It's that time of the football season again. The time where Thursday night football returns and teams head into Sunday with decent leads.Or in the case of Boyer and I, crappy leads.
That's right, Ryan Mathews and Antonio Gates were big fantasy busts on Thursday. Rivers couldn't connect with Gates and Mathews was heavily involved in the first drive that saw the Chargers go all the way down the field and fall short near the goal line where they inserted Michael Tolbert. In all, Mathews had nine touches (6 runs, 3 receptions).
It was another loss for the Chargers whose offense under Norv Turner isn't improving, it's regressing.
Philip Rivers is a prime example of that. He's been a solid QB over the last couple of years and it was thought by many — not just myself — that he was actually going to have a better year than Aaron Rodgers this season.
At the beginning of the season, you take a look at what he has around him, plus a full season of Vincent Jackson, something he didn't have last year, and it just screamed MVP.
But no. The Organ Thieves' star is ranked just 12th. He had a huge fantasy total two weeks ago against Green Bay, but his struggles on the field continued, turning the ball over four times. In all he has 15 interceptions and eight fumbles — 23 turnovers — to his 13 touchdowns.
Ouch.
This offense is stale. It's falling apart. The offensive line can't block and even when it does, Rivers looks so indecisive that he holds on to the ball so long that he takes a sack or makes a poor decision (you know, a Brett Favre).
We all know Rivers has the talent so the problem lies elsewhere. The seat is burning under Mr. Norv Turner and it's only going to get hotter. He's taken a 14-2 team and turned it into a complete mess.
Only Josh McDaniels could do more damage in less time. Right, Broncos?
Jawz Attack (3-6) at Channel 4 News Team (5-4)
Series History: Jawz leads 1-0.
Today, is a special day.
Not only will the Jawz Attack and the Channel 4 News Team owners be in the same living room when the 1 o'clock games kick off, the one will be holding the JFL Championship Trophy.
Yes, that's right. Consider this the day the banner is raised to the roof. Appropriately, the News Team is home. Let's call it homecoming weekend for the News Team.
The trophy will be presented to Nick Nikish today in front of a crowd of about, oh, I'd say six if my dad happens to walk downstairs before the Eagles kick off.
It will be a special moment.
For Jawz, it will be a chance to once again lay eyes on the trophy — he saw it on draft day — and think, someday.
I mean it. Someday, because it's not happening this year.
On the brink of elimination is a tough situation to face. It's even worse when you're playing the guy with the trophy.
The News Team already got 26.8 points from Denarius Moore, but it doesn't work out to be a lot of points from Thursday's game considering he also had Vincent Jackson who scored 2.4 points.
All told, it could have been worse for the Attack, especially if Jackson would have, you know, turned around and looked at the pass coming his way.
Jawz has issues at WR, too. DeSean Jackson is listed as an inactive after missing a team meeting. That means, the Attack will need huge days out of Josh Freeman, MJD, Roddy White, Wes Welker and Jimmy Graham.
I'm just listing names because really, honestly, I only have to say one name to complete this preview.
Aaron Rodgers.
Jammers' Prediction: Channel 4 News Team 156, Jawz Attack 125
Jimmy Jammers (7-2) at Graybill's Generals (6-3)
Series History: Jammers leads 5-3.
Ah, former division rivals in the early years of the JFL. The two battled like nothing else in that first season, combing for a 22-4 record during the regular season.
Now, the two are in similar situations, record-wise, and they're facing off in what according to records, is a what NFL media would hype up to be a "Super Bowl Preview."
We all know a lot can happen in the next couple weeks, but when the best record in the Liberty Conference goes up against the top record in the Nittany Conference in Week 10, there is some meaning to it.
There's also a lot on the line for these two as the Jammers looks to lock up a playoff spot and fend off his division rival Slackers, who is just one game behind him. The Generals can't grab a playoff spot, but he can keep the dangerous News Team at least one game away with a win.
The one-game leads are crucial this late in the season and both of these teams would love to hold onto their's.
The Jammers didn't start well in his mission to achieve that.
