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Playing the Name Game 2005 Edition |
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| By - Jeff Mertes Drafting a competitive fantasy football team isn’t exactly a snap under normal circumstances. So, imagine the challenge involved if selection is limited to players with just four last names. Handicapping a team to only four surnames out of the hundreds in the NFL might be likened to amputating three legs and a fetlock from a thoroughbred and expecting it to compete for the Derby. But whoa, Nellie, that one-legged pony may be remarkably deft at hopping if nothing but Williams, Brown, Manning and Johnson are selected for the 2005 season. Think about it. The brothers Manning would be quarterbacking with Peyton (Colts) starting and Eli (Giants) on the sidelines. We all know about Peyton’s prowess as a snap grabber – 4,557 yards passing last season, 49 scoring strikes with but 10 intercepted. Yow! Eli’s rookie campaign wasn’t nearly so impressive – 1,043 yards, 6 TDs with 9 picked-off – but he’s bound to improve as a sophomore.
The receiving corps should be a strength of the WBMJ squad. Starting pass palmers would be Chad Johnson (Bengals), Andre Johnson (Texans) and Roy Williams (Lions). C. Johnson hauled-in aerials for 1,274 yards and 9 TDs last season, A. Johnson caught tosses for 1,142 including 6 goal-line crossers and R. Williams completed a 14 game rookie campaign with 8 TDs among 817 yards. Benchwarmers would be Keyshawn Johnson (Cowboys), Reggie Williams (Jaguars), Bryant Johnson (Cardinals) and Mike Williams (Lions). K. Johnson had a productive ’04 by snagging aerials for 981 yards including six for scores. Although Reg. Williams started 15 games as a rookie, his 268 yards receiving with just one TD was a disappointment. His sophomore stats should jump up drastically. B. Johnson logged 11 starts in his second season while grabbing passes for 537 yards, but only made it to the end zone once. Highly touted rookie M. Williams is expected to be in the starting lineup for the Lions. Starting at tightend would be Eric Johnson (49ers). Johnson got off to a blistering start in ’04, but slowed while playing with rib injury to complete the season at 825 yards, including a pair for TDs, without missing a game. Picking up bench splinters, Boo Williams (Saints), had a down year in ’04 with catches for 362 yards and two scoring receptions, but is due to bounce back. Booting duties would be handled by a pair of Browns – Josh (Seahawks) and Kris (Texans). Josh starts based on 109 points while hitting 92% of his field goal attempts. Kris, meanwhile, kicked for 84 points. In the trenches on the defensive side of the ball would be Kevin Williams (Vikings), Alex Brown (Bears), Courtney Brown (Broncos), Jamal Williams (Chargers) and Pat Williams (Vikings). K. Williams, a dominating defensive tackle with speed and agility to also play on the outside, recorded 52 tackles, 18 assists, 11.5 sacks, and an interception. A. Brown totaled 39 tackles, 11 assists and 6 sacks. C. Brown, has been an underachiever for four seasons following a promising rookie campaign as a Brown, no less. Now he’s playing for the Broncos, trying to overcome those lackluster, injury plagued campaigns. J. Williams had a decent campaign in ’04 with 25 tackles, 7 assists and 4 sacks as a starter. P. Williams, a mainstay for the Bills with 37 tackles, 16 assists, 2.5 sacks and an int., joins the Vikings for 2005. Linebackers shine with D.J. Williams (Broncos), Landon Johnson (Bengals), Chad Brown (Patriots), Derrick Johnson (Chiefs) and Tim Johnson (Raiders) to choose from. Williams (81 tackles, 33 assists, 2 sacks, 1 int.), L. Johnson (60 tackles, 27 assists, 2 sacks) are up and coming second year backers. Brown (73 tackles, 12 assists, 7 sacks, 1 int. – in 2003) is a proven vet who was injured for much of last year but is now in the championship environment of the Patriots. Rookie D. Johnson is penciled in to start right out of the chute while T. Johnson (28 tackles, 13 assists, .5 sack, 1 int.) may get a starting shot this season. Patrolling the last line of defense, the cream of this defensive unit, would be the other Roy Williams (Cowboys), Ricky Manning (Panthers), Madieu Williams (Bengals), Brian Williams (Vikings) and Mike Brown (Bears). This is a blue chip crew – all could step into the starting lineup. R. Williams is a devastating stopper with 73 tackles, 21 assists and 2 int. Manning turned-in a second straight productive season with 54 tackles, 12 assists and 4 int. M. Williams showed his stuff as a rookie with 86 tackles, 17 assists, 2 sacks and 3 int. B. Williams, a proven vet with three seasons under his belt, totaled 61 tackles, 13 assists and 2 int. And finally, Brown, injured most of ’04, but recorded 62 tackles, 14 assists and 2 int. the season before. If your league only picks a team defense, your choice isn’t limited to the pitiful Browns because the Bills (yes, indeed, the nickname of many Williams) would be a darned good alternative. See if you can strike a deal with unsuspecting league members to allow the ‘handicap’ of making draft selections that sport just four last names. They’ll think you have a screw loose until the realization sets in that your Williams-Brown-Manning-Johnson team is in the running for league laurels. |
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