Week 8 Preview

Game of the Week

Madd Skillz vs. Cellar Dwellars (pk)

I'm eschewing the point spread for this game, and everyone should understand why...This is the strongest matchup of the year so far, but would be even more so if both teams were undefeated...As is, first place is at stake here, as the two teams have a combined one loss heading into this week...This game features the highest combined winning percentage of any two teams in VUFSA History (13-1, .928) with a minimum of 5 games each...Schillinger is 2-0 lifetime against his one time protoge

News and Notes, SKL

First loss since Week 13 of last season, snapping a 9 game win streak, spread out over two seasons...Has won 13 of last 15 games played...Story of the loss last week was the poor performance of LDT, though he wasn't the only one sleepwalking through week 7...I can't really put together the joke about Rudi Johnson and playing craps because he puts up so many 7s...Domanick Davis keeps rolling, and while he's a very good back; his week to week output is always in question because his team is one of the worst in the world...Steve Smith and Fred Taylor come back from bye weeks with good matchups on tap...Matt Hasselbeck may have started his last game of the season...Key Players on Bye Week: Matt Hasselbeck?

News and Notes, CD

No one is questioning the Dwellars dominance- but did you realize that their opponents have averaged just 69.50 points the last 4 weeks?...The biggest subplot to this game is clearly the ill-timed bye of Shaun Alexander; JJ Arrington steps in to the starting lineup, representing maybe the biggest possible dropoff ever...The second biggest subplot is the possibility of Mark Brunell's second straight start, though he's earned it after a 3-TD day...One disadvantage that CD faces is that their top two QBs are will likely have to throw to one of SKL's receivers multiple times (Jake Delhomme to Steve Smith or Mark Brunell to Santana Moss)...On the other side, David Givens could negate some of Tom Brady...Another 30 point day from LaMont Jordan would be huge here...KPOBW: Shaun Alexander, Shaun Alexander, Shaun Alexander

The 2 Spot

Sex Panther (-3.50) vs. Fred Lane's Wife

This matchup features the top two scoring teams from last year's regular season...FLW can move even with SP (and possibly 4 other teams) at .500 with a second straight win...SP, on the other hand would love to get a win before marching into CD's yard without 4 of his best players next week...Not a "must-win" for either team (I'm trying to be less hyperbolic) but a "man-I-really-need-this-win" game for both teams...Eli and Andy split two epic duals last season, with Viano getting the better of the most recent

News and Notes, SP

New week, new Titans QB, as Steve McNair keeps the seat warm for Marc Bulger this week...Remember how the expansion teams passed on Steven Jackson 4 times? He has 99 points this season, and his touches are rising every week, for those of you keeping track...With Mike Martz out of the picture, Jackson looks to get more rushes and more looks, which is great for SP; that being said, most of SP's rivals would gladly give Jackson the extra looks if it means a diminished output from both Marc Bulger and Torry Holt...While Clinton Portis' performance last week was enormous, let's remember that it was against the 49ers. He's still one of the better backs in our league, but let's not get carried away...SP's WR situation is not good this week, with Torry Holt hobbled, and Reggie Wayne on bye...Cadillac Williams stands a good shot at returning to the field this week, a huge boost for what is now the best RB corps in the league...KPOBW: Reggie Wayne

News and Notes, FLW

Kelly Holcomb took over for JP Losman in Buffalo and the world rejoiced. Kelly Holcomb takes over for Peyton Manning here, and Andy Viano moans...A rejuvinated receiving corps takes the field for FLW, as recent acquisition Joey Galloway starts along with Hines Ward and new star Kevin Curtis...Corey Dillon returns to the starting lineup, for now; his injury could go a long way in determining FLW's fate...Luckily, will have all day Sunday to watch Dillon's injury, and can swap in Jerome Bettis for Monday night, if needed...Tatum Bell has a world of talent, but the Denver backfield is such a crapshoot, he's always a risky play. Of course, he's always a risky sit as well...KPOBW: Peyton Manning

Prediction: Sex Panther has the better team. Couple that with the absence of Manning, and it's an easy call for what should be a close game. SP moves 2 games ahead of FLW with a win.

Game #3

Blaine Browns (-5) vs. ChamPeons

It says something about the Blaine Browns when they miss their 3 best RBs and are still favorites in a game against a 3 win team...These teams are one win apart, and may be tied in the standings after this week, despite a 173.50 point differential...With three 3-4 teams, BB is in the same boat as SP- they aren't desperate for a win, but those three teams could all win this week and create a 5 team jam for 2 playoff spots...CHM on the other hand, has three straight winnable games before a brutal stretch to end the season...We'll have to wait until Monday to declare a winner in this one, as CHM has two pretty significant players trotting out Monday Night...Wolfman has never lost to the Champion in VUFSA history

News and Notes, BB

It's been touched on a million times so far, but since I lead N&N with what I feel is each team's top story, I'll say it one more time: all three starting runners are on bye this week...To compensate for the losses, BB plans on moving Flex back Ruben Droughns to RB1, while gambling that Patrick Pass will get looks for the Patriots again and moving Chris Cooley from TE to RB3, as newly acquired Jermaine Wiggins starts at TE...Receivers are at full strength, which is big as they will need to pick up some slack this week...Drew Brees will also need to have a gigantic week, which is entirely possible against the Chiefs...KPOBW: Edgerrin James, Curtis Martin, Warrick Dunn, Alge Crumpler, Dwight Freeney

