Fantasy League 2013 -- week 4 recap

At first glance, that 52-20 defeat for the Eagles at the hands of the Broncos looks bad. But, after close evaluation, you realize that it was … really bad. Consider:

** The game was only the third time in the Super Bowl era that the birds have surrendered 50 or more points. The last time came in 1972, during a 62-10 loss to the Giants.

** The Broncos scored 21 points in the third quarter alone, giving them enough points to beat the Eagles four-quarter score.

** Peyton Manning had 327 yards and 4 TDs in only three quarters. Mike Vick has 4 passing TDs in his last 15 quarters of work.

** The Eagles lost 52-20.

OK, maybe that last observation was obvious.

QB: Drew Brees, 40.27 pts -- started by Ant
WR: Victor Cruz, 26.93 pts -- started by Jim
RB: Arian Foster, 26.80 pts -- started by Dad
TE: Tony Gonzalez, 33.93 pts -- started by me
K: David Akers, 18.00 pts -- started by Jo
DEF: Indianapolis, 16.00 pts -- on the wire
D: Sean Lee, 16.00 pts -- on the wire

Manning’s drubbing of the Eagles this week may have only made him the second-highest QB this week, but it did make him the first fantasy player to top 150 pts this season. Only three others have even broken 100 (Drew Brees, Philip Rivers and Mike Vick, surprisingly), and Brees #2 at 117 pts.

For comparison, Manning has already scored more in four games this season than Alex Smith, Mark Sanchez, Darren McFadden, DeMarco Murray and Larry Fitzgerald scored in all of 2012. He also has more than Tom Brady and Russell Wilson combined this season, but I don’t think anyone has ever compared Brady and Manning before.

“Getting defensive” edition

3rd place: Atlanta, -1.00 pts -- on the wire
2nd place: Miami, -2.00 pts -- on the wire
1st place: Philadelphia, -5.00 pts -- on the wire

The Eagles did manage one sack on Sunday, which saved them from earning the lowest score possible in this league (-6.00 pts). They’re now the worst-ranked defense in the league, but in fantasy scoring, they’re still well ahead of those lowly New York Giants. Through four games, the Eagles D is worth 23 points, tied for fifth worst in the league. The Giants D is worth almost four times less, a mere six points.

** Natinals P Dan Haren said this week that if his team had made the playoffs, “We’d have been the team to beat.” In other news, the Flyers would have won all of the Stanley Cups when they didn’t make the playoffs.

** Coach Chip Kelly said the Eagles “did a lot of good things” in that 52-20 loss to Denver. All six words of that are a complete lie.

** Football analyst Matt Millen spoke to his friends and family this week, and every word that he said made them dumber.

Instead of dwelling on all of the negatives from the Phillies disappointing 2013 season, why can’t we look at the positives? For example:

** Remember those two times the Phillies were a game over .500? And that one five game winning streak?

** Cliff Lee still looks great, right?

** Remember those games where Ryan Howard wasn’t hurt?

** At least the Phillie Phantatic didn’t get hurt?

** Remember when Charlie Manuel wasn't fired?

Ugh. Just ugh.

On any football team, you expect the linemen and the linebackers to be kinda rough guys. And wideouts on every team are jerks. But kickers and punters? If they’re creeps, your team is really just evil. And on the Cowboys, even their punter is a jerk:

Here’s the proof:

Dallas Punter Christopher Jones 
** Sport? Eh. I punch and jeer all sorts.

Of course, since he’s a punter, when he punches people, they barely notice. Still not nice, though.

** Dad picked up two more on me this week, to leave me down four just four weeks into the season. All I’m saying is, this isn’t looking very good.

** The government shutdown killed off scheduled games for the Navy, Army and Air Force football teams. It’s OK if Congress hates America. But hating football? The voters will not stand for this.

** I’ve seen two Delaware football games on TV this season, and only one Eagles game. Granted, the Eagles may be a lower quality of football than the Blue Hens, but it’s surprising.

Week 4 standings

1 -- I Mildly Like WRs (Paul ) -- 665.82 pts
2 -- Sheldon Cooper (Dad) -- 625.77 pts
3 -- Blue Collar Killers (Jeff) -- 618.94 pts
4 -- III-time Champion (me) -- 585.93 pts
5 -- the american way (Sam) -- 540.59 pts
6 -- Cheatstrong (ChampMike) -- 537.42 pts
7 -- Gettin' Chippy (Jo) -- 524.15 pts
8 -- The Maltese Falcons (Bobert) -- 489.33 pts
9 -- Bad like Congress (Jim) -- 473.15 pts
10 -- Show Me Your TDs (Ant) -- 442.98 pts
11 -- Timmy and The Jets (Joel) -- 440.00 pts

Dad is making another run at the top, but there’s still a big gap between him and Paul. Remember, Paul finished at the bottom of the league last season, and has put on a remarkable comeback performance this year. What’s your problem? Why can’t you be more like Paul?