Eight points. Phew! Garbage-time has never mattered so much.
On to receive the inevitable LT-induced pounding.
Well, I got within striking distance, but I couldn’t close the deal.
Next week’s pairings:
Tazmanian Devils vs. Last Place - Kiros
Chitwood’s Penance vs. Exploding Pancakes
The Gridbirds vs. Isotopes (5th place game)
I think Chitwood, at 112.13, may have the highest projected score we’ve encountered all year. Great time to have a nice week, you bastard 
It’s all going to come down to the Monday night Ind/Cinci game. If that game sees Harrison and Housh getting a lot of action, I might stand a chance.
I think I might actually rather be playing Taz next week, but I dunno. LT has the record, but does he go for 40? 
GO ISOTOPES! In the all important 5th place matchup. Steven Jackson vs Oak could get ugly though.
Just cause I was curious myself, I’ll post the individual and total score through the end of the year.
Week 14 scores:
pancakes 143.82
chitwood 122.76
bush 103.8
taz 96.60
kiros 92.42
court jesters 90.56
gridbirds 90.36
phw 80.78
isotopes 66.56
Zone Blitz 66.40
og 64.92
faceisburgers 56.92
End of season total scores + week 14 scores = total score:
Taz 1450.76 96.6 1547.36
Chitwood 1227.28 122.76 1350.04
Pancakes 1125.58 143.82 1269.40
Kiros 1065.00 92.42 1157.42
Gridbirds 1032.06 90.36 1122.42
Isotopes 1047.30 66.56 1113.86
Court Jesters 1013.22 90.56 1103.78
Bush 986.38 103.80 1090.18
Zone Blitz 980.98 66.40 1047.38
PHW 917.66 80.78 998.44
Faceisburgers 847.40 56.92 904.32
Og 688.22 64.92 753.14
Girdbirds overtaking Isotopes was the only change in order.
I have a chance this week, but not a huge one. Even ignoring what LT does or does do:
- I need Rudi Johnson on Monday Night to do something like the JAX running backs did this past week against Indy;
- I need Chester Taylor to be healthy enough to play and abuse the Jets weak rushing defense; and,
- I need all of Bulger’s TD passes to go to Torry Holt.
If that stuff happens, I should put up good enough numbers to at least have a chance.
Chitwood’s really-high-projection is based a lot on Brees; you might hope that the Skins defense actually deigns to show up this weekend, and a lot of your problems will be instantly solved 
True, but I (Court Jesters) would also have overtaken Isotopes, had I rejiggered my lineup like I would before a game. Specifically, Eli Manning would have been back in, having exorcised his demons the previous week.
Rudi Johnson against the Indy run defense? I’d say you can mark him down for 120 yards and two TDs in the first half.
Interesting note: even if I’d played Longwell and the JAX defense, I’d still have lost by less than a point this week.
Kiros and I both need a crazy blowout Indy vs Cin monday night game.
It would be pretty screwed up if the championship with Me vs Kiros.
Don’t worry about those projections, they’re never right.
I’m still going to score 220 points, though.
Are you gonna start Drew Brees?
Washington’s pass defense sucks, but Brees won’t have to pass for 800 yards to win the game. He didn’t Sunday night either, but it was a bit of a showoff to Parcells too.
Whereas Palmer may be involved in a shootout where he’s passing all game long.
Little friendly advice, though. Get Tim Rattay off the waiver wire. You know he’s just gonna come in and tear it up for 8 TDs against that weak Chicago defense.
Er, off the free agent list, not waiver wire.
And, of course, that advice also includes starting him next week.
I really need Brees to win me this matchup. I’m up against LJ in the playoffs in two other leagues, so it’ll be an interesting balance to try to strike. Unfortunately for both of us, I have a feeling Johnson might be poised for a big’un.
Normally I’d say there’s no one I’d rather see him matched up against than San Diego, because Jamal Williams is the man, and their front 7 rocks, but he put up 132/2 (and 29 receiving) last time and I certainly would not want a repeat performance.
I need to score because of Manning this week, instead of in spite of him, to have a chance.
Er, shootout.
Although I’d settle for a blowout if Manning throws 5 TDs.
