Hump Day Highlights: Week 6

Pigeon stars on special teams for the Raiders

Dante Wesley goes head hunting, gets ejected

Eddie Royal’s kickoff return TD

Brady to Moss flea flicker

Owen Daniels can catch

Josh Cribbs takes a kickoff to the house

Donald Driver’s 1-handed grab while holding hands with defender

Running Back By Committee: Monopoly Style

Did you convince yourself to take a QB with your late first round pick this year? Uh-oh!

Do you miss the days when you could win every week with Marshall Faulk and any 9 waiver wire players? Pah-rieeest Holmes in the hiz-ouse!

Do you waste precious roster space trying to monopolize 2 to 3 different backs from a single team and agonize week after week about which one might see the most playing time?

Weh-heh-hell then… you should’ve traded up for Maurice Jones-Drew.

In the meantime, you’ll surely enjoy my new family fun night favorite, RBBC-OPOLY: The Dreaded Running Back By Committee Board Game! So grab your friends and your Bud Light Lime and leave all your fantasy stresses behind. And, Roll… Those… Dice!

Click here for full size image.

10 Things from Sunday Funday: Week 6

1. Everyone is always undefeated in one of their “other” fantasy leagues. And they always seem to have the one guy that is going off at the moment. “Hakeem Nicks touchdown! I knew he’d tear it up against the Saints. I started him in my other league. I also have Jones-Drew, Brees, Moss, Colston, Ray Rice, Thomas Jones, Welker, Brady and Breaston! I’m awesome!” And I most certainly always believe them.

2. I think Jason Campbell is the first player ever to be listed as questionable, not based on his health, but on his talent level.

3. These AM PM commercials claim that “you can never have too much good stuff.” But immediately following that assertion, they end with “AM PM, TOO MUCH good stuff. So I dont know what to believe.

These might even be better than the classic Dwyane Wade “Fall 7 times. Stand up 8,” Converse ads.  And if you don’t remember or understand why: If you fall 7 times, that’s right,  you can only stand up 7 times, not 8.

But why 7 times? Why not 4? Or 10? Or however many times you need? I understand it’s a metaphor for failing and rising again, but they actually give a specific number. What if you’ve used your 7 falls, and Shaq sets a moving screen and he knocks you down again. Is it over? Is that too many falls now? I think it is. Converse and I would both suggest you find a new hobby at this point. It’s just not gonna work out.

4. At 19 years old, Matt Barkley is not better than “The Sanchize,” but he is more talented. And it’s easy to say this now after a 5 INT performance vs. the lowly Bills, but the Irish may have have been better off on Saturday if Sanchez stuck around for another year. Probably not, but its a talking point, because Barkley is going to be the number 1 pick overall in 3 years. Right after Jimmy Clausen goes number 1 the year before him.

5. 5 TD passes in one quarter. 59-0? Is that for real?  Someone found a Game Genie in their storage closet. This can’t happen in a regular mode.

6. If there is anything I’ve learned about fantasy football its that everyone who plays thinks they are really good at it. Just like everyone who drives a car thinks they are really good at it. And always remember this: No one wants to hear about your fantasy team for more than 30 seconds. Anything after that, they’re looking for an out, or they’re ready to talk about their team. Trust me, try it.

7. If you don’t play, don’t act like you know. A few minutes ago a non-fantasy playing casual football fan asked me who my quarterback was like he was about to engage in an intelligent fantasy football conversation with me to impress the girls around. (Ha, I just made myself laugh.. I know, i know, not an ounce of knowledge about fantasy football could remotely impress a girl. In fact, to be this delusional about football has to be a turnoff to anyone, but there was something about the way he asked where it seemed like he was gonna stick his “football smarts” chest out and challenge me. So I tell him my quarterback is Matt Schuab, and he goes “Ah not bad, no Brees or Manning though? Gotta have one of the big boys man.” And he gives me this look like I don’t know what I’m doing.  Oh no you didn’t. You just opened the wrong door you @#$%#!!!  Slick, do me a favor and unbutton your shirt one more button before I jump across this table and shove my seasonal brew bottle up your…  I mean come on! I would never draft a quarterback in the first round when I can consistently find a Matt Schaub talent in a later round year after year after year. But there is no time or need to explain value to this Fantasy Guru, he knows that Manning and Brees are great. Get back in your flashy BMW and go look at yourself in the mirror a few thousand more times because I will not have this conversation with you, you hair product abusing poseur.

