Studs and Duds for Week 12
By Paul Celmer
Here I will use my analytical prowess to chart you a course through the fantasy constellations, and I will provide you insight into those that exceeded or failed to meet expectations. With a little bit of the Philosopher's spin added, of course.
Let's take a look at selected week 12 players that were expected to be studs and came through, and, alas, those that failed miserably.
THE STUDS
Damien Harrell
This Stud among studs OS for the Colorado Crush did his thing again in
week 12. With the graceful soaring ability of an Andean Condor, Harrell
had 14 catches for an unbelievable 196 yards and 5 TDs. This game was his 61st game
in a row with a score (obviously, this is a guy you can count on) and the Crush had already clinched a playoff birth going into the game. Harrell put the pedal to the metal just for the sheer joy of it to earn this week's King of the Studs laurels.
Clint Dolezel
This Arena legend QB just keeps getting
better. In week 12 he was 18 for 28 with 285 yards and another incredible 8-TD game. And in my opinion, he could have had at least another TD if he
had not called off the dogs on the ravaged Rampage. While his fantasy
numbers are just a hair shy of Tampa Bay's Shane Stafford, Dolezel is a
solid, dependable stud. In fact, I am getting tired of typing his name.
If you had to bet on the Arenabowl now, Dolezel would be a good shot to
be with the winners on that fine day in June in the City of Lights.
Siaha Burley
Burley seemed to have forgotten the way to the
Studs and Duds list for a couple of weeks. But then in week 12 he once again recognized the path. Burley exploded for 11 catches and 152 yards and 5 trips to the
land beneath the big yellow nets, earning him a
tasty 51 fantasy points. The new addition of the aging legend Andy
Kelly at QB seemed good for business in Utah. Perhaps you can put old wine in new
bottles. Kelly may end up being only a temporary placeholder, but nevertheless, if you have Burley, you've got to start him.
THE DUDS
After the glorious highs, must always come the horrible lows. Such is life in the Land of Arena Fantasy...
Matt D'Orazio
This once golden QB for the Chicago Rush has fallen on hard times. Such
a good start, yet such an ignoble fall. In one of those "not too-well
publicized moves" that fantasy owners really, really hate, D'Orazio
was replaced at QB by Michael Bishop, giving D'Orazio a whopping zero
fantasy points for week 12. Actually, there was some thinking that
after Bishop's goalline appearance in week 11 that there would be
some sharing of QB duties, but not many expected the complete exile of
D'Orazio. It looks like D'Orazio's days in the City of Broad Shoulders could have come to a skidding halt.
Marcus Nash
This normally productive Offensive Specialist for the Las Vegas
Gladiators had a down Week 12. Nash had only four catches for 31 yards and one
touchdown. Perhaps the Jason Fife experiment is starting to fail? Well,
Fife might not actually be failing, but in a game where Las Vegas
scored 10 times and Nash only scored once, it does seem Fife is not good for
his star's numbers.
THE SAP IS RISING
Neither fish nor fowl, there are some good things that defy the Aristotelian mania for categorization. The players in this list were not expected to be studly, yet stepped-up bigtime. Will they continue to produce? You have to judge these in a case-by-case analysis.
Sean Scott
This wide receiver for the blighted Philadelphia Soul has had some up
and down weeks this season. But in week 12 his sap was certainly rising.
Well, either that or his play was just be a fluke.
Scott had 9 catches for 103 yards and 4 TDs. Matt Sauk appears to be an
able fill-in for the injured and aging Tony Graziani, and so Sauk will help
Scott's numbers. The inconsistent Scott is going to need many more games like this if
he is to enter the golden fields of the Studs. His fate, in two-headed
monster fashion, is tethered firmly to Sauk.
Matt Sauk
Playing for the injured Tony Graziani, Sauk had a stellar game, going
20 for 29 for 198 yards and 6 tosses into the fabled Zone of End. Of
course, four of these TDs were hookups with Sean Scott (see above). But it looks like
Sauk is the real deal. Of all the new quarterbacks in week 12 (Matt Sauk,
Michael Bishop, Andy Kelly) it looks like Sauk has the most upside for
the rest of the season, assuming Graziani does not come back.
Andy Kelly
This legend of an AFL QB made his first appearance for the Utah Blaze
in week 12, and he set the house ablaze (pun intended). With only six days to prepare
for the battle, Kelly threw a monstrous 8 TDs to help defeat the Los
Angeles Avengers in a closely fought 63-61 win. Perhaps Kelly has
found a new home?
Michael Bishop
Coming in a bit unexpectedly for Matt D'Orazio, Bishop
made the most of his opportunity. Scramblin' Mike went 23 for 41 for
an amazing 333 yards and tossed 6 TDs into the air below the irons.
His completion percentage was not great, but he had only 1 INT during the
loss to the Arizona Rattlers. Although Chicago still has problems, Bishop should put up similar numbers the
rest of the way as long as he remains the starter.
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