MCBL 2009 Preview

Since the RayPI is long dead and gone, I have stepped up to the plate to fill the void in my life that results from the RayPI’s absence. I’ve broken down each team into six categories to determine who has the best shot at unseating the legendary HornDawgs and taking home the 2009 title. The infield grades are determined by evaluating starters at C, 1B, 2B, 3B, and SS. The outfield grades are determined by evaluating each starting OF. The starters grades are determined by evaluating all SPs, and the bullpen grade are determined by evaluating all RPs. The utility grade is determined by evaluating each starting UT, as well as any bench hitters. The history grade is determined by looking through the all-time standings and seeing who does well at adapting throughout the season to reach the playoffs.

Super Bad

One team defines "an exercise in futility." Historically, this team has not had a chance at the playoffs year in and year out, making them the Pittsburgh Pirates of the MCBL. 2008 did show an upward trend for the franchise, but will it continue?

Balls Out

Infield: C. Joe Mauer is doubtful for the opener as he tries to return from injury. Carlos Delgado was a beast in the second half of 2008 but has many doubters heading into this season. Chone Figgins is a great option at 2B and along with Rafael Furcal should provide the Balls with plenty of speed. Furcal was on his way to an MVP-type season before suffering an injury last year. Hank Blalock is a below-average option at 3B, and that might be putting it nicely.

Outfield: B+. A couple years ago, this group would be an easy A. However, Vladimir Guerrero has slowed down after aging an extra year over the offseason. Ichiro Suzuki might be beginning his decline. Magglio Ordonez doesn’t have much power left. These guys will hit for great average, though.

Starters: B. Rich Harden and Justin Duchscherer will be battling for the Balls Out DL slot all season long. Javier Vazquez has ace-quality stuff and will benefit greatly from a move to the NL East. David Price is the wild card, with the potential to carry this team out of the cellar. Matt Garza and Jered Weaver are steady, productive options. If Brandon Morrow doesn’t get healthy soon, he’ll find himself in the pen, which might actually benefit Balls Out.

Bullpen: C+. B.J. Ryan isn’t a top closer or a top keeper, but if he can stay healthy he’ll contribute some solid numbers. Frank Francisco is a good RP2 to have, as he should excel in the Texas closer role.

Utility: B+. Look for Paul Konerko to contend for the Comeback Player of the Year award. Mark DeRosa will probably slot into the Balls Out lineup somewhere eventually. Andruw Jones belongs on the waiver wire, and Dallas McPherson is a good gamble that will likely not pay off.

History: F. You have to think that Jake will be able to crawl into the playoffs eventually, but history is not on his side. Still, he got pretty close to .500 last year, so a playoff berth might be closer than you think.

Report Card: C, B+, B, C+, B+, F.

Final Grade: C+

The Not-Quite-Newbie Division

This division features the two sophomore managers, each of whom received a brutal inauguration into the league in 2008. Will 2009 be a stepping stone to greener pastures, or will these two teams join Balls Out as perennial bottom feeders?

Brew Crew

Infield: B. Victor Martinez, Adrian Gonzalez, and Aramis Ramirez are high-quality players, while Kelly Johnson holds his own at 2B. Miguel Tejada is on a steep decline and drags this group down. If Escobar turns into a quality SS or Joe finds one on the market, this group will keep him in contention.

Outfield: A-. Matt Kemp is due to break out this year and possibly become a top-five OF. Bobby Abreu is a steady, reliable producer and a great fit as a second OF. Hunter Pence looks to take a step forward this year and could reach 30 HRs and 100 RBIs.

Starters: B. Roy Halladay is as reliable as aces come, while Joba Chamberlain should pitch a lot of quality innings for the Crew. Max Scherzer, like Chamberlain, is a young arm with electric stuff. Adam Wainwright’s low WHIP will be a great addition to this rotation. I’m not a believer in Fausto Carmona, and I think Tommy Hanson might be a year away.

Bullpen: C+. Brian Fuentes should be a top-tier RP in Los Angeles with the team that gave K-Rod so many save opportunities. Manny Corpas is the preseason favorite to be the Rockies closer but was undependable the last time he had the job. Edwar Ramirez is likely to be cut when Joe makes his first move.

Utility: B+. Justin Upton should make a big leap this year and will see the bulk of the action at UT. Gary Sheffield and Nick Swisher are likely roster filler and will probably be free agents relatively quickly. Yunel Escobar might actually end up being a better option than starter Tejada.

History: D. Last year was an F for the first-year franchise, but the Crew received the all-important lesson in what not to do during 2008. If he can build off his mistakes, Joe has a shot at making the playoffs with this group.

Report Card: B, A-, B, C+, B+, D.

Final Grade: B-

Shockers

Infield: B+. A lot of good names in this group, but I feel a couple of them will fall short in 2009. Kevin Youkilis is due for a regression in his numbers, and Garrett Atkins would become irrelevant if traded from Colorado. Brandon Phillips regressed last year, but should still be solid. Chris Iannetta and Troy Tulowitzki are two building blocks in Colorado and have good fantasy outlooks.

Outfield: B+. Josh Hamilton is a great first OF, if just a tad overrated due to his inflated RBI total from last year. Shane Victorino is a five-tool threat and good as a third OF. Cameron Maybin will finally get a full-time job, though I wouldn’t bank on consistently-good production this year. His inclusion drags this group into B territory.

Starters: B. Josh Beckett is fantastic, if he can stay healthy. Ryan Dempster was a reach, as he’s unlikely to approach his 2008 numbers. Chris Young is a good bounce-back candidate in cavernous Petco Park. Ubaldo Jimenez will likely break through this year, even in Colorado. Andy Sonnanstine and Hiroki Kuroda are solid matchup options.

Bullpen: C-. Matt Lindstrom is already banged up, and since he is unproven in the closer role he is unlikely to get a crack at the job if someone else steps up and outperforms him. Joel Hanrahan is solid but not ready to be any fantasy team’s top closer. The clock is already ticking on George Sherrill, who might get the Shockers a handful of saves early before the Orioles turn to Chris Ray.

Utility: C. Pat Burrell is a good power bat when the team needs HRs/RBIs,and Willy Taveras will be in the lineup when the team needs SBs. Orlando Cabrera and Mike Lowell are cut candidates.

History: D. The Shockers were just as bad as the Crew last season, losing in the consolation tourney to finish dead last in the standings. A new year turns a new page for the franchise, and the outlook is bright, but this team is going to need significant upgrades during the season to contend.

Report Card: B+, B+, B, C, C, D.

Final Grade: B-

.500-ish

These teams could be playoff teams, or they could become lackadaisical in their day-to-day management and fall by the wayside. With the quality of the league as high as ever, it makes it even harder for middling teams to succeed. Who will catch the breaks?

DL Bound

Infield: C-. Michael Young doesn’t qualify at third yet, so this team is without a 3B. When Young is eligibile, his numbers still make for poor production from the hot corner. Mike Aviles isn’t going to hit for that high an average and doesn’t contribute much else. Dan Uggla adds big power at a power-starved position. Russell Martin and Justin Morneau keep this group from reaching D level.

