2021 CTDB: Power Rankings Week 6

With the fantasy season, nearing it's half way mark, here's another look at the league's power rankings.  

1.  Chunky Monkeys.  After a middling start through the first 3 weeks (literally), the Monkeys are surging.  Jumping 4 spots to claim the top spot, the Monkeys have averaged 161 points scored in the last weeks along with a 3-0 run.  They currently have the best record but with injuries hitting Saquan and Gibson, there's some trouble brewing in the waters potentially ahead.  

2.  Fat Jubas.  Despite a blip in Week 4 where the Jubas failed to score 80 points, the Jubas have been a juggernaut the past two weeks.  Kyler and team have averaged a crazy 175 points in weeks 5 and 6 and show no signs of slowing.  In fact, they're the only team to have scored 150+ points in at least 4 games.   

3.  Gang Green.  The hottest team outside of the Monkeys.  Team Green has also surged in standings despite a still somewhat mediocre record though they're much improved from their start.  Green will be without CMC for awhile but they can still put up points even after a heart breaking loss to the Monkeys in week 6.  

4.  Battle Angels.  Will's team is faltering a bit esp after two pretty mediocre games in Week 5 and 6.  Week 6 was the biggest dud with no player eclipsing the 20 point mark.  The team has been hurt by injuries to Kittle and Russel Wilson and also week 6 byes have not been kind but the Angels need a bit of a pick me up.  

5.  Custom J.  Josh's team is one of the biggest fallers since the Week 3 rankings.  They're still scoring well but a .500 record is mostly what impacts their lower power ranking score.  They did just win the hard fault brother matchup in week 6.  We think there's a lot more run for the Js and expect to see them a solid playoff contender.

6.  Crunch Bunch.  Eddie's team has been remarkably consistent with a week 6 blip as the only sign of weakness.  Sporting a 4-2 record, the only reason the Bunch is this far down the rankings is that they haven't truly had a breakout week like the teams above.  For the first 5 weeks, the Bunch has scored no less than 127 pts but also, no more than 137 points.  The breakout will come - give it time.  

7.  Phreaks.  Ping's team moved up a slot stemming mostly from a week 4 blow out week with 162 points.  That being said, the bottom 4 teams are clearly a step below the top 6 teams.  The Phreaks, Buffy, Mastermind and Jammers all sport a 2-4 record and have sub 120 pt/week averages.  

8.  Jammers.  Lei's team swapped with Ping's.   The Jammers have shown a bit of life after back to back 120+ pt showings.  Darrell Henderson has been a steal and Ja'Marr chase is the runaway ROY of the year.  There's definitely talent here but likely will take another year before we're talking playoffs.  

9.  Mastermind.   Similar to the Jammers, Mastermind has shown life the past two weeks.   This will be tricky with the Cowboys on a bye but Masterminds needs to start pulling out some wins.  

10.  Buffy.  Last time we wrote that Buffy really needs some of his unorthodox draft picks and keepers to payoff.  They haven't yet and unfortunately, Buffy remains in the cellar in these rankings.  They've really struggled to break the 100 pt mark in recent weeks but despite Hunt on IR, they are getting reinforcements in Bobby Trees showing some improvement, the return of Michael Thomas.  Who knows - its fantasy football!

Early Season Power Rankings

Parity has set in right? Have we ever been four weeks into a season and NOT had a winless team? Well this year we not only have no winless teams, and the entire Spunky Misunderstood Geniuses division is at 0.500 or better. The only two teams with a losing record in the league are Buffy and Tiiite End Jammers, and they are only one game out of first place in this young season. Let's take a quick look at how everyone's teams are faring in our first four weeks.

Fobsters (3-1)
Can one man lead a team to the top? Well, when that man is Tom Brady, currently averaging 36.7 ppg, that answer is "yes." While losing Calvin Johnson must hurt, RB Michael Turner has been providing the grinding work he was acquired for. With WR Steve Smith having a comeback year -- paired with Cam Newton -- the Fobsters have the parts to stay at the top along with TE Jason Witten, RB Beanie Wells, and WRs Dez Bryant and Jordy Nelson. Of course it's been nice to play the second easiest schedule in the league, but the Fobsters have been over 100+ three times already and lost only to a 135 point Battle Angels' explosion in WK3.

Ante Up (2-2)
Our highest scoring team in the league, it's incredible what Aaron Rodgers has been doing so far. He's averaging 37.9 points per outing and sits atop the fantasy world, especially after his recent 58 point outing in WK4. Jae's team also features two 20+ ppg running backs in LeSean McCoy and Ray Rice. The concern for this team is in the WR department, where rising star Kenny Britt was tragically derailed for the season, and old veteran Reggie Wayne misses Peyton Manning something awful. So far Santonio Holmes, Lance Moore, and Mario Manningham have not been the answer. If Ante Up can find some receivers, this team could ascend another level.

Gang Green (3-1)
As always, Greg's team is faring well. WR Steve Johnson has continued his ascent, becoming a top ten receiver. Hakeem Nicks isn't far behind either, as he averages 14.7 ppg, good for eleventh best WR on the charts. With RB Peyton Hillis proving that he's not a one year wonder and Ahmad Bradshaw emerging as a reliable running mate (pushing underwhelming Shonn Greene out of the picture), the backfield is solid if unspectacular. Overall the Greenies have been very consistent, putting up 100+ in each of their first four games. Despite not being explosive, they have acquired a lofty perch by taking care of business and beating teams when they stumble.

Fat Jubas (2-2)
Things were not looking good in Jubaville as franchise QB Peyton Manning was on the sidelines to begin the season. Then GM Eric took Cam Newton off the waiver wire in WK2 and everything changed. Oh and how about Darren McFadden, who finally has solidified his status as a fantasy all-star. McFadden is the third best non-QB in the game right now, and he continues to look great each week. With Chris Johnson barely rounding into shape after his lockout, Frank Gore has been working to get his way into the lineup. Eric has juggled a lot of players this season and if all three RBs start playing to their expectations, he may need to move one of them. On the receiver side, it's TE Jimmy Graham taking the fantasy world by storm as he averages 16.7 ppg while never having touched single digits. He pairs nicely with deep threat Vincent Jackson on the outside. With Killer Cam now the automatic starter, we see the Jubas climbing the standings very soon.

Battle Angel (2-2)
Somehow Vu's team has put up the second most points in the league this season. Yes, QB Drew Brees is up at 32.0 ppg, and sure WR Greg Jennings has been amazing. But with Cedric Benson and DeAngelo Williams both sucking it up in the backfield, how is this team winning? May we offer Fred Jackson! Our draft analysis said, "While we like Fred Jackson, he'll hardly be the new face of the franchise." Well 20+ ppg later, he just might be! The Angels could be in for some dark times though, as Andre Johnson is out for his customary mid-season injury break, and there is nobody helping Fred out in the backfield. Maybe if rookie Daniel Thomas can crank it up some, Vu's team can keep fighting for a playoff spot.

Chunky Monkeys (2-2)
The Monkeys had a chance to go 3-1 this pass weekend but lost on MNF to LeGarrette Blount's late night heroics. With Jamaal Charles out for the year, the Monkeys have a big hole to fill in the backfield. The good news is that sophomore RB Ryan Mathews has finally become dependable option, and is #8 among non-QBs so far. Even better, recently acquired WR Calvin Johnson has set the record books on fire with his eight touchdowns in four games streak. He has been absolutely carrying the receiving corps, as Brandon Marshall, Santana Moss, and Jermichael Finley have been erratic at best. Rookie WR Julio Jones may be coming on though, which would be a desperately needed complement to Johnson. While down on his luck this season, Evan's team is still looking pretty good, even as it's come down to earth some.

