Evans World 2012–Week 2

Greetings, fellow FF owners!  I apologize for the late blog, but I was busy yesterday enjoying a nice lunch with fellow owners Marshall and Mike.  Well, more with Marshall since Mike is on a strict water and air diet.  We wish you well, oh League Leader (current), and thank you for freeing up vital resources to feed the rest of us.

RANDOM THOUGHTS FOR THE WEEK

• I know I should feel sorry for Tony P., but I really don’t.  I will admit I was nervous going into the Monday night game that Peyton would score enough points to make up the 20-point difference between us.  Sadly, Peyton let him down and I kicked Tony’s ass.  The worst part of it … Tony would have beaten everyone else in the league except for me.  Another Kevin-type team this year?  Time will tell.
• Another week of large FF points for all teams.  I was worried about Jason’s team posting barely 30 points after many of the Sunday games finished.  Thankfully Philip Rivers showed up and saved him from a record low finish, but not enough to grab the win from Ritchie.
• Speaking of Ritchie, how about that come from behind win thanks to Willis McGahee?!  I’ve always been a fan of McGahee, even though he comes from that loser university down south somewhere.  When healthy, he’s one of the most solid FF RB in the past few years.  20 points for Ritchie pulled him back from the brink and kept him from the lousy 0-2 start that Jason must now endure.
• Speaking of records, how about Mike sitting along at the top of the heap at 2-0?  Enjoy it while you can.  With 8 other teams at 1-1, it’s going to be a good, long season.  I expect more close matchups again this weekend.
• Speaking of close matchups, definitely loved how the Nathan v. Berk and Tony G. v. Gary matchups were so close for most of the weekend.  I’m sure it ratcheted up the tension a little, for those of you who pay so close attention to it every second on a Sunday like Nathan and I do.  Berk rarely seems to win in those close ones.  And who doesn’t like to watch Berk lose?  Hell, even Berk likes it!
• Gary, tough loss of Hernandez and Forte this weekend.  It’s too early to call, but we have seen your teams slip in the past from unfortunate injuries.  Here’s hoping history does not repeat itself once again.  Trade, man.  Trade!
• Speaking of trades, I’m happy to see and hear of trade requests going around.  Keep them up and please answer them quickly.
• I’m dying to know if Tony G. knew that Richardson and Spiller were going to light it up when he drafted them.  Sure, Spiller had a good finish last year, but I think everyone expected Jackson to steal points from him.  Not anymore.  I’ve got a feeling Tony will be riding the Spiller Train as long as it will run.  Buffalo must have one hell of an offensive line.  I’m sure Marshall would agree it’s also good to see signs of life out of Cleveland with Richardson.  Just think Detroit 5 years ago.  They could continue to get better.  All they need is a reliable WR and the game is on.
• Speaking of Tony G., I’m sure he’s cursing Chris Johnson’s name.  His voice joins the loud chorus of other FF owners who are wondering how second stringers like Ben Tate can have about 1000x more yards and FF points than the “league’s leading rusher.”  I’m honestly not sure if the problem is Johnson or the Titan coaching, but I don’t see this changing any time soon.  Truthfully, I expect Tony to sit Johnson more weeks than he starts him this season.  Crazy.  Of course, Tony’s bench is pretty beat up right now.  He may have no choice but to start this loser.
• I’ve got a feeling with Forte down for a bit, Michael Bush is going to do well for Marshall.  We’ll see.  I still think Chicago is going to bounce back from that huge loss.  Why they didn’t throw to Brandon Marshall on Thursday is a mystery to me.
• This is the first weekend in recent memory where both the Patriots and the Packers were low-scoring FF teams.  How insane is that??  I personally think the Patriots should be ashamed of themselves for playing such a horrible game against Arizona.  Not just because they should have lit them up for a huge FF weekend, but because some idiot coach somewhere thought it would be a good idea to develop Julian Edelman over Wes Welker.  Please.  Teams that bench and/or refuse to use their best players lose.  For other reference see the Chiefs, Bears, and Titans.
• Antonio Gates benched last minute.  Seriously, coaches, think about the FF owners for a change!
• I love watching NFL ticket on DirectTV, especially the mix channel where I can watch 8 games at once.  But you know what I noticed most?  How so many NFL players have sold out and plastered their faces all over commercials.  RG3, Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Peyton Manning … the list goes on.  Now, I think “discount double-check” (show me what you got, what you got Raji), “dial papa bear, hut hut!” are awesome and we laugh every time.
• Speaking of commercials, I think there should be a constitutional amendment banning Geico from making more commercials with the Neanderthals.  It stopped being fun about 5 years ago.  That’s 5 years of unbearable pain on a constant basis.  Teaming them up with loser/injured Orakpo is liking putting me in a commercial.  No … if I were in it, it’d be awesome.  It’d be as lame as putting Tom in a commercial.

