Friday, March 23, 2001

Week Eight fantasy tips

By Andy Hanacek, Associate editor and XFL analyst

Listen carefully, everyone. The answer obviously is, yes.

On to the fantasy tips:

• Now that Jeff Brohm is officially done for the regular season, Brian Kuklick wouldn’t be a bad pickup, especially if you had Brohm. Kuklick will be running the same offense, and he did well in Brohm’s place earlier this year.

• Mike Pawlawski’s return to the field last week against the Chicago Enforcers didn’t turn out as expected. Pawlawski played poorly in the San Francisco Demons’ loss to the Enforcers. I think he was just rusty. Look for him to return to form this week against the Memphis Maniax, whose pass defense is rated seventh in the league.

• Don’t automatically think the Birmingham Bolts will have a field-day on offense this week against the Enforcers’ defense, which is ranked eighth overall. The Enforcers’ defense has improved as of late, holding its last three opponents to an average of 268.3 yards of total offense. Compare that to 330.8 yards of total offense in its first four games, and you can see why Chicago won two of its last three.

• The Los Angeles Xtreme seem to be hitting their stride at just the right time. You may wonder how a seventh-ranked defense can be in the thick of the race for the best record in the league. Well, the Xtreme defense may get torched now and then, but they also have produced a plus-7 turnover margin, second only to the Las Vegas Outlaws at plus-11. Also, the Xtreme’s explosive offense more than compensates for the defense’s faults.

• Outlaws RB Rod Smart, who sat out last week’s game with an injury, is not listed on any injury reports for this week’s game. So, I guess that means he’ll be playing unless he’s a late lineup scratch. Maniax RB Rashaan Salaam, however, is listed as questionable, so wait as long as possible before deciding on him and keep an eye on the news out of Memphis.

• OK, OK, you can jump on the Saladin McCullough bandwagon now.

• Avery Watch 2001: As predicted, LeShon Johnson "took away" two touchdowns, and Charles Wiley also scored in John Avery’s place. But, fear not. If you are in a league that counts yardage, Avery is again the leading rusher. Avery and Johnson should have another solid game this week against the Bolts, whose run defense is the worst in the league.

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2000 - 2001 Season