Week 10

OK busy week so I thought I would release this week’s column on a Sunday (first time in column history I believe). Today also marks the start of the 2022 World Cup and the beginning of reality for UNC Football so lots going on today. We also are playing James Madison in basketball today and a little hint for you, don’t look at their stats. James Madison has been killing teams (they beat Valley Forge by like 80+ points). So yeah lets hope the boys decide they are going to have to play today.

Before we get into the awards I figured I would do a little recap on all of the trades that went down in the last week.

There were three trades lets chat about each of them.

Trade #1

The Commish trades Josh Palmer to KRABS for DK Metcalf

This trade was rather benign but has massive upside for both teams. Josh Palmer was Football Outsiders 2022 #1 Prospect. All he needed was opportunity and he has had that in spades this year and the results have been mixed. He has dealt with some concussion issues and just an overall puzzling lack of efficiency from Justin Herbert and the Chargers offense. He has had two strong weeks over the last two weeks and the most appealing thing about Josh is that he can be kept with a 15th round pick. DK Metcalf is a win now move. For a team that has struggled with Depth (and production) and anything consistent at the WR position the hope is that DK can become a stabilizing force for The Commish. His preseason value was suppressed after Russell Wilson was traded, but man looking at the results we should be saying that his preseason value was underestimated with the way Geno Smith is playing. That still hasn’t translated to bunches of Fantasy Points though and we are waiting for that DK Metcalf breakout. His average depth of target has come down this year and we aren’t seeing the long gains so I can only hope the bye week brings deep bombs, touchdowns, and fantasy points in spades.

Who Won Trade #1?

• The Commish
• KRABS

Trade #2

KRABS trades Christian McCaffery and George Kittle to The Institute for Deshaun Watson and TJ Hockenson

This is a pretty interesting trade because I think both sides think they won and got something of great value. I am not sure that is the case for either manager. The first week returns for VZ don’t look great. I would imagine that VZ has already purchased his Elijah Mitchell voodoo doll on Amazon because what transpired in Week 10 was not confidence building. McCaffery played 65% of the snaps but Elijah Mitchell outcarried him in a game that was basically competitive throughout. Mitchell was more efficient on his carries and carried the load in the 2nd half. Was that a 1 game aberration or did VZ just trade for a committee back. George Kittle on the other hand was non-existent and Hockenson actually outscored him by 200% (4 to 2). Kittle has only 1 game in double digit points this year and just doesn’t seem to be the gamebreaker he was a few seasons ago. It is not out of the realm of possibility that Hockenson outscores Kittle the rest of the year. It may not even be close. Which brings us to Deshaun Watson. Now lets be honest here, I can’t measure the locker room value that Watson will bring to KRABS, but it isn’t like he is exactly Mother Theresa. But hey maybe that is the sort of leadership KRABS values so who knows. Watson definitely has tantalizing upside as a 14th round keeper, but he hasn’t thrown a pass in a competitive football game in what will amount to be almost two full seasons. Are we really confident that this guy is still good. He has a ton of money owed to him which will bring pressure and scrutiny. Can he handle it? I think that this is definitely the type of player you want to have as a 14th round keeper, but it’s risky people.

Who won Trade #2?

