The draft moved on without any problems until the over zealous Steelers drafted his own player instead of the player posted on the message board by the Stampeders. Hilarity ensued when Corky tried to rectify the problem and chose the wrong player posted again by the Stampeders. To his credit it is easy to confuse Green and Brown, they both play for the Bears and have colors for surnames. SanYi did get the player he wanted prompting the angry Steelers to repeatedly type “whatever, whatever.’ The highlight of the draft. The Stampeders did end up getting a player from the Steelers, a 12th rounder rather than the promised 10th rounder. So basically the Steelers got Mason for Williams and a 12th rounder. Not exactly a great trade but it is doubtful that it will make any difference for the cellar bound Stampeders. It is fortunate that it happened in the 10th round and not the 4th! The end of the draft also saw Ricky Williams choose TE Putzier over K Wilkins because he wasn’t paying attention. Congrats to the Redskins, Tsunami and Roadkill for being on the ball with your trade pickups. Unless Yahoo allows me to edit the individual draft picks next year, there will probably be no more trading of draft picks. Now here is what you have all been waiting for; the 2005 Big LFL Season Preview.
Chuck Noll Bowl VI
EZ Money Steelers
Analysis: EZ Money look poised to regain the championship after a one year hiatus. The Steelers have great starting backs in Shaun ‘Contract Year,’ Alexander and Clinton Portis. EZ Money also possesses a very good stable of receivers with Randy Moss, Brandon Stokley and Derrick Mason. Moss needs to stay healthy and stop smoking the chronic for the Steelers to win. The Steelers defense is also made up of quality playmakers. EZ Money is the king of the waiver wire and has traditionally picked up guys like Aquan Boldin and Domanick Davis during the early going to help his always tough teams.
Key Player: Aaron Brooks. The Steelers will be tough to beat, if Brooks plays like he did at the end of the season when the Saints season was over. Brooks can kill fantasy teams with his erratic decision making but has the ability to put up big numbers if the homeless Saints continue to play meaningless games in December; when Brooks is always at his best..
Question Mark: Fred Taylor. If Taylor is indeed back from his leg injury the Steelers will be almost unstoppable. He is the best third back in this league and should improve on his 3 TD season if he stays healthy. The irony of the Taylor pick up is that Fred is back on the team that traded him for Moss a few years back. Which leads to Big LFL rule #1-Never ever trade with EZ MONEY, you always get screwed.
Prediction: Any loss will be countered with the comment “It's always some crap team who has their biggest game that beats me"
Gerry Datillios
Analysis: Any fantasy team with Peyton Manning at the helm is almost guaranteed to make the playoffs. While Manning may not repeat his exploits of 2004, he will put up monster points in his desire to be the best Fantasy Football QB ever. The Dattillio’s also have help for Manning with a solid team comprised of top players like Edge James, Joe Horn and plenty of point producing players like Lee Evans and Warrick Dunn. His defense is solid with consistent point producers.
Key Player: Warrick Dunn. Dunn had a great year in 2004 for the Dattilio’s accumulating 1400 yards from scrimmage and 9 TDs. The Dattilio’s will need him to keep rolling to stay in the championship picture. Gerry may have problems if Duckett steals more TDs from Dunn in 2004.
Question Mark: Thomas Jones. Can Jones put up another good year for the beleaguered Bears? If Jones can fight off rookie Cedric Benson and repeat his 2004 numbers then the Dattilio’s will be almost assured a date at McMahon Stadium in December in the Chuck Noll Bowl.
Prediction: Craig will pull out of the league if any trade proposals are shot down by the league.
Playoff Contenders
Taiwan Mean Machines
Analysis: The Mean Machines were easily the best team during the regular season in 2004. The success of the NFL Eagles was his ultimate demise and when Donovan McNabb was benched; Taiwan was done. Taiwan looks to have another very good team in 2005. McNabb, Corey Dillon and Antonio Gates all return and are great players and he drafted wisely picking up the two-headed RB from Tennessee Henry Brown. Taiwan is not afraid to pull the trigger on trades, so we will see what happens.
Key Player: Donovan McNabb. McNabb enjoyed a career year in 2004. He achieved career highs in almost every passing category by long shot. If McNabb repeats these numbers in 2005 then the Machines will again challenge for the regular season title.
Question Mark: WR. Can the Machines WRs each gain 100 points this year? The Machine’s duo of Eric Moulds and Antwan Randle El are one of the leagues weakest and a major drop off from the Javon Walker and Hines Ward tandem of last year. The Machines will be ecstatic if Randel El has a breakout year.
Prediction: The Machines will make some trades, be in the playoffs and victory will depend on Andy Reid.
Bamboo Union
Analysis: Any team with the Priest is bound to be in the playoff hunt. He is one of 3 players who can win weeks by himself. He missed half the season last year and I question why the Union didn’t pick-up Larry Johnson in case of an injury to his 32 year old back. Reggie Wayne and Chris Chambers are decent WRs but his offence lacks depth. The Bamboo defense does consist of plenty of quality point producers.
