Our Super League competition rolls onward, and the reality has sunk in, as it has for the Bears and some other teams, that I'm not going to win this thing. My choices haven't been good enough, my quarterback has too much of a hangdog look to him, and there's a void in terms of leadership.
But we've still got to pick 'em up and put 'em down each week, so I will go out and try to win this week, every week that's left to play. You never know -- this might be the week where I finish at the top of the heap.
The rules are simple. Pick 2 QBs, 2 RBs, 3 WRs, 2 TEs, and 2 PKs each week. Highest point total from that starting lineup wins the week.
You can sign up to play at http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2014/FantasyIndex. Fun weekly prizes, and an overall champion who gets to draft or auction with the experts in next year's preseason magazine.
Quarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers and Andrew Luck. Am I seriously not starting Peyton Manning this week? That's right. Rodgers is on a ridiculous roll right now, and he's home against the Eagles soft pass defense. Gotta start Rodgers. Luck is putting up big passing numbers and he runs in the occasional score. But even as I write this I'm thinking to myself, bench Peyton Manning? C'mon. I probably won't.
Running Backs: Marshawn Lynch and LeVeon Bell. I am not starting Lynch because he scored 4 TDs last week, that would be silly. I'm starting him because Kansas City is soft against the run and tough on the pass, and I have no doubt he'll score the first rushing touchdown against this defense all season...maybe the first two. Bell should be big against a soft Titans run defense on Monday night. I may sub in Arian Foster against Cleveland if it's certain he's fully healthy.
Wide Receivers: Jordy Nelson, DeSean Jackson, and Julio Jones. Nothing special here. Great wideouts against soft pass defenses. Jones is due for a game with at least 1 and maybe a couple of scores. Nelson has been so good he's fast becoming my favorite fantasy wide receiver of all time, certainly in recent years. Jackson should be big against a Bucs defense that is pretty inept against the pass.
Tight Ends: Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham. These guys are pretty good.
Kickers: Stephen Gostkowski and Mason Crosby. Gostkowski is on a record-setting pace, Crosby is at home in a powerhouse offense.
Good luck to all of you.