Outfield: C+. Carlos Quentin probably won’t be able to repeat his 2008 numbers, making him a weak OF1. Curtis Granderson contributes across the board and is a great fantasy player. Chris Young, along with Dan Uggla, will keep this team’s average low.

Starters: C. Cole Hamels is an excellent ace, but there’s not much after him. I certainly wouldn’t trust Carlos Zambrano to regain form. Chris Carpenter looks good so far and will be a key to DL’s success. I’m not too high on Mike Pelfrey or Jesse Litsch.

Bullpen: B. Carlos Marmol is one of the best relievers in the game, and if he’s the closer in Chicago he should rack up a lot of saves. Francisco Cordero and Brian Wilson combine to give this team a great shot at winning saves every week.

Utility: A-. Johnny Damon is a great all-around player and will contribute across the board. Carlos Gomez is a speedster that can help with SBs. Coco Crisp is one of my breakout candidates this year, and James Loney could also play a prominent role. Hideki Matsui might need to be cut for a 3B.

History: B+. DL Bound finished third in the regular season last year, winning 57% of their games. I don’t see a repeat with this group, but I expect Dewey to make some smart adds throughout the season to contend for the playoffs again.

Report Card: C-, C+, C, B, A-, B+.

Final Grade: B-

Reverend Horton Heat

Infield: C+. Ian Kinsler is a top talent at 2B and a great keeper for the future. Ryan Doumit has a good shot at being in the top half of starting catchers. After that, the Reverend’s infield is filled with below-average infielders that are probably past their prime. All you can really count on from Derek Jeter now is a good average and a couple HRs and SBs. Derrek Lee doesn’t bring a lot of power to 1B, a position where you need to find a power bat. Adrian Beltre is in a walk year, so that’s good.

Outfield: A-. Carlos Beltran and Manny Ramirez are the backbone of this offense and will keep the Heat competitive in HR and RBI each week. Torii Hunter is a great, consistent third option in the outfield. If the good Reverend is to get back to the playoffs in 2009 after missing out last year, these guys need to stay healthy and productive.

Starters: C. John Lackey is a low-end SP1, but his consistency makes him a safe keeper. Cliff Lee is due for a regression, though I don’t think it will be as bad as some people predict. The rest of the rotation is pretty mundane, featuring the low-K numbers of Chien-Ming Wang, the limited upside of Jair Jurrjens and Oliver Perez, and the complete regression due from Joe Saunders (hint: don’t count on 17 wins). This team will struggle to win Ks each week, even if Mark Prior finds the time machine.

Bullpen: A. John Papelbon and Francisco Rodriguez give Chance the best 1-2 bullpen punch in the league. People are anticipating that Chris Ray takes back the closer job sooner or later. If the Heat finds another closer, they are the easy favorite to win saves.

Utility: B-. Conor Jackson has some upside, but not enough to call him a breakout candidate. Eric Byrnes might be on the D-Backs bench more often than not. Rick Ankiel is a good option to stick in at UT when the Reverend needs an extra HR or two.

History: B. Chance is good to play around .500 every year and to sneak into the playoffs more often than not. If he’s stuck keeping two closers again though, the future won’t look as bright as the past does. Manny is a likely keeper moving forward to add to the Kinsler/Beltran group, but who else will step up?

Report Card: C+, A-, C, A, B-, B.

Final Grade: B

Eradicators

Infield: A-. Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera give the ‘Cators an edge on anyone at the CI spots. Geovany Soto is one of the top catchers in the league after only one full year. Jhonny Peralta is an underrated SS that will bring some nice pop to the table. Howie Kendrick is the obvious weak link of this group, but his mediocrity can be overcome.

Outfield: B-. Vernon Wells has returned from his month-long absence caused by injury, but it’ll be a little while till he can regain his game. Jayson Werth is one of my favorite sleepers this year, and quality numbers are right there for him if he can stay healthy. Andre Ethier is a relative unknown but still starter-quality with some upside. This group needs a go-to number-one option.

Starters: A-. Tim Lincecum and Dan Haren are an enviable start to any rotation, but the talent dries up after them. Daisuke Matsuzaka isn’t nearly as good as his ERA would lead you to believe. Armando Galarraga came out of nowhere last year, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him go right back. Johnny Cueto is the interesting name here, a young guy who flashed superior skills at times last year. He and Randy Johnson keep this group in the A grade. Dana Eveland is an interesting sleeper and barely made my top 75 SPs.

Bullpen: B+. Joe Nathan and Joakim Soria are fantastic pieces of the pen, but the ‘Cators need to find one more closer to assure they win saves most weeks. Scot Shields is great for what he is, a guy that helps keep ratios low and vultures some wins.

Utility: C. Jorge Cantu is unlikely to repeat last year’s numbers, and with two big roadblocks at 1B and 3B, he is likely to be traded. Randy Winn and Steven Pearce should soon be free agents.

History: B-. With 2007 champion Snorting HGH out of the league, the Eradicators are the last current team other to win a championship other than the HornDawgs, with that title coming in 2003. The last few years haven’t been kind to Ray though, despite winning the consolation tourney. Robbing Jake of Albert Pujols could be a big step to getting back to the top.

Report Card: A-, B-, A-, B+, C, B-.

Final Grade: B+

DILLIGAF

Infield: A. Hanley Ramirez, Mark Teixeira, Brian Roberts, Evan Longoria. Bengie Molina could be Jose Molina and this would still be the best infield in the game.

Outfield: B-. Carlos Lee is a solid first OF. Ryan Ludwick has to prove that his 2008 explosion wasn’t a mirage. Jermaine Dye is a dependably good player, albeit with no upside.

Starters: C-. I’m a big Ervin Santana fan, but he’s due to be out for at least a month, and it will probably take him even longer to regain top form. He should be a weapon come playoff time, if Chris makes it that far. Justin Verlander and Aaron Harang have to prove they can rebound, and as the team’s second and third starter (and top two starters will Santana is injured), this is an overly weak rotation. Matt Cain is solid as a SP4 and has upside. With no other SPs on roster, this team could struggle for wins and strikeouts.

Bullpen: A-. Mariano Rivera and Jose Valverde make a great twosome at the top of the bullpen. Kevin Gregg could potentially close in Chicago. The club will be lucky to eek out any saves from Troy Percival, while Dan Wheeler will contribute good ratios.

Utility: B+. Brad Hawpe is consistently good and will bring some very nice numbers to the UT slot. Ivan Rodriguez could be cut if Bengie Molina starts out hot. Xavier Nady and Milton Bradley will be lucky to survive a month on the team.

History: B. This club has improved each of the last four years and made the playoffs in 2008 with a .548 win percentage. If the trend continues, Chris could compete for a top-two seed this year. It will be interesting to see how the league’s biggest streamer contends with the transaction cap.

Report Card: A, B-, C-, A-, B+, B.

