Fantasy Look: Week 10 Preview
Patrick Daly
Friday April 1, 2005
The biggest change sent OS Chris Jackson from Grand Rapids to Georgia in exchange for WR/LB Dialleo Burks. The play of rookie WR/LB Derek Lee made Burks expendable, and Grand Rapids has been busy making moves to try to turn the team around. Until the Force take the field on Saturday, it’s tough to say how Jackson, Lee and rookie OS Troy Bergeron will be used.
The Tampa Bay Storm, Georgia’s next opponent, made some big changes themselves, sending WR/DB T.T. Toliver to Nashville and WR/LB David Saunders to Grand Rapids. Both moves resulted in acquiring the rights to players that probably won’t suit up this year. Based on published reports, Storm head coach Tim Marcum, who remains on a league-mandated suspension, felt a move was needed, although it appears that both players may have been considered problems in the locker room. Whatever the reason, the absence of Toliver and Saunders leaves room for others to step in, which I’ll discuss more a little later.
Up the road a piece in Orlando, the Predators made another move, swapping OL/DL William Carr for Rampage OL/DL Cecil Caldwell. This comes a week after FB/LB Rupert Grant was sent to Nashville and DS Damon Mason was released in favor of DS Johnnie Harris. Grand Rapids also grabbed OL/DL John Hilliard from the New Orleans VooDoo for future considerations in a move that helped the VooDoo free up a roster spot for FB/LB Dewan Moss.
With all that has gone on, let’s take a look at the game-by-game breakdown this week.
New Orleans VooDoo at Austin Wranglers
The VooDoo struggled at home against Georgia, with QB Andy Kelly (2656 passing yards and 52 TDs) posting his lowest scoring game of the season, but expect Kelly to rebound against the Austin defense. WR/DB Carl Bond (20-193 and 6 TDs) continues to play well in WR/DB Jacques Rumph’s (48-513 and 11 total TDs) absence, while OS Aaron Bailey (80-966 and 19 TDs) is a front-line starter each week.
Austin waived QB Bobby Pesavento (464 passing yards and 6 TDs), their opening day starter. Wranglers QB John Fitzgerald (1966 passing yards and 37 TDs), has been the man since week 2, so don’t expect any impact. The offense struggled mightily against Orlando, marking the second time in three weeks that the Wranglers failed to break the 30-point mark, which isn’t a good sign if you’re relying on WR/LB Darrin Chiaverini (65-590 and 10 TDs) or WR/DB Kevin Nickerson (43-591 and 16 total TDs).
Chicago Rush at New York Dragons
The week off may have been enough to get QB Raymond Philyaw (1562 passing yards and 26 TDs) back on the field, although you may want to hedge your bets. The rest should also benefit WR/LB Etu Molden (57-550 and 18 total TDs) and OS Henry Douglas (42-558 and 12 total TDs)
OS Mike Horacek (48-686 and 19 total TDs) has strung together four straight 100-yard receiving games and has settled nicely into the role of QB Aaron Garcia’s (2051 passing yards and 44 TDs) top option. WR/LB Chris Anthony (38-372 and 9 TDs) had a big game last week against Columbus with 93 yards receiving and four touchdowns and could turn into a good option with his increased playing time.
Georgia Force at Tampa Bay Storm
With the acquisition of OS Chris Jackson (48-651 and 12 TDs), Georgia added a potent offensive weapon, although it’ll impact the opportunities for OS Troy Bergeron (66-908 and 22 TDs) and WR/LB Derek Lee (62-722 and 21 total TDs). It also looks like FB/LB Robert Thomas (80 rushing yards and 5 TDs) is close to returning, so it is worth keeping an eye on if you need help at that spot or if you’ve been able to hang on to him.
The Storm sent WR/DB T.T. Toliver and WR/LB David Saunders packing in separate trades, which should give WR/DB Clif Dell (34-360 and 16 TDs) and WR/LB Ronney Daniels (9-110 and 2 TDs) more time. After remaining nearly perfect with one interception in the first six games, QB Shane Stafford (2375 passing yards and 47 TDs) has tossed five interceptions over the past two games, both losses.
Philadelphia Soul at Columbus Destroyers
WR/DB Marcus Knight (22-334 and 10 TDs) has come on strong the past two weeks with 229 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, becoming a big target for QB Tony Graziani (2429 passing yards and 56 TDs). WR/LB Sean Scott (47-546 and 20 total TDs) came back with two touchdowns last week after getting blanked by San Jose two weeks ago. OS Steve Smith (55-839 and 20 total TDs) should also be a good option against a Columbus defense that has given up plenty of points over the past five weeks.
