Fantasy Matchups for Week 12
by The Stat Guy, Scott Lange
With five weeks left in the season, some of the games this week will have a playoff atmosphere to them. Last week's 6-3 record was solid, so bring on Week 12!
Last Week's Record: 6-3
Season Record: 30-15
NEW YORK AT COLUMBUS
Fans will be able to feel the playoff pressure in this game. Columbus has now lost two straight after their road victory against the Colorado Crush. The offense has to take much of the blame as the team has only averaged 33 points per game during this two game skid. The Dragons on the other hand have been playing well despite last week's performance against the Desperados. This game will feature Columbus stout defense against the Dragons scoring offense. The combination of Dragons QB Nick Browder and WR/LB Mike Horacek will have to be clicking on Friday night in order for the Dragons to prevail. Dragons OS Kevin Swayne has pulled a disappearing act the last two weeks posting 7 receptions, 81 yards, and no TDs. The Destroyer’s defense will have their way with the Dragons offense as Browder will be hassled all day by DS Brandon Hefflin and DS Jerald Brown, my fantasy players for this game. Brown is tied for the league lead in interceptions, and I expect him to grab another one this week. For the Dragons, the only person that seems to be catching passes and scoring is WR/LB Mike Horacek.
Columbus 45 Dragons 40
GEORGIA AT ORLANDO
This divisional game between two first place teams will take place on Friday night. The Force dominated last week in Austin to the tune of a 61-29 and have now won three straight. Orlando is also enjoying a three game winning streak, mainly due to the play of QB Joe Hamilton, who spread the ball around to six different receivers against Austin. The Preds play their best football at home where they are 4-1 and match up well with Georgia on the defensive side. The combination of Kahlil Carter, Jerroid Johnson, and Kenny "The Glove" McEntyre should be enough to slow down the Force's OS Chris Jackson and WR/LB Derek Lee. My fantasy players for this week are QB Joey Hamilton and OS Chris Jackson.
Orlando 50 Georgia 45
PHILADELPHIA AT NASHVILLE
Soul QB Tony Graziani is listed as doubtful for this weekend. The Nashville defense have to be licking their chops coming into this game as they get to take apart an inexperienced Arena Football League quarterback, Matt Sauk. Add to this, the Kats are a perfect 5-0 at home and you have a long day for Sauk and the Soul offense. The main offense this week for the Soul will be coming from WR/DB Shaun Scott who seems to have awakened from a mid-season slump. The Kats have a new star in the form of rookie OS Alonzo Nix, who has been the most targeted Kats receiver with 10 receptions the past two weeks. His production should continue as Kats QB Clint Stoerner favors him more than any other receiver right now. I feel so good about this guy, that I'll make him my fantasy player of the game. Expect somewhere around 100 yards and at least one score.
Kats 45 Soul 38
LAS VEGAS AT SAN JOSE
In one of the most bizarre stats you will ever see in an Arena Football game, the San Jose SaberCats scored 52 points and won a road game without throwing one TD? San Jose crossed the stripe on the ground six times last week, which included two TDs each for FB Brian Johnson and FB Phil Glover. Las Vegas is coming off a tough loss in which the Gladiators allowed the Kats to rush for four TDs. After watching what the SaberCats did last week running the ball, I expect both of those San Jose FBs to score again this week. Las Vegas offensively is still producing points with QB Jason Fife and OS Marcus Nash leading the way. San Jose seems to playing with a purpose right now winning having won two straight while Las Vegas is 1-3 on the road, so I don't like their chances of winning this one. However, don't be surprised to see a close game as San Jose does not play very well at home. My fantasy play this week will be SJ QB Mark Grieb, who can't possible go another game without throwing a TD... or can he?
