Fantasy Matchups for Week 14
by The Stat Guy, Scott Lange
A couple of teams really surprised me last week. The big team that let me down was the defending AFL champs who lost on the road against lowly Utah? Are you kidding me? And what has happened to the Nashville Kats who have now lost two straight home games? However you saw it here first last week in my week 13 predictions. I nailed the upset of Grand Rapids over Arizona. What other surprises does the Stat Guy see in Week 14?
Last Week's Record: 6-3
Season Record: 41-22
ARIZONA AT DALLAS
I reminded everyone last week of how bad Arizona plays on the road, and they came out flat, just as I expected. They now must go on the road to visit the best team in the AFL, the Dallas Desperados. Dallas continued their own road dominance, beating Georgia 62-59 and improving to 7-0 away from home. Clint Dolezel continued his amazing season, passing for 324 yards and six TDs. This Dallas team is focused on winning, and it shows each and every week on the field. I see no reason for them to lose this game, as they have too many weapons for Arizona to handle. Arizona will keep this game close, but in the end it'll be the same old song and dance. Dallas wins. My fantasy player for this game is QB Clint Dolezel, who will calmly go about his business with another 300 yards passing and six TDs.
Dallas 52 Arizona 44
PHILADELPHIA AT NEW YORK
The New York Dragons are playing their best ball of the year, having won four out of their last five. There seems to be one guy for the Dragons haunting defenders, and his name is WR Mike "The Horror" Horacek. Horacek did his usual last week catching 10 balls for 134 yards, and three TDs. The Philadelphia Soul has to be the most frustrating football team in the AFL. They seem to be playing themselves right out of the playoffs with their inconsistency. This should turn out to be a physical game between bitter rivals. However, New York is playing better offensively and without QB Tony Graziani the Soul have no chance of winning this game. The combination of NY QB Nick Browder and Horacek, my fantasy player in this game, will dismantle the Philly secondary as the Dragons will continue their march towards the playoffs.
New York 52 Philadelphia 47
KANSAS CITY AT TAMPA BAY
A couple of weeks ago, this may have looked like a mismatch, with the Brigade playing so poorly and the Storm playing so well. My how things have changed though the past three weeks, as Kansas City is a scary team to play right now and Tampa Bay has lost three straight. Last week's 52-13 pounding by rival Orlando had to hurt both mentally and physically for Tampa Bay, as DS Tremain Jones and DS Jonathan Ordaway both suffered injuries. The Storm has to be eager to get back on the field, hoping to erase last week's debacle from their memory. Without Jones and Ordway, the Storm will struggle defensively and Kansas City is not the team you want to be facing when you're limping defensively. The Brigade has found some future AFL superstars in the form of QB Chris Sanders, OS Aaron Boone, and WR James Jordan. I like the way these youngsters are playing and they'll win this game for Kansas City with a late fourth quarter score. Both Tampa QB Shane Stafford and Kansas City QB Chris Sanders share my fantasy spotlight in this one and it'll be mighty big fun watching these two teams light up the score board!
Kansas City 58 Tampa Bay 55
COLUMBUS AT AUSTIN
Trying to figure out some games just makes my head pound. This is one of them, as a .500 road team takes on a .500 home team. Austin fought hard last week, but came up just short in San Jose. Meanwhile, Columbus used a late TD scramble and two-point conversion by QB John Kaleo to beat Philadelphia. In order for Austin to win this game, they will need to get OS Derrick Lewis and WR Kevin Nickerson involved offensively. Columbus must rely on their stingy defense, which surrenders an AFL low of 43.6 points a game. Don't expect a lot of points in this game, and in hard fought games I'll take the home team. My fantasy player for this game is Wrangler Kevin Nickerson, who will grab Player of the Game honors with a game-winning TD catch.
Austin 45 Columbus 42
NASHVILLE AT GRAND RAPIDS
The Rampage snapped their four-game losing streak on a last second 36-yard field goal by K Peter Martinez to beat Arizona, 45-42. The combination of OS Anthony Hines and WR Timon Marshall led the way for the Rampage, who definitely benefitted from the return of QB Chad Salisbury. Nashville lost their second game in a row at home, this one to the Kansas City Brigade, and must refocus against an energized Rampage team. After the Rampage followed through on my upset pick last week, I'm bound to stick with them at home. Grand Rapids is full of confidence and the Kats are just 2-4 away from Music City, a combination that does not bode well for Nashville. Fantasy-wise, I have a special place in my heart for the OS position, and I expect both Rampage OS Anthony Hines and Kats OS Alonzo Nix to have great games.
GR 45 Nashville 40
UTAH at LAS VEGAS
Since taking over as the main man in Utah, QB Andy Kelly has pointed the Blaze to two straight wins. However, it was the defense last week that shut down the Colorado Crush, allowing only 40 points and picking off QB John Dutton twice. Enter the Gladiators, who have lost three straight and continue to struggle on the road at 1-5. When these teams last met Las Vegas pulled out a 49-47 win. A few QB-changes can change alot, and I like Las Vegas in this one, as they seem to play better against the average teams, and at 5-8 that's what Utah is... average. I just don't believe in the Utah defense, despite the terrific effort last week in Colorado. Gladiators QB Jason Fife and OS Marcus Nash should be able to expose the Utah secondary. Sticking with the OS theme, my fantasy plays, Utah OS Siaha Burley and Las Vegas OS Marcus Nash, should put on a show in the Sin City.
Las Vegas 50 Utah 48
SAN JOSE AT LOS ANGELES
This is a game between two teams going in opposite directions. San Jose has refocused after some early season struggles and have won four straight. On the other side, Los Angeles has now seen their losing streak reach five games. The good news for the Avengers this week is that the last time they played San Jose, the team scored 75 points in a 75-61 victory on the road. Avengers QB Sonny Cumbie torched the San Jose secondary to the tune of 348 yards passing and six touchdowns. Playing at home against their in-state rival should motivate the Avengers enough for the victory. Call this one my upset special, as Los Angeles has San Jose's number this year. My fantasy players for this game will be San Jose WR James Roe and Avengers WR Kevin Ingram. Both of these teams should take turns lighting up the scoreboard.
Avengers 62 SJ 60
ORLANDO AT COLORADO
So let me get this straight, the Colorado Crush, who are the defending AFL champs and are 9-4 on the season, now have three losses against the Avengers, Destroyers, and the Blaze? Those three teams have a combined record of 19-25? Yes, this is the wacky world of the AFL, where you have to expect the unexpected. Colorado looked awful last week on both sides of the ball and now they face the hottest team in the league, convincing winners of five straight. The Orlando Predators embarrassed the Tampa Bay Storm last week by dominating them defensively and allowing only 13 points. However, we have all seen what happens to teams the week after Colorado loses. I know the Preds have won five straight, but this Colorado team disappointed everyone at home last week, and looked pitiful doing it, but I expect some serious points in this game. The Crush will be angry and focused and history will be made this week as Crush OS Damien Harrell will set a new record for the number of receiving TDs in a season. He is currently tied for the record with 46 TDs on the season, and Harrell is automatic for at least two TDs a week. The guy is simply a joy to watch (and own). My fantasy players for this week will be Crush OS Damien Harrell and Orlando QB Joe Hamilton.
Crush 60 Orlando 50
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