Connelly’s Top Ten: Red Sox Crowned Championship Contenders

Celtics Loss Lowers Expectations

Curt Schilling’s Video Game Company 38 Studios Lays Off All Employees

Sox Rebound in Rubber Match after 4-1 Loss to O’s

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Fantasy Football Report: Week 8

I think it is time that we made it official. Next season, nobody should draft LaDainian Tomlinson in the first round. I know, I know, he used to be a great back and was fantasy football’s most dominant player. I myself never had the pleasure of having LT on any of my football teams, and that is something I will have to live with.

However, the time is finally here where we have to let him go.  Since last season, he is averaging just 3.7 ypc, including a career-low 3.4 ypc this year. He has also caught just seven passes in ’09…this from a man who has at least 50 catches per season in his career. You never want to accept the fact that someone close to you is finally gone, but take a deep breath and relax. LT is in a better place now.

Headlines

Owen Daniels Out for Season

Houston Texans TE Owen Daniels is officially done for the rest of the season after tearing his ACL on Sunday. Daniels was third in the NFL among tight ends with 519 yds and third with 5 TD (his 5 TD led Texans’ receivers).

Steve Slaton Benched

The problems didn’t stop with Owen Daniels for the Texans. Starting RB Steve Slaton coughed up another fumble (7th fumble, 5th lost) and was ordered to sit out the majority of the game on Sunday. It was Slaton’s third straight game with a fumble. Backup RB Ryan Moats filled in and rushed for 126 yds and 3 TD. Slaton owners beware!

Jake Delhomme Injured

Carolina Panthers QB Jake Delhomme left Sunday’s game against Arizona with a bruised sternum. He amazingly hadn’t thrown an interception prior to his leaving the game. He should be healthy enough to start this week against the Saints.

Week 8 Top Performers

Aaron Rodgers (QB), Green Bay Packers

Rodgers and the Packers may have lost to Brett Favre, but Rodgers was on his game as he threw for 287 yds and 3 TD with 52 rushing yds.

Week 9 Outlook

Rodgers will be in store for more fantasy stardom as he faces Tampa Bay. The Bucs are 30th in the league with 16 passing TD allowed and they are also 30th in the league with 29 points allowed per game.

Chris Johnson (RB), Tennessee Titans

The Jaguars didn’t have a solution for Johnson as he carried the ball 24 times for 228 yds and 2 TD.

Week 9 Outlook

Temper your expectation for Johnson as he faces San Francisco. The 49ers are ranked 2nd in rush defense with 84.9 rush yds allowed per game, and they have allowed over 100 net yards rushing just once this season.

Reggie Wayne (WR), Indianapolis Colts

Just business as usual for Wayne as he caught 12 passes for 147 yds and his league-leading 6th receiving TD.

Week 9 Outlook

There me a slight challenge from the Texans. Houston has won three straight and their 213 pass yds allowed per game is the lowest it has been since 2002. But seriously, this is the Colts we are talking about. Start Reggie Wayne with confidence as you usually do.

Dustin Keller (TE), New York Jets

Keller had his best game of the season as he caught eight passes for 76 yds and a TD

Week 9 Outlook

Keller and the Jets are on the bye, but they come back in week 10 to face the Jaguars’ 26th ranked pass defense.

Matt Stover (K), Indianapolis Colts

Stover was a perfect 4/4 on field goals, including a season-long 40 yarder.

Week 9 Outlook

Stover had no extra points because there were no opportunities, but he was 6/6 on extra points in week 8. With Adam Vinatieri out, Stover should be a great option due to his place in such a high-scoring offense.

Chicago Bears Defense/Special Teams

What do you expect when someone faces Cleveland? Chicago allowed just six points while accumulating a sack, 2 INT, 3 fumble recoveries, a TD, and a blocked kick.

Week 9 Outlook

The turnover frenzy won’t be as rampant as Chicago hosts the Cardinals and their great passing game. Then again, the bears allow less than 200 pass yds per game and Kurt Warner did just throw 5 INT’s against Carolina.

Week 9 Duds

Kurt Warner (QB), Arizona Cardinals

Hey, speak of the devil! As I said above, Warner matched a career-high with five interceptions in his loss to the Panthers.

Week 9 Outlook

As I also mentioned before, the Browns have a very stingy pass defense and are coming off a game where they forced five turnovers.

Ryan Grant (RB), Green Bay Packers

After a season-high 148 yds last week, Grant rushed for a season-low 30 yds with no scores on Sunday.

