Fantasy Rewind for Week 7
GEORGIA AT COLUMBUS
OS Chris Jackson returned for the Force this week and you could tell by QB Matt Nagy's happy stats, which took as huge jump up with the added firepower (23 of 28, 210 yards, 7 TDs, 1 running TD). Jackson finished with 10 catches for 90 yards with 4TDs and you'd have to think it was a complete recovery. OS Jamin Elliot, who replaced Jackson during his injury time, continued his stellar play, recording 6 catches for 56 yards and 3 TDs, also forcing a fumble on a kickoff which he held onto for a recovery TD. WR Derek Lee (7 for 64) will have to wait one more week to become Georgia's all-time scoring leader.
Columbus QB John Kaleo tried his best (342 yards, 5 TDs, 2-pt pass) but couldn't inspire the Destroyers to keep up with the Force. OS Carl Bond suffered a huge letdown (5 for 81, 0 TDs, 2-pt catch) and may be an inconsistent power throughout the year. WR David Saunders had a nice game (8 for 70, 2 TDs) in the losing effort.
COLORADO AT CHICAGO
This game did not let me down. Colorado QB John Dutton continued his fine season, throwing for an even 300 yards and 6 TDs on 26 of 41 passing. Dutton is one of the most consistent quarterbacks in the AFL and didn't lose his cool in spite of the hostile Chicago fans. OS Damien Harrell did what he always does, finishing with 8 catches for 79 yards and 3 TDs, including a key 4th quarter TD that put some distance between the teams. WR Andy McCullough (8 for 120, TD) and WR Willis Marshall (7 for 83, TD) provided that amazing balance that makes Colorado the best team in the league. And I told you that DS Rashad Floyd (12 solo tackles, 6 assists) was out of his malaise, didn't I?
Rush QB Matt D'Orazio also had an outstanding game, going 26 for 42 with 293 yards and 6 TDs of his own. He spread the ball around effectively, which didn't lead to outstanding statistics for any of his receivers (OS CJ Johnson, 5 for 39, 1 TD and WR Dennison Robinson 4 for 28, 2 TDs). The good news for the Rush is that supreme WR Etu Molden finally returned from his shoulder injury, snagging 7 passes for 94 yards and a TD. DS Jeremy Unertl didn't disappoint his owners with 8 solo tackles.
NASHVILLE AT UTAH
Utah's QB Joe Germaine is one tough dude. In spite of a dislocated finger on his throwing hand, he returned to the game and faced off with a tough Nashville D, throwing for only 160 yards and 2 TDs, but managing the game masterfully in a big Utah win before giving way to his backup late in the 4th quarter. OS Siaha Burley suffered along with Germaine's finger, posting his lowest numbers of the year (4 for 40, TD). WR Orshawante Bryant had a nice game, catching, throwing a TD and picking off a pass. FB Kevin Clemens ran for 2 TDs, as did FB Chris Robinson. Utah is gonna be tough from here on out, a credit to Coach Danny White.
QB Clint Stoerner of the Kats missed time with an ankle sprain, returning only to give way to backup QB Leon Murray after the ankle acted up late in the 3rd quarter. Stoerner's 101 yards and 1 TD were a major disappointment, but he can hardly be blamed. Not being able to plan your foot will do that to a quarterback. OS TT Toliver had his typical good game, catching 5 for 68 with 3 TDs.
ORLANDO AT ARIZONA
At the end of the 1st quarter, this game was shaping up as The Big Snooze. Then both teams woke up, putting up 52 points in the 2nd and 38 points in the 4th. Rattlers QB Sherdrick Bonner showed his old pro savvy, connecting twice in the 4th quarter with WR Curtis Fagan (2 for 49, 2 TDs) to put the game away. Bonner finished with 220 yards and 5 TDs, but also threw two potentially devastating INTs. OS Damian Groce had a horrible game (1 catch, 10 yards, 8 rushing yards) but WR Cosmo DeMatteo took up the slack (7 for 70, TD, kick return TD).
Orlando has a rare find in DS Jeroid Johnson, who returned two 1st half INTs for touchdowns, keeping the Predators in the game when the offense was struggling. OS Jerrian James had 10 catches for 142 yards and 2 TDs, all in the 2nd half. Why Orlando wasn't utilizing James earlier will probably remain a mystery. QB Joe Hamilton actually had a very impressive game, completing 25 of 36 passes, for 309 yards and 6 TDs. I don't expect those numbers out of Hamilton consistently, but it was nice to see him reach his potential. WR DeAndrew Rubin had a very tasty game (8 for 99, 2 TDs).
GRAND RAPIDS AT LAS VEGAS
We all learned a lesson from this game. The lesson being that either Las Vegas lies on the injury report or OS Marcus Nash is superhuman. If 9 for 90 yards and 2 TDs is what Nash does with a severe quad injury, it'll be frightening to think what he'll do healthy. And personally, I think the Gladiators would have to be insane to even consider sitting down QB Jason Fife when Whelihan is healthy. Fife continues to impress and answered every Grand Rapids score with an immediate score in response. His 171 passing yards weren't huge, but his 5 passing TDs and 3 running TDs were. WR Coco Blaylock also starred, with 3 for 43 and 2 TDs. Las Vegas is looking overpowering and outscored the Rampage 28 to 6 in the 3rd quarter of what was a close game.