Hold on minute, oh nice…nice! He’s buying a round for the entire table.. Well now. Interesting. That’s pretty cool… I mean, we could probably hit the town together and cruise for chicks one night ya know? Talk about Seven jeans and stuff. I kinda like this guy. And I guess Manning would be nice to own…

8. I understand what “Any given Sunday” means, but I was under the impression it did not apply to the Raiders in Philly, or the Bills in New Jersey. What was that all about? On the other end of the spectrum, the Vikes and Saints are excellent. Brees and Favre are easily two of the front runners for MVP, right alongside Peyton, Big Ben, and Pujols.

9. I hate when a 1 o’clock game that was being shown on a corner TV ends early and switches over to the main game you’ve been focusing on all day, AND ITS TWO SECONDS AHEAD!  Oh god, here we go. Now you have to awkwardly rotate and strain your neck and back to look at the other TV so your not watching something that already happened. You’ll even try to block it out with your hand or a menu, but you can’t win. It’s too much effort. You’ll somehow catch a glimpse out of the corner of your eye. And even if you successfully block it out you can’t avoid hearing the early boos and cheers from other parts of the bar. Now your not even focused on the game. Now you only care that your TV, the one that is perfectly located in front of you, is no longer as good as this new corner TV. You’ve completely lost focus. You’re probably gonna hit something.. Oh no.. wait..Hauschka missed the kick!?!? Hooked left? Is that what I’m hearing from over there? Vikes win! OH yeaaa, Brett Favre baby!! Go FOOTBALL!!! On any TV!!!

10. When Brady Quinn finally finds a new suitor for his bachelor pad I bet he rips the For Sale sign out of the front yard and yells, “Now I’m Done.”

First in Peace, Last in NFC East

Something tells me Riggo isn’t the only ex-Redskin who is disappointed with the current state of the franchise, but he’s definitely the first one to display his thoughts on youtube.  Maybe you have the right to do this if you’re a Hall of Famer and won a Super Bowl MVP for the Skins, but he definitely crossed the line, and I’m thankful for it because it was awesome.

Riggo had so many good lines in this rant:  the “Peanuts” reference, the use of the word “rectum”, telling Dan Snyder that they need to get a new “shooter”, and of course declaring Jim Zorn “gone” as well as telling Zorn he should go coach his son in high school.  But the funniest part of this clip is that a 60 year-old man is promoting his twitter page….and it worked because he now has at least one more follower.

Dr. P’s Week 6 NFL Picks

Texans +5 over Bengals

I’ve been trying to think of a nickname for the Bengals all week…got it…the “Cardiac Cats”.  I think Cincy wins another close one.
Fantasy Alert: Deep sleeper pick: Chris Henry

Lions +14 over Packers

The inflated spread is due to an injured Megatron, but I think the Lions will still be able to move the ball and keep it close against the Pack’s horrid pass defense.
Fantasy Alert:  Greg Jennings has to have a big game soon

Rams +10 over Jags

I can’t seem to figure this Jacksonville team out especially after last weeks humiliating loss.  At least one Jag scored last weekend.
Fantasy Alert: Steven Jackson gets his first TD.

Vikings –3 over Ravens

I think the Vikes are for real now that they have a balanced offense.  They should beat a good Ravens team at home.
Fantasy Alert: Minnesota has a good D but they do give up yards on the ground, keep Ray Rice in your lineup

Saints –3 over Giants

I bet ESPN wishes they had this matchup for MNF.  The Giants wins have come against teams that are a combined 6-19.  I don’t see them staying undefeated in the Superdome.
Fantasy Alert: Shockey will get his revenge on the Giants

Steelers –14 over Browns

Pittsburgh is rolling right now. Blowout at home.
Fantasy Alert: Heath Miller continues his solid season

Chiefs +6.5 over Redskins

The Redskins will find a way to relinquish another victory despite playing another winless team.
Fantasy Alert: Larry Johnson gets rolling this week… Nah, just kidding.

Eagles –14.5 over Raiders

Antonio Pierce compared the Giants/Raiders week 5 game to a scrimmage.  Now it’s Philly’s turn.

Titans +9.5 over Patriots

I refuse to believe the Titans are as bad as their record.  I think they keep it close at NE.
Fantasy Alert: Big game for Welker

Jets –10 over Bills

The Bills lost to a winless Browns team with a quarterback that completed 11% of his passes.

Falcons –3 over Bears

Interesting game between two hot teams.  I’ll take Atlanta at home.
Fantasy Alert: Tony Gonzalez shines Sunday night.

