The scores:
Free Press Predators (Hanks) 98, GC Rams (Dub-G GC) 88: I trailed by 1 point going into Monday’s Cincy-Baltimore game, but Housh put it away with his TD. My top scorers were Steve Smith and the Steelers defense, which had 19 points each. GC’s top scorers were Tom Brady (28) and Antonio Gates (16).
This game was a lot closer than I thought it would be. Brady, who — with Moss on his team — is now in the same stratosphere with Manning and Brees, is going to keep having these type weeks.
Exlax Induced Bowel Explosion (Loftis) 89, Pawtucket Pot Roasts (Kraebel) 49: I considered Kraebel’s team one of the best after the draft, but he took a good ol’ fashioned whooping against the best fantasy player I’ve ever competed against. It has to be just a hiccup for the Roasts, who have Willie Parker (9 points), Rudi Johnson (2) and Larry Fitzgerald (2) on their roster. EIBE actually got more from his QB position (23) as he did his two RBs (22). EIBE’s top scorers were Jon Kitna (23) and Shaun Alexander/Laveranues Coles (17 each) while Pawtucket’s top scorers were the Patriots (10) and Parker (9).
This will be the low point for Pawtucket this season as I anticipate the Roasts to go about 10-3 this year and win his division. EIBE is also another one of the favorites for this season, at about 9-4 or 10-3.
Forsyth Frosted Flakes (JMassey) 81, Jeter Drinks Wine Coolers (Heelsfan) 52: The Flakes got an unexpected 26 points from Randy Moss, and that’s not going to happen every week. Nonetheless, a great week by a player who is now a must-start every week (and God knows he wasn’t last year). JDWC, which has the worst crop of RBs in our league (Westbrook, GB rookie Brandon Jackson, the wrong Adrian Peterson and never-used Mike Bell) understandably started three WRs but only got a combined 9 points from the trio. JDWC will have a tough time this season (4-9 or 3-10), while FFF should be a playoff contender. FFF’s top scorers were Moss (26) and Carson Palmer (17), while JDWC got 12 from Westbrook and 11 from Adam Vinatieri.
Tom Sheehey’s All-Stars (BW) 98, M.Vick Beating You Like Dogs (The Kid) 92: A primo first-round matchup featuring my preseason favorite to win it all (TSAS) and the league’s darkhorse (MVBYLD). Sheehey’s squad has the best starting RB combo (Joseph Addai and Travis Henry) and his starting WRs (Torry Holt, Andre Johnson) are top-notch, too. He also has the REAL Adrian Peterson on his bench, meaning his roster is also very deep. I fully anticipate TSAS going 11-2 or even 12-1 entering the playoffs.
MVBYLD has Tomlinson, which virtually guarantees him a playoff spot. If McNabb can play the way he was last year — and his 11 points on Sunday doesn’t indicate that it will — The Kid could have a great season. Overall, a great opening week for both teams, although if you score 92 points, you should win every week. BW’s top scorers on his sickingly-balanced team were A. Johnson (22) and Addai (19) while The Kid’s were Plaxico’s 34 (he’ll never do that again this season) and Tomlinson, whose 17 points were probably the lowest he’ll get this season.
Henderson Gunners (Capps) 90, Bobby Boucher All-Americans (Heelatious) 60: Capps is another seasoned FF guy, but I thought his draft was a little weak outside of his first-round selection of Gore. But he got a great first week from players who won’t do this again this season (Reggie Wayne 25, Jason Witten 17). Capps might make the playoffs, but at least his team is better than the BBAA, who had the weakest draft in our league. Bush will be all right, but I wouldn’t even consider him an every-week starter. McGahee will come around, but not enough to keep the BBAA from a sub-six win season.
Wayne and Witten led the Gunners, while Bulger (13) and Javon Walker (11) led BBAA.
