Ocho TO: Week 6

Almost half-way through the season and we have one team without a win (Where's My D-fense?), and one team without a loss (The I.F.F.). Now it'd be easy and extremely cliche to say that anything can happen, because let's face it - I'm not making the playoffs, and the I.F.F isn't going miss them. Not much of a spoiler for you. But there are 4 teams whose records are either 3-2 or 2-3 and their fates are far less certain. For them, every game is crucial.

Where's My D-fense? (0-5) vs. Stay Puft (2-3)

The bottom feeder of the league is beginning to make progress, amassing their second highest point total of the season last week, and only losing by 25 points. WR disappointment Dwayne Bowe was sent packing this week, ensuring a 10 for 120 and 2TD performance on Sunday. In return Where's My D received fellow Chief Dexter McCluster to try and provide something out of the RB2 slot. QB Joe Flacco remains as one of two bright spots on the team with RB Matt Forte. Randy Moss is hopefully a bit more ingrained into the Vikings offense this week, and may catch a whole 4 passes. Greg Jennings on the other hand will likely not. New acquisitions Danny Amendola and Nate Burleson should provide decent PPR value, giving the team slight optimism for this week.
The big bad marshmallow is attempting to hit the .500 mark this week, led by their captain QB Matt Schaub, who is having a season so disappointing you'd think he was playing for the other team. WRs Reggie Wayne and Hakeem Nicks have been stellar and Mike Wallace should see his production increase now that Bad Ben is back. On the ground Adrian Peterson is always a sure thing and wait... what's this? It's week 6. Ronnie Brown possibly needed to decide the outcome of this matchup? I smell an injury. TE Todd Heap has been less active in the Raven's pass game this season thanks to the WR acquisitions of the off season. However, everyone saw what Dustin Keller did to the Patriots a few weeks ago, so he may be able to put together a big game.

Weinenators (1-4) vs. Winning my $$ league (1-4)

The Weinenators continue to ride the wave that is 2nd year QB Mark Sanchez. The Sanchize is still without an interception this season, and while that's great in the NFL, his lack of yardage and TDs on a weekly basis are not so good for fantasy. The strength of this team continues to be the ground game with Michael Turner. Marion Barber could play a role if you believe the Cowboy's coaching staff that Barber is still the starter. However if that is the case then the Giants won't have to worry about the Cowboys this season. TE Dustin Keller has been the most productive of all the pass catchers so far, however once teams begin to realize they need to double team Giants WR Hakeem Nicks, look for their Steve Smith to see increased targets, and as a result, put up more points.
Their opponent, Winning my $$ league, is having far less success in the league where pride is the only thing that matters. A formidable QB/WR combo in Peyton Manning and Anquan Boldin provide most of the scoring for this team. However, after a few weeks of slowly being worked back into the Chargers offense, RB Ryan Matthews could start to emerge this week as a powerful weapon for this team. WR Eddie Royal remains a gamble in the Russian roulette that is the Bronco's passing game. Last week Brandon Lloyd had the big game, will it be Royal's turn this week? This week Winning my $$ league will be operating out of the 2 TE set, with the Cowboy's Jason Witten and Atlanta's Tony Gonzalez. Two of the best tight ends in the league, they have combined for over 40 receptions, 450 yards and 2 TDs. The team is also hoping to get a boost from the resurgent New York Football Giants defense, as they take on the Detroit Lions.

AnyGivenSunday (1-4) vs. NomNomNom (4-1)

The defending champ is having a rough go of it so far and learning the hard way that winning once is a lot easier than winning twice. QB Aaron Rodgers is expected to start a week after suffering a concussion. He has a good matchup this week against the Miami Dolphins, however you can expect that the fish will try to bring pressure often to get some hits on Rodgers and try to force him to the sidelines. With no running game to speak of, the blitz may be on. WR Percy Harvin showed on Monday Night that he's happy to have Randy Moss back in Minnesota. Harvin was consistently open across the middle of the field and expect that to continue this week. His value takes a big bump, however he'll need Robert Meachem or Jabar Gaffney to contribute more than their usual. In the backfield, Sunday has her dream tandem in LaDanian Tomlinson and FSU alum Leon Washington. However, with the recent trade for Marshawn Lynch expect Washington to only see the field on special teams.
NomNomNom has 5 players listed on the injury report this week and will have to wake up early tomorrow to check the latest on star players such as the Johnsons (Calvin and Andre), Mike Williams, Peyton Hillis and Jahvid Best. In the worst case scenario this team would be without any of it's starting 3 WRs and have only 1 RB. Football is a rough sport. However, should they all play, don't expect as much as you normally would from Best, who faces the NY Giants defense and may be taken out of the gameplan if the Lions have to play from behind. QB pickup for the week Vince Young will face a Jaguars team that I honestly know nothing about. I know they beat the Colts by having MJD run all over them, but you could have said that any year for the past 4. This year's Jags, may be good, may not. All I know from watching last week's Titans/Cowboys game is thank goodness the Titans have Chris Johnson and dont need Vince Young to play well.