Final Grade: B+

Contenders

These teams are either really strong heading into the season, or have a track record of regular season success that gives them the benefit of the doubt. In some cases, both of these axioms apply.

Crazy Spaniards

Infield: B. Ryan Howard keeps C-Span in contention for HRs and RBIs every week. Jose Lopez is an underrated 2B with some pop and good average. Chris Davis is the highly-touted breakout candidate for 2009. Even if he falls short of expectations, he should still be an above-average 3B. Manny Burris is a black hole at SS, and I don’t expect Matt Wieters to break camp with the team.

Outfield: A-. Ryan Braun and Alfonso Soriano are two of the top OFs in the league and are locked into the starting lineup. Denard Span has to fight for playing time in Minnesota, so it will be up to the Spaniards to find a quality third OF if Span fails.

Starters: A. CC Sabathia and Brandon Webb are great anchors to a rotation, and Roy Oswalt, Scott Baker and Felix Hernandez give C-Span the advantage in pitching against any team. Mark Buerhle and Andy Pettitte are reliable, low-risk guys, while Wandy Rodriguez has a ton of upside. Sean Marshall is an OK gamble but might be cut so the team can address other needs.

Bullpen: D+. Joey Devine is a decent sleeper this year but has had injury problems in the past. Anthony Reyes is due to finally become a quality starter, but the Spaniards would be better off with a top MR on the bench to use when Reyes doesn’t start.

Utility: C+. Ryan Zimmerman is solid as a 3B, but you can do better in the UT spot. Erick Aybar will see time if Burris fails. This team is missing at least one quality bat.

History: A. The Crazy Spaniards are always in the playoffs, and more often than not they have some measure of success, including last year’s second place finish. Cid can always be counted on for smart in-season pickups and remains a virtual lock to make the playoffs.

Report Card: B, A-, A, D+, C+, A.

Final Grade: B+

Cherry Poppers

Infield: A. Brian McCann and Chase Utley are tops at weak positions, giving the Poppers a big advantage. Jimmy Rollins is another elite option and gives this team the best MI in the league. Chipper Jones is a beast when healthy, and Carlos Pena’s power rounds out this impressive group.

Outfield: B-. Jacoby Ellsbury is a solid OF2, but as the team’s best outfielder, he’s a little weak. The speed will definitely be there though. Jay Bruce could join the elite at OF this year and be the OF1 this team needs. Raul Ibanez is solid but unspectacular.

Starters: B. James Shields isn’t a top SP1, but he’ll do just fine and be a quality arm. A.J. Burnett is a health risk and could put it on cruise control after signing a big contract. Josh Johnson came back strong last year and is primed for a great 2009. Clayton Kershaw is a top young SP who still needs refinement. Same goes for Chris Volstad. Derek Lowe is a great example of good pitcher, low ceiling.

Bullpen: A-. Brad Lidge is a great RP1, while Bobby Jenks is locked into the closer role in Chicago. Chad Qualls should do well with the job in Arizona, and Jason Motte was a shrewd pickup, as he’s now looking like the favorite for saves in St. Louis, with Chris Perez being the other main candidate.

Utility: C+. Lastings Milledge should be good for steals and some power. Josh Anderson is a likely waiver candidate.

History: B+. The Poppers rebounded from a poor 2007 to win third place last year, and the team is set up to contend yet again this year. I expect them to work the wire well and solidify the OF.

Report Card: A, B-, B, A-, C+, B+.

Final Grade: B+

LaBlais

Infield: A-. David Wright and Jose Reyes are elite fantasy players and the anchor of this offense. Lance Berkman proved he still has a lot left in the tank. Robinson Cano struggled last year but should be back to his normal numbers in 2009. Pablo Sandoval is a great pickup at catcher, as he should play more than regular catchers since he actually is in the field instead of behind the plate.

Outfield: A-. B.J. Upton is primed for a power breakout, and he could conceivably be a 25/40 guy. Nick Markakis and Alex Rios are both great young OFs that contribute across the board. The Blaze should be very happy with this entire offense.

Starters: B+. The team doesn’t have a fantasy ace, but if Francisco Liriano can regain form, he could be that guy. Jon Lester is another emerging young pitcher with a shot at making the leap. My favorite of this group is Zach Grienke, and I think his performance will be huge for The Blaze. Edinson Volquez is looking to build on a great rookie year. Erik Bedard has bounce-back potential.

Bullpen: B+. Jon Broxton has the opportunity to join the elite level of closers. Heath Bell has been consistently great and should transition into the closer role just fine. Brandon Lyon is the lead candidate for saves in Detroit, while Brad Ziegler will look to snipe some saves in Oakland.

Utility: B+. Nelson Cruz is the top sleeper of 2009, and could approach 30 HRs and 20 SBs in Texas. Alex Gordon is another good young bat but likely won’t play for The Blaze. Adam Jones is a waiver candidate, while Matt LaPorta is a year away from fantasy relevance.

History: B+. This team played well in 2008 but missed the playoffs. Consistently over .500, The Blaze should be back in the playoffs this year.

Report Card: A-, A-, B+, B+, B+, B+.

Final Grade: B+

Fear & Arrogance

Infield: A. It’s possible that all of these guys finish in the top-five at their positions in 2009. Mike Napoli has unmatched power potential at catcher. Prince Fielder and Dustin Pedroia are safe, reliable guys. Aubrey Huff blew up last year and has the skill-set to repeat. And Stephen Drew is one of the top, emerging shortstops in the game.

Outfield: A+. Even with Holliday’s expected regression from leaving Coors Field, this is still an amazing outfield. Grady Sizemore is the consensus top OF in fantasy baseball. Jason Bay had elite numbers hitting in Boston. And while Holliday will lose some power, he’s still starter-worthy and top-notch as a OF3.

Starters: A-. While the team doesn’t have a true fantasy #1, the combination of Chad Billingsley and Scott Kazmir makes up for it. Ricky Nolasco is undervalued pitching in Florida and would be a good second starter on a lot of teams. John Danks probably won’t have the same level of success but should be solid, while Kevin Slowey has great control and can sustain small ratios. John Maine and the health of Ben Sheets drags this group down just a bit.

Bullpen: D+. Mike Gonzalez is a solid second closer but shouldn’t be counted on for all a team’s saves. Jose Arredondo should help with ratios but doesn’t have a shot a closing. F & A should look to bring in one or two closing candidates to strengthen this weakness.

Utility: A. You won’t find a UT much better than Nate McLouth, who is like a light version of Sizemore. Edwin Encarnacion is likely trade bait. Ryan Theriot is a good sub for Drew when the team needs steals. Jeff Francoeur is a waiver candidate.

History: A. Fear & Arrogance is entrenched in the playoff picture every year, though last year’s sixth-place finish was lower than usual. This team has reached the title game in three of the last five years and should always be considered a favorite to win.

Report Card: A, A+, A-, D+, A, A.

