Halas League

Brigantine 69ers versus Shek Republic
Brigantine seems to be favored as #2 in Sayers division whereas Shek Republic is predicted for #4-#5.
Look for Shek to struggle this week with only four real starters (RB Kaufman, WR Keyshawn Johnson, WR Marvin Harrison, TE Shannon Sharpe) and the fifth spot is preaty weak with WR Albert Connell.
Brigantine 69ers will fire from all his positions both RBs and WRs. Ground attack (RB Corey Dillon, RB Priest Holmes, RB Curtis Martin) should lead Brigantine to victory.
Brigantine favorite.

Meat Weasels versus Oklahoma OhNos
Oklahoma seems to be the favorite team in Sayers division and Meat Weasels is predicted by many owners to finish last.
Meat Weasels only has RB Jerome Bettis vs strong ground Oklahoma made of RB Karim Abdul-Jabbar, RB Marshall Faulk and RB Emmitt Smith.
Oklahoma is favorite on this matchup.

Lincoln Assassins versus Sportin' Life
Both teams are predicted to finish in the #3-#4 range.
I see Lincoln Assassins struggle this week with RB Sean Bennett, WR Keith Poole and QB Rich Gannon which are not sure stuff at their respective positions.
Unluckily Sportin Life drafted retired WR Robert Brooks and injured RB Garrison Hearst. Anyway, he should be OK for this matchup with a strong team with no real weak positions.
Sportin'Life to win.

Weapons of Love versus Pigskinned Monkeys
Weapons of Love is the favorite in this division and is even picked by some guys to be the first NGFFL Champion.
Pigskinned Monkeys is predicted to finish #5 in this division (how can this be possible with the team having Terrell Davis ?).
Anyway, this will be the first matchup between RB Terrell Davis from Pigskinned Monkeys and RB Fred Taylor of the Weapons of Love.
Seems that the Monkeys are benching RB Antowain Smith to my great surprise.
He could easily replace WR Hines Ward , WR JJ Stokes or WR Mushin Muhammad in the starting lineup.
This game will be a close one, but I still like Weapons for victory.

Thundering Gerbils versus Kiwi Air
Thundering Gerbils are predicted to finish #4 in this division vs Kiwi Air who seems to a league wide favorite team in this league (and even a NGFFL potential champion).
Thundering Gerbils starts RB Stephen Davis, WR Jake Reed and WR Leslie Sheperd and all of these guys are not know for being high potential material.
Kiwi Air should put a huge amount of points this week and start with a lead at the Halas total points contest.
Kiwi Air is my favorite here.

Kardiac Kids versus Michigan Mustangs
Kardiac Kids is predicted by many of us to finish dead last in this divison whereas Michigan Mustang is in the run for Division title.
Well, for now I am OK with those predictions but Mustangs have two "injury" prone players in RB Robert Smith and WR Terry Glenn.
Kardiac Kids is bugged with injuries. They have to start QB Kent Graham (their starting QB was Trent Green) and WR Torry Holt (WR Wayne Chrebet is out for 6 weeks), Mustangs is solid at all positions.
Look for a Mustang victory.

Rooney League

Molino FFL versus The Lewinsky Swallows
Molino FFL is predicted to finish #5-#6 vs Lewinsky who is predicted to be Division Champion.
Look for a high scoring game as both teams have really strong weapons.
Molino FFL should be called "Air Molino" as the team has no starting RB but a strong air unit : QB Steve Young, WR Herry Rice, WR Antonio Freeman, WR Cris Carter, WR Ed McCaffrey.
Lewinsky drafted first and yes they picked Terrell Davis ! They have a strong ground unit in RB Terrell Davis and RB Corey Dillon. A nice WR corps in WR Terrell Owens and WR Frank Sanders, but I find it strange that they start WR Derrick Mayes instead of RB Priest Holmes (maybe rumors around Rhett ?).
I like Molino in this contest to win in a big big points matchup.

Class Dismissed versus Hoosier Tornados
Class Dismissed is predicted as #2-#3 vs Hossier Tornados at #4-#5.
Hoosier Tornados has a nice starting lineup, but all of these guys have question marks concerning injury (QB Cunningham, RBs Bettis, Enis, Williams, WRs Thigpen and Westbrook).
Class Dismissed also has injury questions with QB McNair and WR Bert Emanuel. But the starting RBs are really impressive : RB Anderson, RB E Smith, RB R Smith.
Class Dismissed is my favorite.

