Thursday, October 31, 2019

XI: Week Eight Recap

Running late on this one- The Champs survive undefeated in the most underwhelming matchup of the week, HCM puts a top five score on the board, and seven teams stay at .500 or better. With six playoff spots, we're getting to do or die time; Mar-A-Lago and South Philly both need to run the table to finish over .500, while the five teams left at 3-5 have perilously minimal room for error if they're going to secure a playoff berth. Five weeks to go! LIGHTNING ROUND!






Week 8 Matchups

 
WEEK EIGHT POWER RANKINGS:
  1. HCM 281: The league's most prolific RB duo leads the charge
  2. PAW 255: 6 of 8 defensive players scored single digits... and it didn't matter at all
  3. SPC 243: Defense, tight ends, and RBs combine for power football victory
  4. SAV 235: Hard luck loss despite Cooper Kupp going absolutely bananas (220 yards)
  5. DVH 208: Vital triumph for a team finding their identity on offense and defense
  6. MAL 195: The team's best effort since this slide began in week 3 couldn't right them
  7. CRT 194: TJ Watt sealed the deal on MNF one weapon on a vicious defensive front
  8. BIN 189: Winning with lots of competence & little excellence; But Juju's best!
  9. PRH 188: A big day on offense was spoiled by lackluster defense at LB and CB
  10. PHX 185: Only the 1st round picks produced on offense- team really missed Tevin
  11. HVM 178: A win is a win even when it is ugly, and this was ugly. (8-0 though.)
  12. NYF 167: Without Lamar Jackson this offense fell flat with lots of tough matchups
  13. OTB 164: On the grand stage Ohio was unprepared, with 2 holes in the lineup + Higbee
  14. JSC 140: If you doubled this score, Jersey still loses. Real bad.
WEEK EIGHT ALL-STAR TEAM:
  • QB Deshaun Watson DVH (29.46) 325 yards, 3 touchdowns
  • RB Aaron Jones HCM (47.5) 20 touches, 226 yards, 2 touchdowns
  • WR Mike Evans PAW (45.7) 11 receptions, 198 yards, 2 touchdowns
  • TE Austin Hooper SPC (17.2) 6 receptions, 65 yards, touchdown
  • DL Nick Bosa PAW (35.3) 4 tackles, 3 TFL, 3 sack, PD, INT, 46 yards
  • LB Luke Kuechly SPC (26.05) 10 tackles, INT, PD, TFL
  • CB Logan Ryan SAV (28.0) 8 tackles, 1.0 Sack, 2 PD, INT, FF
  • SS Eric Reid SPC (23.0) 8 tackles, 3 TFL, 1.0 Sack
  • K Jason Myers JSC (12.0) 40-49 FG, 50+ FG, 3 PAT
B-DIVISION POWER RANKINGS:
  1. MANITOBA MOOSECREW 2040.65 (+273.20)
  2. NITTANY LIONS 1919.58 (+251.48)
  3. BREWTANG KILLA BEEZ 1828.30 (+286.11)
  4. TORONTO LES TRES PETITES 1788.89 (+198.96
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Saturday, October 26, 2019

Trade 11: Carousel of Doom

The old two for one special, involving three veteran running backs that have all flirted with top billing in their careers. This time it's Phoenix consolidating depth for upside, with Mar-A-Lago plugging two holes at once.

PHOENIX ACQUIRES: RB MARK INGRAM
MAR-A-LAGO ACQUIRES: RB CARLOS HYDE & RB TEVIN COLEMAN

All three players changed NFL uniforms this off-season, leaving their roles uncertain coming into this season; All three have shown an aptitude in their new offenses, with Mark Ingram putting up the highest point total of the three to date. He's on his way to Phoenix, but is on bye this week; Afterwards, expect him to rotate in for Saquon Barkley and David Johnson, as they deal with their various ailments, and still have bye weeks to come.

Meanwhile Carlos Hyde has been thoroughly competent as a workhorse two down back, handling the lion's share of carries. After tallying 59 receptions in 2017 he's not seen much target volume in recent years, capping his upside. Grinding out double digit carries and pounding the goal line has utility and quality floor, with double digit fantasy points in five of seven games, he's a respectable starter. Likewise, Tevin Coleman has netted double digit totes in all three games since returning from injury- his carries have grown each week, although his point totals have come down. Nonetheless he's got a healthy floor and some added upside, playing in the league's most run heavy offense, with a three down skillset on the large side of a platoon.