Key player: DeShaun Foster. Foster is the poster boy for ACL and MCL surgery. He missed his rookie year and most of last year with an assortment of injuries. If he can’t stay healthy, Union faithful must get ready for the Marcel Shipp era.
Question Mark: Brett Favre. Favre had his best year since 1998, throwing for 4000 yards and 30 TDs. The big question asked un training camp is“Can Favre repeat those numbers again in 2005?” He is a 36 year old QB who has been sacked 379 times but still never misses a game. He will also play with a heavy heart after Hurricane Katrina ripped through Mississippi destroying his family’s home in Mississippi.
Prediction: The Bamboo Union will have the least free agent pickups for the 6th year running.
Ricky Williams’
Analysis: The Ricky Williams’ desire to defend their title may have been halted by the Drew Brees screw-up mentioned above. This doesn’t mean that Ricky’s cupboard is bare, far from it. He still has studs at QB (Culpepper), RB (Davis/McGahee) and one of the best defenses in the Big LFL. Donnie Edwards and Ray Lewis are good for 8-10 points a game and have the ability to win a few games.
Key Player: Daunte Culpepper. Culpepper had a career year in 2005 throwing for 39 TDs and 4700 yards. If he can repeat his 2004 exploits, without Randy Moss, Williams’ owner Stu may find his name engraved on the Championship Trophy again. Stu is confident as he states “I think Culpepper will be better without Moss.”
Question Mark: Drew Brees. Can the Williams’ deal their high draft pick Brees for anything of consequence? I think it highly unlikely. Ricky will probably get stuck with Brees as I am sure that nobdy wants him that bad.
Prediction: Stu will be complaining about the 90 second draft timer until the 2006 draft.
Newcastle Guzzlers
Analysis: Newcastle may have been a favorite if he didn’t decide to allow the computer to make his picks. That being said any team with LaDanian Tomlinson has to be a playoff contender. The Guzzlers also have a good receiving corps with Torry Holt, Hines Ward and Drew Bennett. Newcastle will also enter the season with the two headed QB tandem of Jake Plummer and Mike Vick. The Guzzlers defense suffered the most from the computer picks and looks atrocious.
Key Player: Ruben Droughns: Backup RB Droughns could make or break the Guzzlers season. If he is the starter in Cleveland, he could put up decent numbers. If Ruben’s performance last season was indeed a fluke; the Guzzlers may find themselves looking for free agent pickups all season long.
Question Mark: Michael Vick. Will Vick become a consistent fantasy stud? With Vick you get Jekyll and Hyde performances; outstanding numbers or pedestrian numbers. Newcastle’s hopes rest on Ron Mexico’s ability to pass the ball as well as he passes on herpes.
Prediction: A solid season with little fanfare and a few well written quips on the message board.
Mexican Roadkill
Analysis: The Roadkill’s 2004 season was done when the Deuce went down for the first month. So the Roadkill jettisoned him to the Tsunami for picks. The Roadkill are back in 2005 with a good to great team. His team is loaded with Marc Bulger, Kevin Jones, Jamal Lewis and Chad Johnson. If his young players put up good numbers he could find himself in the championship game.
Key Player: Jamal Lewis. Lewis is normally an unstoppable fantasy force with the ability to win weeks on his own. The Roadkill will be title contenders if he can stop selling crack and stay out of prison.
Question Mark: WR. Will Steve Smith return to form and will Larry Fitzgerald realize his potential? Smith was a fantasy force in 2003 before getting hurt early in 2004 and Fitzgerald had a good rookie season in Arizona. The Roadkill will need one of these players to step up in order to win the title.
Prediction: Brad will tell Craig to stop whining and take multiple shots at Shane and Stu.
Playoff Pretenders
Seattle Tsunami
Analysis: The Tsunami made a ton of off season moves to lift the team out of the basement. The Tsunami traded away the top pick to get Curtis Martin and to avoid a repeat of the Robert Griffin fiasco of 2004. He now has a solid nucleus with Deuce McAllister, Michael Clayton and Tony Gonzalez. The key to his season may be the play of Steven Jackson and Matt Hasselbeck if they play well he could make the jump to the playoffs. His defense has potential if Brian Urlacher and Julian Peterson can stay off the DL.
Key Player: Curtis Martin. Which version of Curtis Martin will show up this year, the 2004 model Martin with 14 TD or the 2 TD Martin of 2003? Seattle rolled the dice with the 32 year old Martin and if it pays out he could make the playoffs.
Question Mark: WRs. Will the 35 year old Rod Smith and Keenan McCardell have good enough years to put the Raniers in the playoffs? They both consistently put up good numbers but are getting a wee bit long in the tooth.
Dripping Balls
Analysis: The Balls took over a franchise that made the playoffs in 2003 and proceeded to dismantle it after a late season swoon kept this once proud franchise out of the playoffs. The Balls have a good group of receivers led by Terrell Owens and Andre Johnson and a decent QB in Tom Brady. They look to have a good D but have potential problems in the offensive backfield. Brian Westbook is a good back on a great team but may not have much help.