Final Grade: A-

The HornDawgs

Infield: B. Alex Rodriguez’s absence will hurt, but it shouldn’t prevent this team from making the playoffs. Joey Votto is a great young 1B that’s only getting better. Alexei Ramirez has been compared to a young Soriano. J.J. Hardy has elite power at SS. Jorge Posada could bounce back and is a solid last-round selection. Mark Reynolds will fill in for A-Roid and offers great power and good SB potential.

Outfield: A-. Carl Crawford and Adam Dunn combine to give great power and speed numbers in the outfield, while Corey Hart fills up the stat sheet in both categories.

Starters: A. Johan Santana and Jake Peavy are arguably the best 1-2 combination of aces in the league. Yovani Gallardo is expected to break out after an injury-lost 2008. Ted Lilly has been consistently excellent since joining the Cubs. Brett Myers looked like his old dominant self in the second half. Gil Meche has turned into a reliably good SP. Manny Parra is the weak link and likely to be cut soon.

Bullpen: B+. Kerry Wood is a dominant closer if he can stay off the DL. Matt Capps has been excellent when called upon, though his save opportunities tend to be few and far between. Trevor Hoffman can still rack up saves. Huston Street is the wild card here.

Utility: A. David Ortiz’s power bat in the UT spot help make up for any deficiencies the offense might have.

History: A+. Four championships in the last five years. The HornDawgs have never finished lower than third nor had a sub-.500 winning percentage. Could this be the year the Dawgs finally fall? The quality of the league is better nowadays, so it’s definitely possible.

Report Card: B, A-, A, B+, A, A+.

Final Grade: A-

2008 NFFL Draft Review

The (apparently) highly-anticipated review of the 2008 NFFL Draft is live! Here is a team-by-team look at the draft:

Washington Braves

• RB Darren McFadden (1.01)
• QB Erik Ainge (5.12)

The Braves took the consensus #1 pick in the NFFL Draft when they selected Darren McFadden #1 overall. McFadden has all the big-play potential in the world, but I worry about him holding up over a 16-game season as the feature back. Expect to still see plenty of Justin Fargas in Oakland. For the Braves, McFadden looks like the long-term replacement for Edgerrin James, who has entered the downside of his career. DeAngelo Williams doesn't look like he'll get a fair shot in Carolina, so it was critical for Washington to bring in another RB that can possibly be an every-week starter with LaDanian Tomlinson. Erik Ainge is a nice no-risk, potentially high-reward pick. The Jets still don't have a unquestioned #1 starter, so if Kellen Clemens doesn't develop into that player maybe Ainge can.

Bertrand Ground Force

Here's what the Ground Force draft could/should have looked like:

• RB Jonathan Stewart (1.02)
• QB Joe Flacco (2.02)
• RB Ryan Torain (3.02)
• RB Mike Hart (4.02)

Carson City Bandits

• RB Jonathan Stewart (1.03)
• WR James Hardy (1.11)
• LB Dan Connor (2.01)
• LB Jordan Dizon (2.03)
• QB Brian Brohm (2.04)
• WR Malcom Kelly (2.08)
• WR Earl Bennett (2.09)
• QB Josh Johnson (2.10)
• DE Chris Long (2.11)
• DE Derrick Harvey (2.12)
• WR Limas Sweed (2.15)
• RB Ryan Torain (3.06)
• RB Steve Slaton (3.10)
• WR Keenan Burton (4.10)
• DT Sedrick Ellis (5.15)

How many of these guys can Carson City possibly sign? Even if they have to trade a few more of these players, the Carson City Bandits made out like a, well, bandit in the draft. Jonathan Stewart will be an instant starter and should quickly establish himself as a scoring threat. Stewart averaged over a TD a game in college. One of the best picks in the draft could turn out to be Ryan Torain, whom I had graded as a first-round NFFL pick. The Broncos staff sees visions of Terrell Davis in Torain, an ideal back for Denver's scheme. Stewart and Torain could wind up being an excellent 1-2 tandem as soon as this year. Steve Slaton was another great value pick, but has since been shipped to Japan.

The Bandits drafted several receivers, and my two favorites of the bunch are first-rounder James Hardy and late-second rounder Limas Sweed. Hardy measures six-and-a-half feet tall, giving him an advantage over every CB out there. Look for the Bills to utilize him in the red zone, which could lead to Hardy scoring double-digit TDs in his rookie season. Sweed was the victim of bad luck, getting injured in his senior year; otherwise he'd have mostly been the #1 WR in this draft and a sure first-round pick. He will only be a third WR to start his career but could eventually take Hines Ward's spot. He's been traded to the Raiders with the Bandits picking up a future first-round pick in the trade. Malcom Kelly has a shot at being an eventual producer for Carson City. Earl Bennett will struggle to adjust to the NFL and I think he'll end up being a wasted pick. I don't see Keenan Burton contributing either.

The Bandits selected two QBs in the second round, the first being Brian Brohm. Once a top-of-the-first-round projection, Brohm fell out of favor and landed in Green Bay at the end of the second round. He'll push Aaron Rodgers to start, but has no guarantee of playing time going forward. What made this a peculiar pick is that there was another QB on the board that is guaranteed a shot at being a starting NFL QB, so I think Carson City made a mistake by picking Brohm. Josh Johnson, the Bandits' other QB selection, could also develop into a starting NFL QB. His problem is as much athleticism and upside as he has, he's not a very good passer. This will limit his NFFL numbers even if he gets the starting gig in the future.

On defense, the Bandits came away with two potential starters on the defensive line and two more at linebacker. Carson City used their first two second-round picks on LBs Dan Connor and Jordan Dizon. Connor is the more highly-touted prospect, but suffered a free-fall in the NFL draft before landing in Carolina. He will be played at MLB, but the Panthers have rejected the idea of moving Jon Beason outside. If Connor is to have any playing time, it will likely have to be outside. Dizon is the reverse case, as the Lions drafted him while Dan Connor was on the board presumably because they wanted Dizon to play outside. It has come to light that Detroit plans on playing Dizon at MLB, making him a very good potential point-scorer behind the Lions' weak DL. I see Dizon getting a majority of starts for Carson City this year. Toward the end of the second round, the Bandits added pass-rushers Chris Long and Derrick Harvey. Both have a good shot at being successful NFL players, but Long has much more potential than Harvey, so it was a good move by the Bandits to stick with Long and trade Harvey. Sedrick Ellis is a fantastic gamble at the end of the draft as we know he'll receive a lot of playing time in New Orleans.

