Fantasy Football Nuggets

Facilitated by Mad Mike Leonard

So here we are with Week 1 upon us and the opening jitters are running rampant. You ask yourself “Why did I draft this bum?” or “Who should I start as my second running back?” or you tell yourself, “My team sucks!!!” Yet there is nothing like the first weekend of fantasy football as you learn about your roster and who to hate on the other rosters in your league.
           
INJURIES

When preparing to make your line-up out make sure to check the status of those dinged up during the preseason. Those include running backs Brian Westbrook of the Eagles, Clinton Portis of the Redskins, Jamal Lewis of the Ravens and wide receiver Steve Smith of the Panthers. Off-season surgery concerns should be there also for Domanick Davis of the Texans and Ahman Green of the Packers. Each week check the injury report.

SCORE

Each week I will list my picks to score and those to snore. It would be real easy for me to list the same stud backs and receivers without really helping you to fill out your line-up. So I will try to pick middle of the road picks that have a great chance to excel on a week to week basis and those who will struggle.

QB       (2 TD’S OR 300YDS)

Phillip Rivers SD           vs. Oak
Jake Plummer Den        vs. StL
Chad Pennington NYJ vs. Tenn.

RB       (2TD’S OR 100YDS)

Thomas Jones   Chi       vs. GB
Frank Gore SF vs.  Ariz
Willis McGahee Buff     vs. NE

WR      (TD OR 100YDS)

Javon Walker Den        vs. StL
Terry Glenn   Dal          vs. Jax
Lee Evans Buff vs. NE

TE        (TD OR 75 YDS)

Chris Cooley Was        vs. Min
Ben Watson NE           vs. Buff
Eric Johnson SF           vs. Ariz

KICKERS       (6pts)

Rian Lindell Buff           vs. NE
Lawrence Tynes KC    vs. Cinci
David Akers Phi           vs. Hou

SNORE
QB       David Carr Hou            vs. Phi
QB       Volek/Collins Ten         vs. NYJ

RB       Julius Jones Dal            vs. Jax
RB       Kevin Jones Det           vs. Sea

WR      Andre Johnson Hou      vs. Phi
WR      Santana Moss Was       vs. Min
WR      Hines Ward Pit vs. Mia

HITMAN HEARN    VS       SUGAR RAY LEONARD

            Each week I will challenge a local celebrity to a fantasy week one on one, this week the challenger is Mike Hearn the head football coach of your Belvidere Bucs and the coach with the highest winning percentage in school history in football with a winning percentage nearing 70%. Luckily for you coach this loss (?) won’t count against that shining mark. When I approached Coach about doing this he wanted to make sure he got Neil Rackers not only because he led all kickers in scoring last year but because Rackers had actually kicked field goals at Funderburg stadium. I told Mike he could have him as I still thought maybe he didn’t know what fantasy football was all about. When I let him have the first pick he says, “I think I’ll take this guy named Larry Johnson,” which was his way of saying “think again tackling dummy.”
The way the one on one goes is as follows:
            Touchdown=6pts
            Field Goal=3pts
            Extra Point=1pt

            Every 10 yds for a RB/WR/TE=1pt
            Every 25 yds for QB                =1pt

HERE ARE OUR LINE-UPS:

            Hearn                                                   Leonard
QB       Peyton Manning                        QB       Phillip Rivers
RB       Larry Johnson                           RB       Thomas Jones
WR      Chad Johnson                           WR      Javon Walker
TE        Antonio Gates                          TE        Ben Watson
KR       Neil Rackers                            KR       David Akers

            Well there it is. I tried to take the picks I had to click Good Luck Coach.
Next week’s challenger Karen Reynolds, Belvidere High School Athletic Director.  Hope everyone has a great week.