Week 5 Preview

This week doesn't exactly have the drama of weeks past, but it has the potential to really liven up the playoff race with the three 1-3 teams playing as heavy favorites.

Game of the Week

Father Abraham (-5) vs. Cellar Dwellars

Two teams with a combined one loss do battle, with the possibility of the winner moving into first place...Matchup features last year's #7 and #8 franchises...Teams have won a combined 7 games in a row...Despite two powerful clubs going at it, neither is projected to go over 100 points...Stem and Lincoln split their season series in 2004

News and Notes, FA

If it's respect they want, this is where they earn it- wins over the top two teams in the league in the coming weeks will no doubt give this team what they desire...Despite being favored in the projections, will struggle while missing Priest Holmes on a bye week, because there is no no one on the roster to fill in for him...Got great news last week when Jamal Lewis ran for 81 yards and a touchdown...Re-read that last sentence and ponder how absurd it is that they are 3-1 despite that being 'great news'...Stephen Davis was seen as a risky pick on draft day, but is now the envy of everyone who passed him up in round2 (and some in round1)...Charles Rogers' recent suspension will not hurt badly, as FA has 5 capable WRs on the roster...Joe Horn's health is a question- cannot have a vacant starting spot again this week...Team will go as Donovan McNabb goes- If McNabb gets hurt, this season could unravel quickly for FA...KPOBW: Priest Holmes

News and Notes, CD

This team has been favored in just one game all year, their week 1 tilt with BFG...Has this team hit their high point? Point totals rose consistently from week 1 through week 4, but can you really expect a step up from 140? We'll see...Finally won his game of QB Roulette last week, and will ride Snake v2 (Delhomme) again this week...The Gun called Shaun Alexander and LaMont Jordan the best 1-2 back tandem in the league; and while that's statistically not true, you'd be hard pressed to find two men producing at a steadier, better pace on one roster...If Kevin Jones keeps going like he did last week (into the end zone), there will be no debate as to who the best 1-2-3 combo is...Can someone explain Plaxico Burress to me? I mean, will he do this every week? It's amazing what a change of scenery does for some guys...Shaun McDonald is an interesting one-week fill-in...KPOBW: LaMont Jordan, Jerry Porter, Plaxico Burress

Prediction: First look was in favor of CD, because Priest Holmes missing with nothing to replace him is rough. However, upon further review, Jordan, Porter and Burress make an enormous hole to fill, one that Stem's bench cannot fill. FA wins it, moves up again.

The 2 Spot

Madd Skillz (-38) vs. Champeons

It's games like this that make me want to stop using point spreads. Most of the time, they're useful- but when they're off, they're way off...Neither team was impressive last week, CHM even less so...this game holds very different meanings for both clubs, as SKL has heat on their slim lead at the top, and wants to get a lead built before the gaggle of skilled 1-3 clubs get going...CHM also wants to stay ahead of the rush of the scary 1-3s, and needs to make sure that last week was a mistake...Schillinger and Whitlock are 1-1 lifetime against one another, with the last round going to Schill 160.00-118.50

News and Notes, SKL

Back on Matt Hasselbeck this week, as the QB questions keep coming...Got better than expected performances from Domanick Davis and Santana Moss last week, but went the other way on far bigger players, Chad Johnson, Rudi Johnson, Steve Smith and Fred Taylor...Worst week to date last week makes this a rebound game...LaDanian Tomlinson is what is driving this team, and if he goes down, playing for the #1 seed would be almost impossible...Jeremy Shockey has turned out much better than was expected...Made a minor deal with SP, acquiring some WR insurance in Antonio Bryant for the recently picked up Najeh Davenport...KPOBW: Jeremy Shockey

News and Notes, CHM

Continues to be an up and down team, with two convincing wins and two losses where their point total was very weak...made the biggest move of the week, acquiring Daunte Culpepper (and his upside) along with Mewelde Moore for Clinton Portis and Frank Gore...This move sets forth an interesting chain of events; after this week, when Culpepper and Kerry Collins are past their byes, CHM has 3 competent QBs, and could look to move one of them to a QB needy team (there are 5 teams in the league that could use one of them in some role)...Will have Drew Bledsoe in the QB spot this week, probably the least desirable of their three...Chris Brown's supposed break out (with Travis Henry out) was delayed last week...Julius Jones has yet to get going, but he has to at some point, right?...CHM is the only team with a starter projected to score less than 0 points...WR depth is needed this week...KPOBW: Randy Moss, Daunte Culpepper, Kerry Collins, Mewelde Moore

Game #3

Sex Panther (-16) vs. The Octagon

It's worth noting that the matchups here in week 5 will also be the matchups in week 14, the last week of the regular season; there's a bit of week 14 history between these two clubs from what I understand...It can be called a grudge match game, sure- but neither of these bitter rivals are looking to the past to find importance in this matchup...JR and Gun split last year's series, with JR winning the most recent game 118.75-118.25, the smallest margin in VUFSA history

