Fantasy Matchups for Week 5
by Scott Lange
March 29, 2007
Howdy, folks, and welcome to my League Preview. Each week I will give my analysis and predictions on how the games will play out, highlighting which teams and players will shine.
The Arena Guru is getting into a serious groove picking games folks going 6-3 last week, and I am now 19-7 the last three weeks! Let's continue the fun shall we?
Last Week: 6-3
2006 Record: 24-11
GEORGIA AT COLUMBUS
The Georgia Force come into this game sporting a 4-0 record and clicking on all cylinders offensively. If the Destroyers have any chance in this game, they must get better production from their receivers than they did in last week's loss to the Rush. In last week's game, Destroyer leading receiver Damien Groce only had two catches for seventeen yards. Defensively, the Destroyers must bring their A-game because Force QB Chris Greisen and his trio of Bergeron, C-Jax, and Derek "Baby Moss" Lee are averaging over 60 points per game. Columbus had all sorts of trouble containing just one receiver last week in Chicago's Bobby Sippio. The Force has three legit receivers, which spells trouble for Columbus. Columbus will stay close in this game early, but eventually I see Greisen wearing down the defense with TD passes to fantasy stud receiver Chris Jackson. My Fantasy Player of the Game for the Force will be receiver Chris Jackson who should post 135+ yards and find paydirt three times. For the Destroyers, I see receiver Damien Groce bouncing back to get 120+ yards, and three TDs.
Georgia 62 Columbus 49
ARIZONA AT KANSAS CITY
With the injury to Arizona stars receiver Randy Gatewood and Cosmo DeMatteo, some fans may think the offense is in trouble. This is not the case, as newly acquired Kevin McKenzie and Trandon Harvey stepped up last week to catch five of QB Sherdrick Bonner's six TDs. For the Brigade, they have what has to be the Rookie of the Year so far in receiver Charles Frederick. Frederick leads the team in rushing attempts, rushing yards, receptions, receiving yards, and receiving TDs. The Brigade is coming off a tough home loss to the powerful squad from Dallas but should be able to hang with the Rattlers. Frederick should be able have his way with an Arizona defense that ranks dead last. I can see Frederick getting 12+ yards rushing, 8 catches, 120+ yards and four TDs. He is officially a stud and needs to be started every week. For the Rattlers, Sherdrick Bonner continues to work his magic even without his top two receivers. I expect Bonner to go for his usual 330+ yards and 6 TDs. I like the Brigade's underrated defense to make the difference in this game, and KC chalks up the win.
Kansas City 59 Arizona 50
ORLANDO AT NEW ORLEANS
The Voodoo look to rebound from a rare home loss against a struggling Predators team that comes in with a record of 2-2. For the VooDoo, it does not seem to matter who the receiver is, but Andy Kelly is finding them. Last week, the big game belonged to receiver Tyronne Jones, who hauled in 13 catches for 121 yards and five TDs. Orlando has been hit with the injury bug as receivers Jimmy Fryzel and DeAndrew Rubin have both been placed on IR. Receivers Jerrian James and Javarus Dudley need to step and produce if they want to steal a road victory. I think the VooDoo bounce back and the Preds continue their struggles as Andy Kelly just has too many weapons for the Predator defense to keep track of during the game. I like Andy Kelly lighting up the Preds for 300+ yards and five TDs, and for the Preds, I can see QB Shane Stafford posting solid numbers of 280+ yards and five TDs. This won't be enough, as the Preds don't have enough magic to get by the VooDoo.
New Orleans 58 Orlando 45
AUSTIN AT DALLAS
And the machine know as the Dallas Desperados just keeps rolling, rolling, and rolling. Dallas ran away in the second half of last week's 70-49 road drubbing of the Orlando Predators. Will Pettis had his best game of his career, breaking the Dallas record for most TDs in one game with seven. Just a side note, the 'Rado's best receiver, Marcus Nash, did not even play. That's how scary Dallas is right now. The cross-town rival Austin Wranglers have lost three in a row and Dallas is the last team they need to be seeing. Austin QB Adrian McPherson needs to do something special in this game or it could get ugly, fast. This game has blow-out written all over, and should be over at the half. So just how bad will it be? Dallas QB Clint Dolezel will play three quarters and then give way to back-up QB Nick Browder in the fourth quarter. That bad! Dallas wins, HUGE. My Fantasy Players of the Game will be Clint Dolezel for Dallas as he goes for 280+ yards and six TDs in three quarters of work. And for the Wranglers, they will need receiver Derrick Lewis to step up his game to keep pace with the track meet that will ensue on Saturday night. Look for 100+ yards and two TDs.
