Studs and Duds for Week 7
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 7 players that were expected to be studs and came through, and, alas, those that failed miserably.
THE STUDS
Clint Dolezel
The quarterback of the Dallas Desperados is King of the Studs. He's getting it done every week, and week 7 brought a monstrous 8 TDs out of this former Arenabowl champion. Dolezel would have thrown at least two more TDs if he didn't pull himself out to give his understudy some playing time. And oh yeah, he's his own offensive coordinator, as well.
James Roe
The wide receiver for the San Jose Sabercats had an unbelievable game against the Las Angeles Avengers. Roe had 12 receptions and 4 TDs and a mind-boggling 51 fantasy points. Roe is back among the elite fantasy producers. As long as he stays healthy, that is.
Damien Harrell
The offensive specialist for the Colorado Crush did his usual studley thing with 8 catches for three TDs in an otherwise unusually low scoring game. This guy is truly in the elite of fantasy players, and you do not need to consult the Oracle of Delphi to help you decide if you should start him or not. Just put him in the lineup and watch the numbers come in.
Rashad Floyd
The defensive specialist for the Colorado Crush was flying around the field like a man
possessed. He had 12 solo tackles and six assists for a total of 24 fantasy points.
Jason Fife
Las Vegas QB Jason Fife has really settled in to his position. This past week he connected for 5 TDs and ran for, count 'em, three more. His 46 fantasy points follow weeks of 38 and 35. He was tops last week and anyone with enough savvy to start him was a winner.
THE DUDS
Nothing holds more terror for a fantasy owner than the failure of his stud. And this week held more terrors than that old house at end of the dead end street in a little town paradoxically called Amityville.
Marlon Moye-Moore
Triple M, the fullback for the Orlando Predators, got shut down big time in the game with the Arizona Rattlers. Moye-Moore was there. He was healthy. But the Rattlers just put M-cubed in a box and threw some dirt over it. Deadly defense forced Moye-Moore to end up with only 4 lousy points. Look for him to bounce back in week 8.
Shane Stafford
This quarterback for the Tampa Bay Storm is the number one scorer in many fantasy leagues. This week his numbers were not horrible, but just not good enough to be considered a stud. He had 5 TDs for a total of 25 fantasy points. But these mediocre numbers do not tell the whole story. Stafford was smashed to the turf by Duke Pettijohn, and was playing much of the game in obvious pain from a rib injury. He should have been pulled in the fourth quarter, but he gutted it out. So he is half a stud, and half a dud, a condition that will henceforth be known as Centaur. Watch his injury status carefully for week 8.
Siaha Burley
Like the antagonist of Milton's Paradise Lost, the offensive specialist for the Utah Blaze fell down to earth this week, scoring only four catches for 1 touchdown and only 13 fantasy points. But don't worry; Burley's numbers may take a hit with Joe Germaine out, but I think he'll be back.
T. J. Hill
This defensive specialist for the Las Vegas Gladiators had been a solid source of defensive fantasy points. But in week 8 he had only 3 solo tackles and 2 assists for a total of 6 fantasy points. Yuck, yuck, yuck.
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.
Ben Nelson
Nelson played OS for the Sabercats this past week, nabbing 11 catches for 162 yards and 2 TDs (35 fantasy points). I'm beginning to think the San Jose receivers are computer animations, because one goes down, another comes in, and all produce big stats.
Antuan Simmons
Since returning from injury, Simmons has been making up for lost time. His 11 tackles last week (9 solo) followed an 8 tackle game (7 solo). Drop and wrap, Ant, drop and wrap.
Jamin Elliot
So OS Chris Jackson returned last week, moving Elliot to WR and surely his numbers would suffer, wouldn't they? Well, of course they did, as all Jamin could muster was 5 catches for 56 yards, 3 TDs and a net TD recovery. That's 37 fantasy points! Why aren't we all Jamin?
Timon Marshall
Hi, you may not know me, but I had 12 catches for 145 yards last week, 2 TDs receiving and 1 TD running... oh, yeah, and a tackle for 44 fantasy points. I'm what you call a late bloomer.
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