Fantasy Matchups for Week 17
by Scott Lange
June 22, 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.
Last Week: 9-0
2006 Record: 98-45
ORLANDO AT PHILADELPHIA (-3)
Friday night will be fan appreciation night when the Soul host Shane Stafford and the Orlando Predators. The Soul clinched a playoff spot last week after beating Columbus 56-53 on a Charles Pauley 3-yard TD with seven seconds left in the game. The Predators are also playoff bound and will look to get back on track after last week's lackluster effort at home against the Georgia Force, losing 55-44. QB Shane Stafford had a quite day passing for 228 yard, four TDs, and a costly interception. I think the Soul will come out with some extra juice and put on a show for the fans on fan appreciation night. Look for Charles Pauley and Larry Brackins to carry the Soul offense and put the Preds away in the fourth quarter. Both of these teams are very good defensively and the offenses may have hard time getting on track. Look for a low scoring game that goes down to the wire. My fantasy player to watch for the Soul will be Charles Pauley who will catch 8 passes for 120 yards and two TDs. For the Preds, Rob Johnson will catch 7 passes for 110 yards and two TDs.
Philadelphia 45 Orlando 40
COLUMBUS (-1) AT NEW YORK
The Columbus Destroyers know what they need to do this week in New York. If they win, they will clinch playoff birth. Lose, and their season is over. The problem is that the Destroyers have not figured out how to win on the road this year going 1-6 with a suitcase in hand. The Dragons have lost Aaron Garcia and have lost three games in a row in the process. Dragon replacement Rohan Davey looked awful last week and the Dragons were drilled 67-13 last week by Dallas. The line posted here looks way off, as Vegas is giving Columbus absolutely no respect here. I know the Destroyers have only won one game on the road this year, but Columbus is clearly the better team here. Columbus beat the Dragons earlier this year 52-41 when the Dragons had Garcia. This week they will not have Garcia's services, and I see the Destroyers taking care of business by at least a TD. My fantasy player to watch for the Destroyers will be QB Matt Nagy who will throw for 300+ yards and five TDs. For the Dragons, look for receiver Mike Horacek to catch 8 passes for 130 yards and two TDs.
Columbus 56 New York 46
AUSTIN AT TAMPA BAY (-9)
The Austin Wranglers will be playing their last game in the AFL as news this week has the team moving to the AFL2 starting next year. The Wranglers will have tough time stopping QB Brett Dietz and the surging Tampa Bay Storm. The Storm defense last week suffocated the Rampage in the second half allowing only six points, and winning 69-40. The Wranglers offensively and defensively are not a very sound football team, and I expect the Storm to play well enough to cover the Vegas number. Offensively and defensively, the Storm are a well oiled machine, and I expect Brett Dietz to have one of his better weeks passing for 300 yards, and 6 TDs. For the Wranglers, receiver Derrick Lewis will catch 8 passes for 130+ yards and four TDs. Lay the number here as the Storm should have no problems disposing of the Wranglers and finishing the season with a double digit victory.
Tampa Bay 56 Austin 45
KANSAS CITY AT CHICAGO (-7)
This game will without a doubt be the best game of the week. The Kansas City Brigade has come a long way from last year, and if they can somehow come out of Chicago with a victory, they will clinch the Central Division title and also clinch a bye week for the first round of the playoffs. The Brigade showed everyone they were the real deal back in week one beating the Rush 54-41. The Brigade speed combination of receivers Charles Frederick and Jerel Myers match up very well with the Rush secondary. Frederick and Myers will be very busy and will be the focus of the Brigade offense. For the Rush, it's all about getting star receiver Bobby Sippio involved in the offense. Sippio leads all AFL receivers this year in TDs, with 50. I think the Rush will do enough to win this game, but I think the Vegas number is a little high. I expect this to be a very close game with the Rush coming up with a game saving stop to win the game. Take the points, and don't be surprised if the Brigade find a way to win this game. I'll side with the Rush, simply because of the home field factor. My fantasy player to watch for the Rush will be receiver Bobby Sippio who will catch 10+ passes for 150+ yards and five TDs. For the Brigade, Charles Frederick will catch 8+ passes for 125+ total yards and three TDs.