• KRABS
• The Institute

Trade #3

Honestly this is the most puzzling one for me. Because I still can’t totally figure out what the thought process was. For Aaron it was pretty easy, Get Derrick Henry. I can’t blame someone for trying to get one of the most dominating Fantasy Football forces in the league. But boy did he give up a lot. He gave up Aaron Jones AND 2022 breakout star Josh Jacobs. And while Jacobs isn’t bombing out 30+ point weeks every week anymore, he still got double digits last year and is easily a top 12 option at the position. He also traded Tony Pollard AND 47 year old Zach Ertz. So the moral of the story is he traded a TON for Derrick Henry. Is Philadelphia a good defense? Yes they are. Kareem Hunt gives some depth, but he has only scored double digit points twice all year and not since Week 5. It is possible that Aaron still thinks Kareem Hunt is on the Chiefs. Derrick Henry could make this all worth it, he is that good, but DJ Moore has to continue the Week 8 breakout for this trade to really bring value and after scoring a combined 4 points in Weeks 9 & 10 I don’t know if that is inspiring confidence. So to me this was just a lot to give up. But even more puzzling is the thought processes on the Kayak Pirates side. Yeah the season has started out rough, but honestly the Pirates are one of the hottest things in the league right now. After a week 8 shellacking of me (scoring 157 points which was just ridiculous) they have won 3 in a row now. Tua looks like an MVP candidate and Jaylen Waddle is a difference making talent. It is possible that they were trying to make a trade to get Tony Pollard and players to stay in the hunt this year, but will Tony Pollard ever be the guy? He has never had 20 carries in a game and lets face it: Jerry loves Zeke. If Pollard becomes a lead back next year then this trade is a steal for Jeff. But Zach Ertz is now out for the year, Derrick Henry had another dominating performance in Week 11 and time will tell if Jacobs can keep it up. It’s definitely an interesting chess move by both sides and I applaud the creativity. We will see if either manager applauds it in the future.

Who Won Trade #3?

• This is The Way
• Kayak Pirates

Before we get to the awards lets check this week’s episode of Gridiron Heights:

Manager of the Weak

Oh how the tables turn quickly. You see I am sure after that 35 point Week 5 outburst Umphlett thought he had solved the Rubix Cube. You know he was sitting back with a sly smile on his face as he enjoyed a nice 7 layer bean dip from Crunchy’s on 254 W. Grand River. But not so fast my friend because well Taysom Hill is a pumpkin. And after two consecutive weeks of scoring zero points that fact is becoming in the light. Umphlett is going for a “third times the charm” award in Week 11 with Taysom so lets see how that works out.

Separately I have made a bet with Umphlett that Taysom Hill won’t score more than 35 points between Weeks 6 thru 15 combined. He has already scored 17.

Who do you think wins?

Will Taysom Hill Score more than 35 points in Weeks 6 - 15 Combined?

• Yes
• No

Move of the Week

Billy has been struggling at the TE spot all year rotating through a cast of characters while Darren Waller continues to be a bust and injured. But he hit the jackpot in Week 10 picking up Cole Kmet who scored 19 points in season long Justin Fields breakout. If you remember, Cole Kmet was doing his best Taysom Hill impersonation to start the year with two consecutive weeks of 0 points and preceded to score a combined 20 points over the next 6 weeks. But boy has that changed over the last two weeks. He scored 16 in Week 9 and 19 in Week 10 and has quickly elevated himself to a top 10 TE. That my friends is how you win Move of the Week.

MVP

Justin Fields, Miles Sanders, Cole Kmet, Tua, Patrick Mahomes

Some huge performances in Week 10, but none bigger than the boring 5 points from rushing yards that Miles Sanders gave The Institute to come from behind and barely beat a broken and downtrodden KRABS franchise 91-89. Let’s be honest, VZ has a little bit of a pep in his step after his big trade with KRABS, but still he needed every single yard he could get out of Miles Sanders to keep his season alive. While it wasn’t impressive, that is what I call holding your hand out to a friend.

Manager of the Week

What an odd season this has been. I mean I have faced a range of emotions. But after the Jose’s Taco Truck Blowout of the week vs. Aaron, not going to lie, Justin Fields has me seeing stars. I gave the nuts and bolts of above, but Jonathan Taylor is the heartbeat of this team and with him back and on a mission, two words: Watch Out. Saquon Barkley continues to be on a mission to prove you wrong and maybe, just maybe, I can get a solid WR group in place. Losing Goedert hurts (the non facemask call was just wrong), but this team has resiliency and grit. Let’s Go!

Until Week 11…

-The Commish