Dallas 62 Austin 30
TAMPA BAY AT SAN JOSE
Yet another game here that could turn into a blow-out. San Jose may be 1-2, but offensively this team is scary good. The Sabercats lost by two-points last week on the road to a tough Georgia Force team. I can see this San Jose team looking for a fight Saturday night as they are not in the best of moods. For Tampa Bay, new QB Stoney Case will take the field for the first time this year. It's hard to gauge how he will perform on the field, but he's inheriting the league's worst offense. To sum this game up, we have the league's worst offense in the Storm, against one of the best offenses in the Sabercats. Advantage, Cats, BIG! My Fantasy Players of the game will be Mark Grieb for the Sabercats, and for the Storm, expect Lawrence Samuels to be very active on the field.
San Jose 62 Tampa Bay 40
PHILADELPHIA AT NEW YORK
What a difference a year makes for the Philadelphia Soul. The Philadelphia defense has done a complete turn-around from what everyone saw last year. They stymied the Crush offense last week, forcing QB John Dutton into three picks, and only allowing seven fourth quarter points. The Dragons on the other hand got their first win on the road last week against the Storm. QB Rohan Davey had his best game of the year passing for 295 yards and six TDs. The Dragon's defense will need to slow down Soul receiver Charles Pauley who exploded last week for 11 catches for 202 yards and four TDs. This will be a big game for the Dragon as they are playing at home and need to continue their momentum from last week's win. I think this game will be closer than people think, but in the end, I think the Soul come out with the road victory. My Fantasy Player of the Game for the Soul will be receiver Charles Pauley who will catch 8 balls for 150+ yards and four TDs. For the Dragon's Mike Horacek will go for 7 catches for 120+ yards and three TDs.
Philadelphia 50 New York 43
LOS ANGELES AT CHICAGO
This may be the best game of the week as the Avengers offense comes to visit the Rush defense. The Avenger's have been road warriors this year so far as they are 2-0 with a suitcase. A combination of the defense playing very well and the play of QB Sonnie Cumbie has been the formula for back to back road wins. After a surprising week one loss to the Brigade, the Rush have regrouped and won three in a row. Receiver Bobby Sippio has been a monster for the Rush this year leading the AFL with 16 TD receptions. I'm picking the upset here as I like the way the Avengers are playing on both sides of the ball. As long as the Avengers can contain Sippio, I see them having a shot. Offensively, I feel the Avengers have too much offense with receivers Kevin Ingram, Lenzie Jackson, and Rob Turner. This game goes down to the wire when all-world Avenger kicker Remy Hamilton kicks the game winning field goal. My Fantasy Player of the Game for the Avengers will be receiver Lenzie Jackson who will catch 8 balls, for 135+ yards and three TDs. For the Rush, I like Bobby Sippio very quietly producing 9 catches for 130+ yards and three TDs.
Los Angeles 48 Chicago 45
NASHVILLE AT COLORADO
A lot at stake here as both teams are sitting 2-2 and one game out of first place behind the Rush in the Central Division. The Kats have found a new QB in Jeff Smoker and he has done nothing but deliver wins the past two weeks for the Kats. Smoker has the Kats offense averaging an amazing 69.5 points per game. For the Crush, week four was yet another disappointing loss. However, Crush receiver Damien Harrell is finally healthy and delivering his usual 150+ yards and four TDs per game. It's desperate times in Colorado in my opinion and I think this is a must win for the Crush. I think the combination of Dutton and Harrell will be just enough to overcome the feisty Kats. The Kats will have no answer for SuperStud Damien Harrell as he gets his 150+ yards and five TDs. For the Kats, I can see Jeff Smoker continuing to have the hot hand and throwing for 260+ yards and five TDs.
Colorado 58 Nashville 52
UTAH AT LAS VEGAS
The Las Vegas Gladiators are a mess right now losing their last two games by an average of 27.5 points. It got so bad last week that QB Shaun King was benched and backup Brian Jones was inserted. The offense is struggling big time and they need to find out who their leader is on offense. For the Blaze, they are having the exact opposite problems. They have the hottest QB in the league and have won three of their first four games, and are coming off a 39-point blow out win of the Grand Rapid Rampage. For the Blaze, it's all about the Killer Bs. Siaha Burley and Aaron Boone give the Blaze potent offense that can strike anytime, anywhere on the field. Las Vegas will have no answer for the Killer Bs and I think this is a make or break week for Vegas QB Shaun King. The Utah defense is hardly anything special and if he continues to perform like he has the last two weeks, his days of being the starter are over. My Fantasy Player of the Game for the Blaze will be Siaha Burley who will do some serious damage to the tune of 10 catches for 150+ yards and five TDs. For the Glads, I like Etu Molden to be the most productive player catching 8 balls, for 120+ yards and two TDs.
Utah 60 Las Vegas 40
Scott Lange is a founding member of Arena Football Online and has been following Arena Football for 6 years. Contact Scott at slange@arenafootballonline.com
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