[The Immortal Ramirez]

Is there a fourth string wide receiver on the waiver wire!!! I need them to start!!! Ouch-time. Injuries are decimating teams this year. There are always injuries, but this years seems to have players dropping like flies, and appropriately having owners running to the waiver wire. To add insult to injury (no pun intended…well, actually I did mean it), bye weeks start this week with NE, Buffalo, NYJ & Carolina all trying to heal and regroup. This is Tank D’Season back again to try to understand this mess called football and predict the outcome of this weeks matchups.

** Week two roster page is not available, so if I pick someone (generally last week’s roster) you are not starting, my apologies.

Jersey Toxic Waste take their 0-2 record on the road to face the Urza Ragers (1-1) as an early game this week. Waste has to be chomping at the bit to get McNabb on the field against the Lions – who will be playing without Dre Bly, so expect another monster game. Waste knows McNabb has to make up for his RB’s – Gordon (against Steelers) and James (who has been excellent, except for this minor injury), but tell me James is not a trooper – he explained to reporters that he is hoping on playing this week for the fantasy owners who have him (just don’t re-injure yourself Edge). So, unless this changes, expect questionable points from the RB. Driver and Glenn are both a little sporadic, but putting up half decent numbers. Muhammad is on a bye. Wilkins and ST DT should both be solid this week, but Heap is out injured as well. Urza’s Ragers are also liking their QB match-up this week with Vick going against a questionable Arizona secondary. Jamal Lewis should wake up against the Bengals and post his first solid game. Fred Taylor is getting eight men in the box (same as Lewis) but doesn’t have the size to beat them back. Until both QB’s step up to make defenses honest, expect an average showing (especially against the Titans this week). Moulds is on a bye (which might be a blessing for Buffalo), leaving Roy Williams and Chambers out on the field. Like the Waste, I don’t see either having a great game this week. SF DT is playing a Seattle team at home this is primed for a break-out game.

Prediction: If James plays, I give it to Waste to bring in their first victory. If he doesn’t play, hands down to Urza. (boy, was that a wishy-washy prediction)

Next on the docket is Wonder Mutts (2-0) vs the Bay Area Bloodsucking Insects (1-1). Insects are sending co-MVP, Steve McNair out once more to regain his style of last year. However, he will play a tough Jaguar DT, but the silver lining is, he has a sprained ankle. He hasn’t played well this season because he hasn’t been hurt. Alexander appears to be showing no ill affects of the bone bruise and I expect a good game against SF. Portis is playing against a tough Dallas DT. Surprisingly, aside from his first carry of the season (60 yrd TD), he’s just been ok. He may be stymied this week, with Ramsey coming in as QB Dallas will stack the box. Porter has a good chance to be shut down by TB and Coles the same by Dallas. This leaves Robinson (not Mrs) to be the main man against SF. Jolley will be making his first start due to injury to KWII. Dallas DT should post some solid numbers. W.Mutts are in the same boat at QB, waiting for Ironman Brett Favre to wake up as well (dreading they are a run-first team). He should post good numbers vs a weak Colts secondary. Dominic Davis will post super-star numbers against KC (if he can hold on to the ball). Dillon has a bye, so it will be between Griffin (vs SD) or Brown (vs Jags). Either should do well. TO will be on the receiving end of at least one McNabb TD. Fitz has a shot at a TD as well with Atlanta’s weak secondary (and they’ll be playing from behind). We’re waiting on the 3^rd WR. Gates is a main target for SD, but has a minor injury. TB should stiffle Oakland.

Prediction: Mutts continue winning streak.

Royal Hawaiian Opihi (1-1) head off to Brain Dead Squirrel Chasers (2-0) this week. Opihi like their matchup with Bulger against the NO secondary. Dunn is questionable due to an injury. If he plays, he should do well against Arizona who will be using the "Vick Factor" to stop Michael Vick. Henry is on a bye (and hasn’t done much anyway) – which leaves it up to Emmitt Smith or Charlie Garner (neither who I would want to be starting). Holt should score at least one against NO, but Mason will have a tough time against Jags. Lelie…well, prove to me you’re a #1 WR (you still haven’t). Shockey isn’t like his new coach, but should do well against Cleveland (ask Witten last week), while Elam and Seattle should both post nice numbers. Chasers put their 2-0 record on the line with Matt Hasselbeck at the helm. He’s had a VERY slow start, but expect big things this week against SF. Faulk should do well while NO tries to stop the Rams passing game. Wheatley on the other hand will be stuffed by TB. Moss will do well against Chicago (come on, it’s Randy). Burress will be shut down due to Roethlisberger on the Miami DBs. Stallworth is actually a sleeper this week. NO should be behind and without McAllister, should be passing a lot. Jones is one of the main targets for Arizona and Jags are really a tough DT (can they make it 18 in a row of keeping RB under 100 yrds??). The frightening thing is, these two teams are almost evenly matched: solid QB, no RB, 1 great WR then questions, solid TE, good K and good DT match-ups. I see this game coming down to the wire on Sunday Night (since I don’t think either have anyone on MNF).