Boston Inferno
RB Rashard Mendenhall (1.04)
RB Ray Rice (1.15)
LB Xavier Adibi (3.01)
S Kenny Phillips (3.03)
RB Justin Forsett (4.15)

Rashard Mendenhall will be a fantastic pro, as he's good at the little things that come with being an NFL RB like pass-protection and moving the pile. He'll eventually supplant Willie Parker as the feature back and in my opinion will be the best player to come out of this NFFL draft. Ray Rice could be a nice complement to Willis McGahee, but he won't get more than 100 carries a year, making this a questionable use of a first-round pick to anyone but Boston. The Inferno of course have McGahee on their roster, so this was a case of locking up an entire team's backfield in case of injury. The next two Boston picks were used on defense with the Inferno adding Xavier Adibi and Kenny Phillips. Adibi will start his career as Morlon Greenwood's backup; however, the Texans have unproven Zach Diles starting on the strong-side so Adibi might eventually end up there, making him a solid pick in the third-round but with a lower ceiling than most LBs. Phillips on the other hand has the best scoring potential out of any DB in this draft and shouldn't have lasted to the third round. Justin Forsett doesn't have a future in the NFFL. The Inferno do have to be taken to task for not selecting a player with their fifth-round pick, missing the opportunity to add someone to their taxi squad. In my mind there were at least five undrafted rookies that could potentially develop into starters in the NFFL, so to pass on taking one is bad form.

Chicago Goodfellas

• RB Matt Forte (1.05)
• RB Felix Jones (1.07)
• QB Matt Ryan (1.08)
• WR Devin Thomas (1.09)
• QB Joe Flacco (2.05)

When we look back on this draft in three years, I think Chicago might end up being the biggest winner of all. Matt Forte and Felix Jones will probably begin their careers in backfield-by-committees. Forte will battle highly-paid Cedric Benson with the Bears. With the consistently-underrated Forte having more talent than the former first-rounder, the rookie should eventually be the feature back for both Chicago teams. I was personally crushed that Forte was selected the pick before mine, though I knew it was nearly inevitable. Jones split time in college and will continue to do so in the NFL. But Marion Barber's contract is up after this year, so there's a possibility that Jones could get the lion's share of carries starting in 2009. The Goodfellas also drafted the top-rated WR in the draft with the selection of Devin Thomas. With the Redskins rebuilding the passing game (they used three second round picks on pass catchers), Thomas could see a lot of playing time immediately.

The Goodfellas won this draft with their picks at the QB position. With only the inconsistent Vince Young and the much-maligned Jake Delhomme at the position, Chicago brought in the draft's top two signal callers. Matt Ryan is as great off the field as he is on the field, which was very important to the Falcons when they drafted him to be the new face of the franchise. He'll be starting by 2009 at the latest and will get the opportunity to mature along a couple of young WRs in Roddy White and Laurent Robinson. Joe Flacco, the QB that had the Ravens hopping up and down the draft board, was a great value in the middle of the second round. If his game translates well to the NFL and he makes the necessary adjustments, he has the potential to be even better than Ryan. Either way, the Goodfellas likely received a future starter and a future solid QB2 for their team at worst.

Austin Predators

• RB Kevin Smith (1.06)
• RB Jacob Hester (4.07)
• CB Leodis McKelvin (4.11)
• CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (4.16)
• RB Xavier Omon (5.05)

Never one to rely too much on the NFFL Draft, the Predators ended up trading a couple of their picks away for future draft picks, including first-rounder Kevin Smith and fifth-rounder Xavier Omon. Smith is walking into the same scheme he ran at college and he doesn't have a whole lot of competition, making his path to playing time much easier than most of the RBs listed above him. He's not without negatives though, as he's run into off-field problems and has been leaned on heavily in his college career, including a 400+ carry 2007 season. Omon was amazing in college but doesn't have a shot at starting behind Marshawn Lynch. The Chargers gave up quite a bit to move up and select Jacob Hester. News from San Diego has him sticking at tailback, meaning he's the likely replacement for Michael Turner. The Predators used two late fourth-round picks on the top two CBs in this draft, Leodis McKelvin and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, with the thinking that quarterbacks like to pick on rookie CBs. Both players should start for their NFL teams, meaning they could rack up quite a bit of tackles and/or interceptions early on, depending on how good they are in the NFL.

Utica Devils

• RB Chris Johnson (1.10)
• WR Donnie Avery (1.12)
• LB Jerod Mayo (1.16)
• DT Glenn Dorsey (2.06)
• QB Chad Henne (2.07)
• RB Jamaal Charles (2.16)
• WR Eddie Royal (3.15)
• DE Quentin Groves (4.06)
• DE Lawrence Jackson (5.06)

A team in the midst of rebuilding, the Devils did a good job bringing in a lot of talent. Moreover, the players they selected for the most part have large roles with their NFL teams in the future, so that will mitigate bust potential somewhat. However, with a number of their picks I feel the Devils passed on better players at the same position they drafted. This wasn't the case with their first pick, as Chris Johnson was the last first-round RB on the board and drew consideration as high as #6 overall. He has been compared to Reggie Bush and the Titans plan to use him in a similar role. If Tennessee switches to an option attack, with LenDale White up the middle and Vince Young and Johnson on the outside, it could be potentially very difficult to defend. Not that it will happen. Donnie Avery was selected 12th overall, which is much too high for a guy I think has the ceiling of a #3 WR. Jerod Mayo is a solid end-of-the-first-round pick and should eventually rack up the points starting in New England.

In the middle of the second round, Utica picked up Glenn Dorsey, a player whom many considered the best player in the NFL draft. His upside is limited in our format as he won't get a whole bunch of sacks. Next came Chad Henne, a quarterback the Dolphins reportedly love. Henne is favored to eventually start in Miami, and with their offensive line being improved he has the potential to score some points and turn into a solid contributor down the line. Jamaal Charles won't have the chance to start in Kansas City, but he does have a nice skill set. Still, I would have liked to see Torain picked here for his starting potential. Eddie Royal was a great pickup at the end of the third round, and I think he'll end up playing more than Avery for the Devils. He'll start out as a return man but will be in the starting lineup in the future. The Devils used their last two picks on defensive ends. Fourth-rounder Quentin Groves has the higher big-play potential and could be a double-digit sack monster. Fifth-rounder Lawrence Jackson is the better all-around player and the better pick. Both should see action for Utica.

Fairfax Foxes

• LB Keith Rivers (1.13)
• WR Mario Manningham (3.08)
• DE Phillip Merling (3.09)
• RB Tim Hightower (4.13)
• WR Arman Shields (5.07)
• TE Dustin Keller (5.10)
• LB Bryan Kehl (5.13)

While not expected to play in the middle, Keith Rivers is still filled with upside. As a high first-round pick, the Bengals will commit to using him as much as possible, which should lead to a bunch of tackles. He's a guy whom I wouldn't have been surprised to see taken in the top ten picks. Mario Manningham is likely one of those college players that doesn't have what it takes to be a good NFL player. He's a big name guy, though, so using a middle-third round pick on him seems about right. However, I don't see him succeeding. Phillip Merling probably won't get a lot of sacks, but he's a good run-stopping DE and could wind up with solid numbers based mostly on tackles. Tim Hightower was an excellent fourth-round pick, drawing comparisons to Marion Barber. He'll help lighten the load for Edgerrin James and could be worth a spot-start or two in the NFFL. Out of their three fifth-round picks, I only see Dustin Keller as possibly contributing for the Foxes. Arman Shields and Bryan Kehl are eventual free agents.