Philadelphia Phreaks (2-2)
The Phreaks could have one more win, but they lost by 0.40 in WK1 to Battle Angel upon debut of our decimal scoring system. Ping is the only owner to not have made one lineup move so far, and considering the wide gap in quality between his starters and his bench, he may not need to until byes hit. While newly acquired Michael Vick hasn't been able to lead the Eagles to victory, his 24.5 ppg has still been just as advertised. For a team that hasn't really hit their stride yet, the Phreaks are very well balanced with upside at every position. WR Mike Wallace is a true number one, and the combination of DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin means at least one of them will produce each week. Jahvid Best has surprisingly outperformed LeGarrette Blount but that's hardly a bad thing. We see the Phreaks taking a big step forward in upcoming weeks as Vick and Co. start to go into hyperdrive.

Dirty Birds (2-2)
When there's no clear leadership, sometimes a talented ship can go astray. GM Jon has continued to select the wrong QB to lead his team, alternating between Josh Freeman and Ben Roethlisberger on wrong weeks. That will have to stop. While Adrian Peterson has quietly been a top back, a big gaping hole at RB2 is there, despite having Mike Tolbert and Darren Sproles on the roster, both of whom deserve a starting nod. The vaunted passing attack has been good, but having Calvin Johnson still around sure would have been nice. Instead, TE sensation Rob Gronkowski is going to be the fourth receiver here. The Birds have proven to be explosive but also highly inconsistent. They'll have to find more consistent play from the QB position if they hope to soar this season.

Buffy (1-3)
Who's the best fantasy receiver in the land? How about Wes Welker! With ten catches a game, 616 yards, and 5 TDs already under his belt, Mr. Welker is having an all universe year. Not only is he the top receiver around, he's the best non-QB player so far this season. With Arian Foster struggling with injuries early on, Matt Forte has been outstanding, with 22.1 ppg and ranking in the top five overall. QB Jay Cutler was great for three weeks before last week's stumble, but he should remain the starter. What this team needs is receivers who can help out Welker. So far it's been rookie AJ Green who has been the top contributer, which is great news, but Buffy needs more. This team is on the rise though, as they've fought hard WK1-3 before notching an explosive victory versus Ante Up in WK4.

Tiiite End Jammers (1-3)
The only team so far in CTDB not averaging 100+ per week, in this season of wild scoring, the Jammers may find themselves slightly underpowered. The first Jammer to appear on the non-QB scoring rankings is waiver wire WR Eric Decker, who has only played two games for the franchise. New Jammer RB Maurice Jones-Drew has been okay, but averaging 13.8 ppg isn't going to carry this team to any victories. Tony Romo has been a top ten QB so far this season but his health continues to be a question and he'll likely split time with Ryan Fitzpatrick some more. What the Jammers need is for all of their receivers to step up, and to find out what is wrong with Rashard Mendenhall. Otherwise the Jammers are only going to be a top contender for the Toilet Bowl.

Regular Season Finale Power Rankings

The 2010 regular season is now in the wraps and what a season it was (final standings here). Along with some familiar and expected names (hello Adrian Peterson and CJ2K), we have some new risers (Aaron Rodgers and Philip Rivers), and as always we have some new out-of-left-field superstars (Peyton Hillis, Brandon Lloyd, Steve Johnson, Dwayne Bowe).

Before we march into the playoffs, here’s a look back at the year that was.

10. Tiiite End Jammers (5-8)

Technically, the Jammers didn’t have the worst record but they had the worst luck. Injury is the one word to sum up the Jammers season. Before the season even was under way, the Jammers announced that they were placing 2010 first pick, Ryan Grant, on IR for an ankle injury. Weeks later, Jammers starting QB, Tony Romo was effectively knocked out for the season with a broken collarbone. As for the rest, you had a lot of “potential” but not a lot of production. Talented youngsters such as Beanie Wells, Percy Harvin, and Michael Crabtree were up-and-down at best. While Harvin and Crabtree have shown flashes of brilliance (Harvin will finish in the top 30 receivers ranking), the rest of the young talent Beanie Wells (44 pts), Pierre Garcon (82 pts) and Crabtree (97 pts) were unreliable and largely unproductive.

However, there are positive signs. The Jammers may have found the QB of their forseeable future in a revitalized Mike Vick (6th best QB). Rashard Mendenhall is a stalwart and will be a cornerstone. There’s talent on this team but GM Lei Pan will need to find the right combination for next year.

9. Battle Angels (3-10)

The Angels had the worst record of the year. What? These are the same Angels that are 2 years removed from a Superbowl ring and had a dominant 2009 (best regular season record, most points scored but upset in the divisional series against the eventual champions – Gang Green). Its hard to figure out what happened as the Angels returned the core of their dominant past rosters. We’re talking about a team with Drew Brees, Andre Johnson, Greg Jennings, and DeAngelo Williams! It was a mix of injuries, a bad run game but a whole lot of bad luck. Drew Brees was Drew Brees with another ~300 pt season finishing as a top 5 QB. The Angels had another dominant season receiving season. Greg Jennings, TO, and AJ all finished in the top 8 receivers.

What the Angels missed was their run game. DeAngelo Williams just had a poor start, held back by a terrible offense in the Panthers. After just 7 weeks of ~5 pt/week production, Williams was finally placed on IR in late October. Angels’ lead back, Cedric Benson, had a decent season (10 pts/game) but was barely a top 20 back. The biggest factor was defense. While the Angels scored over 100 pts a contest, opponents nearly averaged 115 pts a week. Just look at Week 13 – the Angels ground out 125 points …. Only to be beat yet again by Ante Up (with 130). That’s just bad luck. The Angels will be back next year.

8. Dirty Birds (5-8)

Another super team with terrible results. Look at the line up: All Day, Burner Turner, Larry Fitz, and Miles Austin. Not to mention the rotating tandem of Matty Ice and Joe Unflappable Flacco. There is some big time talent on this team. AP turned in another MVP performance with an 20+ pt/week average. Turner also had a very workmanlike season and turned over 1,000 yards with 8 TDs – good for 14+ pts/week. On the receiving side, the Birds had a bit of a down year. Miles Austin finished as the 15th best receiver averaging just less than 13 pts/game. Fitzgerald was slightly worse with 135 pts through 13 weeks. The 3rd WR was a constant rotation (due to injury between Finley, Collie and Mario Manningham).

On the QB side, 2010 draft picks, Ryan and Flacco probably outperformed. Matty Ice was the 8th best QB while Joe Flacco was the 11th. If there’s a chance one of the QBs are kept, its probably Ryan. Mr. Ice showed remarkable progress and averaged nearly 23 pts/game. We have no idea how the Dirty Birds sucked so much. They only scored over 100 points 3 weeks all year. On the flip side, they scored under 80 in 8 times! Many of those times were true suckage with 3 weeks under 80 points.

7. Fobsters (7-6)

Fobsters are continuing to build momentum. With 2 playoff appearances in the last 3 years, the Fobsters are about to make their 3rd in 4 years. Led by Tom Terrific and Megatron, the Fobsters have been the beneficiaries of a bit of luck this year. Opponents averaged under 100 pts a game against them this year (Fobsters were actually the 3rd lowest scoring team this year). While there’s some steady performers here, the roster gets a little suspect outside of Brady. Players like Mike Tolbert, Santonio Holmes, and Mike Williams have been key performers but are far from stars at this point. It’ll be interesting to see the decisions Jimmy makes this off-season.

6. Gang Green (6-7)

Last year’s champion is this year’s mediocrity. That’s football. Despite a near .500 record, Gang Green actually had a pretty bad year. The 4th lowest scoring team in the league, Green finished the season 1 game under .500. A far cry from the championship season last year. However, this isn’t new. Greg relies more on steady no-name performers instead of star divas. This year, Green found some absolute goldmines (despite an inability capitalize). Steven Johnson came out of no where to finish as a top 10 receiver. Even more shockingly, Brandon Lloyd (yes, the same Brandon Lloyd that came into the league in 2002) finished as a top 3 WR averaging over 17 pts a game. Wow.

There’s more, Greg picked up some white RB named Peyton Hillis in September. Hillis went on to put up 962 yards with a ridiculous 11 TDs. This also does not include 50 catches for 430+ yards and ANOTHER 2 TDs. Damn. Hillis finished with 1 point less than Adrian Peterson. WOW. All three including Johnson, Lloyd and Hillis were FA pick ups. Despite this, Green had a bad year. Mostly because of the terrible years put up by Randy Moss and Shonn Greene. There’s talent here with multiple keeper possibilities in Hillis, Johnson, Lloyd, Hakeem Nicks, Sidney Rice and maybe even Greene. We think this team is much better next year than entering this year (hard to believe).

