The FFL Today presents its kickoff to the 2002 season with this preview by four members from its panel of experts Bob Dayton, Niofred Koskelo, Jessie Hester and Jackie Zieger. 

FFL East

Boston Thunder (2001 record: 10-4). 

Projected lineup:

QB: Jeff Garcia

RB: Ahman Green, Stephen Davis

WR: Terry Glenn, Tim Brown

TE: Eric Johnson

K: Ryan Longwell

ST/D: Green Bay

Top reserves: Shannon Sharpe, Lamar Smith

Dayton: Much like last year, the standard for this team's performance will be set by QB Jeff Garcia.  If he produces another season of MVP-type numbers, they can be a contender.  I like the duo of Ahman Green and Stephen Davis.  I think Davis will have a better season than he did in 01.  Like the Z-Force, the team lacks depth, so injuries could knock them down a notch.  Terry Glenn was a risky draft pick, but it is those risks that can make the difference in the FFL.  Pencil them in for a playoff spot, but only if they can get adequate support from their receivers.

Hester: Nobody has ever won back-to-back titles in the history of the FFL.  I see this year as no exception.  However, that is not to say that the Thunder will not have a good team in 02.  They bring back FFL MVP Jeff Garcia, as well as their two core running backs Ahman Green and Stephen Davis.  The key to their season is the new receiving corps (or old, if you consider that they are both ex-Thunder players): Tim Brown and Terry Glenn.  I still see the Thunder as a playoff team, primarily because their big three are effective scorers, and Eamonn Wisneski knows how to manage a lineup.

Koskelo: Boston made some shrewd deals in trading away David Boston and Joe Horn, but it may not help them much this season.  Jeff Garcia is coming off an MVP season, and may find it hard to repeat the performance with everyone gunning for Boston.  Ahman Green and Stephen Davis should provide for a solid running game.  Receiver may be a question mark, however.  Tim Brown is one of the oldest receivers in the FFL and Terry Glenn hasnt been healthy or off the herb in a long time.  Last years free agent steal Dominic Rhodes tore his ACL in the preseason and may be sorely missed if Davis cant bounce back.  Eamonn Wisneskis team wont be as good as last year, but theyre still contenders in a quest to be the first to repeat.

Zieger: Arf, arf.  Bark ruff arf bark.

New York Z-Force (2001 record: 9-5). 

Projected lineup:

QB: Peyton Manning

RB: Marshall Faulk

WR: Terrell Owens, Jimmy Smith, Derrick Mason

TE: David Sloan

K: Joe Nedney

ST/D: Tampa Bay

Top reserves: Zack Crockett, Jonathan Wells

Dayton: Always a competitive team, as their nine playoff appearances in ten seasons can attest. The only question is whether they are going to have the depth necessary to supplement their bye weeks or overcome potential injuries.  That concern aside, the trio of Manning, Faulk and Owens is one of the best in league history, and I think it will show.  Now well have to see if they can become the first team to win using the run-and-shoot offense, a system that few teams have been able to effectively utilize because receivers dont tend to score in bunches. The injury to Terrell Davis is a disappointment, but he wasnt really expected to do much more than be a key runner of the bench.       

Hester: The Z-Force can win it all. Why? Because having Marshall Faulk is one of the most unfair advantages in the league. He alone is like having two All-Pro running backs in the lineup.  Ill be looking to see if they can become consistent winners with the Z3 offense.  If it falls through, they could still get some production from Zack Crockett in the second RB slot.  If either Derrick Mason or Jimmy Smith come through with 9-10 TDs, youll see the Z-Force still playing in late December. Zieger is a vulture on the free agent market, so dont be surprised to see the NYZF supplement their depth during the season.

Koskelo: The core players may all be a year older, and there are question marks regarding depth and the kicking game, but New York still has enough marquis talent to win this division.  Payton Manning will be an even bigger star this year.  New York is light on running backs and will run Jason Ziegers new Z3 offense, featuring Terrell Owens, Jimmy Smith and Derrick Mason.  Zieger is cocky as ever, and with good reason, as the Z-Force will win the East.  The biggest questions:  What happens if Jimmy Smith makes good on his threat to hold out all season, or, God forbid, if Marshall Faulk gets hurt?

Zieger: Ruff bark bark.

