2007 Player Rankings for Week 8

by Simon McGrother
April 18, 2007

Week 7 sees the league continuing to confound expectations. Las Vegas give Georgia a heck of a game (losing by a point after going for a win on a 2-point conversion - see last week's treatise on madam fortune!) despite canning their QB in the lead up, New Orleans fresh from losing to the pussy-cat Storm destroy the whirlwind SaberCats. And Rohan Davey and New York after brushing of the mountains of praise for their efforts in the last 2 weeks contrive to throw 3 passes to Chris Angel, who happens to play for the Crush. When you lose a home game by a point, you have to wonder if the 3 times you gave it to the wrong guy might have been a factor? By the way, (fake statistic alert) 3 completed passes makes Davey/Angel a more successful QB/WR duo than any two Tampa Bay players.

Joe Germaine, Utah Chris Greisen, Georgia Clint Dolezel, Dallas Tony Graziani, Philadelphia Matt D'Orazio, Chicago Shane Stafford, Orlando Mark Grieb, San Jose Sherdrick Bonner, Arizona John Dutton, Colorado Adrian McPherson, Austin Matt Nagy, Columbus Raymond Philyaw, Kansas City Rohan Davey, New York Brian Jones, Las Vegas Andy Kelly, New Orleans Steve Bellisari, New Orleans Chad Salisbury, Grand Rapids Sonnie Cumbie, Los Angeles Jeff Smoker, Nashville Juston Wood, Philadelphia John Kaleo, Tampa Bay (BYE) Stoney Case, Tampa Bay (BYE) Micheal Bishop, Grand Rapids

So after a couple of good weeks for the middle of the pack, the giants reminded us why they are worth a first round draft pick. TEN! TDs for both Joe Germaine and Chris Griesen. Steve Bellisari, who was criticized last week, bounced back with a game winning performance against San Jose. While uncertainty surrounds the Andy Kelly injury, Bellisari moves into the rankings, and might even be worth your starting spot. On the down side, Mark Grieb tarnished his fine rep with a trio of picks; Rohan Davey did the same. Sherdrick Bonner, who's Arizona Rattlers, whilst unable to win, were at least good fantasy value (averaging 64 ppg over the first 5 games) has suddenly lost his touch. He did ok last week, but this week his bubble truly burst with only 1 TD. The Rattlers have averaged only 40ppg in the last two weeks and who knows what they'll consider to stop the rot: fantasy owners may not be the only ones considering benching Bonner. And be upstanding for Brian Jones the new QB of the Gladiators. I ridiculed them without mercy last week, suggesting at one point that they might be shut-out completely: 344 yds and 8 TDs gives me a big slice of humble pie to chow down upon. Biggest mover on the list was Matt Nagy leaping six places after a monster outing against the Wranglers.

Siaha Burley, Utah Bobby Sippio, Chicago Chris Jackson, Georgia Ben Nelson, San Jose Will Pettis, Dallas Troy Bergeron, Georgia Damien Harrell, Colorado Mike Horacek, New York Kevin Ingram, Los Angeles Derrick Lewis, Austin Charles Frederick, Kansas City Damian Groce, Columbus Cornelius Bonner, Nashville James Roe, San Jose Trandon Harvey, Arizona Marcus Nash, Dallas Derek Lee, Georgia Timon Marshall, Grand Rapids Charles Pauley, Philadelphia Jeremiah Pope, Arizona Sean Scott, Philadelphia Randy Gatewood, Arizona (IR) Kevin Nickerson, Austin Rodney Wright, San Jose TT Toliver, Tampa Bay (BYE) Javarus Dudley, Orlando Thabiti Davis, Las Vegas Lenzie Jackson, Los Angeles Etu Molden, Las Vegas David Saunders, Columbus Kenny Higgins, Nashville Brad Pyatt, Colorado Tyronne Jones, New Orleans (IR) Lawrence Samuels, Tampa Bay (BYE) Andy McCullough, Chicago Kenny Higgins, Nashville DeAndrew Rubin, Orlando (IR) Terrance Quattlebaum, Las Vegas Willie Quinnie, Colorado Jarel Myers, Kansas City Jimmy Fryzel, Orlando (IR) Mike Brown, Philadelphia Kenny Henderson, New Orleans Otis Amey, Austin Ryan Dennard, Utah Jacques Rumph, New Orleans Kevin Swayne, New York (IR) Orshwante Bryant, Utah Kevin McKenzie, Arizona Chris Anthony, New York Darcey Levy, Columbus James Jordan, New Orleans Aaron Boone, Utah Terrill Shaw, Tampa Bay (BYE) Andrae Thurman, Dallas Kevin Prentiss, Las Vegas (IR) Rob Turner, Los Angeles Sam Simmons, Kansas City Robert Redd, Colordao Josh Bush, Columbus Jerome Riley, Grand Rapids Marcus Knight, Columbus Curtis Fagan, Arizona

Stung into action by losing top spot in the WR list (yeah right!), Siaha Burley rained down like the angel of death upon the hapless Avengers. We'd noted that LA had struggled against stand-out receivers and it proved to be the case once more. Bobby Sippio loses the top spot, simply for being on a bye. Another man to slip down the list by not playing was Charles Frederick of KC. He has a thigh injury which kept him out of the game against Grand Rapids (and perhaps explains why this game was as low scoring as it was). Owners keep a careful eye on his updates over the course of the week. There's so much flux in the passing game at New Orleans that one's head spins at the mere thought of it. This week's star was James Jordon, the 7th different player to lead the team either the yardage or TD receptions in a game this season (don't believe me? Henderson, McDonald, Jones, Mason, McCauley, Rumph and Jordan). Great for the VooDoo, bitter fruit for fantasy owners. Big week for Damien Groce - 5 scores and 116 yards - true class. Honorable mentions for Timon Marshall - only 21 yds receiving but an implausible 221 yds on kick returns, Brad Pyatt - 3rd choice receiver at Colorado grabs 3 scores and 100+ yds, and both Thabiti Davis and Etu Molden, who combined for 7 TDs and almost 400 total yds. If Brian Jones can maintain the standard he has established for himself, these two have the skills to become significant fantasy stars over the 2nd half of the season.