Halifax Armada

• LB Curtis Lofton (1.14)
• WR Jordy Nelson (2.14)
• LB Taveras Gooden (3.11)
• WR Early Doucet (3.14)
• QB John David Booty (4.14)
• RB Peyton Hillis (5.14)
• RB Thomas Brown (5.16)
  

At the end of the draft, Halifax wasn't a team that stuck out in my mind as having a great draft. However, after seeing their group of players as a whole this has got to be one of my top-three favorite drafts. I love the Curtis Lofton pick and see him as the 2008 NFFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, barely beating out Jordan Dizon and Keith Rivers. He'll get a boatload of tackles behind a weak defensive line, and he has the talent to capitalize on the opportunity to start. Jordy Nelson is buried on the Green Bay depth chart. He is still learning the WR position after beginning his career on defense. With 122 catches last year, he looks like a quick learner. I see him and Greg Jennings as the eventual starters in Green Bay, meaning that the Foxes will have a very good WR on their hands if they can be patient with Nelson. Taveras Gooden was an absolute steal late in the third round, as he'll be a future starter on the Ravens (aka LB Heaven) for a long time. Early Doucet is another underrated player I really like. He'll fill Bryant Johnson's role in Arizona and could eventually start when the Cardinals decide they can't pay big money to keep Anquan Boldin.

I completely regret thinking John David Booty would make it to my fifth-round pick, passing on him twice in the fourth round. His skill set matches Minnesota's West Coast offense, and QB is the only big weakness in Minnesota. When the Vikings give up on Tarvaris Jackson, Booty will be there to possibly make a Tom Brady-like impact on that team. I don't like the pick of FB Peyton Hillis at all, but then again, Mike Anderson used to be a Denver fullback. Can't say I like Mr. Irrelevant Thomas Brown either.

Lower Saxony Patriots

• WR DeSean Jackson (2.13)
• DE Vernon Gholston (3.05)
• WR Jerome Simpson (3.12)
• LB Phillip Wheeler (3.13)
• RB Jalen Parmele (4.09)
• LB Geno Hayes (4.12)
• RB Jerome Felton (5.07)

The Patriots used their first pick on spark plug DeSean Jackson. He won't make an immediate impact on offense for Philadelphia (though he'll save their horrid return game) but could develop into a big-play threat in the future. I don't think he'll ever be an every-week starter in our league. Vernon Gholston was a great third-round pick, a guy many think will be a sack machine in the NFFL. If he develops into a consistent double-digit sack player, this might end up being one of the best value picks in the draft. Jerome Simpson is an NFL project, coming from a small college. He should get the opportunity to at least fill Chris Henry's role in Cincinnati. If he's successful, he could develop into Chad Johnson's successor. He's been traded since the draft. Phillip Wheeler is a guy I was targeting for my fourth-round pick, and I see him as being a solid starter in the NFFL if the Colts send Gary Brackett on his way. I don't see any of the Patriots' final three picks (Jalen Parmele, Geno Hayes, and Jerome Felton) contributing.

California Xtreme

• LB Jonathan Goff (3.04)
• RB Tashard Choice (3.07)
• LB Shawn Crable (4.04)
• S DaJuan Morgan (5.04)

I don't see either LB California selected as making a meaningful contribution in the NFFL. Shawn Crable, the team's fourth round pick, has a better chance of being useful in New England, but I don't see Jonathan Goff having any impact. The Xtreme's other two picks were excellent. Tashard Choice has an opportunity to be Marion Barber's replacement in the Dallas running game in 2009, so to get him in the third round must feel like quite a steal. DaJuan Morgan is walking into a situation in Kansas City where he can start opposite another excellent young safety, Bernard Pollard. While Pollard will score more points, Morgan has a lot of upside and is as good a pick as you'll find in the fifth round.

Cincinnati Snake Keepers

• WR Will Franklin (3.16)
• RB Mike Hart (4.05)
• WR Lavelle Hawkins (5.02)
• S Hakuri Nakamura (5.11)

Cincinnati didn't pick until the end of the third round and understandably didn't come away from the draft with a whole lot. I like Will Franklin's long-term prospects: he enters the league with a team that's had a gaping hole at WR for a long time, he has good size being over six feet tall and 210+ pounds, he had an extremely fast 40-time (4.30). Franklin could eventually team up to start alongside Dwayne Bowe, and if Kansas City ever brings in a QB they could both be every-week starters. Mike Hart had an outstanding college career but most people feel he doesn't have a big future in the NFL. His outlook was also dampened when the Colts decided to bring back Dominic Rhodes. After watching Hart in college I wouldn't bet against Hart succeeding, but the road appears to be long and winding. Lavelle Hawkins dropped on the merit of his combine numbers, but he's proven himself as a big-time player in a big-time college conference (Pac 10). I wouldn't be surprised if he outperforms Cal teammate DeSean Jackson in the NFL. Hakuri Nakamura was an interesting pick, but one that I don't see panning out.

Osan Dark Knights

• LB Beau Bell (4.01)
• CB Brandon Flowers (5.01)

With Andra Davis and Leon Williams not performing like starters, the Browns will give Beau Bell a chance to win the ILB spot opposite D'Qwell Jackson. Bell is huge and still quick, notching double-digit sacks from the MLB spot in college. I can see him eventually being a solid starting NFFL LB. Brandon Flowers is a fantastic tackler and will get the opportunity to succeed playing in Kansas City, a team needing long-term answers at CB.

Glasgow Warriors

• QB Colt Brennan (4.08)
• QB Andre Woodson (5.09)

The Warriors took a couple long-term projects at QB that are behind solid NFL starters. Colt Brennan has a better chance to pay dividends. Once thought of as a first-round pick, he was picked apart by the NFL Scouting gauntlet and lands in Washington after being picked in the later rounds. It's up to him to adjust from the June Jones offense to a pro-style offense. If he does, he could eventually compete to start for the Redskins. Andre Woodson is another guy who was at one point graded as a first-round, with some placing him in the Top Ten! He lands in New York behind current Super Bowl hero Eli Manning, so his upside for our league is limited. If he can show enough in pre-season, maybe a QB-starved team takes a chance on him down the road. Both QBs find themselves on the Glasgow taxi squad.

New North Las Mexico Vegas Raiders

• No picks.

Horrible draft. Didn't pick a single player that has a chance to contribute short-term or long-term. Better luck next year. But the Raiders did trade for Limas Sweed, who should help in the future and Derrick Harvey, whom I'm not really too high on.

Greenville Storm

• No picks.

A way better draft than the Raiders. Greenville actually gave up a couple first-round picks to acquire Kevin Smith, who will immediately give them depth behind Marshawn Lynch and Thomas Jones. The Storm also brought in Xavier Omon to back up Lynch and Jerome Simpson to develop at WR.

