American Conference
Central Division Fantasy Focus
by Paul Celmer
Chaos climbed to the throne as the entire American Conference Central
division was turned upside down in week 1. First, The Arena Bowl Champion Rush
were defeated by the once lowly Kansas City Brigade. The Brigade, a laughinstock
3-13 expansion team last season, completely overhauled their team for 2007,
keeping only 10 players from the 2006 squad. One of their most important changes
was obtaining the services of Veteran Raymond Philyaw and now the Brigade look
quite formidable. Further complicating matters in the American Conference Central,
the Grand Rapids Rampage, double-digit underdogs, had their starting QB taken
out of the game with a concussion yet ended up defeating the imposing 2005
Arena Bowl Champion Colorado Crush in Denver. In yet another upset, the Nashville
Kats lost in week 1 to Matt Nagy and the Columbus Destroyers. And just when
you thought maybe you could count on Grand Rapids and the surprisingly strong
play from replacement QB Matt Sauk in week 1, the wheel of fate turns again
in week 2 and Grand Rapids loses their defensive leader Chuck Wesley to a concussion.
This injury opened the door for the Gladiators to score 10 TDs through the
air and bring the upstart Rampage back down to earth to begin week 2.
So what does this strange topsy-turvy state of affairs mean for the fantasy
team coach? First, where there is turmoil, there is opportunity--and value.
Here are the American Central Division guys to watch.
Grand Rapids Rampage
Timon Marshall
Timon Marshall is the obvious go to guy in Grand Rapids. This AFL all-purpose
yards leader in 2006 is especially valuable if your league awards return yards
as well as receiving yards. Marshall can get down field in a flash and has an
elusive stutter-step of a full back that makes him tough to bring down after
the catch. In the second game of the season, he set a team record with 331
total yards--191 return yards and 137 receiving yards on ten catches, and three
TDs.
Troy Edwards
Troy Edwards, a veteran wide receiver with NFL experience, had eight catches
for 50 yards and a TD in week 1, and four catches for 32 yards in week 2. Despite
high expectations, Edwards does not appear to be more than a Timon Marshal
decoy at this point so he should remain on your bench.
Matt Sauk
QB controversy in Grand Rapids? Sauk was fantastic in week 1 coming in for
the injured Chad Salisbury. Sauk was put in on a 4th and 10 at his own 7-yard
line and on his first play throws a 44 yard strike into the endzone. From there,
he led his team to the upset victory over the Colorado Crush. In week 2, Sauk
looked good for most of the game. However, he was intercepted in the third
quarter on a play where it appeared the receiver gave up on the route too early.
Sauk's second interception, however, was clearly his fault. These interceptions
along with the loss of Chuck Wesley on defense shifted the momentum of the
game and Grand Rapids lost. However, Sauk's numbers in week 2 were still respectable.
Sauk was 26 of 47 for 360 yards and 7 TDs. Sauk looks like a solid fantasy
backup quarterback until Salisbury returns.
Chicago Rush
Bobby Sippio
WR Bobby Sippio is the man in the City of Broad Shoulders. Sippio entered
the elite realm of receivers with more than one five-TD game within the last
year. What is amazing about Sippio is his drive. He plays like a man with a
chip on his shoulder--a chip the size of a boulder, that is. A perfect example
of his passion is the last play of the game in week 1. With a victory pretty
much out of reach for Chicago and no time left on the clock, Sippio catches
a pass a pass on the 2-yard line and is hit hard. However, he refuses to go
down and fights his way into the endzone for the final TD. Sippio is one of
the top three receivers in the league this year.
Andy McCullough
Here is another mystery in the American Conference Central Division. WR Andy
McCullough for some inexplicable reason is still not in Colorado. But with
Ibeh Buchie injured, the Rush needed to fill a gap in their roster and stole
him away. In 2006 for the Crush, McCullough had 92 catches for 1093 yards and
14 TDs. Grab him if you can. I bet Crush QB John Dutton wishes John Elway did.
Kansas City Brigade
Raymond Philyaw
Raymond Philyaw's numbers were not great in week 1. Philyaw was 23 of 33 for
225 yards and two TDs. However, he played with the kind of inspiring confidence
you would expect from a veteran. Look for his numbers to improve a bit as the
season goes on and keep him as your backup quarterback.
Charles Frederick
Charles Frederick is another thing that confuses the division picture. Is
he a fullback or a wide receiver? Frederick had a nice 5 catches for 50 yards,
but he also gashed Chicago for 8 rushes for 60 yards and 3 TDs. It appears
Frederick is his own two-headed monster. Look for Frederick to continue to
shock defenses with his combined air and ground attack.
Kenny McEntyre
Kenny McEntyre is a legendary defensive specialist. And it looks like he has
found a home in Kansas City. In the season opener against the Crush, K-Mac
had two beautiful picks, with one being in the endzone. However, McEntyre does
not hit people that often. So before you put McEnyre in your lineup, check
your league's scoring system on the relative value of tackles vs. interceptions.
In any case, the glove is back in high form.
Nashville Kats
Clint Stoerner
The Kats QB Clint Stoerner is serviceable. In week 1 he went 23 of 39 for 325
yards and 5 TDs. Pretty decent numbers. Certainly it won't be Stoerner that
loses you your game. As fantasy owners know, you could do much worse.
Cornelius Bonner
Cornelius Bonner, a true ironman, was every fantasy owners dream come true.
Bonner was most likely not drafted until the late 8th or 9th round at the earliest.
Yet he was the Kats no. 1 receiver in week 1. Bonner had 8 catches for 122
yards and three TDs. Luckily he did not get drafted to shore up the hole in
the Kats defense with the loss to injury of defensive specialist Monty Montgomery.
Expect similar solid numbers from Bonner the rest of the year.
Dan Alexander
One of the highlights for the Nashville Kats, despite losing their opener
to the Columbus Destryoers, was the outstanding rushing of Dan Alexander. Alexander
had 7 carries for 23 yards and a very nice three scampers into the endzone.
Alexander is one of the top fantasy fullbacks in the league.
Colorodo Crush
John Dutton
QB John Dutton is always a solid pick for the fantasy owner. And Dutton opened
2007 as expected. Dutton was 27 of 45 for 299 yards and a healthy six TDs.
Other then Harrell though, Dutton is throwing to a new squadron of receivers.
Keep an eye on this progress, but most likely his numbers will be solid.
Damian Harrell
If there is one thing a fantasy team owner can count on from this unpredictable
American Conference Central division, it is fantasy points from WR Damian Harrell.
Week 1 was no surprise. Harrell had another great game, with eight catches
for 95 yards and three trips to the land beneath the yellow iron. However,
the Crush sold all of their other solid receivers off at the end of the 2006
season. This might mean that Harrell sees even more defensive players in his
face than he has in the past. Harrell will always be a stud, but keep an eye
on the health of the rest of the team as this might have a negative impact
on his numbers.
Paul Celmer, aka The Philosopher of Arena Football, is a member of the Arena Football League Writers Association and a founding member of Arena Football Online. Contact Paul at pcelmer@arenafootballonline.com
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