The View from the Top (by Andy Morrish)

It is Week 7, always a pivotal point in the season but this year it has some added pizazz for I am dubbing it “Rivalry Week”. The middle of the year, the third divisional week and due to some luck in the scheduling we’ve got some juicy matchups.

Matchup #1 - Fireseed (5-1) vs. TheSkyns (3-3) (aka The Ray Lewis Bowl)
The top matchup this week sees 2nd place Fireseed against longtime foe TheSkyns . While it may not be the most storied of rivalries within AldenLeague it does pit two teams who tend to perform well in the regular season and ultimately collapse come the playoffs. A win this week by Hoskyns would put them only a game behind Todd and the Crittenden division title well within grasp. The inconsistent Skyns team (you never know if he’ll score under 100 or be the top team in the league) gets a break this week because Fireseed is without the stalwart and #1 fantasy scorer thus far, Peyton Manning. Hoskyns is also down a quarterback but losing Shaun Hill for the week probably makes his team better.

Matchup #2 - Andy’s Red Hots (4-2) vs. CheektoWojo (1-5)
This will be the first year since Adam joined AldenLeague that he doesn’t get to face his brother which is why I believe this is the biggest game on the CheektoWojo schedule all year. Not only am I like a brother to the bald galoot (and there is still time for him to follow through on his promises regarding my red-headed sister) but his other big matchup, last week’s multi-championship rematch was a huge dud. Adam was handed his first victory of the year (come on Puzan, 82 points?) and I’m sure it was a big relief but this week he actually has a chance to get himself back into things with what would be a huge upset against Andy’s Red Hots. My only worry is that now my team is without the extra motivation that comes from playing with a pink and purple penis helmet. That and the purple-helmeted penis (Brett Favre) comes back to play in Lambeau this week which could provide a huge spark for both teams.

The only bye week casualties are Calvin Johnson for Andy and the New York Jets defense for CheektoWojo.

Matchup #3 - Ice Cold Bruschi’s (2-4) vs. Most Murderous (2-4)
According to the AldenLeague message board the top rivalry in all of AldenLeague is... Leonard versus Puzan. It hasn’t been around for very long but this rivalry has everything: trash talk, division wins and league championships. This matchup is huge (think Fucillo) for the Crittenden division with the loser most likely relegated to the Toilet Bowl. Leonard’s team has been solid all year but the scheduling gods have conspired against him thus far, we’ll see if Puzan’s low-scoring team continues the trend against Danny.
The Bruschi’s are without star QB Matt Schaub (bye) and RB Joseph Addai (bye and injury). Most Murderous is without Michael Vick (injury) and will continue to refuse to use the IR rule to his advantage.

Matchup #4 - Boys of Summer (2-4) vs. SynCity (3-3)
In other years this matchup would have been closer to the top of the list because as AldenLeague’s only couple, the Hartman-Synrod games take on extra importance. This year we find the two lovebirds bringing up the basement in the Westwood Division but a victory would put either of them in much better position for the stretch run. It’s also a battle between the top two running-backs, each facing potentially high-scoring games (SynCity’s Adrian Peterson is going against Green Bay while Boys’ Chris Johnson is up against Philly). Synrod is without Dallas Clark but is otherwise healthy while Hartman has everyone but his kicker who is on a bye.

The loser will be the bottom of division but from what I understand that’s a position both enjoy.

Matchup #5 - Stigs (3-3) vs BountyHunters (3-3)
The team that Synrod claims to be run by his “brother” comes up against Hank this week in a battle for 2nd place in the Sandridge Division. Both teams have been consistently average and their records represent that. I’m declaring this matchup a rivalry because it pits two teams who have both used the message board the same amount of times. Stigs is without Reggie Wayne, Shonn Greene and Neil Rackers. BountyHunters are healthy and active (just like Synrod’s Mom.)

Matchup #6 - C-Men (5-1) vs. Tecmo All-Stars (3-3)
See how good of a week this is when the matchup I have deemed the “least interesting” involves the first and sixth place teams? These two teams have no history (except for some theoretical moment that may have occurred during a Thanksgiving football game that everyone else has forgotten) so we’ll have to rely solely on the tale of the tape to analyze this matchup. 1st and 2nd Place in the Westwood Division. 2nd and 7th in total points. C-Men is riding a 4 game winning streak and Tecmo has a 2 game streak going as well. The biggest storyline is the bye week losses: Corey’s RB combo of LT and “Master Race” Foster will be riding the pine this week. Rob is missing his top WR and QB and may also be without Vince Young who is listed as questionable for this week.

The best part about the Week 7 Rivalry matchups? We get to do it all over again in week 13.

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This week’s guest writer is owner of the Andy’s Red Hot fantasy franchise, currently in first place in the Sandridge Division and leading AldenLeague in overall points.