Around VUFSA: Week Six

This was kind of a stinker of a week. Not a single match-up was decided by fewer than 20 points. Bye weeks, injuries, and general suckitude of certain players led to these less than exciting results. While the scores weren't interesting, what the league looks like after Week Six certainly is. There is a five-way tie for second place, and eighth-place team is only two games out of a playoff spot. Next week will mark the halfway point of the regular season, and all we really know is the Ed and Welty are likely fighting it out for the top pick in the 2012 draft.

Jamie Looks Hot 117.50-Let My Monkeys Go 96.50
What happened: This was a tie game going into Monday night. JR had three Jets going for his team, while Viano was all done. In spite of Mark Sanchez's continued ineptitude, JR's trio combined for 21.00 to get the win. With the Chargers on bye, Viano was forced to turn to Montario Hardesty and Hines Ward to try and get the job done. Matt Ryan finally had a decent game, Jordy Nelson caught a 93-yard touchdown pass, and Ahmad Bradshaw had a career day. Viano had five guys who scored at least 10.00 points, and then had no one else score more than 6.25.
JLH (4-2): If life wasn't fair when his team was 3-2, I can only imagine what JR thinks about his team being 4-2. Ryan (18.50) accounted for two scores and no touchdowns. Nelson (12.00), Brandon Pettigrew (12.00), and Santonio Holmes (10.50) all caught touchdown passes. But the story of JR's team was Bradshaw. Non only did he have three one-yard touchdown runs (which is a career high for him), but he finished with 130 total yards of offense (30.00). MVP: Bradshaw. He had 56.50 points in the first five weeks (two touchdowns), so he increased his output by almost 50 percent in one game. LVP: Reggie Wayne. He wasn't the lowest scoring offensive player (that would be Dustin Keller), but with Curtis Painter showing competence, this it's disappointing to get low totals (4.50 this week) from Wayne.
LMMG (3-3): When you have to start Montario Hardesty, it generally is a sign that you're in for a tough go of it. To his credit, Viano tallied almost 100 points, which is commendable in any case but especially with Ryan Mathews and Vincent Jackson on bye. How Viano got there, is quite interesting. For the second week in a row, Viano gets a big week from his kicker. Billy Cundiff (17.00) made five field goals, and was actually Viano's highest scoring player of the week. Earnest Graham (12.00) was a great play with LaGarrette Blount out. Matt Schaub (15.25) was stifled a little bit by Baltimore's defense (only one touchdown). A.J. Green (10.50) and Anquan Boldin (10.00) were the only other guys who had double-figure scoring. MVP: Cundiff (PFL Pride!!). Having your kicker as your top scorer (when the kicker is really good and not because the offense is putrid) will get him in this slot every time. LVP: Felix Jones. Jones finished with 33 total yards (2.00). Not good numbers from a featured back.

Pantry Cereals 122.75-Who is Ron Mexico 100.25
What happened: Drew's AFC North corps of running backs all reached double-figures, and Dave's wide receivers only combined for 12.50 points, which is 1.25 more than Wes Welker had by himself (and he had an average day). Drew scored the most points this week in spite of getting a -1.00 from Davone Bess. Miles Austin returned to action, but Tony Romo's touchdown pass went to Jason Witten.
PC (4-2): Tom Brady continues to have problems with interceptions (two more this week), and he and Welker only combined for 30.00. They will probably have to combine for more than that in the coming weeks for Drew. I will admit to never having heard of Preston Parker (32 yards receiving and a touchdown), but maybe I'm in the minority on that. Rashard Mendenhall (20.00) had 146 yards and a score, while Ray Rice (15.50) had 161 yards of offense. Cedric Benson (11.50) and Witten (10.00) each had touchdowns as well. MVP: Mendenhall. Not much else to say. His numbers were very good, and have been good this whole year. LVP: Bess. He finished with 21 yards receiving and a fumble. You will find yourself in this space when your owner would have been better off leaving your roster spot empty.
WIRM (4-2): Tomke only got 10+ from two players (Matthew Stafford and Darren McFadden). Jahvid Best had 110 total yards (but apparently is suffering from concussion-like symptoms). Miles Austin and Jimmy Graham each had seven catches, while Roddy White, DeSean Jackson, and Plaxico Burress combined for six catches. That's where this match-up was lost. MVP: Stafford. Stafford (24.00) threw for 293 yards and two scores. I guess he doesn't lose any points for having a safety charged against him. It could have just as easily been McFadden (16.00), who continues to be awesome, and will probably only be better with the addition of Carson Palmer. LVP: Burress. One catch for 16 yards and 0.50 points.

