Let the beatings begin

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[Style]

I took my poor cousin to the wood shed this week. Got the weekly high score. (Last week was third highest score. I'm currently the second leading scorer in the league overall, behind my nemesis.) Had I started Favre over Delhomme and A Johnson over T.O., I would of cleared 200 points and broke the league record for scoring:

 

[Ayatolla of Slamola]

Nice... I am doing very well in my money league too. I won both games. I was 4th in points after week 1, then had the high in week 2, so now I am 3rd overall in points (10 behind 1st and 1 behind 2nd).

 

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I missed having the high score by 4 points this week. I could of had 20 more points had I started different people, but oh well, that's usually the case. I'm currently firmly seated at the top of my division, and number 2 in total points (to my nemesis, of course).

Beat up on a different cousin this week:

I just realized that this week was the only week I will be playing Dunn (barring injuries) b/c he has the same bye week as Alexander. It just figures that he'd pick this week to lay an egg. **sigh**

 

[Style]

I just realized that this week was the only week I will be playing Dunn (barring injuries) b/c he has the same bye week as Alexander. It just figures that he'd pick this week to lay an egg. **sigh**

I guess I should watch what I wish for:

September 25, 2006 5:41 PM ET
Seahawks: Alexander out
The News
Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander is out indefinitely with a small cracked bone in his foot, according to ESPN. He originally suffered the injury in a week one win over the Lions, but it is not known if he re-injured it on Sunday.
Our View
This injury was originally described as a sore foot, but it is now clear that wasn't the case. There is no replacing Alexander in your lineup, but one of the first moves you should make is to pick up Maurice Morris, who will be the starter for the Seahawks. The loss of Alexander is bad news for the entire offense, but may lead to more passing attempts for Matt Hasselbeck, who is fresh off a five-touchdown performance. Once we find out the exact length of Alexander's absence, we'll let you know.

What sucks is I'm so good I'm the bottom of the claims list, so there is little chance I'll be able to pick up Mo Morris when players become available tomorrow.

 

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This year I implemented a claims system for picking up free agents. It works like a waiver wire. While the games are being played, all players lock. Free agents can't be added. Players you own already can't be dropped. In the meantime, you can put in a claim request for free agents. Wednesday morning claims are processed, and the crappy teams get first dibs on Free agents, their claims are processed first.

Needless to say, I didn't get Mo Morris. I even drafted the guy, but dropped him early so I could pick up some other scrubs. One of the poor teams ahead of me had a claim in on him, and now he's playing for the enemy. **sigh**

Last year there was no claim system. Players locked just like this year, but come wednesday morning when they became available it was first come first serve. The quick were awarded players, not the poor. I always got there a few minutes prior to the time and would keep refreshing the screen until the players become available. Only one time all last year did I not get the player I wanted, and every week I was picking up someone, some weeks two or three players.

This year my team isn't nearly as deep as it usually is, and that is largely due to the new claim system. With my team being so kick ass, I haven't gotten hardly any of the free agents I've wanted.

Overall, this is a good thing, as it should help with parity in the league, but it's not helping me any.

 

[Ayatolla of Slamola]

I am 3-0 now, only undefeated team left in my money league. I am 9 points out of 1st in points too!

 

[Style]

It's possible, though unlikely, that Alexander the Great may not even miss a game ray: :

September 27, 2006 4:02 PM ET
Seahawks: Alexander to play this weekend?
The News
Could Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander play this Sunday? The Tacoma News-Tribune is reporting that his injured foot stopped hurting on Tuesday, a sudden development that Alexander claims is the result of prayer. He was expected to miss several weeks because of a displaced fracture on a non-weight-bearing bone in his left foot.
Our View
It would be a truly remarkable turn of events (a miracle perhaps?) for Alexander to be able to suit up so soon. He wasn't able to practice on Wednesday and it remains unknown if he'll actually be able to participate in any football activities this week. We'll be less skeptical about his status if he can practice in the next two days, but if Alexander is on your squad, we're sure you'll say a little prayer for him.


September 27, 2006 8:46 PM ET
Seahawks: Alexander officially doubtful
The News
24 hours ago, there appeared to be no chance Shaun Alexander would play against the Bears on Sunday night. Earlier Wednesday, his fractured foot was cured by the power of prayer. And this evening, the reigning league MVP was officially listed as doubtful on the Seahawks injury report.
Our View
Despite the positive reports that Alexander was suddenly pain-free on Wednesday, it still seems unlikely he will play Sunday night. Even if he does suit up, he has an unfavorable matchup against Brian Urlacher and Co., so fantasy owners would be wise to leave Alexander on the bench rather the risk the goose egg.

