Fantasy Look: Week 7 Preview
Patrick Daly
Friday March 11, 2005
This is also a time of the season where your depth at certain positions, particularly quarterback, will become more important. With Georgia Force QB Jim Kubiak out for the season, and quarterbacks like Chicago's Raymond Philyaw or Nashville's Leon Murray missing time, guys like QB Matt Nagy, QB Todd Hammel and QB Tony Zimmerman have become options – some better than others – for your fantasy team. Keep an eye on injuries throughout the league since they offer opportunities for players that you may be able to pick up or move into your starting lineup when they start seeing significantly more playing time.
We’ll now take a look at the Week 7 games and highlight the players you should keep an eye on this week.
Philadelphia Soul at San Jose SaberCats
Soul QB Tony Graziani (1614 passing yards and 37 TDs) remains a top-flight quarterback, second only to New Orleans VooDoo QB Andy Kelly’s 38 touchdown passes, with WR/LB Sean Scott (36-425 and 17 TDs) continuing to develop as a big part of the Philadelphia offense. OS Steve Smith (39-577 and 12 TDs) had a solid game against New York last week and remains a good option even against a San Jose team that easily handled Orlando a week ago. FB/LB Chris "Soul Train" Ryan was held in check last week, but will get a few chances at the end zone every week.
WR/LB James Roe (41-532 and 13 TDs) was relatively quiet last week, but expect some big numbers at offensive specialist against a Philadelphia team that's allowed 194 points over the past three games. QB Mark Grieb (1596 passing yards and 28 TDs) doesn't have to light it up for San Jose to, but he is a good choice this week against the Soul and should be good for 5-7 touchdowns. FB/LB Matt Kinsinger (33 rushing yards and 5 TDs) has been a quiet, but steady, producer this season with at least one touchdown in each of the last four games. WR/DB Rashied Davis (18-242 and 5 total TDs) has been more involved the past two weeks and should continue to see plenty of playing time along with WR/DB Barry Wagner (22-219 and 4 total TDs), who busted out with three touchdowns against Orlando last week.
Las Vegas Gladiators at Columbus Destroyers
The biggest news this week, particularly for the Gladiators, is the potential return of QB Clint Dolezel (509 passing yards and 7 TDs). Las Vegas exceeded the 50-point mark 11 times last year and scored 60 or more points in seven games, but has yet to do better than a season high of 46 points in Week 1, so Dolezel's return is important to the success of OS Marcus Nash (42-587 and 7 TDs).
QB Matt D'Orazio (790 passing yards and 13 TDs in three games) has been pretty effective since taking over as the starter, but the Destroyers haven't really produced a consistent major scorer so far. WR/LB Cornelius White (37-436 and 7 TDs) and OS Damien Groce (31-420 and 9 total TDs) remain the major threats, but they'll match up with a Gladiator defense that's allowed no more than 42 points in the last four weeks.
Georgia Force at New York Dragons
QB Matt Nagy (532 passing yards and 13 TDs) has filled in well after QB Jim Kubiak (1148 passing yards and 22 TDs) went down with a knee injury two weeks ago. OS Troy Bergeron (53-703 and 19 TDs) snapped his streak of five three-touchdown games with four scores last week and he leads all receivers in the three major statistics, receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. WR/LB Dialleo Burks (10-112 and 0 TDs) returned to the lineup last week, which may limit WR/LB Derek Lee's (40-476 and 11 TDs) production.
The Dragons suffered a blow with OS Kevin Swayne (16-238 and 8 TDs) landing on injured reserve with a separated shoulder. That's good news for anyone with OS Mike Horacek (27-375 and 11 TDs) on their roster since he'll be the primary target like he was last week when he tallied four touchdowns. QB Aaron Garcia (1098 passing yards and 26 TDs) shouldn't have any issues as he'll also have WR/DB Will Holder (16-182 and 6 total TDs) and WR/LB Chris Anthony (18-168 and 3 TDs) to pick up the slack. FB/LB Josh White (40 rushing yards and 4 TDs) is a viable option to start at the fullback spot.
Colorado Crush at Nashville Kats
Colorado comes off their bye week looking to pick up where they left off against a Nashville team that's lost five straight. QB John Dutton (1322 passing yards and 28 TDs) and OS Damian Harrell (40-542 and 16 TDs) continue to click as one of the top passer-receiver duos. WR/DB Kevin McKenzie (32-301 and 5 TDs) hasn't been as big a part of the offense lately after catching 14 balls in the opener, but keep an eye on him as well as WR/DB Ahmad Hawkins (8-118 and 1 TD), who will get more playing time with WR/DB Willis Marshall (12-196 and 2 total TDs) currently on injured reserve.
Kats QB Tony Zimmerman (571 passing yards and 7 TDs) gets his third start with QB Leon Murray (845 passing yards, 12 passing TDs and 6 rushing TDs) now on injured reserve. The Kats will welcome OS Travis McGriff (20-221 and 4 TDs), whom they signed off waivers from Orlando, which will impact how OS Fred Coleman (44-460 and 5 TDs) gets used as may spend more time as a two-way player. With the addition of WR/DB Lindsay Fleshman (3-23 and 0 TDs last week) to the receivers mix, starting any of the Nashville receivers is a gamble until things shake out over the next couple weeks. FB/LB Dan Alexander (109 rushing yards and 7 total TDs) has been slowed the past two weeks, but should bounce back with better numbers this week and remains second only to Grand Rapids Rampage QB Michael Bishop in rushing yards.
