Sorry for the tardiness of this weeks point spreads people.  I have been stressed out with projects, presentations and reports (oh my).  I’m actually writing this in the library while taking a break from doing my slope stability & landslide take-home final.  Anyway, on to the analysis.

 

Matt (7-6) @ Timmy (9-4) –46

 

            Tim and Matt are facing off for a second consecutive year in the playoffs (God I love Johnny’s website).  Last year the two faced off in the semifinal round with Tim advancing to the championship.  Tim is looking to use his playoff coaching experience (10-2 playoff record) to once again dispose of relatively inexperienced Matt (2-1).

           

The squads

 

            Matt is starting the red hot Carson Palmer (7 TDs in the last 3 weeks) in his #1 QB spot.  This week Palmer looks to keep the Bengals playoff hopes alive against Oakland who boasts the leagues best pass defense (143 YPG, 13 TDs, 14 INTs).  Yeah, I was surprised too.  His other QB, Marc Bulger, has been sputtering of late (3 TDs, 5 INTs in the last 3 weeks) and is facing the dominant Chicago defense (#2 ranked pass defense) who scores more points then its offense.  Fortunately for Matt, any picks Bulger throws will count as +1.5 points for his team since he starts the Chicago defense.  Only in fantasy does your QB throwing picks help you out.  Matt is going with Fred Taylor and Deuce McAllister as his only 2 RBs in the lineup.  Fred Taylor is going to have to have a big day against the Colts defense (160 YPG rushing allowed) in order to keep the Jax wildcard hopes alive while Deuce may see a reduction in his touches due to Reggie Bush’s breakout 4 TD game last week (more on that later).  Matt also added Andra Davis this week only to immediately drop him.  I think he’s trying to send a playoff message to his team that nobodies job is safe.

 

            Timmy’s best player of late has been Rams RB Stephen Jackson who’s averaging 30 points from 25 touches a week since Week 11.  Lee Evans has proven to be a profitable pick-up for him (somewhere Billy is slamming his head against a wall) and I look forward to thinking about Tim rooting for Evans to score a touchdown against his beloved J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets (requisite J-E-T-S reference).  Timmy is also starting Bruce Gradkowski (2 TDs, 6 INTs in last 3 starts) who went from best Polish-Italian QB in NFL history to looking more like Chim in pewter pants.  Tim did make a big pick-up this week adding the Bengals defense who has forced 10 turnovers in the last 3 weeks.  Fuck, why didn’t I think of that.  And they are playing Oakland.  Don’t they start Aaron Brooks at QB?  Fuck.  That was such an obvious pick-up.  We are all retarded.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

GAME OF THE WEEK

 

Steveo (8-5) @ Steve (8-5) –27.5

 

            The battle for last name initial removal has been split so far this year with the last meeting in Week 10 going to Steveo by 8 points.  But don’t let that fool you.  My team has topped the 300 point mark 6 times this season and twice in the last 3 weeks while Steveo’s squad has yet to (the only playoff team that hasn’t topped 300 btw).  All-time, the match-up is tied 1-1 in the playoffs with the last epic battle taking place in 2002 when I was 15-0.  I still have nightmares about that game.  Ok, moving on.

 

The squads

 

            I definitely boast the best starting QB combo of any playoff team with Peyton Manning and Philip Rivers and I plan to jump on their backs and ride ‘em all the way to the crown.  Not in a gay way.  In a playful, innocent way.  Like a piggy-back ride.  Two guys doin a piggy-back ride isn’t gay is it?  Sorry.  I’m back.  Brian Westbrook (if we do a dynasty league I think I should automatically have Westbrook…I don’t think anyone else has ever had him) has been keeping it real of late since he is literally the only weapon Philly has on offense anymore.  I smell a big day in DC for my boy.  Frank Gore will be a 1st round draft pick next year.  Think about that for a second.  I got him in round 16 this year.  He’s currently 3rd in the league in rushing yards (1217) behind LDT and LJ.  Also, I already dodged the Heath Miller whammy by havin him on my bench for his scoreless Thursday night performance.

 

            Steveo’s got some RBs.  No joke.  Shaun Alexander’s back.  Reggie broke out last week.  DeAngelo Williams had better receiving stats then all of my WRs last week.  Alexander is goin against Arizona which is only mildly interested in playing out the schedule.  Bush is goin against the 4th ranked Dallas rushing defense (90.3 YPG).  Williams is lookin to keep the wildcard aspirations alive for Carolina as they host the banged-up Giants defense.  Steveo finally benched QB Rex Grossman this week after Rexy gave up .19 points in his “lowest QB rating ever to win a game” performance.  The problem is that he is starting Joey Harrington against a New England defense tied for 4th in the league in interceptions (16).  Keith, you can start watchin game tape of my team.  I’ll see ya next week.