Charleston Challengers (2001 record: 7-7). 

Projected lineup:

QB: Rich Gannon

RB: Jerome Bettis, Garrison Hearst

WR: Joe Horn, Plaxico Burress

TE: Byron Chamberlain

K: Jason Elam

ST/D: New Orleans

Top reserves: Tiki Barber, Joey Galloway

Dayton: Chris Bransfield is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  After an interminable number of years trapped in rebuilding limbo, I think that Charleston has finally put together a pretty decent group of players.  However, theyll probably fall just short of making the playoffs.  Rich Gannon should be solid at QB, and Horn and Burress make for good targets.  The injury histories of Bettis and Hearst are a concern.

Hester: Last year, they snuck into the playoffs mostly by lucky breaks and late-season overachievements by their weakest links.  However, dont be surprised if this years team makes a more convincing case for becoming a playoff team.  They have their best QB in years (Gannon), two good if not great WRs (Horn and Burress) and they finally have RBs who should see the end zone more than once a month (Bettis and Hearst).  Hearst and Bettis are the two biggest keys. They both need more than 7 TDs apiece for this team to play their way into a wild-card position.

Koskelo: They may have overpaid for Joe Horn, but bringing in Rich Gannon and Plaxico Burress gives them a young receiver to build around and a veteran to keep them in the mix this year.  Still, Jerome Bettis and Garrison Hearst are getting to the point of their career in which they should probably think about part-time duty.  Tiki Barber should see a fair share of action.  The team seems to have pretty good depth, but in a division featuring perennial winners in Boston and New York, Chris Bransfields crew will likely come up short this year.

Zieger: Bark bark Burress!

Middletown Twins (2001 record: 5-8-1). 

Projected lineup:

QB: Michael Vick

RB: Travis Henry, Michael Bennett

WR: Randy Moss, Torry Holt

TE: Jeremy Shockey

K: Sebastian Janikowski

ST/D: Dallas

Top reserves: Michael Pittman, Jerry Rice

Dayton: There is potential for inconsistency, but if Ben Fleming can get this group to play to their potential, this could be the sleeper team of the year.  One of their big assets is their depth.  They have a lot of quality reserves: Pittman, Rice, Laveranues Coles and T.J. Duckett.  Torry Holt and Randy Moss will perhaps be the scariest 1-2 punch at WR in the league.  A lot of pressure falls on RB Travis Henry. Can he be a consistent end zone force week in and week out?  The jury is also still out on Michael Vick.  If he can get the ball to his deep guns, the Syndromes could make a power play in the FFLs toughest division.

Hester: This is an exciting team. But, realistically, they are more likely to be contenders in 2003 or 2004.  I like Vick, Henry and Moss as the building blocks for the franchises future, but I dont know if they have the mettle to immediately compete for the division title.  Well get a better read on this in the first several weeks.  I could see this team having a couple of high-scoring shootouts sandwiched between some other more uneven performances, but that is the price of the teams youth movement.  Torry Holt is a quality addition, but there is no proven #2 RB.  Shockey could be a pleasant surprise at TE.

Koskelo: No one has as many young players as Ben Fleming in Middletown.  This sleepy little burg will probably witness some of the largest offensive explosions and some of the most shockingly shoddy play this year.  Just imagine starting a lineup in which Randy Moss was the most experienced player!  Middletown will likely do just that.  Expect boom-or-bust-type years from Michael Vick, T.J. Duckett, and Jeremy Shockey.  Middletown is laying the future for either an explosive dynasty or a disappointing Ryan Leaf-like failure.

Zieger: Grruff, ruff. Bark ruff grrruff!

FFL Central

Miami Miracles (2001 record: 7-7). 

Projected Lineup:

QB: Kordell Stewart

RB: Shaun Alexander, Corey Dillon, Curtis Martin

WR: Chris Chambers

TE: Chad Lewis

K: Jeff Wilkins

ST/D: St. Louis

Dayton: Miami may have lost their best window of opportunity when their team took a nosedive last year.  I dont project Curtis Martin or Corey Dillon as having the same kinds of years they had last year.  Still, with another strong year from Shaun Alexander they should contend for the South Central title.  Some have griped that Kordell Stewart wont gel with the offense in the same way that Brett Favre did last year that.  I dont see that though; hell be fine.  Chris Chambers and Kevin Johnson were quality draft selections.  If the wishbone game plan falters, they will always have insurance.

