Playoff Preview Week 1

Playoffs Week 1 

After a crazy Monday night, with All Fired Up suffering the ultimate heartbreak, we enter the playoffs with 8 teams hoping to gain the trophy.  We are guaranteed to crown a new champion after Ride or Dies tumbled from the clear-cut top team to number 10 hoping to avoid the toilet seat that our former commissioner graciously gifted to the league on draft day.  

Tonight, I will preview all 6 matchups, hopefully providing some additional context with how we got here along the way.  

The Trojans vs The Monstars- These two teams split the series 1 vs 1 as we enter the all-important rubber match.  The Trojans hope to get off to a hot start on Thursday night with Brees and Thomas traveling to Atlanta in a must win game for the Falcons.  Come to think of it, Maggs’ team will be all over the prime time games this week with players in all 4 prime matchups.  Eric can focus solely on the Panthers vs Vikings games having 4 players in that one matchup.  A player of note Eric should consider playing is Danny Amendola, who has tremendous numbers when Gronk is out of lineup.  

Prediction: The Trojans go into Sunday night football down, but end up taking the matchup and move on to the Semi Finals

The Rookie vs Mean Machine Child Beaters-  A beer bet is on the line as we have a rematch from week 10, which The Rookie won by 33 points.  Rob Gronkowski is suspended due to a dirty disgusting hit that even made The Hoodie ashamed.  The Rookie is lucky Gronk only got one game, and Gronk should be begging Belichick to give him off Christmas Eve to avoid escalating an otherwise ugly situation. Greg Olsen is practicing, but who knows how healthy he really is.  At the time of writing this, Mark Ingram has not practiced this week and is a true Game Time Decision.  I think he will play, but how effective he is anyone’s guess.  If he doesn’t play The Rookie can choose between Ginn and Gore.   Jameis Winston is a TERRIBLE real life qb, but gets it done in fantasy. That turnover last week was nothing short of comical.  Rivers is an excellent start this week and was a great trade by The Rookie. The Mean Machine might get my award for my managers of the year, salvaging bad injuries to make the Playoffs and be super competitive.  This team can have a big week, especially if Zach Ertz is out.   Agholor becomes a top 18 wr for me if that is the case, not bad for $10 faab. Their qbs have great matchups as do the tight ends and I expect this matchup to have the highest combined score of the week.  A player on the bench Mean Machine should consider is Martavis Bryant, who scored 2 tds the last time Pittsburgh played the Ravens without Jimmy Smith. 

Authors Note: I believe it is the second year in a row that The Rookie has someone on his roster who is retired.  Last year was Arian Foster, this year The Rookie still has Darren McFadden on his roster

Prediction: Ok I am going to cop out on this one, Mean Machine wins if Mark Ingram is inactive.  If Mark Ingram plays I think the Rookie squeaks out a close one. You mustaccount for Joe 2 magic come playoff time

No Bobby No vs Team DTA- This is clearly the worst playoff matchup.  No Bobby No has had a horrible last few weeks and DTA is the lowest scoring team in the league. No Bobby No did win in week 3 over DTA.  This 3 vs 6 matchup will most likely be the lowest scoring playoff matchup.  No Bobby no has 3 Bills qb’s current on their roster and will probably have to start Nathan Peterman (sorry I just ran to the bathroom and threw up).   I am hoping for 10 -12 points from the lowly Bills backup. No Bobby No got extremely lucky last week thanks to Mixon’s injury to steal the three seed away from the more deserving Ginger Snaps.  The rb’s, which were supposed to be the core of this team have grossly underperformed.   The lone bright spots have been Russell Wilson (number 1 qb), Larry Fitzgerald (number 5 WR), and Zach Ertz who is trying to recover from a concussion. The tough start sit decision for No Bobby No is Demaryius vs Marquise Lee. Team DTA’s needs to hope Fournette is healthy since the last time he ran for over 4.0 YPC in a game was week 6.  The wr’s are low floor high ceiling kind of guys, especially Crowder who will probably go off this week. Crowder and Burkhead have the most potential for monster weeks in my opinion. The qb’s are both number 2’s this season and will probably get around 20, with Mariota having potential for more.  Duke Johnson has been extremely steady this season and should be reliable again.  For them to win, Burkhead and Fournette need to score touchdowns. Go Dion Lewis

Prediction: I reached out to Joe 2 to make the prediction “No Bobby No wins by 20+, DTA’s WR aren’t great and GB D is gonna get Flashed.”

The Ginger Snaps vs The Romosexuals- A True nail biter, this matchup is going to be awesome to watch.  The Romosexuals won by 28 points week 3 giving the Ginger Snaps their second loss of the season.  They only had 2 more after that. The Romosexuals have 2 of his 3 most important players going tomorrow night so they have something to watch for. The Romosexuals have the second best wr grouping in the league with 3 top 14 wrs (Yes Robby Anderson is number 14). Matt Ryan is by far the lowest ranked qb in this matchup at 19, but The Romosexuals have the better qb matchups. Golden Tate should have a monster game if Stafford plays because the Bucs are just pathetic. The Ginger Snaps have the best rb and wr in this matchup and will need to make their points up at the tight end and flex positions.   A Shoot for the stars start like Dede Westbrook might be in order since the Seahawks have struggled with fast wr’s in the past.  

The nice part of this matchup is 90 percent of the players will be done before the Sunday night game so both teams should know where they stand.  

Prediction: The Romosexuals squeak out a Monday night win, after we get several Jamal Williams complaint messagesfrom Ginger in the Groupme Sunday afternoon.  Really, he should be saying complaining about the Garbage Browns.

Murphy Award

All Fired Up vs Ride or Dies- All Fired Up is still trying to win while the last time Pat and Marty won was week 7 and have been the lowest scoring team the last two weeks. That win was against All Fired Up so anything is possible.  Expect a big game from jimmy Garoppolo, whose teammates love him per post game quotes.  Dion Lewis and Greg Zuerlein should also have monster games.  One player All Fired Up should consider playing is Sterling Shephard with Eli Manning back.   The Cowboys struggled before last week against wr’s.  Ride or Dies needs to hope for massive games from Gordon and a potentially returning Cooper to advance and have a shot at the choice of pick.  If they advance, they can potentially win it with a returning Rodgers. I do not think Doug Martin plays this week either so either Cohen or Stills are potential options to replace him.

Prediction: All Fired Up wins this one in a close matchup. 

Team GFY vs Vonteego Cross- Two of the unluckiest teams square off in a close matchup. This is one of Vonteego Cross’ two wins this season. Alvin Kamara might be the number 1 running back this week.  One player Vonteego Cross should look to get into their lineup at all cost is Goodwin, playing against a garbage Texans defense.  He might have a Will Fuller type game.  Team GFY might have a huge week.  Carr and Big Ben have good matchups, as do Cooks and Marvin Jones.  I would consider starting Jermaine Kearse since he has been solid number 2 wr with huge upside recently.  I know they are playing the Broncos, but are the Broncos really the Broncos anymore.  

Prediction: Team GFY wins in a nail biter continuing Vonteego Cross’ string of bad luck