The Final Week: Playoff Scenarios

This is it! The last week where fourteen teams will compete. Six will continue on in search of the Silver Chalice (three have been determined, two are most likely, one spot is genuinely up for grabs), six will compete for next year's draft position, and two will hit fantasy golf balls early. Lets take a look at who is still in the running, and what they need to do to secure their spot in the tournament.

1. SOUTH PARK COWS (9-3)
The Cows clinched weeks ago and can fall no lower than the three seed mathematically. However, with a 218 point lead on Orgrimmar and a 292 point lead on Phoenix... that is not going to happen. The Cows would need to put up the worst overall point total of the year and the Horde the best for there to even be a scenario where they fall to the two seed. Not gonna happen either. The South Park Cows, your #1 overall seed in the Larkspur Bowl X playoffs.
NUMBERS: Clinched a playoff spot with 99% chance of a bye

2. ORGRIMMAR HORDE (8-4) & 3. PHOENIX UPRISING (8-4)
Two teams, one bye week available. Orgrimmar is in the driver's seat here, with a substantial 74 point lead on the Uprising, making it veritably a win and in (to the #2 seed) situation for the team returning from its long hiatus. If Orgrimmar stumbles against a New York team that put up monster numbers in week 12, that gives Phoenix a chance to nab the first round bye with a win over the South Philly Rum Ham. Obviously both teams winning and Phoenix outscoring Orgrimmar by 75 would also result in a Phoenix bye. If both teams lose...
NUMBERS: Both have clinched playoff spots, 65% chance one team gets a bye

4. HILL VALLEY McFLYS (7-5) & 5. PAWNEE PRIDE (7-5)
Then we see one of these teams push their way up, potentially into the bye. Hill Valley and Pawnee play each other in the season's final week, and while both teams are almost assured a playoff spot due to their massive point totals, the opportunity get a pass is legitimate. If both teams can approach 200 points the loser can still breathe relatively easy about getting seeded.
NUMBERS: 99% chance of playoffs, 35% chance victor gets a bye

6. DEPUTY VAN HALENS (6-6), 7. BINGHAMTON SNIPERS (6-6), 8. SAVANNAH PETES (6-6)
One of these teams is likeliest to get the sixth and final seed; The loser of the Deputy vs Savannah matchup is not going to be that team. Binghamton will need to be the fourth team to defeat South Park and, 80 points behind Deputy, hope for a low scoring Savannah victory. The Snipers hold a ten point edge on the Petes (after defeating them in week 12 by just five points) so this could come down to numbers. For the Van Halens it's basically win and in, so they should be going at week 13 with all they've got- no use holding players back for a playoff that may never come.
NUMBERS: 40% chance DVH is 6 seed, 30% chance SAV is 6 seed, 20% chance BIN is 6 seed

9. HCM CITY LEAD FARMERS (6-6) & 10. MANITOBA MOOSECREW (6-6)
While both of these squads have a shot at a winning season, the large gap in points between them and their competitors makes them very unlikely fits for the playoffs. The path for HCM City is most likely contingent on Savannah and South Park both winning, while outscoring Savannah by 41 points. Not impossible, just improbable. Manitoba would likely need the same scenario, except... outscoring Savannah by 198. There is almost no chance that occurs.
NUMBERS: 9% chance HCM is 6 seed, 1% chance MMC is 6 seed

Six of those teams will make the playoffs, leaving four to be relegated to the consolation bracket; The first two in will get byes through the first round of the bracket to select draft picks, assuring them of a top four selection if they want it. The bottom half of that bracket is pretty close to taking shape. The two teams at the very bottom of the standings will have no post season, and be relegated to picking their 2019 draft picks seventh and eighth, just before the playoff teams.

11. BREW-TANG KILLA BEEZ (5-7)
The Beez reeled a couple of wins off against 6-6 teams (DVH, BIN), and came within a point of defeating a third (SAV) but even if they had reached .500, their playoff odds (as the lowest scoring team in the league) would have made Manitoba's look decent. Defeating HCM this week would give them six wins for the first time ever, and beyond that, they've clinched a spot in the consolation bracket. Victories there could give them their first finish in the league's top nine. Something to build upon!!