You Punt! (2-3) vs. GreenZone (4-1)

Speaking of Jacksonville, You Punt! has David Garrard as their quarterback. Like the Sanchize he's lack of turnovers is a real plus, while his lack of everything else is a fantasy hindrance. The duo of DeSean Jackson and Miles Austin at WR are both there. I still can't and won't say anything complimentary about either of them. Okay, maybe i'll say one nice thing - their jersey's fit them well. Recently re-acquired Patriot WR Deion Branch is hoping to rekindle some of that old magic with Tom Brady but will have to do so against a tough Raven's D. RBs Ladell Betts and Mike Tolbert may seen diminished roles this week as the Saints realize they have no running game what-so-ever and it costs them games, and the Chargers are ready to hand rookie Ryan Matthews back his #1 spot. The 2 TE set with Vernon Davis and Mercedes Lewis may be where the majority of this team's points come from.
The GreenZone is looking for the family sweep after knocking off little brother last week. This week he has his sights set on younger cousin, and plans to show no mercy. Quarterback Philip Rivers threw for over 400 yards last week, dispelling any rumors that the Chargers had a running game. Against the Rams this week, if they can't get anything going on the ground early, expect Rivers to air it out against a defense that gave up over 350 yards passing to Shaun Hill last week. Shaun Hill. WR Brandon Lloyd will look for a repeat performance after being Kyle Orton's favorite receiver last week. For the GreenZone's sake, hopefully Lloyd took Orton out to dinner on Wednesday to try and keep in his QBs favor. RB Frank Gore is expected to be more of the offense, as the 49ers should one again realize that Alex Smith is their quarterback, against the Raiders.

Wide Right (3-2) vs. The I.F.F. (5-0)

Wide Right will try to put a blemish on the record of the I.F.F. this week. Their QB is Drew Brees who has apparently avoided the Madden Curse by way of some voodoo ritual which has instead transfer all curse powers to Saints RB Pierre Thomas. Thanks Drew... dick. The receiver corps look thin but Wide Right is betting that the Patriots got rid of Randy Moss in order to free up more playing time for Brandon Tate. That and because he possibly told Tom Brady that his haircut makes him look like a girl. Truth hurts. Now Moss is telling Favre that yeah, his balls do look old in that picture. The 2 TE set (which is very popular this week) of Zach Miller and Jeremy Shockey, is more potent than one may think. The pair have combined for over 50 catches, 50 yards and 5 TDs. Despite their lack of name recognition (or in Shockey's case people remembering he still plays in the NFL), expect a lot of points to be put up by these two on Sunday.
The Incredibly Formidable Fairies remain undefeated this season thanks to a combination of talented players all over the roster. Their QB is fantasy surprise Kyle Orton who is putting up insane numbers on a weekly basis and constantly forcing residents of Chicago to curse under their breath. Wide receivers Roddy White, Jeremy Maclin and Malcolm Floyd remain consistent each week if not spectacular on occasion. And the running game is what you'd expect from the team with the #1 overall pick. Chris Johnson continues to put up yards and TDs, even if he's not leading the world in yards, and LeSean McCoy has filled in the old Brian Westbrook role of the Eagles offense. When paired with TE Antonio Gates and a resurgent Thomas Jones at the flex, this team is poised for a title run.

And our game of the week, for Week 6:

#4 Pussies (4-1) vs. #5 DingleBarrySanders (3-2)

The week the Pussies lost, they lost so badly that they plummeted from a top 2 team to the middle of the pack. But that's been the team's only defeat and they look to continue their climb back to the top. QB Tony Romo will likely be throwing all game against the Vikings defense, as the Cowboys running game has been dreadful. Factor in a staunch Vikings wall up front and Romo should start icing his throwing arm from now. The WRs continue to un-impress me, with Mike Sims-Walker leading the group. He and Santana Moss continue to be feast or famine type players and paired together leave the Pussies with little recourse should they go hungry through the game. Johnny Knox is more of the same although I wouldn't put him in the category of "Elite Feast or Famine" type guys, making this team vulnerable a weekly basis. But hey, it's worked for them so far. Running backs Ray Rice and Rashard Mendenhall are where it's it for the Pussies. Rice got back on track last week and Mendenhall should face fewer 8 in the box situations with Bad Ben back under center. These power backs are the engine that drives the team and this week they could be driving all over New England and Cleveland's defenses.
DingleBarry has to be upset with last week's loss to older brother. The wide receivers didn't show up (I can relate to that) and flex Arian Foster was corralled for the first time all season. That said, it's just one week. And even though they are 3-2, a win this week and DingleBarrySanders is back in the driver's seat. Why? Because they are the second highest scoring team in the league. With QB Eli Manning, WRs Brandon Marshall, Austin Collie and Wes Welker complimenting Maurice Jones-Drew and Steven Jackson. Add in NFL leading rusher (as of last week) and likely offensive rookie of the year, Arian Foster, and you can see why this team gives opponents nightmares. With good looking matchups for everyone except Marshall and Jones Drew, expect this team to show off the firepower they were lacking last week.