Semifinal matchup - Amesbury Lake Armadillos v. Wings of Pastrami

Amesbury Lake Armadillos v. Wings of Pastrami

Any team with Peyton and All Day Peterson can be scary in the playoffs. Either player can simply “turn it on” and go crazy with a 50 points game. But the truth is, neither of them has lived up to their legendary status as of late. AP has topped 30 once since Week 1 and Peyton hasn’t topped 40 points in over a month. Is this the week all things come together for the “Ace and Gary” of fantasy football?

The WOP’s lived to fight another day thanks to the winning the “TUMS Game of the Week” in round 1. This team finds a way to at least score a decent average each week, even without a #1 player in terms of points at any position and only 2 players that break the top 10. They have broken the elusive 200 point barrier twice this year, but somewhere between 130-150 is more likely from week to week. Will that be enough in the Semifinals?

QBs
Peyton Manning v. Kurt Warner
Mr. Consistent vs. Captain Stubble. Peyton will NOT be benched in the 2nd half. Peyton will NOT score less than 30 points. Peyton will NOT be hurt in the 1st quarter. See what I’m doing here? It’s called reverse psychology. It works wonders. Warner struggled through his worst game of the season; fumbles, INTs and never really getting in a groove with his WRs. Expect much better things against the Detroit Kittens.

Prediction-
Manning will explode for 325 yards and 3 TDs – before the 4th quarter. Warner will have fun playing this D/ST – he’ll get the bonus and 2 TDs.

RBs
Adrian Peterson/Beanie Wells v. Frank Gore/Pierre Thomas
Peterson is a “gimmie” for a real good game, but not a great game any more. He faces a CAR team that is in the bottom 10 against the run. AP should be able to do well once again. Wells isn’t the #1 guy in ARI, but don’t tell him that. A slaughtering should be in turn for him this week.

Gore got rid of any ill will his owners my have had for him lately with his 2nd best effort all season. Now facing a brick wall of PHI D/ST, he can only go down from here. Thomas is the best at being average. He has topped 20 points only once in the past 8 weeks, but has also posted less than 10 points only once in that same span. Going up to a stout DAL run defense, it should expect another so-so game.

Prediction – This is where ALA can win this matchup. Both Peterson and Wells give the gift of great games; Peterson with the bonus and a TD, Wells with 80 yards and a TD. Gore and Thomas combine for a Grinch like 23 points total. Bah Humbug!

WR
Kenny Britt/Pierre Garcon/Roy Williams v. Randy Moss/Calvin Johnson/TJ Housh

It sounds like a French Guy and 2 Country Western singers versus some of the biggest WR names of the Preseason. But Britt and Garcon have vaulted their way up the charts and Roy Williams has even showed up a little bit this season. Moss and Megatron still have the ability to melt faces. But actually doing it has been a little tougher. TJ Housh might as well John Q Average this season.

Prediction – The law firm of Britt, Garcon, and Williams doesn’t do much; no bonuses and 1 TD between them. Moss comes back in a big way to shut everyone the hell up. Expect the bonus or 2 TDs. Johnson will have trouble getting to the end zone, but 80 yards on 6 catches should be expected. Housh? Who cares?

TE
Visanthe Shiancoe v. Greg Olson
Both TEs struggled last week. Shiancoe looks to have an injury and Olson looks to have started being doubled team. Both play teams that are tough against the pass and don’t give much to TEs.

Prediction – Shiancoe will score a cheap TD after a long Peterson run, but don’t expect more than 25 yards. Olson will get a few catches, think 6. And some yardage, think 55. But no TDs are in the cards this week.

D/ST
Minn Vikings v. NY Jets
The Nordic Plunder-ers face a Carolina team that never seems to reach 300 yards or 20 points in a game. They might be lucky to get half of that against the Vikings. The J-E-T-S have been on a role lately, scoring 41, 26, and 32 points in the past 3 weeks. Versus an ATL team that might be getting Ryan and Turner back this week, getting 20+ might be tough.

Prediction – Vikings show Matt Moore why he should stick to being a #3 QB. They will force 5 turnovers and get plenty of points, upwards of 30. NY Jets will go back to being okay – between 12-18 points.

K
Rob Bironas v. Matt Prater
Bironas brought the goods last week with 19 points and should see no reason NOT to grab double digit points again. After weeks and weeks of decentness, Prater petered out. Look for a bounce back at home against the Raiders.

Prediction – Bironas could kick with his opposite foot and still get 10+ points this week. So, yeah, he’ll get 10+. Prater kicks his way off the Island of Misfit Kickers with a double digit performance himself.

Overall prediction -
Both teams kinda sucked it up last week and came away with wins. This week is gonna be the same thing. Met with average matchups and strange, late-season variables, neither team is gonna light it up with a 200 point week. The difference though will be a strong effort from the WOPs WR corp that was drafted to be studs. They show up this week and keep the team flying closer and closer to the sun. Wings of Pastrami - 147 to Amesbury Lake Armadillos 139