Week 6 Preview

Shorter than normal preview this week because...well, I didn't have time to really write a lot. Especially after I forgot about it until Thursday.

Game of the Week

Madd Skillz (-38*) vs. Father Abraham

After further review, per last week's spread comment: it's not a leaguewide problem, Yahoo just overrates most of the players of SKL's team (14 points for Rudi Johnson? He hasn't hit double digits since week 1)...*spread adjusted for FA optimum output, as lineups are not set as of the time of writing...Both teams in this game in the middle of a "prove it" stretch- FA faces CD, SKL, and SP in consecutive weeks while SKL faces FA, FLW, CD and SP in a 5 week span...Only matchup between two teams in the top 5 in the standings...Souzek is 2-0 lifetime vs. Schillinger

News and Notes, SKL

Second monster week of the season last week, despite having 2 of their top 3 scorers on the bench...Holds 3rd and 5th highest weekly output through 5 weeks, yet neither was a high score; both times SP had enough to beat them...Domanick Davis played a great game and didn't even score a touchdown, will he finally break out consistently?...Steve Smith is working out better than anyone expected...Ed Reed is quiet- too quiet...Still probably has the deepest team in the league, and that will help get through all bye week trouble until week 10...Key Players on Bye Week: None.

News and Notes, FA

Wasn't up to the challenge of Cellar Dwellars last week with just 5.25 from their best two players (McNabb, Holmes- who was on a bye)...Will the team step up as the spotlight shines on them again?...Anquan Boldin is another guy (like the aforementioned Smith) that no one expected to be this good...Despite McNabb's greatness, Stephen Davis' performances have played a bigger role in FA's victories...Could get a tremendous boost at the RB spot now that Ricky Williams is suiting up once more...Jamal Lewis' recent success is scary to the other 9 owners right now...KPOBW: Donovan McNabb, Anquan Boldin

The 2 Spot

Fred Lane's Wife vs. Cellar Dwellars (-6.5)

Just the second time (since week 1 vs. Big Fat Guys) that CD has been favored...Just 4 players in this matchup predicted to break double digits...Both teams making nice waiver moves this week, FLW getting Ben Troupe and CD nabbing JJ Arrington...Andy Viano in the record books again last week; setting a new record for fewest points in a win...Viano is 2-0 lifetime against Stem

News and Notes, FLW

Already mentioned pithy output in last week's win; but most of that can be attributed to injuries...the rest can be attributed to Peyton Manning's underachieving...Win can be attributed to Dave and Kenny...It's probably painful to relive, but injuries have decimated this club: Javon Walker and Duece McAllister have matching ACLs (torn) while Darrell Jackson is out for another 6 games possibly- and no one knows what is wrong with Corey Dillon...Add Peyton's sucky and you all of a sudden have a terrible set of keepers...All things considered, this team can still win games; Pittsburgh running game is formidable, while Ronnie Brown could blossom into a solid RB2- and any receiver (maybe not Eric Parker) can have a big day...To rule them out is ludicrous...When will Tatum Bell move into the starting lineup?...KPOBW: None (unless you count the perma-byes of McAllister and Walker)

News and Notes, CD

Smack talk "do you believe in unliklihoods?" is fitting...It's obscene to imagine the league's doormat dominating like they are, but I can't say I'm totally suprised...Keepers were iffy at QB and WR- but when you add LaMont Jordan, and Larry Fitzgerald in the first two rounds to the kept RBs (S. Alexander and K. Jones) you have a real good core. When Jake Delhomme is on, it's a scary good team...This might be the second deepest team in the league...I think that Plaxico Burress' performance in a given week dictates more of the outcome than Alexander's, if that makes sense...KPOBW: Larry Fitzgerald

Prediction: Kevin Jones (3 tds in last 2 game) running well spells doom for FLW, who for the first time in a long time, can't match a 1-2 punch in the running game. CD wins, who's got next?

Game #3

Sex Panther (-23) vs. Champeons

Thunder will never again roar as loud as it will in this game, as SP sends Marc Bulger, Torry Holt, Steven Jackson, Reggie Wayne, Mike Vanderjagt and the league's #1 defender out into battle on Monday night...CHM is done after 3p Sunday...Champ and Gun split last year's series- with Gun setting the bar for high scores (172.75) in week 7's win

News and Notes, SP

Cadillac Williams is stuck in neutral this week, so if it looks like he won't cruise out of the garage on Sunday. If so, will SP put him in park?...Seriously, Caddy is a gametime decision, which hurts because Frank Gore is on a bye week...Shouldn't matter much, as SP has an advantage(some significant) at every position except WR1...New acquisition Clinton Portis played well against one former team last week, and will matchup against another former club this week (CHM, that is)...Other new acquisition Najeh Davenport worked out well last week as well, but don't expect another performance like that for the rest of the year...KPOBW: Frank Gore

