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Warden Report
More tips, hints and notes to prepare for Week 13
Posted: Friday December 07, 2001 2:30 PM
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By Ryan E. Houston, Special to CNNSI.com
Seems like a lot of people agree with me about extending the NFL season and providing extra bye weeks. I don't believe this will happen, but it sure would help me avoid getting sucked into the Shaq and Kobe soap opera. For some reason I just can't get into basketball since Magic and Bill Laimbeer left. What a shame. I think if I hear another word about a washed up Michael Jordan I am going to puke.
Warden, the prognosticator
I opened up myself up to even more criticism last week by providing my Upset, Blowout and picks of the week. Overall I was a pretty solid 3-2. My Upset of the Week (Lions over Bears) was a close game and I never thought the 'Skins would lose to the Cowboys twice in one season. Imagine the horror on Daniel Snyder's face at the end of that game. Yikes!
Here are my picks for this week:
Seattle Seahawks @ Denver Broncos
Pick: Broncos: This would be considered a mild upset if Rod Smith doesn't play, but I liked what I saw out of Terrell Davis last week, and Brian Griese should do just enough to pull out a win in front of the home crowd.
Cleveland Browns @ New England Patriots
Pick: Patriots: I love what Butch Davis is doing in Cleveland but it seems they are running out of fuel. Patriots are blazing and have a division title in their radar screen. This could very well be a blowout if the weather is decent.
Kansas City @ Oakland Raiders
Pick: Raiders: This game will be a tough matchup for the Raiders, but I don't see them losing twice in two weeks to subpar teams. Priest Holmes will have a field day against a below average Raider run defense, but in the end, Rich Gannon will prove to be too much for Dick Vermeil and the men in red.
Upset Pick of the Week: New York Jets @ Pittsburgh
Pick: Jets: The Steelers without the Bus is like George Steinbrenner without a checkbook, it just doesn't work. Look for the Jets to play the Steelers kind of ball game on Sunday and win it with a late field goal.
Blowout Pick of the Week: New Orleans @ Atlanta Falcons
Pick: Saints: If Ricky Williams finally comes to play, this will be a long game for the Falcons. Chris Chandler may not play and Michael Vick looks a little raw, as is expected, in his first year. Brooks/Horn/Ricky Williams fly high over the Falcons!
You Suck Award!
This week's "You Suck" award goes to Fred Taylor. How many weeks are you going to sit on the sidelines, earn your fat paycheck and do nothing?Note to Fred Taylor: I know you are injured, and it happens every year. But something has to give. In an article this week you were quoted as saying "I feel as if I have let my teammates down". DUH! I think you have done that the majority of the past three seasons. Hire a personal trainer this offseason, take up kick boxing and prepare your body. I just can't buy the fact that all this is some sort of freak accident. You're prone to injury for a reason. I believe the reason is you're not fit for duty.
You left me hanging
Here is what I like to call "My Fantasy Team is in trouble because you left me hanging" roster:
(Last Two Weeks)
QB: Jim Miller
RB: Anthony Thomas
RB: Maurice Smith
WR: Marty Booker
WR: Johnnie Morton
WR: Hines Ward
TE: Byron Chamberlain
Five things you should know about Week 13:
1. Rod Smith will be a dreaded GAME TIME DECISION -- again. Adjust your rosters accordingly.
2. Anthony Thomas has made it through two days of practice and is expected to start this weekend in Green Bay. Don't you think this was the rationale for holding him out in the first place?
3. Don't expect Wesley Walls to start this week. Walls hasn't practiced all week and I don't expect him to play.
4. Ricky Watters has returned to practice, but his workload has yet to be decided. Does this hinder Shaun Alexander's reps in the offense? Watch this situation closely as Watters has looked sharp in practice thus far.
5. The Vikings are keeping the status of Daunte Culpepper a huge secret. According to news sources: "I think he's making good progress," coach Dennis Green said. "We'll take it right up to Sunday. We're not necessarily going to tip our hand as far as what we're going to do with Tennessee. We definitely want to put Tennessee in a situation where they've got to prepare for both guys."
