Week 15: The Race is on for 3YKffl

Week 15: The Race is on for 3YKffl

By Sam Spiegelman

Without Rodgers, Goldstone Falters in Crucial Matchup

            It was a day of cell phones thrown against the wall, laptops slammed in disgust and grown men shouting at their television sets. Fantasy hero Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback for Goldstone, went down with a concussion against none other than the Detroit Lions, who tried to salvage their own season by ruining his fantasy playoff hopes.

            With Rodgers only able to put a negative-two-point total (no thanks to Greg Jennings), Goldstone was able to manage a measly 36 points, as his gun-slinging quarterback and top wide-out were blanked on the afternoon. And if No. 12 does not return Sunday night to face New England, like the Packers’ post-season hopes, it is goodnight to Goldstone.

            If Rodgers can tough it out like he did following the concussion he suffered against the ‘Skins, this team is still a threat. Maurice Jones-Drew has hit his stride, and his team will be in an emotional AFC South rivalry matchup versus the Colts where MJD will be leaned on carry his Jags. Also, Matt “I’m a man I’m” Forte gets a hopeless Vikings defense that got run over by the G-Men, and Jeremy Maclin is a big-play-threat each and every week.

            As Goldstone sputtered, Horwitch took no mercy to increase his league-best 11-3 record. A quiet 111-yard rushing day for Chris Johnson and a 21-point effort from Deion Branch was enough to easily handle his Week 14 matchup in itself. Well, it did not hurt that Vick’s 19 points could send a little message as the playoffs near.

Steele Separates from the Pack

            The difference between second place and fourth – it was evident Week 14 when Fienberg fell to Steele by over 40 points. One team solidified their No. 2 seed come playoff-time, while the other now finds their team in a struggle to clinch a berth.

            Led by a just buck-wild night out of DeSean Jackson and Michael “The Burner” Turner, Steele scored a league-best 121 points. D-Jax took the Cowboys out with over 200 yards on just four catches, showing why he is the best deep-threat in the league these days. The Burner did what we thought he would; that’s why he took the damn the field. The pulverizing back ran all over Carolina, icing the matchup with three touchdowns.

            Fienberg’s team did not slouch – 79 points this week would have beaten all but two teams in the league. While his opponents’ running back stole some fire from quarterback Matty Ice, primetime performers Steven Jackson, The Daily Show and Marques Colston all scored 12 points, while Andre “The Giant” Johnson made a clinic out of Monday Night Football with 24 of his own. You got to wonder though – when will Roddy White rebound?

            Now down to a fourth-place tie with Goldstone, a crucial showdown between he and Chaiken comes this weekend, as suddenly the NFL season is dwindling down.

Feinberg Looks to Keep Pace, Battles Chaiken

            When the No. 3 and No. 4 teams in the league collide in Week 15, it will be a good old-fashioned face-off between two teams that plain do not like each other. One team will be looking to secure their place in the post-season, while the other is fighting for their playoff life. There will be no mercy, no sympathy, nothing of the sort – just classic fantasy football between two elite teams.

            Chaiken’s squad will sport an impressive lineup Sunday, led by the likes of Peyton Manning who will need to shoulder the load in an AFC South showdown between his Colts and the division-leading Jaguars. The game is in Indy, and with playoff hopes on the line you have to expect Manning will play like a Hall of Famer.

            Other favorable matchups include Dwayne Bowe, who if he has his tag-team partner Matt Cassel back at quarterback will be due for a big-time rebounding performance. Bowe has been slow of late, but he is not benchable. He has faced Champ Bailey, and then suffered with Brodie Croyle at quarterback – give him some slack. I also love Mike Williams (TB) at home against the Lions.

            On the other side, a lot of pressure will be placed upon the Matt Ryan to Roddy White combination. Fortunately, they get to face the Sea-chickens, who is a dream opponent for any fantasy owner. The duo is not going anywhere, and if there was ever a week for them to rebound it is Week 15.

            I am also digging the Steven Jackson matchup against the Chiefs and The Daily Show against ‘Zona. Both of their teams will rely on the running game, and these are two proven studs. When Marques Colston faces off against the Ravens, I am feeling a big game in Baltimore. Drew Brees has rediscovered his chemistry with the big receiver, and he is one of the hottest guys in the league right now.

            My prediction: Anytime you have Manning going in a big-time game, you love what he can bring to the table. However, when your whole lineup is about to have a field day like Fienberg’s team will, a win is inevitable. The backs will dominate, the receivers have great matchups and I cannot wait to see Andre “The Giant” Johnson show up Cortland Finnegan in a man-child sort of way.