12. NEW YORK'S FINEST (4-8)
A down year for the Finest sees them out of the playoffs for the third time in the past seven years. However, despite their poor record, a win over Orgrimmar would cement their consolation bracket bid and give them a chance to secure a top draft pick; In 2014, the only year where they picked first overall, they won the Larkspur Bowl Championship. Coming off the team's second highest scoring week ever, New York is trending in the right direction as the season wraps up.

13. MAR-A-LAGO GRABBERS (3-9) & 14. PHILADELPHIA RUM HAM (3-9)
The Rum Ham haven't made the playoffs since 2012, The Grabbers since 2011. That's three uniform changes ago for Stabe, and five for Vince. Each team aggressively takes chances but annually ends up on the outside looking in. For the Grabbers a promising season came crashing down after two weeks, while Philly started roughly, collected themselves, then fell apart. With a win and a New York loss Mar-A-Lago could conceivably sneak into the consolation bracket, but it's a 70 point longshot. More likely, these two teams are done for the year. Perhaps sticking with one moniker long term will inspire more consistency!?

X: Week Twelve Results

Two more teams clinched playoff spots behind the #1 South Park Cows, as the #2 Orgrimmar Horde and #3 Phoenix Uprising will both participate in the championship tournament. Both teams have been incredibly consistent in their yearly contention, as Orgrimmar has now clinched a berth in five of six seasons, while Phoenix makes it nine in a row- and nine of ten overall. With the Horde holding a 74 point lead over the Uprising, they have the inside track to the second bye with a win in the final week, despite their head to head loss to Phoenix in week five. Neither team can finish worse than fourth overall this regular season.

At 7-5 Hill Valley and Pawnee are nearly assured of a seed as well, and could range all the way up to the two seed if both Orgrimmar and Phoenix fall. The winner of their matchup shouldn't do worse than the #4 seed, while the loser should have the points to edge in as a road team, barring disaster.

Then comes the field at 6-6, jockeying for the sixth and final playoff berth: DVH, BIN, SAV, HCM, and MMC. Deputy currently has a substantial points lead, but will still need to win to get in. A loss to Savannah and the Petes have a good opportunity to nab a second straight playoff appearance for just the first time in franchise history; They'll also have to overcome a ten point deficit to the Snipers, should Binghamton win a game that is meaningless for South Park in all but the most superficial ways. HCM City and Manitoba will need a win, a points windfall, and some help to score a glass slipper. We'll examine playoff scenarios more in depth with a later post!

SCOREBOARD:

POWER OUTPUT:

1. NYF 251: Everything clicked far too late for the team to make a championship run, but another win clinches a consolation bracket berth and a chance to score the top pick in 2019.
2. PAW 250: Rattling off three straight wins against 2018 playoff teams is the best way to respond to adversity. The Pride are in- can they roll in with a month's worth of momentum?
3. PHX 233: Sixth in overall points would be the team's worst finish in the stat since 2009, but you play for the playoffs and the Uprising are there for a ninth year in a row.
4. ORG 227: The return of the Horde has pushed the divide between the haves and have nots into the light. Orgrimmar has it, and they're a frightening playoff proposition for any team. 
5. MAL 207: The Grabbers continue to be one of the unluckiest squads in the league, losing despite being top five in points, and now almost certainly not playing past week twelve.
6. MMC 200: This bounceback appears to be too little too late; The second half swoon killed them, but the week one result reversal looms large on their microscopic playoff odds. 
7. DVH 200: Winning either of the past two contests would have put Deputy in a great playoff position, but they dropped both and now week thirteen is gonna be SUPER DRAMATIC.
8. BIN 196: When they've been good they've been very good and when they've lost they've been bad. A high score and a Deputy loss are their direct route to potential playoff glory.
9. SAV 191: A state adjustment reversal is likely out of reach, and three straight losses makes their five game win streak a distant memory. But they've still got a chance in their final game!
10. SPC 186: That was the Cows without the Gurley experience. Off his bye, tack 20+ points onto this score and that's likely South Park's worst case scenario in a post season matchup.
11. PRH 184: He's dead Jim! The team hasn't scored over 200 points since the first half of the season and they're 1-5 over that span. Best case, they avoid last place in their final game.
12. HVM 181: Picking a very good time for a clunker, the team's #2 scoring team gets a fortunate victory and is all but assured their playoff spot regardless of week 13's outcome.
13. HCM 173: The regret of this effort is mitigated somewhat by their opponents scoring bonanza, but the Lead Farmer's looked like a dark horse coming into wk 12; Now their chances are slim. 
14. BKB 163: With a chance to play spoiler to the McFlys the Killa Beez bungled it. Winning their last game would make this season more successful than any Oakwood Driver campaign.

