Predicting the Unpredictable

Predicting the Unpredictable

As I had predicted, after a 5-0 start for the second consecutive year, team BamaMan is slowly crumbling before my eyes. I swear I feel like the Houston Texans- they started off really well and looked like a championship-caliber team and then…oh then, the demise began with a slowing of the run game followed by the worst game of the season for my starting quarterback, Phillip Rivers. Thank God I have Arian Foster because he was the only person on my team (besides the Steelers defense) that did anything on Sunday. But through it all I’ve learned two things: 1 Peyton Hillis is a man and he should never be benched and 2, anything can happen in the NFL.

If I told you before Sunday that Chris Ivory would accrue 175 scrimmage yards for the Saints would you believe me? If I told you the Rams would sack Phillip Rivers 7 times and force his worst game of the year would you believe that? Or how about this one-My 5-0 fantasy team would go down to “woop_ass”, that’s right…”woop_ass”; an 0-5 team that averages 76.3 points per game and only has Calvin Johnson to depend on (who by the way had his best game of the year and has been traded to me for Randy Moss).

This is what I love about football, ya know? I know I’m not the smartest guy in the room, pretty much never. I know that I make too many trades throughout the year and I know I rarely get my game picks right for Sunday. But it’s so much fun because it is so unpredictable. And that is true this year more than ever before.

I learned an important lesson this weekend though, and that’s to go with my gut. Trust my instincts. Because if I had I would have won by 8.94 points and moved on to Fantasy Football glory at 6-0. I had originally replaced Randy Moss (5.5 pts.) for Robert Meachem (13.10 pts.). I also had Heath Miller (11 pts.) over Tony Moeaki (2.1 pts.) before Sunday. However, it wasn’t meant to be and now I can only wait for the dismantling of my team to begin. It happens every year.

But really, what a great year for football. Sure there are no undefeated teams to talk about this year, but there isn’t a clear cut leader either. Four of the leagues divisions have at least two teams tied for first place, and another has the three teams tied for second. The records may not be as great as in the past, actually they’re quite pedestrian. But that is what makes it great, anybody can win this year. The Detroit Lions have been in every game this year, far better that their winless season of the past. The Chiefs are easily the most improved team in the NFL sitting atop their division.

And what about the bad: the Vikings and the Cowboys were Super Bowl hopefuls going into the season and now they are clawing for a chance to keep their quarterbacks on the field. The Saints, through an array of injuries, are struggling to keep pace with the elite teams of the league. Even the Colts haven’t looked the same as they continue to rely on the same team that won them a Super Bowl.

My first article referred to our ability as fantasy leaguers to see the players of the NFL in the way we were meant to see them, talented athletes. It seems as though, this year there are more talented athletes than ever before. Anyone, given the right opportunity under the right set of circumstances can blow up on our radar. One injury, one good matchup, or one well-placed bye week can turn a waiver pick up from a skeptical bench player, to a fantasy difference maker.