Chargers – 4 over Broncos

Philip Rivers will start to turn this season around just like he’s done the past few seasons after a slow start.  McDaniels loses his first game at San Diego.
Fantasy Alert: Sproles is due for a big game

Top 25 Picks: Week 7

Noon

(18) Oklahoma +3.5 over (2) Texas
Texas can’t afford to fall asleep as they have against lesser opposition in the early goings. OU has their Heisman QB back and a vaunted defense that has kept them in games despite the injuries to Bradford and Gresham. The Sooners will shake up the BCS picture with a win.

(7) Ohio State -14 over PURDUE
Purdue probably won’t pass 10 points in this one.

(12) Iowa +3 over WISCONSIN
Wisconsin will be glad to get back to Camp Randall but not so happy with another ranked opponent. Iowa seems to have the toughness to tippy-toe past each and every foe.

3:30

Minnesota +17.5 over PENN STATE
Penn State’s offense has not fully clicked on all cylinders this year. They will win but not without a furious fight with the Gophers.

(25) NOTRE DAME +10 over USC
This game is different from the past two years when ND couldn’t score a TD. Clausen has finally emerged as a good QB and he has weapons around him. It will help that the Trojans terrifying trio of linebackers moved on to the NFL. Oh yeah, that Sanchez guy is gone too.

(23) Houston -17 over TULANE
Tulane is terrible.

Texas Tech +11 over (17) NEBRASKA
This is a classic great defense against a great offense. Well…maybe it’s a great Ndamukong Suh versus a great passing offense. Regardless, the Red Raider offense will still score enough to stay in it.

Arkansas +24 over (1) FLORIDA
Florida is banged up and a return to the swamp will be nice, but Bobby Petrino’s troops are airing it out and scoring a lot of points. I’ll take the Hogs to cover, Gators to win.

4:00

Colorado State +22 over (8) TCU
TCU will win this game but they’re not winning by putting on offensive onslaughts week in and week out. Their running game and defense take care of business. I like the Frogs by 14.

6:00

(4) Virginia Tech -3 over (20) GEORGIA TECH
This is one of the better games that are getting overshadowed by ND-USC and the Red River Shootout. Controlling the clock is key and turnovers will factor in to this one. I like the Hokies D a little better and I think they will tough it out on the road.

(19) BYU -17 over SAN DIEGO STATE
BYU has gotten the train rolling since the FSU debacle and they’re putting up points in bunches. The Aztecs aren’t really stopping anyone either.

7:00

COLORADO +10 over (15) Kansas
This is just a hunch. The Buffs have played KU well in recent years and they get a much needed home game after enduring a tough life on the road. I think it will be a close one.

7:30

(11) Miami -14 over CENTRAL FLORIDA
This was a close one for The U last year. It won’t be like last year though. Another year in the Randy Shannon system and better on-field leadership from Jacory Harris will result in a blowout win for the Canes.

7:45

(3) ALABAMA -17.5 over (22) South Carolina
The Gamecocks have been impressive all year but they don’t have the fortitude to stand up to the Tide. Alabama excels in every area.

9:15

(14) OKLAHOMA STATE -7 over (24) Missouri
Zac Robinson will have to do without one of his favorite targets in Dez Bryant. Luckily for him, the Pokes have a ton of threats that tear up the Tiger defense.

Week 6 Power Rankings

A weekly peek at the NFL from top to bottom.