5. Chunky Monkeys (9-4)

Its weird to see the Monkeys in this slot. The same Monkeys that were so dominant in the first decade, the same Monkeys that, despite a very up-and-down season, enters this year’s playoffs with a 1st week bye. However, in many ways, these are not the same Monkeys. Gone are Peyton Manning and Chris Johnson. In are Philip Rivers, Jamaal Charles, Dwayne Bowe, Roddy White and Brandon Marshall. The Monkeys no longer sport the best runningback tandem in the league (think back to prior Monkey duos including CJ2K & Jamaal Charles, LT and Larry Johnson, LT and Shaun Alexander) and instead often rely on the run n’ gun led by Jamaal Charles. Charles, despite a strong yardage season, is really a time-share player.

Where the Monkeys have excelled this year has been their passing. Rivers is a top 3 quarterback and Dwayne Bowe/Roddy White are the top 2 receivers this year combining for over 2,000 yards and 21 tds. The Monkeys have a lot of potential talent in Marshall, Mathews (or else viewed as the largest bust this year) and Boldin but have so far haven’t been able to put it together consistently. We’ll see how they fare this year in the playoffs.

4. Fat Jubas (8-5)

At the start of the season, the Jubas looked like the Monkeys (Peyton and CJ2K) and played like the new Monkeys (7-1 regular season start). However, after only suffering their first loss in week 7, the Jubas suffered an unexplainable 4 game skid before finally righting the ship in the last game of the regular season against the Birds. During that losing streak, excluding a bad beat by Ante-Up (128-127), the Jubas averaged a measly 66 points. The issues are becoming increasingly clear.

Gore is now out for the season along with Dallas Clark who was lost earlier this season. CJ2K has had 5 weeks under 10 points and is no where near the all-world player he was last year. Peyton has thrown more INTs than anyone can remember (8 in the last two games!). Jubas have some depth though with Darren McFadden now being rotated in (a potential top 5 runner alert!) and as always, a plethora of tight ends including Vernon Davis and Tony G. However, what matters is that the Jubas win when it counts. With a clutch final regular season win, the Jubas managed to secure a 1st round bye in the playoffs. We’ll see if they can live up to the hype in the playoffs.

3. Ante Up (7-6)

Its hard putting a .500 team as a top team but the numbers show that Ante Up has consistently been one of the best teams. Jae’s team is leading the league in scoring. Led by superstar QB, Aaron Rodgers (top fantasy player this year), and a rock solid run game rotating between LeSean McCoy, Ray Rice and Ahmad Bradshaw – all three are top 15 running backs. The lone weakness, the receivers. Outside of Reggie Wayne, there really is little to speak of. Britt, Amendola, Sims-Walker, Obomanu have been a rotating cast of nobodies. However, if A-Rod, McCoy and Rice keep putting up 80+, they might not have to.

2. Philadelphia Phreaks (7-5-1)

What? The Phreaks? What year are we in? The Phreaks have been in the playoffs in a whopping 2 times and finished under .500 in 5 of the past 6 years. However, this year is different. The Phreaks were one game away from a 1st round bye and was consistently one of the best teams in the SMG division. Led by unsung hero, Kyle Orton, the Phreaks have had a consistent passing attack bolstered by young talents in Jeremy Maclin, Mike Wallace and DeSean Jackson. They have combined for 20 TDs and over 2000 yards.

MJD continues to be the rock of this team and is having another MVP type season with 1,100 yards with nearly 300 yards receiving. The emergence of Orton has been a godsend for the Phreaks. This is one of the strangest team in Phreaks history (to begin with, Donovan McNabb is no longer the starting quarterback) and is reliant weekly fireworks from his receivers. However, those have come at a fairly regular clip. Expect to see fireworks in the playoffs.

1. Buffy (8-4-1)

One of the fastest starting teams this year, Buffy started 7-2-1 before a mid-season slip lost them their vise grip on the top seed. Like the Monkeys, Roger has totally rebuilt their team and essentially flipped their team as well. Moving from the greatest show on turf, Buffy is now one of the most feared running teams in the league. Led by league MVP, Arian Foster, the Buffy running attack also includes Steven Jackson and Matt Forte who are both top 15 backs.

The story here is Foster. A first year starter, Foster put up over 1,200 yards with 13 tds to go along with 50 catches for nearly 500 yards and another 2 TDs through the air. To put this in weekly terms, Foster averaged over 24 points a week. More than 4 points more than 2nd place, Adrian Peterson. Not bad for a virtual unknown. There’s some uncertainty at QB (currently manned by rookie Sam Bradford) and Antonio Gates’ health (torn plantar fasciitis and turf toe) but there’s no doubt, this is an elite team this year.

Power Rankings

10. Tiiite End Jammers (1-4)

The rebuilding Jammers have probably hit an all-time low. Besides Tony Romo and Rashard Mendenhall, the rest of the Jammer lineup is constantly shuffled with the likes of Beanie Wells, Mark Clayton, Michael Crabtree, and Percy Harvin. We like the talent here … all the names above have the supreme talent but just need to find consistencies. As they say, no where to go but up. I think we’ll see a much better Jammers team in future but just not this year.

9. Battle Angels (1-4)

Its been quite a stumble for Vu’s Angels. After a historic 2008 championship run, Vu’s hit a bit of a stumbling block coming out of the gates this season. Drew Brees hasn’t quite been himself this year. Despite a solid 7 td performance, Brees has only been the 6th best QB this year. Significantly behind Manning, Rivers and the surprising Kyle Orton. Even more importantly, Vu’s receiver core which has been rated the best in the league for a few years have been underperforming. Andre Johnson and Greg Jennings have both been averaging less than 10 points per game. Malcolm Floyd has only been slightly better but extremely less consistent. Perhaps its time for Vu to start the infamous TO (53 points). Vu’s running backs have also been extremely mediocre – surprising given the expected leadership of DeAngelo Williams. Shockingly Williams has been averaging just over 8 points per contest. If you boil it all down, the whole team has been underperforming. Vu will have to find the right mix soon to right the ship.

8. DirteByrdeez (2-3)

The Dirty Birds are officially a mess. Coming off of Flaccogate and no Kickergate, the league’s most active coach has been shuttling players in and out of his lineup trying desperately to find the right combination. Adrian Peterson and Miles Austin continue to be solid but the Birds have been trying to find the right quarterback between Flacco and Mattie Ryan. The Birds have also been bitten by the injury bug with Larry Fitz, Michael Turner and now Michael Vick. Despite acquiring to the best performing waiver picks this year in Austin Collie and Vick, the Birds have yet to find the right combination for wins. The Birds scrapped out an ugly win versus the Monkeys in Week 5 but can they continue this streak? Averaging just over 80 points a week … yikes.

7. Gang Green (2-3)

Another stumbling Superbowl champ. The 2009 champ has really stumbled in the past 3 weeks with 3 consecutive losses. Its hard to diagnose the problem here but its clear that expected stars are just not performing. Shonn Greene has taken a clear back seat to LT, Randy Moss has literally fallen off the cliff. To put it in perspective, Moss has less points than Louis Murphy. In their place, we see new starters in Peyton HIllis and Brandon Lloyd. While there definitely is talent on the roster … there are many moving parts.

6. Ante Up (2-3)

Jae has a great quarterback (Aaron Rodgers) and a great running game anchored by Ahmad Bradshaw and Ray Rice. However, it’s the receiving core that’s been a big let down. Outside of Reggie Wayne, the receivers have been very inconsistent. First round pick, Mike Sims-Walker, has done literally nothing in two games. Specializing in bagels, MSW is now on the cusp of being released by Ante Up management. This is probably going to be another 5-8-ish season for Ante Up.

