Fantasy Matchups for Week 9
by The Stat Guy, Scott Lange
What a week for the AFL. Week 8 was the AFL’s version of March Madness as there were several upsets. The defending AFL Champs lost on the road to the Avengers. The Las Vegas Gladiators were stifled by Arizona to the tune of 33 points. I was 5-4 last week, so I WILL rebound this week.
Last Week's Record: 5-4
Season Record: 11-7
KANSAS CITY AT NEW YORK
The Dragons are coming home to face the KC Brigade after two tough road games at Austin and at Tampa Bay. I really like how Dragons QB Nick Browder is playing right now. He has kept the Dragons in every game so far, and looked good in doing so. Kansas City meanwhile parted ways with OS Steve Smith as he was traded earlier this week to the Philadelphia Soul. Kansas City also is on a four game losing skid. I don’t see any chance for KC to keep up with the high-scoring Dragons. I would start any and all Dragons this week, as the Dragons lay a beat down on the lowly Brigade. My fantasy player this week will be WR/LB Mike Horacek. Expect 100+ yards and at least two scores from the 8-year pro from Iowa State. OS Kevin Swayne also should have solid production.
NY 56 KC 35
LOS ANGELES AT ARIZONA
Talk about two teams who have turned it around! The Rattlers started out miserably at 1-4 after five weeks. They have now won three straight, including last week's shocker on the road in Las Vegas. The key to Arizona’s wins has been their defense and the continued solid play of QB Shedrick Bonner. The Avengers have won two straight mainly due to Sonny Cumbie and the offense. The offense is averaging 67.5 points a game the past two weeks. This game has the potential to be high-scoring, however I like Arizona’s defense and the fact they are playing at home. My fantasy player for this game will be Avengers WR/DB Kevin Ingram, who consistently put up good stats and is his team's first option. Rattlers OS Darrell Jones, who is replacing the injured Damien Groce, had a fine game last week and should be able to post similar stats this week. K Remy Hamilton will make at least two field goals and if you ever bench him, disband your team immediately.
Arizona 51 Avengers 45
LAS VEGAS AT UTAH
These two teams are hard to figure out. Las Vegas QB Jason Fife had been on fire until last week, when he looked confused and made some bad decisions. Utah QB Jason Gesser looked even more confused in his first game replacing starter Joe Germaine, finishing with a stat line of 24-42, 293 yards, six TDs, and five interceptions in the loss to Grand Rapids. Both of these QBs have talented receivers and it should be a fun watching two of the top three OSs in the AFL trying to put on a show. Let’s hope both Fife and Gesser make better decisions this week and help keep this one fun. My fantasy plays are Utah OS Siaha Burley and Las Vegas OS Marcus Nash, who will both finish with at least 100 yards and two TDs. I usually go with the home team, but I like the Glads offense and QB Jason Fife is too good not to bounce back with a solid performance.
Las Vegas 58 Utah 52
ORLANDO AT AUSTIN
The Preds have hit a mid-season slump and the state of Texas has not been very kind to them lately. Last week, they got mauled against Dallas. This week Orlando must visit Austin to take on the Wranglers, who have allowed the second lowest point total in the league. After the pounding the Preds absorbed last week, I see Jay Gruden having this Orlando team ready to put up a good fight. However, Austin is 6-2 for a reason and will pressure Orlando QB Joe Hamilton into making some mistakes. The Austin defense is spearheaded by my fantasy pick in this one, DS Damon Mason, who leads the AFL with eight interceptions and will intercept one pass this week to go along with several tackles. I also like WR/DB Kevin Nickerson to visit pay dirt at least once.
