Touchdown Sportswear Fantasy Football League - Week#15, Playoff Preview

Upsets Set Up Some Intriguing Matchups

by Paul Pearson

Things did not go entirely as planned in the Touchdown Sportswear Fantasy Football League. Both first-round games in the championship bracket produced upsets, and a double-digit seed on the consolation round took out a single-digit seed. It should only get more interesting from here.

CHAMPIONSHIP SEMIFINALS

Tyler's Tornados vs. Let It Bleed

The top-seeded Tornados (12-2) beat Chelsea's Chumps last week by a score of 150-99, but both teams had byes into this round. The sixth-seeded Bleeds (8-5-1) had to get here the hard way with a 101-93 victory over the Tailgaters. The Tornados are dangerous at every offensive position. Michael Turner churns out points like an assembly line, and Maurice Jones-Drew has his eyes set on an NFL rushing championship. The Bleeds have multiple issues Percy Harvin's value plummets if Tarvaris Jackson stays under center, and LaDainian Tomlinson has to find holes in a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that will need to stay dominant to get a postseason bye week. A defense anchored by Brian Urlacher and Justin Tuck should help, but it won't be enough to keep the Cinderella season going. The Tornados should be able to cruise into the final.

Chelsea's Chumps vs. LandSharks

The fifth-seeded Sharks (9-5) pounded the BullRiders last week by a score of 153-106. The second-seeded Chumps (10-4), may have lost last week, but they have firepower to spare. Tom Brady may ask Patriots officials to make it snow at their games the rest of the season, and Arian Foster should find considerably bigger holes this week against Tennessee. But the Sharks counter with defenders like Ndamukong Suh, a legitimate contender for Defensive Player of the Year (let alone Rookie). Also, three different Johnsons (Chris, Andre and Steve) are looking to come up big this week. This game may actually hinge on the tight ends. Antonio Gates missed last week's game for the Chumps and will be a question mark the rest of the way. Brent Celek of the Sharks is as healthy as anyone can be in week 15, but he has come up empty three times this season and could very well do so again here. Gates has the higher ceiling, so look for the Chumps to pull this one out.

CONSOLATION BRACKET SEMIFINALS

2 Shorts and a Long vs. Malignant Apathy

The seventh-seeded Shorts (8-6) held serve with a 131-119 victory over the Ying Yang Twins. The 13th-seeded Apathy (4-10) buried the Underdwags by a score of 170-97. Darren McFadden and Reggie Wayne came up big for the Shorts last week and should do so again this week. The Apathy counter with Peyton Manning, who's back to his winning ways, and Deion Branch, who has quickly re-established himself as Tom Brady's go-to guy for deep routes. Unfortunately for the Shorts, the fortunes of Sidney Rice and Visanthe Shiancoe rest on Minnesota's quarterback position. Calling Brett Favre banged up is the understatement of the year, and Tarvaris Jackson is still as likely to throw a pick as he is to throw a touchdown. That gives the Apathy the opening they need to pull off another upset and continue their quest for the title Winningest Loser.

Sirius Contenders vs. Wasted Draft Picks

The ninth-seeded Contenders (6-8) were truly stellar in their 166-96 win over the Hoffman team. The 10th-seeded Picks (also 6-8) had no trouble with the Cougars, winning by a score of 122-75. Ray Rice and DeSean Jackson have produced strong numbers lately for the Contenders, but Terrell Owens didn't do himself or fantasy football any favors by calling out his coaches. And Alex Smith may find the San Diego Chargers defense a harder nut to crack than the Seattle Seahawks. Joe Flacco of the Picks can sympathize; he goes from the Kansas City Chiefs to the suddenly dangerous New Orleans Saints. Miles Austin is one of the beneficiaries of Dez Bryant's injury (fewer receiver egos for Jon Kitna to satisfy), but Brandon Jackson has not been a suitable substitute for Ryan Grant, and he may go to New England with Aaron Rodgers to absorb some of the defensive pressure. This one will be close, but the Picks have the less onerous issues and should prevail.