WEEKLY AWARDS

• MVP – We had a couple of late comebacks that made the matchups fun to watch.  Darren Sproles sure helped stave off destruction for Nathan, but no real surprise there.  So, as I mentioned above, I’ll give it to Ritchie this week for McGahee saving the day.
• Honorable Mention – A couple of options here but I’m going to give it to me for Reggie Bush for having the kind of week we’ve been looking for him to get in Miami for a year.  Here’s hoping it continues.
• Best Owner Choice – It was a tough call for me this weekend choosing between my 2nd-round pick Cam Newton over RG3 in what was, statistically, an even matchup.  I decided to go with RG3 because I felt he had more reliable weapons around him against the Rams DEF than Newton had a chance at the Saints DEF.  Well, I think Cam showed just how porous the Saints DEF is now, and how important consistent coaching is even at the highest levels.  I give kudos to myself for picking RG3, and just like with Mike last year it will be a tough call who to start at QB for a few weeks.  But, the award this week goes to Tony G. for trusting in Richardson to come through.  Here’s hoping it continues.
• Unfortunate Bench – Hands down, Jason wins for benching Ben Tate.  Sure, it’s hard not to start a backup RB, but I think he’ll be taking a closer look at it from now on.  Somehow both Tate and Foster managed to be huge FF RB in a single week, and there’s plenty of reason to think it will happen again with Houston’s easy schedule this year.  But Jason really gets this award for the simple fact that had he started Tate, Ritchie would be 0-2 and not him.  Ouch.
• Lawrence Philips Award – Yes, the replacement refs earned this one again this week.  Good lord, about half the starters in the Eagles-Ravens game should have been ejected in the fourth quarter, but the refs did nothing.  They clearly do not comprehend all of the rules, especially when it comes to legal contact between receiver and defender.  But, my runner up for the award this week goes to Josh Morgan who cost the Redskins their victory.  Sure, players get upset, and the defense was all over him all game.  But you just don’t let your emotions get away from you and throw the ball at a player like that.  Maybe it’s the confusion over his name, which I’ve seen published as both Josh and Joshua.  Weird.  He didn’t deserve the death threats he’s gotten, but he does deserve the extra workout I expect the coaches to give him this week as punishment.

MEANWHILE, BACK IN THE NCAA …

• Definitely feel better about the Huskers’ play this past weekend, especially on defense.  I didn’t watch too much of the game as we’re still busy unpacking boxes, but what I saw I liked.  It will be good to have Rex back this weekend and to really see what we can do.  But our season starts against Wisconsin in a few weeks.  Even as humbled as they are, they’re no pushover. Best we remember that.
• So, the guy taking Bo’s pulse … he’d better not be the team doctor because you’re not supposed to take someone’s pulse that far up his arm.
• I really hate to see Ohio State win.  Come on, Cal!
• Well, so much for my USC prediction.  Even still, loved the play and win by Stanford.  That’s the kind of game that makes college so much more special than the NFL.
• I find it funny that there are only 2 undefeated teams left in the Big 10 who are eligible for postseason play.
• I know we’re not in the same conference anymore, but I still love to see Colorado just SUCK.
• Heather Cox is hot.

LOOKING AHEAD

• No earth-shattering matchups this week, but Nathan correctly noted that the projected points are almost all above 100!  Wow!  Unprecedented!  Now, is it because there are only 10 teams or are players just scoring that much?  You be the judge.
• Good luck to Mike to hold onto his leader status.
• Good luck to Jason for getting out of the hole.
• Get your picks in for the league pick-em.  Don’t let Gary walk away with it!
• If you haven’t paid your dues, stand by.  We’re experiencing technical issues with my PayPal account.