Gridbirds and Isotopes, don’t forget you’re playing the 5th place game this week. Adjust your rosters, if necesary. First game starts tomorrow night.
So, what are your matchup considerations?
Manning and Harrison vs Cin. Despite Indy sucking it up lately, I have no choice here. I have to rely on these guys.
Housh vs Ind is a natural, too, since I’m hoping for it to be a shootout.
Not sure what to do with RB. Parker is at Carolina, who has a pretty respectable run defense IIRC. I told myself earlier in the year that I wasn’t gonna bench him, but then he got pretty much completely shut down against Balitmore. Hmmm.
Addai seems like a good idea for starters - again, potential shootout, and Cin’s run defense isn’t great.
MJD might have a big week against Ten if Taylor doesn’t get many carries because of his hamstring. I may have to sit Willie for him. What do you think?
McAlister vs a depleted NYG defense might be good. Or are they all healthy again?
And Maroney at Houston is a good matchup, but he may still be hurt.
I guess I’m looking probably at Manning, Harrison, Housh, Addai, Winslow, Scobee, Minessota, and either MJD, McAlister, or Willie Parker.
I can’t see having a crazy week from all of my non-QB positions, so Manning, please stop sucking for 2 weeks.
Dude, I posted the playoff matchups for this week right after MNF. I think I know that I’m playing.
Ronnie Brown’s still out, so it’s going to be Dillon and Jackson in the backfield.
At QB, I’ve got Rivers vs. KC and Roethlisberger vs. Carolina. Delhomme’s probably still out.
At wideout, Burress is facing Philly, Muhammad has the Bucs at home and Henry is up against the Colts.
Tight end, it’s either McMichael at Buffalo or Daniels at the Pats.
Defense: JAX at Tennessee, or the Seahawks versus the Squared Sevens.
Kicker: It’s gonna be Wilkins.
Looks like my roster will be Rivers, Burress, Muhammad, Dillon, Jackson, McMichael, JAX and Wilkins.
Well, so far not good. Frank Gore has a 23.8 day which is not a good start.
Taz got 1.6 out of Antonio Bryant.
Don’t forget there’s a Saturday game, Atlanta vs Dallas, if you’re playing anyone on those teams.
I like the 1.6 he got. That gives me the potential for the type of advantage in the WRs that could offset LT a bit. Chester Taylor got upgraded to probable today, so it looks like I get to start two stud RBs with great matchups. If I’m ever gonna have a chance at beating Taz, it’s going to be this week.
I’m actually pretty scared of the defenses involved. Chicago has the potential to put up huge points against TB, while I don’t really have any good options between what I have and the free agents out there. Damn our big-benched league for having everyone carry two defenses (and damn the Philly D for falling apart so spectacularly!).
Unnaturally psyched for a weekend where the Pats are playing the Texans and it’s not even being broadcast in HD - active and somewhat optimistic in both of my main fantasy league playoffs will do that. Bring on Sunday!
Gah. Addai is hurt. Questionable. Missed practice Friday, but is “expected to play”
But even if he does, is he going to be slow? Is Rhodes going to get more carries?
I was counting on him to be my top RB this week. This is not looking good. Last week my RBs carried me to a crazy score, but this week, I don’t know if my best RB will be better than his worst.
Which 2 would you start out of these options?
Addai (q) vs Cin
Jones-Drew at Ten
McAlister vs Was
Parker at Car
Maroney (q) vs Hou
Maroney seems like the least attractive option. Mysterious injury… Bellichick would keep him on the injury list even if he wasn’t going to play, and Dillon can do fine.
Parker at Car. Willie has mostly sucked away and against good run defenses. He’s normally my main horse, but I’m not sure this is a good matchup.
Addai vs Cin. Seemed like a good option - wide option offenses, high scoring game, he’d get plenty of yards and maybe some scores. But now he’s hurt, and they might run Rhodes a lot instead.
MJD at Ten. After his crazy week last week, and Taylor pulling a hamstring last week (but he’s still expected to play), he might actually see plenty of carries this time around. I don’t want to pass this up, so he’s a probable starter.
McAlister vs Was. I haven’t seen much of Washington, how’s their run defense?
For what it’s worth, I’m playing Parker and Jones-Drew in that situation even before any injury questions on Addai.