One of my favorite hobbies is playing fantasy baseball and football with my friends and family.  I have been playing fantasy sports since middle school, when my Dad and I would check through the box scores and fill out our excel-like sheets.  We’d compile all the stats and send off these huge envelopes to our friends giving them the information of who won the games and how their players did that week.  Now, websites like ESPN.com and Yahoo have enabled my father and our friends to continue to play in at least one fantasy baseball and one fantasy football league each year together, even though we live in different states.

But, there is one thing I miss is that we aren’t able to discuss our teams much anymore like we did when we had our school lunches together.  So, in an effort to connect you and me with our inner child and hopefully our friends and family, pull up a chair and get out your brown bagged lunch.  Let me tell you about my two fantasy football teams for this year, feel free to heckle, jump on the bandwagon or simple remember the days when you discussed fantasy football over a PB&J and were checking over your shoulder to make sure no girls were listening.

Team:  Hey You Geis

Record: 4 – 3 (11 team league, each team has one bye)

Bummer Bust:  Has been the combination of Anquan Boldin and Darren McFadden who I drafted in 4^th and 5^th round respectively.  In 2008, Boldin caught 89 passes for 1,038 and 11 TDs, so far this year 35, 404 and 1.  I hope you understand my disappointment.  McFadden on the other hand didn’t do much last year in his rookie year but was expected to double his 2008 output but instead has gone backward.  Would McFadden performance due to the inept Oakland offense or is he destiny to be a first round bust?  All I know is that 2 years in row he has not performed up to the high expectations of fantasy owners.

Simply a Surprise: Cedric Benson, I drafted Cedric in the 12^th round.  He was the fourth running back I selected and I wasn’t expecting much but he has out preformed everyone on my team, which includes Reggie Wayne the top WR in our league.

Crystal Ball:  I really believe that I have the team to beat in this league.  My weak position is QB where I have Donovan McNabb, as long as he does above average, this team should be in it til the end.

Team:  Front Royal Bert

Record: 4 – 3 (15 team league, each team has one bye)

Bummer Bust:  Where do I start, my first two picks were Calvin Johnson and then Steve Slaton both haven’t lived up to my high expectations.  Slaton was even sat down last week due to his fumbling problem, I am hopefully that he’ll return and have a few more 20 pts games.  “Megatron” (Johnson) has had two decent games all year (12 pts and 14 pts) and the rest of his games have either been disappointments or he has been on the bench injured.

Simply a Surprise:  Jeremy Shockey, I picked him up off the waiver wire a few weeks ago and have been pleasantly surprised.  In our league he is rated as the 8^th best TE and his last 3 weeks have been right around 10 pts a game.  It shows you how disappointed I am with this team due to Shockey’s presence here.

Crystal Ball:  In this 15 team league, 12 teams make the playoffs; it’s kind of like the NHL.  This helps me out this year as I am able to make the playoffs but I see my team making a first round exit.  I am having trouble believe they are 4 – 3 right now.  The only thing good about this team is it didn’t lose to my wife earlier in the season.  Don’t tell her but her team is definitely better than mine, did I really just write that?

So, what about you, how are your fantasy football teams doing?  Who’s been your bust or your surprise player?  Do you think your team is going to bring home the cash/pride or are you already looking ahead to next year?  Do you have any interest in parting with your PB&J for a ham and cheese?