What's the reaction when Bears are scoring points against you?
One of the big problems with playing fantasy football was shown in all its glory at our house — and I'm sure some of yours — last Sunday.
Just after the second half of the Bears-Lions game began, I was working in the den and heard my wife and son celebrating as Major Wright returned a Matthew Stafford interception to the end zone for 6 points.
“Yeah!” they're screaming.
“NOOOOO!” I'm screaming, twice as loud.
Moments later, there goes Charles Tillman streaking into the end zone.
No noise this time from the other room.
Dad's mad. And all because of fantasy football.
Yes, the Bears' defense/special teams (why are teams still punting to Devin Hester?) ruined what should have been an easy victory for one of my teams. My 9-year-old son understands all this now (he's in a free Yahoo league and actually owns Stafford and Calvin Johnson). But it's tough for us to raise kids in an era where you are supposed to steer them in the direction of rooting for the hometown team, yet you are rooting against certain players — and in some cases an entire unit — on any given Sunday.
How do you balance this mind-bending dilemma in your family or in your own mind?
Do you avoid drafting certain players? Do you root for the Bears no matter what and put your team on the back burner when something like last Sunday occurs?
I'd love to hear some stories or answers to this problem, so feel free to email me this week with your examples.
The Bears:
As for the aforementioned defense, that Week 10 explosion vaulted the Bears atop the rankings for fantasy points.
The upcoming schedule looks juicy too, and owners of any Chargers, Raiders, Chiefs (that would hopefully be just Dwayne Bowe at this point), Broncos or Seahawks should be worried and seeking other options in the coming five weeks.
My teams: A big “thanks a lot” to the Vikings, who failed to keep the Packers out of the end zone at the end of the Monday night game. All I needed was a Mason Crosby field goal for a fourth straight unit-league win, but noooooooo … there goes Matt Flynn running in for six. Lost that game 72-71 despite a monster effort from Michael Bush. That team is 5-5. … In the regular league, Bush (32), DeMarco Murray (25) and Drew Brees (28) were huge in a 117-105 victory to move that team to an identical 5-5 mark.Good bets#376;Titans WR Damian Williams at Atlanta. In case you haven't noticed, Williams has become Matt Hasselbeck's favorite target the past three weeks (13 catches on 19 targets, 2 TDs).#376;Raiders QB Carson Palmer at Minnesota. With Drew Brees off, I picked up Palmer in my regular league. My expectations: 225-250 yards and 2 TD passes.#376;Packers RB James Starks vs. Tampa Bay. Check out these three numbers: 177, 185, 195. That's how many rushing yards the Bucs have allowed the last three games #8212; and the 185 was to the non-running Saints. I don't like Starks this week ... I love him to the tune of 120 yards from scrimmage and a score.#376;Niners RB Kendall Hunter vs. Arizona. Frank Gore is slated to play, but if you need a flex option much like Ben Tate last week, I think Hunter gets you 7-10 points.#376;Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch at St. Louis. Who has the third-most fantasy points among RBs the last two weeks? Yep, the surprising Lynch. He's scored in the last five games he's played in, and after Sunday that streak will reach six.#376;Giants WR Mario Manningham and Eli Manning vs. Philadelphia. Don't get worried about the supposedly super Eagles defense. Manning (4 TDs) ripped it apart in Week 3.#376;Raiders RB Michael Bush at Minnesota. At first glance, Bush owners might get scared seeing the Vikes are ranked sixth against the run. The cracks are showing of late, though, and Bush is WAY too hot to bench.#376;Bears QB Jay Cutler vs. San Diego. Mark Sanchez (3 TDs) and Carson Palmer (299 yards, 2 TDs) are two of the underwhelming QBs to shred the Chargers. Cutler won't save your day, but he's good for 225 yards and 2 TDs.#376;Patriots defense vs. Kansas City. Two words: Tyler Palko.Bad bets#376;Chargers TE Antonio Gates, QB Philip Rivers and RB Ryan Mathews at Bears. You watched the massacre of the Lions last week, right? Good. Find other options.#376;Falcons WR Roddy White vs. Tennessee. It would be nice to see White return to form, but Cortland Finnegan won't allow that to happen this week.#376;Bills defense at Miami. Dolphins average points per game first seven: 15.3. Average last two: 25.5. #376;Ravens defense vs. Cincinnati. I own Baltimore but picked up New England and will start the Patriots. The Ravens have done next to nothing since Week 4.#376;Bucs RB LeGarrette Blount at Green Bay. Nothing says stinker more than a blowout loss to team that's allowed 5 rushing TDs all season.#376;Cowboys QB Tony Romo at Washington. Strange pick here, right? OK, but follow me. Here are Romo's numbers in his last five games against the Redskins: 255-0-1; 282-1-0; 286-1-1; 158-1-1; 198-1-2. It would be tough to sit him, but Washington seems to have his number.#376;Bengals RB Cedric Benson at Baltimore. Benson has 2 TDs all season and that number isn't going up before Thanksgiving.#376;Ravens WR Anquan Boldin vs. Cincinnati. Did you trade Boldin (2-22 last week) when I told you to? More awful games are on the way.jdietz@dailyherald.comFBN24903222When Charles Tillman scored the BearsÂ’ third defense/special teams touchdown Sunday against the Lions, it put the game at Soldier Field out of reach. It also helped — and ruined — many fantasy football teams across the country.Associated PressFBN