Sorry for the delay but I've been very busy and actually didn't think that I'd even get to it but here it is. It may be shorter than usual but at least it's more than nothing. So without further delay, here are my rankings for the BLNY Teams for the 09-10 season. I will list each team below, where they rank, include the best base lineup according to my stats, that lineup's total projected pts. on the season and then the average weekly pts.

#1- Irish Assassins- 1,894 - 118.38
Cutler, Forte, McFadden, R. White, K. Walter, E. Graham (Hightower or Gage), D. Clark, Folk, Vikings

To be honest, I was shocked to see the points come out to be so high, forget about #1 overall. Don't get me wrong, I like my team and I do think it's solid all around but I just think it lacks that special pizzazz. I can see my team being one of the letdowns. Cutler, Forte, DMC, White, and Clark really have to carry this unit.

#2- Major Tom- 1,872 - 117
Ryan, A.D.P, F. Jackson, Welker, Holmes, L. Moore, Gates, Gould, Steelers

Very solid team who could be #1. The #2 RB or #4 WR will be the key decision here. Ryan, ADP, Welker, Gates and the Steeler D will keep the team dominate throughout.

#3- Zooty- 1,835.95 - 114.75
Favre/Cassel, Slaton, Moreno, Boldin, H. Ward, Lynch/Bennett, Cooley, Graham, Bears

This is a team I really like and a team I feel can be very dangerous come the 2nd half of the season with Moreno maybe taking hold in Denver and Lynch being back, fresh and as the #1 RB on a team with a much more dangerous passing attack but who will run during the cold weather. May end up playing musical QB but just has a solid core throughout.

#4- Moose and Squirrel- 1,833 - 114.56
Warner, D. Ward, L. Johnson, S. Smith, C. Johnson, Evans, Keller, J. Reed, Jets

If this team's RBs step up to the plate, M&S's squad could very well rise to the top of the heap with Warner, Smitty, Megatron, Evans and Keller.

#5- GreenBowl Packers- 1,825.75 - 114.11
Rivers, D. Williams, Donald Brown/Washington, Jennings, Royal, Coles, Celek/Fasano, Longwell, Cardinals

Here's another team that I really like with the only weaknesses being at TE and defense. I am really impressed with the core of Rivers, Williams, Brown/Washington, Jennings, Royal and Coles. That may be the best 6-core in the league.

#6- Tuff Luck- 1,825.25 - 114.08
P. Manning, K. Smith, J. Jones, Fitzgerald, V. Jackson, Hester, H. Miller, Kaeding, Giants

The core of Manning, K. Smith, Fitz, V. Jax and the Giants' D is where this team will build around and if they can get some breakout performances from Hester and J. Jones, they'll be right in the mix.

#7- Mudskipper- 1,822.5 - 113.91
E. Manning, L. Tomlinson, B. Jacobs, TJ. Houshmandzadeh, B. Edwards, Ginn Jr, Z. Miller, Gostkowski and Ravens

I'm not a big fan of the QB, the WR core or the TE as they lack the big names. However, LT, Jacobs, the Ravens and a rebound year from Edwards would go a long way toward helping this team have success.

#8- Smooth Criminals/WashingtonD- 1,817 - 113.56
Rodgers, Grant, T Jones, A. Johnson, Bryant, (Hixon, Morgan, McGahee/Bush), Daniels, Akers, Cowboys

Say hello to one of my darkhorse picks. I'm not a huge fan of the WRs after AJ and if Grant stumbles and T Jones loses more time than anticipated to Washington and Greene, it could be a long season. However, if both Grant and Jones can be low-end #1 RBs/high end 2's, AJ a Top WR and Rodgers a Top QB, along with Daniels a Top 5 TE, this team could really make some noise.

#9- BigMikeinNY- 1,806.25 - 112.89
Brady, C. Johnson, Addai, S. Moss, Chambers, S. Smith (CAR), Gonzalez, Vinatieri, Chargers

At first look, I was very impressed with this team. I mea Brady, Chris Johnson, Gonzo... but then after that things get a little iffy. What happens with Addai? Does Brown take more and more touches as the season wears on like I think he will? The WR crew is only average with Sanatan Moss, Chambers and the other S. Smith. This team banked on Brady and BM's team will lean heavily on Brady, Cj and Gonzo.