In an optimal lineup, Hyde and Coleman are probably starting every week for the Grabbers, while the Uprising are likely hoping Ingram's playtime is limited. All things considered this has the potential to be a win-win deal that addresses both team's needs, with any of the three running backs possessing the ability to score the most points over the rest of the season. How it shakes out, obviously, remains to be seen.
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Tuesday, October 22, 2019

XI: Week Seven Recap

With monsoons impacting the gridiron all over the country, week seven only saw three teams eclipse the 200 point mark, and they were last year's top three finishers: Phoenix, Pawnee, and Hill Valley. The McFlys even flirted with the record book, ultimately placing in fourth overall pending stat adjustments. It's the sixth time a team has gone over 250 points this year, as our record book continues to fill.

This sets up the biggest game of the season to date, the #1 Hill Valley McFlys (7-0) squaring up with the #2 Ohio Tommy Boys (6-1) as they position themselves for supremacy. Hill Valley is already virtually locked into a playoff spot, but with a win here they mathematically clinch, while putting two games between their nearest competition for a first round bye. Meanwhile, while Ohio is unlikely to usurp the #1 seed in one fell swoop (given the points lead) a win here puts them in lockstep for one of the two byes, and therefore, in control of their seeding the rest of the way.

Pawnee is sitting pretty at 5-2, placing in third despite only banking the ninth most points to date. That one game buffer (along with a propensity for optimizing his lineup over the course of the season) bodes well for a Pride team still looking to hoist its first title. Behind them Savannah gets over .500 with a win and HCM stays over .500 despite a loss, their second in a row. Both teams control their own playoff destiny, but have seen their point totals regress since gangbuster starts.

The mire of mediocrity stretches long after that! Five 3-4 teams are elbowing each other for the sixth playoff spot, with Jersey currently occupying it; With six games to go there's time for any of these squads to ascend, but none of them can afford more than a single misstep without leaving their fate up to chance. Four more teams sit at 2-5, highlighted by the ill fortuned South Park Cows, fifth in overall points but requiring an almost perfect stretch run to get into the big tournament. Likewise, barring a Cinderella story, this group is mostly fighting to get into the consolation bracket (and dictate their 2020 draft slot) and to avoid relegation to the B-League, where Manitoba currently holds the pole.




Week 7 Matchups

 