EDIT: Then again, I guess not. Oh well, with the Bears this week, and a bye the following, it's probably best that he rests. I'll need him more in the playoffs than I do now:

September 27, 2006 11:16 PM ET
Seahawks: Alexander now says he won't play
The News
League MVP Shaun Alexander is now saying that he will be unavailable for this weekend's tilt against the Bears. Alexander asked for and got another round of CT scans Wednesday on the previously diagnosed cracked bone in his left foot. Alexander said those tests showed the same break in the fourth metatarsal that was there on Monday. So despite feeling better, he says he is still out indefinitely. "Unless it's the Super Bowl, I don't think that Mike (Holmgren) would even let me think about playing," Alexander told the Associated Press.
Our View
From a fantasy perspective, it may actually be good news that Alexander is off this week. He has a bye next week and could certainly use some time to rest that bum wheel of his. Fantasy owners are wise to reserve his backup, Maurice Morris, this weekend as well. The Bears are a very stout run defense, and it appears the Seahawks are going to need to pass the ball effectively to score any points on Sunday night.

 

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This week I roughed up one of the worst teams in the league. I had the second highest score of the week, and I'm second in total points (and closing in on first). My bench had 100 points! Had I started Huard, Norwood, Barlow, and Andre Johnson instead of Favre, LT, Dunn, and Wayne I'd of had 46 more points and I'd be leading the league in total points right now.

 

[Ayatolla of Slamola]

I made the mistake of turning down 3 trades during the week to recive a quality WR since my #1 WR was on a bye and I payed for it. Lost 116-117, which gives me my first lost . I am one of four teams that are 3-1 and 2nd in points.

 

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I'm one of two teams that are 4-0, but the other undefeated team (my nemesis) is in the other division. I'll only have to face him once during the regular season, and then not till the super bowl, if we both make it that far. Even if I lose the Super Bowl, I've already made a nice return on the league. Heck, if I just win my division and then lose first round of the playoffs, I still come out ahead. Winning my division is looking like a foregone conclusion.

Edit: Funny story with this game. I was losing by 18 going into monday night. I still had McNabb, Favre, Philly's D, and LJ Smith, while he just had Akers, so I wasn't too worried. My players would of had to perform well below their average for me to lose. Anyway, as I'm watching the game last night it occurred to me that I was actually better off when Favre threw interceptions than if he threw TDs! If he threw a pick, I'd get -3 for Favre and +3 for Philly's DEF. However, if he threw a TD I'd get +6 for Favre and -7 for Philly. Pretty ironic!

 

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I dropped my first game, ironically the same week I took over the lead of total points scored. I finally passed my nemesis in total points, and took over sole possession of the 1# spot in the power rankings, even though he's still undefeated. I'm still at the top of my division, with a one game lead.

At any rate, I got caught on a bad week. Ten of my twelve starters scored below their average. You have to love it when your entire team takes a week off. Thanks guys! I was also loving it that the only reason I was keeping Barlow was to start this week, with Alexander and the Atlanta backs on bye, he was not going to start any other games for me, and he scored negative points. Thanks man! So glad I wasted a roster spot on you just so you could score negative for me!

It also blows when you have players going against your defenses. For every positive point Kaeding got for me, I lost points from my defense. The same would of been said for LT and T.O, had either of them actually scored, but again, my whole team took a week off, so of course they didn't find the end zone.

As bad as the Browns game was to watch, fantasy made it even worse. Smith and Winslow had their worst games of the season, and Delhomme wasn't much better, performing worse than Huard or Gradkoski sitting on my bench. Smith had 4 drops, including 3 on third down and 1 in the end zone. Not only do the drops mean I didn't get yardage (both recieving for Smith and passing for Delhomme), but those on third down stopped further scoring opportunities for my players, and the one in the end zone cost me 12 points without even calculating yardage! That one drop alone cost me this fantasy match! Winslow also had a drop, in addition to getting his hands on a ball in the end zone that he didn't catch, although he did have a defender draped all over him on that one.

Anyway, enough complaining. Here you go:

Oh, I almost forgot. At 12:45pm on sunday, just 15 minutes before kick off when I read that Vinateri was a late scratch, I dropped Nedney and picked up Gramatica. SF had Oak, and the Raiders are of course awful, but Indy had the Titans who are equally bad, and their offense should be better than SF's. Well, Gramatica scored 2, Nedney had 9. So glad I made that move! I was really pissed about this one until this morning. You see, until the finally scoring was released this morning the scoring was listing me as losing by 6 points. Up until this morning, I had thought this one move, done just 15 minutes prior to kick off, had cost me the game! Then the final results were released and I lost by 12, so I don't feel so bad.

 

[Mac]

My team took a dump on me too but I was still able to pull out a dub.

 

[Style]

This week's drubbing was good for 2nd highest total points all time, behind only the 205.4 I put up last year. I now have 3 of the top 5 scores ever in the league, including the top 2. Had I started Smith, I would of smashed the record. I had him in the lineup literally minutes prior to kickoff, but pulled him out at the last minute. Oh well.

Oh, and this was also against the guy who beat me in the Super Bowl last year by 3 stinking points. This doesn't exactly avenge that loss, but it helps the healing process.

 

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Not to keep blowing my own horn or anything, but I just realized I have 6 top 5 players at their positions in total fantasy points:

1. McNabb
1. LT
2. Andre Johnson
2. Winslow
3. LJ Smith
2. Kaeding

Wowsa! You can add to that Steve Smith and T.O., who are now playing like top 5 WRs, but due to games missed are not currently listed that high. Also, Pit's Defense is currently at 7, and if they continue their improved play as the season progresses (as they did last year), they will be top 5 in short order.