Last Tuesday, the nation’s mid-term elections brought about a mini-Republican revolution of sorts. Republicans gained 60 seats in the House of Representatives, and effectively obtained control of the House of Representatives. There are a host of explanations for this depending upon who you ask. I certainly have an opinion on this phenomenon, but I won’t get into it here.
Instead I would like to draw your attention to two Democratic Senate candidates who survived the Republican onslaught. Six months ago, Chris Coons was supposed to lose the Delaware Senate race to Republican Michael Castle. But Tea Party favorite Christine O’Donnell upset Castle, only to lose to Coons in the general election by a 57% to 40%. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s prospects for reelection ranged from ’vulnerable’ to ’dead in the water.’ Senator Reid was in the unenviable position of serving as the voice of the Democratic party while trying to hold onto a seat in a conservative state. However, he soundly defeated his opponent, Sharron Angle.
So how did Coons and Reid emerge victorious? Match-ups. Sharron Angle is an “ultra right-winger,” who opposes abortion in cases of rape and incest, disputes global warming, opposes Medicare, and referred to U.S. cities with significant Muslim populations as a “militant terrorist situation.” Christine O’Donnell is also an extremist, who famously said that she “dabbled in witchcraft,” criticized activist judges without being able to identify a single court decision she disagrees with, and apparently doesn’t realize that the First Amendment requires the separation of church and state.
Coons and Reid won their elections not because they are charismatic, inspiring, or held in particularly high esteem. They won because their opponents were incompetent weak-minded extremists. They won because of their match-ups.
So what does the 2010 midterm election have to do with your fantasy team? Match-ups are critical. Consider Washington Redskins running back Ryan Torain. He’s a waiver wire fill-in, picked up in all leagues after Clinton Portis’s season essentially ended. Torain put up mediocre games against the Green Bay Packers and the surprisingly stout Detroit Lions’ run defense. But Torain was a superstar against the Indianapolis Colts, scoring two touchdowns and rushing for 100 yards.
And who was the quarterback who posted a 122.9 rating and three touchdowns against the Houston Texans’ defense? Matt Cassell of the Kansas City Chiefs. This is the same quarterback who threw two interceptions and no touchdowns against the Cleveland Browns, and 156 yards and no touchdowns against the Colts. But against the Texans‘ league worst pass defense, Cassell looked like a top-tier quarterback.
There is no denying that match-ups are critical in both politics and fantasy football. Running against the anemic Indianapolis Colts defense is like running against extremists Christine O’Donnell or Sharon Angle. In both instances, showing up is probably more than half the battle.
As you look ahead to the fantasy football playoffs, you should keep match-ups in mind as you evaluate players. The lackluster Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew may very well be fantasy’s Harry Reid in December when he faces disappointing run defenses- the Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins, and the Colts. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco may be the Chris Coons of December when he faces the Cleveland Browns’ and Houston Texans’ underwhelming pass defenses.
It has been said that “the best offense is a good defense.” I would argue that the best offense is the one going against a bad defense.
Instead I would like to draw your attention to two Democratic Senate candidates who survived the Republican onslaught. Six months ago, Chris Coons was supposed to lose the Delaware Senate race to Republican Michael Castle. But Tea Party favorite Christine O’Donnell upset Castle, only to lose to Coons in the general election by a 57% to 40%. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s prospects for reelection ranged from ’vulnerable’ to ’dead in the water.’ Senator Reid was in the unenviable position of serving as the voice of the Democratic party while trying to hold onto a seat in a conservative state. However, he soundly defeated his opponent, Sharron Angle.
So how did Coons and Reid emerge victorious? Match-ups. Sharron Angle is an “ultra right-winger,” who opposes abortion in cases of rape and incest, disputes global warming, opposes Medicare, and referred to U.S. cities with significant Muslim populations as a “militant terrorist situation.” Christine O’Donnell is also an extremist, who famously said that she “dabbled in witchcraft,” criticized activist judges without being able to identify a single court decision she disagrees with, and apparently doesn’t realize that the First Amendment requires the separation of church and state.
Coons and Reid won their elections not because they are charismatic, inspiring, or held in particularly high esteem. They won because their opponents were incompetent weak-minded extremists. They won because of their match-ups.
So what does the 2010 midterm election have to do with your fantasy team? Match-ups are critical. Consider Washington Redskins running back Ryan Torain. He’s a waiver wire fill-in, picked up in all leagues after Clinton Portis’s season essentially ended. Torain put up mediocre games against the Green Bay Packers and the surprisingly stout Detroit Lions’ run defense. But Torain was a superstar against the Indianapolis Colts, scoring two touchdowns and rushing for 100 yards.
And who was the quarterback who posted a 122.9 rating and three touchdowns against the Houston Texans’ defense? Matt Cassell of the Kansas City Chiefs. This is the same quarterback who threw two interceptions and no touchdowns against the Cleveland Browns, and 156 yards and no touchdowns against the Colts. But against the Texans‘ league worst pass defense, Cassell looked like a top-tier quarterback.
There is no denying that match-ups are critical in both politics and fantasy football. Running against the anemic Indianapolis Colts defense is like running against extremists Christine O’Donnell or Sharon Angle. In both instances, showing up is probably more than half the battle.
As you look ahead to the fantasy football playoffs, you should keep match-ups in mind as you evaluate players. The lackluster Jacksonville Jaguars running back Maurice Jones-Drew may very well be fantasy’s Harry Reid in December when he faces disappointing run defenses- the Oakland Raiders, Washington Redskins, and the Colts. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco may be the Chris Coons of December when he faces the Cleveland Browns’ and Houston Texans’ underwhelming pass defenses.
It has been said that “the best offense is a good defense.” I would argue that the best offense is the one going against a bad defense.
8 comments:
well put, i would venture to say the vikings offense has dabbled in witchcraft because I've come out on top starting the defense going against them almost every week
also, a question: i need to start 3 between Jamaal Charles, Chris Johnson, Peyton Hillis, and Ahmad Bradshaw
I'm leaning towards benching Charles, he has a solid matchup but is not seeing the lion's share of the carries, Charles has also posted the weakest numbers of the four over the season, thoughts?
Yeah, I'd start CJ, Hillis, and Bradshaw.
So, going along these lines, would you sit Tampa Bay Mike Williams (going against the 3rd-rated Carolina pass D) for Mike Sims-Walker (going against the 482th-rated Houston D)?
Hey Brett I have three slots to fill with beanie wells Hines ward blount and woodhead, I know these options are ugly but who would you choose?
who would u start dis week? pick 2 please
hightower vs sea
f jackson vs det
ronnie brown vs ten
mike goodson @ TB
knox,burelson, or mike will(sea)?? pick 1
@Anonymous: That's a really tough one. I might go with MSW this week.
@Mike Walters: It's gotta be Ward, Blount, and Woodhead because Wells in injured.
@Anonymous: Hightower and Goodson.
@Mike Jones: I'd go with Knox.
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