Hester: Theyre now 10 years removed from their last Fantasy Bowl appearance.  Talk about having a chip on their shoulder.  Will this year be the one?  My sources say no.  Yes, they have the leagues deepest talent at running back, they have good reserve players and they have a pretty good QB.  However, Im not picking them to win the division because The team was firing on all cylinders last year and still finished a disappointing 7-7, barely making the playoffs.  What will happen this year if the production isnt quite where it was then?

Koskelo: At times last year they were unstoppable.  Then they stopped.  This year Jeff Zieger looks for more consistency from his punishing ground attack.  Shaun Alexander, Curtis Martin and Corey Dillon all return from last years squad.  Miami will look to Kordell Stewart to replace Brett Favre and hope that Chris Chambers and Kevin Johnson can prevent teams from using the eight-man fronts that wore down Martin and LaDainian Tomlinson last year.  If their quarterback situation works out, the vast improvement at the tight end, kicker and defense should put them into the playoffs for a second consecutive season.

Zieger: (Jackie was taking a nap in the corner of the room when asked for comment.)

Atlanta Predators (2001 record: 6-8). 

Projected lineup:

QB: Kurt Warner

RB: Fred Taylor, Duce Staley, Anthony Thomas

WR: Keenan McCardell

TE: Ernie Conwell

K: Paul Edinger

ST/D: Chicago

Top reserves: David Terrell, Thomas Jones

Dayton: Injuries have set back Fred deBoers squad for two consecutive years.  Look for this year to be a little more stable in that department, but the teams performance on the field may still be a little inconsistent.  Warner, Taylor and Thomas are teams superstars, but after them the depth chart gets a little thin.  Still, the team found ways to win when Warner was the only one trying, so I think that it is a safe bet to assume that the Predators can eke their way into the playoffs (particularly since their division has no clear team to beat.

Hester: A unique set of circumstances must exist in order for Atlanta to rebound from two straight disappointing FFL campaigns.  Fred Taylor must stay healthy.  Anthony Thomas must come into his own as a franchise back.  Kurt Warner must continue to dominate opposing defenses.  And a couple of supporting players, like Duce Staley, Keenan McCardell, and Ernie Conwell, must do well.  Im willing to bet that Atlanta will defy the odds and meet all these criteria.  In fact, they are my bold pick to be 2002 FFL champions.

Koskelo: True, Fred Taylor hasnt held up for an entire season in a long time, but I think this year will be different.  With moves as sweet as piparkakku, Taylor will be the key figure in propelling Atlanta to the playoffs.  Anthony Thomas and Kurt Warner both look to post huge years if Taylor can carry some of the load.  The big question is whether the team will go to a 3-back offense with Keenan McCardell as the lone receiver and Thomas Jones as the third back.  Fred deBoer will have some tough choices to make, as David Terrell looks like the odd man out of the starting lineup.

Kansas City Blockers (2001 record: 8-5-1). 

Projected lineup:

QB: Aaron Brooks

RB: Warrick Dunn

WR: James Thrash, Rod Smith, Isaac Bruce

TE: Anthony Becht

K: Martin Gramatica

ST/D: Philadelphia

Top reserves: Mike Alstott, Quadry Ismail

Dayton: Kansas City always finds a way to win, and always do so despite my predictions to the contrary.  So Im reversing course.  I dont think it is going too far out on a limb to pick them as a playoff team again.  They are not a team of big stars, but are instead a scrappy team that puts together points out of nowhere.  It looks like they may spend the year switching back and forth between a pro-set and run-and-shoot offense.  Coach Leinwand has never been one to stick with a single set of starters, so it will be interesting to see what lineup combinations he produces for this team.

Hester: The Blockers shook off any reputation for being just an expansion team when, in their very first year, they made it to the Fantasy Bowl.  Now, they have non-expansion talent on their roster to boot.  Brooks is a solid signal-caller, and the receiving corps has adequate TD potential.  Im not sure who will start in their backfield, but expect 5-7 TD numbers from whoever it is.  The teams best strength is its depth at RB and WR.  Jason Leinwand will have a lot of weapons at his disposal none of them superstars, mind you, but all reasonable scoring threats.  How well he chooses his starting lineups will probably be the deciding factor in whether Kansas City can qualify for the playoffs.