Prediction: comes down to Randy Moss waking up and posting his first 100 yard game of the year – Chasers move to 3-0

To the "Some Body’s Got to Win" game, the Philadelphia Freedom take on the Nittany Dodger. Freedom’s got a tough start at QB with Leftwich against the Titans. With C-Mart on a bye week and McAllister out, this leaves his RB corp in shambles (Ran Carthon, Greg Jones & Tony Hollings). Ouch! Before I mock to badly, let’s go to the WR. Isaac Bruce will post yet another solid week. Terrell will be invisible once more and Lloyd is injured. LJ Smith will continue to be a red zone target for McNabb, while NO will struggle against the aforementioned Bruce and Rams. Dodgers are in worse shape QB-wise (with Pennington & DelHomme both on byes). This leave Ramsey as the starter against Dallas or Rookie Roethlisberger against Miami (neither a good match-up). Barber should have a good game against the Browns DT (who are losing players to injury left and right). However, Duce is going to get creamed by the Miami team not fearing Roethlisberger. Ferguson and Price are both matched up for a good performance. Branch is on a bye, which will give him time to heal. Gonzalez is hoping for a good game (because KC will be playing from behind without Priest and no WR for Green to throw to). Pittsburgh should post solid numbers against a pathetic Miami offence (triple cover McMichael and you’ll stop them).

Prediction: Even with no QB, I gotta go with the Dodgers this week – sorry Freedom, you let me down the last two weeks (so are you going to prove me wrong again???)

The confident Parkwood Predators are coming off a major victory (2-0) against the Soap Box Derby Cars (0-2). Will the Predators have a let-down after last weeks victory over rival Undead? Preds are putting Aaron Brooks on the field. The problem is, he has a habit of let-downs after big games and his team needs him with McAllister out. Barlow finally woke up, but will face a very tough Seattle DT in Seattle. Tomlinson will score as usual – he tends to give Denver a hard time, but I don’t see a break-out game. Andre Johnson should have a big game against a pathetic KC team who will be concentrating on Dominic Davis. Ward’s numbers will come back to earth (see Burress above). Santana Moss is also on a bye this week. Dallas Clark has done nothing this year to date (and Boo is non-existent as well). Baltimore should do very well against the Bengals this week. SBDC, are hosting with Peyton Manning at the helm. Brian Westbrook will also post very good numbers because Detroit will be concentrating on McNabb and TO. Too bad they have to have James Jackson in the line-up, he’ll get no points unless Green gets injured. Darrell Jackson should show why he’s a #1 WR this week, while Keyshawn and Amani will post solid, but not great numbers as well. Amani actually might be a sleeper with a banged-up Cleveland secondary. Crumpler is a major target for Vick and Miami should score excellent against a poor Steelers Offense.

Prediction: Upset of the week: Even with James Jackson scoring nothing, I see the Derby Cars stepping up to the over-confident Predators and surprising them with team depth.

The 1-1 Indiana Undead face off against the undefeated Liquid Swords. Swords put Daunte Culpepper against Chicago and Ahman Green vs Colts. Both will put up good numbers (as long as both of them can hold on to the ball at the goal-line). Kevin Jones will struggle against the Eagles this week. Horn and Smith have potential for big weeks in their matchups. Pickston will remain where he is (fantasy oblivion). McMichael has been a huge fantasy surprise and should do well again. Denver (due to Carolina’s bye) should also do very well against SD. Undead will have Harrington facing a tough Eagle DT as well. Thomas Jones will be the focus of the Minnesota DT (but Westbrook ran well against them). Holmes, on the other hand, is questionable for the game. Harrison will put up Marvin-style of points, while Chad Johnson struggles vs Baltimore. Bennett is also a little banged up against a good Jags DT. Undead isn’t sure which Seattle TE to start since Graham is on a bye this week. And neither DT will show great number. Swords picked a good week to have Undead on their schedule.

Prediction: I actually don’t see a change even if Priest plays, appears Swords move to 3-0 on the season.

Once again, I didn’t have all the stats and that’s how I see it. Tank D’Season will once again return Tues for the wrap-up and see how we did (hopefully better than last week:rant )