2005 FREE NFL FANTASY FOOTBALL

October 21, 2005 4:00 PM ET

Sunday is almost here and we can hardly wait. Here's a short list of the developments we're anxious to watch unfold this weekend.

Will the Rams be limp without Bulger?: You have to feel bad for interim head coach Joe Vitt. First, he inherits a team that can't stop the pass and then his own starting quarterback gets hurt before halftime last week. Enter backup signal caller Jamie Martin. The journeyman backup was decent in relief of Bulger on Monday night when he completed 17-of-21 passes for 134 yards a touchdown and two interceptions. The good news for Vitt and Martin is that the Saints are bringing the league's 26th ranked run defense to town. Thus, we expect second-year rusher Steven Jackson to lighten the load on Martin.

Jeff or Joey?: We don't envy Lions head coach Steve Mariucci for being forced to choose between Jeff Garcia and Joey Harrington. It's the equivalent of having your significant other ask if you'd rather spend a Friday night watching "The Way We Were" or "Pretty Woman" on DVD. Um, I don't suppose that taking a claw-hammer to the temple qualifies as a third option, does it honey? Joey is the "The Way We Were" of this equation because, like Barbra Streisand, there is nothing sexy about him now nor was there ever anything sexy about him in the past. And, yes, that leaves Garcia as the "Pretty Woman" because, like Julia Roberts, he was once a sexy (fantasy football) play who has fallen a few notches over the years. We'll take the guy who has at least been there and done that over the never-was quarterback. Only time will tell if Mooch feels the same.

Will the Vikings ever win again?: Remember when the Packers vs. Vikings actually meant something? It might seem like that was an eternity ago, but these teams actually met in a playoff game back in January. Oh how times have changed. Both squads enter week seven with 1-4 records. The only difference between the two squads is that the Packers have some momentum following the Martha Stewart-slapping they laid on the Saints back in week five, while the Vikings have been the laughing stock of the league following the infamous Love Boat incident. We'd like to say that both teams need a win to save their respective seasons, but that's probably not the case given that both clubs play in the NFC North, where the Lions and Bears are tied for the division lead with 2-3 records. To answer the question we posed at the beginning of this blurb, sure, the Vikings will win again. They might even win this game if Daunte Culpepper can get it going against a defense that has already ceded nine passing scores.

McCown or Warner?: The easy prediction to make is that the guy who passed for nearly 800 yards in his last two starts will get the nod again this week, right? Not so fast. Keep in mind that Dennis Green is the same head coach who once benched Rich Gannon for Sean Salisbury. He's also the same head coach who benched Josh McCown last season following a victory so that he could start Shaun King. Would we go with McCown over Kurt Warner? Absolutely. Will Denny? He claims he's made his decision, but he's not telling anyone until Sunday afternoon. Worse yet, the Cardinals have one of the late games, which is bad news for fantasy owners who have to set their lineups before the early games begin.

L.T. in the City of Brotherly Love: The Broncos couldn't do it. The Steelers tried and failed. Even the mighty Patriots came up short. And these are only three of 18 teams that failed to keep Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson out of the end zone. L.T. will take his 18-game scoring streak to the Linc, where the Eagles have only allowed one rushing touchdown in two games this season. Furthermore, Jim Johnson's defense only ceded six running back touchdowns at home last season. Two of those scores came in week one, and three others were ceded when the Eagles used their second-team defense against the Bengals in week 17. Therefore, we expect this to be as tough a challenge as Tomlinson will face all season.

Will Holcomb and Moulds make it three in a row?: Apparently fantasy owners aren't the only people who were happy to see J.P. Losman benched in favor of Kelly Holcomb. Add Eric Moulds name to the list, as he's found the end zone twice in the last two games since Holcomb took over. Up next for the Holmcomb-to-Moulds combo is a meeting with the Raiders, who happen to have one of the league's worst pass defenses.

 

Big Ben vs. Palmer: A division battle between the Steelers and the Bengals looks like the game of the week on paper. The highlight for us will be watching two of the league's better young quarterbacks – Ben Roethlisberger and Carson Palmer – facing off for only the third time in their young careers. The two defenses have each held their opponents to just four passing scores this season, so this might not be a quarterback showcase. Then again, we wouldn't be surprised if Palmer had a good game given that he will be facing a Steelers defense that might be missing defensive backs Deshea Townsend, Willie Williams, and Ricardo Colclough, who are all listed as either doubtful or questionable on the injury report.

Bell or Anderson?: We have a feeling that this won't be the last time we ask this question. Tatum Bell and Mike Anderson are both producing for the Broncos and fantasy owners, so maybe it doesn't even matter. Nevertheless, we'd rather have the young guy (Bell) who's starting to take more carries than the older guy (Anderson) who seems to give up more carries every week.

What we won't be watching… (part one): We spend so much time tell you what we will be watching on Sunday that we thought we'd remind you that we won't be watching the Chiefs vs. Dolphins on Friday night. It's not that we don't want to watch the rescheduled game, but rather that the game isn't being televised live in any markets outside Miami and Kansas City. This bad news includes you, NFL Sunday Ticket owners. As was the case when a Dolphins game was rescheduled because of a hurricane last year, the game will rebroadcast the game on Sunday. You know, because there's nothing quite like watching a football game when you already know who wins.

We know what we won't be watching… (part two): A freaking Sunday night football game. That's right, there's no game on ESPN this Sunday night. The official explanation is that the league eliminated one Sunday night game from the schedule to make up for the season opener that is now played on a Thursday night. However, we can't help but question if Major League Baseball and Fox aren't paying some big money to producers of shows that would normally compete with the World Series. Okay, we admit that we're being poor sports, but just hear out our conspiracy theory. In addition to the NFL giving the World Series a free pass, there won't be new episode of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" on HBO this Sunday night, and ABC blindsided us with the news that "Lost" won't be back for three weeks. It's not that we're not looking forward to the World Series, but don't deprive us of Sunday night football, "Lost" and Larry David.