Sit 'em and Start 'em for Week 11
by Simon McGrother
May 7th, 2008
Each week, Arena Football Online gives you definitive recommendations for the fantasy players to start in your lineup and those to sit down for better options.
This week, we have more player recommendations for you, based on performance, matchup and intuition.
Week 10 was the the usual mix of jaw-dropping upsets and unpredictable shenanigans. Rhyme and reason were put aside as previously reliably warm places froze over. If Columbus had just held their nerver we could have seen Dallas join New Orleans and Philadelphia in the "how in the hell did they lose" category. Week 11 sees many of the teams involved in the big week 10 upset locking horns with other big names: Philly will not relish the visit to Georgia after Griesen et al creamed New Orleans. Philly's vanquishers the Gladiators entertain the hot Predators, but they'll fear no-one after beating the Soul. The western division is more of a mess than ever as the Rattlers stumbled against the Avengers, but San Jose's visit to Arizon should go a long way to settling matters decisively.
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Raymond Philyaw - Cleveland
Raymond cooled off pretty dramatically after his superb start to the season but has strung together a couple of decent starts recenlty. He did solid work in the famous win over the Soul and will be confident of making more mischief when Orlando come to town. Orlando's D has steadily and significantly imrpoved as the season has progressed, but Cleveland have a potent offense and the ever-present threat of Marlion Jackson is stretching opposing defenses awfully thin. Expect Raymond to bag 7 scores and 280 yards. |
Other quarterbacks with favorable matchups:
Danny Wimprine (New Orleans) @ Tampa Bay - Coming off a rare loss, Danny will wnat to return to form, and the 2nd rate Storm defense should lend a helping hand.
John Dutton (Colorado) @ Utah - Dutton has been absolutely superb all season, 2nd only to Joe Germaine in TDs. He'll not see this fine form derailed against the Blaze.
Shane Stafford (Orlando) @ Cleveland - If Shane's fit he should be good for at least 6 scores against the super-generous Gladaitors.
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Tim Hicks - Los Angeles
Hicks and the Avengers have begun to click just a little and are 2-2 over their last 4 games. May not sound like much but a huge improvement on the 0-4 they went in the previous months-worth. He's put up some pretty hefty stats in that time too, but the brunt of those points have been against ropey defenses (the Blaze, the Gladiators). He'll face his stiffest defense that he's had to face as a starter when the Avengers entertain the Dragons and the best bellwether may be the game 2 weeks ago when the SaberCats (also a good defensive unit) held the Avengers to 42 points, and Hicks could manage only 4 scores and gave up 2 picks. |
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Other quarterbacks with unfavorable matchups:
Lang Campbell (Arizona) vs San Jose - The SaberCats pass defense is rising to the top of the team rankings and Campbell will be down from his good outing in week 10.
James MacPherson (Grand Rapids) @ Dallas - Rough couple o'weeks for James having to face the Crush's star-studded secondary and now the Desperados.
Brett Dietz (Tampa Bay) vs New Orleans - Georgia punched a big hole in the VooDoo's defensive aura, but Dietz and the Storm don't have enough to follow the Force's lead. |
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Aaron Hosack - Colorado
Colorado have turned up a couple of rookie-rubies in the dust (snow?) in the last 2 weeks. First came Chad Owens tearing it up against the Rush in week 9, and now in week 10 Aaron Hosack hit the headlines with a 4 TD outing against the Rampage. He's a big-lad (6'5 and 210lbs) and has a couple of years experience in NFL-Europe under his belt. The Blaze will be wary of him, but for the Blaze being wary never seems to convert into actually stopping the guy. Note to ArenaBoy: this article not to go live until after I claim Aaron from the waiver-wire. |
Other wide receivers with favorable matchups:
Robert Redd (Cleveland) vs Orlando - If Cleveland are to prevail against the Predators they're going to needbig games from Otis Amey and Robert Redd. I fancy that the Preds will try to shutdown Otis giving Robert an above average day.
James Jordan (New Orleans) vs Tampa Bay - James completley failed to turn up against the Force and will be keen ot make amends against the Storm, who are not much good. Also keep an eye out for Sale Key (that is the guy's name I feel compelled to explain, he's a VooDoo WR), he could be a nice late season addition.
Chas Gessner (Orlando) @ Cleveland - Chas is to Orlando, as Larry Brackins is to Philadelphia. Larry had 14 catches for 146 yards and 2 scores against the Gladiators in week 10. |
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Trandon Harvey - Arizona
Harvey has carried much of the load for Arizona this season as super-star Burley has struggled with injury. But with the return of Burley and the emergence of the likes of rookie Todd Devoe, Trandon faces serious competition for receptions. He'll always be useful because of return yards, but the SaberCats are not the freest scorers teams right now and have one of the lowest yardage allowed per return in the league. So it might be a week to consider giving him a rest. |
Other wide receivers with unfavorable matchups:
Timon Marshall (Los Angeles) vs New York - Not a good macthup for Avenger receivers, but Timon usually covers his ass with return yards, but against the low scoring Dragons even these will be sub-par.
