Now that I officially gone politically incorrect, we can get a few things covered that were not covered in the previous post....
A) Proposed Payout Change
Current Payout Structure:
Regular Season Champ: $20
Postseason Champ: $160
Postseason Runner-Up: $100
Proposed Payout Structure:
Regular Season Champ: $40
Postseason Champ: $160
Postseason Runner-Up: $80
You will need to cast your vote before Wednesday at noon... the winning vote will be the deciding factor for the payouts this year in the league.
B) I do not adjust the schedule... but I have noticed that not everyone plays everyone. I can go in and work to change that... but I typically don't change because I don't want any blame being placed on my hands.
Add this to your vote.
Now let's get to why you are really here...
I will throw this out there, I am probably not throwing the pictures in this season. Why? Because I just don't want to and half of you don't even read the whole blog anyways. Nuts to you!
Matchup of the Week
Heat Hicks v The J-Bones
Matchups to Watch: The WR battle.... (Moore/Ridley/McLaurin v Brown/Waddle/Kupp)
There has been a lot of slander on the Heat Hicks team with their WR group struggling to gain traction amongst the other GM's thought processes. However, if this matchup is anywhere close - the matchup shifts in favor of the Heat Hicks.
J-Bones Favor: The QB and Kicker are going to be helpful for The J-Bones. Prescott just had his top dawg signed and now they are "ready to ball." They have a tough matchup to start things off, Cleveland's defense could be the top unit in the entire league. Who doesn't love getting Gay up in here? In a matchup where the Colts are going to try and keep up with the Houston offense, Gay could see some opportunity - the only hurting him? The man calling the plays tends to go for it on 4th more than most others.
Heat Hicks Favor: Running Backs. Robinson and Etienne form a deadly duo. Robinson has a tough matchup to start the season (Pittsburgh)... but there is thought that if he can score this week - he will score during any week. Etienne has a comfy matchup against Miami's defense - which could be the X-Factor. If the Heat Hicks are going to pull out the win this week (and most weeks) these two RBs need perform in the top 5 every single game.
Predicktion: Heat Hicks
Mystery Guest: The J-Bones
Cleveland Streamers v Handy Rudgins
Matchups to Watch: The QB battle.... AR15 vs Stroud.... and they play each other!! Neither team is really looking to slow down on offense - Stroud will be throwing the ball all over the place, especially considering Indy's defense has a top-tier interior defensive lineman. I look for this matchup to be a shootout and both QBs to put up some nice numbers in week 1.
Streamers Favor: The deal got done. Lamb is officially signed and Dallas has their stallion... now he just needs to get on the same page as Dak. Luckily, these two have a history of dominating defenses, last year posting over 1,700 yards and 12 TDs. This week they face a tough Cleveland defense - but if you had to pick one area of weakness for Cleveland's top ranked unit.... it would be the secondary. Not that it is weak, but that teams will look to throw ball rather than try and run it through that monstrous defensive line.
Handy's Favor: If Heat Hick's have the best RB duo, Handy has the best RB trio... which might be more effective in the long run. The three RBs (Barkley/Pacheco/Kamara) should all get 15+ touches a game and those guys typically know what to do when given the opportunity. All three finished inside the top 15 when it came to points per game... this week should be no different with 2 out of 3 RBs have comfy matchups against weaker defenses (Barkley and Kamara).
Predicktion: Handy Rudgins
Mystery Guest: Handy Rudgins
Pendulous TD's v PEN15 Wrinkle
Matchups to Watch: FLEX v FLEX.... Truthfully, this week's matchup should get out of hand. However, I am always intrigued by teams that rock the double TE formation. We do know this isn't high school football and we don't need to load the line-up and wishbone our way down the field right? However, there is some school of thought that this year's TEs could finish as top tier WRs.... Kincaid being one of them. I like it for this week.
Pendulous Favor: Uhhhh everything? If you really have to key-in on one factor in the favor of the Titties, it would be RBs. We could sit here and tell you that CMC is arguably the best player in the league right now and if MVP wasn't a QB's award, it should have been him last year. We could sit here and tell you that Achane had one of the most efficient season's per touch last season until derailed by injury. All great news, but truthfully - just look at the other side. I am not sure I have seen a fantasy lineup that starts two RBs that don't combine for more than 10 projected points.... in week 1.
Wrinkle Favor: If this team is going to be successful, it is going to come from the hands of Wilson and Olave. The wideouts need to ball out for this team to have any chance at winning. Which is going to be weird for Wrinkle... every time Wilson catches the ball - do you cheer? do you groan? maybe you let out a little moan?
Predicktion: Pendulous TD's
Mystery Guest: Pendulous TD's
Bootay Pirates v Aaron Rodgers Blows Llams
Matchups to Watch: Rashee Rice v Travis Kelce... which one will Mahomes feed more? Prevailing thought leans towards Travis Kelce. However, if Rice can keep this matchup close that is big for the Pirates... Rice was drafted 64th overall and Kelce was drafted 27th overall. With this being week 1, I think everyone wants to know if Kelce's production will slow down with age or keep on chugging along. Everyone is also curious where Rice sits in the Mahomes Totem Pole - especially with speedster Xavier Worthy joining the squad.