#10- Brandon's Best- 1,803.25 - 112.70
Garrard, Gore, R. Brown, Ochocinco, A. Gonzalez, Cotchery, Shockey, K. Brown and Patriots

For this size league, Garrard is a lower end starter along with Shockey but Gore, R. Brown and Ocho should produce well enough to keep this team competitive. If Gonzalez can breakout like some think he will and Cotchery can put up solid #2 WR stats, this team should keep pace.

#11- Southern Kryptonite- 1,788.5 - 111.78
McNabb, Westy, Portis, R. Rice, Mason, Avery, Carlson, Bironas and Dolphins

Say hello to my other darkhorse team in this league. I mean with a core of McNabb, Westy, Portis and Rice how can you go wrong? The issue with this team in the lack of a Top Tier WR and rather 2 2nd or 3rd WRs. Carlson should be Top 7-10. If this team can get consistent solid performances from Mason and Avery or find a WR upgrade, SK will be very dangerous.

#12- Hogtown- 1,746.25 - 109.14
Brees, S. Jackson, R. Bush, Benson, Roy Williams, Nicks, Winslow, Tynes and Seahawks

Very nice start with Brees, S. Jax, Bush, Benson and Winslow. Now id Roy Williams plays up to his #1 WR gig and Nicks comes into his own as a main target for Eli, this team can really put up some points. But if Bush and Jackson fail to stay healthy and Benson can't keep hold of the job, this team will get ugly looking FAST!

#13- Flush- 1,742.25 - 108.89
Hasselbeck, Turner, (Stewart, Norwood, K. Curtis), Colston, Marshall, Des. Jackson, Olsen, Rackers and Eagles

I love the start with Turner, Colston, Marshall (if he keeps his head on straight), Des. Jackson and Olsen. Hasselbeck is one of those players, who if he remains healtny, could have a big rebound year and really round out this team. This team could really use an upgrade in the flex spot.

#14- Slayer- 1,735.25 - 108.45
Palmer, MJD, F. Jones, Bowe, M. Jenkins, Mendenhall (harvin, Massaquoi), Witten, Crosby and Titans

I'm not a big fan of this team and the season could go a lot of different directions but could certainly get ugly. Palmer needs to bounce back, MJD and F. Jones need to stay healthy (which MJD isn't currently), and aside from Bowe, the WRs are less than average. Witten and the Titan D are both very solid at ranked highly but this is one of my least favorite teams.

#15- HowBoutThemCowboys- 1,734 - 108.38
Romo, Barber, W. Parker, R. Moss, Owens, Berrian, Boss, Kasay and Broncos

This is my last darkhorse team. How can you be ranked this low with Romo, Barber, FWP (who was just announced as the feature RB for the Steelers), R. Moss, Owens and Berrian? I'm really not sure but that's how my numbers worked out. Sure Boss isn't a Top Tier TE and neither are the Broncos as a defense but I can really see this team outperform their ranking here.

#16- Gru-Grux King- 1,712.5 - 107.03
Schaub, P. Thomas, Wells, Wayne, Driver, L. White, Shiancoe, Elam and Packers

This team is the lowest ranked team and quite frankly is my least favorite. This team does not have a Top 5 player at any position and the only players that really catch your attention are Scahub (who's hurt already), Wayne and P. Thomas, who's also hurt. Wells NEEDS to stay healthy, something he hasn't proven he can do yet. Driver and White are okay but not great. Shiancoe was Top 5 last year and with Favre now a Viking, he could repeat but I just don't have him there will all the other solid TEs. The Packers have a nice schedule which could make the Packer defense very good. We'll see...


**Remember do not take offense to anything written here as this is just one man's opinion based on his projections/rankings. Depth, add/drops, trades, surprise players, fortunate schedules and luck, all play a role in how things will play out. And what do these rankings usually mean... nothing at all or maybe something. I do these rankings for most of my leagues and they are more often than not, pretty spot on with a couple disappointments and a couple darkhorses.

Good Luck to all this season and let's see who the Darkhorse/s are this year...

Scott/Irish

Nice comprehensive write up Irish, I look forward to seeing how these play out in reality.

Best of luck everyone!

WD

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