News and Notes, SP

Continues to move big names around at will, this week Daunte Culpepper moves out and Clinton Portis moves in, giving SP 4 stud caliber backs in the starting lineup this week...Marc Bulger (who came at a cost of Thomas Jones) moves into the starting lineup, giving this club three Rams once again...Third trade this week was minor, detailed in SKL notes...Cadillac Williams is banged up, but Willis MaGahee will have a semi-competent QB in front of him this week, so could make up for some points should Caddy not run right...With Indy playing the Niners this week, Reggie Wayne will have to step up and make sure he can offset the production of Marvin Harrison (OCT)...KPOBW: None

News and Notes, OCT

Let down by Trent Green and Tony Gonzalez again last week, will see what life is like without them on their bye this week...Brett Farve steps into the starting lineup and is just as much of an unkown week-to-week as Bulger is...Hines Ward is questionable this week, but his absence can be covered up if Antwaan Randle El has a big game...has two talented rookie backs on the bench, but will they contribute early enough to keep OCT in the race...LJ Smith is finally in the starting lineup, so his hot streak should come to a close...Has the worst bye weeks this week, narrowly edging out CD...KPOBW: Trent Green, Tiki Barber, Tony Gonzalez

Prediction: Way too much missing in the starting linuep for OCT, but even without those losses, SP has a better team. SP picks up win #2 and moves even with OCT in the standings.

Batting Cleanup

Fred Lane's Wife (-25) vs. Who is Ron Mexico?

Before reading this, you have to stop and think "wait, these two teams have the same record?"...Last year's regular season champ has stumbled out of the gate and won't have a matchup this favorable again until week 9...On the other hand, no matchup is favorable for WIRM, so nothing really changes for them...Both teams were thundered in heartbreaking fashion last week, and thus harbor a similar hatred towards Antonio Chatman...First meeting between the two franchises

News and Notes, FLW

Despite a huge week for Peyton Manning last week, missed the presence of youngsters Willie Parker and Ronnie Brown in the linuep, and it cost them...Darrell Jackson's doubtfulness could be crippling for a team already thin at receiver; Greg Lewis and Kevin Curtis step into the starting lineup as all-or-nothing guys, which sucks hard considering they're replacing two keepers...Willie Parker will finally have two healthy backups, both established runners- will his carries (notably, goal line) get cut?...Will need more than just the consistency of Corey Dillon and Deuce McAllister for a while, will need them to be spectacular on occasion...KPOBW: None

News and Notes, WIRM

Picked up another starting runner this week, acquiring Mike Anderson (plus Brandon Lloyd) for DeShaun Foster and Lee Suggs...Ahman Green's health is a question, which is bad news for a guy who wasn't that good to begin with this season...It's only a matter of time before Eli Manning starts over Michael Vick...Brandon Stokley is still stuck in neutral, but can play a big factor for this team when he breaks out- and now would be a good time considering he can steal some of Peyton's thunder...TJ Duckett is averaging a TD a week, which is perfect for a Flex back...Michael Clayton's health is a question...KPOBW: Eli Manning, Travis Taylor and Troy Williamson

Prediction: At full strength at the RB spot, FLW is set to snap a three game losing streak.

The 5 Hole

Big Fat Guys vs. Blaine Browns (-42)

Before reading this, you have to stop and think "wait, these two teams have the same record?"...Both teams are on their first winning streak of the year, and the good news is that one of the previously despondent owners will continue that streak...This spot usually has the most boring matchup, and thus, the least italicized print...First meeting between these two franchises

News and notes, BFG

Active in trades again this week, and made another head scratcher...It's clear that this team wanted Carson Palmer to be their Franchise Player, and gave up a lot to get him despite having a potential franchise QB; fair enough. This week, the expendable Marc Bulger was turned into Thomas Jones. Jones has been good this season, but has zero keeper value with Cedric Benson in the wings, and in fact, probably won't be as effective later in the season. We've always said Kenny and Dave are the expansion team that wants to win now the most, but Baron is in it for the now as well, unfortunately at the expense of his future...And at the expense of the present as well, after trading two solid starters (Anderson and Lloyd) for two backups...Just one starter projected to go over 10 points this week...will continue to rely on the unexpected excellence of their WR corps, plus giving Antonio Chatman another spin...KPOBW: Define "key"...POBW: Nate Burleson, Brendan Jacobs

News and Notes, BB

Last week had to be a giant relief for owner Drew Wolf, but don't expect him to be content with one win; he knows he should have many more...WRs are coming together nicely, but the injury status of TJ Houshmandzadeh is concerning...Warrick Dunn is turning out to be a very good first round pick, despite losing goal line touches to TJ Duckett...Has some Monday Night Thunder, but probably won't need it...Probably won't need "3pm games Thunder" either...Will probably need some added depth to the running game in case Ruben Droughns gets cut out of the real life Browns attack, but RB1-3 is still very solid, despite Curtis Martin's struggles...KPOBW: Eddie Kennison

Prediction: The number of one win teams in the league will be cut by 60% as BB knocks off BFG to set the stage for an interesting race between the soon to be 2-3 SP, FLW, OCT and BB.