Week 9 Outlook

Well, it will only get better. Plus, the matchup against Tampa Bay is excellent. The Buccaneers allow over 160 rush yds per game, including 4.7 ypc.

Sidney Rice (WR), Minnesota Vikings

After back-to-back games with 130+ receiving yds, Rice could only grab four catches for 40 yds and no scores.

Week 9 Outlook

Rice and the Vikings are on the bye, but they come back to a nice treat when they face Detroit. The Lions allows over 250 pass yds per game and are 31st in the NFL with 18 passing TD allowed.

Antonio Gates (TE), San Diego Chargers

Gates, who is 2nd among tight ends in receiving yds, only had 49 yds against Oakland.

Week 9 Outlook

Normally a game against the Giants’ defense would be daunting. However, New York has lost three straight games by a combined score of 112-61. Their defense clearly has issues, so Gates is a safe option this week against them.

Matt Prater (K), Denver Broncos

Prater had kicked at least two field goals in each of his two games, but didn’t get a field goal opportunity at all on Sunday. All he could manage was one extra point.

Week 9 Outlook

Prater won’t have too much luck against the Steelers. Pittsburgh allows less than 300 total yds of offense per week, so Denver won’t have much luck moving the ball. Not to mention, the Steelers are tied for first in the league with just six field goals allowed all season.

Green Bay Packers Defense/Special Teams

The Packers have one of the best defenses in football (283 yds allowed per game), but Minnesota didn’t care as Green Bay allowed 38 points and were only able to get two fumble recoveries.

Week 9 Outlook

Green Bay should be back to its old ways against the winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs are 28th in the NFL with 13.7 point per game, including a lousy 278 total offensive yds per game. Not to mention, they have scored just 11 offensive TD in seven games.

Unexpected Stars

Ryan Moats (RB), Houston Texans

After Steve Slaton was benched, Moats had no trouble holding on to the ball and gained a total of 151 yds with 3 TD.

Week 9 Outlook

Moats hasn’t officially taken over the starting role, but he has definitely earned extra carries. Indy has a pretty solid defense, but they do give up 4.5 ypc to rushers and they have allowed two straight opponents to rush for over 100 yds.

Kevin Boss (TE), New York Giants

Boss had 70 receiving yds and his first TD of the year against the Eagles.

Week 9 Outlook

Boss is very inconsistent and he has to face a tough Chargers defense responsible for allowing under 180 pass yds per game.

Mark Sanchez (QB), New York Jets

Sanchez was averaging just 168 pass yds per game until Sunday where he broke 250 pass yds for the first time since week 1. He ended the day with 265 yds and 3 TD (two pass, one rush).

Week 9 Outlook

Sanchez and the Jets are on the bye, but their next opponents are the Jaguars. Sanchez is a decent option since Jacksonville allows 242 pass yds per game and have let up 13 passing TD this season.

Matt Hasselbeck (QB), Seattle Seahawks

Haselbeck managed a very good game against Dallas, throwing for 249 yds and 2 TD with no interceptions.

Week 9 Outlook

Hasselbeck has thrown six TD in his last three games and now he gets to dismantle the Detroit Lions this Sunday. The Lions have given up the fourth most points in football and are the fourth worst team in the league with a -4 turnover differential.

Vince Young (QB), Tennessee Titans

Young made his first start of the season and actually managed to not screw up. His stats weren’t spectacular, but he did put together a 15-18 day for 125 yds and a TD.

Week 9 Outlook

Young could have another similar start this week against the 49ers. San Francisco allows over 250 pass yds per game and they just lost defensive stud and starting CB Nate Clements for eight weeks.

Sports of Boston Football League

• My three week winning streak came to an end as I lost 121.60-71.82.
• Poor SoB’s Brian. He has the fifth most points in the league, but he is sitting in 11th place. God bless the head-to-head format!
• Recent pickups include: Tony Scheffler, Earl Bennett, Beanie Wells, Buffalo Bills (DEF), Jamaal Charles, and Ryan Moats.

Tags: Aaron Rodgers, Antonio Gates, Chris Johnson, Dustin Keller, Fantasy, Fantasy Football Report, Jake Delhomme, Kevin Boss, Kurt Warner, Mark Sanchez, Matt Hasselbeck, Owen Daniels, Reggie Wayne, Ryam Moats, Ryan Grant, Sidney Rice, Steve Slaton, Vince Young

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