Peer Pressure Works!

So, taking a page from the Johnstone book of Fantasy Football updates, I figured I’d type out a bit of a matchup synopsis now (also, I’m rather bored. We’ve been taught a new inventory system at work, which I picked up quickly, so I got to come home.). It’s not going to be dead bang, because some of the other owners in this league have a habit of waiting until Sunday morning to do their roster changes, but it’ll be close.

First off, a few moves I made this week. I’ve dropped my kicker, Pittsburgh’s Jeff Reed, in favour of Denver’s Matt Prater. The Bronco offence is blowing people out right now, while Pittsburgh faces another tough defence this week in Baltimore, so Prater offers the potential for more points, especially facing Kansas City this week…a team whose defence has slightly less pro experience than that of a high school squad. In a few other bench moves, I dropped Huggy Bear Jr. His injury has basically guaranteed him a backup job, as the other backs have run well in his absence. In exchange, I grab Detroit back Rudi Johnson. His performance, and rookie Kevin Smith’s suckage (he’s run about as effectively as the director of the same name would) means he likely has the starting gig, now. Also gone is Cincinnati DB Leon Hall, for Cincinnati linebacker Rashad Jeanty. With Lofa Tatupu on a bye this week, and a pair of defensive backs on my bench, I needed another DL player. Jeanty’s racked up a nice score so far this year, so he’s a solid one week rental (and a CFL vet to boot). Also out is #3 quarterback Kerry Collins for new #3 quarterback Brian Griese, a man whose coach had him throw the ball a ridiculous 67 times last week.

As for the matchup.

QB – I’m sticking with Rivers again this week against the Raiders. My opponent (the 1-2 Chumpy Chimps) has Jake Delhomme, who has not exactly lit it up, but who’s facing an inexperienced Atlanta secondary. Well, he actually still has Peyton Manning, who faces Bye Week, but seeing as Delhomme’s his backup, I’d imagine the Cajun will be starting. I give myself the edge here.

RB – Out is LenWhale, as the Titans face a tough Minnesota run defence. While running against the Texans last week was like trying to run through melted butter, facing the Vikings run D is more like being this guy…

Instead, I’m playing Panthers rookie Jonathan Stewart for the first time. He’s getting the ball more and more each week, and Atlanta’s run D is very inconsistent.

The Chimps have Denver’s Selvin Young facing the Kansas City Faceless Rookies and Jacksonville’s Fred Taylor against the Houston Sieves (hopefully the other Jag back, Maurice Jones-Drew, steals the TDs). He’s playing a wideout in the RB/WR spot, so he only has the 2. This actually could be really tight, because his backs have fantastic matchups this week.

WR – No change here, as my guys have lit it up the last 2 weeks. He’s got Terrell Owens, who would seem to have a nice chance of ripping the Redskins corners to pieces, the Bengals TJ Houshmandzadeh (this is the 3rd damn week in a row I’m facing a player who I just missed getting on MY team by 2 or 3 draft spots) against a pitiful Cleveland Browns team, the Jets Laveranues Coles against Arizona, and Green Bay’s Greg Jennings against Tampa (FINALLY, one of his guys facing a team with some semblance of a goddamn D!) I have to give him an edge, here. Jesus, his whole lineup is facing off against shit this week!

TE – I think Scheffler can tear KC a new one. He has LJ Smith against Chicago…Smith has the consistency of lumpy mashed potatoes. He’s awful. Advantage, me.

K – Newcomer Prater has a great chance for great numbers. So does Jacksonville’s Josh Scobee. Draw.

D – Not only does Jeanty get in there this week, but with DB Marcus Trufant also on a Bye (I think he’s just tired of me mocking him), Michael Griffin gets to play this week. Of course, I sat him last week…when he had 2 fucking picks. Right now, 2 of my opponent’s defenders are on their Bye weeks, so I don’t know who he’ll have there (weirdly, one of them is Sammy Knight, a BACKUP for the Giants…I’m a bit perplexed by this, especially since I noticed the starter he’s behind is freely available…?). I would have to give him the edge, as he has a few tackle machines in his lineup, ESPECIALLY Atlanta linebackers Keith Brooking and Michael Boley facing a Carolina team that runs the ball all night.

All in all, this could end up being a very close game. Nicely, yet again there aren’t many guys going on Monday night…one of my defenders, and maybe he’ll sub in a Steeler or Raven in one of his defensive spots, but aside from that, I should have pretty close to a final report by the end of the Sunday evening game!