Terrill Shaw (Tampa Bay) vs New Orleans - The Storm offense is out of sink at the moment and are unlikely to get an assist from the VooDoo, who'll be keen to put week 10's stumble emphatically behind them.
Kenny Higgins (Grand Rapids) @ Dallas - The Rampage's usually free-scoring offense has really hit the buffers against competent defenses recently, and none are more competent than the Desperados. |
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Chris Robinson - Arizona
The Rattlers host San Jose in a crucial western conference matchup. The long-toothed kitties have really ratcheted up the pass defense, but this has given rise to more rushing opportunities for opponents which has proven to be something of a fatal flaw. They yield more than 3 yards per carry and only 3 teams have let in more rushing scores. Chris has been getting increasing amounts of action in the Rattlers gameplan and should see plenty of the ball in good field position in week 11. |
Other full backs with favorable matchups:
Lonnie Ford (Los Angeles) vs New York - The Dragons are so good against the pass, and so tenacious when a pass is completed that inevitably they give up rushing scores.
Harold Wells (Columbus) @ Kansas City - KC cannot stop the run, and Harold is having a great season.
Dawan Moss (Kansas City) vs Columbus - Columbus' pass defense is not great, but it has made a habit of giving up 1st downs close to the goalline. Cue opposing FBs to finish off the job. |
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Brian Johnson - San Jose
Now Brian is no less (ok technically he is 20 lbs lighter at a mere 253, but you take my point) of a FB than Chris Robinson of the Rattlers, yet he's forced to sit this week. That's because the Rattlers have a very good rush defense. They hold opposing rushers to les sthan 2 yards per carry, 2nd only to Georgia in that category. What's more their tough rush defense has created a reluctance in opposing coaches to call running plays. Only 51 times have teams tried to run against them, which again is 2nd fewest in the league. Brian will do a lot of watching this week. |
Other full backs with unfavorable matchups:
Clifton Smith (Phialdelphia) @ Georgia - This could be an interesting game. The Soul are coming off their first loss, the Force are on a high from their best win. The Force have the best rush defense in the league, but it is possible that the Soul may try to shake up their gameplan with more rushing plays. I still favor a sit for Clifton.
Whitney Bell (Grand Rapids) @ Dallas - Bad matchup for big Whitney.
James Lynch (New Orleans) @ Tampa Bay - Only Georgia have conceded fewer rushing TDs than Tampa Bay.
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Jason Harmon - Colorado
Playing the Blaze is always a guarantee of aerial action. The Crush secondary will all be great choices this week. |
Other defensive backs with favorable matchups:
Eddie Canonico (UTA) vs Colorado - It will be a two-way street, since Colorado throw the ball more often than everyone except the SaberCats and the (you guessed it) Blaze.
Billy Parker (NYD) @ Los Angeles - LA cannot help but throw the ball and the Dragons fiery secondary will be ready to pounce.
Isaiah Trufant (ARZ) vs San Jose - Good time to play San Jose. They are throwing it a lot, but they have given up more picks than any other team. |
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Ahmad Hawkins - Grand Rapids
Dallas have been a bit loose and free with the ball in the last two weeks. Expect them to play more conservative than usual to shore up Dolezel's confidence. Quiet night for Hawkins and his colleagues. |
Other defensive backs with unfavorable matchups:
Jerald Brown (KCB) vs Columbus - Columbus air the ball out 2nd least in the league and have given up the fewest interceptions.
Calvin Spears (NVD) @ Tampa Bay - Tampa cannot afford to get into an aerial duel with the VooDoo, and will endeavour to keep the ball well away from the dangerous Mr Spears.
Damien Wheeler (LAA) vs New York - The Dragons have become more liberal with their passing game, but not much. Quiet night for the LA secondary.
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Carlos Martinez - Georgia
The Force scored very freely against the VooDoo and will be in the mood for more of the same against the Soul. |
Other kickers with favorable matchups:
Connor Hughes (PHI) @ Georgia - Of course it goes both ways, the Soul should have plenty of points in this one.
Deric Yaussi (COL) @ Utah - May not get any FGs but should have at least 10 XPs.
Whoever kicks for Utah nowadays (UTA) vs Colorado - May not get any FGs but should have at least 9 XPs. |
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Brian Gowins - Grand Rapids
The Rampage really have struggled against decent defenses over the last 6 weeks, and this trend should continue in Dallas. |
Other kickers with unfavorable matchups:
Mark Lewis (CLB) @ Kansas City - Low scoring game seems on the cards.
Seth Marler (TBS) vs New Orleans - The Storm are going to be lashed by the VooDoo.
Tyler Fredrickson (LAA) vs New York - Not worth dropping him from your squad, but there'll definitely be better kicking options this week.
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Simon McGrother is a member of the Arena Football League Writers Association and a founding member of Arena Football Online. Contact Simon at smcgrother@arenafootballonline.com
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