Just 6.3 points from Mathews, 3.5 coming of the initial drive, made for a rough Thursday night. Nick Novak only kicked one field goal and ended with four points. He missed a 40-yarder, too.
So with a 10.3-2 lead, we head into Sunday with the Generals deploying a full field of nine players.
We can assume LeSean McCoy and Steven Jackson are going to be money today, so where the Generals are going to need to pick it up is at QB and at the WR position.
Joe Flacco seemingly has a good matchup against the Seattle defense, but Flacco has been presented with these opportunities before and he has failed. I know because I traded for his bum ass in Schiavo's league.
His only great game of the season was a 41.7-point performance against St. Louis, so maybe the Generals can hope for some of his NFC West magic. But with a road game after a big Steelers win, I'm going to look at what Flacco did the last time that happened — 13.5 points. I don't expect a big day from him. This game will feature more Ray Rice and Ravens defense.
So that leaves the WR/TEs, three of whom had double-digit efforts last week. Those three — Steve Breaston, Jerome Simpson and Jake Ballard — have combined for just seven double-digit performances all year, so with Simpson going up against Pittsburgh and Jake Ballard against San Francisco, I'm betting that repeat performances are going to be hard to come by. The fourth WR, Sidney Rice, who had just 7.5 points last week, is running into the aforementioned Ravens' defense.
Basically, this matchup then comes down to the Jammer scoring his average. Substituting Julio Jones — last week's bench hero — for Larry Fitzgerald is the only move that is not usual for the Jammers this week. His usual big guns include Darren Sproles, Reggie Bush and Greg Jennings. Brandon Marshall also is starting, but he doesn't deserve the label "big gun." Not yet.
The Jammers' biggest key will be at QB where at the 10 o'clock hour is listed as Matthew Stafford, but he's a game-time decision with Matt Ryan.
Jammers' Biased Prediction: Jammers 128, Generals 111
Sunday Slackers (6-3) at Real Houserville (4-5)
Series History: Houserville leads 2-1.
Houserville just put the pressure on.
The Slackers, looking for their second playoff berth in franchise history, is trailing by a few heading into Sunday's slate.
Houserville did one of the smartest thing a fantasy owner can do at the start of the season and that's draft your star running back's handcuff. With Darren McFadden as a keeper, Houserville made sure to grab Michael Bush for insurance. And it has paid off.
In his two weeks replacing an injured McFadden, Bush has torn up the AFC West to the tune of 253 yards and a TD. He's also had 118 yards receiving and a TD. In our world, we call that 50.1 fantasy points. Graybill, five years ago spinning around in his desk at the Lewistown Sentinel would declare it, "Championship," in a high pitched voice.
At 4-5, I can't say a championship is in Houserville's sights yet, but a win this week would certainly help his chances. A win would single-handedly keep alive all three playoff spots in the Liberty Conference. No one can clinch if he wins.
So, Jawz Attack is wearing a Houserville hat today.
On that hat is pictured Cam Newton, who returns from the bye with a matchup against a Tennessee defense that has been so bad on many occasions and it looks like they'll be primed to watch another fantasy QB score more than 30. With his rushing ability, I do not see why Newton can't go for 40 points today. He may even go for 50.
Add in a big day from Mike Wallace and Rob Gronkowski and Houserville should be well on his way to victory.
That's factoring in the fact that I feel Drew Brees and Ray Rice will combine for 60 points and one if not both of the Packer receivers will hit double-digits. I see Matt Forte being held to low teens and Earl Bennett not repeating his heroics of last week — you only play the Eagles once.
Jammers' Prediction: Houserville 156, Slackers 128
T-Money (4-5) at Organ Thieves (3-5-1)
Series History: T-Money leads 5-3.
Seemingly, I would say there hasn't been a more pivotal battle of third-place teams in a while.
In divisions that are extremely close heading into the final weeks (T-Money is 1GB and the Thievesr are 2.5 GB) this is a good chance for both teams to make a move.
The fact that the Money Man can actually go third to first today is incredible for Week 10.
His chances of doing so, however, are based upon how many more 20-point performances the Thieves can get. After Thursday, the Thieves have notched two and I can easily see one more from Adrian Peterson who will go up against a Packers defense that does not much defending.