5. Fobsters (3-2)

Despite a second place record, the Fobsters lineup is still in a state of disarray. Outside of Tom Brady and Megatron, the Fobster lineup is mixed with 3 TEs and the likes of Mike Tolbert and Caddy Williams (who was somehow a keeper this year). There is young talent on this team – led by Dez Bryant, Mike Williams and Santonio Holmes but they will need time to develop.

4. Philadelphia Phreaks (2-2-1)

An injection of home-run hitting Jahvid Best seemed like a much deserved moved for the Phreaks. After years of 1st round running back busts, the speedy best burst onto the scene with some incredible runs. Reminiscent of Barry Sanders, Best was on a path of rookie stardom until the dreaded “turf toe monster” apparently caught up. While still a sure keeper, the Phreaks need to find a way to keep their star players healthy. The talent is there with MJD, Jahvid and Eagles WR combo of Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Even mid-season free agent pick-up, Kyle Orton, is currently a top 5 QB. Lost in all of this is that Phreaks are on their way to their first playoffs in a long time! (fingers crossed)

3. Chunky Monkeys (3-2)

The regular season champs have lost a bit of their charm. After pulling out 3 straight wins, the Monkeys stumbled in week 5 … and stumbled hard. Still trying to find the right running combo, the Monkeys have become a passing team. The combo of Rowdy Roddy, Quan, and B-Marsh are quickly proving to be the best WR set in the land. The key now is to find the right running combo between Jamaal Charles (continued time share), Ryan Mathews (ankle problems) and LT (can he continue taking carries away from Shonn Greene). The Monkeys are likely playoff contenders but can they win it all?

2. Buffy (3-1-1)

The IDK division may have a new leader – team Buffy. A win over division rival, the Monkeys, this week, will go a long way in cementing their place as the new division leader. New found superstars in Arian Foster and Matt Forte have been unexpected surprises. Even Steven Jackson has found less playing time because of their successes. On the flip side, the passing game is anchored by the truly incomparable Antonio Gates. Gates is the top pass catcher in the land and combined with Arian Foster, the two are the two top scoring non-QB position players so far this year. Wow.

1. Jubas (5-0)

The new Chunky Monkeys. Undefeated. Except for a minor stumble last week, the Jubas are on cruise control right now, smashing their opponents with the lethal combo of Manning, CJ2K, and Frank Gore. The trade of Brandon Marshall has forced the Jubas to resort to deploying multiple tight end formations including Dallas Clark and Vernon Davis as regular starters. However, the combination has proved lethal. Averaging nearly 110 points a contest, the Jubas are out for blood and blood they are getting.

Early Season Review: Part 2

Gang Green (3-1)
Led by a surprising Joe Flacco who has been a top 10 QB this year so far, Gang Green has found itself a top a surging Spunky Misunderstood Geniuses division. Ronnie Brown has been the rock of the team with 4 TDs this year. While Brandon Jacobs has been up and down, the real strength of the Gang Green is in the WR core. VJax is a legitimate starter this year while veterans Randy Moss and Hines Ward have been steady (not yet spectactular). We expect Moss to heat up as Brady gets up to speed which represents only upside for Gang Green. We may be looking at the run away leader this year for the SMG division.

Battle Angels (2-1-1)
The defending champion could easily be tied for first if it weren't for a strange tie last week. Drew Brees had a ridiculous start to the season then threw two straight clunkers Brees will turn it around and the Angels sure hope he does as Brees is the cornerstone in their high powered offense. Pierre Thomas and DeAngelo Williams are the starters in a solid backfield while Andre Johnson, Greg Jennings, and Steve Smith headline one of the deepest receiving core in all of CTDB. While AJ has been a beast, Steve Smith and Jennings have been up and down. There will more ups than downs in the weeks to come so we another strong season for the Angels.

Fobsters (2-2)
Fobsters is in third place!! Tom Brady is back! Thats about it really. But its better than nothing - for a team that finished with no wins a few seasons back. The rest of Jimmy's team is unspectacular at best. Reggie Bush is a bust given his draft position and hype that he came with. Kevin Smith has quietly been a top 10 back this year. Despite all-world talent, Megatron has been just above-average. Santana Moss and Witten have been serviceable which just about where Fobsters expect them to be. All that put together - what do you get? A potential fringe playoff team particularly if Brady continues to improve. The Fobsters will likely face stiff competition from the slumping Fat Jubas though as the weeks progress.

Fat Jubas (1-2-1)
The Fat Jubas are known for their slow starts despite one of the best looking rosters this year. Kurt Warner is probably at the end of his career but with Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston, its hard not to put up numbers. The Jubas, like the Monkeys, are very deep in their backfield with Frank Gore, Michael Turner, Ryan Grant along with Glenn Coffee and lightning bug, Darren Sproles. Even with an injury to Gore, the Jubas are still able to field a competitive backfield for the next few weeks. As for the receivers, the Jubas are led by resurgent Marques Colston and Brandon Marshall. Dallas Clark and Tony Gonzalez also often see the field. The Jubas are one of the few teams in CTDB history to start two TEs. Go figure...

Philadelphia Phreaks (1-3)
Probably the unluckiest team in CTDB history, the Phreaks have scored 383 points, good for 5th in the league. However, on the flip side, opponents have scored 469 points off the Phreaks. Thats nearly 120 points per game per week. Safe to say, the Phreaks defense has some holes to plug in. Donny McNabb has been hurt again but looks to return this week against the Bucs. Perhaps, the tide is turning and Phreaks can get on track for a winning season. On the plus side of things, McNabb's replacement, the venerable Brett Favre has been tearing it up. And Maurice-Jones Drew has been justifying his early draft status too. If the schedule (and injuries) would let up, the Phreaks do have some talent.

Early Season Review: Part 1

The Inscrutable Drama Kings have always been the undisputed "better" division until recently. With the Battle Angels dominant run last year, the tables may have turned. Three of the Drama Kings have the lowest scoring teams in the league -- and by a wide margin. While the Drama Kings do boast the two highest scoring teams, the rest of the division is looking a bit weak. Still, there's a lot of football left to be played isn't there?

Chunky Monkeys (3-1)
After one week with a losing record, the Monkeys have righted the ship and ripped off three straight wins to find themselves at a familiar position, at the top of the standings. There's a changing of the guard however as the team is in clear transition. QB Peyton Manning has stepped up and been better than ever (or just as good as normal) with nine TDs to only three INTs so far. The big change is the fact that LaDainian Tomlinson is reaching the end of his stardom. He's been hurt and has posted only nine points through the first four weeks. New franchise back Chris Johnson had a huge game in WK2 but has been only middling otherwise. WR Anquan Boldin has been quieter than normal but Evan's selection of Percy Harvin (24 pts) and Jerricho Cotchery (51 pts) has picked up the slack -- especially with Anthony Gonzalez still injured. The big question is what is happening to Matt Forte? Is he a franchise back? Or will it be Fred Jackson who turns out to be the better performer? Either way, the Monkeys have depth and Peyton and that has proven to be plenty.

Ante Up (2-2)
Here's something, Jae looks to be making the push into playoff status early. Behind first round pick QB Aaron Rodgers, Ante Up has been putting up the points with a balanced attack led by Reggie Wayne (68 pts), the remergence of Chad Ochocinco (49 pts), and dual threat running back Steve Slaton. There's still some holes on this team though. Brian Westbrook has been dinged up early and his backup LeSean McCoy hasn't really stepped up. Also, there's no third receiver on this team as Devin Hester and Antonio Bryant have been clear disappointments. Still, the season is young and Ante Up has a statement to make this year.

Buffy (2-2)
This is going to sound redundant but here's another team being carried by their quarterback. Philip Rivers has been hot hot hot and he's bringing TE Antonio Gates along for the ride. The problem is that big names Roddy White, TJ Houshmandzadeh, and Donald Driver haven't been performing (Buffy stalwart Torry Holt was finally, unceremoniously, released). Roger's team needs to get his receivers up to speed and then hope that RB Marion Barber gets healthy quick. Without him, the team has been relying on Willis McGahee, Julius Jones, and Ahmad Bradshaw to run the ball. Those three have only combined for 46 points total.