The Playoff Preview: Week 4 Update

Anglia Dark Knights

Player	Pts
Kitna, Jon DET QB	17
Graham, Earnest TBB RB	21
Taylor, Fred JAC RB	6
Cotchery, Jerricho NYJ WR	8
Mason, Derrick BAL WR	2
Witten, Jason DAL TE	16
Dawson, Phil CLE PK	4
Haye, Jovan TBB DT	4
Taylor, Jason MIA DE	8
Fujita, Scott NOS LB	10
Henderson, E.J. MIN LB	8
Pace, Calvin ARI LB	11
Clements, Nate SFO CB	6
Newman, Terence DAL CB	6
Harris, Chris CAR S	12
Total:	139

Washington Braves

Player	Pts
Hasselbeck, Matt SEA QB	25
Barber, Marion DAL RB	17
Tomlinson, Ladainian SDC RB	28
Engram, Bobby SEA WR	11
Johnson, Andre HOU WR	17
Johnson, Chad CIN WR	13
Vinatieri, Adam IND PK	6
Rogers, Shaun DET DT	2
Umenyiora, Osi NYG DE	9
Brooks, Derrick TBB LB	9
Crowell, Angelo BUF LB	6
Dansby, Karlos ARI LB	10
Phillips, Shaun SDC LB	8
Reed, Edward BAL S	5
Sanders, Bob IND S	10
Total:	176

The Playoff Preview: Week 3 Update

I missed one prediction last week, as the Anglia Dark Knights are proving to be a tougher opponent than I initially thought. In fact, heading into the weekend the Dark Knights look like the favorite against the 2006 champion Austin Predators. Austin has dealt with major injuries all year, and this week will be no different. The receiving corps has been decimated by injury, but the big two of Joey Galloway and Tony Gonzalez look like they will be available for this week's game. RB Selvin Young threw up a dud on Thursday, and with Dark Knights RBs Earnest Graham and Fred Taylor playing well of late the Predators have a lot to overcome after Young's three-point game. Another factor against the Predators is the weather, with QB Derek Anderson due to battle the Bills in inclement conditions. On the flip side, Anglia QB Jon Kitna is playing in sunny San Diego this week. All this adds up to a Dark Knights victory in this game.

Brady vs. Hasselbeck. Peterson vs. Tomlinson. Johnson & Johnson vs. Wayne & Fitzgerald. This is undoubtedly going to be a high-scoring shootout between the top two teams in the NFFL. Halifax Armada QB Tom Brady might be dealing with bad weather in his game, but since the opponent is the Jets he'll definitely be looking to set passing records in that game. Don't be surprised if Brady sets NFFL records in this game either. The Washington Braves struck the first blow, with WR Andre Johnson scoring 14 points on Sunday. WR Chad Johnson is in for a big game tonight against the 49ers as well. The defenses look pretty even on each side. I'm going to have to give the edge to Washington. While Brady will probably outscore Hasselbeck, Braves RB Tomlinson will get a lot of those points back, and the team's other RB Marion Barber will have a big game against the rival Eagles. I'm also wary of Halifax WR Larry Fitzgerald, who's been limited this week. The injury didn't affect him last week, so don't count him out, but I have my doubts this week. I'll take the Braves to win this game by a few points as the teams combine for nearly 350 points.

The Playoff Preview: Week 2 Update

Well, I correctly predicted the winners of the first-week games. I did have the second round matchup wrong in the NFC, which amounts to a slip-of-the mind by myself in regards to the rules.

AFC Update

Anglia vs California should still be a close game, but Cali is going to be hard to beat for the rest of the playoffs. Xtreme QB Drew Brees has a fantastic matchup on Monday night against Atlanta, so the Dark Knights will need a big lead heading into the game. Dark Knights LB Scott Fujita won't be able to keep up with the Cali QB. Will the offense be able to win the game for Anglia? The RBs have great matchups. QB Jon Kitna will be throwing all day in an attempt to keep up with the Cowboys (not that that team runs the ball much anyway). I'll stick with my original prediction of a Cali win, though this will definitely be a close game.

Austin LB Zach Thomas was finally put on the IR, ending his season, so the Predators will be lining up extra DBs for their playoff games. Austin WR Joey Galloway is injured and a game-time decision, as is Predators RB Jesse Chatman. With Selvin Young back to backup status, the Predators are going to struggle mightily to score points. Cincinnati suffered an injury to Reggie Bush, but the Keepers have enough solid backups with good matchups that it shouldn't be a problem. Cincy QB Phillip Rivers is ugly on the road. But the WRs will do enough to make up for any deficiencies from the rest of the offense. I'm flipping on my prediction; the injuries prove too much for the Predators and Cincinnati wins this game.

NFC UPDATE

OK, I swtiched the teams but it doesn't change the fact that Halifax and Washington have dominated this season and will be near impossible to beat. Boston has a lot of stars on offense, and if they all play to potential then this game will be a shootout. I'll still take the team with Tom Brady though. Glasgow got a nice game from WR Bernard Berrian, so this contest could be closer than originally expected. The Braves' offense just looks too dominant and I'll stick to my prediction of them winning this game and facing Halifax in the NFC Championship.

The Playoff Preview

After a long layoff, I'm back to preview the 2007 NFFL Playoffs. Will the NFC be able to take the title away from the AFC this year? Or will the AFC come through with another NFFL Bowl championship?

Round 1

Cincinnati (9-7) vs Greenville (5-11)

The Keepers are rolling into the playoffs on a hot streak, winners of three straight games (all in their division). The Keepers' offense features a deep RB rotation and a stud trio of WRs. The Cincinnati defense suffered a big loss when LB Mike Peterson went down with a season-ending injury, and if LB Lofa Tatupu (currently questionable) can't overcome his injury problems then the defense will be the ultimate Achilles' heel that brings the Keepers down. The Storm suffered a one-point loss in the last game of the season. QB Jay Cutler is solid as the starter, but the team doesn't have enough depth to overcome the loss of RB Marshawn Lynch. The Storm WRs have been absolutely abysmal this season. The strength of the team is definitely on defense, where LBs Ray Lewis, Julian Peterson and Ernie Sims are all over 110 points. The secondary and D-Line are also solid. The defense is going to have to play flawlessly for the Storm to beat the Keepers, and I don't see it happening.

The pick: Cincinnati by 22.

New Mexico (9-7) vs California (6-10)

Last week, the Xtreme toppled the Raiders 162-137 and ultimately cost New Mexico the division title. And it hasn't gotten any better this week; New Mexico QB Brett Favre was injured in Thursday's game and ended up posting a total of -2 points. With California QB Drew Brees as hot as almost any player in the league, the Raiders might have dug themselves a hole they won't be able to escape. Of course, the rest of the Raiders offense (led by WR Randy Moss) could easily pick up the slack and outscore a California offense that has been mediocre most of the season. California has the best defensive player in this game, but New Mexico has a much deeper defense. Even with the California win last week, I'd be tempted to take New Mexico if I didn't already see a -2 at the QB position.

The pick: California by four.