WEEK SEVEN POWER RANKINGS:
  1. HVM 283: Hill Valley scores huge despite having their top two receivers on bye week. Record setting scores have often been followed by letdowns; Lets see if the McFlys can keep it up!
  2. PHX 212: Despite David Johnson retreating to the sideline after a carry, the Uprising Defense gets the team back within a victory of even keel in Saquon's Phoenix debut.
  3. PAW 205: The Pride got the win and got their QB for the remainder of the season- look for them to score north of 200 points more often than not the rest of the way.
  4. NYF 195: Most weeks, the fourth highest score in the league is good for a win, but Lamar Jackson and the Finest hit some hard luck; All 4 losses came with opponents scoring 210+
  5. BIN 194: The Snipers get a much needed victory despite seeing their top two wideouts on bye; Their QB streaming hits in week 7, as Josh Allen scored well in his return to center.
  6. SAV 188: Bouncing back after a dreadful week 7, The Pete's thin RB depth is about to be tested by injury, byes, and suspension. Quality (but precarious) WR depth has carried them.
  7. OTB 175: Winning despite ignoring a glaring hole at RB2, the boys give a middle finger to convention on their way to 6-1. Now's their chance to knock the champ off the pedestal. 
  8. SPC 173: Appearing to be truly accursed, the Cow defense stood tall while their offense wilted. Will they grin and bear it, or are there trades on the way for a team that needs wins?
  9. JSC 172: In a winnable matchup, the team's recent acquisitions struggled to grasp the playbook: Alshon, Freeman, Melvin, and Demario all scored single digits this time around.
  10. CRT 168: Fortunate to come away with a win, Zeke Elliot and the Rudy-Toos have opened up shop, looking to move perceived wideout depth for upgrades elsewhere. We'll see!
  11. HCM 150: Yikes. In a loss reminiscent of week one, the Lead Farmers are non-competitive and lose by triple digits. With McCaffrey back from bye, expect them to revert to form.
  12. PRH 147: A three game win streak was there for the taking, but Matt Ryan faltering then falling to injury nipped that right in the bud, a real shame for fans of underdogs.
  13. DVH 147: Starting a rookie TE in his debut could have caught lightning in a bottle but instead it caught nothing in a bottle or otherwise, and the Van Halens are really scuffling at this point.
  14. MAL 113: The good part about hitting bottom is there's nowhere to go but up! The early Mahomes injury ensured this would be a miserable week, but the defense hardly showed up.
WEEK SEVEN ALL-STARS TEAM:
  • QB Aaron Rodgers HVM (48.16) Declaring loudly that he is still the best, Rodgers threw for five touchdowns and ran for a sixth, good for 435 total yards. YOU'RE STILL THE ONE.
  • RB Dalvin Cook HVM (30.9) On 26 touches 149 yards and a paid of scores, Cook has answered concerns about his durability without sacrificing a bit of playmaking ability.
  • WR Marvin Jones HVM (40.40) If you were wondering how the McFlys put together such a juggernaut of a week, you have your answer. Ten catches, four scores, 93 yards on the day.
  • TE Darren Waller NYF (33.20) Quickly ascending to the position's elite ranks, Waller caught seven passes for 126 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He seems quite legitimate. 
  • DE Nick Bosa PAW (23.50) 7 total tackles, 4 for a loss (including a sack) the younger Bosa has sandwiched a pair of monster games around a near goose egg, but consistency will come.
  • LB Chandler Jones PAW (34.50) Five tackles, 3 TFL, and four sacks make Chandler the chief disruptor this week after several relatively quiet turns. Total gamechanger when he's on.
  • CB Logan Ryan SAV (21.00) Eight tackles, three passes defensed, and a forced fumble for the CB who has scored big in four games, and adequately in the other four, great positional value.
  • SS Ronnie Harrison BIN (23.25) Swatting three balls, picking one off, picking one up, advancing the ball 35 yards and also notching 3 tackles, Harrison was a human highlight reel.
  • K Brett Maher PRH (48.16) Three field goals (one of the 50+ variety) and four PATs.
B-DIVISION POWER RANKINGS:
  1. MANITOBA MOOSECREW 1767.44 (+223.90)
  2. NITTANY LIONS 259.64 (+259.64)
  3. TORONTO LES TRES PETITES 1589.83 (+190.02)
  4. BREW-TANG KILLA BEEZ 1542.19 (+249.25)
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Monday, October 21, 2019

Trade 10: Fresh Brees

On the morning of week seven, two players swapped uniforms. Only one was ready to suit up, although the other figures to be a key part of the late season push for the other.

PAWNEE ACQUIRES: QB DREW BREES
CARMEL ACQUIRES: RB DEVIN SINGLETARY

Carmel drafted Brees in the fifth round of the draft, then doubled up with Tom Brady in the 20th round; After Brees went down with a thumb injury, Brady's stepped up and been masterful in five of six games, with his seventh scheduled for tonight. Given the finicky nature of the QB Market, the cost on Brees was going to be tough to tamp down- here, the Rudy-Toos nab a RB3 with RB2 upside in Devin Singletary, a 7th rounder in our most recent draft.

Like Brees, Singletary was injured in week two, though he returned last night to underwhelming totals- the rookie is in a time share in a limited offense, though he should be given plenty of opportunities to nab a bellcow role if he can stay healthy and prove worthy. While Zeke is the main man in Carmel, Singletary and Jordan Howard are both healthy (if low-end) plays. This week Carmel went with the new guy and he disappointed, although it looks like it won't impact their victory this time.

For Pawnee, this appears to be the end of their QB odyssey- pending Brees return. After starting the year with Baker Mayfield, they traded for Daniel Jones, and now find their horse. After getting single digits at the QB spot in 5 of 7 games (and somehow, also winning 5 of 7 games) this is a major upgrade at a position of need, and should cement Pawnee as a threat to go back to the big game in 2019.

