Fantasy Football: Midseason Report

Okay, so this isn't quite a midseason report, but it's close enough. So, from the fantasy perspective, this season has been one topsy-turvy one, to say the least. It seems like, in terms of the fantasy stars of last year, up is down, black is white, night is day, blah blah blah.

Let me put it to you this way - Before the start of the season, not knowing what we know now, if I were to offer you a team with Daunte Culpepper, Priest Holmes, Corey Dillon, Terrell Owens, Javon Walker, David Akers and the Ravens D, you would take it in a heartbeat, wouldn't you? Not knowing what you know now, of course you would. You would be a fool not to. After all, you got a QB who threw for almost 40 TDs, two WRs with 1200 yds and 12 TDs apiece, and two RBs with over 1000 yds and 10 TDs.

At this point, you wouldn't even touch that team, knowing what you know now. Obviously, it's because no one, with the exception of Dillon and the Ravens D, is even playing, and those who are, aren't even doing that well.

That's just one of the examples of how topsy-turvy of a couple months this NFL season has turned out to be.

One of the main problems this season has been too many season-ending injuries. For example, I know that this was a problem for my brother, as he had both Javon Walker of the Green Bay Packers and Priest Holmes of the Kansas City Chiefs last year. He lost Walker in Week 1; He then lost Holmes last week. Deuce McAllister and Ahman Green are other examples. Daunte Culpepper was touted as one of the best QBs in fantasy football, even without stud WR Randy Moss. Fast forward two months, and he’s thrown for more interceptions than touchdowns, and, to add injury to insult, is out for the rest of the season with a leg injury. Then, there’s Terrell Owens, who, technically, is out for the season, but not because of an injury – he was suspended by the Eagles. Many extremely productive players from last season have been sidelined, making it a tragic, yet interesting, circumstance in the world of fantasy football.

Another unpredictable circumstance came from the balance of power in the QB position. Last year, Peyton Manning of the Indianapolis Colts was virtually unstoppable last season, posting an NFL-record 49 TDs, throwing for over 4500 yards. He was considered the consensus top fantasy quarterback in the NFL. This year, however, Indianapolis shifted their focus from a high-octane offense to a speedy, effective defense. With emphasis on defense and the run, they are 9-0. However, Manning’s numbers have dropped, along with his receivers’ numbers.

Daunte Culpepper and Donovan McNabb were considered usurpers to Manning’s throne as top QB in the league. As I have pointed out before, Culpepper’s numbers have suffered greatly with the absence of Randy Moss, and he is now no longer a factor, out for the season. With the turmoil of WR Terrell Owens’ situation with the Eagles, McNabb’s numbers, too, have suffered.

The emergence of Cincinnati Bengals QB Carson Palmer and New York Giants QB Eli Manning were also somewhat unexpected. The potential was there, yet it was not expected that they would be putting up the numbers that they have. At this point in the season, Palmer, statistically, is the best quarterback in the league. By week 4, it seemed that Eli Manning was a better option at QB than his brother, Peyton.

The hierarchy of fantasy running backs is one of the aspects that are, for the most part, still intact. LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers was toted as one of the most valuable players in fantasy football – his 1335 yards and 13 TDs on the ground, as well as his 441 yards and 1 TD receiving last year, make him a threat to put up big numbers whenever he is on the field. This year, through 9 games, he has piled up 835 yards on the ground, along with 13 rushing TDs. His 264 yards and 2 TDs receiving show his double threat capabilities. Shaun Alexander of the Seattle Seahawks is a monster on the ground – his 1,645 yards and 16 TDs last season spoke for themselves; his 1114 yards and 17 TDs this year speak much louder. Remember: this is only through 9 games. Both of them have put up similar numbers to their previous totals this season, and are viewed as the top of their position.

The second tier of running backs was the most rocked this season. Corey Dillon and Jamal Lewis were viewed as premier running backs in fantasy. So far this season, neither have been nearly as productive, compared to seasons past. Ahman Green and Deuce McAllister were both considered to have resurgent seasons - now, both of them are on Injured Reserve, out for the year. Clinton Portis seems to have been the only running back so far to have had a semblence of a good season, with 764 yards and 5 TDs through 9 games.

Despite the usual suspects - Marvin Harrison of the Colts, Randy Moss of the Raiders - doing well, wide receivers have had their share of surprises. Not only have superstar WRs like Javon Walker and Terrell Owens been lost for the rest of the season, but others have had subpar years. Torry "Big Game" Holt of the St. Louis Rams, for example, although amassing 635 yards and 5 TDs, has been riddled with injuries. Reggie Wayne, who had 1210 yards and 12 TDs last season, has amassed 633 yards and a mere 3 TDs.Perhaps the biggest disappointment so far this season has been Andre Johnson of the Houston Texans. He was impressive last season with 1142 yards and 6 TDs. So far this season? 209 yards, and 0 TDs.

Despite that, new wide receivers are making big names for themselves. For example, Steve Smith of the Carolina Panthers came seemingly out of nowhere, one year removed from the league because of a broken leg, to lead the league in receiving. His 937 yards and 9 TDs through 9 games this year have been best in the NFL. He is an end zone and big play threat every second he is on the field, and he is on pace for 1666 yards and 16 TDs. Larry Fitzgerald of the Arizona Cardinals has totalled 854 yards and 5 TDs so far this season; Chad Johnson of the Cincinnati Bengals has been impressive with his mouth, as well as his hands. So far this season, he has put up 808 yards and 5 TDs. Santana Moss of the Washington Redskins wasn't considered a viable fantasy threat as of late. That is, until he posted 935 yards and 5 TDs through 9 games this year. Plaxico Burress of the New York Giants, too, wasn't seen as a potent threat in fantasy. So far, he has 706 yards and 5 TDs.

And, so, with 6 weeks to go in this fantasy season, there are bound to be more ups, downs, and stunning surprises for the fantasy football world. Good luck to all fantasy owners out there.