TEAM OF THE WEEK:
QB KIRK COUSINS (DVH) 28.28
RB CHISTIAN McCAFFREY (NYF) 47.70
WR AMARI COOPER (PHX) 42.10
TE ERIC EBRON (NYF) 21.70
DL JJ WATT (PRH) 21.00
DL CAMERON JORDAN (NYF) 21.00
LB ANTHONY WALKER (BIN) 21.50
CB KYLE FULLER (HCM) 23.00
SS JORDAN POYER (ORG) 26.00
K KAI'IMI FAIRBAIRN (NYF) 12.00

LBX: Captains

X: Week Eleven Results

After a hiccup with the scoreboard, we've got some things straightened out, and some more things to straighten out over the final two matchups of the season.

The South Park Cows continue to roll, clinching their playoff spot and all but clinching a first round bye. Winning either of their final two games will do it- and even if they dropped both, it's likely their point total would still get them a deserved break. Meanwhile Orgrimmar and Phoenix are scuffling for the two seed, with the Horde holding a slight edge in points and remaining schedule; Orgrimmar will face the long eliminated Grabbers and Finest to close the year while the Uprising see the aforementioned Cows before taking on South Philly. Each can assure their playoff status with a win, but that two seed is the prize.

After that Hill Valley, Deputy, Pawnee, Savannah, and HCM City all rate at 6-5. If a team can win both of their final matchups they're going to make the playoffs, but losing either will put them on perilous footing. The contender's remaining schedules vary, but every 6-5 team sees at least one other contender except HCM City, who plays NYF and BKB. Deputy and Pawnee get each other in this penultimate matchup, then get another playoff contender in the finale, so this week's winner should be in a good spot, while the loser falls behind the 8-ball.

Still not technically dead at 5-6 are Binghamton, Manitoba, and Brew-tang, though each will need to win out, score a lot of points, and get some help to be a playoff team. Manitoba has the double edged sword of facing two non-contenders (PRH and MAL) which theoretically gives them better opportunities to win but no chance to pull their opponents down; Bighamton and Brew-tang both see a pair of playoff contenders in their final draw, so winning out would have a secondary effect of pulling down some adversaries.

New York, South Philly, and Mar-A-Lago are in a three way tie for last place at 3-8. Each is playing to avoid the bottom two spots on the ladder, and also to play spoiler: Each has at least one chance to knock off a contender and diminish their playoff hopes here in the closing weeks. In all likelihood two of these teams will see their season end after week thirteen- winning will keep the game going.