Chuckin...
How much Cheesewould a cheese head eat
if a cheese head
could eat cheese?
Surprises and disappointments
Eric Moulds has an AFP (Average Fantasy Points) per game of 5. Take out the the 26-point game of a couple weeks ago and that average is 2.9.Is it just me or did these preseason trade talks light a fire under Kevin Johnson? The guy has been on fire all season and it has basically gone unnoticed. To think, I threw the guy in on early deal I made thinking he was nothing more than an average WR. His eight receiving TDs are more than Isaac Bruce, Randy Moss, Jimmy Smith and Cris Carter, just to name a few.
Priest Holmes continues to dominate opposing defenses, but has not scored a TD in the past three weeks. He has racked up 267 total rushing yards and another 171 yards receiving over that span but remains empty in the red zone. Does he have the RB version of the Keyshawn Disease?
I guess those Jeff Blake rumors were squashed last week.
....9,10...Boston will score again! And he did!
INSANEX Playoff Picture:
With two games remaining the playoff picture looks as follows:FantasyAsylum.com: Ryan Houston's squad has clinched the division title in the North after the Trade Rumors were upset by Komments.com last week. A win this week will also clinch the No. 1 seed for the playoffs.
Footballguys.com: Clayton Gray has a two game lead in the South and can wrap up a division title with a win this week. A win this week coupled with a Trade Rumors loss and Clayton will be the No. 2 seed in the playoffs.
TradeRumors.com: Shawn Bryant is in a must-win situation. A loss coupled with wins by Wild Card Sports, Jackpot Sports and FanEx football could hinder his chances for a playoff spot.
WildCard Sports: Brian Kreklau is the one team in this league that deserves the most credit. Considering all the injuries he has had to endure and overcome, it is interesting to see him alive and in the mix. Add in a couple of great trades on his behalf and it's easy to see why he's still got a shot. Wild Card is in the same boat as the TradeRumors squad; they must win to keep their playoff hopes alive.
Outside Looking In:
FanEx Football: Terry Cannon needs a couple of wins and some help but is not out of the hunt yet. A win this week against the Asylum squad could give his squad the momentum it needs to make a run.
Jackpot Sports: Mark Bond will need some help, as well, to make the playoffs. He will need to win twice and hope some of the teams above lose a couple. Mark doesn't give up so I don't expect he counts himself out just yet.
The Winning Formula - Dave Cooper & Komments.com - Greg Kellogg: Both are still in the hunt. Both would need two wins coupled with two losses by a few of the teams above them to have a legitimate shot. It starts this week when both are in must win situations or face playoff elimination.
| INSANEX Experts League Update | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Team | Owner | Record | Points |
| Fantasy Asylum | Ryan "The Warden" Houston | 10-2 | 1223 |
| Trade Rumors | Shawn Bryant | 7-5 | 1168 |
| Footballguys | Clayton Gray | 8-4 | 1122 |
| Wild Card Sports | Brian Kreklau | 7-5 | 1057 |
| Jackpot Sports | Mark Bond | 6-6 | 1021 |
| Winning Formula | Dave Cooper | 5-7 | 977 |
| Fanex Football | Terry Cannon | 6-6 | 965 |
| Komments.com | Greg Kellogg | 5-7 | 949 |
| CNN/SI | James Quintong | 4-8 | 937 |
| Prognosticator | Tony Holm | 2-10 | 887 |
| For all the details check out the INSANEX page on FantasyAsylum.com. | |||
Ryan Houston is the co-owner of FantasyAsylum.com. His column "The Warden Report" can be found there along with other great tools to help increase your Fantasy Football knowledge. Follow The Warden and James Quintong of CNNSI.com as they do battle in INSANEX -- The Insane Experts League, only on FantasyAsylum.com. The Fantasy Football Institute for Insane Fans! Get Committed...To Winning!
| Related information | |
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 Sunday's Best: Week 12Fantasy File: Everybody's getting hurtBack Page: 2001 Third Quarter Fantasy awards | |
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