Titan Traders versus European 99'ers
Traders are predicted as #2-#3 in the division vs 99ers predicted as #5-#6.
Traders team is lead by RB Fred Taylor who should have plenty of opportunities vs SF defense.
RBs are good in RB Fred Taylor, RB Adrian Murrell and rookie RB K Faulk. But the WRs are more questionable : will Calloway fit in Atlanta offense and will Batch be able to throw to H Moore ? Moreover will Steve start Plummer or not ?
As for 99ers, well it is my team, so I am biased of course. I also have a starting running back called Davis, well Stephen Davis...But I am quite confident in my WR corps (WR Tony Martin, WR Rod Smith, WR K McCardell).
99ers will win. What else do you want me to say :-)

MediaBLITZ versus D.S. Dolphins
Two middle of the pack teams according to the predictions made.
Leroy Hoard a starter in MediaBLITZ. Scott surely thinks he will get goal line carries (or maybe he already knows that Robert Smith is injured...). Apart of QB Brett Favre, nothing really exciting on the MediaBLITZ team. Joey Galloway is still holding out and Darnay Scott goes back to #2 with hold out Pickens signing with the Bengals. WR BRuce and Dawkins will try to catch passes from unexperienced QBs, we'll see.
The Dolphins are strong on ground with RB Charlie Garne, RB Eddie George (who might be player of the week) and RB Napy Kaufman. WR are great in Moulds and Mathis.
Dolphins is my favorite.

Wisconsin Z-Force versus Boston Swarm
The two favorite teams in this division. I expect big points from this game.
For Z-Force, Kordell faces Cleveland D and should have plenty of opportunities. Look for RB Levens and RB A Smith to have good production. WR corps doesn' look bad with WR Moss and WR Glenn.
Boston Swarm is pretty even at all positions. QB Marino on monday night should be great to watch. RB corps is nice (James, Staley ,Biaka). WRs T Brown and WR M Harrison wil see plenty of action.
Hard to tell, but I think I will go with Z-Force.

Tianemen Tanks versus Four Horsemen
Tianamen is the least favorite in division vs Four Horsemen who should battle for play-off spot.
The Tanks have only RB Marshall Faulk on ground. The Receivers scare me WR Hilliard, WR Muhammad.
Four Horsemen has one RB too in RB Ricky Watters. But I like the WR corps better expect WR A Rison maybe.
Four Horsemen is my favorite here.

Brown League

Starfleet Academy versus Maho Marauders
Starfleet is predicted to finish last in division.
Marauders is in the middle of the pack #2-#4. Starfllet will heavily rely on SF offense with QB Steve Young, RB Charlie Garner, WR Terrell Owens. The other players are not sure stuff too with RB Priest Holmes, WR Pathon and WR Toomer. All of these guys have great potential, but scare me also.
Marauders are solid at every position but will aslo rely on one team and this is Indianapolis. QB Manning (no negative points for INTs), RB Eddie George, RB E James, WR J Rice, WR M Irvin and GB#2 WR Schroeder should give Marauders plenty of points.
Marauders is my favorite.

Degeneration X versus Ebola Zaire
Two middle of the pack teams in Jim Brown Division.
For Degeneration X, QB Favre, RB Staley, WR T Brown and WR Moulds are alll great guys, but the rest is a bit uncertain with WR Engram and WR Connell.
Ebola Zaire is pretty confident as he starts "back spasms" McNair and "I will never play in Cinci" Carl Pickens. However I still like the ground attack with RB M Faulk and RB A Smith.
Ebola Zaire is my favorite.

Austin Powers International Team of Mystery versus Cleveland Browns
Both teams are predicted to finish #1-#2. This game might determine clearly who is the division favorite. Look for a high scoring matchup.
Austin Powers weak point is QB but the rest is great with RB Terrell Davis and RB Corey Dillon. WR C Carter, WR Terry Glenn.
Cleveland Browns is even more impressive. QB Mark Brunnel, RB Jamal Anderson, WR Bruce, WR Emanuel, WR Harrison, WR J Smith.
Cleveland Browns is my favorite.

Atlanta Jackhammers versus Predators
Jackhammers is predicted to finish #4 vs Predators that are taken as division champion.
Jackhammers QB-RB is OK, but the WRs might have difficulties. Though I like WR Hines Ward to score against Cleveland.
Predators is a scoring machine. QB Cunningham, RB Karim Abdul-Jabbar (still the starter in Miami though Jimmy Johnson doen't like him), RB Curtis Martin, RB Mike Alstott, WR Anthony and, WR McCardell.
Predators is my favorite here.

daUCBcat versus Connor's DawgPen
Battle for the #2 spot in this division.
daUCBcat is strong at every position whereas Dawgpen might be weaker at WR.
I like daUCBcat best in this matchup.

