Two Weeks to Go, and Standings as Tight as Ever
by Paul Pearson
Only two teams switched standings in week 15 of the Elks Den fantasy football league, but that doesn't mean anyone can rest easy. There are still two weeks left in the season, and anything can happen, even a 71-yard kick return by an offensive guard. (And you thought YOUR return guy was tough to tackle.) Ten of the eleven teams scored over 50 points, so we know they have the firepower to make a move in week 16.
THE PENTHOUSE
The Wonder Twins retained the top spot by scoring 78.09 points and raising its season total to 1,184.06. Michael Vick remains one of the hottest players in recent NFL history, but Peyton Hillis stumbled against the Cincinnati Bengals and faces an even stiffer test this week against a Baltimore Ravens team fighting to keep the AFC North title in sight.
The Green Death put up only 59.43 points and now trail the Twins by roughly 83. Chris Johnson is a reliable touchdown option for both the Tennessee Titans and the Death. But Arian Foster was nearly silent in a surprising loss to the aforementioned Titans. Ben Roethlisberger will have a chance to get the Death's weekend off to a rousing start Thursday night.
FIRE AND ICE compiled 86.04 points to remain in third place and close its gap with the Death to about 18 points. Losing Austin Collie certainly will hurt, but Drew Brees and Marques Colston should find scoring opportunities against the Atlanta Falcons in a Monday night game that may determine the entire NFC playoff picture.
THE MIDDLE
The fourth-place Balco!! scored 71.16 points to remain within 17 and a half points of FIRE AND ICE. Terrell Owens is out for the rest of the season, and Adrian Peterson's lingering injury won't help matters any. But the Balcos still have Philip Rivers gunning for an AFC West title, as well as a New England Patriots defense/special teams making plays.
TACO'S AL VAPOR racked up 82.7 points and may not be in fifth place much longer, since they trail the Balcos by just over a point. Dwayne Bowe still isn't back to his usual fantasy self, but Ray Rice is more than picking up the slack. LeGarrette Blount and Kenny Britt are both wild cards, since both play for teams with fading-but-not-quite dead playoff hopes.
The sixth-place UwannaPieceOMe compiled 69.88 points and sit within 20 points of the Tacos. Peyton Manning and Chris Cooley are both scoring points in bunches again, but Brandon Jackson has been a disappointment for the Green Bay Packers, and Fred Jackson needs to find holes to keep opponents from sending the kitchen sink against Ryan Fitzpatrick.
The Bad News Barristers put up a league-high 105.88 points and rose one spot in the rankings, to seventh place. They're now roughly 40 points shy of UwannaPieceOMe. Vincent Jackson led the way with his three touchdowns, and he should find plenty of scoring chances against this week, along with Jamaal Charles and Matt Ryan, who's not just a home-site starter anymore.
The Bogimeisters fell from seventh to eighth place by scoring only 53.23 points last week. Carson Palmer continues to struggle this year, and Greg Olsen remains the forgotten option in the Mike Martz down-the-field offense. Jeremy Maclin's touchdowns help, but Maurice Jones-Drew needs to step things up if he wants a league rushing title.
THE BASEMENT
The ninth-place Snookuation racked up 89.28 points (second only to the Bad News Barristers) and trail the Bogimeisters by fewer than 19 points. Eli Manning scored last week like a guest star on Jersey Shore, and Steven Jackson is finding more holes as defenses start to respect Sam Bradford. Speaking of defenses, the Chicago Bears face a stiff test against the New York Jets.
Where's the food? put up 77.91 points. They stay in 10th place but now sit within 9 points of the Snookuation. Jason Witten is performing like a top-notch fantasy tight end, and any team starting Tom Brady is dangerous in any conditions. But LaDainian Tomlinson is fading down the stretch, and Wes Welker was surprisingly quiet last week against Green Bay.
And then we have 4th and 20, which scored a league-low 20.75 points and cemented last-place status with a season total of 855.68, over 100 points behind Where's the food? Leaving the concussed Aaron Rodgers in the starting lineup was not the best move, and Vernon Davis didn't help matters with his 4-yard Thursday night outing. As a TV analyst once said, this one could get ugly.
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