It's happening, people. Thanks to last week's lineup, which finished No. 3 overall for the week, there are just 10 people between me and a spot in next year's Fantasy Football Index Mock Draft. Of course, I'll be running the thing, and actually I'm not even sure I'm eligible anyway. Details, details. Anyway, I'm doing well, and planning to keep it going.
Details were laid out here , so if you missed that column, check it out, and then come on back here.
The contest is totally free, and it's simple. Each week you pick the best 2 QBs, 2 RBs, 3 WRs, 2 TEs and 2 PKs (scoring system: 1 point for 10 run/rec or 20 passing yards, 6 points for run/rec TDs, 4 points for passing TDs, straight NFL points for kickers). You will be playing alongside Fantasy Index writers and subscribers, and there will be weekly prizes for the reader whose team posts the best score. You can register at http://football.myfantasyleague.com/2015/FantasyIndex.
Here's my Week 9 lineup.
Quarterbacks: Tom Brady and Matt Ryan. Brady can't be stopped these days. Sorry, Tom, for giving you so much grief about that whole deflated football thing, even though you kind of deserved it. Ryan faces a San Francisco defense that I think has thrown in the towel, even though it's risky to underestimate individual pride and whatnot. My other possible choice is Ben Roethlisberger, facing a Raiders defense that stuffs the run but yields to the pass.
Running Backs: Jeremy Hill and Devonta Freeman. A tricky week with some good players on byes and others in poor matchups or hurt. Hill has a great matchup, while Freeman is an all-purpose back against a reeling 49ers team.
Wide Receivers: Julio Jones, Odell Beckham Jr., Antonio Brown. Nothing special here, though I note I've gone a little bit heavy on Falcons and may need to rethink that. Hmm. Maybe I'll sneak Demaryius Thomas in, though I'm probably better off replacing Ryan instead, maybe with Roethlisberger.
Tight ends: Rob Gronkowski and Heath Miller. Oakland can't cover tight ends. Pretty sure you're all tired of my jokes about Gronkowski. He doesn't sit in this league.
Kickers: Stephen Gostkowski and Josh Lambo. Should be a fun Monday shootout between the Chargers and Bears, so I'll get in with the kicker. And Gostkowski, who's on a record-setting pace.
If this game required defenses, Cincinnati (vs. Manziel) and Denver (vs. Andrew Luck) would be the ones.
Good luck to the rest of you.