2007 Player Rankings for Week 9

by Simon McGrother
April 25, 2007

Week 8 finally saw the clash of the two best teams in the league. Georgia convincingly ended Dallas' unbeaten season. Other games of note saw the SaberCats re-affirm their credentials with a crushing victory over the Avengers. The Blaze sputtered, losing at home to the Rattlers in a predictably high-scoring affair. Finally the Rush continued their impressive form with a very strong second half in Grand Rapids - they have won 6 straight and have as good a record as anyone in the league.

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

After back to back ten TD weeks, Chris Griesen regains the top spot in our rankings. He is in scintillating form and with his outstanding receivers there seems no end in sight. Mark Grieb is another QB who benefits from an embarrassment of riches in the WR position. Biggest mover on the list this week was Brian Jones, who is 0-2 as a starter for Las Vegas but continues to put up very fine numbers. His QB rating is 122, (interesting contrast with the man he replaced Shaun King, who's rating was 95 - you begin to see why the Gladiators made the switch), which makes him 8th best QB on the season. Definitely worth a mid-season pick-up for those of us with a struggling starting QB. Oddest move of the season might go to the Soul, who pick up the clearly erratic Clint Stoerner in order to avoid giving the start to Juston Wood, who looked very good against Dallas until his nerve deserted him down the stretch.

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

Biggest monster of the week was James Roe with 6 TDs for San Jose. Ben Nelson owners might be a little aggrieved - LA had previously specialized in conceding multi-TDs to marquee receivers. Chris Jackson was another man to score 6 times, (5+1 rushing) plus 230 total yards. C-Jax's feat is all the more impressive against the Desperados' dominating defense. Charles Frederick returned for KC after missing a game with a thigh injury; he was quiet and needs to get back in his groove. Randy Gatewood looked superb on his return from injury with 5 TDs as the Rattlers upset the Blaze in a game which saw every receiver that caught a ball gain more than 100 yds. Gatewood's return devalues Trandon Harvey and the other Rattler receivers. Last week I mentioned that the VooDoo are killing fantasy owners with the spread of their receptions, noting that 7 different receivers had led the team in either yards or TDs in each of their 7 games. Well make that 8 in 8 games as Scott Mitchell led the team with 83 yds in a very disappointing showing for the New Orleans offense with Kelly back in the saddle.

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

Running out of superlatives to describe Dan Alexander - new AFL records for carries (19) and rushing TDs (6!) in a game. Two more TDs for New York's Ja'mar Toombs one of a gaggle of good FBs who'd be having seasons worthy of serious admiration were it not for the fact that Alexander is shifting the paradigm so completely that these guys will only be recalled for just how far behind they end up. Good week for Brian Johnson of the SaberCats, who appear to be gradually adding a ground game to their offensive mix. And James Lynch of the VooDoo showed some promise in for the injured Dan Curran.

Rashad Floyd, Colorado Chris D. Brown, New Orleans Eddie Moten, Philadelphia Jeroid Johnson, Tampa Bay Lin-J Shell, Orlando Clevan Thomas, San Jose Hamin Milligan, Georgia DeJuan Alfonzo, Chicago Nate Coggins, Austin (BYE) Willie Gary, Georgia Brandon Hefflin, Columbus Jermaine Jones, Dallas Jonathan Ordway, Chicago Terrance Joseph, Los Angeles Dennison Robinson, Chicago Keyuo Craver, Arizona Joseph Todd, FA Damen Wheeler, Los Angeles Rober' Freeman, Columbus Chris Angel, Colorado Jeremy Unertl, Chicago Omarr Smith, San Jose Keon Raymond, Nashville William (Roc) Haith, New Orleans Damon Mason, Austin (BYE) Arnold Parker, Los Angeles (IR) Kahlid Naziruddin, Tampa Bay Clarence Lawson, Utah James Bethea, Los Angeles (IR) Earthwind Moreland, Las Vegas Denario Smalls, Kansas City Jerald Brown, Columbus Chuck Wesley, Grand Rapids Eddie Canonico, Los Angeles Ahmad Hawkins, Nashville Bobby Keyes, Dallas Kelvin Hunter, New Orleans Kenny McEntyre, Kansas City Dahnel Singfield, Las Vegas Johnnie Harris, Grand Rapids Traco Rachal, Tampa Bay Ryan Bowers, Orlando Calvin Spears, New Orleans

Chris Angel followed up his 3 interception week with a 10 tackle week. Chris' teammate Rashad Floyd added a couple of interceptions returned for TDs to his customary tackle-fest. But top tackler of the week was the always reliable Nate Coggins coming in with 11.5 tackles. Whilst there was not a whole heap of defense going on in Utah, Arizona's Keyuo Craver was the pick of the bunch with 9 tackles and 3 pass break ups. San Jose had Omarr Smith and Clevan Thomas to thank for keeping the Avengers south of 50 points; both had 7 tackles, a pass breakup and a pick.

A. J. Haglund, San Jose Mark Lewis, Austin (BYE) Todd Sievers, Dallas Steve Videtich, Utah Steve Azar, Las Vegas Brian Gowins, Grand Rapids Jason Ball, Colorado Gary Kral, Arizona Dan Frantz, Chicago Todd France, Philadelphia Eric Houle, New Orleans 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 Xavier Beitia, Georgia

Eric Houle goes from champ to chump, missing a chip-shot field goal as time expired that would have won the game for the VooDoo. Jay Taylor hit all 7 extra points he attempted and nailed a monster 44yd field goal. Steve Videtich had a busy day, kicking 9 of 10 extra points but missing both of his FG attempts.

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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