Dirty Birds (2-2)
After starting off with two wins, the Birds have crashed back to Earth and are sliding back to the pack. All world Adrian Peterson has been bottled up except for WK1 and has been increasingly average. QB Matt Ryan was looking terrific until being shut down by the Patriots but he should continue to be a franchise player. What is really hurting the Birds is their receivers. Larry Fitzgerald has been decent but Braylon Edwards, Wes Welker (injured), and whoever Jon has nabbed off the waiver wire have been pretty terrible. With Steven Jackson racking up the yards but not the TDs, the Birds need some WRs to step up to get out of their slump.

Tiiite End Jammers (1-3)
Despite losing three straight, the Jammers actually look okay on paper. QB Tony Romo has been effective, the "other" Steve Smith has made a name for himself, Joseph Addai and Santonio Holmes have both been serviceable, and the rest of the team have had their moments. The problem though is that they don't have any explosiveness. Aside from a 130 point outburst in WK1, they've only topped 80 points once. That and they've had a rough schedule, soaking up back to back poundings from division leaders Chunky Monkeys and Ante Up in WK2-3. The Jammers have some things to look forward to as big names Clinton Portis, Dwayne Bowe, and Roy Williams have underperformed a bit and can only improve.

Grading the 2009 Draft

It's a brand new season and a full fledged changing of the guard is around the corner. For the first time in a long time, LaDainian Tomlinson isn't the undisputed best back in fantasy. In fact, it can be said that he's no longer even in the top five. A slew of sophomores and third year players are poised to take over the league and that means some old time keepers are starting to outlive their star status. For Buffy, releasing franchise cornerstone WR Torry Holt marked a clear break from the past. Other stars like RB Brian Westbrook, Chad Ochocinco, Marvin Harrison, Donald Driver, and Terrell Owens are clearly on the downside of their careers. CTDB is headed for change and the next few years could result in a drastic change in power. So how did the draft go this year? Well, surprisingly light on rookies and young players, and maybe one last fling with the old guard.

1. Ante Up
After having another down season, Ante Up finally get the first overall pick. Last year they selected second and had a stellar draft, bringing in the backfield of the future in RBs Steve Slaton and Jonathan Stewart. Brian Westbrook and Reggie Wayne have some more time left but it's questionable whether WR Antonio Bryant was a better keeper than Colts up and coming receiver Anthony Gonzalez (of course, two Colts' WRs might be one too many). With his first pick, Jae solidified his quarterback position with Aaron Rodgers, who was explosive and has a lot of promise. If he can stay healthy, he's a franchise QB in the making. Two more promising RBs were selected this year, Ray Rice and LeSean McCoy. The writing is on the wall for Brian Westbrook as Jae has wisely selected his backup. With Chad Ochocino (Rd2) and Devin Hester (Rd4) also on board, Ante Up should have a good season, especially with a strong defense also on board in the Vikings D.
Grade: B+

2. Buffy
Buffy fell to 4-9 last year but he's hoping to be on the upswing. After selecting WR Roddy White last year in the draft and netting TE Antonio Gates, the passing game is in good hands, especially with QB Philip Rivers calling the shots. In fact, Buffy may be looking to pass a lot this year because he took three more WRs with his first picks. TJ Houshmanzadeh is on a new team and possibly a steal in the supplemental draft, Lance Moore is promising and productive, and old stalwart Torry Holt has been brought back for sentimental reasons. However, the selection of K Stephen Gostkowski in Rd4 is a bit curious as the backfield is thin, with RBs Marion Barber and Willie Parker both looking at possible time shares. Can young runners Ahmad Bradshaw and Jamaal Charles pick up the slack if one of the starters goes down? We'll roll the dice with GM Roger's draft strategy and put faith in his selection of a K before backup running backs.
Grade: B-

3. Fobsters
The Fobsters are no strangers to high picks in the draft. Save one glorious season, they've had a top three pick three times in the past four years. Last year's weak draft directly contributed to their losing season. Needing receivers, they traded Chad Ochocinco for Larry Johnson (a wash) and drafted Jerricho Cotchery, Jason Witten, and Patrick Clayton. In hindsight, only Witten was worth the roster spot -- he's now a keeper. Let's hope this year's first few selections fare better. Prognositcators are in love with Detroit RB Kevin Smith and he's sorely needed as Larry Johnson and Reggie Bush aren't stars (anymore and never was, respectively). Eddie Royal, Santana Moss, and Chris Chambers should complement the passing game well and we love the promise of rookie RB Shonn Green. Throwing in the rottweiler Giants D is nice too. With Megatron Calvin Johnson on board and QB Tom Brady returning, look for the Fobsters to return to contention... for a winning record.
Grade: B+

4. Philadelphia Phreaks
Despite a luxurious ocean cruise to Mexico and back, GM Ping put their game face on and will fight to get to a .500 record this year. They selected RB Darren McFadden first overall last year and that pick has yet to pay a lot of dividends. For now, he'll share the backfield with fellow keepers Maurice Jones-Drew and Marshawn Lynch. That's a pretty solid running game, the problem is, the passing for the Phreaks was soft heading into the draft. QB Donovan McNabb is still mighty fine but DeSean Jackson isn't a number one receiver. The one year rental of Terrell Owens will help a lot here, and Bernard Berrian's stock just went sky high after Brett Favre became a Viking. Round four WR Kevin Walters almost had 1000 yards with his 8 TDs last year. Post-draft, that's a good starting quartet. Eagles rookie Jeremy Maclin has some speed but he was picked by Ping to increase the Philly presence. We really like Ping's selection of rookie RB Donald Brown, who will join a crowded backfield.
Grade: A-

5. Tiiite End Jammers
The Jammers snuck into the playoffs with a losing record last year and might be headed lower thsi season. The off-season was not kind to them. QB Tony Romo lost Terrell Owens while WR Lee Evans added a competitor. Clinton Portis is another year older (slower) and Joseph Addai will be challenged by rookie Donald Brown. Hey, at least Dwayne Bowe won't have to share the ball with Tony Gonzalez anymore! Lei saw his needs and went for WRs with upside -- just like he did last year when he took Bowe, Evans, Chambers, Justin Gage and Ted Ginn. This year's selections of Roy Williams, Santonio Holmes, and Domenik Hixon all have a chance to be the number one receivers on their respective teams. We'd put Donnie Avery on that list too but he's out 4-6 weeks to start the season. Other than that, rookies RB Chris "Beanie" Wells and WR Michael Crabtree have potential but not a lot of immediate success slated for them. We don't know where the Jammers are headed this season, but we're not high on their chances for dramatic improvement.
Grade: C+

6. Dirty Birds
With a solid keeper core, the Birds don't have many holes. RBs Adrian Peterson and Steven Jackson are franchise talents, and WR Larry Fitzgerald is the best in the game. The jury is out on Braylon "Brick Hands" Edwards but there's hope he'll return to form. At least Wes Welker is still the game's most dependable slot receiver. The problem for the Birds is that Peterson and Jackson are injury prone. Thus, rookie RB Knoshown Moreno was selected in the first round. And promptly got injured in pre-season. He belongs on this team already. Sophmore sensation QB Matt Ryan was selected to appease the fan base and to pilot the Birds into the future. Old time veterans like WR Laveranues Coles, RB LenDale White, and QB Carson Palmer provide decent if totally unexciting backups.
Grade: C+

7. Fat Jubas
The Jubas must really like Packer's RB Ryan Grant. He was a keeper last year and draft quickly this year. How much upside can Grant have? Along with the return of Grant, TE Tony Gonzalez was quickly scooped up again to round out the receiving trio along with Marques Colston and Brandon Marshall. But this team is a running team, with Michael Turner and Frank Gore leading the way. That's a really great running game isn't it? Behind them, Eric took another Chargers' backup, Darren Sproles. TE Dallas Clark and "I don't know who he is" WR Brian Robiskie probably won't get on the field much, unless one of the starters get injured. With his last pick, Eric took Redskins' WR Devin Thomas, who won last year's Rookie Madden Bowl. With four running backs and two star receivers, the Jubas are stacked. But wait, what happens if QB Kurt Warner goes down? The backup is. The backup is. Wait for it, nobody. Perhaps the Jubas will just surf the waiver wire, or pray for Warner to make another miracle season, or just pick up Matt Leinart. He's gotta be available right?
Grade: C

