Week 6

Week Six, the pretenders who were contenders might start falling. It's almost mid-season and all the early season flukes and success are settling. Can't believe that Rex Grossman and Laveranus Coles are the top players at their position? Get over it. It's happening, what're you gonna do about it? Second half success stories are bound to appear so now's the time to keep a sharp eye on the waiver wire.

Early season waiver wire drops/adds and some recent trades could really affect the shape of the league. Let's go boys, time to put up or shut up.


Jedi Knights (108.00) vs El Nino's (84.00)
Proving that being an active trading partner can result in good karma, the Jedi Knights pulled of a relatively easy victory against the Hongshin led El Nino's. As winter approaches, it looks like the Nino's are slowing down some. Donovan McNabb is still the best player in the land (18 pts) but aside from young sensation Marques Colston (12 pts), everyone else on the roster had an off week. Reggie Bush and Thomas Jones combined for 12.5 points total. The other starting receivers -- Galloway and the newly acquired M Muhammad -- had only 10 points total. It's not good when your defense (Broncos, 12 pts) has just about as many points as your WRs and RBs.

The Knights on the other hand got a little bit of sugar and spice from their recent acquisitions. WR Steve Smith exploded the week after leaving the Jedi and new QB Rex Grossman racked up -5 points. That's right, negative five. Whoops. But at least the other new QB, Jake Delhomme had a good day -- from the bench. On the bright side, veteran WR and Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward finally turned in a decent game with 13.5 points. The Jedi can thank the hard running of Clinton Portis (20.5), Tatum Bell (17), and Kevin Jones (24) for their easy victory this week. Both teams now sit in a glut of four teams at 3-3; which way will the teams head in the second half of the season?


Fobsters (156.50) vs Razor Ramon (92.00)
In another upset, fifth place Fobulous destroys top ranked Razor Ramon. Maybe the Razors were looking past this matchup (to next week's showdown with Gene) but they forgot about LT. Upset by the way he's continually misused by Ryan in Madden games, LT decided to show him how it's really done. With multiple touchdowns and 40.5 points, it seems like Tomlinson got his revenge and then some. Despite just average play from his QBs -- Bledsoe 16 and Brunell 13 -- Jimmy got that huge day from LT and a breakout game from TO (24.5) to secure the win.

Ryan did have Steven Jackson go for 18.5 points and a nice effort from Drew Brees (21) and Michael Vick (15), but the receiving trio of Terry Glenn, Plaxico Burress, and Keyshawn Johnson averaged 6 points each, and that's not going to win too many games for you. Still the Razors are dangerous going into next week's primetime matchup.


Dirty Birds (148.00) vs Pizza the Hut (142.00)
Who knew that the two worst teams would make for the highest scoring game in the league so far? In week 6, it's make or break time. The Birds need this win to remain in playoff contention. The Huts have to start putting some points on the board, otherwise their repeat aspirations will die soon. Both teams came out flying and ready to battle for their lives.

The Hut's main QB, Matt Hassellbeck finally showed his passing acumen with 27 points to lead the way. His main target? Laveranus Coles who racked up 24.5 points. With Tiki Barber (23.5) chuggging away on the ground, the supporting cast of Julius Jones, Frank Gore, Chad Johnson and Santana Moss all put in double digit efforts.

Unfortunately for Marcus, Jon seems headed for a win this week as he had both ends of the Rams' explosive week. Marc Bulger had 28 points and Torry Holt had 37. If the Birds lose this week, it can't be because they didn't have great performances. Actually, if Pizza's K Neil Rackers kicks 18 points on MNF to tie (and 19 to win), it'll all be GM Yang's fault as he chose not to play a third WR this week.

While this may have opened up the field for Holt and Bulger (and TJ Houshmandeh with 21 pts), the crucial missing player could lead to a huge demoralizing loss. In fact, all of Jon's offensive players had their real NFL teams lose, which may be a record in itself. At least the Birds are poised for a good second half of the season, as recent addition Ronnie Brown warmed up with 17 points to fill a season long hole at RB2 for the Birds. "TJ Houshmanzilly, championship!"


Duke of Hazzard (141.50) vs Brown Starz (101.00)
Here we go kids, the Dukes are racking up the wins and taking no prisoners doing it. With a lopsided this week against the Starz, that makes four straight for Mr Kim and his boys. Whatever motivational ploy he's been using is clearly working. Even after jettissoning red-hot QB Rex Grossman, the Dukes had Philip Rivers (24) and JP Losman (15) waiting in the wings. The gain from that trade, WR Steve Smith, exploded for 28 points. I'd say that trade was a good one for Gene. With fast Willie Parker (19.5)zipping through the big holes created by the passing game (A Gates and Andre Johnson had 27 pts combined), the Dukes are firing on all pistons during their best game of the year.

Sadly, the same cannot be said of the Brown Stars. Galvez had eeked out a few wins earlier in the season but all that karma is catching up. With his backfield of Lamont Jordan and Rudi Johnson combining for a mere 11 pts, it was hard for WRs Darrell Jackson (17) and Reggie Brown (28) to pick up the slack. In fact, the two QBs for the Starz had 6 points total -- Plummer with 8 and McNair with (-)2 -- which is totally unacceptable. The Brown Starz will soon turn into a little troupe of Brownies if they don't hurry up and pick up a win.

Next week: Battle for #1, Razor versus Dukes........ Ex-Groom versus Future-Groom......bring...it...on.