Key Player: Terrell Owens. The Balls should make the playoffs if TO repeats his 2004 exploits. He is a perfect fit on the Balls, with his big mouth and grating personality.
Question Mark: Mike Anderson: Will Anderson keep the starting spot for the whole season? Anderson is coming off major surgery and may put up big numbers like every Denver back. He may also get hurt again or lose his starting spot to Tatum Bell.
Prediction: Rob will post the most offensive posts on the message boards that degrade opponents and the English language.
Hou Chuang Giants
Analysis: The Giants enter their inaugural Big LFL season with a decent team. They have a nice nucleus with Tiki Barber and Javon Walker and a good defense. Hou Chang did a nice job of drafting players but made the mistake of choosing veterans rather than young guys. This strategy may land him in the playoffs this year but at the bottom of the league for years to come.
Key Player: Lamont Jordan. Most pundits believe Jordan will put up huge numbers in Oakland. He put up impressive numbers as a backup with the Jets and will finally be a number one back in Oakland. The Giants could make the playoffs if he gets 1000 yards and 10 TDs.
Question Mark: QB. Will Steve McNair return to form and is Eli Manning any good? The Giants gambled by picking both of their QBs late. McNair is injury prone but could put up big numbers in Norm Chow’s offence. Manning has potential but begins the season nursing an injury.
Prediction: The Giants will be a thorn in the side of soem teams and may pull of some upsets.
Holy Rollers
Analysis: In 2005, the Holy Rollers return to the Big LFL after a four year suspension for non-participation. Like their expansion brothers, the Giants, the Rollers went with experience rather than youth during the draft. The Rollers have some talent with Ahman Green and Joey Porter but weak drafting left them with two TEs and with two aging QBs Kurt Warner and Drew Bledsoe as backups. The Rollers will need solid efforts to stay out of the basement and the draft lottery. They also drafted the Wizzinator!
Key Player: Kerry Collins. Does Collins have the ability to be the man at QB for the Raiders? Collins has talent but lacks vision as evidenced by throwing more career INTs than TDs. He has killed fantasy teams in the past but is the flavor of the month this off-season.
Question Mark: Tatum Bell. Will Tatum Bell rush for a 100 yards or a 1000? Much has been made of Bell’s potential to get maximum points in the Denver running game. The problem is that he has already lost his starting job to Mike Anderson and if he doesn’t regain it the Rollers will be in trouble.
Prediction: The Rollers will find it difficult to adjust to the always tough Big LFL.
The Basement
SanYi Stampeders
Analysis: The demise of the Stampeders can be directly tied to week 14 of the 2002 season. Big Ell’s team was 14-0 and riding high on the legs of Marshall Faulk. Big Ell then proclaimed on the message board that he would run the table and get the title. The next week Marshall went down with a knee injury and the Stamps and Faulk have never been the same. The Stamps hope to return to the playoffs with stud back Julius Jones and QB Trent Green but it doesn’t look good.
Key Player: Julius Jones. The Stamps may stay out of the basement if Jones can stay healthy and post huge numbers. If he doesn’t the Stamps are done.
Question Mark: Jeremy Shockey. Can Shockey put up 100 fantasy points? The Stamps have had Shockey since his rookie year and he has always disappointed. His big mouth and low number make him a perfect fit for the Balls but the Stamps are stuck with him again.
Prediction: A ton of waiver wire activity and he will drop at least one stud in the process.
Rama Redskins
Analysis: The Redskins are already playing for next year after trading Curtis Martin. Rama is looking to the future with Auburn rookies Ronnie Brown, Carnell Williams and Michigan grad Braylon Edwards. He still has some punch on offence with Rudi Johnson but this team will win on the strength of Byron Leftwich’s arm and health. His defense also looks suspect.
Key Player: Byron Leftwich. Leftwich has the potential to be a fantasy super star but a lack of mobility has led to injuries. Rama may stay out of the basement if Leftwich stays healthy.
Question Marks: The Rookies. Brown and Williams may become superstars, but it is likely that only one will. Brown needs to get off to a fast start to keep Ricky Williams on the bench and it is important to mention he was a back-up in college. Williams needs to stay healthy (he couldn’t manage it in college) to ward off Michael Pittman who may steal some touches.
Prediction: One of his high ranked rookies will be a bust.
Milhaven Mutiny
Analysis: Going to Sudbury for the weekend and not pre-ranking many players may have doomed the Mutiny to another season in the cellar. Milhaven has some decent WRs with Marvin Harrison, Nate Burleson and Donald Drvier and potential at QB. His running backs are a mess with injury prone Duce Staley and Michael Bennett as the starters. His defense is an even bigger mess but it is the easiest position to bolster.
Key players: Carson Palmer and Michael Bennett. If Palmer can live up to the hype and lead the Bengals to the playoffs the Mutiny may end up out of the basement. Michael Bennett also has a ton of potential that has been largely unrealized and starts the year (again) on the DL.
Question Marks: The whole team other than Marvin Harrison.
Prediction: Many witty statements on the message board.
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