Dueling Locks of the Week – Week 17

Here it is, it all comes down to this final week. I hold onto a slim 1/2 gm lead heading into the final week as I try to finish the regular season above .500. Chris is hoping that I miss and he can take advantage by winning and moving to .500 for the win. It has been a fun season, be sure to check back for playoff locks during the NFL playoffs. Here are your week 17 locks:

Jeremy Miller: Philadelphia +3 @ Dallas

Week 17 is always tricky from a line standpoint due to the unknowns surrounding who will play and who won’t. One thing we know here is that both teams have plenty to play for and they don’t like each other! These team will go all out and when I see Philly getting points against Dallas late in the year I feel pretty good about taking the Eagles! Philadelphia clinches a first round bye with a week this week and I think they will get it. Take the points, but expect the outright win.

Locks Record: 8-8

Chris Slabaugh: Tennessee -4 1/2 @ Seattle

2 words: Chris Johnson

He’s going for the record this week (or at least 2000 yds) so he will see the ball A TON. Jeff Fisher has come out and said as much. I don’t see Seattle having any sort of success stopping him this week so a Tennessee win by a TD or more sounds pretty easy this week.

Locks Record: 6-7-1

Dueling Locks of the Week – Week 16

The locks contest is coming down to the end. Chris pulled out a much needed win last week and Arizona failed to cover in Detroit leaving this a 1/2 game contest again! Can I lock up the contest this week or will this go down to week 17? Here are the Week 16 locks:

Chris Slabaugh: Arizona -14 vs St. Louis

This is the third week in a row for Arizona being selected in the locks. They have been a bust the past two but this week they will cover.

Have you heard of Keith Null before? Me either. St. Louis will struggle in every aspect of this game. Steven Jackson will get shut down, the D will get shredded and Keith Null will find himself on his back all day. Arizona wants to get things right before the playoffs start and barely getting stomped by San Fran and squeaking by Detroit just won’t cut it. Give the points.

A FEW QUESTIONS WITH THE LINEUP DOCTOR

As the season winds down, some of us find ourselves in championship games, semifinal matchups, opening round matchups, or taking stock of a tough year, trying to make the right moves to get a title in 2010. Today we sit down with Chris Slabaugh, whom many of you know as “The Lineup Doctor”, to get his expert take on this week and the things to come in the fantasy football world. I know I am ready to gain some knowledge, so let’s get started.

Johnny Whisenant: Chris, many of us are sitting at home this week thanks to a poor performance by Randy Moss and Tom Brady. For those of us who happened survive, we look with a bit of concern at this week and the future with the Patriots from a fantasy perspective. What do you anticipate, both short term and long term from the Patriots, and should we be in a “sell high” mode?

Chris Slabaugh: First of all if you managed to survive Brady and Moss’ disappointing game against Carolina last week, then you’re in luck. I can’t think of a better schedule to finish the year with than the Bills, Jaguars, and Texans. I would consider Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and Wes Welker all must starts for the remainder of the year.

Read more

Dueling Locks of the Week – Week 15

Last week I continued my back and forth season with a win to climb back to .500. What I have been unable to do to climb over that mark and stay there. We will try to finish strong and do that this week. Chris’s struggles continued last week as he fell 1.5 games back in the season standings by underestimating the 49ers at home on Monday night. Chris’s pick will be coming shortly, but for now I will be posting my lock for week 15:

Jeremy Miller: Arizona -12 @ Detroit

Well the Cardinals laid an egg on Monday night football last week and now head to Detroit to take on a very bad Lions team. I look for the Cards to rebound in a big way this week and handle the Lions with ease. This game will be over by half-time, give the 12 points and take the Cards in a big bounce back win.

Locks Record: 7-7

Chris Slabaugh: New York Giants -3 @ Washington

The Giants need this one bad and I don’t see Washington being able to keep this one close. Eli looked like the foot wasn’t bothering him against Philly so I love Hakeem Nicks being promoted to the #2 starter. He should give the Redskins secondary fits if he can hold on to the ball.

Hopefully by now you’ve learned to bet the opposite of me and you can make some cash as opposed to breaking even by listening to Miller.

Locks Record: 4-7-1

In Memory of Chris Henry

This picture is repblished from www.bengals.com

The Playoff Wide Receiver Decision Making Process

All this started when I had to come to a decision on my #2 WR for my money league today. I needed a guy to pair with Calvin Johnson and was left with Steve Breaston, Devin Thomas, Nate Washington, or Donnie Avery. Matchup wise they all are sweet picks. Breaston gets the 29th ranked pass defense in San Francisco and was a 1,000 yard receiver last season. Washington gets a bad St. Louis Ram’s secondary that just go worse this week on a hot Vince Young led team. Devin Thomas is the soup de jour after blowing up for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns and goes against a Raiders squad that is bottom 5 in the NFL for yards given up per catch. Avery, while banged up, gets a statistically terrible Titans secondary. While none of these guys will carry my squad past a tough round one matchup every point counts so the decision deserves considerable thought. I decided that opportunities and targets were the key indicators to use on this decision.

Opportunity comes in the form of what kind of offense the player is in, what kind of defense they face, what kind of quarterback they have throwing the ball, the number option the receiver is in the offense, and the overall health of the player. Looking at my options I decided that Devin Thomas is my best choice as he’s the #2 guy on the Redskins which in his case is a big plus because he won’t face the #2 shut down corner in the NFL yet is still a main option in the red hot Redskin’s passing attack and is fully healthy. Decision is over, right? Not so fast. Read more