Pirates Favor: Personally, I think Jalen Hurts is going to have an MVP caliber season. Kellen Moore has joined Philly as OC and he happens to have a history of using weapons efficiently. In 2021 he was the OC for Dallas who happened to have an eerily similar set of weapons as Philly does now: Prescott/Cooper/Lamb/Elliott (prime) v Hurts/Brown/Smith/Barkley. Truthfully, Moore's only true down years involve a freak injury to Prescott and last year's LAC offense that was decimated by injuries. Look for Moore to help Hurts perform like the MVP week-in and week-out.
Llams Favor: Depth. Yes, there is star power on this roster - anybody with Tyreek Hill can score points in a hurry. This team does boost a lineup that showcases players that can score in bunches from QB down to FLEX. Then you look at an elite kicker (one who kicks half his games indoors) and a homer pick for a defense that will have some tough matchups, but also have some really nice matchups (Patriots/Panthers/Commanders/Titans). Yes, I said Titans - what doe these 4 teams have in common? Young QBs. Depth will be the key in this matchup.
Predicktion: Aaron Rodgers Blows Llams
Mystery Guest: Bootay Pirates
Cocaine Cowboy v Ankle Holster
Matchups to Watch: Josh Allen v Lamar Jackson. These two QBs were the 2nd and 3rd selected QB in the draft (thanks to a Jordan Love pick meant to piss off an older brother). Essentially, these are the top 2 QB draft picks, both will be the focal point of their respective offensives. Lamar probably has better weapons... could be good or could mean that Allen will get the opportunity to do more by himself; only time will tell!
Cocaine Favor: WRs.... if you read my thoughts on Jalen Hurts, then you know where I stand on DeVonta Smith. Many have joked, but this is the year that I truly think we see the role of the Philly number 1 WR switch. I think that Brown is still going to have a great year and catch a lot of balls.... but I think that Smith is primed and ready to go.
Holster Favor: RBs.... truthfully, I think this is the part of this matchup that wins it this week for Ankle Holster. I may be an "old head" fantasy guy, but I just can't get past the impact that a top-tier RB can have on a lineup. So far, the only thing to stop Breece Hall has been an injury in his rookie season - other than that, he has performed like a top 3 RB. Look for Hall (and Jacobs) to have a big week and start the season off 1-0 for the third leg.
Predicktion: Ankle Holster
Mystery Guest: Ankle Holster
Connor Stalions v Brotherly Love
Matchups to Watch: Aiyuk v Samuels... what is going to happen? Samuels is much more of a gadget tool and Aiyuk is your atypical receiver. How will the offense work after the tumultuous offseason with Aiyuk? ESPN thinks it will go heavily in Samuels favor, I think it will be much closer. Aiyuk is one of the few options SF has as a downfield threat and he will need to see some targets to keep the defense honest - which is always a good thing when you are as skilled at he is.
Connor Favor: Depth... looking at the lineup that is being thrown out there and you could argue that almost every player could have a big week, including Kicker and Defense. Saints face-off against Carolina... they haven't gotten that much better on offense. Jake Elliott has a cannon attached at the hip - and I ain't talking about his ding-a-ling. This team is either going to be really good or be a bunch of underwhelming players with St. Brown carrying the load.
Brotherly Favor: Depth... it is weird to have both the edges for each team be the same thing, but that is the kind of matchup we have here. Even the Kicker and Defense have a good matchup against Pitt - who looks confused on offense and there defense does amazing job not letting teams in the endzone (ala more field goals). I am interested to see how Harrison Jr. really is and if Kyler Murray will be able to actually utilize him.
Predicktion: Connor Stalions
Mystery Guest: Brotherly Love
MAYEday v Ertz when Eifert
Matchups to Watch: Jefferson v Chase... I saw this video of an interviewer talking to Joe Burrow (with Chase in the room) and asked him if he was GM and both Chase and Jefferson where on the board to be drafted, who would he take? Burrow responded, "I plead the 5th." WTF?!?!?!? Your own wideout is in the room and you don't pick him? Jefferson is clearly the better wideout, but that doesn't mean anything when Sam Darnold is throwing you the ball. We will see who wins the Battle of the Bayou.
MAYE Favor: Pass catchers.... Chase is joined by Puka/Kirk and Evan Engram. People may scoff at Evan Engram, but the dude posted a top 5 TE season last year. In case you didn't know, the Jags traded Ridley and that only means more targets to go around. Engram could quietly crack into the podium of TEs this year... making this a pretty good trio of pass catchers.
Ertz Favor: Zay Flowers.... the pass catchers for MAYE are no joke... but having Flowers at your FLEX is a huuuuge benefit. He would easy make most other teams WR1 or WR2, I truly think he is going to have a big year. Now, having him as your FLEX is no shame - points are points, no matter the position. This just means that there is a good chance that Flowers is going to be winning the pregame FLEX battle every week.
Predicktion: MAYEday
Mystery Guest: MAYEday
This year, we are saying nuts to Kobe and we are going with some true heroes....
Good luck to all, minus you - The J-Bones - may your entire team be forced to watch an entire WNBA game filled with layups, dribbling, passing, and more layups.
With Love
Commish