IF ONLY I had I had more time to prepare this week. Really can’t complain, though, as I was on a cruise to Bermuda. Great time with the wife, a break from the kids, so all in all, I came out on top.
IF ONLY I had beaten my brother. When I started writing the article, had a somewhat comfortable lead in one game with him having only Victor Cruz to play. Think we all know how that went. Actually went 0-2 against him this week, but really needed the win in our old work league as I am hanging by a thread for the playoffs. Barring a miracle, out of it in our local league. In all fairness, he is doing well.
IF ONLY I had played Andy Dalton instead of Carson Palmer. Several bad predictions on the Sunday morning ESPN 97.3 show. I’ll attribute it to vacation hangover. Not much of a point differential, but every point counts for the power rankings and breakdown victories. Bigger issue is Palmer as the stud of the week. With Oakland building such a big lead, they backed down on the passing and gave a heavy dose of Bush. Smart football, but sucks for fantasy. As for Dalton, he proved he is a gamer, with a late surge to keep the game close and finishing with 373 yds and a TD. His 3 Int’s weren’t good, but it was against the Ravens. Not sure either are automatic starts from here on out, but definitely worth considering in a mix and match situation or in 2 QB leagues.
IF ONLY I had played Daniel Thomas instead of Brandon Marshall. I mean really, what happened. Marshall was thriving with Moore, and Thomas has taken a back seat to Reggie Bush. I chalk this up to the Dolphins domination of the Bills, not needing the passing so much, and giving Bush a break since they were ahead. Can’t see that trend continuing unless Bush gets hurt.
IF ONLY I had played Philip Rivers instead of Eli Manning. Not a great game from Rivers, especially since SD lost to Chicago. His 2 Ints helped offset his 2TD. Just not the same QB even though you may have to rely on him on a weekly basis. But… what a stinker from the NYG. Really made my prediction on the Sunday morning show look bad (not the only bad call on my part this week). Just can’t figure the Eagles out. I’m sure I am not alone. How do you go from giving up 315 yds and 3TD’s by John Skelton to almost shutting down Eli Manning. As for Eli, until this game, he was averaging almost 300 yds and 2 TD’s per week. Eli has a pretty soft schedule coming up (NO, GB, DAL, WASH), so he’ll bounce back.
IF ONLY I had played Mike Williams TB instead of Shonn Green. I’ll chalk this one up to my vacation, leaving Green from the previous week. Regardless, he just doesn’t look good right now, and neither do the Jets. Not sure who you play, except maybe their D right now. Can’t see them making the playoffs. As for Williams, he has been frustrating all year. His 83 and a TD were what we expected every game, not as his season high. Still, a pretty soft schedule coming up, worth a spot.
IF ONLY I had played LeGarrette Blount instead of Maurice Morris. Even in a possible time share, a chance against Carolina’s league worst run defense was tasty. Detroit did score 49 points with 169 yds rushing. Of course, in typical fashion of this atypical year, recent signee Kevin Smith had 140 of those yds and 2 TD’s. Mo Mo is a great change of pace back, and a decent fill in from time to time, but he is no workhorse. I didn’t rely on him as anything more than a flex, and neither should you. After Smith’s performance, you may not want to rely on him at all. As for Blount, no one doubted his running ability. The fact that TB was playing GB, and Blount doesn’t catch many passes or pass block well, predicted a bad day for him. But again, Blount can run, with a 54 yd TD run. Keep him active.
Bad week for me in my big leagues, going 1-3. Playoffs chances are slim, but still holding out hope for the work league. I did manage to go 4-2 in my ESPN leagues, in playoff position for 5 out of the 6. Do as I say, not as I do.