SCOREBOARD:

POWER OUTPUT:

1. HVM 259: The McFlys score their best week in franchise history, but lose their prized tight end for the season and will be without Aaron Donald & Brandin Cooks due to a week 12 bye.
2. PAW 240: Another tremendous week from this offense has the Pride rolling, but they need to fill a Kelce sized hole in their lineup this week to stay in playoff position.
3. HCM 225: The Lead-Farmers going all in on Chris Jones has worked out well, and the team is poised to return to the playoffs with very winnable matchups left on the docket.
4. ORG 214:  Orgrimmar scores big on Monday night to topple Manitoba and keep a step ahead of the pack. Sneaky team MVP candidate? Kicker #1 Will Lutz.
5. SPC 209: Knocking off the defending champions would allow them to coast the next few weeks while optimizing for weeks 15 and 16, hoping Kerryon Johnson is healthy by then.
6. BKB 208: Their 5th win gives the Beez a chance to do better than the Oakwood Drivers ever did. They might have to do it without Mitch Trubinsky on Thanksgiving.
7. BIN 207: The Snipers played well enough to win most weeks, but could not overcome a relentless Pawnee attack. They head into a must-win with QB Jared Goff on bye.
8. PHX 203: Phoenix has been steadfastly adequate in their title defense, scoring well (190-220) in eight of eleven weeks, but only higher once and lower twice. 
9. MAL 200: The Grabbers have made a respectable push in recent weeks after their mid-season nose dive; They had the points they needed on the bench in week eleven.
10. MMC 192: Losing three in a row (and 5 of 6) has the Crew laid low. Winning out may not be enough, as the team is dead last in points scored on the season and will struggle to tiebreak.
11. SAV 177: Sammy Watkins playing a decoy role did not help the team in the fourth quarter of a winnable game; Four of their five losses were against the league's current top four teams.
12. DVH 168: Woof. The running backs and linebackers are stellar, but the rest of the team fails to inspire. The receiver group is especially meek, as the team will actually feel the loss of LaFell.
13. PRH 167: Another very bad group of receivers give this team a weekly toothlessness that spoil Alvin Kamara, Matt Ryan, and a solid upgrade of the defense.
14. NYF 162: Do you see a pattern here? The receivers are deplorable, and that's a fatal flaw in this iteration of gridiron. Expect the 2019 draft to be receiver heavy at the top.

TEAM OF THE WEEK:
QB PATRICK MAHOMES (NYF) 35.02
RB SAQUON BARKLEY (PAW) 37.60
WR TYREEK HILL (BKB) 46.45
TE TRAVIS KELCE (PAW) 26.20
DL CHRIS JONES (HCM) 27.00
LB ALEC OGLETREE (NYF) 28.25
CB KAREEM JACKSON (SPC) 21.50
SS JUSTIN REID (HVM) 27.55
K MATT BRYANT (PRH) 17.00

TRADE 21: Tick Tock

Time is running out for exchanges to be made. The Uprising deal a second defensive lineman for a flex option as they prepare for their playoff run, while Pawnee looks to raise the roof on their defense.

PHOENIX ACQUIRES WR DJ MOORE
PAWNEE ACQUIRES DE JOEY BOSA

The Uprising deal their 4th round pick (and the first defensive lineman drafted) before he plays a snap in their uniform, owing to a pesky foot injury that had ruled him out until this week- he's currently listed as questionable. After dealing his erstwhile replacement (a dominant Danielle Hunter) for Evan Engram earlier this week, the team will stick with waiver claim Chandler Jones up front for the season's duration. Rookie DJ Moore was a 10th round pick by the Pride (and 24th overall in the NFL draft this past spring) has not set the world on fire, but he provides another depth option as the WR at the top of the Phoenix Depth chart (AJ Green) and the bottom (DaVante Parker) are both nursing injuries without concrete timetables. In an ideal world Moore will never leave the bench for Phoenix, but more likely he'll rotate with Parker and one of the team's tight ends (Jordan Reed or Evan Engram) at some point in the coming weeks. His end of season slate is remarkably friendly, with plus matchups every week down the stretch.

Bosa returns to Pawnee, where he spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons being a sack machine. Cameron Jordan has underwhelmed this season, and while Bradley Chubb has come on as of late, he's taking snaps at linebacker as well. The Pride don't really address a pressing need here, but get a sentimental favorite with upper echelon upside; The team will hope he regains his old form right quick, while Anthony Miller, Christian Kirk, Brandon Marshall, and newly acquired TJ Jones will take turns slotting behind the team's premier weapons Jason Kelce, Julio Jones, and Antonio Brown.