8. Gang Green
We just did a franchise review on Gang Green and talked about their lack of superstars. Winning consistently always gives them a low pick at the draft and this year is no exception. Draft picks Vincent Jackson, Ted Ginn Jr., and Felix Jones aren't likely to transform into top five talents anytime soon. However, Gang Green is already solid at every position with the three headed RB attack of Brandon Jacobs, Thomas Jones, and Ronnie Brown. Old school WRs Randy Moss and Hines Ward complement each other well but Greg will have to work quickly on the wire to pick up some future talent. QBs Jay Cutler and Matt Schaub will both be more than serviceable and that makes the selection of the number one defense on the board, Steelers D, in RD3, very defensible. The Greenies didn't draft any future stars but hey, they apparently don't need'em!
Grade: B

9. Chunky Monkeys
Every year it's the same old story. Low draft pick and an abudance of running back talent. Evan specializes in digging up dynamite young RBs and last year he hit the jackpot with Matt Forte and Chris Johson -- both of whom are now keepers. This backfield of the future comes at just the right time as longtime franchise cornerstone LaDainian Tomlinson is on his way out (but maybe not without another huge season). QB Peyton Manning is still consistent as rain but he'll be throwing to some new faces this year. Franchise WR Anquan Boldin is disgrutled but mighty fine. Terrell Owens and Chad Ochostinko are gone. First round pick Anthony Gonzalez was a great move and if Jerricho Cotchery, Percy Harvin, or Josh Morgan can do something/anything, the Monkeys will be delighted. Then again, they've always had a hole at the third WR position, and it really hasn't made much of a difference in their winning ways has it?
Grade: B

10. Battle Angels
The Angels had a dream season. After going 5-8 two seasons ago, they turned it all around, added four wins to the bottom line, won their division, and also took home the championship trophy for the cherry on top. And we kind of love their game. With reigning MVP Drew Brees flinging the ball all over the place to three bonafide number one receivers (Andre Johnson, Steve Smith, Greg Jennings), not many teams can keep up with their firepower. RB DeAngelo Williams was a revelation for the playoff run and could still keep churning this year despite competition from Jonathan Stewart. Vu smartly drafted a bunch of starting tailbacks should Williams falter however. We love his picks of Pierre Thomas, Derrick Ward, and Cedric Benson, who aren't big names but have more than serviceable games. Picking up Steve Breaston, the other Steve Smith and Chris Henry also gives them the ability to go run-and-shoot just like last year. We like the Angels to put up a stiff title defense and we can't see much drop off.
Grade: A-

Regular Season Recap

Somehow, the entire Inscrutable Drama Kings lost their games this week while the Spunky Misunderstood Geniuses won all of theirs. In this year's battle for division bragging rights, it can be rightly said that the SMGs are the winner. After all, they boast the top two records in the league despite scoring slightly less than the IDK side. But history isn't made in the regular season. Even a regular season that featured extreme parity and balance.

Here's the big questions heading into the playoffs: Can the Battle Angels rise from the depths to claim their first championship? Can Gang Green repeat and capture their first solo crown? Or will the Drama Kings continue their dominance in the big game? If history tells us anything, it's the Tiiite End Jammers turn to be the next two-time champs, but with no dominant teams this year, the next few weeks will be extremely interesting.

TOP OF THE WORLD
Battle Angel (9-4)
Wrapping up the most successful season in franchise history is cause for celebration. It's been a long time coming as the Angels have been on a downslide recently and haven't posted a winning record since 2004. This year, they had a 8-1 record to close the season (after starting out 0-3), and had five and four game winning streaks. They've also scored 125 and 134 points in recent weeks and it's almost a shame they'll be on bye as they're clearly peaking.

Lacking a strong running game all season, Vu's team is suddenly bolstered by the emergence of RB DeAngelo Williams, who has posted 20+ points in four straight weeks. That takes some of the pressure off the fantastic aerial game that features QB Drew Brees slinging it all over the field to WRs Greg Jennings, Andre Johnson, and Steve Smith. We think the Angels are a clear threat for the championship and with their high octane offense, they could ignite their way right into the Super Bowl.

Chunky Monkeys (8-5)
Evan's worst season in the league still left him atop the standings at the end of the day in the Inscrutable Drama Kings Division -- while scoring the most points of any team. Since WK7, the Monkeys have gone 6-1 (the only loss coming in last week's meaningless regular season finale) and gone over the century mark five times.

While franchise stalwarts Peyton Manning, LaDainian Tomlinson, and Terrell Owens have had their cold streaks this season, the emergence of rookies Matt Forte and Chris Johnson really helped to offset their slides. With WR Anquan Boldin fully healthy, and the underrated Vincent Jackon (replacing the entirely useless Chad Johnson) on board, the roster is loaded. So here's the story at the end of the day: The Monkeys are a top contender for the championship. Again.


THE CHALLENGERS
Gang Green (9-4)
Just like the real life New York Giants, Gang Green are coming off a surprising Super Bowl victory by tacking on a great regular season -- proving that maybe it shouldn't have been all that surprising. And now they're the hottest team in the league after winning five games in a row to close out the season. While the Greenies aren't as explosive as some of the other contenders, they are consistent, managing to post 90-110 points almost every week.

By taking a grind it out mentality behind New York RBs Brandon Jacobs and Thomas Jones, Gang Green punishes lazy opponents and grinds them into submission. The passing game is in good hands too, with deep threats Randy Moss and Bernard Berrian (replacing that idiot Plax) matching up nicely with the solid hands of Hines Ward. To be honest, Gang Green is probably going to go as far as QB Brett Favre can take them. Seeing as the Jets are Greg's favorite team, this seems to be poetic. J-E-T-S Jets Jets Jets!

Fat Jubas (7-6)
At mid-season, the Jubas were 2-5 and seen to be out of the playoff picture. Since then however, the Jubas have posted five wins and their only loss was a blowout to the Monkeys in WK12. Now, the only champions to emerge from the SMG division is poised for a deep playoff run. It helps that they have two of the better RBs in the game in Michael Turner and Frank Gore. They aren't without some question marks though.

If the Jubas had a better all around season, QB Kurt Warner clearly would have been the league MVP. He's been absolutely amazing this year and was the highest scoring player. The question is who he's been throwing the ball to. Featured WRs Brandon Marshall and Marques Colston were erratic and injured, respectively. The search for an elusive third receiving threat took GM Eric to the depths of the free agent pool. Six different FA receivers were used in the lineup, none posting more than ten points total. At the end of the day, old stalwart Tony Gonzalez has been Warner's favorite target. If the Jubas are to get past Gang Green, they'll need at least one WR to step up.

Dirty Birds (7-6)
After jumping out to a 5-1 record to start the season, the Birds took a nosedive and lost three in a row. Scratching their way through the rest of the regular season and into the playoffs, they are determined to fight till the end defending their title. The good news is that the Birds haven't scored under 90 points in five weeks and have some explosive efforts on their side.

With the only change this year coming at the top in QB Jay Cutler, the Birds' strategy has remained mostly the same. The big difference is that they've lost their WR depth of last season in dramatic fashion. Plaxico Burress was traded away, Greg Jennings was released, and of the remaining options, only Larry Fitzgerald remained a top tier pass catcher. Wes Welker and Braylon Edwards both regressed, very badly in Edwards case. Still, with the explosive Adrian Peterson on-board and the return of Steven Jackson (along with the emergence of Peyton Hillis), the Birds do have an outside chance to become the first three time winner. Maybe.

Tiiite End Jammers (6-7)
The Jammers back doored their way into the playoffs. At mid-season, this publication declared them the runaway best team this year. Whoops. Since then, the Jammers have won just one game. After posting six century games through the first eight weeks, they've only gone over that mark once (in WK12). Without the collapse of Buffy and Ante Up, the Jammers could have easily missed the postseason. So, what happened?

