide Receivers (Porter and Lelie have been far from consistent, and Brandon “Slot Machine” Stokely has seen his looks drop due to the Colts’ ridiculous 9.5 Pts/G defense). That being said, the Power Poll would like to wish a heartfelt “good luck” to any team with a match-up against Latrobe this season, you’ll need it.
#2: Allentown Iron Men (5-1)
This spot had to go to the team with the 2nd best Running Back in the NFL, Shaun Alexander. Competing with LT for “ARRGHGHGG! GET OFF ME!” award, SnAx has piled up a ridiculous 12 rushing TD’s so far this season, including two 4 TD performances. The real power of the Iron Men comes from the balance and tenacity that owner Todd Leight has instilled in his team; he can be heard yelling from his computer chair every Sunday, “One game at a time guys, one game at a time!” A recent blockbuster trade with Prospect depleted the depth of the Iron Men’s backfield, but sent super-stud Wide Receiver Steve Smith to the already talented Allentown WR core, consisting of Chad Johnson, Rod Smith, and TJ Houshmandsnadkcvzhdsbvhe. (On a side note, by trading away Jimmy Smith the Iron Men missed out on the chance to start three WRs named Smith) Combine this talent with Tom Brady’s defenseless Pats and Carnell “Thanks for washing my car rook” Williams and you have a lot of points on the board from every position. Only the Brewers will make a stand and keep these 15,000 lbs of Alcoa steel from setting Ms. Andrews’ Country Music Award on fire.
#3: Chewton Champs (5-1)
Chewton is like the Little Engine that Could; they just keep chugging along week after week, not putting up flashy numbers or highlight reel performances, just churning out win after win after win after win after win (that’s 5 right?). Every player on this team is doing exactly what they are supposed to. Edge is proving he’s a top 5 back, Westbrook is catching more than running, and Bulger has been prolific in TDs as well as INTs. The only surprises have come from Keyshawn Johnson and Santana “The Other” Moss playing well above everyone’s expectations, and the Baltimore Defense playing well below everyone’s expectations. This has helped to bounce the Champs into the top three, but they are in a tenuous position with the injury to QB Marc Bulger and the possibility of the aforementioned standouts sinking back to where they belong. Week seven will definitely be a test for the Champs as Mr. Pica faces his arch nemesis, Dan “I do what I want” Coulter and the newly renovated Prospect Pioneers. Will they have the moxie to land another blow to Prospect’s pride? Or will they demonstrate that the 5-1 record is merely a fluke? Stay tuned!
#4: Indiana Ignition (3-3)
Self-proclaimed “Fantasy Guru” Ryan Alexander’s squad had been up and down all season, mainly due to the inconsistency of its WRs. The Ignition made a trade in week 4 with cohort Kurt Presnar of the Koppel Koonhunters which sent away their best WR, who immediately performed for Koppel. Indiana now stands with a very potent backfield of Julius Jones, “Wesley” Willis McGahee, and of course, “The Beast” Priest Holmes. Unlike the top three however, Indiana has not been able to pair this impressive talent with a solid stable of WRs. The names are big, but the game has changed. Harrison is not responsible for turning in big games anymore, and Mushy has fled the verdant, TD laden pastures of Carolina for a different kind of green in Chicago where he is in the hands of young Kyle Orton. By making a few moves, Indiana could burst into the top tier and make a run at the championship.
#5: Koppel Koonhunters (2-4)
The best of the 2-4 teams, the Koonies have been able to overcome the adversity of losing #1 RB Deuce McAllister and keep themselves in the hunt. Better than their record indicates, Koppel owner Kurt Presnar has managed to maneuver his team into a winning position by capitalizing on injuries to starting WRs and tapping into the monstrous machine that is Atlanta’s rushing attack. Led by veteran QB Donovan “Chunky” McNabb and the other Manning’s main man Plaxico “Too Tall” Burress, Koppel is poised to cause some upsets in the following weeks.