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Thursday, October 17, 2019

Trade 9: Setting the WR1 Market

A major deal comes down the pipe between an old trade magnate and a burgeoning one- Pawnee and Jersey link up for an exchange.

JERSEY ACQUIRES: WR ALSHON JEFFERY & RB DEVONTA FREEMAN
PAWNEE ACQUIRES: WR MIKE EVANS

Evans and Freeman were both second round picks, selected back to back (Evans 22nd overall and Freeman 23rd overall by Carmel, who then swapped him for 10th round pick Courtland Sutton) meaning that at first glance, Freeman's stock has fallen to include Alshon Jeffery in the deal. However, after a slow start, Freeman has increased his production every week, showcasing the RB1 ceiling he was drafted for in his lone appearance with the Pride. So that first glance can mostly be discarded... LETS TAKE ANOTHER GLANCE.


Instead it looks like this deal is more about the scarcity of high end WRs when compared to the relative wealth of healthy and productive running backs to date, and what they cost to acquire.

Mike Evans has had a pair of duds, a pair of high end performances, an adequate performance, and a truly monster game to start the season. While Pawnee would likely prefer to get less variance week to week, they know they're getting a game changer at the position, as he's worn their colors in recent seasons, and is set to don the blue and red again. While Devonta Freeman and Alshon Jeffery are probably more accurately slotted in the second tier at their positions, Evans has a healthy track record of being top grade year after year. It's putting all the eggs in one basket- but a really sturdy basket, as Evans has played in at least 15 games in all five of his seasons to date.

While Pawnee's rich RB depth (Marlon Mack and Josh Jacobs starting, with Devin Singletary as solid weekly play and Austin Ekeler still looming) made Freeman fungible, there's an argument to be made that Jersey is buying low on Alshon; An early season injury kept him out of a pair of games, but he's scored double digits in three of four appearances, with twenty pointers bookending his season to date. If Jeffery can perform within 20-30 points of Evans the rest of the way, this acquisition of depth could be a major factor in the Crew contending for a playoff spot in their first ever season; Sony Michel can mix in with acquisitions Melvin Gordon and Dev Freeman giving the team three eminently playable backs and flexibility to play matchups. If Alshon can stay healthy, DJ Moore can keep building on a strong start to his sophomore campaign, Brandin Cooks can bounce back from some underwhelming target numbers, and Sammy Watkins and/or Desean Jackson can recuperate and contribute this deep receiving corps may not even miss Evans at all.
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Tuesday, October 15, 2019

XI: Week Six Recap

Half of the league is 2-4 through six weeks, at once bringing every one within at least a game of playoff position, while also pushing the new abyss of relegation into the back of everyone's minds. Well, almost everyone: Hill Valley and Ohio have been juggernauts, steadily gaining momentum since week one, when the Tommy Boys lost and the McFlys won on stat correction. Since then, unbeatable. Their week eight matchup has another obstacle- Hill Valley should get a test from HCM City (4-2) first, while Ohio sees a not-dead-yet Deputy in week seven, but after that, they jostle for the top spot while everyone else slogs it out in the bottom.

The fourth and final team currently over .500 are the Pawnee Pride, now winners of three straight despite a forgettable effort this turn... We saw four previously one win teams notch over 200 points in week six, bookened on the Power Rankings by Hill Valley and Ohio... the shrinking middle class all took it on the chin this week, with Savannah and Jersey both dropping their second straight, while New York continues to alternates wins and losses.


Week 6 Matchups

 
WEEK SIX POWER RANKINGS:

  1. HVM 230: The champ keeps rolling, and is reaching the point in the season where they may have to decide if they're optimizing for the playoffs or seeking undefeated immortality.
  2. PHX 224: Here come the Uprising, who expect to add Saquon, Darius Leonard, and perhaps AJ Green this week to an offense featuring rookie QB Kyler Murray.
  3. PRH 214: Left for dead on the side of the road, the Rum Ham have won two straight, but remain in last on total points. Only prescription for what ails them? Keep winning.
  4. SPC 209: The Cows' hard luck has been well documented, but on the upswing they're a team nobody wants to see on their remaining schedule: Right in the thick of the points race.
  5. DVH 203: Van Halen reunites after losing for a solid month- will they keep the band together or are they making moves in an effort to JUMP up the standings, wakka wakka wakka?
  6. OTB 201: Ohio keeps winning, rising to the top of the rookie class and challenging for the top spot overall. Credit a very fine draft class: The team has only made six moves to date.
  7. HCM 187: Jared Goff picked a real bad day to suck, short circuiting an otherwise fine effort from a legitimate contender in a trap game. You know who didn't suck? Stefon Diggs.
  8. JSC 186: A late scratch for Randall Cobb wasn't the difference in the game, but it didn't help- injuries and bye weeks become a minefield this time of year, and week 7 isn't any easier.
  9. MAL 186: Despite James Bradberry's very best effort, the Grabbers losing streak hits a month long tumble. A Gronk return would be a huge boost- either on the field or on the trade market.
  10. CRT 178: Josh Gordon early injury was the only real chink in the armor here- Jamie Collins behaving like a mortal human being instead of an unstoppable God killer didn't help either.
  11. BIN 169: The Snipers drop their third straight, and you can blame guys named Juju and Sprinkle.Does that sound like a bad psychedelic funk band? Featuring Gardner Minshew II.
  12. NYF 167: NOT THEIR FINEST! Not today. With half their lineup coming up dud in week six, the Finest will see their defense hit by the bye week boogey in week seven.
  13. PAW 167: This is a team that won. Not by the hair on their chinny chin chin (which is sparse) but due to the other team's unrelenting suckitude. Also: teams gameplan to block Shaq Barret!
  14. SAV 124: Not Great Bob! Just four players in double figures. The kind of stinker that sometimes happens, and you just gotta dust yourself off and hope it doesn't happen again.

WEEK SIX TEAM-OF-THE-WEEK

  • QB Lamar Jackson NYF (34.24) His heroics couldn't get the win for New York, but they do erase the stink of his week five performance and assert that he is a legitimate QB1.
  • RB James Conner SPC (30.4) Conner's night on the ground was adequate (16 rushes for 41 yards and a TD) but he thrived out in the flats, catching 7 passes for 78 yards and another TD.
  • WR Stefon Diggs HCM (49.5) The squeaky wheel gets the points! Nine touches for 185 yards and three trips to the end zone, and those weeks as an afterthought are all forgiven.
  • TE Austin Hooper SPC (24.5) Unmentioned among the top tier of tight ends, Hooper is one nonetheless, scoring double digits in five of six games, getting heavy target volume weekly.
  • DL Aaron Donald DVH (25.5) Patience wins the day in Deputy, as Donald erupted for 7 tackles, (3 TFL) and two sacks, along with a forced fumble. 
  • LB Devin Bush HVM (27.25) The rookie disruptor scored seven tackles, a defelection and a pick- but put an exclamation point on a sixth win by recovering a fumble for a touchdown.
  • CB James Bradberry MAL (39.0) A dominant performance for any position, but especially at CB: Ten solo tackles, 4 PDs and 2 interceptions providing  added wow factor. 
  • SS Landon Collins HVM (31.0) Twelve tackles, a TFL, a sack, two pass deflections, and a forced fumble conjure memories of Collins' idol Sean Taylor. BAD ASS.
  • K Brett Maher PRH (13.5) A couple of real long kings (50+ and 60+) along with a mid-range hit and a PAT make up for a miss from 42. 
B-DIVISION POWER RANKINGS

  1. MANITOBA MOOSECREW 1543.54 (+286.39)
  2. NITTANY LIONS 1414.36 (+237.57)
  3. TORONTO LES TRES PETITES 1397.81 (+208.10)
  4. BREWTANG KILLA BEEZ 1293.14 (+190.51)
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Thursday, October 10, 2019

Trade 8: Risks & Rewards

Following Carmel's deal earlier this week, the Jersey Crew pulled the trigger on their first ever deal, a RB/LB swap with Phoenix. The Uprising add another hobbled player, as they continue to amass injured talent despite a 1-4 start.

PHOENIX ACQUIRES: RB DAVID JOHNSON & LB DEION JONES
JERSEY ACQUIRES: RB MELVIN GORDON & LB DEMARIO DAVIS

David Johnson joins Saquon Barkley on the Uprising sideline, where the seventh and first overall picks recuperate from injuries. While Barkley is not playing in week six, Johnson has a chance to suit up right away- more likely, both debut in week seven, and the Uprising will have to dig out of their hole without either.