With just over three hours until the deadline, teams will have to pump the midnight oil to get any more trades done. After that, waiver claims and free agent investments will be the only way to adjust, augment, and optimize for the remaninder of the 2018 season.

TRADE 20: Huntin' & Flexin'

The Grabbers and Uprising exchanged players this morning, with two headed to Mar-A-Lago and one coming back to Phoenix.

MAR-A-LAGO ACQUIRES DE DANIELLE HUNTER & WR MICHAEL CRABTREE
PHOENIX ACQUIRES TE EVAN ENGRAM

The Grabbers gain the top defensive lineman in the game to date (adjusting for Aaron Donald's impending bye week) who has scored a sack in all but one of his games- and a TFL in all of them. Danielle Hunter was a force for the Uprising, but after investing a fourth round pick in Joey Bosa (0 games played to date) and then their top waiver claim on Chandler Jones, Phoenix had to move someone. He'll reinforce the pass rush on a team looking to play spoiler in the late season, as well as solidify a spot in the consolation bracket.

The team also added veteran receiver Michael Crabtree who has shown a bankable floor but not much in the way of upside, scoring between 10.3 and 11.9 in five of nine games, 19.8 once, and between 4.9 and 5.3 three times. Coming off a bye week and with the potential for a new quarterback throwing the ball, Crabtree's stock is unlikely to waver too much in either direction over the course of the season, though if he can cut down on the drops there is still some more production to be had from his target share.

The Uprising's addition of Evan Engram gives them a second underperforming Tight End, as he joins Jordan Reed in jumbo packages. Each player has shown high upside and a penchant for making the sort of big plays that are rare at the position, but neither has been able capitalize on a regular basis this year. Phoenix will hope at least one gets rolling, while also substantiating depth at the spot before the deadline: the wire is a scrap heap of broken dreams unlikely to yield any hope to a team that loses its starter in the end game. Should the Phoenix receivers get (and stay) healthy, AJ Green, Amari Cooper, Allen Robinson II, and Doug Baldwin would likely be their starting four, rendering Crabtree superfluous, and a Reed/Engram platoon a productive coin flip.

X: Week Ten Results

Ten games in the book for then tenth season of Larkspur Bowl Action! There was a great divide between winners and losers in nearly every matchup this round: Eight teams went over 200 points this week and seven of them won. Six teams scored under 170 this week, all of them lost.

We've got the trade deadline impending, and after a slow week on the market, the hot stove is blazing. Late season byes are wrecking havoc on depth charts, injuries are undermining the best laid plans, and total randos are coming from nowhere to put up double digits. FINAL THREE WEEKS, TIME FOR THE SEASON TO GO OFF THE RAILS!

The only team to punch a playoff ticket is the #1 South Park Cows, who hold a two game lead on the field and would need to screw up royally to not end up with a first round bye. On the other end of the spectrum, New York and Philadelphia join Mar-A-Lago at the bottom of the standings, all three teams sitting at 3-7 and incapable of a winning record. They are now competing against each other for a spot in the consolation bracket, and an opportunity to select a premium draft pick.

So for everyone else, there are five playoff spots and a bye week up fro grabs. Four teams sit in a dead heat at 6-4, (DVH, ORG, SAV, PHX) controlling their destinies but needing to win 2 of 3 to ensure their spot at the dance. Five teams squared at 5-5 are all hoping to win out, (HVM, PAW, BIN, HCM, MMC) which is, of course, mathematically impossible- but one or two should make the jump to the post season. And clinging to hope at 4-6 are the #11 Brew-tang Killa Beez, who will need to win out while scoring 240+ every week to make their first ever trip to the playoffs. 

