Clancy's Corner
Pat Clancy - Coach: Raleigh Lightning

(Theme to Monday Night Football)
"Da-da-da-da DAH!
Bum-bum bum!
Da-da-da-da DAAHH!!!"

That’s right boys you can hear the music crescendo- The 2007 PTL Football League is here!!! It’s another year in the PTL Fantasy years and once again, we are blessed with a plethora of teams. (Did he just say Plethora? Je`fe, do you know what a plethora is? No El Guapo. Then how do you know that I have a plethora? I know that I do not have your superior intellect and education, but could it be that once again, you are angry at something else, and are looking to take it out on me?)

Last year we saw the new format come into affect and for the most part it was extremely successful. The Jagermeisters of the South League led their team over the surging Inferno and PT Bruisers of the North League. If you recall, the PT Bruisers were the team to beat last year and amassed a terrific 12-2 record before losing points due to the Week-17-Bench-My-Starters-in-Hopes-to-Avoiding-Injury-Blues. Leon’s Inferno team managed for a late surge and was on FIRE until he met some drunken Germans who poured their beer all over his flames. In general, the north was the division to beat and they outscored teams in inter-league play.

This year looks to be another tough year in the North. There are at least 10 returning teams – Lone Rangers, Krypton Crusaders, Baghdad Haji Killers (formerly of Mosul), Rho Tau Warriors (formerly Rock Hill Devils), Two Test Tickles (formerly Your Daddy of 2005 – welcome back Greaber), Raleigh Lightning, PT Bruisers, Mumblers, Inferno, and the Apex DragonKin (formerly Swingline Sabres). With this much experience it could be a difficult year for our newbies - Ancient Chinese Secrets (Justin Lusk- Delta Sigma and Rho Tau), Red Neck Raiders (King of Chaos87 – don’t be afraid to introduce yourself), and the GotterDammerung (Justin Hammonds). I would be remiss if I did not mention our favorite team, the one you like to use and abuse, and with the leagues longest losing streak – Ossian’s Ghost.

As you all know, draft day was probably one of the greatest days in all of our lives. On that day the mighty Mountaineers of Appalachian State University went into the Big House and kicked some Wolverine tail. With 6 seconds to go, Cory Lynch blocked a last second field goal attempt and ran it back to run the time off the clock. ASU 34 Michigan 32. This game went down in history as one of the greatest upsets of all time. Unfortunately, this meant that many of us could not draft. It appears that many of us pre-drafted our players and based on the waiver wire activity, everyone is making the necessary adjustments.

Look ahead
Once again it appears that the PT Bruisers are a favorite to have a great season and make some noise in the PTL. They have last year’s number one running back LT and a slew of other offensive weapons, including the one of the best QB/WR connections Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson. Likewise, it is clear they have this year’s easiest schedule with the opportunity to face Ossian’s Ghost squad at the front end and back end of their schedule.

Gotterdammerung (by the way, what does that mean?) has what appears to be the best newcomer squad. They have drafted talent at both defense and offense. The other two newcomers have great offensive squads but will need to work the free agents markets to solidify their defensive positions.

Early Predictions
Below are my predications of some players that will be the top of their position, those will not live up to their billing and those who have not received a lot of attention but will certainly finish in the top 5 at their position. If you own one of the bust players- good luck, either injury or a lackluster performance is going to plague your season. Come week 14, I will do a review to see how I have done with these predictions.

Position Best Bust Sleeper
QB Peyton Manning Donovan McNabb Matt Schaub
WR Terrell Owens Randy Moss Wes Welker
RB LT Larry Johnson Travis Henry
TE Antonio Gates Kellen Winslow Vernon Davis

QB- The most consistent player in fantasy sports is Peyton Manning. Always in the top 5 and in our league is almost always number 1. He is a no brainer. Donovan McNabb is coming off a terrible injury prone year and I suspect he will suffer the same fate as Daunte Culpepper and will have an off year because he is still recovering. Matt Schaub is the new hope. The kid from Virginia lived in Michael Vicks shadow for several years. He is now in Houston and he is a great pair of hands in Andre Johnson. If he can keep the interceptions down – these two can have incredible year together.

WR - I absolutely hate Terrell Owens. So much so, I wrote an article on him two years ago and came up with a theoretic paradigm about him – TO Theory. However, in terms of fantasy- he is the best. Randy Moss has not been the same since he left Minnesota – just like Culpepper. Moss will be good in New England, but nothing like the billing he had received as a top – 15 wideout. Understandably, Tom Brady will then turn to his new set off hands in Wes Welker. Welker played for Miami last year and was good. This year he will be in the top ten because he has big body, soft hands, good route running skills and will be Brady’s best option. Ignore the fact that Brady spreads the ball around – he did that with Deion Branch too and Branch was still Super Bowl MVP and a top 10 fantasy producer.

RB – LT. Those two initials should strike fear in the heart of defenses; 31 touchdowns last year alone. Most people don’t score that many in four seasons. I think he will reach 25 this year – a little down from last year, but still 7 better than anyone else will do. As far as Larry Johnson is concerned, he was so overused last year that he will not be successful this year. Folks like Gore, Alexander, Jackson, Addai will push him out of the top. My sleeper is Travis Henry. Deep down in my gut, I think he will be the guy that surprises. He has a young QB and that means the Broncos will rely heavily on the run game. Pair that with those huge linemen that love to zone block – Henry will be something to watch.

TE- Not a whole lot to say here – Gates is a perennial fantasy stud that will again live up to the top billing. Vernon Davis will have a good year with San Fransico on the offensive move. Kellen Winlsow is not injured, but he has two young QB’s, an aging Running back in Lewis. This all means that he will be the low man on the totem pole with an offense that is just ineffective.

Again, we will review these come week 14 and see how my crystal ball had done with these predictions.

Good Luck Everyone! And see you next week.

Patrick Clancy is a free lance writer and owner of the Raleigh Lightning.