For Jersey, it's potentially a lateral move, as Melvin Gordon would likely have been a first round pick if he were active- and he is now! And he's healthy! He slots in immediately where Johnson had been, and should not miss a beat. If Austin Ekeler continues to eat into Melvin Gordon's target share it could erode some of Gordon's top end value, but he's sure to get his touches.

The trade of a gimpy running back for a healthy one comes at the cost of a slight downgrade at linebacker- Deion Jones was a premier LB in 2017, and matched his per game rate during an injury ravaged 2018. He's been adequate to date in 2019, but looks to have one of the most inviting schedules in the season's back half, where Phoenix will need to put up big numbers to make up ground in the playoff race. Demario Davis is perhaps only a half tier behind Deion Jones in projections, a quality veteran LB that should supply good production week in and out.


Jersey sees their floor rise up as they work to make their inaugural season a successful one, while Phoenix takes on some added risk in hopes of a better reward. Time will tell if this deal ends up favoring one team or the other, or is a win-win. Or a lose lose!?

EVERYBODY LOSES.
Except Hill Valley.
So far.
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TRADE 7: $kill Positions

The Pawnee Pride are running back rich, but with bye weeks sidelining Marlon Mack and Josh Jacobs this week, they hit the trade block to fill the hole- and the Rudy-Toos were happy to oblige them, upgrading their receiving corps in the process.

PAWNEE ACQUIRES RB DEVONTA FREEMAN
CARMEL ACQUIRES WE COURTLAND SUTTON

For Carmel, Jordan Howard strengthens his grip on the RB2 position with Freeman out of the way, while Sutton fills in at the WR3 slot; There's no RB depth beyond Howard and Zeke Elliot left, but with a couple of weeks worth of injuries between them and their own byes, that's a problem for another day. As is, the Carmel starting lineup is strong, and they've completed their first Larkspur Bowl trade- an important milestone for every franchise.

Pawnee will be looking to ship out a running back or three in the near future: They've got no receiving or tight end depth to speak of, with inactive Antonio Brown and Dawson Knox (caught a touchdown once) the only substitutes on the roster. If they deal off the top of their depth chart or the bottom will be an interesting thread to follow, as they seek to get back to the Larkspur Bowl after losing in heartbreaking fashion in 2018.


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Tuesday, October 8, 2019

XI: Week Five Recap

In a week as feast or famine as any on registry, Hill Valley continued to McFly high, soaring to 5-0. It's the second best start in franchise history, after they began 8-0 in 2011; Which, to date is the second best start ever. The longest undefeated streaks to start the season belong to New York (9-0 in 2015), with Mar-A-Lago and South Park both winning seven straight to start the season, in 2011 and 2014 respectively.

Larkspur Bowl IX runner-up HCM City sits in second at 4-1, tied with the Ohio Tommy Boys, both on four game win streaks after dropping their openers. Behind them are the Savannah Petes, the league's overall points leader dropping to 3-2 after their worst performance to date. Another new franchise, the Jersey Sanitation Crew, sits over .500 in playoff position, along with perennial playoff contenders New York's Finest and the Pawnee Pride.

Dropping under .500 with eight games left to play are the Grabbers, who have now lost three straight after opening up with a pair of victories. They sit alongside Carmel and Binghamton, both at 2-3 and with some work to do to get back into the sweepstakes.

South Park is a hard luck 1-4, with a competitive point total that should help them if they can claw into a tiebreaker situation. The same cannot be said of Deputy or Phoenix, who will likely need to win seven of their remaining eight games to ensure they can punch a ticket- the Van Halens missed the dance last year but appeared in 2017 and 2016, while the Uprising last missed the playoffs in 2009. Finally, the South Philly Rum Ham won't go winless; They eke out a victory and now have something to build upon over the remaining two months of play.