San Jose 58 Las Vegas 52
TAMPA BAY AT AUSTIN
Talk about a team that does not like to play at home. The Austin Wranglers carry a 2-3 record at home and play their best football on the road at 5-1. Tampa Bay also lost at home last week by allowing six rushing TDs to the San Jose SaberCats. This is a big game within the division as both teams are fighting for playoff positions. For Tampa Bay, QB Shane Stafford is having a career year and is now considered an elite AFL quarterback. Stafford leads the AFL in passing yards at 3349, and is third in the AFL in passing TDs with 63 on the season, making him my fantasy play of the game. Tampa Bay having the better quarterback will make the difference. I don't like the way Austin plays, and I can promise you that Tampa Bay coach Tim Marcum, having been in this situation before, will bring his troops to play.
Tampa Bay 50 Austin 45
GRAND RAPIDS AT DALLAS
At 9-2, the Dallas Desperados own the best record in the AFL. Despite the low score last week against the Dragons, the Desperados dominated every area on the football field. The most impressive stat was the mastery of the Dallas defense, intercepting two passes and forcing three fumbles. Offensively, Dallas just went about their business, with QB Clint Dolezel throwing four TDs to four different wide receivers. The scariest part about this Dallas team is that as good as they are offensively, they are starting to play some consistently good defense. Grand Rapids has lost three straight games and remain winless on the road at 0-6. Unless the Rampage can get inspired offensively, this game could be over after the first two stanzas. My fantasy player for this game is Dallas QB Clint Dolezel who should shred every bit of the Grand Rapids defense.
Dallas 60 Grand Rapids 40
LOS ANGELES AT UTAH
Warning! Do not watch this AFL game, as doing so may cause bloating, nausea, headache, and/or diarrhea. It's the Utah Blaze and their 1-5 home record against the Los Angeles Avengers and their 1-5 road record. Utah is in the midst of a four game losing streak, and Los Angeles are enjoying a three game skid of their own. Despite how bad this game looks on paper, in the fantasy world there are some players I would start. The Avengers who have one of the best two-way players in the league in WR Kevin Ingram. He does nothing but produce, and after seeing what Randy Gatewood did to the Blaze last week, Ingram should come up big again. He's my fantasy player of the game, and you an expect at least 100 yards and 2 TDs. Injured Utah QB Joe Germaine can't get back soon enough for the Blaze, as backup QB Jason Gesser has just not been the answer. The person who has suffered the most in Germaine's absence is OS Siaha Burley who started off the season red hot and now is just luke warm. Burley led the league in receiving yards and TDs until Germaine went down. I think the Avengers have more talent on their team and will win this shootout.
Los Angeles 56 Utah 48
CHICAGO AT ARIZONA
The Arizona Rattlers got back to their winning ways last week defeating the Blaze on the road. Rattlers WR/LB Randy Gatewood used and abused defenders all game long to the tune of a ridiculous 13 receptions, 149 yards, seven TD performance. The Rush lost a tough game in OT on the road to the Philadelphia Soul. WR Etu Molden had his best performance of the year in this game posting 10 catches for 105 yards and a TD. Arizona is playing well right now, and I expect my fantasy choice, Arizona QB Sherdrick Bonner, to find WR Randy Gatewood enough to win the game.
Arizona 58 Chicago 45
COLORADO AT KANSAS CITY
Now this is how a team rebounds from a two-game losing streak! The Colorado Crush has averaged over 70 points per game the last two weeks and QB John Dutton made things look easy last week on the road against Grand Rapids passing for 245 yards and five TDs. Crush DS Rashad Floyd had a solid game as well with five tackles and three interceptions. As predicted by yours truly, the Kansas City Brigade broke their six game losing streak last week against the Avengers. For the second week in a row, KC QB Chris Sanders was locked in on OS Aaron Boone who posted a sick 13 receptions, 157 yards, and five TDs. The Brigade offense has come to life folks, and they are playing like they have nothing to lose (which they don't). This would be a huge victory at home if they can defeat the defending AFL champs. This game will be a lot closer than people expect, and I for one would not be surprised to see an upset. However, I think the combination of Dutton and OS Damien Harrell will be too much for the young Kansas City team. This game will produce a lot of points, so start Crush players Dutton, Harrell, and WR Andy McCullough. For the Brigade, start QB Chris Sanders and OS Aaron Boone, as they will remain the only offense for the Brigade.
Colorado 65 KC 60
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