Fairfax (11-5) vs Glasgow (8-8)

Despite the three game swing in the records, these are two evenly matched teams when healthy. Unfortunately for the Foxes, QB Donovan McNabb is out with an injury. A.J. Feeley looked decent in his last start but is anything but a lock for a repeat performance this week. RB Brian Westbrook should have another outstanding game for Fairfax, while the solid WR corps should rack up a good number of points as well. The defense is a little sparse at LB; Bradie James played on Thursday and only managed three points. The Warriors have lost two straight heading into the playoffs, but they have a great chance at knocking off the favored Foxes. QB Matt Schaub has played well and saves Glasgow from the inevitable Eli Manning meltdown. RBs Joseph Addai and Edgerrin James highlight a great running game that can match up to the Fairfax pair of Westbrook and Maurice Drew. Glasgow has a very good defense that should lead them to a victory here.

The pick: Glasgow by 10.

Lower Saxony (10-6) vs Boston (8-8)

The fireworks started early for this contest. Inferno WR Terrell Owens had a great game scoring 21 points, a total that Patriots RB Ryan Grant matched. Patriots WR Greg Jennings tacked on another 14 to give Lower Saxony the early lead. Lower Saxony QB Ben Roethlisberger has outperformed Boston QB Peyton Manning this season and has a far better matchup than his Inferno counterpart this week. The rest of the individual matchups in this game are pretty close, but the absence of DL Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila could cost the Patriots the game. Another critical matchup is Boston's Roy Williams and Antonio Gates versus Lower Saxony's Anquan Boldin and Jeremy Shockey. Since both those matchups favor Boston, I'll give them the slight edge to knock out the defending NFC champions.

The pick: Boston by eight.

Round 2

Anglia (11-5) vs California (6-10)

The Dark Knights weren't the best team in the AFC, nor did they score the most points in their division. But smart management and key personnel decisions propelled them to a late-season surge to the division title. But the playoffs might expose the Dark Knights as a good-but-not-great team. QB Jon Kitna is good. The RBs are good but missing a star-caliber #1 back. The WRs are O.K and definitely weakened by the loss of Jerricho Cotchery. The defense is good. But the Dark Knights can ill afford to have any players not show up against a hot California team. The Anglia defense should keep them in the game, but it will be up to the offense to win it.

The pick: California by two.

Austin (9-7) vs Cincinnati (9-7)

The Predators have been overcoming injuries all season. QB Marc Bulger goes down and the team turns to David Garrard and Derek Anderson, both having exceeded expectations. RB Ronnie Brown goes down and the team turns to a Jesse Chatman/Selvin Young platoon. WR Marvin Harrison goes down and the team turns to Reggie Brown and Joe Jurevicius. LB Zach Thomas goes down and the team turns to Leroy Hill and four-DB formations. It wasn't pretty, but Austin was able to win another division title. Even without Thomas, the Predator defense has been much better than the Keeper defense, so if Austin can keep up with that great Cincinnati defense they have a good shot at winning this game.

The pick: Austin by seven.

Washington (13-3) vs Boston (8-8)

Washington started the season as the favorite to win it all, and after a blazing start and a strong finish the Braves still stand as one of the only teams with a shot at winning it all. RBs LaDanian Tomlinson and Marion Barber are capable of running the team right to a huge lead, and the pass-first Seattle defense has greatly benefited Washington QB Matt Hasselbeck. With WR Andre Johnson back for the playoffs alongside Chad Johnson, it will be very difficult for most teams to match the Braves' offense step-for-step. The depth of the LB corps doesn't leave much room for opponents to catch up on defense. Boston is a good team, but Washington is a great team.

The pick: Washington by 20.

Halifax (12-4) vs Glasgow (8-8)

Tom Brady. Adrian Peterson. Reggie Wayne. Larry Fitzgerald. Kellen Winslow. An 11-game winning streak to finish the season. Halifax is the definitive favorite to win the championship this year, averaging 160 points a game. The defense hasn't been as dominant as the offense, but everyone on the Armada defense plays well and can definitely keep up with any other defense in the league. This game shouldn't be close.

The pick: Halifax by 32.

Round 3

Austin (9-7) vs California (6-10)

This will be a brutal game, but Austin has the defensive edge and should enter this game as the favorite.

The pick: Austin by three.

Washington (13-3) vs. Halifax (12-4)

Most probably feel like this is the actual championship game, and whomever wins this game will definitely be the NFFL Bowl favorite.

The pick: Halifax by nine.

NFFL Bowl

Austin (9-7) vs Halifax (12-4)

The Predators have played well, but they are no match for the juggernaut that is Tom Brady and the Halifax Armada.

The pick: Halifax by 25.

Eleven Games Down, Two More This Week!

New Mexico pulled out a last second-win over California on Brett Favre's overtime TD, keeping the Raiders one game ahead of the Predators, who had no trouble dispatching of the Bandits. Bertrand's Aaron Kampman scored 18 points, but he and Atari Bigby came up five points short of completing the Ground Force comeback against the Keepers. Cincinnati remains two games behind Anglia as the Dark Knights easily defeated Greenville this week.

In the NFC, the Glasgow Warriors suffered a hard-luck loss to Halifax, with the Warriors scoring the fourth-most points in Week 8 but still adding a tick to the loss column. Halifax's QB Tom Brady was just too much yet again and Halifax remains tied with Boston for first place after the Inferno scored a nine-point victory over Chicago. The NFC East held the only upset of the week, as the Braves suffered their second loss of the season, falling to Lower Saxony. Fairfax pounded Utica in the other NFC East game this week.

Week 9 holds another AFC vs NFC showdown and this will be the last opportunity middle-of-the-pack teams have to make a move on the division crown. After this slate of games, three single-contest weeks loom before the NFFL playoffs, and all those games will feature intra-division contests.

NFC EAST vs AFC SOUTH

Washington and Fairfax vs Cincinnati and Greenville. The NFC has the clear advantage in these four games. Washington should probably sweep, though Cincinnati will definitely put up a fight. The Cincinnati/Fairfax should be pretty entertaining.

Lower Saxony and Utica vs Anglia and Bertrand. Can the Dark Knights keep it up? They average more points per game than both of their opponents this week. DL Jason Taylor's absence will sting for Anglia. Utica and Bertrand, two usual front-runners stuck in the division mud, match up evenly.

NFC NORTH vs AFC WEST

Halifax and Boston vs New Mexico and Austin. The marquee matchup of the week features the top two teams from these two divisions, including three 7-4 teams and one 6-5 defending champion. Halifax is favored for as long as Tom Brady is the QB. Boston and the two AFC teams score about the same amount of points. Boston LB Brian Urlacher is off. Austin will be without Jesse Chatman, so a Selvin Young start might be in the cards.

Glasgow and Chicago vs California and Carson City. Despite being at the bottom of the division, the Warriors and Goodfellas score close to 130 points per game. Inversely, the Xtreme and Bandits score around 100 points per game. Glasgow is a depleted team this week and could suffer a crippling loss or two to their AFC foes, with QB Eli Manning off among others.

Good luck to everyone this week!