Fantasy Football Week 11 Observations

After Monday Night's affair between the Cleveland Browns and Buffalo Bills, all 32 NFL teams will have played 10 games. And, with 10 games under their belt, only one team remains winless and only one team remains undefeated. Could the Detroit Lions really go 0-16? Can the Tennessee Titans match the New England Patriots and put up a 16-0 regular season? Tune in to find out. In the meantime, enjoy the Week 11 Weekly Words.

--------------------

Tenn-0-essee Titans

Despite a 9-0 record heading into week 11’s match-up with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Tennessee Titans were just a three point favorite. Granted, the game was on the road, but it was against an underachieving, 4-5 Jaguars’ squad. So, why the miniscule spread?

Simply put, while the Titans are the lone undefeated team in the league, they just haven’t earned people’s respect. Perhaps it’s because NFL fans find it hard to buy into Kerry Collins being under center. Or perhaps it’s because the Titans aren’t blowing opponents out like the New England Patriots did last year on their road to a 16-0 regular season. But whatever the reason is, it’s bogus.

You can’t go 10-0 in the NFL without being a top-tier team. Don’t believe me? Go ahead and ask the New York Giants. A front-runner to once again represent the NFC come Super Bowl time, the Giants are playing just as well (if not better) than they did during last year’s playoff run. But the team has a blemish on their record; a shellacking handed to them by a Cleveland Browns team that is 3-6 heading into Monday Night’s match-up with the Buffalo Bills. Getting that W, each and every week ,is no easy feat.

This 2008 version of the Tennessee Titans is quite similar to the 2000 Baltimore Ravens team that won Super Bowl XXXV. Like that Ravens team, the Titans get things done with their defense and a strong running game, led by Chris Johnson and LenDale White.

Also, similar to that Ravens team, the Titans may not have a Hall of Famer taking snaps. But they do have someone in Collins, much like Trent Dilfer, that doesn’t make costly mistakes and can lead the team to victory on occasion. Something Collins demonstrated in week 10 against the Chicago Bears, and again this past weekend against the Jaguars, a game in which he completed 13 of 23 passes for 230 yards, 3 TDs, and just 1 INT. Trust me, it’s time to give this team the respect it deserves.

Charged with Emotion

17 to 10 or 11 to 10, the final score doesn’t really matter as long as you get the win, right? For the NFL team in question, of course it doesn't. But for the millions of fans that play fantasy football and for all of those who like to bet on the games, legally of course, nothing could be further from the truth. Being in Vegas this past weekend, I got to witness first hand the roller coaster of emotions that resulted due to the ending of the Steelers-Chargers game.
 
Trailing 10-8, the Steelers drove down the field and appeared to have scored the game-winning touchdown when Willie Parker rushed into the end zone on a four-yard run, a TD that would have given the Steelers a 15-10 lead, covering the 4 ½ point spread.

In addition, the TD would have given Parker 6 extra fantasy points, something many of his owners desperately needed. But, a holding penalty negated the run and led to the Steelers kicking a field goal. This was good enough to give them an 11 to10 lead, but not enough to have them cover the spread. Needless to say, all those who bet on the Steelers were devastated.

However, a crazy lateral play by the San Diego Chargers with little time left on the clock would change all that. Safety Troy Polamalu corralled a loose ball resulting from Chris Chambers’ lateral and took it to the house.

Celebration ensued in the sports book, as those who had bet the Steelers rejoiced a miracle win and owners of the Steelers’ defense got 8 more unexpected fantasy points.

Enter referee Scott Green. After a review of the play, that celebration turned to anger. Green ruled that Chambers’ lateral was an illegal forward pass, meaning dead ball. Final score—Steelers 11, Chargers 10.

No one said gambling is for the faint of heart. You can bet that all those who bet Pittsburgh on Sunday will once more have their blood reach a boiling point. Particularly when they find out that Green has admitted that the call of an illegal forward pass was the wrong one.

Grant, Green Bay Come Up Big

Following a disappointing 28-27 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in week 10, the Green Bay Packers had a week to regroup for a match-up with the Chicago Bears. Trailing both the Bears and the Vikings by one game in the NFC North heading into week 11, the game was a must win for the Packers. Apparently they knew that, as they sent a message to Chicago with a 37-3 trouncing.

Leading the way was running back Ryan Grant. Grant was a back on a mission, torching the Bears’ 6th ranked rush defense to the tune of 145 rushing yards and a score. Kudos to those who were patient with the Packers’ running back, as he has now scored in 3 of the Packers’ last 4 games. Grant is back to being a must start. As for the Packers, well, let’s just say with three teams sitting at 5-5 atop the NFC North, it’s going to be a fun 6 weeks of football.

Air and Ground Notes

Just wanted to close this week’s edition of the weekly words with a couple of quick notes.

First off, it’s always nice for a team when they have the leading receiver for the week. So imagine how great things were for the Arizona Cardinals when Anquan Boldin (186 yards) and Larry Fitzgerald (151) finished 1 and 2 in week 11, barring any big games for receivers in the Monday Nighter. Really, is there a better wide receiver duo in football?

As good as the Cardinals are through the air, the New York Giants are even better on the ground. This past week, the Giants rushing attack, led by Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, and Derrick Ward lit up the Baltimore Ravens (a team that was allowing less than 70 rushing yards per game) for 207 rushing yards. If the Ravens can’t contain this fierce rush offense, which is averaging 172.7 yards per game, then who can?

For more fantasy football insight and advice, click the link below...

Bruno Boys Fantasy Football