#6: Edinburg Epidemic (3-3)
The plague has been red hot as of late, winning its last three games. However, two of those wins came against very soft opponents, and although the third was against Koppel, Anthony’s Epidemic will remain below them. They just don’t have the talent to perform consistently; RB Kevin Jones is in a terrible offense, and once Martz cleans all the blackness out of his heart he’ll return to his evil machinations (ie: forget about Steven Jackson). The one solid, every-week performer on this roster has been Carson Palmer, but that’s just not enough to help Edinburg against their upcoming schedule (Allentown, Latrobe, Indiana, Chewton). The epidemic will be lucky to come through the next 5 weeks with 2 wins.
#7: Prospect Pioneers (2-4)
The much-maligned Prospect Pioneers were recently involved in a trade which added some much-needed depth to their RB position, acquiring both LaMont Jordan and Antowain Smith, along with veteran WR Jimmy “But he’s so old . . .” Smith. After sub-par play from Clinton “What’s an endzone?” Portis and Domanick “What’s an O-Line?” Davis caused the Pioneers to drop three in a row, oft ridiculed owner Dan Coulter made a move. After trading away the amazing Steve Smith and the unamazing D. Davis and Nate “I wreck boats” Burleson, the Pioneers find themselves with a brighter future. Prospect will be relying heavily on its remaining WR to come through, but the rebirth of Drew Bledsoe may be enough to put them on the trail of the playoffs. Unfortunately, they will be matched up against one of the top teams in the LFFL this week. It will be quite a test for the new Prospect Pioneers as they take on the Chewton Champs and make a final push to “Get that GLEAM back.”
#8: Greenville Trojans (2-4)
1st year owner A.J. Leight’s Trojans are blessed with two exceptional defenses, an amazing kicker, and three solid WRs. What they don’t have is a QB or a solid RB. McNair’s triumphant return has fizzled, Rudi is losing touches to Chris Perry (also Palmer proved he’s got what it takes), Ronnie Brown has to deal with Ricky Williams coming back, and Tatum Bell is still in a RBBC situation. What does this add up to? Inconsistency. When the two highest scorers on your team are your Defense and Kicker, you will definitely have some problems. The Trojan’s next three games won’t help them either (Latrobe, Indiana, and Chewton).
#9: Akron Assault (2-4)
Here is a team whos record is better than it should be. Owner Ryan Alessio has showed undying loyalty to the Cleveland Browns by choosing four of them to be on his roster, that’s right, four. Of course, this isn’t all that has hurt the Assault; 1st round pick Peyton Manning has been merely a shell of his former self. Come on, no one expected 50 TDs this year, but only 9 in 6 weeks? Tough break for the Assault. With Randy Moss not playing like Randy Moss and two RBs who would be 3rd string on most teams the Assault are making a run at being the worst team in the league, luckily they have some competition.
#10: Farrell Mooncrickets (1-5)
If Akron is a team that is better than they should be, then Farrell is a head-scratching 1-5 team that is worse than it should be. In all fairness, GM Danny Palumbo is trying. He’s attentive to NFL and fantasy news, he’s active in the free agent poll and works the waiver wire. However, for some reason, this team just can not get Ws. (This of course is stark contrast to Akron GM Ryan Alessio who has about zero contact to the league and other owners.) Perhaps though this team can get a turn around if underachieving players such as Jamal Lewis get back into their groove.
