RFL2k Week 1 Preview

Fellow RFL GM's,
I have received Foge Fazio's preseason rankings of our squads, but I am waiting for a few other opinions before posting the Fearless Forecast. In the meantime let's take a look at the Week 1 matchups:

Game of the Week:
13-Joebob (Na Brown's Boys) vs. 14-Wang (Fire in the Hole)

Joebob	Advantage	Wang
C Chandler		R Johnson
J Bettis		E Smith
JJ Johnson		J Stewart
C Carter		A Toomer
E McCaffrey		T Mathis
W Walls		S Sharpe
K Heppner		J Wilkins

One of the ORIGINAL THREE vs. Commish #2.
According to Foge Fazio's projections, Fire in the Hole should win the Steamroller (the regular season championship - for you new guys out there). But the head-to-head matchups for this contest show a distinct advantage for Na Brown's Boys.
With Emmitt and J Stewart going for Wang (and with D Levens most likely sitting Week 1 out for Joebob), FITH should outscore NBB by 12 in the running game.
However... Joebob's team has a much stronger advantage in the passing game. Look for NBB to light up the sky with at least an 18 pt margin through the air.
After making the biggest blunder in RFL Draft 2000 (picking the teamless Todd Peterson in round 10), Joebob has attempted to recover by pressing into service the 1st female kicker in RFL history - Kris Heppner. Once Richard picked Joebob's favorite PK Gramatica, steam could be seen emanating from Joebob's ears just before the Peterson call.
The Week 1 GOTW Pick... Joebob by 4.

Other games:

1-Gary (-nameless-) vs. 2-Adam (Curly Back Hair)
The marquee matchup: Edgerrin James vs. Stephen Davis.
E James and E Rhett vs S Davis and C Garner looks to be a dead heat. Beuerlein should give Adam an edge over Gary's Kitna. Gary's pass catchers should be a little better than Curly Back Hair's trio. Both PKs (Elam and Mare) are excellent. Perhaps the game will come down to BROTHER vs. BROTHER (Gary's Qadry vs. Adam's Rocket).
In a close one... Gary by 2.

3-Ali (Heirs to the Ayatollah) vs. 4-Clark (Indecipherable Jive Talk)
The key matchup: D Culpepper vs. vINTy Testaverde.
Ali has the slight edge at RB as Clark's Thomas Jones might need a few weeks to hit his stride. Clark's IJT has the small advantage between the respective receiving corps. Culpepper should outscore vINTy to decide this one. And even if Testaverde does throw any TD passes for Clark, they'd most likely go to Ali's man Chrebet.
... Ali by 3.

5-Tim (Carpet Bombers) vs. 6-Brodz (-nameless-)
Tim has a very balanced club: K Warner, OK RBs, OK WRs, and an average PK. The Carpet Bomber weakness is most likely in the TE, Ben "Shannon Sharpe's caddy" Coates. Brodz has the superstar receiving trio: Marvin Harrison, Eric Moulds and Tony Gonzalez. But Brodz looks to be hurting at RB.
If Brodz can piece together good enough role players to support his receiving trio, Brodz will be a favorite to win Aglione Bowl XI. But in Week 1, the Carpet Bombers should triumph due to higher scoring potential across the board.
... Tim by 5.

7-Wally (Snoopy is on Fire) vs. 8-Richard (-nameless-)
The key matchup: Marcus and Antonio vs. Moss and Keyshawn (NFC Central WR steel cage match).
Aside from the WRs, Wally's team looks slightly better man-for-man (with Curtis Enis being the sole exception for Richard).
That said... Richard will need R Moss and Keyshawn to "super size" - if he is to have any hope of winning his inaugural contest. M Robinson and A Freeman should be able to hold their own.
In Week 1 of 1999, Wally initiated his brother with a 20-0 GOTW shutout. Although Richard's team is in no danger of being shutout, look for another convincing season-opening victory for Wally's pups.
... Wally by 7.

9-JoePa (Black Ops) vs. 10-Shivan (Nasty Pimps)
The key matchup: Gannon vs. Favre.
Black Ops would be stronger at every non-QB position under normal circumstances, but Fred Taylor most likely will miss this game for JoePa.
So the question becomes... can Favre outscore Gannon by enough to lead the Nasty Butt Pimples to victory? Not with the elbow tendinitis.
... JoePa by 9.

11-Stan (-nameless-) vs. 12-Kevin (-nameless-)
The key matchup: McNair and M Cloud vs. Bledsoe and R Williams.
Stan has the huge edge in the passing attack: Air McNair, T Glenn, Rod Smith, and Dudley vs. Bledsoe, whichever 2 WRs Kevin picks, and Stephen Alexander. Kevin has the tangible advantage at RB: C Martin and R Williams vs. R Dayne and M Cloud. For Kevin to get off on the right foot, he needs Bledsoe and R Williams to outpoint McNair and Cloud by probably 7.
Just don't see it... Stan by 6.

15-Vesh (-nameless-) vs. 16-Cals (-nameless-)
The key matchup: K Dilger vs. M Pollard.
Vesh's advantages are with Duce and Vanderjagt. Cals has the edge with I Bruce and at the #2 RB slot. In addition to the Colt TE duel, look for the Brad Johnson vs. Cade McNown matchup to also influence the outcome. Their receiving corps are about equal, so Brad's experience could be the difference maker.
... Vesh by 1 (Brad Johnson infected toe).

Questions? Comments? Suggestions?
Email David S. Wang

Revised: September 5, 2000