Fantasy Look: Week 14 Preview
Patrick Daly
Friday April 29, 2005
Injuries always play a big part in the AFL, particularly late in the season and through the playoffs, and no one has been hit harder than the Orlando Predators. After losing QB Joe Hamilton and DS Kenny McEntyre last week, the Predators found out this week that they’d be without OS Jimmy Fryzel, who, prior to last week’s game against Georgia, had put together an impressive four-game stretch of scoring that included 561 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. WR/DB Jerrian James is expected to take Fryzel’s spot in the lineup, although don’t expect quite the same production. In Fryzel’s absence, WR/LB Cory Fleming has an even bigger role in the Orlando offense, so if still you’re on the fence about starting him, it’s time to drop him in.
Those of you waiting on the return of WR/LB Thabiti Davis to the New Orleans VooDoo lineup may have to wait a little longer. In his place, WR/LB Lamont Moore has shown some promise, including two touchdowns and 85 receiving yards last week against the Grand Rapids Rampage, but that means more work for OS Aaron Bailey.
Although he got off to a slow start with injuries early in the season, San Jose SaberCats WR/DB Rashied Davis has looked like a strong Offensive Player of the Year candidate since the taking of the offensive specialist spot. In San Jose’s 89-41 pummeling of the Colorado Crush last week Davis had 182 receiving yards and seven total touchdowns, the second time he’s hit lucky number seven this season. The game also marked the third time San Jose eclipsed the 80-point mark, which means the SaberCats know how to put points on the board, and that makes fantasy owners very happy.
Owners with Las Vegas Gladiators OS Marcus Nash on their roster (that includes me) have to keep a watchful eye on his status this week. Nash left the game early against the Philadelphia Soul two weeks ago with a hamstring injury that has limited his action in practice, although the word is that he’ll play this week at about 90%. Even at 90%, Nash is worth starting.
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.