Dan Alexander, Nashville Bo Kelly, Arizona Torrance Marshall, Tampa Bay (BYE) Josh White, Dallas Robert Thomas, Colorado Lonnie Ford, Los Angeles Ja'Mar Toombs, New York Chris Ryan, Grand Rapids Wes Ours, Philadelphia Marlon Moye-Moore, Orlando Harold Wells, Columbus Brian Johnson, San Jose Dawan Moss, Kansas City Dan Curran, New Orleans Sedrick Robinson, Austin Bob McMillen, Chicago Josh Rue, Las Vegas Kevin Nagle, Orlando Matt Huebner, Georgia Chad Dukes, Austin Kevin Clemens, Utah Frank Carter, Utah Byron Douzart, Kansas City James Lynch, New Orleans Phil Glover, San Jose John Peaua, Colorado Bruce McClure, Georgia

Another week another 7 days of wishing I had drafted Dan Alexander - 34 yds and 2 TDs a feat almost precisely matched by Chris Ryan. San Jose are so good in the air that they almost never turn to Phil Glover, but he popped up with 2 scores against the VooDoo and finally makes the list - will he touch the ball again this season? Probably not. Lonnie Ford continued his excellent season with a pair of TDs against the Blaze. And with his 3rd multi-TD game in row, Torrance Marshall finally reaches the heights he deserves in the rankings - remarkable effort.

Rashad Floyd, Colorado Chris D. Brown, New Orleans Eddie Moten, Philadelphia Jeroid Johnson, Tampa Bay (BYE) Lin-J Shell, Orlando Hamin Milligan, Georgia DeJuan Alfonzo, Chicago Nate Coggins, Austin Clevan Thomas, San Jose Willie Gary, Georgia Brandon Hefflin, Columbus Jermaine Jones, Dallas Jonathan Ordway, Chicago Terrance Joseph, Los Angeles Dennison Robinson, Chicago Joseph Todd, Arizona Damen Wheeler, Los Angeles Rober' Freeman, Columbus Keyuo Craver, Arizona Jeremy Unertl, Chicago Keon Raymond, Nashville William (Roc) Haith, New Orleans Damon Mason, Austin Arnold Parker, Los Angeles Omarr Smith, San Jose Kahlid Naziruddin, Tampa Bay (BYE) Billy Parker, New York Chris Brown, Dallas Mike Brown, Philadelphia Chris Pointer, Orlando Clarence Lawson, Utah James Bethea, Los Angeles Earthwind Moreland, Las Vegas Angel Estrada, Grand Rapids David Crocker, Georgia Chris Angel, Colorado Denario Smalls, Kansas City Chuck Wesley, Grand Rapids Eddie Canonico, Las Vegas Chuck Wesley, Grand Rapids Ahmad Hawkins, Nashville Kelvin Hunter, New Orleans Antuan Simmons, Los Angeles Kenny McEntyre, Kansas City Dahnel Singfield, Las Vegas Johnnie Harris, Philadelphia Liam Ezekiel, Nashville Traco Rachal, Tampa Bay (BYE) Todd Howard, Chicago Ryan Bowers, Orlando Calvin Spears, New Orleans Kevin Moffett, Utah Chris Angel, New York Marvin Taylor, Chicago Jerome Riley, Grand Rapids Travis Coleman, Kansas City Erin Damond, Arizona Anthony Derricks, Los Angeles B.J. Barre, Columbus

Big defensive day for the VooDoo, Chris Brown and Roc Haith both in double figures for tackles. More good news for the Gladiators as Eddie Canonico and Earthwind Moreland both had great games. Other big movers on the defensive side were Chris Angel with 3 picks for the Crush, Ahmad Hawkins with a pair of picks for the Katz and Traco Rachal who topped the list of Tampa Bay DBs, who are always a busy crew.

Mark Lewis, Austin Todd Sievers, Dallas A. J. Haglund, San Jose Brian Gowins, Grand Rapids Steve Videtich, Utah Steve Azar, Las Vegas Todd France, Philadelphia Gary Kral, Arizona Dan Frantz, Chicago Eric Houle, New Orleans Jason Ball, Colorado Remy Hamilton, Los Angeles Clay Rush, Kansas City Carter Warley, New York Peter Martinez, Columbus Jason Witczak, Nashville Jay Taylor, Orlando Seth Marler, Tampa Bay (BYE) Keith Gispert, Georgia

Eric Houle has not had too many shout outs in the rankings, but 2/2 on FGs played a big part in the VooDoo's win over the SaberCats. Mark Lewis missed a FG at the end of the 1st half which would have tied the game; the Destroyers never looked back. A tale of two kickers in New York, where Jason Ball while 0/2 from +40yds was crucially 2/2 from closer. Carter Warley on the other hand had a 63 yarder blocked, fairly forgivable, but missed a 19 yarder as time expired in the first half. But since the Dragons only lost by a point, this probably isn't haunting him too much!

Simon McGrother is a founding member of ArenaFootballOnline.com, the #1 source for Arena Fantasy Football information, and has been following the Arena Football League for 4 years.

Contact Simon at smcgrother@arenafootballonline.com

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