The Destroyers have struggled offensively most of the season, but they did give the Dragons a run for their money last week, with OS Damien Groce (49-674 and 10 total TDs), WR/LB Cornelius White (51-620 and 12 total TDs) and WR/DB Sedrick Robinson (37-346 and 10 total TDs) each getting into the action. That said, starting any of these guys is a gamble even against a Philadelphia defense that’s given up big points.
Los Angeles Avengers at Orlando Predators
The Avengers took a distracted Tampa Bay team to task last week, with FB/LB Lonnie Ford (82 rushing yards and 5 total TDs) and QB John Kaleo (2054 passing yards and 38 TDs) each scoring twice on the ground, but don’t expect that to happen all that often. WR/DB Kevin Ingram (40-543 and 12 TDs) has been a consistent scorer, although points won’t come easy against a stingy Predators defense.
Predators OS Jimmy Fryzel (33-488 and 9 TDs) broke out another three-touchdown performance last week that showed why Orlando was able to part with OS Travis McGriff (32-372 and 5 TDs). QB Joe Hamilton (2041 passing yards and 40 TDs) tied his season high with six touchdown passes and WR/LB Cory Fleming (40-436 and 14 TDs) is better than the 33-yard and one touchdown performance against Austin.
Nashville Kats at Grand Rapids Rampage
Kats FB/LB Rupert Grant (51 rushing yards and 5 total TDs) scored in his return to Nashville, although the biggest concern in Nashville is the health of QB Leon Murray (1062 passing yards, 15 passing TDs and 6 rushing TDs), who was banged up in last week’s loss to Arizona. The Kats waived QB Tony Zimmerman (809 passing yards and 9 TDs), making QB Bill Whittemore a potential starter.
Grand Rapids has been busy making changes, with the biggest change the trade of OS Chris Jackson for WR/LB Dialleo Burks (16-180 and no TDs), who missed most of the first part of the season and hadn’t factored much into the Force offense. Without Jackson, QB Michael Bishop (1758 passing yards, 309 rushing yards, 34 passing TDs and 9 rushing TDs) faces a tougher road, but watch for who emerges as the offensive specialist.
Las Vegas Gladiators at Colorado Crush
If your quarterback throws for 11 touchdowns, even in the Arena Football League, you generally expect to win. Unfortunately for Gladiators QB Clint Dolezel (1457 passing yards and 32 TDs) it wasn’t quite enough, although he’s keyed Las Vegas to three straight high scores. OS Marcus Nash (75-1095 and 24 total TDs) continues to benefit from Dolezel’s presence with 16 TDs in the last three weeks.
Colorado’s win over Dallas last week should surprise no one, and this week OS Damian Harrell (56-733 and 21 TDs) needs one touchdown to set a new record with 42 straight games with a touchdown catch. WR/DB Willis Marshall (27-393 and 9 total TDs) had a breakout game last week with 106 receiving yards and four touchdowns, giving QB John Dutton (2077 passing yards and 45 TDs) another good target.
Arizona Rattlers at San Jose SaberCats
With the seven-game losing streak snapped, the Rattlers try for their second straight win against a rising San Jose team that has shaken off a bad start. OS Siaha Burley (78-1050 and 26 TDs) and QB Joe Germaine (1453 passing yards and 29 TDs) have worked well together, with Germaine becoming a legitimate fantasy scorer.
SaberCats OS Rashied Davis (44-620 and 19 TDs) has gone on a tear since moving into the offensive specialist role, which includes seven touchdowns (three receiving, three rushing and one kick return for a touchdown) in last week’s 81-75 win over Las Vegas. FB/LB Matt Kinsinger (41 rushing yards and 8 TDs) set a personal best with his eighth rushing touchdown of the season and remains a good option at the fullback spot.
Bye: Dallas Desperados
The Desperados get their shot to heal up after a disappointing 66-58 loss to Colorado. Rookie QB Clint Stoerner (2110 passing yards and 43 TDs) continues to have a strong first season, while the three-headed monster of WR/DB Will Pettis (57-546 and 14 total TDs), OS Jason Shelley (56-744 and 13 TDs) and WR/LB Bobby Sippio (35-549 and 15 total TDs) provide strong scoring options, particularly at your second receiver spot. FB/LB Ja’Mar Toombs (130 rushing yards and 10 total TDs) didn’t play last week, but remains the team’s top rusher.
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.
