NLL Insider

Man, don’t I wish that were the truth.

Although I haven’t been able to string together even back-to-back wins since, well, all season, neither have most of the Insiders. Paul Tutka and Ted Jenner remain the outliers in our league, as the only guys able to put together multiple wins in a row.

And as a side note, I did try to find a photo of Will Ferrell from Old School, but couldn’t find a good one. Plus, like Ferrell’s career, I didn’t want the column to turn out like every previous one I’ve written, and I figured this lucky gent looked enough like him for people not to even notice.

The good news, however, is that I really don’t see a way that I can lose this week because I’m playing Brian Shanahan (0-8) with only two weeks remaining.

The bad news, somehow I got jobbed this last week with inaccurate scoring and dropped the week by only 4 points! Here’s to hoping that it gets figured out and I am able to put another ‘W’ in my back pocket. Unfortunately, if that doesn’t happen, I can’t make the playoffs, assuming I win a pair of weeks here to close out the season.

Stay tuned!

The Insider’s League:

Eastern Division:

The Van Buren Boys (Paul Tutka) (7-1)
bob mcmahons afro (Ted Jenner) (5-3)
Waterloo Wannabees (Chris Hall) (5-3)
Steal Your Faceoff (Bob Chavez) (5-3)

Western Division:

Gary Colemans (John Jiloty) (4-4)
Albuquerque Isotopes (Me) (3-5)
The Check Republic (Lauren Ward) (3-5)
Who owns the Chiefs? (Brian Shanahan) (0-8)

*Of course, if the scores from Week 8 get figured out, then these are subject to change*

On to the good stuff - me calling people out!

Studs:

John Grant, Jr. (ROC): (4, 4) 13 LBs vs. PHI
The second coming of John Grant put his struggling team on his back like any star in the league should. One of the league’s most bankable point-scorers, his 73 (35, 38) in 8 GP is top in the NLL and gives him an unreal average of 6.6 points per game. There’s never been a time in the season that you’ve even thought of sitting this guy - don’t start now.

Cody Jacobs (CHI): (6, 1) vs. MIN
Cody Who? In just his fourth game of the season, and only fifteenth of his career, Jacobs had a career-game at the exact right moment for the Shamrox. Named the Offensive and Overal Players of the Week, the second-year man helped put Chicago on a 9-0 run to beat a very strong Swarm team, 15-10, last week. If he’s an available free agent, like he was in my league, I say pick him and roll the dice.

Andy Secore (MIN): (2, 5) 7 LBs vs. CHI
In the loss, Secore showed he can still get it done, despite some lingering injuries that forced him out for a few weeks recently. 7 points on (2, 5), and 7 loosies, is really nothing to sneeze at. I know as an owner of Mr. Secore myself, numbers like that definitely put my mind to rest a bit, and give me confidence to again have him in my weekly lineup.

Curtis Palidwor (EDM): 35 SV, 5 GA vs. SJS
Despite popular belief, the Rush are still very much alive and in the playoff hunt - even at (3-7). So continue to expect to see clutch performances from Palidwor, like this amazing one against San Jose last week. If his ability to step up and steal a game weren’t enough, he ranks third in the entire league in the most important goalie categories, GAA (10.77) and SV % (.779).

Duds:

Pat Heim (PHI):
As an indoor player, this rookie hasn’t taken on quite yet. With an average of 1 point per game through 10 GP, the Matt Damon look-alike is a below average player, and way below average fantasy starter. If you’ve got any sort of Ultimatum to start him, it better be life or death, because he lacks any sort of Supremacy in the NLL. In fact, in a league that stresses offense, he needs to check himself - his Identity - if he wants to remain for very long. In other words, if I was in Vegas right now, I wouldn’t be doubling-down on any (Ocean’s) 11’s, 12’s or 13’s based on his numbers so far. C’mon, did I even crack a smirk? Probably not from Heim, I’m guessing

Start ‘Em:

Mat Giles (CHI):
The nine-year vet can still make it happen, going (3, 3) against Minnesota last week. His balanced scoring, 32 points (16, 16), leads the team and suddenly has the last place Shamrox looking for some positive momentum as they close out their second season in “The City of Big Shoulders.”

(T) Geoff Snider (PHI):
The reigning All-Star MVP had one of the best games of his young career last week in the loss to Rochester, putting up 5 points (3, 2), 16 LBs and 25-30 F/O. As a transition player, it’s hard to justify playing him week in and week out, but aside from double-digit loose balls every game, believe it or not, he’s averaged 3.6 per the whole season.

Jimmy Quinland (EDM):
Although Edmonton has again had a bit of a down year, Quinlan is right on pace for matching his numbers from last season - 55 points, which aside from showing his general point-getting ability, shows he can be consistent year-to-year in a league that requires this in order to make any roster. He had another workmanlike performance in the unexpected win versus the Stealth this past weekend, going (3, 1). Edmonton has had their struggles this season, but having this guy in your weekly lineup is never a bad idea.

Sit ‘Em:

Merrick Thomson (PHI):
The man that I personally selected as the preseason favorite for Rookie of the Year has come up lame in his last three outings, scoring a total of (1, 1), and has basically played himself out of that conversation. Not sure what’s going on, or why the last time he put up a notable game - (3, 2) vs. Buffalo - was over a month ago. Everybody hits a rough spot here or there, but he’s a Top-5 pick and definitely hasn’t been performing up to that billing lately.

Players to Watch:

Chris McKay (EDM):
The Arizona-holdover signed a deal with his former-coach last week, and then strapped it up and scored (1, 3) with 12 LBs in his first game as a member of the Rush. Pick up the Victoria, B.C.-product, but hold off from starting him for at least another week.

Matt MacLeod (ROC):
The eighth entry draft pick from this past off-season stepped up and matched his best game of the year from earlier in the season with (2, 1), en route to Rookie of the Week honors. He may not necessarily pan out the rest of this season, but keep him in mind as a late-round pick next year. With a little more development, he could become a nice scorer on an already overloaded offensive roster in Rochester.

Closing Notes:

Best of luck this week! And if you’d like to voice your opinion on anything from your standard fit of fantasy sports, to why Will Ferrell’s career seems to have bottomed out, please e-mail me at the below address.

Catch ya’ next Thursday!

Fixler played lacrosse at the University of Denver and has been a freelance writer and Inside Lacrosse contributor since graduating from DU in 2006. Email him at kevin.fixler@nllinsider.com.

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