Huntley Hackers versus Gridiron Dominators
Huntley Hackers are predited to finsh dead last vs Dominators who should be able to battle for a play-off spot.
Hackers have great WRs (Freeman, Martin, Mathis) but no RBs (Morris is out). Hard time for Hackers.
Dominators have a strange lineup with both RB Stephen Davis and RB Terry Kirby, but sure stuff with QB Bledsoe , RB R Smith, WR Randy Moss. Intriguing that they might start TE Ricky Dudley.
I like Dominators here.

Now that it's over -or almost over, most of us must admit that we didn't draft ourselves into the playoffs. Despite an owner's high regard for their current roster, we didn't quite do well enough to auto pilot the team to a 11-3 season. In fact, it's now time to really get to work and polish our creation beyond the "respectable" stage. It's time to make the needed effort, and position ourselves to win-win-win.

We all mostly agree on the top players. Most of our league members know the top players.. and have them on rosters. As of today, McNown and Favre are really equals - Beginning September 12th, things change. The Galloways will play or they won't play. The Kaufmans make a comeback or they do not. And the kickers will or will not have successful attempts. In short, draft time is over. That third of our season is competed and can not ever be changed. We now move to the second part of our triangle; team management.

I know I'd be preaching to the choir if I jumped out and named a dozen "sleepers" to consider. TWD has covered that subject well in prior issues. The goal with this submission is.. to present some management options for consideration. Let's begin with three strong suggestions.

1. Cardinals To Cry:

   • Arizona did it with mirrors last season. They won 9 games against a 16 game schedule that had ONE opponent that finished with a winning record. Those that followed Plummer will recall that he was very unstartable until mid-November. The team went to a no-huddle, hurry-up, nothing-to-lose attack and beat WAS (by 2), WAS (by 3), PHI (by 3), NO (by 2), and SD (by 3). As a result QB Plummer, RB Murrell, WRs Sanders and RMoore were semi-popular draft selections. To expect possible Pro Bowl seasons from a Cardinal this year is unrealistic.

   • WHAT TO DO: Sell off your AZ players for startable players in the same position. Should you offer a Thigpen-RMoore or Bledsoe-Plummer type trade, you'll likely get a positive response for thinkers who are looking in the Cardinals rear view mirror. Rid yourself of these likely October problems.

   
   
2. Cleveland Couch:

   • No one wants a rookie passer starting for them. No one wants a expansion team passer starting for them either. With Couch you get both. Yet, you will also get a positive bench player on your roster. By "bench player", I mean a fella that you expect to be a non-starter for 10 or more games. Because NFL QBs are so injury prone, it seems that you can never have enough options available to you. Testaverde or Young or whoever your QB1 is will play 12 or so NFL games during your season. Injuries and by weeks create a need for respectable support players.

   • Why Couch? The Browns will not run the ball. They are not in a position to because of their RB staff and the expected halftime scores. RBs Edwards and Kirby excel in pass catching. (Shaw excels at nothing, and Rookie Hill is an unknown to me.) The ground game seems an after thought to this team that spent mucho free agent moneys on linemen that can pass block.

   • WHAT TO DO: When you lose your favorite QB2 to injury/demotion/trade, consider the inexpensive Couch as an option. I'm thinking he'll do pretty well for no cost. [The exception here is leagues that penalize for interceptions. If so, forget everything written above. Let a veteran have the bench spot over Couch.]

   
   
3. PATS PASS:

   • Remember Craig James and Tony Collins? They were the primary rushers during NE's Super Bowl run several seasons ago. (YES. The Patriots were the once a SB team. Wow!) With the exception of Parcel's Martin, NE has never impressed the NFL with their rushers. 27 teams rushed for more yardage than the 99 Patriots, and 24 teams scored more rushing TDs. Rookie Faulk and/or old man Allen are long shots to be impact players on a team that spotlights a Bledsoe-lead offense. WR Glenn, Jefferson, and TE Coates were likely drafted in your league. Each could have productive seasons, too. The real tease in NE is PK Vinatieri and WR3 Tony Simmons. For almost nothing, you can gamble a roster slot on either fella.

   • WHAT TO DO:Avoid the Terry Allen and/or Kevin Faulk hype. As good as they may be, they'll not get your team into the playoffs as long as they play in the Boston area. If Glenn or Coates or Jefferson have a poor game vs NYJ opening week - a real possibility, contact their fantasy owners for trade talks. You may be able to trade off a so-what player for a solid can-do producer. And remember Simmons, if the going gets tough for your team in September.