Week 3 Recaps
Faulk, Machines top the 'W.O.P.
The Abstact Machines follow Marshall Faulk's lead in downing the Profiteer$, and the Naughty Figs slug one out against the Bock Boys. All this and more in...

The Week That Was in Fantasy League Football

The Abstract Machines doubled up the P.W.O.P., 20-10, rebounding from last week's loss and avenging last season's Week 13 defeat at the hands of The Players. Marshall Faulk exploded for a game-high 17 points in pacing the Machines to a 41-28 offensive advantage. He was supported by strong 8-point efforts from Elvis Grbac and Gary Anderson. The P.W.O.P. didn't field a kicker, and only Jeff Garcia and Ahman Green scored more than 5 points (7 apiece). Yet the Profiteer$ Raider defense had a much-needed and outstanding 23-point effort in hopes of stealing the win. Unfortunately for the still-winless P.W.O.P., the Machines' Rams defense answered the challenge with a stellar 18-point performance of its own to preserve the win. The Machines move to 2-1 in earning their first division win of the season. The P.W.O.P. drop their third straight - all against divisional opponents - to start the season.

In perhaps the most brutal game of the week, the Naughty Figs pounded out a four point win over Thomas' Bock Boys to stay perfect for the season. A defensive gem was turned in from both squads; the Figs' Ravens unit and the Bock Boys' Eagles team matched commanding 22-point efforts. Yet it was the Figs claiming a narrow 38-36 edge on the offensive side of the ball, thanks largely to Rich Gannon's heroic 15-points. Teammate Jamal Anderson went down early in the game with yet another season-ending injury, but the rest of the Figs offense picked up enough of the slack to overcome strong games from the Boys' Daunte Culpepper (9 points) and Tony Gonzales (7 points). The win keeps the undefeated Figs alone atop the East. Despite scoring the most points against the Figs this season, Thomas takes the loss and drops to 1-2.

In another grueling defensive struggle, The Pimps handed the Piana Raze their first loss of the season, 13-9 at En Fuego Field. Mark Brunell, the newly appointed Pimps quarterback of the present and future, was actually knocked out of the game after coughing up a turnover. Needing to overcome such adversity, the rest of the offense rallied behind Jerry Rice's electrifying 11 points, and The Pimps matched the Piana's subdued 28-point offensive effort. The biggest offense highlight for the Raze was kicker Jason Elam and his 8 points. Deadlocked, the game would be decided on defense. In the shadow of last season's wild card debacle, Piana's Saints defense showed up and redeemed their reputation with 15 points-against. Yet on this day, they were outshined by The Pimps' Packer squad, who posted their third straight 20+ point performance to win the game. The Pimps climb to 2-1 with the win, while Piana drops to 2-1 and having now lost to The Pimps four consecutive times.

The Irwin Hellions lost their first game as defending champions this week, falling to the previously winless Stereco at Purgatory Field. Kurt Warner played like a man possessed, scoring a week-high 19 points, or nearly half of Sims' offensive output. The Hellions countered with Donovan McNabb's 13 points and Curtis Martin's 10, but two other players posted goose eggs, leaving Irwin in too deep a hole to recover from. Even the Hellions formidable Tampa Bay defense faltered, falling to Sims' Giants "D" 9-5. The win brings an end to Sims' 7-game losing streak, while the loss keeps Irwin tied atop the West with Piana and the Machines. Perhaps most importantly, however, the Stereco now lead the all-time series 4-3.

The Anderson Brewmeisters ran their way to their first victory of the season this week, downing division rival Jody for the seventh time in nine meetings. First overall draft pick LaDainian Tomlinson had a breakout 15-point performance, and Michael Pittman, making his first appearance of the year, chipped in another eight. The C.W.O.T. struggled to keep up with the Brewmeisters and only had one player, kicker Martin Gramatica, score over six points (11). Yet it was the uncharacteristically horrid effort - minus(-)2 points - by the C.W.O.T.'s Miami defense that sent the defending division champs to their second consecutive loss. Anderson's Jaguar defense, seizing the opportunity, preyed upon Jody's offense for a game-breaking 18 points. Both clubs now sit at 1-2, tied with Sims for third in the East.