Quarterback: Sherdrick Bonner, Arizona (vs. Las Vegas): He has resuscitated his season after a horrendous start. In other words, he looks like Sherdrick Bonner again. Bonner hasn’t scored below 29 points in a game since Week 8, and look for a big game this time around as he looks quite comfortable in the pocket.
Offensive Specialist: Damian Harrell, Colorado (at San Jose) – It would take a serious slump for Harrell to not win the fantasy-scoring race for this year; his average of 40.1 fantasy points per game is a full five points ahead of New York’s Mike Horacek. Harrell hasn’t scored below 22 fantasy points in a game this year and has at least 50 fantasy points in three of his last five games.
Wide Receiver/Defensive Back: Randy Gatewood, Arizona (vs. Utah) – How can you really choose anyone else this year? He amassed 43 fantasy points last week and has now overcome a balky start to the season in which he averaged 19 fantasy points a game in the first five weeks. He also has 22 touchdowns in the last nine games.
Wide Receiver/Linebacker: Lawrence Samuels, Tampa Bay (at Columbus) – The sad part is that I have no statistical justification for this pick. His average has dipped the last two weeks; he has 31 points in the last two games after notching 41 at Austin in Week 12. Normally I’ll throw some numbers at you – which occasionally prove to be wrong, but, hey, I’m a stat guy. It’s as simple as this, really – no player on the Storm probably has more pride in the team’s ongoing playoff streak than the man who’s been there for most of the postseason appearances in that span. I know Samuels will fight for that extra yard, shed a man for that extra tackle. It’ll help the Storm, and it’ll help you if you play him.
Fullback/Linebacker: Marlion Jackson, Las Vegas (at Arizona) – Three straight double-digit fantay point games means that he’s getting more consistent. Seven touchdowns in the past five games means that his teammates look to him for big plays. One-hundred nine receiving yards and two touchdowns in the past three weeks means he’s officially a multi-faceted threat. Play him.
Defensive Specialist: Rashad Floyd, Colorado (at San Jose) – A stellar series of weeks keeps getting better for the Crush’s ubiquitous defensive specialist, as an interception return for a score pushed his fantasy total last week from a solid 16 points to an outstanding 25. With San Jose’s collection of pass-catchers, look for Floyd to have to make a passel of tackles and again rack up the numbers.
Kicker: Carlos Martinez, Dallas (at Philadelphia) – Last week he had his first double-digit fantasy-point day since Week 9. The opponent then? You guessed it – the Philadelphia Soul. Martinez could also be the primary beneficiary if the Desperados decide to rest any starters in preparation for the playoffs, with the top National Conference seed already assured.