Koskelo: Jason Leinwand may have an even better team than last year, but duplicating the magic of a year ago will be a tough task.  Aaron Brooks and Mike Alstott had solid years in 2001, and may be poised to do even better now.  Not to be overlooked, however, is the injury-prone receiving core.  Isaac Bruce usually misses a couple of games every year with his hamstrings.  Rod Smith has been hobbled since last year with various sprains.  James Thrash may have to take it easy on his aching knees.  Seems like too many questions to pencil this team into a playoff bracket.

Zieger: Sneeze.gruff ruff ruff bark.

Chicago Black Sox (2001 record: 4-9-1). 

Projected lineup:

QB: Daunte Culpepper

RB: Edgerrin James, LaDainian Tomlinson

WR: Johnny Morton, Peerless Price

TE: Wesley Walls

K: David Akers

ST/D: Pittsburgh

Top reserves: Az-Zahir Hakim, Santana Moss

Dayton: The Black Sox have their work cut out for them.  They lack depth, they are playing in an improving division, and they are very dependent on Culpepper, James and Tomlinson to produce their scoring.  They are an injury away from a 4-10 season.  Yetif their marquee players do well (and stay in the lineup) they could challenge for a wild card.  Keep your fingers crossed, Chicago fans.  This team could use a trade to bolster their receiving corps, but doing so would probably involve dealing away future draft picks.

Hester: They have the worst receiving corps in the league.  But, they have two of the best backs in James and Tomlinson.  Consider that an invitation to a 7-7 type season.  Or worse, because Chicago had to live and die by a small corps of talented players (surrounded by a feeble supporting cast) in 2001, too.  Nonetheless, having a couple of superstars is sometimes all that is needed, so if the right breaks fall for them, Chicago could back their way into the playoffs.

Koskelo: Even with its eyes generally on the future, the reports on Edgerrin James have given Chicagoans reason to hope.  James may form a potent backfield combo with LaDainian Tomlinson, stolen from Miami in an offseason deal.  Still, the receivers look pretty ho-hum, with Johnny Morton and Peerless Price at wideout and Todd Heap at tight end.  Chicagos headed in the right direction, but they need another year before theyll make a serious run at the playoffs.  Once again Hendrik finishes behind Fred in the battle of the deBoers.

Zieger: Ruff ruff ruff bark growf.

FFL West

Montana Blazers (2001 record: 11-3). 

Projected lineup:

QB: Drew Bledsoe

RB: Priest Holmes, Eddie George

WR: Marvin Harrison, Eric Moulds

TE: Marcus Pollard

K: Mike Vanderjagt

ST/D: Cleveland

Top reserves: Emmitt Smith, Marty Booker

Dayton: Many people underrated the Blazers last year because they didnt score the most points and won a lot of their games because of a weak division.  Do the math, though: they will be a better team in 2002, and last year they finished 11-3.  It is hard not to pick them as the team to beat.  Bledsoe could be more consistent than Griese was in 01, and hes more of a team player. The talk of the offseason was the moves and shakeups in Phoenix, but Montana has quietly assembled a team with many threats. 

Hester: A very talented and balanced team that is gunning for a championship.  I am curious to see if Priest Holmes had a fluke season last year.  We shall see if the Blazers get him the goal-line carries he deserves.  The Bledsoe-Moulds connection could do for the Blazers what the Warner-Bruce connection did for the 1999 Predators make them unstoppable on certain weeks.  Moulds supplants Rod Smith as the teams #2 wideout, which could be a marked improvement, as he can go for the deep touchdown.  As always, Marvin Harrison should create headaches for opposing defensive coordinators.

Koskelo: Last year they ended their string of seasons without a Fantasy Bowl appearance.  This year theres only one goalthe championship trophy.  Montana looks like the favorite in the West, as Nick Surowiecki and Shaun Wyman replaced the inconsistent Brian Griese with veteran Drew Bledsoe.  Eddie George and Priest Holmes should provide an effective running game, and the combination of Marvin Harrison and Eric Moulds at wide receiver is the most impressive group west of New York.  Phoenix is the most improved team in the league, but Montana is the class of this division.

