Soxman’s Fantasy Football Finals

Win or go Home

 
So it all comes down to this fantasy football fans.  Most fantasy leagues have their Super Bowl this weekend, while the deepest of leagues have their version of the AFC and NFC championships.
 

Either way, in two short weeks, the constant monitoring of NFL.com, the hours of monitoring weather conditions where your kicker is playing, the months of debating who you should start in your flex position will all soon be a distant memory.
 
For 80% or more of you, that time has already come.  But for you few fantasy freaks, your battle for gridiron glory is reaching its historic climax.
 
For me it is no different.  In the money league, I’m playing for the title and I’m entering the semi-finals in my two other leagues. 
 
Now here’s one simple soxy, unsackable statement:  FANTASY FOOTBALL FAME RUNS STRONG IN THE SOXMAN FAMILY LIKE THE FORCE RUNS IN THE BLOOD OF THE SKYWALKERS.
 
Like Luke battling Darth Vader, I face my father in the semi finals of our neighborhood league.  On the opposite side of the bracket, my brothers battle one another.

 
In my IDP league, I battle my brother to see who moves on to the finals.  Last week, my brothers battled it out in the first round of the play-offs. 
 
Advice
 
The final two weeks of the NFL season can be a quagmire to say the least as conventional “must start” logic does not apply.  With this is mind, follow these few guiding principles as they could make the difference between glory and failure.
 
1.      Now is a great time to start players whose teams are fighting for a play-off berth or who have been eliminated from the play-offs as they are likely to see the most action.  Bottom line: most NFL coaches will rest their starters for the play-offs giving them limited action just to stay sharp.  My guess is the Colts “B” squad may be in the game from the second quarter on.  Good news if you are playing a team with Manning or Addai, despite a favorable match-up for them this week.

2.      GRAB good teams’ back-ups.  They are likely to see the most action, especially after this week.  Your “Super Bowl” line-up could look more like a week one practice squad, but it is the way the game rolls.

3.      Starving for special teams and defense?  Grab a team hosting a dome team on the road in sloppy weather conditions.  Warm weather teams playing in snowy, freezing temperatures are extremely vulnerable.

 
Hot Starts
 
Pierre Thomas
 
Last year, in two different articles written for the Sportsbank, I raved about a little known running back by the name of Pierre Thomas.  He’s quickly emerging into a star.  This week, With Reggie Bush on IR, he will be the feature back in a fantastic match-up.  Detroit ranks as the NFL’s worst rushing defense and has yielded the most rushing TDs (26).
 
Thomas totaled at least 100 yards in four of his last five games.  He’s also scored two TDs in three of his last four games.  Ranking third on the Saints depth chart for most of the season, Thomas now ranks in the top 10 in total touchdowns with 11.  Can you believe that?
 

 
Drew Brees
 
Bottom Line: Detroit’s pass defense ranks near the bottom.
 
Brees leads the NFL in passing yards (4,332) and touchdowns (28) and he’s chasing records.
 
 
Aaron Rodgers (Risky but Nice)
 
Bottom Line:  Chicago ranks as the league’s fifth-worst pass defense, even though they have been playing good football as of late.
 
Rodgers lit up the Bears in week 11 throwing for two TDs.
 

Chris Cooley
 
Not he best match-up, but Cooley is the number one passing target in Washington.
 
Cooley has one TD this season.  It came against the Red Skins in week 5.   He also had 109 yards receiving in that game.  
 
Finally, chew on this Christmas cookie:  A tight end has scored in three of the last six games against the Eagles.
 
Green Bay ranks as the seventh-worst run defense and has yielded the sixth-most rushing scores (18).

 
Matt Cassel (for Paul M. Banks)
 
Closing this Fantasy finale with a Patriot seems to be a requirement for this site in order to “be clued in at the water cooler.”
 
“Baby Brady” threw for four TDs last week and with their play-off spot already locked up, the Cardinals are not going to take any chances with their top players possibly being injured, so look for them to bench their starters.
 
Arizona has yielded the NFL’s most passing TDs.  Do we need to draw you a picture?
 
Well, that’s it for this week.  Keep moving the chains and focusing on fantasy point gains!
 
SM    
 
 
 

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