The answer to that question is simple: injuries. Tony Romo took a few weeks off (but is now back and posting 30+ games), Joseph Addai was hurt, and there was a general let down by the receiving corps in the meantime. Dwayne Bowe and Lee Evans were decent, but Marvin Harrison and Chris Chambers were awful, and both veterans have since been cut. Luckily for the Jammers, the question of who will be that elusive third receiver has been solved by FA pickup Lance Moore, who has caught touchdowns in five straight games. Now if the running game of Clinton Portis (slowed last week by injury) and Joseph Addai can provide a few points, the Jammers are in great position for an upset.


SEE YA LATER
Philadelphia Phreaks (6-7)
Geezes, what the hell happened? The Phreaks were basking in the glow of a Phillies championship, their basketball team got Elton Brand, and Donovan McNabb was experiencing an early season resurgence. At the halfway mark, the Phreaks were number one and on their way to a post-season showing. Then they lost four in a row (all by very close margins) and sealed their fate. Another year, another high draft pick.

We're going to blame the receiving corps for this one, plus a slight side of mismanagement. The best performing WR on the roster, TJ Houshmandzadeh, inexplicably only played long enough to log eight points for the season. He averaged over ten points a game but Coach Ping never inserted him into the lineup -- and an extra 48 points is all that separated the Phreaks from a playoff spot. Santana Moss and Laveranues Coles went cold as ice during the back half of the season and rookie DeSean Jackson outperformed them both. And let's not even talk about Roy E. Williams, who got neutered when he was moved to Dallas.

At least the running game is in good hands. Even though first overall pick Darren McFadden failed to do much, he has the luxury of growing up behind steady RBs Marshawn Lynch and Maurice Jones-Drew. The big question facing Ping this off-season is whether or not McNabb will be worth a keeper slot and if the fan base will turn after such a big slide.

Fobsters (5-8)
Another early season favorite swooned and collapsed over the back half of the season. Sitting pretty at 4-3 just a few weeks ago, Jimmy's team went harakiri and lost the next six in a row. Coming off last year's resurgent season, that had to be a huge let down. The root cause might seem to be Tom Brady's season ending injury but in actuality, Aaron Rodgers was more than an adequate replacement.

The biggest culprit for the Fobsters slide might lie in their lack of team depth. Buoyed by Reggie Bush's amazing early season, the Fobsters were trampling foes and WR Calvin Johnson and TE Jason Witten were cream of the crop. Then Bush and Witten got hurt and it was all over. Lackluster replacements like Earnest Graham, Warrick Dunn, Muhsin Muhammad, Kellen Winslow, and Jerricho Cotchery, plus the inept work of Larry Johnson couldn't quite patch the hole. Still, it can't be said that GM Jimmy didn't give it his all, as injuries followed him all season long and with a few moves, the Fobsters could be back on top again.

Buffy (4-9)
It hasn't been easy for Buffy this season. Despite some fine individual performances, the chemistry was just off all season and they collapsed with four straight losses at the end, after never truly being in post-season contention. Facing the league's toughest schedule didn't help their cause any. The highlight of the year? A 91-81 victory over dreaded rival Chunky Monkeys...in Week One (they lost the rematch 120-138).

But all is not lost in Buffy-land because this roster has plenty of talent. In a true transition of the guard, long time stalwart Torry Holt is probably on his way out after a terrible season and a new crop of stars are ready to replace him. The trio of QB Philip Rivers, RB Marion Barber, and WR Roddy White should be solid for years to come. Willie Parker is a fine keeper once healthy and that means old timer Jamal Lewis is done. After suffering through a tough season with Carson Palmer, there's a good chance he'll be released too. After two straight losing season, Buffy should be on the upswing next year.

Ante Up (4-9)
The season began on such a high note after a stellar draft and two wins out of the gate. Then reality hit and Ante Up finished at 4-9 for the second year in a row. Eclipsing the 100+ mark just three times this season indicates that Jae's team needs an infusion of explosiveness. The good news is that Ante Up has a future star in rookie RB Steve Slaton, which was very necessary as the face of the franchise, Brian Westbrook, can't be relied on to stay injury free.

Overall, the team just lacked star power. WR Reggie Wayne was decent, but hardly broke out, catching just 68 balls and 5 TDs. Donald Driver has been supplanted by Greg Jennings as Green Bay's best receiver, and Santonio Holmes wasn't a sleeper, he just slept. With injuries to Ben Roethlisberger early on, the QB carousel of Jake Delhomme, Tyler Thigpen, and Matt Cassel failed to provide dividends.

GM Jae went through lots of free agents in an attempt to find some help for his squad but came up empty. A for effort but a D for execution. The good news is that next year should provided a nice clean slate, the number one overall pick, and more of Steve Slaton.

Mid-Season Review: Part 2

The Inscrutable Drama Kings took offense at being called the weaker division and have really pulled themselves together over the last few weeks to boast the top two teams in the league again. There's been a change at the top as the Dirty Birds are losing some steam and the Tiiite End Jammers are making quite a resurgence this year. Let's start at the top.

Tiiite End Jammers (5-3)
Making a case for the runaway best team this year, the Jammers are slightly underrated as they've faced the toughest schedule in the league and still have the best record and most points scored. Look at this. The Jammers have gone over the century mark six times already (five in a row and counting) and have ripped off four straight wins. Their losses have come when scoring 109, 95, and 107. They finished 5-8 last year but that was after a weak 1-7 start. This time around, Lei's team is making their case to become another repeat champion. Strangely, if they pull it off, it will be Buffy-Dirty Birds-Jammers winning in the exact same order yet again. Deja vu?

The Jammers are being powered behind mid-season MVP Clinton Portis and a very deep collection of receivers in Lee Evans, Dwayne Bowe, Marvin Harrison, and Chris Chambers. The recent injury to Tony Romo is a cause for concern but he'll be back in two weeks and for now, Matt Schaub is more than serviceable. Heck, Romo may have to play his way into the lineup as Schaub has been outstanding recently. The combined 2nd RB attack of Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes has yet to really gain traction but with Addai now injured, it's probably better for Rhodes to get most of the work.

Unless something dramatic happens, we don't see the Jammers conceding much ground at the top.

Dirty Birds (5-3)
Things were looking so much better for the Birds two weeks ago when they were 5-1 and sky high. Two losses later and they've gone into slight panic mode. Granted, one of those losses was a 133-127 shootout with the Jammers, but last week's poor showing against the moribund Fat Jubas wasn't very impressive. So what's going on exactly?

Well, the Birds are having a bit of a problem finding their passing game. Larry Fitzgerald and Wes Welker have been steady but Jay Cutler and Braylon Edwards have been a bit weak. Cutler started the season red hot but has now cooled off and Braylon started the season ice cold, had one outstanding week, and decided to start dropping balls again. The good news is that Steven Jackson broke out recently and Adrian Peterson has had three 20+ games. If Cutler can pick up his game and Edwards heads to the bench (or picks it up), the Birds are still a strong contender.

Chunky Monkeys (4-4)
Don't look now but the Monkeys are slowly creeping back into the picture. After suffering through the worst start in franchise history, Evan's team is on a bit of a roll with two victories and two century games in a row. In fact, they took a wild 138-120 shootout this past week against perpetual nemesis Buffy and that had to feel good. There's been a lot of talk about LaDainian Tomlinson's decline but that's been all hogwash as he looks primed for a huge second half.

The running game would probably be just fine without LDT if it came to it, behind stellar rookies Matt Forte and Chris Johnson. All that buzz about the Monkeys losing their two back attack? Well how about a three back attack? They have two top five backs in LDT and Matt Forte and Chris Johnson is currently ranked at #9 and climbing the charts. Someone break out the wishbone!

QB Peyton Manning is in fine form again and he's finding the now healthy Anquan Boldin to be an excellent target. The recent slump of Terrell Owens is a concern but once Romo gets back, TO will be just fine. Chad Johnson might be done for (especially with Carson Palmer out) but Charger Vincent Jackson has had three straight good games so that third receiver slot is in good hands. The Monkeys are only one game back after suffering through "the worst." Uh-oh.