ChamPeons 102.00-Dexter McClusterfunk 78.75
What happened: Each team had a running back score 0.00 (for Champ it was Blount, for Eli it was Tim Hightower). Fred Jackson continued to be awesome, while Cam Newton came back to earth. Robbie Gould outscored Drew Brees, and Eli only had double-figure scoring from Jackson and Newton. LeSean McCoy and Matt Forte continued their stellar play (31.00 combined). Sadly, Terrell Owens did not make an appearance in this match-up.
CP (4-2): Brees (13.25) had three picks and only offset those with one touchdown. McCoy (19.00) had 139 total yards and a touchdown. Forte (12.00) had 123 total yards (but they let Marion Barber score the touchdown (or maybe it was Laurence Maroney--I can never remember who is who between those two). Brees was kind enough to throw his touchdown pass to Marques Colston (15.00), who finished with 118 yards receiving. So that was nice of him. MVP: Gould. The Chicago kicker (14.00) made three field goals, including one from 50+. LVP: Blount (although it could go to Champ himself for not putting another back in his place).
DMC (4-2): Newton had a really rough day (three interceptions and just one touchdown). Jackson was the top scorer on the team with 22.50. There's not a whole lot else worthy of mention. Mark Ingram (9.00) had a touchdown. That was it. Three touchdowns from Eli's entire team. MVP: Jackson. I am developing a man-crush on this guy. He just continues to get it done. This week, he had 168 total yards and a touchdown. Where would Eli's team (and the Bills) be without him? LVP: Hightower. He didn't play against the Eagles but was listed as active, which really sucks for his owners. That Washington backfield is a mess. Why does Mike Shanahan hate fantasy football so much?

Waiting for Goodell 104.00-Bobby Engram 78.75
What happened: Thanks to bye weeks, trades, and injuries, Ed's starting lineup included Delone Carter, Kevin Walter, Jerome Simpson, and Bernard Scott. That's not exactly Murderer's Row. Joe Flacco led Ed's team (not necessarily surprising), but he only did so with 11.50. Ouch. Baron only got double-digits from four guys, but that's okay because Frank Gore decimated the Lions' defense. Baron's love-hate relationship with Ben Roethlisberger continued, as Big Ben only managed 13.00 this week. Baron did get at least 4.50 from every one of his offensive starters, and Ed had four players who managed less than that.
WFG (2-4): Gore led the way (21.00) with 146 total yards and a touchdown. Stevie Johnson and Mike Wallace (10.00 each) both had touchdown catches. Baron's team only had four touchdowns, but it was enough this time around. Big Ben only threw for 200 yards and one score, and Baron will have to continue to debate between him and Josh Freeman (23.75 this week). MVP: Gore. After almost being benched a few weeks ago, Gore has come out and put up great numbers the last two weeks. LVP: Mario Manningham. Manningham's 4.50 points was the fewest of each of Baron's offensive starters.
BE (0-6): After Maurice Jones-Drew's 91 percent started, the next highest on Ed's roster for the week was Jermaine Gresham at 37 percent. It has just been one of those years for Ed. (Not that there is a lot of sympathy around the league for the two-time defending champ). Flacco (305 yards and a rushing touchdown but two turnovers) was the top scorer at 11.50. MJD (10.00) had 104 total yards. Nate Burleson (9.00) managed Ed's other touchdown. Yes, you read that correctly. Ed's team had two touchdowns. MVP: LaMarr Woodley. Woodley had eight tackles and two sacks (9.00) to tie for the third-best total on Ed's squad. LVP: Bye weeks. I like Scott Chandler (0.50) too much to but him hear, so let me say that Ed had four guys who would be starters all on byes this week.

Phil Powell Rules 95.75-Fruit on the Bottom 61.50
What happened: Neither of Welty's running backs played (Knowshon Moreno was on a bye and Joseph Addai did not suit up), and my team only had two players reach double figures (but Michael Turner and Aaron Rodgers were kind enough to go well past the 10-point mark). Jared Allen had Welty's second-best score of the week. The 49ers held Calvin Johnson without a touchdown, and Chicago's large lead limited Adrian Peterson's effectiveness.
PPR (5-1): A pretty blah week from the team at the top of the league. They only managed six touchdowns, and five of those came from Rodgers and Michael Turner. Rodgers (26.25) did throw for three scores (including a 93-yarder to Jordy Nelson). Turner (25.50) rushed for 139 yards and two touchdowns. It was by far his best game of the year. Other than those two, AP had the team's sixth touchdown and Megatron went over 100 yards receiving. MVP: Turner. His best game of the year came at a time when AP didn't do much and Peyton Hillis was hurt, so it was definitely needed. LVP: Hillis. The Madden Curse continues as Hillis has never been able to get on track this season. He managed only 1.00 point before leaving with a hamstring injury and could be out for a few weeks.
FOTB (0-6): Michael Vick (16.50) limited his turnovers (1), but he only had one touchdown. Jared Allen (10.50) had a sack, forced a fumble, and recovered a fumble. Vick's touchdown was Welty's only one this week. Neither of his running backs played. It was definitely a struggle this week, but since his Cardinals are in the World Series, I'm not sure he cares much. MVP: Allen. Double digits from a defensive player is great. Welty just needs the rest of his roster to do something. I'm half surprised he didn't bench him since the Vikings were playing the Bears. LVP: Welty. I don't want to be mean here, but he had other running backs who could have played and didn't. It doesn't look good when both your starting running backs don't play. I'm guessing he just forgot to make changes, or maybe he really does want to secure the top pick in the 2012 draft. By the way, circle week 9 on your calendars. That's when Welty takes on Ed, which could be a battle of two winless teams if things don't turn around in the next two weeks.