+ARod drinks ’em with a straw (GZino) 98, Tobacco Road Tigers (Taplie Coile) 78: GZino had the advantage of having Romo’s amazing 42 points, and I’ll go ahead and put in print here: there’s NO way that happens again this season. Clinton Portis also had a solid weekend of 15 points for ARDEWAS, which had a so-so draft. With Maroney as his “go-to” guy, GZino is going to struggle in the coming weeks.
TRT had the weakest draft in our league, which began with Peyton Manning at the No. 2 overall pick. It didn’t get much better with Terrell Owens and Deuce McAlister, although Manning (28) and Owens (22) did well in Week 1. TRT will likely go 2-11 or 3-10, although he’s a hell of an official baseball scorer, a great dad and a good guy.
The standings:
Overall Division PF PA
East
Tom Sheehey All-Stars 1-0 0-0 98 92
Free Press Predators 1-0 0-0 98 88
Forsyth Frosted Flakes 1-0 0-0 81 52
Tobacco Road Tigers 0-1 0-0 78 98
West
M.Vick beating you like dogs 0-1 0-0 92 98
GC Rams 0-1 0-0 88 98
Bobby Boucher All-Americans 0-1 0-0 60 90
Pawtucket Pot Roasts 0-1 0-0 49 89
Central
+ARod drinks ’em with a straw 1-0 0-0 98 78
Henderson Gunners 1-0 0-0 90 60
Exlax Induced Bowel Explosion 1-0 0-0 89 49
Jeter drinks wine coolers 0-1 0-0 52 81
This week’s schedule and predictions:
Henderson Gunners (1-0) vs. Tom Sheehey All-Stars (1-0) — Sheehey will probably go with the real Adrian Peterson and Addai, since Henry will be facing a tough Oakland rush defense. Doesn’t matter as TSAS will win by 15-20.
Forsyth Frosted Flakes (1-0) vs. Pawtucket Pot Roasts (0-1) — There’s no way PPR is held to under 50 points in back-to-back weeks. Parker and R. Johnson should have great weeks against Buffalo and Cleveland, respectively. Additionally, PPR has Chris Brown on the bench, too. FFF will struggle with Larry Johnson facing the stingy Chicago defense, so that throws the advantage to PPR, who will win by 10-13 points.
Tobacco Road Tigers (0-1) vs. Bobby Boucher All-Americans (0-1) — Uggh. The ugly game of the week as neither team will likely break 70 points. I’ll go with the BBAA in a 60-57 kind of game.
GC Rams (0-1) vs. Jeter drinks wine coolers (0-1) — The Rams played well enough to win last week, but ran up against, ahem, a better squad. Unfortunately for them, though, they are running into a JDWC squad that has some great match-ups (Brees at TB; Westbrook vs. Wash). That should be enough for JDWC to pull the upset by 6-9 points.
M.Vick beating you like dogs (0-1) vs. +ARod drinks ’em with a straw (1-0) — LT will pile up his usual 20-25 points for MVBYLD and McNabb should have a field day against the Skins, meaning MVBYLD gets nearly 50 points from those two players alone. You have to figure the other six players (which includes Thomas Jones and Plaxico) should be able to produce 35-45 more points. Romo will have another good week, although it won’t be more than 22-25 points. Maroney will struggle again against another good rush “d” in San Diego, meaning MVBYLD walks away with the blowout victory by 20-plus points.
Exlax Induced Bowel Explosion (1-0) vs. Free Press Predators (1-0): The primo matchup of this week, and not just because my team is in it. There’s always something special about playing a Drew Loftis-drafted team, because if/when you do beat it, you know you’ve earned it. Alexander (at Arizona) and Jones-Drew (vs. Atlanta) should light up the scoreboard for EIBE, while Kitna (vs. Minnesota) will also pile up some points. Steven Jackson HAS to get more than 5 points for my Predators to have a chance, although I think Cadillac Williams vs. New Orleans will help me. Regardless, I won’t have nearly enough offense as EIBE wins by 10-12 points.
Blogging with Bryan C. Hanks 