Studs and Duds for Week 8
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 8 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 this week goes beyond King of the Studs. After a phenomenal week 8, the computers have crunched the truly crazy numbers and tell me that Dolezel should be elevated to Hegemon of the Empire of the Studs. Dolezel launched 11 into the land of yellow scaffolding, a tie with his own all-time AFL record for most touchdowns in a game. And he could easily have had 12 if he did not called off the dogs late in the 4th quarter when the game was clearly won.
This amazing scoring machine even earned a mention on the Jim Rome nationally syndicated radio show. But Dolezel's performance deserves a closer look beyond the numbers. In analyzing his throwing motion, it is clear that he has the efficiency and grace of an Akido master. His specialty is the long fade to the corner of the endzone, a pass that is virtually un-interceptible. He also has guts. In week 8, the game was still close, each team trading scores, and twice Dolezel calmly threw it long into the endzone on 4th down for the score. As a fantasy owner, beg, borrow, or steal to get this guy. He is having a career year.
Terrill Shaw
The wide receiver for the Dallas Desperados has not had monster numbers all season, but he is fast becoming a permanent feature in the Land of the Studs. Shaw caught 10 for 123 yards and 6 TDs, burning Kenny "The Glove" McIntyre numerous times in the process. That's 52 fantasy points!
Damien Harrell
The offensive specialist for the Colorado Crush exceeded his studley production of last week. In week 8, Harrell gets 169 yards, 9 receptions, and 4 TDs, with a total of 45 fantasy points.
Shane Stafford
The quarterback for the Tampa Bay Storm made the transition from Centaur (half stud, half dud) back to stud level. Stafford overcame his mediocre performance last week and fired the striped rock for 258 yards and 6 TDs. Stafford did not show any ill effects from the bruised ribs he suffered in week 7, and had no problem distributing the ball to 4 different receivers for a total of 26 fantasy points. This kind of bounce back from a bad week is the true hallmark of a solid stud.
Derek Lee
This wide receiver for the Georgia Force was unstoppable in week 8. Lee had 11 catches for 192 yeards and 5 TDs. But the numbers here don't tell the whole story. The catches Lee made were no ordinary grabs; this guy was making one handed leaps and tracking down balls bouncing off the walls and his own shoulder pads. Lee ended up with a very tasty 58 fantasy points.
THE DUDS
As Joseph Conrad's Kurtz so eloquently opined from the heart of an inpenetrable darkness: "The Horror. The Horror."
Marlon Moye-Moore
This normally studley fullback for the Orlando Predators seems, like Coleridge's Ancient Mariner, aimlessly adrift in the doldrums. Triple M scored a big zero this week. If you have another option at fullback, use it for the time being.
Tony Graziani
The Philadelphia Soul quarterback needs to make some type of Faustian bargain to get his stud status back. Graziani had a mere two touchdowns for a total of 13 lousy fantasy points. The whole team looked worse than a high school junior vasity team at the edge of a swamp in a backwoods county. Some off the field controversies might have contributed to the obvious lack of chemistry on this team, assembled apparently during one of Bon Jovi's madcap rock-n-roll parties. Don't play Graziani unless he is at home.
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.
Joe Hamilton
The quarterback for the Orlando Predators made a case for being permanently included in the stud club. Hamilton threw for 369 yards for 7 big TDs.
Ben Nelson
After starting at offensive specialist for Sabercats last week, Nelson continues to come up huge. In week 8 he had 13 receptions for 165 yards and 2 TDs. You are witnessing the creation of the Stud.
Darrell Jones
After making his first AFL start as a returner in week 7 (2 return TDs), Jones gets elevated in Week 8 to be the offensive specialist for the Rattlers. And this week he did even better; Jones had 8 catches for 144 yards and 3 TDs.
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