Austin 52 Orlando 40
PHILADELPHIA AT DALLAS
Somebody needs to send out a caution flag! The Desperado’s offense is smoldering HOT! Dallas QB Clint Dolezel powered this high-scoring cadre by tossing a record-tying 11 TDs, leading to an insane 87 points last week against Orlando. Dolezel has too many weapons to throw to, and no team has had a match for their receiving core so far. This includes the Philadelphia Soul. OS Terrill Shaw, WR/DB Will Pettis, WR/LB Diallo Burks form this dreaded three-headed receiving trio for Dallas. Philadelphia’s offense gets a major boost this week with the return of OS Steve Smith. It will be interesting to see if Graziani and Smith can get some chemistry going. The Soul were embarrassed last week in Columbus and only able to mustard up 20 points. I just don’t see the Soul having enough fire power to handle the DesperHOTOS. Dallas wins convincingly! My fantasy player for this game will be Dallas QB Clint Dolezel who will have an easy time tossing TDs to Shaw, Pettis, and Burks. Philadelphia will spend this game playing catch up and I think newly acquired OS Steve Smith has a shot at 100+ yards and at least two TDs. It won’t be enough though.
Dallas 64 Philadelphia 50
SAN JOSE AT NASHVILLE
The SaberCats, fresh off of their first home win of the season, now must travel to battle the stingy Nashville Kats. The Kats are allowing a league low 42 points per game. Both of these teams love to run the ball. Nashville was able to pound out 73 rushing yards last week against Chicago. RB/FB Dan Alexander had seven rushes for 36 yards and a score. San Jose RB/FB Phil Glover rushed seven times for 16 yards and three TDs. Nashville should be able to grind this game out running the ball and playing solid defense. The Kats D will shut down the potent Sabercats offense, forcing Grieb to make enough mistakes to win. Either of those FBs get my nod as fantasy player of this game.
Nashville 51 San Jose 45
COLUMBUS AT COLORADO
The defending champs Crush will be coming into this game an angry bunch, reeling from being upset on the road against the Avengers. Colorado QB John Dutton and OS Damien Harrell continue to show that they are the best 1-2 combination in the league. The Columbus Destroyers have been the most improved team this year, winning three out of their last four games. Columbus QB John Kaleo has thrown at least five TDs in his last three games and should be able to do so again this week, as the Crush defense is pliant. However, Colorado has too much firepower, and will dominate after last week's letdown. OS Damien Harrell is almost a no-brainer as my fantasy player this week. Expect the usual 100+ yards and 3 TDs.
Colorado 58 Columbus 40
GRAND RAPIDS AT CHICAGO
The Chicago Rush are coming off a heartbreaking loss last week in Nashville. The Rush have now lost three straight against arguably the three best teams in the AFL (Dallas, Colorado and Nashville). Wounded, they return home to face a Grand Rapids team that is winless on the road this season. Last week Grand Rapid’s WR/DB Josh Bush caught three TDs to lead the Rampage to a home victory over the Utah Blaze. The Rampage post a solid 3-1 record at home, but are a different team on the road. I think the Rush show up for this game and snap the three game losing skid. I expect Chicago OS CJ Johnson to get back on track as well. CJ should be able to find pay dirt two times and may also pass the 100-yard mark. Rush QB Matt D'Orazio has cooled down a bit lately, but he should post some solid numbers. D'Orazio is my fantasy star in this one, as the Rush continue their home success.
Rush 51 Rampage 43
TAMPA BAY AT GEORGIA
It does not get any better than this folks. A divisional game that is very important to both teams. This game should be fun to watch with a lot of points. Tampa Bay rebounded last week defeating the Dragons at home, while the Force came up just short in San Jose. These two teams are evenly matched, with Tampa Bay currently one game in front of Georgia for second place within the division. TB QB Shane Stafford has played lights out the whole year, and GA QB Matt Nagy has proven he can be an every week starter. Stafford has WRs Lawrence Samuels, Bobby Sippio, and Freddy Solomon to throw to; Nagy has Chris Jackson, Derrick Lee, and Jamin Elliott. This is going to be a very close game, and close games go to the home team the majority of the time, so I’m taking the Force. My fantasy player is going to be Tampa QB Shane Stafford, who has been money all year long!
GA 65 TB 63
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