Week 5 Matchups

 
WEEK FIVE POWER RANKING:

  1. HCM 272: The top score in the league this season (4th best all time) saw 47+ points from Will Fuller, Christian McCaffrey, and Aaron Jones. Uh, that will do pig. That will do.
  2. OTB 242: Ohio didn't need this many points to win, but what were they gonna do, ask Amari Cooper to take it easy? Utter domination from the surging Boys.
  3. CRT 221: The sort of up-and-down the lineup production that is the result of expert planning and execution, the whiff of victory is especially sweet against top shelf competition.
  4. PAW 215: The Pride have their RB factory churning out quality, while MT and George Kittle round out a great set of weapons... but QB remains unsettled and the defense booms and busts.
  5. HVM 208: Another week, another win, Hill Valley rarely overwhelms but consistently shows no chinks in the armor. If A-Rod and OBJ turn it around, they'll be truly scary.
  6. NYF 203: Winning with Lamar Jackson off his game, everyone else picked up the slack and New York has no obvious holes... though the onslaught of byes is still yet to come.
  7. SPC 190: Good enough to win is yet again not enough to win, as all but four of the Cows put up double digits, but only one score (Jaylon Smith, 18.5) scored more than 15.
  8. JSC 181: Goose eggs from Mike Evans (mystery) and Sammy Watkins (injury) felled a team performance further hindered by lingering injuries to David Johnson and Brandin Cooks.
  9. PRH 180: Rum Ham get out of their dark place, holding off the collapsing Grabbers thanks to trade acquisitions DJ Chark and Preston Smith, plus ole reliable Matty Ice. 
  10. SAV 174: A rare misstep by the Petes, with Phil Rivers, Keenan Allen, and Emmanuel Sanders all neutralized, and Evan Engram injured. They'll look to rebound against Pawnee.
  11. DVH 174: Deshaun Watson has alternated between unstoppable and stoppable, but he could not will a team that got single digit production from ten starters to victory.
  12. MAL 167: This sequel plays exactly the same way! Injuries to Pat Mahomes (Q) and Sterling Shepard (D) spoil the return of McLaurin, as the offense looks to get back on track. 
  13. BIN 158: The Carson/Lindsay running game was very good, and Juju bounced back soundly. This concludes the list of bright spots for the Snipers in week five.
  14. PHX 147: Nearly every gamble Phoenix has taken has backfired (this week: Gallman) and time is running out. Right now they wouldn't qualify for the consolation bracket. 


WEEK FIVE TEAM-OF-THE-WEEK:

  • QB Deshaun Watson DVH (48.34) 473 total yards, five touchdowns, only five incomplete passes... Watson at his best is as unstoppable as any quarterback in the league at their best.
  • RB Christian McCaffrey HCM (52.5) 237 total yards, three touchdowns... he even threw a pass, and though it fell incomplete, he's shown he's as multifaceted as anyone in the league.
  • WR Will Fuller HCM (53.3) Showing that he is more than a touchdown specialist, he had eleven catches that did not finish in the end zone, and only 3 that did. 217 receiving yards.
  • TE George Kittle PAW (19.4) 88 yards on seven touches, a touchdown and five first downs, Kittle's return from the bye invigorated a Pride offense to a victory.
  • DL Danielle Hunter JSC (21.5) Seven total tackles, two sacks and TFLs, and Hunter is back on track for a sack a game pace. He's extremely reliable at a volatile position.
  • LB Joe Schobert HCM (19.5) & LB Demario Davis PHX (19.5) Shared honors for tackle monsters Joe (11 & a TFL) and Demario (7 and two PDs) in week five.
  • CB Jaire Alexander OTB (19.85) A pick and three batted balls, plus a couple of tackles, and Jaire has scored at least 9.5 points in four of five games on the season.
  • SS Tyrann Mathieu OTB (19.5) Ohio IDPs have been dominant week in and week out, and Honey Badger totes the mantle here with a 79 yard pick six, a PD, a three tackles.
  • K Justin Tucker MAL (16.0) two PATs, two short field goals, and two long field goals. Easy, peasy, pudding pie.


B-DIVISION POWER RANKINGS:

  1. MANITOBA MOOSECREW 1257.15 (+264.04)
  2. TORONTO LES TRES PETITES 1181.21 (+302.52)
  3. NITTANY LIONS 1175.79 (+216.09)
  4. BREWTANG KILLA BEEZ 1102.63 (+237.67)



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