Rampage QB Chad Salisbury had a fine game, with 306 yards passing and 5 TDs. WR Timon Marshall had an enormous game (12 for 145, 2 TDs, 1 TD running) but the Rampage missed a full game from OS Anthony Hines, who was slowed after hurting his knee early in the 3rd quarter (he did return) and finished with 8 catches for 76 yards and a TD. DS Johnnie Harris had a good game, with 5 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.
DALLAS AT TAMPA BAY
There were a number of big stories in this game, on both sides. The Dallas defense dominated throughout this contest, constantly swatting at and harrassing and banging into Tampa QB Shane Stafford, bruising his ribs so badly that Stafford looked like he was lobbing shuttlecocks instead of footballs, finishing with 20 completions for 245 yards, 5 TDs and 1 INT. But his 17 incompletions tell a truer story, as most of those passes bounced in front of receivers, wobbled weakly or were batted down under the constant pressure. Stafford played bravely through the injury but keep an eye on him for next week. Only OS Demetris Bendross finished with decent receiving numbers (8 for 164 and 2 TDs), as WR Bobby Sippio (5 for 38, 1 TD) and WR Lawrence Samuels (3 for 21, 1TD, INT) were held well under their season averages.
The Desperados, however, were all about offensive numbers. QB Clint Dolezel passed for 338 yards and 8 TDs, giving him 705 for his career. He tossed 3 TDs each to OS Terrill Shaw (7 for 98, 3 TDs) and WR Will Pettis (6 for 87, 3 TDs). WR Dialleo Burks was the odd man out with only 4 for 77 and a TD. Poor him. FB Duke Pettijohn rewarded his patient fantasy owners with a 22-yard TD reception, 7 tackles and a sack.
NEW YORK AT AUSTIN
Dragons QB Justin Wood got hurt early in this contest, setting the stage for QB Nick Browder to become a Long Island hero. Browder responded to the call with 222 yards and 5 TDs, adding 20 rushing yards and a TD to boot. WR Mike Horacek did most of the receiving damage (7 for 64, 3 TDs) and OS Kevin Swayne recovered some of his early season form (7 for 103, 1 TD). K Jesse Obert had an amazing game, hitting all 8 of his extra points and a 48-yard FG. Obert even contributed 1 solo tackle. (And you say kickers aren't completely unpredictable, eh?)
The Wranglers are suffering through a rough spot, but QB John Fitzgerald continues to play well, passing for 247 yards and 6 TDs, running for 1 more. OS Derrick Lewis had a down game, by OS standards, with 6 catches for 87 yards. WR Kevin Nickerson is playing better with each passing week, and had a phenomenal game with 6 cathes for 100 yards and 4 TDs. DS Damon Mason had his usual steady day, with 8 tackles (7 solo).
LOS ANGELES AT SAN JOSE
Now THAT was what an Arena game is supposed to be like! At the outset of the 1st quarter, the teams had combined for 10 total points. Then came the fireworks, as they went for 126 the rest of the way. The Avengers ran their first two in, even though QB Sonny Cumbie had good numbers, and then they decided they had to keep up with the potent Sabercats, throwing at will. Cumbie finished with 348 yards and 6 TDs, 3 of those to OS Tony Locke (7 for 168, 3 TDs) and 2 of them to All-World WR Kevin Ingram (7 for 68, 2 TDs) who also returned an onside kick for a 9-yard TD. Los Angeles answered another San Jose score with a kick return TD, forcing the Sabercats to play catchup all game long. WR Greg Hopkins ran one in, but had modest receiving totals (6 for 32 yards). DS Antuan Simmons was in mid-season form (sadly, it is almost mid-season), totaling 11 tackles (9 solo).
Sabercats QB Mark Grieb is arguably the best fantasy QB over the last two weeks, connecting for 8 TDs and 395 yards in this one. Saying that new OS Ben Nelson filled in nicely for injured OS Calvin Schexnayder would be an understatement, as Nelson tallied 11 catches for 162 yards and 2 TDs. He should be on someone's roster under Calvin returns. WR James Roe is simply the best in the business and finished with 12 catches for 156 yards and 4 TDs, with a couple tackles on defense. WR Charles Pauley cooled down some, but still had 2 TDs on 3 for 56, with 2 tackles as well.
PHILADELPHIA AT KANSAS CITY
Coming into this game, it looked like Philadelphia might be the team in trouble, while Kansas City was coming off their best game of the year and seemed to have put their offensive woes behind them... My, how looks can deceive. Leading 48-12 at the half, the Philadelphia offense went into a shell, scoring 6 points in the 2nd half, tempering the statistics for the whole squad. QB Tony Graziani threw only 23 times (230 yards, 3 TDs), while the Soul ran 18 times as a team. WR Mike Brown led all receivers with 7 for 71 yards, and scored once on the ground (20 yards rushing). WR Sean Scott and WR JJ McKelvey were similarly uninspiring, with 2 for 37, 2 TDs and 5 for 81, 1 TD respectively.
Kansas City QB Andy Kelly threw twice as many INTs (4) as TDs and finished with only 212 yards before getting pulled for backup QB Chris Sanders. OS Steve Smith registered 6 catches for 81 yards and 2 TDs, well below last week's monster stats. OS Jerel Myers finished with 6 for 77, 0 TDs and WR James Jordan finished with 4 for 54, 1 TD. Something stinks in Kansas City and we may be only weeks away from witnessing our first firing of a coach unless Kevin Porter can get his team motivated.
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