Chicago 50 Kansas City 45
GRAND RAPIDS AT NASHVILLE (-12)
The Nashville Kats should have no problems this week trouncing the helpless Grand Rapids Rampage. Records setting RB Dan Alexander will look to add more TDs to his rushing totals as he continues to pile on rushing TDs in his record setting year. The Rampage has to be glad this season is almost over. Their star player Timon Marshall was having a great season until he left for the NFL. I don't see the Kats letting this game getting away from them. Look for the Kats to assert Dan Alexander early and often. Receiver Kenny Higgins could have a big game as well. It will just depend on how the Kats decide whether they want to run the ball or pass the ball. They should be able to do whatever they want against the soft Rampage defense. My fantasy player to watch for the Nashville Kats will be RB Dan Alexander who should be able to rush for 40+ yards and three TDs. For the Rampage, Cornelius Bonner will catch 8 passes for 120 yards and two TDs. Lay the number here as the Kats get the victory and cover.
Nashville 52 Grand Rapids 35
UTAH AT LOS ANGELES (-1)
The Utah Blaze will have their season on the line Saturday when the visit QB Sonnie Cumbie and the Los Angeles Avengers. If the Blaze can somehow win this game, they may have a chance at a playoff birth. A loss and their season would be over. The Avengers have been playing good football lately as they have won three straight and are 5-2 this season at home. The Blaze who started out on fire is now just an average looking football team on the verge of ending their 2007 season. I just don't see how the Blaze will be able to win this game on the road with the way their defense has played this year. I expect Cumbie to have a field day against the Blaze secondary who has given up more than their fair share of points this year. Lay the number here as the Avengers take care of business at home and grab the "W". My fantasy player to watch in this game will be receiver Lenzie Jackson who should be able to run wild for 12 catches 150 yards and at least three TDs. For the Blaze, look for the record setting Siaha Burley to catch 10+ passes for 130+ yards and three TDs.
Los Angeles 55 Utah 50
NEW ORLEANS AT GEORGIA (-16)
The Georgia Force will look to extend their winning streak to five games as they host a Voodoo team that's a horrendous 1-6 on the road this year. The Force should have no problems not only winning this game, but covering the Vegas line as well. One might think the Force have nothing left to play since they are already in the playoffs. However, the Force must win this game in order to keep pace with the Desperados. If the Desperados somehow lose this week, and the Force win, the Force would have home-field advantage through out the playoffs. I expect the Force to come out with a strong performance and dominate this game from the opening kickoff. New Orleans has missed the playoffs, and will be no match for the trio of QB Chris Griesen, and receivers Chris Jackson and Troy Bergeron. Lay the number here as the Force will win by at least three TDs. My fantasy player to watch for the Force will be receiver Chris Jackson who will catch 10+ passes for 150+ yards and four TDs. For the Voodoo, Kenny Henderson will catch 8 passes for 130 yards and two TDs.
Georgia 60 New Orleans 38
SAN JOSE (-18) AT LAS VEGAS
The San Jose Sabercats has the best record in the American Conference at 12-3 and has rolled off nine straight victories. Going in the exact opposite direct are the Las Vegas Gladiators who sit at 2-13 on the season. This game should be over by the first half as the Sabercats has too much power on both sides of the ball and should dominate this game throughout. For the Sabercats, look for Mark Grieb to find open receivers all day long. The Glads have given up the most points in the AFL this season, and the Sabercats are a high scoring bunch. This has blow-out written all over it, and I'll take any number Vegas can give me. A 30-point blow-out is not out of the question here as Las Vegas is basically waiting for an end to their disastrous season. My fantasy player to watch for the Sabercats is QB Mark Grieb who will throw for 300+ yards and at least seven TDs. For the Glads, LaTravis TenDressee has been their best option the past two weeks. LT should be able to catch 8 passes for 130 yards and three TDs. Trust me when I say this game will get ugly.
San Jose 68 Las Vegas 40
DALLAS (-8.5) AT COLORADO
The Dallas Desperados have an important this week on the road against the Colorado Crush. The 'Rados must win this game in order to keep home-field throughout the playoffs. The Crush meanwhile would like some momentum going into the playoffs with a win this week against the AFL's best team. Dallas has played very well despite losing receiver Marcus Nash to an injury last month. Receiver Will Pettis continues to have an amazing season collecting a career high 41 TDs so far this year. Dallas knows they have to win this game and I just don't see QB Clint Dolezel losing this game. This could be a close game, but Dallas pulls away and covers the spread with a late score to seal the game. My fantasy player for the 'Rados will be receiver Will Pettis who will catch 8 passes for 135 yards and three total TDs. For the Crush, look for Damien Harrell to catch 10 passes for 125 yards and three TDs.
Dallas 56 Colorado 45
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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