#1: Latrobe Brewers (5-1)
Latrobe is the crème de la crème this year, the team to beat for anyone contemplating a championship. Owner Lisa Andrews has managed to put together one of the deepest, most talented backfields that the LFFL has ever seen. The combination of Stephen Davis’ resurgence in Carolina, Thomas Jones’ motivation to hold off Cedric Benson, and LT’s flat-out domination of anything ever created by God, man, or animal has given Latrobe a solid base on which to win any game. Of course, just like an old woman waiting for the nuclear end of the world, Latrobe is storing some preserves in the root cellar, retaining the services of Ahman Green and Über-backup Larry Johnson just in case. Let’s not forget to mention TO and Keenan Ivory Waynes (woops! I mean McCardell) who have both been solid, but not amazing, producers for the Brewers this year at WR. This team’s one downside is the average play of its Quarterback (Collins has been solid, but he’s not producing big numbers) and 3rd Wide Receivers (Porter and Lelie have been far from consistent, and Brandon “Slot Machine” Stokely has seen his looks drop due to the Colts’ ridiculous 9.5 Pts/G defense). That being said, the Power Poll would like to wish a heartfelt “good luck” to any team with a match-up against Latrobe this season, you’ll need it.
#2: Allentown Iron Men (5-1)
This spot had to go to the team with the 2nd best Running Back in the NFL, Shaun Alexander. Competing with LT for “ARRGHGHGG! GET OFF ME!” award, SnAx has piled up a ridiculous 12 rushing TD’s so far this season, including two 4 TD performances. The real power of the Iron Men comes from the balance and tenacity that owner Todd Leight has instilled in his team; he can be heard yelling from his computer chair every Sunday, “One game at a time guys, one game at a time!” A recent blockbuster trade with Prospect depleted the depth of the Iron Men’s backfield, but sent super-stud Wide Receiver Steve Smith to the already talented Allentown WR core, consisting of Chad Johnson, Rod Smith, and TJ Houshmandsnadkcvzhdsbvhe. (On a side note, by trading away Jimmy Smith the Iron Men missed out on the chance to start three WRs named Smith) Combine this talent with Tom Brady’s defenseless Pats and Carnell “Thanks for washing my car rook” Williams and you have a lot of points on the board from every position. Only the Brewers will make a stand and keep these 15,000 lbs of Alcoa steel from setting Ms. Andrews’ Country Music Award on fire.
#3: Chewton Champs (5-1)
Chewton is like the Little Engine that Could; they just keep chugging along week after week, not putting up flashy numbers or highlight reel performances, just churning out win after win after win after win after win (that’s 5 right?). Every player on this team is doing exactly what they are supposed to. Edge is proving he’s a top 5 back, Westbrook is catching more than running, and Bulger has been prolific in TDs as well as INTs. The only surprises have come from Keyshawn Johnson and Santana “The Other” Moss playing well above everyone’s expectations, and the Baltimore Defense playing well below everyone’s expectations. This has helped to bounce the Champs into the top three, but they are in a tenuous position with the injury to QB Marc Bulger and the possibility of the aforementioned standouts sinking back to where they belong. Week seven will definitely be a test for the Champs as Mr. Pica faces his arch nemesis, Dan “I do what I want” Coulter and the newly renovated Prospect Pioneers. Will they have the moxie to land another blow to Prospect’s pride? Or will they demonstrate that the 5-1 record is merely a fluke? Stay tuned!
#4: Indiana Ignition (3-3)
Self-proclaimed “Fantasy Guru” Ryan Alexander’s squad had been up and down all season, mainly due to the inconsistency of its WRs. The Ignition made a trade in week 4 with cohort Kurt Presnar of the Koppel Koonhunters which sent away their best WR, who immediately performed for Koppel. Indiana now stands with a very potent backfield of Julius Jones, “Wesley” Willis McGahee, and of course, “The Beast” Priest Holmes. Unlike the top three however, Indiana has not been able to pair this impressive talent with a solid stable of WRs. The names are big, but the game has changed. Harrison is not responsible for turning in big games anymore, and Mushy has fled the verdant, TD laden pastures of Carolina for a different kind of green in Chicago where he is in the hands of young Kyle Orton. By making a few moves, Indiana could burst into the top tier and make a run at the championship.
