Funk pins fantasy hopes on Jessica Simpson heartbreaker

By David Martin in Martin, Politics, Sports

Fri., Aug. 21 2009 @ 7:00AM

KCChiefs.com

Funkhouser's backup WR has yet to meet the team photographer

Drafting against other big-city mayors, Mayor Mark Funkhouser followed his heart instead of his head and put three Chiefs on his fantasy football team.

Funkhouser selected Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel to back up the Cowboys' Tony Romo. He supplemented his bench with wide receiver Amani Toomer, presumably as first lady Gloria Squitiro shouted "Reach!" in the background.

A former small-college basketball player, Funkhouser is participating in the Yahoo! Sports Mayoral Face-Off Fantasy Football League. He's designated the Police Athletic League to receive the $15,000 prize Yahoo! is reserving for the winner.

Drafting Thursday afternoon, Funk built what looks like a solid but unspectacular team.

Funk's running backs consist of Brian Westbrook and Clinton Portis. Not a bad one-two punch, if you can't have Adrian Peterson or Maurice Jones-Drew.

Romo is the NFL's seventh most valuable quarterback, according to CBSSports.com's fantasy sheet. Funk's top wide receiver, Roddy White, is rated No. 8 overall. His tight end is Heath Miller of the Steelers.

In addition to Cassel and Toomer, Funk picked Chiefs place kicker Ryan Succop (possible sleeper!). Former Missouri Tiger Jeremy Maclin is one of his backup receivers.

Funk's competitors include the mayors of Orlando, Buffalo and Oakland. Judging by the draft board, the city bosses putting winning over allegiance to hometown players. Pittsburgh's mayor picked Philadelphia QB Donovan McNabb. Tampa's mayor wanted Brett Favre.

Makes sense. Politicians are competitive people.

If Funk cares about winning, Toomer gets dropped by Week 2.