Zieger: (Desperate to convey her report on the Montana Blazers to her human colleagues, Jackie engaged in a game of charades.  However, her wild gestures and pawing were unable to reflect her insightful understanding of the ramifications of adding Drew Bledsoe and Eric Moulds to Montanas 2001 personnel.)

Phoenix Conquistadors (2001 record: 4-10). 

Projected lineup:

QB: Donovan McNabb

RB: Ricky Williams, Kevan Barlow, Deuce McAllister

WR: Darrell Jackson

TE: Bubba Franks

K: Olindo Mare

ST/D: Washington

Top reserves: William Green, Javon Walker

Dayton: Before the draft, folks were saying that the Conquistadors would steamroll the rest of the league.  Now, strangely (since the Conquistadors spent their draft picks fairly wisely) the team is being labeled as overrated and destined for a failure of epic proportions.  Im more for the happy medium Phoenix wont be dominating, but theyll be pretty darn good, and they will make the playoffs.  At QB, McNabb will keep them alive in many close games.  He did as much in his playing days at Middletown.  But here hell have a better supporting cast.  Ricky Williams and Kevan Barlow could be in for some very good seasons.

Hester: Their wishbone will be pretty tough, if not overpowering.  However, I fear that a couple bad breaks could derail this teams playoff run.  This team is a gamble they have the potential to clean up with their youthful stars, but they could also be plagued by inconsistency. Some of their players may not even see sufficient playing time to make an impact. Adam Fleming likes to build his team with interchangeable parts, so I doubt well see much in the way of the same starting lineup each week.

Koskelo: Well, Phoenix managed to roll all of those first round picks into a third running back, a rookie backup runner, their starting wideout and a backup quarterback.  Thats not to say that they wasted any of those picks, just that having 4 first rounders is more intimidating in theory than in practice.  Still, theres plenty to be intimidated by here.  Donovan McNabb and Brett Favre give them a dream QB situation, and if Deuce McAllister, Kevan Barlow or William Green have big seasons alongside Ricky Williams, Adam Flemings detractors will be eating crow.  Darrell Jackson and Bubba Franks give them a couple of playmaking pass catchers.

Zieger: Browf ruff bark bark bark bark. Bark draft picks bark bark?

Waikiki Tsunamis (2001 record: 6-7-1).  

Projected lineup:

QB: Steve McNair

RB: Jamal Lewis, Clinton Portis

WR: David Boston, Ike Hilliard

TE: Freddie Jones

K: Jay Feely

ST/D: New England

Top reserves: Tim Dwight, Ron Dayne

Dayton: At the end of 2002, Mike Linnemann may regret sending his subordinates to the 2002 draft to make the years personnel decisions.  Then again, maybe not.  Stock in Clinton Portis is rising fast, and he might soon be the best RB on the team.  David Boston is an excellent receiving threat, but I see no clear #2 target.  Perhaps one will emerge off the bench or from the free agent market.  Jamal Lewis can probably run for the Tsunamis well enough, but will he be able to score for them?

Hester: The price paid for David Boston was excessive, but at least Steve McNair now has someone to throw to.  Their lack of depth, however, is disturbing.  If either Jamal Lewis or David Boston goes down in injury, Waikiki could be in some real trouble.  Like Kansas City, this team has learned to play resourceful FFL football with scrappy playing and ensemble casts of runners and receivers.  Now in its third year, though, there can be no more expansion excuses.  We have to see if the Tsunamis can stand on their own and compete for the FFL West.  Will they?  With strong Phoenix and Montana teams around, it may not be this year. One more thing: how does J.J. Stokes keep ending up on this team??

Koskelo: Steve McNair shocked the Blazers twice last season, putting up some big numbers and almost single-handedly winning those games for the big kahunas.  This year McNair wont have to do it alone.  Jamal Lewis has been a little tentative in the preseason, but his knee looks fine and hell be ready to start.  Clint Portis may have fumbled away the starting job, so it seems likely that the smart money is on Ike Hilliard to start beside J.J. Stokes and offseason acquisition David Boston in Mike Linnemanns offense.  Things are looking up for a squad that will benefit from stockpiled draft picks next year.

Zieger: Snort.

Dallas Knights (2001 record: 5-9). 