SCOREBOARD

Week 10 Matchups

• Phoenix Uprising215.20Pawnee Pride249.77
  FinalRecap
• Binghamton Snipers148.72Brew-tang Killa Beez238.48
  FinalRecap
• Deputy Van Halens244.22New York's Finest168.99
  FinalRecap
• Hill Valley McFlys168.06Mar-a-Lago Grabbers222.67
  FinalRecap
• HoChiMinhLeadFarmers207.42Manitoba Moosecrew138.87
  FinalRecap
• Orgrimmar Horde220.47South Philly Rum Ham164.60
  FinalRecap
• Savannah Petes161.16South Park Cows264.34
  FinalRecap

POWER OUTPUT

1. SPC 264: The Cows have run roughshod over the competition this year; Even in their two losses they scored over 228 points. Anything but a second trophy will disappoint.
2. PAW 250: Hitting on all cylinders, the Pride put back to back losses behind them, drop the defending champions handily, and move within spitting distance of the playoff race.
3. DVH 244: The Van Halens scored 100 more points than last week and win again despite jettisoning their franchise quarterback. We'll see if the Fitzmagic continues.
4. BKB 239: They sure didn't play like a team that had given up on their season in week 10. If Trubinsky can keep this up the rest of the way, they could Cinderella this thing after all.
5. MAL: 223: Welcome back, David Johnson! Off the schneid, their franchise cornerstone dominated and may be auditioning to return as 2019's first round pick.
6. ORG 220: The Horde have bounced back strong after every loss, and really shown the sort of steadiness that will make them a team nobody wants to face in the playoffs.
7. PHX 215: In a season of good fortune, they take a hard luck loss here, playing well but running into a desperate Pawnee squad that lives to fight another day. So it goes.
8. HCM 207: Don't look now but the Lead Farmers have won 4 of 6 and face three of the worst teams in the league down the stretch, as they seek a return ticket to the big game.
9. NYF 169: The Finest have seen their opponent score 219 or more in 8 of 10 games this season, and gone 1-7 in those matchups, ruining their 2018 campaign. Sights set on 2019!
10. HVM 168: With the chance to take control of their playoff destiny against a reeling squad on a seven game losing streak the McFlys crumpled and have five impending byes on the docket.
11. PRH 165: The team's offense has been sound all year- save a depleted receiving corps that has never really improved. The squad's consolation play may yield an elite WR1 next time around.
12. SAV 161: Losing by more than a hundred points was bad, but there is no reprieve from the byes: 11 to come. All but 4 players on the team had their byes in weeks 9-12.
13. BIN 149: The offense was adequate, while the defense wilted and no one on the team could come up with an inspired performance against a lesser foe.  
14. MMC 139: Without a big game from Odell Beckham, this might have ended up the league's worst performance of the season. Instead it was just, really, really, really bad.

TEAM OF THE WEEK

images are a pain. THAT I WILL ENDURE LATER.

QB MITCH TRUBINSKY - BKB (39.5 pts)

RB NICK CHUBB - PAW (44.0 pts)

WR TYREEK HILL - BKB (31.8 pts)

TE ZACH ERTZ - BKB (37.2 pts)

DL AARON DONALD - HVM (21.5 pts)

LB LEIGHTON VANDER ESCH - DVH (32.9 pts)

CB ELI APPLE - SPC (17.95 pts)

SS HASEAN CLINTON-DIX - MAL (18.0 pts)

K WILL LUTZ - ORG (18.5 pts)

LBX: One Week Until the Deadline

The LBX season has just over a week remaining in trade season:

The official deadlines is Sunday, November 18th at 2:59am EST

Mar-A-Lago is already eliminated from contention thanks to a seven game slide, and Brew-tang, South Philly, and New York will be barred from competing for the Silver Chalice the next time they lose. As such, all four teams could theoretically already be competing for draft position before the deadline. However, with the Consolation Bowl incentivizing the post season for all teams, everyone should still be building a roster that competes weekly, with an eye towards peaking in weeks 13-16. The 13th and 14th place finishers in the regular season will not compete in post season play, and may be bumped to last selection in the draft... or potentially relegated in future seasons.