#5: Koppel Koonhunters (2-4)
The best of the 2-4 teams, the Koonies have been able to overcome the adversity of losing #1 RB Deuce McAllister and keep themselves in the hunt. Better than their record indicates, Koppel owner Kurt Presnar has managed to maneuver his team into a winning position by capitalizing on injuries to starting WRs and tapping into the monstrous machine that is Atlanta’s rushing attack. Led by veteran QB Donovan “Chunky” McNabb and the other Manning’s main man Plaxico “Too Tall” Burress, Koppel is poised to cause some upsets in the following weeks.
#6: Edinburg Epidemic (3-3)
The plague has been red hot as of late, winning its last three games. However, two of those wins came against very soft opponents, and although the third was against Koppel, Anthony’s Epidemic will remain below them. They just don’t have the talent to perform consistently; RB Kevin Jones is in a terrible offense, and once Martz cleans all the blackness out of his heart he’ll return to his evil machinations (ie: forget about Steven Jackson). The one solid, every-week performer on this roster has been Carson Palmer, but that’s just not enough to help Edinburg against their upcoming schedule (Allentown, Latrobe, Indiana, Chewton). The epidemic will be lucky to come through the next 5 weeks with 2 wins.
#7: Prospect Pioneers (2-4)
The much-maligned Prospect Pioneers were recently involved in a trade which added some much-needed depth to their RB position, acquiring both LaMont Jordan and Antowain Smith, along with veteran WR Jimmy “But he’s so old . . .” Smith. After sub-par play from Clinton “What’s an endzone?” Portis and Domanick “What’s an O-Line?” Davis caused the Pioneers to drop three in a row, oft ridiculed owner Dan Coulter made a move. After trading away the amazing Steve Smith and the unamazing D. Davis and Nate “I wreck boats” Burleson, the Pioneers find themselves with a brighter future. Prospect will be relying heavily on its remaining WR to come through, but the rebirth of Drew Bledsoe may be enough to put them on the trail of the playoffs. Unfortunately, they will be matched up against one of the top teams in the LFFL this week. It will be quite a test for the new Prospect Pioneers as they take on the Chewton Champs and make a final push to “Get that GLEAM back.”
#8: Greenville Trojans (2-4)
1st year owner A.J. Leight’s Trojans are blessed with two exceptional defenses, an amazing kicker, and three solid WRs. What they don’t have is a QB or a solid RB. McNair’s triumphant return has fizzled, Rudi is losing touches to Chris Perry (also Palmer proved he’s got what it takes), Ronnie Brown has to deal with Ricky Williams coming back, and Tatum Bell is still in a RBBC situation. What does this add up to? Inconsistency. When the two highest scorers on your team are your Defense and Kicker, you will definitely have some problems. The Trojan’s next three games won’t help them either (Latrobe, Indiana, and Chewton).
#9: Akron Assault (2-4)
Here is a team whos record is better than it should be. Owner Ryan Alessio has showed undying loyalty to the Cleveland Browns by choosing four of them to be on his roster, that’s right, four. Of course, this isn’t all that has hurt the Assault; 1st round pick Peyton Manning has been merely a shell of his former self. Come on, no one expected 50 TDs this year, but only 9 in 6 weeks? Tough break for the Assault. With Randy Moss not playing like Randy Moss and two RBs who would be 3rd string on most teams the Assault are making a run at being the worst team in the league, luckily they have some competition.
#10: Farrell Mooncrickets (1-5)
If Akron is a team that is better than they should be, then Farrell is a head-scratching 1-5 team that is worse than it should be. In all fairness, GM Danny Palumbo is trying. He’s attentive to NFL and fantasy news, he’s active in the free agent poll and works the waiver wire. However, for some reason, this team just can not get Ws. (This of course is stark contrast to Akron GM Ryan Alessio who has about zero contact to the league and other owners.) Perhaps though this team can get a turn around if underachieving players such as Jamal Lewis get back into their groove.
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