News and Notes, CHM

I'm first guessing here- why isn't Champ playing Daunte Culpepper? If we have learned anything this year, it's that no single player has beaten Eli more times than Daunte has...Seriously though folks- I'm doing a complete 180. I was pimping ChamPeons as a playoff caliber team three weeks ago, and now I'm saying this is their last stand. Another pissy performance and I count them out...Tyson Thompson had a nice fill-in week last week, but is still projected to score less than 0 this week in place of Julius Jones...That is why spreads are stupid...Don't point out that I still use them...Amos Zeroue gets the nod at flex this week...Yuck...KPOBW: None

Prediction: SP wins, and afterwards Cadillac Williams drives over to Daunte Culpepper in the loser's locker room and pees on him. Yeah, pees on him. Being a member of the Vikings, Daunte would probably enjoy that kinky shit.

Batting Cleanup

Big Fat Guys vs. The Octagon (-24)

OCT is falling, while BFG is on the rise...Do I smell an upset...(no)...The fiercest receiving corps in the league takes on the most suprising in this matchup...Carson Palmer has his chance at revenge against a team that dealt him away...Baron has gotten 2 votes in this matchup? We know one is his, but still...First Meeting between the two franchises

News and Notes, BFG

Strong performances streak will likely stall as the RB corps of BFG has died...Thomas Jones is out (and remember, it only took Marc Freaking Bulger to pry him away from the Gun) which swings the balance in a huge way, as OCT holds (and is starting) his backup, Cedric Benson...Is it wrong to say that 10 combined points from RBs 1-3 would be better than expected?...Again, Baron is disrespected as his injury problems are overshadowed by those of FLW...I shouldn't write them off entirely, as they shouldn't have been close last week and almost won...If Brendan Jacobs steals Tiki's TDs and if Hines Ward doesn't play and if Terry Glenn and if Joey Galloway and if Carson Palmer...we're asking for a lot then, aren't we?...KPOBW: None (though Thomas Jones is injured)

News and Notes, OCT

New look at RB as Cedric Benson and Chester Taylor enter the fray and start in place of Kevan Barlow and Brian Westbrook (so at least Baron traded him to a team that couldn't hurt him, kind of)...The sort of simmering TE controversy doesn't matter this week, because LJ Smith is on a bye- but Tony Gonzalez probably starts anyway...Still waiting for TSOTD! (the steal of the draft!) Trent Green to earn his keep; this may be his last chance as TWVOADP (the worst value of any draft pick) Brett Farve (drafted second!) is playing well...Lee Evans had a fierce 1/3 of his season point total last week, but seriously, it's nice for OCT that he is showing signs of life...KPOBW: Brett Farve, Brian Westbrook, Kevan Barlow, LJ Smith (ouch)

Prediction: Actually typing out those byes almost had me pick BFG. Then I saw "Dominic Rhodes" and changed my mind back. OCT stays relevant, back in the win column.

The 5 Hole

Blaine Browns (-37) vs. Who is Ron Mexico?

Second straight week in the dungeon for BB; blame their opponents...An interesting matchup at RB, as TJ Duckett and Warrick Dunn fight for TD opportunities...I'm a little upset that Drew's smack talk isn't "Shut up, Tomke" and that Dave's isn't "Fuck you, Drew"...That's about all that's interesting...Wait! Two members of JR's remarkable run to end last season are starting in this game; it's Drew Bennett vs. Nick Goings in a battle of VUFSA has-beens...First meeting, blah blah blah- games 4 and 5 always have an expansion in them and if you're reading this, you know damn well these two have never played

News and Notes, BB

Soft part of the schedule for the Browns, and they deserve it after putting up a luck index of -7 through 5 weeks...Lee Suggs' injury sucks for BFG, but has solidified the BB Flex Spot, as Ruben Droughns keeps getting touches...BB is missing their three best receivers in this game- maybe two (depending on how you rate Houshmanihatejr vs. Keenan McCardell)...Is Curtis Martin back yet? If he is, Vinny Testaverde is the MVP of the Blaine Browns...Edgerrin James only has 3 TDs?...KPOBW: Terrell Owens, Donald Driver

News and Notes, WIRM

42 Points? Seriously?....Li'l Eli Manning gets his first VUFSA start...Joe Jurivicius was a great pickup...Is Mike Anderson becoming irrelevant again in Denver? That's awful news for WIRM...KPOBW: Brandon Lloyd (HUGE Loss), Ahman Green, Marcel Shipp

Prediction: You know where this is going.