Week 1 Mr Fantasy
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Week 1 Mr. Fantasy Pick Sheet
Jaguars +8 Sandbaggers
The Sandbaggers had the first overall pick in 2002, while the Jaguars drafted 10th after a successful 2001 campaign. Based on the positioning of draft picks, the Sandbaggers should automatically have a better team than the Jaguars. The Jaguars do however move ahead in the QB position. They pit Donovan McNabb against the Sandbaggers Kordell Stewart. The Sandbaggers absolutely blow away the Jags and most other teams with their RB corp. They start two first stringers in Faulk and S. Davis. The Jags counter with Garner and Hearst, both of whom are pressed by a strong #2 back. As a matter of fact, every one of the Jags backs will face competition this year. Jags have an edge with WR over the Baggers with Moss and McCaffrey against Bruce and Rice. The Kicker position is a toss-up. Defense again tilts the Jags way with their Baltimore D facing Carolina Week 1. While most individual matchups go the Jags way on paper, Marshall Faulk is easily worth two players and he will lead the Baggers to victory in their first week, winning 87-79.
TNT Explosion +6 Semolina Pilchards
TNT Explosion entered the draft using the time honored technique of stocking up on quality starting RB’s. They certainly met their goal by putting starters Eddie George and Curtis Martin on the table along with Brian Griese as their QB. The Semolina Pilchards broke with tradition and instead drafted Kurt Warner early and then concentrated on quality WR’s with a stable consisting of Rod Smith, Eric Moulds, Kevin Johnson, and Laveranues Coles. In their Week 1 battle, the Pilchards should have the QB edge while TNT RB starters will blow away the Pilchards starters of probably Deuce McAllister and Emmitt Smith. The Pilchards should again gain prominence with their WR’s going up against Rod Gardner and Terry Glenn. Kicker battle is even with TNT and the Pilchards having on paper the #1 and #2 kickers in Mike Vanderjagt and Jeff Wilkins. Defense is even with TNT’s Miami going against the Pilchards Green Bay. Between Warner’s passing and Rod Smith’s potential to offset Denver QB’s scoring, the Pilchards as usual will win their first game 102-96.
Undertakers -10 C&D TD Makers
Both of these teams reached somewhat, with C&D’s team consisting of most of the AFC East! While the Undertakers bring Brett Favre to the table as their QB, Mr. Fantasy is not impressed with C&D’s Jay Fiedler as their starting QB. However, they make up for this when they pit Shaun Alexander and Ladainian Tomlinson against the Takers young stable of RB’s consisting of Clinton Portis, TJ Duckett, James Allen, and perennial grandpa, Jerome Bettis. Neither Team has a great corp of WR’s on paper and it appears that C&D spent some early picks on questionable WR’s. I mean, really, who would want a tandem of Fiedler and Chris Chambers? Maybe they will produce, but the odds are against big production. Being that the Undertakers bring Torry Holt to the table, they should surpass in the WR category. Kicker battle swings towards the Undertakers since they have top Kicker, Jason Elam. They probably win the Defensive battle in this first week also. Undertakers propel themselves to a Week 1 victory with a 82-72 victory.
Suicide Kings -5 What’s the Point
Suicide Kings developed a strategy for this year’s draft of building up their WR corp, while What’s the Point built their team on risky moves that have the potential to pay huge dividends. Of course, there is also the possibility that these players will be absolutely wretched. Mr. Fantasy leans towards the absolutely wretched side, but Mr. Fantasy has been known to be wrong! The Point pit Peyton Manning against Steve McNair and should blow away at this position. Both teams on paper have questionable RB’s with the Kings getting a slight nod pitting Priest Holmes and Jamal Lewis and against the Point’s Fred Taylor and William Green. KC will probably be an under .500 team again this year and Priest Holmes is just not going to have another incredible season. Jamal Lewis can be great when healthy, but if there is no passing game to open up the running game, yards will be hard to come by. The same goes for the Point’s Fred Taylor. Jacksonville appears to be poised for an awful season this year without Jimmy Smith. At WR, the Kings will kill probably every team this year when they bring Terrell Owens and David Boston. The Point’s Keyshawn Johnson and Antonio Freeman are just not going to cut it against the Kings duo. On paper, Kings also win the Kicking and Defensive battle with #1 ranked Pittsburgh Defense. Kings open the season with a win, 112-107.
TBFC -14 Show Me the Money
TBFC, last years Champion, entered the draft with a strategy that was seen several times in this year’s draft, by starting off with a top QB and top WR. Show Me the Money went with the QB and RB stategy. Show Me should win the QB battle with top QB Jeff Garcia going up against TBFC’s Dante Culpepper. The one thing about Culpepper is his potential. Last year, Culpepper had a down year with under 20 total TD’s. Even so, Minnesota QB position was the second highest scoring position (after St. Louis QB) in the 2001 DTFFL. If Culpepper is even a little bit better, he quite likely will be the best player overall this year. Show Me should destroy TBFC in the RB battle with Corey Dillon and Anthony Thomas going up against Antowain Smith and Michael Pittman. At WR, TBFC wins handily by presenting Marvin Harris and Tim Brown to Show Me’s Wayne Chrebet and James Thrash. With Philadelphia’s signing of Antonio Freeman, it is likely that Show Me will enter the year with every one of their WR’s being a #2 option or worse on their NFL teams. Kicker battle swings slightly towards TBFC as does the Defensive battle. TBFC looks to defend their 2001 Championship when they defeat Show Me the Money 103-89 in Week 1.
Mighty Caesars -8 Dragon Slayers
Mighty Caesars had a strong draft as long as preseason predictions for player production hold true. Dragon Slayers had their draft hampered by taking over Commish duties for the DTFFL. Not only did they have to keep track of the entire draft while somehow concentrating on their own draft, but they had to contend with constant verbal abuse from the DTFFL. Based on prior years Commish records, this apparently is a strategy designed by the other 11 teams in the league. Harass and pressure the Commish so much, that his draft ends up being weak! The Mighty Caesars bring Aaron Brooks to their QB position while the Dragon Slayers counter with Rich Gannon. Odds are, that Oakland is getting a little long in the tooth and that last years playoff loss to the Patriots is still stinging, thereby causing a domino effect which results in weaker production. This may affect the Dragon Slayers through out the year. They have TB QB in reserve, but even though Gruden is now the coach in TB, Mr. Fantasy is not convinced that they will have a potent arial attack. At RB, the Mighty Caesars appear to have more than enough power when they pit Ahman Green and Edgerrin James against the Slayers Ricky Williams and either Duce Staley, Dorsey Levins, or Lamar Smith. What is going to kill the Slayers this year, is having to decide between Staley and Levins each week. Who is going to get the yards and the TD’s? It is too early to tell, but Mr. Fantasy has a feeling that the Eagles will have a RB by Committee this season. The Slayers on paper win the WR battle as they have Joe Horn, but if Jimmy Smith ever returns, the Caesars will be found to be quite potent at WR, as long as they play the right one each week. Kicking battle is even while the Caesars should win the Defensive battle with TB going against New Orleans. Mighty Caesars claw their way to a Week 1 victory with a 90-82 victory. |