Arizona Rattlers at Tampa Bay Storm
Despite the recent offensive woes, Rattlers OS Siaha Burley (47-651 and 15 TDs) continues to be a bright spot statistically, which is good news for fantasy owners. QB Sherdrick Bonner (725 passing yards and 11 TDs) has struggled with eight picks and only five touchdowns in the last two games since returning from injured reserve, but that's a pretty uncharacteristic performance that shouldn't continue. FB/LB Phil Glover (3 TDs and 3 sacks in last two games) has been a force on both sides of the ball since being activated.
The return of OS Freddie Solomon (20-284 and 7 TDs) to the lineup will probably spell the end of Clif Dell's (23-217 and 13 TDs) opportunity at big numbers. QB Shane Stafford (1364 passing yards and 29 TDs) is on pace to shatter the career highs in passing yards and touchdowns that he set last year.
Chicago Rush at Grand Rapids Rampage
Injuries caught up to Rush QB Raymond Philyaw (1301 passing yards and 23 TDs), which gave journeyman QB Todd Hammel (299 passing yards and 6 TDs) his first start for Chicago. Philyaw is listed as probable, as is OS Henry Douglas (30-393 and 7 TDs), who has missed the last two games. If Douglas sits out again, OS CJ Johnson(7-100 and 2 TDs last week) will get his second start after an impressive debut last week. WR/LB Etu Molden (41-426 and 13 total TDs) is a consistent producer, which shouldn't change against a Rampage team that's already allowed 70 or more points three times this year.
Rampage QB Michael Bishop (1029 passing yards, 22 passing TDs, 211 rushing yards and 5 rushing TDs) has been a one-man wrecking crew and solid point producer so far. OS Chris Jackson's (35-483 and 9 TDs) numbers are well off last year's pace, but he's scored at least twice a game since Bishop took over at quarterback. WR/DB Josh Bush (19-286 and 5 TDs) had a good week last week, but hasn't been consistent enough to rely on as a fantasy starter each week.
Orlando Predators at New Orleans VooDoo
The loss of WR/LB Cory Fleming (24-233 and 7 TDs) was evident in Orlando's loss to San Jose last week with Fleming’s ability to be the go-to receiver clearly missing. QB Joe Hamilton (1330 passing yards and 24 passing TDs and 4 rushing TDs) completed less than 50% of his passes, while OS Jimmy Fryzel (13-195 and 4 TDs) didn't figure as much into the loss as he did in his debut two weeks ago. WR/DB Jerrian James (10-109 and 2 TDs) picked up the slack well last week. FB/LB Idris Price (76 rushing yards and 5 TDs) was silenced last week with only two yards on one rushing attempt, but has scored in each of Orlando's three wins.
New Orleans has provided a number of solid fantasy players this season, starting with QB Andy Kelly (1799 passing yards and 38 TDs), who leads all passers in yardage and touchdowns. Each of the three primary receivers, OS Aaron Bailey (50-682 and 14 total TDs), WR/LB Thabiti Davis (51-445 and 10 TDs) and WR/DB Jacques Rumph (39-439 and 10 total TDs), have thrived with Kelly at the helm and should be in the lineup each week. FB/LB Leroy Thompson (32 rushing yards and 3 TDs) has scored each of the last three weeks since returning from a preseason injury.
Dallas Desperados at Austin Wranglers
The battle for Texas will probably be determined by the performance of Dallas QB Clint Stoerner (1475 passing yards and 28 TDs) -- Stoerner has thrown two interceptions in each of the Desperados' two losses and stayed clean in each of the four wins. WR/LB Bobby Sippio (24-429 and 11 TDs) has hit the end zone more often than OS Jason Shelley (41-565 and 9 TDs) and WR/DB Will Pettis (36-352 and 7 total TDs), but all three are good options against a weaker Wranglers defense, particularly as your second or third receiver. Pettis, one of the league’s top two-way players, is a good example of a player whose value to his team isn't always accurately reflected in the stats. FB/LB Ja’Mar Toombs (96 rushing yards and 7 total TDs) and FB/LB Duke Petitjohn (101 rushing yards and 3 TDs) have been able to coexist in the Dallas backfield with each getting plenty of rushing opportunities.
Austin WR/LB Darrin Chiaverini (43-393 and 7 TDs) has really clicked with QB John Fitzgerald (1434 passing yards and 27 TDs), who has consistently hit or exceeded the five-touchdown mark in each of the first five games. WR/DB Kevin Nickerson (30-457 and 13 total TDs) is a good second or third receiver option, while OS Tacoma Fontaine (17-282 and 3 TDs) has been limited to only 63 yards receiving and no touchdowns in the last two games, which means you may want to look at other options this week.
Bye: Los Angeles Avengers
The week off gives the Avengers a chance to rest up before hosting Tampa Bay and Dallas in successive weeks. OS Tony Locke (19-239 and 6 TDs) has entrenched himself at the offensive specialist spot, while WR/LB Greg Hopkins (40-410 and 4 TDs) and WR/DB Kevin Ingram (26-323 and 8 TDs) continue to anchor the offense, although the Avengers’ offense has struggled the last few games, particularly in the red zone.
Patrick Daly has been an Arena Football League enthusiast since he first stumbled across the late-night ESPN broadcasts and has followed the Arizona Rattlers since their inaugural season in 1992. He graduated from Arizona State University with an engineering degree and is currently a member of a web development team for Direct Alliance in Tempe. Patrick currently resides in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler, Arizona with his beautiful wife, son and a very large football helmet collection.