Projected lineup:

QB: Brian Griese

RB: Antowain Smith, Olandis Gary

WR: Keyshawn Johnson, Rod Gardner

TE: Tony Gonzalez

K: John Carney

ST/D: Oakland

Top reserves: DeShaun Foster, Donte Stallworth

Dayton: I think that Dallas coach Tyler Fleming will take great satisfaction in trying to prove me wrong.  But to me, despite their improvements, this is a last-place team.  There are too many questions?  Will rookie DeShaun Foster make a difference?  Can Antowain Smith have another good season, or was he a wasted trade with Middletown.  Most importantly, can Brian Griese get his head together and be the first adequate QB for this team since Doug Flutie?  One thing I do love about this team is the potential in their receiving corps.  Johnson, Gardner and Stallworth could all be great players for Fleming to have on his roster.

Hester: Tyler Fleming has a plan.  Draft young players or other players with potential and hope for the best.  It may backfire much of the time, but he continues to lie in wait for the gem that will help send his team back to the Fantasy Bowl for the first time since 1995.  I think that this year, while he is lacking for an impact rookie, will be the year where some of those potentially good players produce.  Rod Gardner could be a force, and Keyshawn Johnson is poised for a comeback year.  Even James Stewart may find a second life.  Overall, I think that enough things will go right to send the Knights (r.i.p. Crips, Rockies) back to the playoffs.  Add to this the positive move to Dallas and you have a new era of good feeling for this franchise.

Koskelo: The only thing that might be uglier than their uniforms is their record over the last couple of seasons in Coloradoexcept perhaps for the way the team may play this year.  Brian Griese has a history of inconsistency, DeShaun Foster is hurt, Keyshawn was just plain ineffective in the red zone last year, and Tony Gonzalez will miss time if he doesnt sign in the next few days.  Could it get worse?  Well, they dont have a kicker or much of a defense in camp yet.  Theres some potential here if Antowain Smith doesnt turn out to be a one-season wonder, but it doesnt look like it will add up to better than a last-place finish for Tyler Flemings team.

Zieger: One must step back and consider that this team is embarking upon one of the most propitious moments in franchises history----bbbbbbbark! Bark! Bark!!

Playoff Picture

Bob Dayton:

FFL East: NY, Bos, Cha, Mid

FFL South Central: Mia, KC, Atl, Chi

FFL West: Mon, Pho, Wai, Dal

FFL East Champ:  New York

FFL Central Champ:  Miami

FFL West Champ:  Montana

Wild Card #1:  Boston

Wild Card #2:  Phoenix

Wild Card #3:  Kansas City

Wild Card Games:  Miami over Kansas City, Phoenix over Boston

Championships: New York beats Miami, Montana beats Phoenix

Fantasy Bowl XI: Montana beats New York

Jessie Hester

FFL East: NY, Bos, Mid, Cha

FFL South Central: Atl, Mia, Chi, KC

FFL West: Mon, Dal, Pho, Wai

FFL East Champ:  New York

FFL Central Champ:  Atlanta

FFL West Champ:  Montana

Wild Card #1:  Miami

Wild Card #2:  Boston

Wild Card #3:  Dallas

Wild Card Games:  Atlanta over Miami, Dallas over Boston

Championships: Atlanta beats New York, Montana beats Dallas

Fantasy Bowl XI: Atlanta beats Montana

Niofred Koskelo:

FFL East: NY, Bos, Cha, Mid

FFL South Central: Mia, Atl, KC, Chi

FFL West: Mon, Pho, Wai, Dal

FFL East Champ:  New York

FFL Central Champ:  Miami

FFL West Champ:  Montana

Wild Card #1:  Boston

Wild Card #2:  Phoenix

Wild Card #3:  Atlanta

Wild Card Games:  Miami over Atlanta, Phoenix over Boston

Championships: New York beats Phoenix, Montana beats Miami

Fantasy Bowl XI: Montana beats New York

Jackie Zieger:

FFL East Champ:  Alpo

FFL Central Champ:  Pedigree

FFL West Champ:  Gravy Train

Wild Card #1:  Science Diet

Wild Card #2:  Mighty Dog

Wild Card #3:  Kibbles & Bits & Bits

Wild Card Games:  Gravy Train over Kibbles, Mighty Dog over Science Diet

Championships: Alpo beats Gravy Train, Mighty Dog beats Pedigree

Fantasy Bowl XI: Alpo beats Mighty Dog