Here's hoping that all teams give their best effort down the stretch run, and make the moves that most directly benefit their end game!

X: Week Nine Results

A couple of tight matchups on either end of the spectrum resulted in teams pulling away from the pack in opposite directions: #1 South Park eked out a victory over #9 Pawnee in a high scoring game to reach the seven win plateau first. Meanwhile, #14 Mar-A-Lago drops their seventh straight in heartbreaking fashion, inched out in a low scoring affair by the #5 Deputy Van Halens and officially being eliminated from the playoff race- barring stat corrections, of course!

#2 Savannah and #3 Phoenix control their destinies at 6-3, while five 5-4 teams (HVM, DVH, ORG, BIN, MMC) jockey for three spots and a couple of 4-5 teams (PAW & HCM) will need to be nearly perfect down the stretch to clinch a berth.

At 3-6, New York, South Philly, and Brew-tang would need to run the table while scoring an extraordinary number of points to sneak into the 6 seed. It's not impossible, just improbable! Look for all three teams to go all-in this week as a loss would eliminate them from contention. Elsewise they may decide to start maneuvering for a consolation bracket end game, where they optimize their teams in an effort to win the right to select their draft pick for next year.

NOTE: A reversal of the DVH v MAL matchup would tighten up the back end of the standings considerably.

SCOREBOARD:

Week 9 Matchups

• Phoenix Uprising199.44Brew-tang Killa Beez145.88
  FinalRecap
• Binghamton Snipers231.94New York's Finest163.23
  FinalRecap
• Deputy Van Halens146.26Mar-a-Lago Grabbers143.17
  FinalRecap
• Hill Valley McFlys241.21Manitoba Moosecrew160.90
  FinalRecap
• HoChiMinhLeadFarmers226.05Orgrimmar Horde172.28
  FinalRecap
• Pawnee Pride214.08South Park Cows227.52
  FinalRecap
• Savannah Petes204.41South Philly Rum Ham193.58
  FinalRecap

POWER OUTPUT:

1. HVM 241: Having alternated wins and losses to date, he team has a chance to feast on four straight bottom feeders in the last month, and with a ton of points the 2nd bye is in play.
2. BIN 232: Reeling off their third straight win, the Snipers are still outside the playoff picture for the moment, but only just, and they're cresting at a great time to contend once again.
3. SPC 228: Effectively clinching a playoff berth, the Cows can focus on optimizing their roster for the playoffs while trying to ensure a first round bye. Drew Brees is unbelievable. 
4. HCM 226: With the win the shorten long playoff odds- but a long list of bye week players in the final month makes them obvious trade candidates; A shrewd deal could get them in.
5. PAW 214: The Pride lose their 3rd game when scoring over 200 points, tough luck in a lean year. This roster should provide plenty of points- winning is up to the fates.
6. SAV 204: Don't look now but Savannah have won five straight, surging up to the two seed. Dalvin Cook's return to health leaves a single hole on the roster: Tight End.
7. PHX 199: AJ Green's injury might not be the worst news in the world- if the team can split and he's moving at full speed come the playoffs. Otherwise, worst news in the world.
8. PRH 194: Rough loss in a tight game means the team has to win out. A tall order, but the roster is in feisty shape here in the end game and will be fierce in one bracket or the other.
9. ORG 172: The Horde's routine has been a dud followed by three strong efforts, so if they can cycle through that two more times they'll contend for the Silver Chalice.
10. NYF 163: The team's gamble on lesser wideouts failed them this time out, but their QB/RB engine (and tactical churning at wideout) could be a recipe to win the consolation bracket.
11. MMC 161: Three poor efforts int he last four weeks have brought three losses and a drop out of the top six. Still over .500% the team has time to right the ship; that time is now.
12. DVH 146: Only just winners, the Van Halens' fortunate turn still relies on them scoring points again. They've scored 188 or less in four of the last five since dropping 305 in week four.
13. BKB 146: Demoralized after back to back tough losses, the Killa Beez have been listless in the two weeks since as they drop their fourth in a row, and closer to a 6th straight losing season.
14. MAL 143: Back to back close defeats mean seven failures in a row for the Grabbers. Lots of boom and bust on the roster, started with big booms, now a long, long bust.