I can also see decent days from Hakeem Nicks, if he's healthy enough to play, and Jeremy Maclin, if he can manage to hold onto the ball. The Eagles will be without DeSean Jackson and Maclin may be the man moving forward here. So he's going to have to learn how to be clutch. So far, he's dropped a few catchable balls on potential game-winning drives, and he's fallen down short of the first down another time.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis is questionable, but if he can go, he had 27 points against the Jets earlier in the season and he'll surely get the chance to put up similar numbers.
For the Money Man, I like some of his matchups, too, so I can see him taking this game based on that. I think Tony Romo coming off the bye should have a good week against Buffalo, but we are getting late in the season where Tony Romo tends to fade.
Steve Smith should have a huge day and Dwayne Bowe is due for one of his 30-point explosions. Denver is a team that certainly is capable of allowing such an explosion.
I'm going to go with the Thieves in this one, although this is one of the toughest matchups to pick in a while. The reason I'm going with the Thieves is because I actually feel like the Giants are going to beat the 49ers today. I know the 49ers have been really good, but for some reason, I'm just not completely sold on this team yet. If they can shutdown Eli and the Giants this week, then, I'm sold.
But for that reason, T-Money will lose points from Frank Gore and the 49ers defense, and in turn the Organ Thieves will get some action from Hakeem Nicks. (I'm not sure what to expect out of T-Money's Brandon Jacobs).
Jammers' Prediction: Chinese Organ Thieves 128, T-Money 125
Team Boyer (4-4-1) at World of Noise (1-8)
Series History: Boyer leads 4-2.
And this week's lucky winner is … Boyer.
Congratulations, you're the next contestant to play the horrid Noise.
I mean, geez, how bad is this team?
You know it's bad when opponents of the Noise have a better chance of beating him than winning something at McDonald's during their Monopoly contest. Doesn't it seem like everyone wins a free cheeseburger or McFlurry?
If the lottery were only this easy. Everyone would be guaranteed to win once a year.
Boyer can forget the fact that Antonio Gates was a bum Thursday. Tom Brady, Michael Turner, LeGarrette Blount and Willis McGahee will almost double the World of Noise total by themselves. End of story.
Jammers' Prediction: Boyer 144, Noise 72
Fear and Loathing (5-4) at Dottsville Toasters (5-4)
Series History: Toasters lead 3-2.
I've just been plowing through these previews this morning without really analyzing the week as a whole and now that I'm on preview No. 6, I have to say, we have a hell of a week here.
Fear and Loathing vs. the Toasters is yet another battle of first-place teams. We have two of those this week. We have the trophy ceremony game for the News Team. We have a huge playoff implicating battle between the Slackers and the 'Ville. And then we have the World of Crappy Noise losing. What a week.
I see that Fear and Loathing has deciding to switch it up and go with a few of his bench players who scored big points last week. And that is good because DeMarco Murray and Rashard Mendenhall should be in the lineup. But I'm not so sure that Brandon Lloyd deserves the benching. Lloyd will score 18 points on the bench this week. Cedric Benson also tends to have good games against the Steelers, so that's a bit of a shocking move, too. I wouldn't be surprised to see 100 and a TD from Benson.
But let's talk about who is actually starting and looking at the Toasters, he was a Calvin Johnson away from winning the week. The 20 points that C.J. will score this week will be huge, because we all know the other C.J. on the Toasters' roster has been unreliable. Carolina, however, provides the matchup that should allow Chris Johnson to have a huge day. Cross your fingers, Toasters.
No matter what, this first-place matchup is going to come down to Monday night when Fear deploys the Packers defense and the Toasters send out James Starks and Mason Crosby.
I have no faith in Michael Vick or the Eagles, but against the Cardinals, Vick should go crazy, emphasize should. But who knows with that Nightmare Team. A 40-point day from Vick is a great possibility and that will obviously put the Toasters in a hole, especially if Schaub has another 10-point day.
I like the Toasters in a squeaker, as in the Vikings scoring some late points and yards to allow the Toasters to win by a few points.
Jammers' Prediction: Toasters 130, Fear and Loathing 124
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