News and Notes, CHM

Three questionable players on the roster for CHM, and everyone of them is an impact player...Randy Moss is again questionable, but after being benched in a good effort last week, he starts...Chris Brown's injury isn't the only thing questionable, as his role could be decreased with Travis Henry back from his little vacation...The final Q is Julius Jones, who is expected to miss his third straight game, which puts Tyson Thompson in the lineup at least one more time...Daunte Culpepper finds himself on the bench in favor of Drew Bledsoe's matchup with Arizona- but despite the matchup, one wonders: why trade Clinton Portis if you're not even going to play the guy you get for him? This team would be far better off with Portis playing instead of Thompson, since Bledsoe has been starting anyways...Do you realize that Kerry Collins has thrown just one interception this year?...Heath Miller is a very nice pickup at TE, and will have a few big games for CHM...KPOBW: None

Prediction: Despite the depleted roster, BB could still very well win this game, but I can't honestly say that they will. CHM gets to .500 and continues to be a wildcard in the playoff race.

Batting Cleanup

Big Fat Guys vs. Father Abraham (-25)

Oddly enough, BFG can move into a tie with FA with a win in this matchup...FA is in the awkward position of rooting for the two teams that he is tied with in the standings this week...I'm pretty sure I referred to BFG as a "playoff afterthought" (and if I didn't I meant to) and while that's not true yet- if they lose here, it's over: FLW, CD, SKL and SP are up the next four weeks, and they have to close against BB. Yikes....This is the first meeting between the two teams

News and Notes, BFG

Travis Henry returns! A key part of the Carson Palmer-Brian Westbrook deal sees the starting lineup for Captain Brendel for the first time...Alongside Henry and red-hot Thomas Jones, Marion Barber gets another start at RB, and deserves it after a nice effort last week...Peerless Price starts in the Flex spot. He has 2 catches this season, and one of them was actually for positive yardage...Nate Burleson continues to get healthier, but it's looking like he won't be the impact player that is needed at the #1 spot in the dispersal draft...It hurts that Price and Burleson are struggling, because the WR corps used to be the biggest strength of this team...Carson Palmer has 1800 yards and 13 TDs while Baron has racked up at least 4 "I dold you so's" the past few weeks...KPOBW: Dominic Rhodes

News and Notes, FA

For the first time in a long time, FA is pretty much at full strength...All of their key players are past their byes, and most are as healthy as they've been in some time...Stephen Davis is absent from the injury report, and Priest Holmes has held up magnificently; while Donovan McNabb hasn't had to leave a game with that sports hernia thing...However, Joe Horn remains a let down, but at least he's not the Whizzinator...The Ricky Williams experiment looks like it's over for now, but I don't think it hurts having him stashed on the bench...Jamal Lewis doesn't look like he'll get on track this week, as he plays another astonishing defense in Pittsburgh on Monday Night...KPOBW: None, finally

Prediction: FA has the better team, and though no matchups necessarily bode well, they're going to win and break their 3 game slide. Plus, Baron hates when I pick him.

The 5 Hole

The Octagon (-17.50) vs. Who is Ron Mexico?

It's only fitting that the game named after a hockey term routinely features Dave Tomke's team...I hate to say this (not really), but fire up the "+3" key on the luck index for this game...Both clubs start an anonymous Packer running back this week, it's an interesting strategy, we'll see how it works out...A couple of notes on irony, as WIRM faces the player whose late touchdown sealed his only win of the year (Tony Fisher) while starting a player whose late touchdown thundered them in what was supposed to be their second win (Antonio Chatman)...This is the first time that JR and Tomke have fought on the virtual gridiron, and the ensuing insults will make this rivalry one of the most interesting in the league

News and Notes, OCT

The best receiving corps (on paper) when the season began sends Jimmy Smith, Lee Evans and Andre Johnson into battle this week...The league leader in TD passes, Brett Farve, continues to relegate Trent Green to the bench...Tony Fisher is a nice pickup, but he may not do much for OCT, as Chester Taylor cannot be kept on the bench for long; in real life or in fantasy...Brian Westbrook is still a heck of a player, but he needs to run the ball well to be a fantasy stud in this league...It looks as if the clock is winding down on the Kevan Barlow era...KPOBW: Marvin Harrison

News and Notes, WIRM

There are four very promising young players in the lineup for WIRM this week, though only one has a ton of fantasy potential...Though thin at RB, the young WRs on this club are brimming with potential, as Mike Williams, Braylon Edwards and Michael Clayton all have keeper qualities...Ahman Green is out for the year, and he is done with this team forever, as the Packer back has been put on waivers, and it's questionable whether any team is willing to take a flier on the once great back and make him a keeper...Not a lot of options for WIRM this week, as 5 of their 7 reserves are on bye, and one other is frequently inactive for games...KPOBW: Michael Vick, TJ Duckett, Joe Jurevicius, Brandon Stokley, Jerramy Stevens

Prediction: Even before the bye week losses, this was OCT's game. A win would make Dave so very happy, but I don't see it happening.