TEAM OF THE WEEK:
Image coming... eventually.
QB Drew Brees (SPC) 34.54 pts
RB Kareem Hunt (SAV) 37.00 pts
WR Michael Thomas (HCM) 41.40 pts
TE Travis Kelce (PAW) 27.20 pts
DL Danielle Hunter (PHX) 41.60 pts
LB Tahir Whitehead (MAL) 21.50 pts
CB Steven Nelson (ORG) 21.90 pts
SS TJ McDonald (HCM) 28.00 pts
K Will Lutz (ORG) 11.00 pts

TRADE 17, 18, 19 Hill Valley AND South Philly Two-Step

The McFlys made two back-to-back deals today, taking Jamal Adams from Deputy and then landing him in South Philly in the process; The Rum Ham responded with a second deal of their own. All in all, they add two elite IDPs and two receivers (one gainfully employed) while the other three teams each receiver a premier player along with a second supplementary piece.

PHILADELPHIA ACQUIRES:
S JAMAL ADAMS & WR TAJAE SHARPE (FROM HVM)
CB DENZEL WARD & WR DEZ BRYANT (FROM PHX)

HILL VALLEY ACQUIRES: TE OJ HOWARD & WR TAYLOR GABRIEL

DEPUTY ACQUIRES: S JUSTIN SIMMONS & WR MIKE WILLIAMS

PHOENIX ACQUIRES: WR ALLEN ROBINSON & S MIKE ADAMS

The Rum Ham get, to date, #2 SS Jamal Adams and #2 CB Denzel Ward, who have both been an unstoppable point machines in the secondary this year. Besides their week 11 byes, there's no reason to expect anything else from either, giving the Rum Ham a stable presence at the back end of their defense for four of the remaining five games. Tajae Sharpe has seen his role increase as the season has gone on, and had himself a breakout just before his week eight bye. The savvy add by Hill Valley ends up being a sign and swap deal, and he'll slot right into the Rum Ham lineup. All is quiet on the Dez Bryant front, but with the NFL trade deadline in the rearview, he represents the last remaining free agent on the market for a contender.

For the McFlys, OJ Howard is establishing himself as one of the best all around tight ends in the league and profiles as a quality every week option at a weak position. He's unlikely to approach the Kelce/Ertz tier, but should provide a quality floor and considerable red zone upside for the McFlys, who had floundered at the position until adding a recently healthy Jack Doyle. Taylor Gabriel is a home run threat with a couple of big weeks to his credit, but is more of a bye week flex flyer than a set and forget weapon.

The Van Halens take a mild downgrade at the safety position in moving from Adams to Simmons, but that's only in terms of points already accumulated- the talent is there for Simmons to match Adams rest of season, or perhaps surpass him. For this drop the teams adds blue chip Mike Williams, a big dynamic receiver who suffers primarily from infrequent usage. Capable of being a premier asset in the future, Williams' growing rapport should only increase faith in him, gradually resulting into more regular looks in all scenarios. More than any other team involved in the day's transactions, this was a deal to solidify the roster's foundation rather than raise the roof.

Phoenix, after striking out on Jamal Adams and OJ Howard, respond by sending rookie sensation Denzel Ward away for a struggling and hurting Allen Robinson. Robinson has one sensational season to his credit (2015) and had a decent follow up campaign before getting injured on his first catch in 2017 and joining a new offense in 2018. The ceiling is obviously there, but his capability and capacity to reach it are both in question- and with lingering groin trouble, the 3-5 Rum Ham moved him for more immediate results, while replacing his potential upside with Dez. Mike Adams is a journeyman, a solid player that won't wow anyone. He was rendered redundant by the other safety named Adams added a few minutes earlier.