NFL Power Rankings

1 Last Week: 1	New Orleans Saints Saints: Sticking with my guns, can’t lose the top rankings on a bye week. Game vs. the Giants this week has me excited.
2 Last Week: 2	New York Giants Nice tune up game with the Raiders, this week they get the Saints for the top spot
3 Last Week: 3	Indianapolis Colts Took care of the Titans. They get a week off. Will move to number 2 next week after one of the top 2 gets knocked off.
4 Last Week: 5	Minnesota Vikings Didn’t see this team being 5-0 at this point. Baltimore comes to town this week to give us a true gauge on this team.
5 Last Week: 7	Denver Broncos Always find a way to win. Have not been overly impressive any game thus far, but 5-0 is 5-0.
6 Last Week: 8	Philadelphia Eagles Sitting pretty heading to Oakland. D-Mac is back.
7 Last Week: 9	Cincinnati Bengals Huge advantage on the AFC North with W’s over the Ravens, Browns and Steelers. This team is one fluke play from being 5-0, but a couple big plays of their own from being 1-4. Good teams find a way.
8 Last Week: 10	Atlanta Falcons Handled a young, tough 49ers squad. Only blemish is to Tom Brady and the Patriots. Big test this week with Chicago coming to town.
9 Last Week: 13	Chicago Bears Moved up 4 slots on a bye week. Chance to really make a statement this week in Atlanta.
10 Last Week: 6	New England Patriots This team needs to find the Brady of ‘07. They get the winless Titans in week 6.
11 Last Week: 7	Baltimore Ravens Lost a big game on the last possession against AFC North foe Cincinnati. Next up is another tough match up with the Vikings.
12 Last Week: 14	Pittsburgh Steelers This team has holes on defense. But Big Ben and Co. are rolling on offense.
13 Last Week: 15	Green Bay Packers Need to come out of the bye strong. Two tune up games against Detroit and Cleveland should help before the big rematch against the Vikings.
14 Last Week: 11	New York Jets Need a win against the Bills this week or this young team will start doubting themselves.
15 Last Week: 16	Dallas Cowboys Miles Austin saved the day in Kansas City. This team needs to improve quickly over its bye week.
16 Last Week: 12	San Fransisco 49ers Got knocked around against a strong Falcons team. Need to bounce back after the bye against Houston to regain confidence. Gore and Crabtree can only help.
17 Last Week:20	Miami Dolphins Big win over the Jets. Get to rest up a week before the Saints come calling.
18 Last Week:19	San Diego Chargers Have some work to do coming out of the bye. Big Monday night game with Denver this week, could make or break the season.
19 Last Week:22	Arizona Cardinals Got a much needed win. This team still needs to find a running game.
20 Last Week: 23	Seattle Seahawks Stomped the Jags. Can they build on the momentum? Welcome back Hasselbeck.
21 Last Week:18	Houston Texans Dropped a tough game in ‘Zona. Team needs to steal a game in Cincinnati this week.
22 Last Week: 17	Jacksonville Jaguars Losing 41-0 to a below average football team deserves a big drop.
23 Last Week: 27	Carolina Panthers Got their first win of the year. But beating the Redskins says little.
24 Last Week: 21	Washington Redskins Two wins are over St. Louis and Tampa. This team is going nowhere fast.
25 Last Week: 24	Buffalo Bills Trent Edwards is not the answer. But he is far from the only piece this team is missing.
26 Last Week: 25	Detroit Lions This team can score points. But can stop no one.
27 Last Week: 26	Tennessee Titans Once again I ask for Vince Young. At least he brings excitement.
28 Last Week:22	Oakland Raiders Under 200 yards for the second straight week. I predict a 0-0 tie on December 27 when the Raiders visit Cleveland.
29 Last Week:32	Cleveland Browns A win gets them off the bottom. But winning 6-3 while completing 2 passes all game is far from impressive.
30 Last Week:29	Tampa Bay Buccaneers Josh Johnson and Kellen Winslow have a good thing going.
31 Last Week:31	Kansas City Chiefs Matt Cassel showed some signs of life. With that running game he should be throwing 60 passes a game.
32 Last Week: 30	St. Louis Rams Welcome to the cellar Rams!

College Football Quick Picks

Dr. WB’s quick picks for the weekday games, check back later in the week for all Top 25 picks…

Wednesday 8:00

TULSA +9.5 over #6 Boise State
The last couple of times these two have met, they’ve been one score games. Boise is the better team, but Tulsa gets a much needed home game under the lights and the crowd will be amped up for a primetime game. Expect Boise to win a tight one.

Thursday 7:45 P.M.

#9 Cincinnati -3 over #21 SOUTH FLORIDA
George Selvie and the Bulls look to bottle up the Bearcats Thursday night. The Bearcats have too many weapons and too good of a leader in Tony Pike. They have shown they can win on the road too. Bearcats by 10.

Week 5: Top 5 NFL Stories

There was not a lot of middle ground in the NFL last week. The Rich got Richer. The Poor got Poorer. If you won, you blew the team out. If you lost, well…you got blown out. If you sucked in the first place and played another team that sucked, you were both embarrassed.

Here are my Top 5 NFL Stories from Week 5. What were yours?

1. Pupil Defeats Master
In a much anticipated match-up, the Denver Broncos and rookie Head Coach Josh McDaniels hosted the New England Patriots and veteran Head Coach Bill Belichick. It was a game that I automatically assumed would finish the Broncos surprising undefeated record. I should have remembered that history has a way of repeating itself.

Several weeks ago, I sat speechless watching the University of Washington upset the University of Southern California in a game that was supposed to be a blowout. In that game, UW coach Steve Sarkisian defeated his former boss & mentor, Pete Carroll. It made sense. Sark had spent the past eight years working his way up the ranks at USC under Carroll and dissecting every aspect of the play book, both offensive & defensive.

Fast forward to the Denver game…McDaniels has spent the past eight years working his way up the ranks in New England under Belichick and dissecting every aspect of the play book, both offensive & defensive. Sound eerily familiar?

