ROUGH RYDERS: Week Two

Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!

Who needs LaDainian Tomlinson playing well when I've got some other player putting up 40+ fantasy points every week?

This week, Cincinnati Bengal WR Chad Johnson was my #1 stud - 11 catches, 209 yards, and 2 TDs, adding up to an impressive 43.9 fantasy points. More impressive, however, is the fact that "Ocho Cinco" leapt into "The Dawg Pound" (the rowdy bleacher section beyond the endzone at Browns Stadium in Cleveland) after catching his second TD of the day...Probably not as daring as leaping into the "Black Hole" at Oakland, but still, ya gotta give props to Johnson for doing what he says he's gonna do...Anyways, how about that Bengals-Browns game? Holy shit! Cleveland may not score that many points in their remaining 14 games. The Bengals probably will. In any event, these two teams must surely have two of the worst defenses in the NFL, but I'm not complaining...Carson Palmer is going to have to throw an awful lot this season, just to keep the Bengals competitive, and that's fine by me...

Speaking of the Cincy-Cleveland game - my fantasy opponent this week, Just Another Team (managed by Thee Fractioneer) had Cincy's #2 WR, TJ Houshmandzadeh in his lineup, and "Housh" had a pretty damn good game himself - 8 catches, 69 yards, and 2 TDs (26.9 fantasy points) - but as far as I know, he didn't leap into The Dawg Pound.

Ahhhh, LT...For the second straight week, the Chargers found themselves pitted against a formidable defense, this time the New England Patriots. With or without spies, the Patriots pretty much shut down LT in all aspects of the game, leading the NFL's MVP to a rather disappointing 10.8 fantasy points. It may be worth noting that LT's first fantasy point was for a tackle after the Charger's QB, Philip Rivers, threw an INT in their first offensive series. In hindsight, this was an omen of things to come for LT and the Chargers this weekend. It's only the second week of the season, but damn if the Patriots don't look like the team to beat this year, and favorites to win the Super Bowl XLII next January...

Hines Ward...Quiet week...5 catches, 55 yards, no TDs...

Calvin Johnson...The Detroit Lions rookie is already establishing himself as a fine NFL receiver, catching a TD pass in each of his first two games, and in turn, putting up some fairly respectable fantasy numbers so far...This week he was good for 17.8...Speaking of Calvin Johnson, he's the subject of one of my favorite quotes from this weekend, courtesy of his teammate Roy Williams, who is fond of saying "We got Megatron!", which is apparently Johnson's nickname...Well, all I can say is - "The Rough Ryders got Megatron!" LOL

Another rookie on our beloved Rough Ryders, Buffalo's Marshawn Lynch, has been solid, if not spectacular so far this season...This week he found himself up against the Pittsburgh Steeler's vaunted defense, no easy task for even the most seasoned veteran RB, but Lynch was good for 9.5 fantasy points based on 65 rushing yards and a single reception, making him about as valuable as LT this weekend...It doesn't help that Buffalo's offense seems in disarray at the moment, with QB JP Losman being mostly useless thus far, and in turn, their number #1 WR, Lee Evans (Hello, Wisconsin!)...I believe Lynch is a very good RB, but if the Bills are going to be playing from behind all season, and Losman keeps throwing incomplete passes, Lynch's effectiveness (and fantasy value) will be tempered a bit...

Tony Gonzalez...My fantasy TE from the Kansas City Chiefs hasn't set the world on fire so far this season either...This week he caught 4 passes for 43 yards, adding up to a ho-hum 8.3 fantasy points...Again, it would appear that this former fantasy stud is now playing on a pretty crappy team with a fairly anemic offense, which includes workhorse Larry Johnson...I grabbed Gonzalez with my 4th round pick this year, and so far, that's looking like a mistake, though not as big a mistake as drafting SF's Vernon Davis as my TE on another fantasy team of mine, The Super Doom Unit...

Chicago Bears Team Defense...Holy crap! I grabbed the Bears' team defense with my 5th round pick, and so far, it's looking like a wise choice...Not only are they a premier defense in the NFL, but return man Devon Hester is an absolute BEAST...Not only did he run back a kickoff for a TD, but he also ran back a punt for a TD before it was (rightfully) called back on a holding penalty...Anyways - sacks, fumble recoveries, and already the 2nd blocked kick of the season - it all adds up to great fantasy numbers...

Leading the way, was Lance Briggs, who had about as good a game at linebacker as anyone can possibly have...20 fantasy points from 11 tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble that he recovered himself...It's no surprise that the Bears named Briggs a franchise player this year, this guy is as good as they get, which isn't the easiest thing for a diehard Packer fan like myself to admit...The Bears are hated (but respected) here in Wisconsin...Unlike the Vikings, whom we simply hate...

Anyways, that's about it for this week's fantasy football recap...Once again, both of my DBs, Troy Polamalu and Asante Samuel, were useless, and I already dropped Polamalu in favor of the Colts' Bob Sanders...I love Polamalu as much as any man can love a safety, but this is fantasy football, and I ain't fucking around...Samuel better start intercepting some balls, or at least tackle somebody, or he's gonna head to free agency as well...

Finally, the quote of the week comes from FOX color commentator Troy Aikman, who said this prior to the Packer-Giants game: "You know the game has changed when you see punters wearing short sleeves and showing off the pipes."

Winona Rough Ryders are 2-0!

Hotcha!
Hank