Buffy (3-5)
It's been a rough go of it for Buffy this year. After an encouraging 103-93 win in WK6, they've been slammed by two 130+ opponents and a pair of losses, dropping them out of the playoff picture for a moment. Then again, they've taken two big uppercuts and are still standing. It can't hurt that their power trio of Philip Rivers, Marion Barber, and Roddy White are the number one QB, number two RB, and number one WR respectively. If you want to get real fancy, Antonio Gates is the second ranked TE also.

There's certainly a case for Roger's team to be one of the best teams this year, even if they're suffering from a a bit of depth issues. No clear number two back has been found to complement Barber and Buffy's best bet might be sticking with steady but unspectacular Jamal Lewis until Willie Parker returns from injury. And as for venerable Buffy stalwart Torry Holt, it might be time to call it a career as he's been absolutely terrible. Even boom/bust free agent find Kevin Walter would be a huge upgrade. And as for QB Carson Palmer, see ya, have a good 2008 at home. It's looking like a serious four horse race in the division for only three spots, who will be the odd team out?

Ante Up (2-6)
How quickly a 2-0 start looks like a lifetime ago. With six straight losses and the worst PF in the league, Ante Up is suddenly looking very vulnerable. Or maybe it's the schedule, as they've faced six straight opponents who have gone over the century mark. And Ante Up have been putting up a steady diet of 90+ games after a somewhat uneven start. There might be hope yet for a strong second half.

In order for that to happen though, there will have to be some more accountability from the QB position. Ben Roethlisberger has been erratic and it may be time to look into a replacement. Free agents like Jason Campbell, Chad Pennington, David Garrard, and even JT O'Sullivan are outpacing Big Ben. The great news for Jae's team is that Brian Westbrook is back and tore it up last weekend. With rookie sensation Steve Slaton playing well, the running game is in good hands. Now if WRs Reggie Wayne (back to back 3 point games) and Donald Driver (8 and 5 last two games) can get their act together, there will be a chance for Ante Up to get out of the cellar.

Mid-Season Review: Part 1

The Phreaks are number one! It's been awhile since Ping's team has sat in the driver's seat and while it's mostly a tie-breaker thing, there the Phreaks are atop the Spunky Misunderstood Geniuses Division. In fact, there are actually no clear cut favorites here as the top four teams are all 4-3 and separated by only 19 Points For between them. Plus, the last place team could soon be headed upwards. This is truly the division that's making it all happen this year. Let's take a look at what's been going on.

Philadelphia Phreaks (4-3)
The Phreaks are the only team in their division to have played the majority of their games against the other division. They've feasted on the Inscrutable Drama Kings by winning three of four games. Now their schedule turns to divisonal foes and it's going to be a much tougher road.

Powered by the RB duo of Marshawn Lynch and Maurice Jones-Drew, the Phreaks have found a steady ground game. Their one limiting factor is that QB Donovan McNabb isn't finding the right receivers. TJ Houshmandzadeh has been a steady WR but he's only put up 8 points for the Phreaks because he's always on the bench. Big play guys like Santana Moss and Laveranues Coles have had only one big (no, huge) game each. At least rookie WR DeSean Jackson has been playing very well (four weeks of double digit points). The question now is which Roy E. Williams will show up the rest of the season now that he's a Cowboy?

But why complain too much when the Phreaks are the third highest scoring team in the league and coming off of back to back century games? This might be the year for the Phreaks to capture their first ever divisonal title. Then Philly fans will have something to celebrate!

Fobsters (4-3)
Talk about a turnaround. From the time that Jimmy's team went winless two years ago, they've been compiling talent and wins at a breakneck pace. This year, they started out 4-1 on the strength of three century games and were looking like the runaway favorite in their division. Replacing Tom Brady with Aaron Rodgers was a great move (Rogers is top three overall right now) and Reggie Bush emerged as a solid number one back, finally.

But then came this week's 50-76 clunker against the defending co-champs Gang Green. And then the news that Reggie Bush would be out at least a month, which places him for a comeback around the playoffs. Without Bush, is there enough on this roster to even get the Fobsters there?

Well, the Fobsters do have some good receivers to work with in Calvin Johnson, Jason Witten, and Jerricho Cotchery. All of them are above average options and to be honest, Jason Witten has been amazing (four of seven games over 12+ points). RB Earnest Graham has been steady but the biggest issue is who will replace Bush? Is his real life backup, Deuce McAllister, up to the task? We're pretty sure that Larry Johnson won't be able to pick up the slack from the bench. But he is good at assaulting/spitting on women.

Battle Angel (4-3)
This is it, the hottest team in the league right now. After stumbling out of the gates with three straight losses (albeit very close losses), Vu's team has picked it up dramatically and ripped off four wins in a row, including a stretch with three straight century games. The biggest change? Ditching the running game. After suffering through a few weeks of the Laurence Maroney experience (now thankfully placed on IR), the team tried out Chargers backup Darren Sproles to little success as the #2 man in the backfield. Rudi Johnson and Edgerrin James weren't really the answer either. So Coach Vu ditched the run and took to the air!

Thirty-six year old Isaac Bruce has entered the lineup to turn this offense into a run-and-shoot and while he's slowed down a bit recently, his savvy experience has opened up the game for star WRs Andre Johnson, Greg Jennings, and Steve Smith. Actually, the return of Steve Smith might be the reason for the Angel's success. He's scored 9, 19, 12, 14, 21 since WK2. And Greg Jennings is proving that he doesn't need Brett Favre to succeed as he's averaging 15.1 pts a game and is the top pass catcher in the game. With super accurate QB Drew Brees slinging the ball, look for the Angels to keep flying high for the rest of the season -- especially if their lone good RB, Willis McGahee, is back to form.

Gang Green (4-3)
There's no keeping a good team down. Just when it looked like Greg's championship defense might be over soon after a 1-3 start, he takes three straight games and is now back in contention. They even had a season high 152 points in WK5 on the strength of Brett Favre's 48 point carryover (although they did lose the week before when he actually threw six TDs). Now imagine if Greg had used Ronnie Brown for his 42 point explosion and subsequent carryover.

As always, Gang Green is winning by using a balanced lineup that features solid players at every position. RBs Brandon Jacobs, Ronnie Brown, and Thomas Jones are all quietly solid options and push out about fourteen points a game. Randy Moss is certainly headed for a less than jaw dropping year but he's still got three big games this year and being lazy isn't negative points yet in our league. His fellow receivers Plaxico Burress and Hines Ward are doing their usual quality work and on the horizon is Bernard Berrian, who has scored 20, 22, 17 in recent weeks. Four quality options is a good problem to have.

The one thing here is that it might be time for a change at the top. Brett Favre has been horrendous recently and that other New York QB, Eli Manning, has been playing just a tad bit better. Actually, it might behoove Gang Green to get another signal caller altogether. Still, the champs are looking strong again and fighting hard for a playoff spot. Looks like the championship curse is clearly over after the 2006 and 2007 champs returned to fight strong the following year.

Fat Jubas (2-5)
The Jubas should be having a good season. RBs Frank Gore and Michael Turner are both top ten and QB Kurt Warner is throwing the ball everywhere (five straight weeks of 20+). So what's causing the team so many problems? The last four weeks has presented Eric's team with four scores below 90 and it hasn't been getting much better. Looking over the roster, the answer is obvious. There's no functional receivers here. Brandon Marshall and the Broncos have dramatically cooled down, Tony Gonzalez wants out, and Marques Colston returned but didn't catch a pass last week. Oh and Joey Galloway and Jeremy Shockey are still injured. And um, cut.

On paper, the Jubas are just fine, especially if Colston and Marshall return to form. With a balanced team all around, they should be moving up the charts soon, instead of embroiled in a four game slide. Amazingly, I think the record shows that the Jubas have gone through five defenses this season (Ravens, Dolphins, Chiefs, Panthers, and now the Steelers). That must be a record.