Well, this game turned out the same. Despite getting in a 10-0 hole (like UW), Denver kept in the game and pulled off a 20-17 victory in Overtime. Kyle Orton had his best game to date throwing for 330 yards & 2 TDs, both to Brandon Marshall.

2. All Remain Undefeated
There were three other teams trying to get to 5-0 and they all accomplished it…handily. The three undefeated teams won by a combined score of 113-26. Yes, you read that correctly. The New York Giants defeated the Oakland Raiders 44-7; the Minnesota Vikings & 40-year old Brett Favre defeated the St. Louis Rams 38-10; and the Indianapolis Colts defeated the Tennessee Titans 31-9. The Raiders, Rams, and Titans now have a combined 1-14 record. Ouch.

3. New North Leader
That sounds like the title my creepy RA gave himself my freshman year of college. My dorm was named New/North, but that is not the point. The AFC North is consistently one of the top divisions in the NFL because of the Pittsburgh Steelers & Baltimore Ravens. Well, the Cincinnati Bengals topped the Steelers in Week 3 and now the Ravens in Week 5 to stand alone at the top of the AFC North. In what seems to be Carson Palmer’s new craze, he once again led the Bengals to a last minute victory with a 20-yard TD pass to Andre Caldwell with 0:22 left in the game. CP finished the game with 271 yards & 1 TD. Chad Ochocinco was responsible for 94 of those yards, while workhorse running back Cedric Bensen had 120 yards & 1 TD on 27 carries against the vaunted Ravens defense.

4. WTF?
Two games that were expected to finish tight got out of hand really quickly. The Seattle Seahawks had dropped their last three games, but pounded the Jacksonville Jaguars 41-0 in Matt Hasselbeck’s return. Hasselbeck threw for 241 yards & 4 TDs. Nate Burleson & TJ Houshmanzedeaheahadaeh each snagged 2 TDs apiece. The other game was between the Atlanta Falcons & San Francisco 49ers. The 49ers followed up their blowout win in Week 4 with a blowout loss to the Falcons 45-10. Michael Turner & Roddy White combined for 307 total yards & 5 TDs. Not a bad day for their Fantasy Owners.

5. WTF 2.0?
Really? That counts as win? This is how I am reporting this game: The Cleveland Browns decided to travel to New York to practice plays and field goals with the Buffalo Bills. Somebody had to leave with a “win” so the Browns were allowed to kick a field goal with 0:23 left in practice to end the scrimmage 6-3. Really! It was that ugly. The Browns “won” even though their QB finished with 2 completions for 23 yards. I am not lying! Look it up yourself!

Get your Pick ‘Em Picks in and I will see you all in Week 6…

More rumblings from Casey can be found on BuyAthletes.com.

Top 5 NFL Samoans

#5 Jesse Sapolu

#61 for the Niners isn’t exactly one of the greats that gets mentioned in San Francisco dynasty discussions. I’m sure if you asked Steve Young or that Montana dude what he meant, you would probably get some high praise for J-Sap. He opened up holes for Ricky Watters and Roger Craig, protected the above Hall-of-Famers, and helped the Gold Rushers to four Super Bowl Championships, while picking up two Pro Bowls and and two All-Pro selections.

#4 Mark Tuinei

One of the Boys that complimented the Aikman, Novacek, Emmitt, Irvin era in Dallas. His Wiki page calls him “Gentle Giant.” Tuinei was on three Super Bowl squads, two Pro-Bowl teams, and named an All-Pro twice. Protecting Aikman’s blind side and paving the way for the NFL’s All-Time leading rusher were no small feats. Tragically, Tuinei died in 1999 of drug overdose and we ask that he Rest-In-Peace.

#3 Lofa Tatupu

Since bursting onto the scene in Seattle in 05, this Seahawk has made his home away from home in Honolulu. Perennially among the league leaders in tackles in his short career, Lofa is described in the video as “relentless.” That’s a pretty good quality to have at linebacker. Can’t hurt that he came from a football family. His father, Mosi, played fullback in a Pro Bowl and the 85 Super Bowl for the Pats.

#2 Troy Polamalu

Recognized by the hair (like many Samoans), known by his play. He’s a terror on the field and it’s quite obvious the Steelers miss him right now. Check the reels:

#1 Junior Seau

One of the toughest competitors in NFL history, a legend at USC, a great guy on and off the field. Seau is what every guy on this list and every other Samoan wants to be. He is the benchmark. Nine All Pros and twelve Pro Bowls and success into his late 30s. He’s a surefire Hall of Famer.

*Honorable Mentions: Dan Saleaumua, Luther Elliss, Mosi Tatupu, Esera Tuaolo, The Headshrinkers

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